Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week of October 5, 2026

   

 Dear Island Trees School Community,

Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below: 

Niche Rankings 2026 - Small & Mighty. 🐾

This week, Newsday highlighted the Long Island school districts that landed in the Top 10 of the national Niche rankings.

While Island Trees wasn’t in the Top 10, we are certainly proud of where we landed:

#445 out of 10,449 school districts nationwide -- placing Island Trees in the top 4% nationally.

For a small school district, that’s something worth celebrating.

Our size may be small, but the dedication of our teachers, staff, students, families, and community is anything but.

We may be small, but we are definitely MIGHTY!

That’s Island Trees. ❤️🐾

Education Is Sometimes a Marathon

Education is sometimes a marathon. Not every student comes out of the blocks racing toward the finish line. For some, the journey is a slow and steady trudge, while for others, it can feel like a grueling marathon with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

I know the story of one student whose parents made the decision to have him repeat Kindergarten. He was progressing slowly and seemed a bit younger than many of his classmates. That extra year gave him the time he needed, and his progress continued steadily.

By the time he reached high school, something changed. He began to thrive. His schedule became increasingly challenging, and by today's standards, he would have been considered an AP student. He accumulated so many AP courses that he was eventually able to skip a grade in college. He later returned to the grade level he and his original classmates had started together many years earlier -- and graduated with many of those same students.

In fact, he graduated before some of his former classmates who ultimately needed five years to complete college.

The point of this story is simple: success does not always follow a straight line.

As parents, it is easy to compare our children to others and wonder why they aren't moving at the same pace. But every child has a different timetable, and sometimes what looks like a slower start is simply part of that child's journey.

Remember these stories when working with your children. Give them time. Give them encouragement. Give them opportunities to grow.

Life has surprises for all of us, and education is indeed a marathon of sorts. The goal isn't necessarily to be first across the finish line. The goal is to keep moving forward.

 
 
Secrets of College Admissions - Save the Date
October 28, 7:00 p.m. - Secrets of College Admissions
Geared for Middle School Parents in Grades 7 & 8 and HS Parents/Students in Grades 9-11
 
What do colleges really see when they look at your child’s application? Is it just grades and test scores? How important are the courses a student takes? Do extracurricular activities really matter? What are admissions officers looking for beyond the numbers -- and what can students do throughout high school to put themselves in the best position when it is time to apply?

The college admissions process can be confusing and, at times, overwhelming. There are schedules, grades, standardized tests, co-curricular activities, leadership opportunities, essays, recommendations, applications, and deadlines. This workshop will help parents and students better understand what matters, what doesn't, and what students can do now to prepare for the future. We will take parents and students through the college admissions process and discuss how admissions officers evaluate the many pieces of a student's application. Topics will include academic schedules, grades, standardized testing, co-curricular activities, leadership, personal interests, and the overall high school experience. 

We will also emphasize an important message: college preparation is not something that begins in senior year. The decisions students make throughout high school -- what courses they take, how they approach their academics, what activities they pursue, and where they invest their time -- help shape the story they ultimately present to colleges. 

 

TRUNK OR TREAT SIGN-UP
 


Sign-up Link
https://my.cheddarup.com/c/trunk-or-treat-2026-35893/items
 
PTA Council Raffle

https://my.cheddarup.com/c/council-needoh-squishy-raffle/items

Spooky Fest
 

 
Halloween House Contest
 

 
 
YES Community Counseling Center Parent Survey
  

 
We Transport – Employment Opportunities 
 
We need bus drivers! We Transport will train drivers to obtain their CDL license. 

Island Trees Spirit Wear - PTA
  
  
 
LEV-IT Fall Festival

 
 
 
This Week’s Calendar
 
Monday, October 5 – Title I Parent Meeting, Stokes, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 6 – Dollars for Scholars Meeting, ITHS, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 6 – SEPTA Meeting, MMS, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 7 – Stokes Picture Day – Smile!
Wednesday, October 7 – High School Shared Decision-Making, ITHS, 2:15 p.m.
Wednesday, October 7 – Grade 7 Boston Meeting, MMS, 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 7 – Board of Education Work Session, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 8 – Sparke Picture Day – Smile!
Thursday, October 8 – PSAT Exam, Grades 10 & 11, ITHS
Thursday, October 8 – SAT Exam Grade 12, ITHS
Thursday, October 8 – MMS Shared Decision-Making, MMS, 2:45 p.m.
Friday, October 9 – Interim Reports for Secondary on the Portal

 
 Island Trees Home Page – Parent Square Link and Pop-Up
 https://islandtrees.org/
  
  
 Island Trees Social Media Sites
  
 Twitter/X - Sparke School
 @SparkeShines
 https://twitter.com/SparkeShines
  
 Twitter/X - Stokes School
 @WeRStokes

 Twitter/X - MMS
 https://twitter.com/IslandtreesMMS

 Twitter/X – Special Education
 IT_SpecialEd

 Island Trees High School
 Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/islandtreeshs
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IslandtreesHS/
  
 Instagram – Athletics
 islandtreesathletics
  
Athletics Game Schedule Link – Scroll down on the department page
 https://www.islandtrees.org/219915_3

Section VIII Website – Schedule, Scores, and Standings
https://secviii.org/

 Island Trees Curriculum and Instruction Instagram:
 islandtreeslearns
 https://www.instagram.com/islandtreeslearns/
  

 Two-Week Calendar Look Ahead
Monday, October 12 – Columbus Day
Wednesday, October 14 - Stokes Book Fair
Wednesday, October 14 – Board of Education Meeting, Karopczyc, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 15 - 7th Grade Boston Trip
Friday, October 16 - 7th Grade Boston Trip