Watching the @wh_secondary winter concert live and it's beautiful! The holiday spirit is real tonight 🎄✨ So proud of these talented performers bringing festive cheer. If you haven't tuned in yet, catch it here: https://youtube.com/live/4dUPEBAitPg?feature=share
🕎 Happy Hanukkah to all celebrating the Festival of Lights! May these eight nights bring joy, hope, and brightness to your homes. We're grateful for our diverse community where we learn from and celebrate with one another. Chag Sameach! ✨
Our Geometry students are taking collaboration to the next level with the Boss-Scribe Method!
One student is the "Boss" (communicating the geometric steps), and the other is the "Scribe" (executing the task). Learning content and building skills all at the same time.
Check out these incredible relief sculptures as they transform simple shapes into complex, balanced designs radiating from a central point. It's geometry meets artistry!
Our Earth Science students are digging deep into their STEMposium projects! They're creating hands-on models and investigations to show exactly how different landforms are created.
English 9 students spent today diving into their Public Service Announcement (PSA) Project Based Learning! They were selecting roles and launching their journey to tackle real-world issues.
We're giving students something to stick to! 😉 The National STEM Honor Society hosted a Slime Challenge! Who can create the goo-iest, floofiest, or most unique slime?
Join the WH Community Support Assoc. for Holiday at Halls Pond on Sunday, 12/7 from 1:30-5 pm! The West Hempstead Community Support Association needs volunteers for setup, cleanup & fun stations. Help make this community event special! Contact: President@westhempsteadcivic.org
E-Bike & Scooter Safety: Know the Law, Protect Our Community
As e-bikes and motorized scooters become more common in our community, West Hempstead UFSD wants to ensure that all families are informed about the important safety regulations and legal requirements in Nassau County.
Legal Requirements at a Glance:
Age & Licensing:
• Riders must be at least 16 years old
• No driver's license required for e-bikes/scooters
• No vehicle registration or license plates needed for e-bikes
Helmet Requirements:
• MANDATORY for all riders under 18 years of age
• Helmets must meet ANSI, Snell Memorial Foundation, or CPSC standards
• Must be properly fitted and securely fastened
Speed Limits:
• E-bikes (Class 1 & 2): Maximum 20 MPH
• E-bikes (Class 3): Maximum 25 MPH
• E-scooters: Maximum 15 MPH
Where You Can Ride:
✅ Designated bike lanes
✅ Streets with speed limits of 30 MPH or less
✅ Park drives and greenways (bike lanes only)
Where You CANNOT Ride:
❌ Sidewalks (strictly prohibited)
❌ Private property without written owner consent
❌ County property (for motorized scooters)
Consequences of Violations:
Nassau County takes these violations seriously. Under the Mark Sattler Law (Title 61) and other local ordinances:
• First offense: Fines from $150-$300
• Second offense (within 5 years): Fines from $200-$500
• Third offense (within 5 years): Fines from $500-$700
• Vehicle impoundment: Immediate seizure possible
• Impoundment fees: $250 administrative fee + $5 per day storage
Why These Laws Exist:
These regulations aren't meant to restrict freedom—they're designed to protect lives. When riders use sidewalks, exceed speed limits, or operate recklessly, they endanger themselves, pedestrians, and other road users. Nassau County has seen serious injuries and fatalities related to improper e-bike and scooter use, and these laws help prevent future tragedies.
What Families Should Do:
For Parents:
1. Review these rules with your child before they ride
2. Ensure they have a properly fitted helmet
3. Verify they understand where they can and cannot ride
4. Set clear expectations about following traffic laws
5. Model safe riding behavior if you also use these devices
For Students:
1. Know the rules before you ride
2. Always WHear your helmet—every single time
3. Stay in bike lanes and off sidewalks
4. Respect speed limits and traffic signals
5. Understand that violations have real consequences
Resources:
For complete details on Nassau County e-bike and scooter regulations, families can:
• Review the full Mark Sattler Law (Title 61 of Nassau County Miscellaneous Laws)
• Contact the Nassau County Police Department with specific questions
• Report reckless e-bike or scooter riding to 911
West Hempstead UFSD is committed to providing our students and families with the information they need to make safe, legal, and responsible choices. WHe believe that when our community is informed and engaged, Parents need to work with their children to ensure their safety and that they can enjoy the benefits of e-bikes and scooters while staying safe and following the law.
As e-bikes and motorized scooters become more common in our community, West Hempstead UFSD wants to ensure that all families are informed about the important safety regulations and legal requirements in Nassau County.
Legal Requirements at a Glance:
Age & Licensing:
• Riders must be at least 16 years old
• No driver's license required for e-bikes/scooters
• No vehicle registration or license plates needed for e-bikes
Helmet Requirements:
• MANDATORY for all riders under 18 years of age
• Helmets must meet ANSI, Snell Memorial Foundation, or CPSC standards
• Must be properly fitted and securely fastened
Speed Limits:
• E-bikes (Class 1 & 2): Maximum 20 MPH
• E-bikes (Class 3): Maximum 25 MPH
• E-scooters: Maximum 15 MPH
Where You Can Ride:
✅ Designated bike lanes
✅ Streets with speed limits of 30 MPH or less
✅ Park drives and greenways (bike lanes only)
Where You CANNOT Ride:
❌ Sidewalks (strictly prohibited)
❌ Private property without written owner consent
❌ County property (for motorized scooters)
Consequences of Violations:
Nassau County takes these violations seriously. Under the Mark Sattler Law (Title 61) and other local ordinances:
• First offense: Fines from $150-$300
• Second offense (within 5 years): Fines from $200-$500
• Third offense (within 5 years): Fines from $500-$700
• Vehicle impoundment: Immediate seizure possible
• Impoundment fees: $250 administrative fee + $5 per day storage
Why These Laws Exist:
These regulations aren't meant to restrict freedom—they're designed to protect lives. When riders use sidewalks, exceed speed limits, or operate recklessly, they endanger themselves, pedestrians, and other road users. Nassau County has seen serious injuries and fatalities related to improper e-bike and scooter use, and these laws help prevent future tragedies.
What Families Should Do:
For Parents:
1. Review these rules with your child before they ride
2. Ensure they have a properly fitted helmet
3. Verify they understand where they can and cannot ride
4. Set clear expectations about following traffic laws
5. Model safe riding behavior if you also use these devices
For Students:
1. Know the rules before you ride
2. Always WHear your helmet—every single time
3. Stay in bike lanes and off sidewalks
4. Respect speed limits and traffic signals
5. Understand that violations have real consequences
Resources:
For complete details on Nassau County e-bike and scooter regulations, families can:
• Review the full Mark Sattler Law (Title 61 of Nassau County Miscellaneous Laws)
• Contact the Nassau County Police Department with specific questions
• Report reckless e-bike or scooter riding to 911
West Hempstead UFSD is committed to providing our students and families with the information they need to make safe, legal, and responsible choices. WHe believe that when our community is informed and engaged, Parents need to work with their children to ensure their safety and that they can enjoy the benefits of e-bikes and scooters while staying safe and following the law.
Teamwork makes the dream work (and the cookies)! Students are collaborating in the kitchen, churning out dozens of M&M cookies for The Haven. Every cookie is packed with kindness and ready to brighten someone's day.
So proud of our Key Club students! They're leading the way, guiding faculty members in a wonderful service project: creating handmade greeting cards for terminally ill patients. These messages of hope will be delivered at the end of the week.
It's not just about finding 'x'! Foundations of Algebra II students are building deeper conceptual understanding by first creating word problems and then seeing the story visually when they graph the equations.
Join the WH Community Support Assoc. for Holiday at Halls Pond on Sunday, 12/7 from 1:30-5 pm! The West Hempstead Community Support Association needs volunteers for setup, cleanup & fun stations. Help make this community event special! Contact: President@westhempsteadcivic.org
📚 Our December Literacy Newsletter is here! Discover how our students are growing as readers & writers, plus simple ways to build literacy at home this holiday season. From cozy read-alouds to recipe reading—every moment counts! #WHeRiseTogether https://tinyurl.com/56zyp8n6
Incredible STEM Alumni Day! 🔬🤖 Thank you to all our alumni who returned to @wh_secondary to inspire the next generation. Your stories, insights, and encouragement mean the world to our students. Together, we're building futures! #WHeRiseTogether
Hands-on advice from those who've been there! Our STEM alumni shared their secrets to success today with our students during STEM Alumni Day.
Our students are making magic happen on stage with Aladdin Jr.! They are performing WHonderfully! If you missed the fun tonight, grab your tickets for the final show tomorrow! You don't want to miss this!
From a lump of clay to something beautiful—that's the power of the pottery wheel. So much concentration and creativity flowing in the studio today!
Closing the Vocabulary Gap Through Independent Reading
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
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
A big shout-out to our incredible students and staff who spent the afternoon packaging Thanksgiving meals for those in need. Your energy and Ram Pride are truly making a difference.
