The Washington Whirl
March 2, 2026

Principal's Weekly Message
Happy March GW Families,
Welcome to the month of March! As we begin this new month, I hope you are enjoying the gradual signs of the season changing and the continued growth we are seeing in our students. This time of year is filled with learning, reflection, and exciting opportunities for our school community.
I want to share how incredibly proud we are of the meaningful learning experiences that took place during Black History Month. Our students engaged in thoughtful lessons and discussions that honored the achievements, resilience, and lasting contributions of Black leaders, innovators, artists, and change-makers. It was inspiring to see their curiosity, questions, and reflections as they deepened their understanding of history and its impact on our world today.
As we move into March, we are excited to celebrate Womenβs History Month. Our teachers are preparing engaging lessons that highlight the important contributions women have madeβand continue to makeβacross all areas of society. It is so important that our students learn about the accomplishments and perspectives of others. When we teach children about the diverse contributions that have shaped our communities and our world, we help them build empathy, respect, and a broader understanding of the possibilities ahead of them.
As a friendly reminder, with the winter weather still upon us, we want to ensure students are prepared for Physical Education class. For safety reasons, students must wear sneakers during gym. Winter boots and other types of shoes are not safe for active movement. Students are welcome to wear winter shoes to school and simply bring their sneakers to change into before class. Wearing proper sneakers helps prevent injuries and ensures that everyone can fully participate and have fun during our PE activities.
We appreciate your continued partnership and support. March is full of learning and growth, and we look forward to a wonderful month ahead with your children.
Warmly,
With appreciation,
Ms. Milliner - Proud Principal
π Celebrate
Hackathon Team
- Special thank you and shout out to Ms. Perlow and Ms. Mottola for their leadership with working with the team.
π£ Communicate - What's Happening at GW This Week?
PTA Reflection Awards Ceremony
The Reflections Ceremony has been postponed by the PTA - please stay tuned for the next date.
NYS Exam Review Sessions
On Monday we will be sending home permission slips for students selected to participate in the NYS Exam Review Sessions in ELA & Math. If your student receives a permission slip, please return it to us no later than Tuesday morning because sessions start this week for ELA Review. If your child was not selected and you would like them to participate, please call the Main Office with your request.
Please reference the session dates below:
4th - 6th GRADE SECTIONS WILL HOLD 5 SESSIONS FROM 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
- ELA Gr. 4 β Session Dates: 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/23, 3/25
- MATH Gr. 4 β Session Date: 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/16, 4/22
- ELA Gr. 5 β Session Dates: 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/23, 3/25
- MATH Gr. 5 β Session Dates: 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/16, 4/22
- ELA Gr. 6 β Session Dates: 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/23, 3/25
- MATH Gr. 6 β Session Dates: 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/16, 4/22
Note, in the event of inclement weather, these dates will serve as alternates:
ELA 3/31and Math 4/23
π£ Communicate - Looking Ahead in The Future Weeks
Class Parents Needed
Thank you to all of the parents who have volunteered to be Class Parents at GW. We are still missing class parents for the following classes:
- Boshnack Homeroom
- Kaminski Homeroom
- Abbott Homeroom
If you are interested, please email Ms. Rivas (luwisa.whepta@gmail.com).
Upcoming Assessments Dates for the Remainder of the Year
The following dates are all of the important assessment dates for the remainder of the year.
- Please place them on your personal calendars for reference.
- Please also do not schedule any travel/vacations on these days as they are important in collecting information on your child's performance and progress.
NYS ELA Exam
April 13th - 4th & 5th Grade ELA Day 1 Exam
April 14th - 4th & 5th Grade ELA Day 2 Exam
April 15th - 6th Grade ELA Day 1 Exam
April 16th - 6th Grade ELA Day 2 Exam
April 17th - NYS ELA Exam Makeups 4th- 6th Grade
NYSESLAT Assessment Speaking Timeline
- April 14th - May 23rd
- Our ENL teachers will be administering this assessment within this window of time.
NYS Science Exam
April 20th - 5th Grade NYS Science Exam
April 21st - 5th Grade NYS Science Exam Makeups
NYS Math Exam
April 27th - 4th & 5th Grade Math Day 1 Exam
April 28th - 4th & 5th Grade Math Day 2 Exam
April 29th - 6th Grade Math Day 1 Exam
April 30th - 6th Grade Math Day 2 Exam
May 1st - NYS Math Exam Makeups 4th - 6th Grade
NYSESLAT Assessment - Listening, Reading and Writing Timeline
- May 12th - 23rd
- Our ENL teachers will be administering this assessment within this window of time.
Spring NWEA MAP Assessment
May 11th - 4th & 5th Grade ELA MAP Assessment
May 12th - 6th Grade ELA MAP Assessment
May 13th - 4th & 5th Grade Math MAP Assessment
May 14th - 6th Grade Math MAP Assessment
May 15th - Makeups
May 18th - Makeups
π± Elevate - Opportunities for Family Engagement
Virtual - Parent Family Engagement Plan Meetings (PFEP)
We will be launching a book club for our families in alignment with our parent family engagement plan at GW. These meetings will be virtual where we get to come together to discuss parent techniques that are helpful in supporting our students become students who show up with all of our habits of mind in all parts of their life.
We are reading the book "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk" by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish.
- Special Thank you to the families who joined me on this Quarter's call this week.
- There is still time to sign up -please fill out this Google Form is you are interested in joining our book club so that we can order your book and plan a time that works best for all families.
Meeting Dates: March 4th, May 20th
π± Elevate - PTA Announcements
Picture Day Updates
The PTA would like us to share the information about the upcoming Picture Day. You will also see the first page of the Privacy notice from the Picture Company that the PTA has chosen.
- The additional pages will be sent out by the PTA.
Please feel free to reach out to Ms. Rivas (PTA Co-President) with any questions that you may have.
Are You a 6th Grade Family Member ? WE NEED YOU !
We currently do not have enough 6th grade parents on the committe to plan appropriately for our 6th graders this year. PLEASE JOIN - WE NEED YOU !!
Are you a parent of a 6th grader ? If so, our PTA needs your help in joining the 6th Grade Parent Committee. The committee is working hard to make your student's last year at GW a success. Please scan the QR Code below to join.
If you have any questions, please email Ms. Rivas - luwisa.whepta@gmail.com.