



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


Building Strong Foundations Through Joyful Learning
This week in our Pre-K and Kindergarten classrooms, learning came alive through meaningful experiences that nurtured our youngest learners' natural curiosity and love of discovery.
Community Connections 🤝
Special guests visited our Early Childhood classrooms, creating authentic learning opportunities that extended education beyond the classroom walls. These visits reinforced the strong partnership between school and community while showing students that learning is everywhere.
Literacy in Action 📚
Students engaged in hands-on vocabulary and language development activities throughout the week. From exploring "h" words—happy, hello, hey, hi, heart, and more—to practicing phonics and reading strategies, our young Rams are building essential literacy skills that will support them for years to come.
Developmentally Appropriate Learning 🎨
Our early childhood educators create thoughtfully designed classroom environments filled with colorful learning centers, interactive activities, and nurturing spaces where every child feels valued and excited to learn each day.
Why These Years Matter
The foundation established in our Early Childhood program shapes not only academic success but also social-emotional growth, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. We're honored to partner with families during these critical developmental years.
Thank you to our dedicated early childhood team for the care, creativity, and expertise they bring to our youngest Rams every single day.
Want to see more of what's happening in our schools? Follow us on social media and subscribe to our weekly updates!
#WHe #RamFam #WHeRiseTogether





Excellence in Every Subject
This week showcased the incredible depth of learning happening across West Hempstead UFSD. Our students tackled complex concepts and real-world challenges:
Spanish & Cultural Literacy 🇪🇸
Students built vocabulary through authentic contexts, strengthening both language skills and cultural understanding.
Geometry & Mathematical Reasoning 📐
Through hands-on exploration of congruence, students developed spatial reasoning and proof-writing abilities.
English & American Literature 📖
Analysis of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men sparked conversations about dreams, friendship, and the American experience.
Economics & Civic Understanding 🏛️
Students examined the roles of government agencies, gaining insight into how public institutions shape society.
AP Research Milestone 🔬
Our AP scholars conducted IRB interviews—a significant achievement demonstrating ethical research practices and academic maturity.
WHe are proud of our students' dedication and our teachers' commitment to creating transformative learning experiences every day.
Want to see more of what's happening in our schools? Follow us on social media and subscribe to our weekly updates!
#WHe #RamFam #WHeRiseTogether





🗓️ 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

📚 Book Fair Alert! Join us Nov 18-20 at @CornwellAveES & @WHGWashington schools. Bring cash/check or load your eWallet via QR codes. Let's celebrate reading together!
Questions? Contact Martha Banks & Lakeefah Campbell at 631-493-7652 🌟📖
@WHEPTA #WHeRiseTogether










🌟 West Hempstead Community Wellness Day!
📅 Sunday, Nov 16, 12-3 PM
📍 WH Secondary School
Sports training, boxing, Pilates, health screenings & more! All ages welcome.
#CommunityWellness #WHeRiseTogether #HealthyLiving



