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.
🌟 Only TWO days until we open a whole new world! 🌟 Get ready to soar with the cast of Disney's Aladdin JR.! 🧞♂️✨ Don't miss this spectacular show on Thursday 11/20 & Friday 11/21 at 7:00 PM in the WHSS Auditorium. Grab your tickets now! $5 for students / $8 at the door.
Our AP Bio students are synthesizing their findings on herbicides & photosynthesis by creating detailed, informative posters. It's not just about the science; it's about communicating complex ideas clearly!
From the classroom to the big leagues! Our Broadcasting students were at Hofstra University tonight for their TNL recording. The behind-the-scenes look at a college-level studio was an unforgettable experience.
This year’s Field of Honor raised $650 in donations for our veterans. The Northport VA will distribute our 26 grocery gift cards, in the amount of $25 each, to veterans receiving support services and to those who truly need them.
The Key Club Food Drive is wrapping up at Stop & Shop soon! We're here until 3 PM collecting non-perishables to restock our food pantry. Please drop off a donation on your way out!
English 8 is diving into history in Writers Workshop! Our students are hard at work crafting compelling biographies, researching amazing lives, and bringing historical figures back to life on the page. Who are they writing about?
The WHSS production of Disney's Aladdin JR. is playing next Thursday and Friday (11/20 & 11/21) at 7:00 PM!
It's just $5 for students ($8 at the door) to see the show at the WHSS Auditorium.
Don't miss this spectacular night!
The Holiday Craft Fair is tomorrow at the Secondary School from 5-9 PM! Support the Senior Class of 2026 and find unique gifts!
From whiteboards in @CornwellAveES classrooms to laptops in @wh_secondary school, our students are mastering the art of making meaning. Watching literacy come alive across our district reminds us why we do what we do! 📖💙 #ProudEducator #WHeRiseAbove
From a Kansas shoe repairman's vision to a national tribute: Alvin King believed ALL veterans deserved honor, not just WWI heroes. His 1953 push transformed Armistice Day into Veterans Day—a time to thank every American who served. 🇺🇸 #VeteransDay
Our Advanced Global 9 students are tackling an enduring issue! They're busy crafting sharp thesis statements and building compelling arguments for their essays. From the roots of Conflict to the evolution of Innovation, they're connecting the past to the present.
The Principles of Living Environment class took a field trip to Tanglewood Preserve! They got to peep the awesome fall colors, check out the local wildlife, and see how the ecosystem actually works.
Get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping and support a great cause! Join the WHSS Holiday Craft Fair on Thursday, November 13th, from 5 PM - 9 PM in the South Gymnasium.
Shop unique Gifts & Crafts made by local artisans! All proceeds benefit the Senior Class of 2026.
Don't miss Aladdin JR. presented by the West Hempstead Secondary School Drama 7/8!
Two Nights Only!
11/20 & 11/21 @ 7 PM
WHSS Auditorium.
$5 student tickets. Be there!
Big Brothers Big Sisters is officially underway! Huge shoutout to our Secondary School and Cornwell Avenue students for an amazing first peer mentoring session. The energy was electric!
Our amazing English 7 students were sparking powerful conversations today with a Socratic Seminar around A Long Walk to Water. They were exploring themes of resilience, survival, and the global water crisis. So proud of their critical thinking!
