This week at our secondary school, students are demonstrating powerful ownership of their learning journey across multiple settings and experiences.
Students are collaborating with peers during lunch breaks and social time at the Haven, preparing for Chemistry tests, and engaging in thoughtful one-on-one book talks with teachers. Notably, students are also preparing to present at faculty meetings and developing presentation ideas, demonstrating leadership and a voice that extends beyond the traditional classroom setting.
This kind of student agency reflects a school culture where students feel empowered to take risks, share their thinking, and see themselves as genuine contributors to the school community. Our educators have created an environment where student voice and ownership are not just encouraged but expected.
When students own their learning, remarkable growth and achievement follow.
This week at Cornwell Avenue School, students are engaged in meaningful literacy work across all grade levels. From our youngest learners sounding out letters and digraphs to students immersed in independent reading, the energy of learning fills every classroom.
Our writers are finalizing personal narratives for an upcoming writing celebration, while other students develop critical thinking skills by comparing fiction and non-fiction texts. This rigorous, engaging work represents the kind of "literacy mental sweat" that builds strong readers, writers, and thinkers—foundational skills that will serve our students throughout their lives.
We're RamProud of our Cornwell Avenue students' dedication and grateful to our teachers for creating such rich learning experiences.
#WHeRiseTogether
🎉 Join us for Supermarket BINGO! 🎱
📅 NEW DATE: Friday, Dec 5th
⏰ 7-9PM @wh_secondary School
🎟️ $10 (includes 2 boards)
🍕 Snacks available!
Tickets at door or prepay by Nov 21st
📞 Mara 347-869-1088
Fun for the whole family! 50/50 raffle & baskets! 🎁
@wh_pps
🎉 Join us for Supermarket BINGO! 🎱
📅 NEW DATE: Friday, Dec 5th
⏰ 7-9PM @wh_secondary School
🎟️ $10 (includes 2 boards)
🍕 Snacks available!
Tickets at door or prepay by Nov 21st
📞 Mara 347-869-1088
Fun for the whole family! 50/50 raffle & baskets! 🎁
@wh_pps
🎉 West Hempstead Varsity Cheer is hosting a Clothing Drive! Drop off gently used items on Nov 24th at 5:30PM at WH Secondary School Football Field. Support local athletes & help Go Green Clothing! Questions? whramscheer@gmail.com 👕♻️
🎉 West Hempstead Varsity Cheer is hosting a Clothing Drive! Drop off gently used items on Nov 24th at 5:30PM at WH Secondary School Football Field. Support local athletes & help Go Green Clothing! Questions? whramscheer@gmail.com 👕♻️
Come experience the magic! ✨ West Hempstead Secondary's Drama 7/8 presents Disney's Aladdin JR.
🗓️ Nov 20-21 at 7 PM
📍 WHSS Auditorium, 400 Nassau Blvd
🎟️ $5 students / $8 door
A whole new world awaits! 🧞♂️
#AladdinJR #WHeRiseTogether @wh_secondary @FpcaWest
This week at Cornwell Avenue Elementary School was a beautiful reminder of what makes our district special—students thriving in environments built on care, connection, and collaboration.
In the Library: Students discovered the joy of reading together, sharing stories, and building essential literacy skills through peer collaboration.
In the Cafeteria: Our dedicated staff provided nutritious meals with smiles and genuine care, creating welcoming spaces where students can refuel and recharge.
On the Playground: Despite cooler weather, our playground remained a vibrant hub where students built social connections, stayed active, and enjoyed quality time with friends.
These everyday moments, quiet reading circles, lunch line conversations, and playground laughter, are the heartbeat of our schools. They remind us that education extends far beyond classroom walls. Every interaction, every shared experience, and every supportive adult contributes to our students' growth and development.
Thank you to our dedicated Cornwell Avenue staff for creating these meaningful experiences every day, and to our families for your continued partnership in supporting student success.
#WHeRiseTogether
This Week in Our Schools: Learning in Action At GW
From collaborative projects to targeted instruction, our students and teachers are making every moment count.
This week, classrooms at George Washington showcased the type of engaged, meaningful learning that defines our commitment to educational excellence.
GW students participated in hands-on learning activities designed to build critical skills while fostering collaboration. Teachers seamlessly transitioned between whole-class instruction and small group work, ensuring each student received individualized attention. Students explored storytelling lessons featuring the traditions of the Iroquois people, deepening both their literacy skills and cultural understanding.
Students also demonstrated impressive collaboration as they worked together on technology-enhanced projects. Whether analyzing data at their laptops or engaging in independent reading, students showed the self-directed learning skills essential for future success. The supportive peer environment encouraged students to take academic risks and support one another's growth.
What stood out most during this week's classroom visits was the strength of the relationships between teachers and students. Our educators provide not only rigorous academic instruction but also the emotional support and encouragement that helps students thrive. This combination of challenge and care creates the optimal environment for learning.
These moments represent just a fraction of the teaching and learning happening across our district every day. We remain grateful to our outstanding staff for their dedication and to our families for their continued partnership in supporting student achievement.
Together, we're building a bright future for every student in the #RamFam.
Want to stay connected? Follow us on social media for daily updates and celebrations of student success!
TONIGHT & TOMORROW!
Come experience the magic! ✨ WH Secondary's Drama 7/8 presents Disney's Aladdin JR.
🗓️ Nov 20-21 at 7 PM
📍 WHSS Auditorium, 400 Nassau Blvd
🎟️ $5 students / $8 door
A whole new world awaits! 🧞♂️
#AladdinJR #WHeRiseTogether @wh_secondary @FpcaWest
As educators, we talk a lot about achievement gaps and opportunity gaps. But underlying many of these is something more fundamental: the vocabulary gap.
Research consistently shows that vocabulary knowledge in early grades is one of the strongest predictors of reading comprehension and academic achievement in later years. Students with larger vocabularies comprehend more, learn faster, and achieve higher outcomes across every subject area.
So how do we build vocabulary? Not primarily through vocabulary lists and weekly quizzes, though those have their place. The most effective vocabulary instruction happens almost invisibly—through wide, voluminous reading.
When students read extensively, they encounter words repeatedly in varied contexts. They develop an intuitive sense of word meanings, connotations, and appropriate usage. They build not just vocabulary, but the sophisticated language comprehension that separates strong readers from struggling ones.
The problem? Many of our students simply aren't reading enough. The average American student reads only 10-15 minutes per day outside of school. That's not enough exposure to build the vocabulary necessary for academic success.
Here's what makes a difference:
· Prioritize reading volume: Ten books at the right level beats one frustratingly difficult book
· Honor student choice: A book they'll actually finish beats a "better" book they'll abandon
· Count all reading: Magazines, graphic novels, audiobooks, online articles—it all contributes
· Create reading time: Make it non-negotiable, like brushing teeth
· Model reading: Let your children see you read for pleasure
This week, help your child set a reading goal—not based on difficulty, but on volume. Twenty minutes daily, every day. Track it. Celebrate it. Protect it from other activities.
Their vocabulary—and their future—will thank you.
"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." - Frederick Douglass
Let's give every child this freedom through the gift of words.
#WHeRiseTogether#VocabularyDevelopment #ReadingVolume #LiteracyForAl
