Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week of November 9, 2026

 Dear Island Trees School Community,

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

Athletic Cuts -- It’s Not Easy for Anyone

Trying out for an athletic team takes courage, dedication, and a willingness to challenge yourself. Every student who steps onto the field, court, or track deserves recognition for putting themselves out there and giving it a try.

One of the most difficult responsibilities a coach faces is making roster decisions. Coaches want to give as many students as possible the opportunity to participate, develop their skills, and experience the benefits of being part of a team. At the same time, they must consider safety, available resources, practice time, and opportunities for participation.

Keeping larger rosters may allow more students to participate, but it can also make it difficult for coaches to provide individual attention, develop players, and ensure playing time. Sometimes, difficult decisions must be made to maintain a safe and effective program.

We must also recognize the emotional side of the process. Not being selected for a team can be disappointing, especially when a student has worked hard and really wanted to participate. I understand that disappointment personally, and I know it hurts. We should never minimize those feelings.

At the same time, athletics can teach lessons that extend far beyond competition. Learning to respond to disappointment, seek feedback, continue practicing, and work toward a goal are valuable life skills. Not making a team this season does not define a student's potential or future success.

While roster decisions are never easy, coaches must make choices that serve both individual students and the team. We should celebrate every student who has the courage to try out and remind our young people that one outcome does not determine what they can accomplish in the future.

Because in athletics, as in life, success is not always about making the team. Sometimes, it is about what you do next.

Veterans’ Day – November 11th 

 The High School Drama Club Presents – The 39 Steps

 Tickets are $15.00 at the door.

 (Student pre-sale tickets are $5.00 and will be sold starting next week before/during the school day. ) 🙂

Varsity Hockey Schedule for the 2026-27 School Year

Our hockey team is comprised of players from Island Trees, Plainview Old-Bethpage, and Farmingdale.

The season starts before our other varsity teams – November 8th vs. Valley Stream/Sewanhaka/Lynbrook combined team.

 See the schedule below to cheer them on! 

LONG SHOTS – Newsday Article

I have attached a PDF of last week’s Newsday article about the “Long Shot” of moving from high school athletics to college athletics, and the even greater challenge of securing a full athletic scholarship.

This is a spot-on article about how difficult that transition can be. The percentage of high school student-athletes who go on to compete at the college level is very small. Securing a full athletic scholarship is even more challenging and generally requires a student-athlete to be among the very best in Nassau County or on Long Island.

It is not impossible, but it is often more realistic to earn a full academic scholarship than a full athletic scholarship. In fact, Island Trees students have received countless full scholarships for their academic achievements. By comparison, I can count on one hand the number of true full athletic scholarships our students have received over the years.

This is an important article for parents to read. Of course, we want our students to dream big and pursue their goals, both athletically and academically. At the same time, this is a good read to help families develop a realistic understanding of the college athletics and scholarship landscape.

6th Grade Ashokan Trip

How lucky are our 6th grade middle school students?

Please Call Ahead

If you need to visit one of our schools to speak with a staff member, we kindly ask that you call ahead to schedule an appointment. This helps our main offices prepare for your visit, maintain a safe and secure school environment, and ensure that the appropriate staff member is available to meet with you.

We understand that questions and concerns sometimes arise unexpectedly. However, when someone stops by without an appointment, staff members may be teaching, meeting with students or parents, or attending to other scheduled responsibilities.

By calling ahead, you help us make the most of everyone's time while ensuring that your visit is productive and that our schools remain focused on our primary responsibility: educating and supporting our students.

Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and continued partnership with the Island Trees School District.

2027 HS Civics Essay Contest    

Youth Needed - LCAC

This Week’s Calendar

Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans’ Day – Schools Closed
Thursday, November 12 – MMS Shared Decision Making, MMS, 2:45 p.m.
Thursday, November 12 – Sparke Picture Retake
Thursday, November 12 – Board of Education Work Session, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, November 13 – Secondary Report Cards 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, November 16 – High School Winter Athletics Begins
Tuesday, November 17 – MMS/HS Picture Retakes
Tuesday, November 17 – 4th Grade Square Dance, MMS, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 18 – Board of Education Meeting, Karopczyc, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 19 – MMS Parent Conference, MMS, 12 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (School Closed for MMS Students)
Thursday, November 19 – HS Drama, The 39 Steps, Matinee Performance, ITHS, 3:00 p.m. 
Friday, November 20 – Elementary School Spirit Day
Friday, November 20 - HS Drama, The 39 Steps, ITHS, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 21 - HS Drama, The 39 Steps, ITHS, 7:00 p.m.