A.P. Willits School

Dear Willits Families,

As we wrap up another wonderful school year, we want to take a moment to reflect on the many fun and memorable events that brought our community together this June. From joyful end-of-year class parties to our spirited June Unity Day, students and staff alike celebrated the culmination of our E-Pledge initiative. Throughout the building, classes committed to completing 100 acts of kindness, spreading compassion and altruism across our school community.

We also hosted our annual Field Day—on what was likely the hottest day of the year! Never ones to falter, we made thoughtful adjustments to the schedule, ensuring students stayed safe and had the time of their lives competing in a variety of exciting events.

A special highlight was the breathtaking 3-D mural created by every student under the guidance of Mrs. Yanantuono and artist-in-residence John DiNaro. This collaborative masterpiece now enhances our front garden and stands as a vibrant symbol of unity and creativity.

We proudly celebrated our 5th grade graduates with a yearbook signing luncheon, a heartfelt Moving Up Ceremony, and our second annual Clap-Out Parade. The celebration concluded with an impromptu dance party in our newly updated garden—an unforgettable send-off for our graduating students!

As we head into summer, we want to thank you for your continued support, insights, and partnership throughout the year. We wish all our families a relaxing, joyful summer break and look forward to welcoming you back in the fall. Happy Summer!

Warmly,

Ms. Morgan

Kindergarten students spent June completing an ABC countdown to 1st grade! We blew bubbles & drew with chalk. We shared our favorite books & worked under our desks. We did STEAM activities and put on an incredible talent show! We wore our Jammie’s and created silly monsters! And we are so excited to ZOOM into first grade! It was an amazing year and we are so proud of all the hard work these kids have done this year!

We had such a fun time celebrating the end of first grade with a beach-themed party in the all-purpose room! Students brought in beach towels and stuffed animals to help transform the space into our own indoor "beach." Everyone enjoyed a refreshing Italian ice and had a great time mingling with friends from across all the first grade classrooms while coloring in beach-themed coloring books. It was the perfect way to wrap up a fantastic year! We wish all of our families a wonderful, relaxing summer vacation and thank you so much for your support throughout the school year!

In an exciting geography unit, second graders transformed into real-life cartographers as they delved into a special map skills workbook! Through engaging activities and colorful illustrations, students learned to identify key map features like compass roses, legends, and scales. The students practiced locating places using cardinal directions, interpreting symbols, and even creating their own simple maps. Students particularly enjoyed using grid locations to pinpoint specific spots on a map and labeling the continents and oceans, solidifying their understanding of our planet's geography. This hands-on experience helped students develop a fundamental understanding of how maps work and how they can be used to navigate the world around them.

Our third-grade students recently engaged in a comprehensive writing project, crafting original fairy tales through each stage of the writing process. The students brainstormed ideas, planned their narratives, drafted and revised their work, and ultimately published polished stories complete with illustrations. As a culminating activity, students shared their finished fairy tales by reading them aloud to first-grade classes. This project not only enhanced their writing and storytelling skills but also fostered a sense of leadership and community through their interaction with younger peers.

What a fantastic experience it was to see our fourth graders share their amazing work with the third-grade students! The fourth graders had an option to either share their graphic novels or American Revolution research projects. Our older students truly shone as they presented their projects, explained their learning, and answered questions with confidence and enthusiasm. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to not only celebrate their accomplishments but also to act as mentors, inspiring the younger students with what they can look forward to next year. The third graders were captivated, asking thoughtful questions and looking up to their older peers, making for a pleasant and engaging session for everyone involved.

Buddy Day and the Iceberg Theory Helped Our 5th Graders Get Ready for Middle School!

Transitioning to middle school is a big milestone, and our 5th graders are getting ready in thoughtful and meaningful ways!

Buddy Day gave students the chance to build connections, practice teamwork, and feel more confident about entering a new environment with familiar faces. Through engaging activities, staff and students shared their stories and learned about others in a supportive setting.

The Iceberg Theory helped students understand that there’s often more beneath the surface when it comes to people’s feelings and behaviors. The students learned to show empathy, be open to new friendships, and better understand their own emotions during times of change. Together, these experiences are helping our students approach middle school with kindness, confidence, and a strong sense of community.

Field Day was a huge success! Students had a blast beating the heat with three new and exciting water stations: the SpongeBob Relay, Sponge Overboard, and the Water Balloon Toss. It was a day full of laughter & teamwork! Perfect for celebrating the final stretch of the year!

Congratulations to Kohei Suda for winning the annual tradition for 5th graders: the Slowest Bike Race 😊

For four inspiring days this June, A.P. Willits School had the pleasure of welcoming back artist-in-residence John DiNaro. Drawing from the rich biodiversity of Long Island’s ecosystem, John DiNaro guided students in creating a vibrant, nature-themed three-panel mural in the school’s courtyard.

Each student contributed their creativity by painting either directly onto the mural panels or on custom-designed wooden cutouts, leaving a lasting impression on this collaborative masterpiece. The mural’s theme—pond ecology—celebrates the interconnectedness of nature, with colorful flora and fauna brought to life through both paint and three-dimensional wooden appliqués that add depth and perspective.

The mural is part of an ongoing transformation of the courtyard garden, which continues to evolve with the support of the PTA. Future enhancements will include the addition of a striking focal-point tree and a variety of perennial plants arranged in brightly colored planters, further enriching the space as a living, growing work of art.

Keep an eye out as the final touches are added to this dynamic outdoor gallery—a celebration of creativity, community, and the natural world.

In the Imagination Station club—a space focused on creativity, self-expression, and mindfulness—our Kindergarten and First Grade students had a blast exploring the world of art and creativity! Using materials gathered from the environment, such as shells, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, and rocks, students were inspired to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Through hands-on activities, our young artists learned how to think outside the box, plan their artwork, develop their fine motor skills, and let their imaginations run wild. The joy of discovery and the pride in their creations shone through every project, making this club a wonderful opportunity for self-expression and environmental connection.

What Music Has Meant To Me (from the students)

As the school year came to a close, our orchestra students took a moment to reflect on their musical journey and share what music has meant to them with Ms. Lusby. Through heartfelt words and cherished memories, they expressed how orchestra has helped them grow, connect, and find joy in making music together.

“Music has been a joy to my ears. When I play the violin, it's like the music dances in my ear. In the orchestra, one of my favorite memories is the belts. The belts are used in karate order and we get one after we play a song. It is really fun to achieve all belts and you'll be proud of yourself.”

“My experience and orchestra was really fun. I'm glad I learned many skills. Music has meant a lot to me, and I can express myself to the full extent, I don't have to hold back anymore, in orchestra. I feel like I truly belong.”

“My favorite memories include when we got to have an end of the year orchestra party. We played musical chairs, did karaoke, and got to win prizes by playing on the miniature claw machine. We also played awesome songs during concerts like Ninja, Can-Can, and so much more.”

“Music has made me happy when things were bad. Music has changed my life. We had so much fun with funny and sad songs. I'm so grateful for what music has done for me.”

For our final Unity Day assembly for the 2024-2025 school year, we reflected upon and celebrated all of the accomplishments our students have made this year. From our weekly kindness challenges to our e-pledge and beyond, we couldn’t be more proud of the effort students have put forth in spreading kindness and shaping our school community to be a place of comfort and inclusion for all.

At our assembly, our Kindness Crusaders were recognized for their valiant efforts in leading others on a path of kindness and understanding. Lastly, we applauded the efforts of all students as once again, A.P. Willits received Gold Star recognition as a No Place for Hate school. Well done Willits!

See you in September! Happy Summer!

• Next meeting: September 4th at 7:45 pm - A.P. Willits Library.
• Please be sure to join the PTA to receive their weekly newsletter.
• If anyone has any questions, feel free to reach out to the PTA co-presidents (Mrs. Haber & Mrs. Schneidman) at apwillitspta@gmail.com

JOIN SEPTA

• Become a Member Today! Please join SEPTA today... $12 goes a long way to help us provide programming and events for all of our students.

• We have parent SEPTA representatives at each school in the district so be sure to reach out to them with any questions as well (meet them at your next school PTA meeting)!

• Membership is our main source of fundraising, and your support directly benefits our children.

• SEPTA Memberships

• You can also print the following form and mail it along with a check to Sarika Shah (see info on form). Any questions? Contact Sarika Shah at getsarika@gmail.com.

PAST PRESENTATIONS

• To view the presentations from our past SEPTA meetings, please click on this LINK.

The school uses Parent Square to update you about upcoming events, share information about special Spirit Days as well as to alert you of any transportation changes/alerts.