Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week of October 12, 2026
Dear Island Trees School Community,
Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below:
Dumbphones: A Smart Alternative?
We all want our children to be safe and connected. For many parents, having a way to reach their child afterschool or in an emergency is important. But does staying connected have to mean giving a child a smartphone with access to social media, games, and countless apps?
Maybe not.
There has been growing interest in what are sometimes called “dumbphones” -- basic cell phones that allow children to call and text, but do not provide the endless stream of apps, social media, videos, and notifications that come with a smartphone.
For some families, a basic phone may offer a good middle ground: your child can reach you, and you can reach them, without giving them a device designed to compete for their attention.
As parents and educators, we should ask ourselves what we want our children to be doing when they are not in school. We want them to play, ride their bikes, participate in activities, read, create, be outside, and -- perhaps most importantly -- talk to one another.
There is certainly a place for technology. Smartphones can be incredibly useful tools, and every family needs to make the decision that is right for their child. But there is also value in delaying some of the technology that children will inevitably encounter as they get older.
A phone that allows a child to call home doesn't necessarily need to be a window to the entire internet.
A dumbphone may not be the right choice for every family, but for parents who want the security of being able to stay in contact while limiting social media, apps, and endless scrolling, it is worth considering.
Childhood only comes once. Let's make sure our children have plenty of time to look up from their screens, look at each other, and simply be kids.
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
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
Chipotle Senior Fundraiser – October 14th
Take the night off from cooking dinner on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026 (between 5-9 pm) and head to Chipotle to support Island Trees Dollars For Scholars!
25% of sales go directly to scholarships for eligible ITHS Seniors. Present this flier at the register on paper or your phone. Share with your friends and family.
You can also order food online or through the Chipotle app and use promo code YEJBDEA
As always, thank you for your generosity and support throughout the school year.
We Transport – Employment Opportunities
We need bus drivers! We Transport will train drivers to obtain their CDL license.
Roller Skate - Anti-Bullying Prevention (Yes CCC)
LEV-IT Fall Festival
This Week’s Calendar
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
Saturday, October 17 – Lev-It Fall Festival, Fred Neist Field, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 17 – National Pasta Day – For all of our IT carb lovers…enjoy the day! 🍝 👨🍳
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
Tuesday, October 20 – ITHS Blood Drive
Tuesday, October 20 – ENL Fall Festival, Sparke, 4:15 p.m.
Tuesday, October 20 – PTSA Meeting, MMS Library, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 21 – Joe Masi Memorial Event, ITHS, 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 22 – Newsday Marching Band Festival, Mitchel Athletic Field
Friday, October 23 – Grades 5&6 Halloween Social, MMS, 2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Saturday, October 24 – Trunk or Treat, MMS, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – please register ahead of time
