GW Pulse

Dear Families,

Happy New Year! As we begin 2025, I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your support and participation in our school’s winter celebrations. Whether you helped organize events, contributed to gift drives, or simply joined in the festivities, your involvement made the season extra special for our students. We are incredibly fortunate to have such an engaged and caring school community.

As we move into the new year, it's a wonderful time to reflect on the importance of goal setting. Encouraging your child to set meaningful, achievable goals for both academics and personal growth helps them build confidence, focus, and a sense of responsibility. It’s a valuable opportunity to guide your student in identifying their strengths, challenges, and the steps needed to reach their aspirations. I truly appreciate the partnership we share as we work together to support our students. As I reflect on this school year, I am grateful for the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with our students, families, and staff. These connections inspire me daily, and I am excited to use these relationships to help all of us achieve our goals in the months ahead.

Warmly & In partnership

Ms. Robyn Milliner

Proud Principal of George Washington Intermediate School

Do you have a hard time getting your children off of devices at home?

Are you wondering why they are so addicted to digital platforms?

Check out this quote from the book:

"We are embodied creatures; children should learn how to manage their bodies in the physical world before they start spending large amounts of time in the virtual world".

We invite you to come and learn all about this quote and the answers to these questions at our district wide event in partnership with HANC - check out the information below:

• Anxious Generation - Raising Children in The Age of Anxiety: Facing The Challenge Together
• Featuring Dr. Yoni Schwab, PHD - Asst. Head of School at the Shefa School
• When: Tuesday, January 7th at 7:00 pm
• Where: HANC Early Childhood Center
• 240 Hempstead Avenue West Hempstead, NY 11552

Friday Spirit Days

• Every Friday we welcome students to join us in wearing their WH Ram Pride Swag or black and gold clothing.
• This will happen on every Friday in January since we do not have other spirit days during the month.

Upcoming Schoolwide Celebrations & Activities - January Theme: Being a Good Citizen

Our goal in January is to partner with our students to participate in goal setting and the various ways that they can be a good citizen in our school, local and larger community.

• 1/6 -1/8 - Praise Our Police Program Activity
• Our students will be welcomed to make cards, banners or letters that thank our local Sheriffs in partnership with Assemblyman Ra's Law Enforcement Appreciation Day for this year, which will take place on 1/9.
• 1/9 - National Day of Mourning in honor of President Carter
• Our students will engage in developmentally appropriate activities to help them understand the historical importance of this moment and President Carter's enduring legacy of public service, humanitarian efforts and leadership.
• 1/15 - 1/17 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Activity
• Our students will engage in classroom activities that celebrate the life and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in preparation for the observance on Monday, January 20, 2025.
• They will reflect on the various ways they can be a good citizen in their school, local and larger community by reflecting on ways that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. changed and uplifted the communities he served.
• Please remember school there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, January 20th to observe this holiday.

Student Assessments

• NYS Exam Simulation Day - January 28, 2025
• This simulation will provide students with an opportunity to view and practice navigating within the testing program that is used for the NYS ELA & Math Exams towards the end of the year so they will become familiar with it.
• It also allows us the opportunity as a school to practice testing schedules and procedures for the NYS Exams that we will administer in the spring of this school year.

• NWEA MAP Assessment in ELA and Mathematics
• We will administer our NWEA MAP Assessments during the weeks of January 13th and 20th.
• Our students take both of these assessments 3 times a year and this is their 2nd administration that will show us how they have grown in ELA and Math from the beginning of the year until now.
• It is important that all students are in attendance for these assessments!
• Week of Jan 13th - NWEA MAP ELA Exam
• Week of Jan 20th - NWEA MAP Math Exam
• Family Reports from this assessment will be sent home when the administration windows closes for the district - stay tuned.

We have so many exciting upcoming school wide events, we can't wait to see your students join in on the fun!!