West Hempstead Weekly Update

As we move deeper into Women's History Month, the energy across our campuses reflects the richness of what our students are discovering. This week, learning comes alive as classrooms dive into the stories of women who broke barriers, challenged expectations, and refused to be defined by the limits placed before them.

From scientists whose discoveries changed the world to activists whose words sparked movements, our students are exploring not just what these women achieved — but how they persevered in the face of adversity. These are lessons in resilience that resonate far beyond any single subject or grade level.

We are especially proud to see students connecting these historical narratives to their own lives and communities. When a student sees someone who looks like them, comes from where they come from, or shares their values reflected in what we teach, something powerful happens — curiosity deepens, confidence grows, and the sense of possibility expands.

As our educators continue to bring these stories forward in creative and meaningful ways, we invite families to keep the conversation going at home. Ask your student whose story surprised them. Ask them who they'd want to learn more about. You may be surprised by what they share.

Women's History Month is not just a look backward — it is an invitation to imagine forward. The courage and creativity we celebrate this month live on in the students walking our hallways today.

Resources for All Ages

Websites

• National Women's History Museum

• Library of Congress: Women's History Resources

• PBS LearningMedia: Women's History Month

• Smithsonian Learning Lab

• https://www.womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month

• https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/womens-history-month

• https://www.nwhp.org/

• https://www.congress.gov/joint-statements/womens-history-month

• https://www.nysed.gov/standards-instruction/social-studies-guidance-resources

Virtual Museum Tours

• National Women's History Museum virtual exhibits

• Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative

Local Resources

• Your public library's digital collection

• Local historical societies

• Community cultural centers

There is a vibrant energy flowing through the classrooms at Chestnut Street as our youngest learners engage in the essential work of discovery! It is WHonderful to observe our students as they master the art of managing impulsivity, showing impressive growth in their ability to focus and follow through on complex tasks.

From a literacy perspective, the progress is remarkable. Students are busily developing their word banks and sharpening their spelling skills, all while learning to activate prior knowledge to tackle new and exciting challenges. Whether they are identifying "Long U" sounds on the rug or working through creative projects at their tables, their engagement is second to none. And of course, WHe can’t forget the rhythmic excitement in the air—students are also busy preparing to dance, proving that at Chestnut Street, we believe in a perfect balance of rigorous learning and pure fun!

It has been a WHonderful week of growth at Cornwell Avenue, where our students are truly rising to the occasion. From the quiet focus of individual desk work to the collaborative energy of a shared assembly, it is clear that our students have firmly established their daily routines and are approaching their education with a remarkable sense of purpose.

Walking through the halls, one cannot help but notice how our young learners have set their intent to learn. Whether they are diving into the nuances of literary genres on the rug or solving complex problems at their desks, they are showing a level of focus and poise that often feels mature beyond their years. It is a testament to the supportive environment created by our dedicated staff and the hard work of the students themselves. WHe are so RamProud of the scholarship and maturity on display!

Learning was in full swing at George Washington Elementary this week, with students diving deep across every subject! Budding authors put their research skills to work crafting non-fiction writing pieces — including one young scholar who created an impressive Google Slides presentation all about earthquakes. In math, students sharpened their understanding of decimals through collaborative paired work, using hands-on tools to problem-solve together. Critical thinking took center stage as students engaged in a lively debate exploring the value of homework, practicing the art of forming and defending an argument. Meanwhile, history came alive as classes journeyed back in time to explore the wonders of Ancient Egypt. It was a week full of curiosity, collaboration, and learning at its best!

🎭 Curtain Up! West Hempstead Drama Club Presents "Curtains"

WHe are thrilled to invite the entire community to the West Hempstead Drama Club’s production of the musical comedy whodunit, Curtains! From the legendary creators of Cabaret and Chicago, this show promises an evening of mystery, laughter, and incredible talent.

Our students have been working tirelessly to bring this Broadway-caliber performance to our local stage. It’s a wonderful opportunity to support the arts and witness the creativity of our hardworking cast and crew.

Showtime Details

• Location: West Hempstead Auditorium (400 Nassau Blvd.)

• Time: All shows begin at 7:00 PM

• Tickets: $10 in advance | $12 at the door

Don't Miss Out!

Opening night was Thursday, but if you can't make it this evening, there is still plenty of time to catch the mystery! Be sure to grab your tickets and head to the auditorium this Friday or Saturday evening to see the show.

To purchase tickets in advance, you can scan the QR code on the event posters found around the district or call 516-390-3272.

WHe hope to see you in the audience!

The Power of 15 Minutes

Just 15 minutes of reading together each day can transform your child's entire educational journey. Research shows that children who are read to for just 15 minutes daily are exposed to over 1 million words per year, compared to only 282,000 words for children who aren't read to regularly.

For more, see the PDF below or visit: https://www.whufsd.com/page/district-literacy

Dear West Hempstead Community,

As we finally begin to see the first signs of spring peeking through after what has been a truly snowy winter, I am reminded of one of the greatest gifts a snowbound day can offer — the chance to curl up with a good book.

This winter, our students had no shortage of opportunities to do just that, and I hope many of them took advantage of the quiet and stillness that a snow day brings to discover a new story, explore a new world, or simply fall deeper in love with reading. There is something magical about the way a great book can transport us, no matter how much snow is piling up outside the window.

As we welcome March — which brings with it both the promise of warmer days and the celebration of Read Across America — I encourage every family in our district to keep that reading momentum going. Whether it's ten minutes before bed, a chapter at the kitchen table, or an afternoon spent lost in a story, every moment spent reading builds the foundation for a lifetime of learning.

Our teachers and literacy specialists continue to do remarkable work bringing the joy of reading to life in our classrooms every day, and I am incredibly proud of the progress our students are making. I invite you to explore the wonderful highlights, resources, and community stories featured throughout this month's newsletter.

Here's to March, new beginnings, and the next great book waiting to be opened.

We believe that strong communication between home and school is essential for student success. The PowerSchool Parent Portal is a powerful tool that helps bridge this gap, providing real-time access to your child's academic progress.

Access Your Account

Visit the Parent Portal Link below. If you haven't set up your account, please contact the school office for your Access ID code.

Why It's Important

• Monitor grades and attendance
• View teacher comments and feedback
• Track assignments and due dates
• Communicate directly with teachers
• Stay informed about school events and announcements

By regularly checking the Parent Portal, you can play an active role in your child's education, addressing any concerns promptly and celebrating their achievements together.

We encourage all parents and guardians to take advantage of this valuable resource. If you need assistance with the Parent Portal, please don't hesitate to contact your child's main office.

Together, we can ensure every student reaches their full potential!

Parent Portal Link

https://powerschool.whufsd.com/public/

How to Video

https://youtu.be/eNZs_AloU-c

Main Office Phone Numbers

Chestnut Street - 390-3150

Cornwell Avenue - 390-3140

George Washington - 390-3130

Secondary School - 390-3218

We’ve teamed up with MySchoolBucks, an online service where you can easily and securely pay for school meals using a credit/debit card or electronic check.

Using MySchoolBucks you can:

● Add funds to your student’s meal account

● View meal balances & cafeteria purchases

● Receive low balance alerts

Get started in 4 easy steps:

1. Download the mobile app or visit myschoolbucks.com

2. Create your free account

3. Add your student

4. Add funds to your student’s meal account

If you have any questions about getting started with MySchoolBucks call (855) 832-5226. For any general questions please contact your child’s school.

ONEPAY from MySchoolBucks offers a one-time annual fee option to SAVE YOU MONEY!

• Annual savings plan offers reduced program fees when using MySchoolBucks for meal and school payments

  
  

• Allows user to pay program fees upfront from their bank account (e-checks), with unlimited payments for 12 months

• Offers a choice of two program fee payment packages:

• Single Student for $12.95 per year
• Family Plan for $26.95 per year (2 or more kids)

*Both plans cover 12 months from initial signup to ONEPAY

If you have any questions, please call the Food Service Office.

Nasrin Urmye, Food Service Director
(516) 390-3275
urmyen@whitsons.com

The Graduation Measures Initiative demonstrates the New York State Education Department’s commitment to transforming education in New York State to meet the expectations voiced by stakeholders and the challenges of the 21st century. While this is a monumental task that will take years to implement, it is essential to ensure New York State P-12 education meets the needs of all students, is culturally and linguistically responsive, and prepares our students for success in 21st century life, college, careers, service, and citizenry.

The Board of Regents has officially adopted the New York State Portrait of a Graduate. This development represents a significant step forward in our commitment to preparing students for success in an ever-evolving world.

The Portrait of a Graduate is the result of extensive collaboration, incorporating feedback from educators, families, students, and community members across the state. It's grounded in research and evidence-based practices, drawing from successful models implemented by school districts nationwide.

This framework envisions education where rigorous academics meet the real-world skills students need to thrive in our rapidly changing society. Our goal extends beyond college and career readiness – we're preparing thoughtful, engaged citizens who can contribute meaningfully to their communities.

What This Means for Our District:

• Current graduation requirements remain unchanged
• The state will provide implementation guidance by summer 2027 through their NY Inspires plan
• Full statewide alignment begins with students entering 9th grade in the 2029-2030 school year
• Our district may begin reviewing our current practices against the Portrait framework as we prepare for implementation

This adoption aligns perfectly with our district's mission to provide every student with the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need for lifelong success. We look forward to working with our school community as we explore how the Portrait of a Graduate will enhance our already strong educational programs.

More information about implementation will be shared as guidance becomes available from the state.

Recently, the Board of Regents approved the Portrait of a Graduate as a component of the state's new graduation measures. This portrait defines the six core attributes that students will possess upon graduating high schools in NYS. NYSED had created resources for educators and students to help them become familiar with the POG and how it will be integrated and rated by educators in the upcoming years. The statewide requirement for instruction to be aligned to the POG begins with students in the 2029 cohort (students entering grade 9 during the 2029-2030 school year). Below you will find a summary regarding the POG, along with some graphics:

Overall Vision

The NYSED Portrait of a Graduate presents a comprehensive, student-centered vision for success beyond high school. It emphasizes:

• Holistic development (academic, social, emotional, and cultural)
• Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CR-SE)
• Future readiness for college, careers, and civic life

Six Interconnected Attributes of a NYS Graduate

Every graduate is envisioned to be:

1. Critical Thinker
2. Creative Innovator
3. Effective Communicator
4. Reflective and Future-Focused
5. Culturally Responsive
6. Global Citizen

For Students

• Students are the center of the Portrait. Their voice, identity, and aspirations matter.

• Skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking will be developed through real-world applications.
• Growth is supported across academic, social, emotional, and cultural dimensions.
• Schools will assess student progress using performance tasks, portfolios, and presentations.

For Educators

• Educators play a critical role in implementing the Portrait through instruction, relationships, and assessment.

• Use local relevance—connect learning to community issues and student interests.
• Embed Portrait attributes into interdisciplinary and project-based learning.
• Align instruction with NYS Learning Standards, SEL Benchmarks, and the CR-SE Framework.

• Collaborate with families, administrators, and community partners to support student success.

• Rate student proficiency/progress on these attributes

For Administrators

• Lead by setting the vision, aligning systems, and fostering a culture that celebrates Portrait attributes.
• Ensure inclusive and evidence-based instruction across the district.
• Support educators in embedding Portrait skills and assessing student growth.
• Promote shared responsibility among educators, families, students, and community partners.
• Align district practices with state standards and frameworks.

Background

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is proposing amendments to Section 100.2 of the Commissioner’s Regulations based on recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures and the NY Inspires Plan. The goal is to ensure students graduate with essential life skills and knowledge for a changing world.

Key Changes

New Instructional Requirements:

· Personal Finance Education and Climate Education

· All public school students (K–12).

· Instruction must be completed by the end of each grade band:

o Elementary: Grade 4

o Middle: Grade 8

o High School: Grade 12

Phase-In Timeline

Requirement Middle & High School Elementary

Personal Finance 2026–2027 SY 2027–2028 SY

Climate Education 2027–2028 SY 2028–2029 SY

· Districts may implement earlier than required.

· Annual verification to the Commissioner during phase-in years.

Instructional Topics

Personal Finance: Budgeting, Credit/Debt Management, Earning Income, Risk Management, Savings & Investing.

Climate Education: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions for Climate Change.

NYSED will provide guidance to ensure culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate progression across grade bands.

Implementation Timeline

· Public Comment: Begins November 19, 2025 (60 days).

· Permanent Adoption: Anticipated March 2026.

· Effective Date: March 25, 2026.

What Administrators Need to Know

· Begin planning for integration of these topics into curricula.

· Prepare for annual verification requirements.

· Watch for NYSED guidance and resources to support implementation.

For more details, visit https://www.nysed.gov/

I am thrilled to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome as we embark on our 2025-2026 journey together. This year promises to be transformational as we unite under our powerful theme:

#WHeRiseTogether. This simple yet profound concept captures the essence of who we are and what we aspire to become as a unified educational community.

As we gather to begin this new chapter, I invite you to consider two fundamental questions that will guide our work together:

• Who is it you stand for?
• What is it you stand for?

These are not just philosophical prompts—they are the foundation of our collective mission to create schools where every student thrives.

#WHeRiseTogether embodies our commitment to the power of collective effort over individual achievement. In a world that often celebrates individual accomplishments, we choose to embrace the transformative potential of "We over me." When we prioritize our shared vision and work together as a cohesive team, we create a synergy that benefits everyone involved. Each educator, each staff member, and each student becomes a vital part of our collective success story.

This mindset requires a daily commitment to improvement, recognizing that small, consistent steps lead to significant progress over time. It requires the courage to step out of our comfort zones—individually and as a team—pushing boundaries and facing challenges head-on. This deliberate growth builds resilience and sharpens our collective awareness, preparing us to tackle even greater opportunities in the future.

Our Focus: At Least One Year's Worth of Progress

This year, we're committing to work that truly matters through three key results that will transform our learning environment:

Simplify Our Systems: We will eliminate redundant processes and reduce administrative burden, allowing you to focus on what matters most—teaching and learning. Our Burden Reduction Task Force will conduct monthly reviews to ensure we're streamlining rather than complicating your important work. Please see the email sent earlier in August for more information.

Strengthen Our Core Teaching Practices: We will provide protected collaborative planning time for grade-level and subject teams, renewed focus on the Plan-Implement-Evaluate cycle, and meaningful peer observation opportunities that honor your expertise and foster professional growth.

Support Innovation through Technology: We will integrate AI and technology tools that reduce administrative burden rather than increase it, providing professional learning that enhances your agency as educators and amplifies human connection rather than replacing it.

Navigating Change Together

As we implement these initiatives, I commit to leading with empathy, explaining the "why" behind our decisions, honoring the dedication that built our current systems, communicating early and often, and inviting ongoing dialogue. Your voice matters in this process—we need your wisdom and experience to succeed.

Creating Schools Where We All Rise

Together, we will create schools where:

• Work becomes great because curiosity drives it beyond obligation
• Students are seen, heard, and challenged to reach their full potential
• WHe have the time and support to focus on what matters most
• Collective triumph takes center stage over individual achievement

The Designing Learning framework is an educational approach #WHe uses to engage students and close the aspiration gap. The framework encompasses several key principles aimed at enhancing the learning experience for students and staff:

The Designing Learning framework consists of: Connection Before Content, Acceleration not Remediation, Rethinking Success Criteria, Higher-Level Thinking, Student Agency, Authentic Work, and Technology Infusion.

1. Connection Before Content: This principle emphasizes building strong relationships and belonging in the classroom. It recognizes that when students feel connected to their teachers and peers, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated to learn.

2. Acceleration, not Remediation: Rather than focusing solely on addressing deficits in students' knowledge or skills, this framework aspect promotes challenging students with content and tasks that allow them to excel and progress rapidly. It recognizes that students can achieve more when they are appropriately challenged.

3. Rethinking Success Criteria: This principle encourages educators to reconsider traditional notions of success and assessment. It involves clearly defining success in a given context and allowing for varied ways for students to demonstrate their understanding and mastery.

4. Higher-Level Thinking: The framework promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity among students. It encourages educators to design learning experiences that push students to engage in deeper levels of thinking and analysis.

5. Student Agency: Empowering students to actively participate in their learning is a fundamental aspect of the framework. It encourages students to set goals, make choices, and take ownership of their educational journey, fostering a sense of autonomy and responsibility.

6. Authentic Work: This principle advocates real-world relevance in educational activities. It suggests that students should work on tasks and projects that have meaning and application beyond the classroom, making learning more engaging and practical.

7. Technology Infusion: Recognizing the role of technology in the modern world, this aspect of the framework encourages the thoughtful integration of technology into the learning process. It aims to leverage technology to enhance and expand educational opportunities.

By Art Costa, Bena Kallick, and Allison Zmuda

There is a growing recognition that mastering subject-area knowledge alone will not be sufficient to prepare your children for their futures. They will need deliberate practice and focused attention to grow their capacity as efficacious thinkers to navigate and thrive in the face of unprecedented change. Habits of Mind are a universal framework for thinking and are as essential now as when we first introduced them 30 years ago. Habits of Mind are dispositions people use when confronted with problems and situations to which answers are not immediately apparent. When we draw upon these intellectual resources, the results that are produced are more powerful, of higher quality and of greater significance than if we fail to employ those intellectual behaviors.

Email: drehman@whufsd.com
Website: www.whufsd.com
Location: 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, NY,
Phone: 516-390-3000

Articles and blurbs may be enhanced/written with various AI tools.