Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week of November 2, 2026

   
 Dear Island Trees School Community,

 Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below: 
 
📚 Great Readers Start with a Love of Reading! 📚

Reading is one of the keys to school success, and like any skill, it gets stronger with regular practice. But especially in the elementary years, the goal is to do more than simply teach children how to read -- we want them to WANT to read! ❤️

One of the best ways to build strong readers is to help children discover the joy of getting lost in a good book. When kids enjoy what they’re reading, they’re more likely to pick up another book, keep turning the pages, and build their skills along the way.

The secret? Find what your child loves to read! 📖

Some children love funny stories 😂, others are drawn to fantasy and adventure 🐉, while others prefer nonfiction books about animals, sports, history, or the world around them. With thousands of books to choose from, there truly is something for everyone. The trick is discovering your child’s interests and making those books readily available.

And we’re fortunate to have wonderful resources right in our own backyard! Within about a 10-minute drive, families can visit the Island Trees, Levittown, and Bethpage public libraries. 🏫📚 Their children’s and teen librarians are fantastic resources who can recommend popular titles, introduce children to new authors, and help every young reader find their next favorite book.

The bottom line: The more children enjoy reading, the more they want to read -- and the more they read, the more opportunities they have to grow as learners. 🌟

So, make a trip to the library, explore something new, and let your child’s interests lead the way. You never know which book might spark a lifelong love of reading! ❤️📚
 
Newsday Marching Band Festival 🎶🥁

The Island Trees marching band, color guard, and kickline performed at last week’s Newsday Marching Band Festival at Mitchel Field. Our high school students delivered an incredible performance, and we are so proud of their talent, dedication, and school spirit!
                                                                                                                                       



High School Track Completed
 
The high school track was completed last week and is now ready for use.
Thank you for your patience while this work was being completed. We appreciate your understanding.
 
  
                                                                                                    

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MMS 7th Grade Boston Trip Pictures 

Cheer Team in County Finals

Sunday, November 1, 11:00 a.m.., Farmingdale State College
Tickets:  https://gofan.co/event/6986437?schoolId=NYSPHSAA8


Transportation Update - Bus Fire

As a follow-up to our earlier communication regarding the bus fire on September 25th, WE Transport has completed its investigation. The cause could not be determined, other than confirming that the fire originated under the hood. We will continue to work with our transportation provider to ensure that required bus inspections and student safety drills remain in place. Student safety remains our priority, and we appreciate your continued confidence in our transportation program.


This Week’s Calendar

Sunday, November 1 – Fall Back – Change Clocks
Monday, November 2 – Elementary School Conferences – Schools Closed for Elementary School Students (Sparke & Stokes)
Monday, November 2 – MMS Winter Athletics Begins
Tuesday, November 3 – Election Day – Schools Closed for Students
Tuesday, November 3 – Teacher Conference Day
Wednesday, November 4 – HS Shared Decision-Making Team, ITHS, 2:15 p.m.
Wednesday, November 4 – Elementary PTA, Sparke, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 5 – PTSA Book Fair, MMS
Friday, November 6 – Elementary Parent Conferences -Early Dismissal 11:45 a.m.
Friday, November 6 – PTSA Book Fair, MMS
Friday, November 6 – MMS Sports Night, MMS, 6:00 p.m.
Friday, November 6 – First Marking Period Ends ITHS/MMS
Friday, November 6 – Grades 9-11 Add/Drop Deadline
Friday, November 6 – National Nachos Day! With everything on them….. 🥑🍅🧀🌮 😋
 

 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

 Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans’ Day – Schools Closed
Thursday, November 12 – MMS Shared Decision Making, MMS, 2:45 p.m.
Thursday, November 12 – Sparke School Picture Retake
Thursday, November 12 – Board of Education Work Session, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, November 13 – Secondary Report Cards on the Portal