The Berry Hill Buzz

Dear Berry Hill Families,

I cannot believe that we have entered our last month of school—June is here! While the year may be winding down, the energy in our building is still going strong. We’re looking forward to many more fun activities and meaningful learning experiences as we close out the school year together.

We wrapped up an exciting and eventful May just last week, and I want to take a moment to reflect on all the wonderful things that took place. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our amazing PTA for organizing the Spring Boutique, giving students the chance to shop for loved ones. We also deeply appreciate the “wickedly” awesome Teacher Appreciation Week they put together for our staff. From being “POP-ular” with popcorn treats to celebrating our staff for taking care of our “munchkins,” it was a week full of gratitude and joy.

Our 5th graders had a unique opportunity to participate in an AI pilot program, where they developed and showcased products in a “Shark Tank”-style presentation. They even visited Syosset High School to receive feedback from high school students in the Virtual Enterprise class—what an incredible learning experience!

Music filled our halls this month as our talented students in grades 3–5 performed in two magical concerts. The 3rd grade orchestra and recorder students, along with our beginner 4th grade band, dazzled us during the day and again at night. Our second concert featured the 4th and 5th grade orchestra, chamber orchestra, 5th grade band, jazz band, and chorus—what a spectacular showcase of talent!

Our students also enjoyed some enriching field trips this month. The 4th grade stepped back in time at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration to learn about Colonial America, while our 1st graders explored aquatic life at the Long Island Aquarium. The 3rd grade visited the Roslyn Museum of Art with Ms. Pizzarelli, diving into artistic styles and fashion. And of course, our 5th graders had a Broadway adventure they’ll never forget as they watched Wicked—a truly magical experience!

As we conclude the school year, we’ve been focusing on the final letter in PRIDE: E for Empathy. Students played Social Awareness Jenga, reflected on their emotions, and discussed how different perspectives shape our experiences and relationships. They thought about how people feel in various scenarios and how we can show empathy to our friends to make them feel better.

May was a month full of learning, laughter, and lasting memories. As we step into June, we’re excited for all the end-of-year events ahead. Thank you for your continued support and for being such an important part of our school community.

Here are some questions to ask your child about Berry Hill this month:

• What did you learn about showing empathy? Who can you show empathy towards and what is one way you can show empathy to a friend or family member?
• What part of the Berry Hill Mural did you get to paint? Our mural used the artistic techniques of painter Romero Britto. What kind of lines did we use and what kind of colors were used to paint the mural?
• While Field Day was held indoors this year, what was your favorite event? Can you recite your team's cheer?

Here are our last "Wear It Wednesdays" for year. Students are invited to:

• 6/4: wear a shirt with your favorite activity on it.
• 6/11: wear Syosset or Berry Hill gear.
• 6/18: wear your favorite summer shirt.

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Wasserman

6/4: Kindergarten to White Post Farms

6/4: Wear a shirt with your favorite activity on it.

6/6: School Closed, Eid al Adha

6/9: BOE Meeting @ South Woods @ 8:00 PM

6/11: Wear Syosset or Berry Hill gear.

6/11: 2nd Grade Intro to Orchestra Concert during the school day

6/11: PTA Meeting @ 7:45 PM

6/12: Kindergarten Show @ 9:30 AM

6/13: Syosset High School Students Clap Out during the school day

6/16: The Brain Show Assembly for all grades

6/17: 5th Grade Breakfast and Picnic today (students only, rain date on June 20th)

6/18: 5th Grade Moving Up Rehearsal @ SHS

6/18: Last day of early morning activities (Band, Chorus, Art, Orchestra, Extra Help)

6/18: Wear your favorite summer shirt.

6/18: 5th Grade Moving Up Party @ 6:00 PM

6/19: School Closed, Juneteenth

6/24: 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony @ SHS @ 10 AM

6/27: Last Day of School, Report Cards Posted

We were thrilled to welcome visiting artist John Dinaro to our school as part of our final No Place for Hate project of the year, titled "Beauty, Inside and Out." This inspiring initiative encouraged students to reflect on how we can beautify our school—not just through art, but through kindness, empathy, and positive relationships. In classrooms, students engaged in meaningful conversations about creating a welcoming environment both emotionally and physically. Then, with the guidance of Mr. Dinaro and our incredible art teacher, Ms. Pizzarelli, every student had the opportunity to make their “mark” on our school by contributing to a collaborative mural. While we’re still putting the finishing touches on this beautiful piece, we’re excited to share some behind-the-scenes photos of our budding artists in action. Their creativity and teamwork truly brought our school walls—and our values—to life!

This spring, our school was filled with the joyful sounds of music as students took the stage to showcase their incredible talents during our spring concerts. From orchestras to bands to chorus, each performance was a celebration of hard work, creativity, and teamwork. We are so proud to share that our orchestral groups earned gold medals at NYSSMA Majors, and our band received a bronze medal—a tremendous accomplishment for our young musicians!

A huge thank you to our amazing music staff—Ms. Neri, Mr. Fort, and Ms. Dolley—for their dedication, passion, and guidance. These achievements would not be possible without their leadership and support. Bravo to all of our performers!

Even though the weather had other plans and we had to move our Field Day events indoors, the excitement and energy were still sky-high! While we certainly missed having our families there to cheer us on, our students made the most of both days with tons of fun and enthusiasm. From start to finish, our hallways echoed with team chants and cheers, creating an electric atmosphere. Our students showed incredible teamwork, sportsmanship, school spirit, and athleticism throughout every activity. It was a joy to see them support one another, give their best effort, and celebrate each other’s successes. We cannot thank our incredible staff who helped make Field Day a memorable experience, especially our Physical Education teachers, Mr. Lertora and Ms. Taglioni!

Girls on the Run is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering elementary and middle school girls through a unique program that combines physical activity with social-emotional learning. After school lessons are paired with fun physical activities that gradually prepare the girls for a celebratory 5K run at the end of the season. While running is a key component, the heart of the program lies in helping girls recognize their inner strength, embrace their individuality, and support one another. I had the honor of cheering on our 3rd through 5th graders who ran in the race with their special running buddy. It was truly a wonderful event and congratulations to all of our runners!

SEPTA is Syosset's Special Education PTA. SEPTA is proud to serve and represent every school in the Syosset Central School District. Membership is open to everyone. Please see the link attached here to join!

Breakfast and Lunch Menus- June

Berry Hill FAQs

District Calendar

Berry Hill Elementary School

Main Office: Mrs. Martinez and Mrs. Cohan

Website: www.syossetschools.org
Phone: (516) 364-5790