District News: Week of 2/19/18

BULLDOG BRILLIANCE
IHS Students: Small Acts of Kindness Have a Profound and Positive Impact

Three Irvington High School students – Sofia Garcia, Daniel Marshall and Juliana Zukerman – have each felt compelled to tackle causes they deeply care about, dedicating their time to spreading kindness to people all over the world.
 
Although hurricanes Harvey and Irma devastated homes and destroyed people’s lives hundreds of miles away, Zukerman said she couldn’t bear to watch people struggle. She knew she had to take action. As a result, she created a fundraising page to raise money for the victims and spread awareness about the devastation of natural disasters.
 
“I felt that it was important to spread awareness because it is so painful to come to the realization that this is constantly affecting people in the worst ways,” she said. “I am so grateful for everything I have and cannot imagine what it would be like to have it all taken away in the blink of an eye.”
 
Through her efforts, Zukerman raised money for parents and their children who needed to rebuild their lives. She also founded the Disaster Relief Club at her high school and united with her peers to further support the relief efforts. As a result, she sent care packages, which included toys and clothes, to a group home in Texas around the holidays. In addition, she donated money to a family who had lost their home in Puerto Rico as a result of the hurricane.
 
Similarly, Garcia, who has family in Puerto Rico and visits every summer, organized a drive to get a variety of goods and supplies to people who were still suffering in the aftermath of the hurricane. She collected supplies, such as batteries, diapers, baby wipes, feminine products, portable lanterns and water.
 
“It is such a beautiful place full of great people, and what has happened to them is so devastating and unfair,” she said. “Our drive was really successful. The box we brought was big, but it overflowed with bags and items.”
 
While Garcia said she didn’t expect to collect such a great amount of goods in a short amount of time, she wasn’t surprised at the generosity of her school community.
 
“I really hope my drive influenced other people around my school to make efforts to help,” she added. “I hope my efforts helped the children and families in Puerto Rico who are struggling in such a difficult time, and I hope my work will influence others to do the same.”
 
Meanwhile, Marshall took on a different worthy cause by creating a local chapter of Students for Refugees, an international organization, at Irvington High School. The mission of the club is to empower young people to take action and improve the condition of refugees. During a trip to Germany last summer, Marshall had the opportunity to learn how the country has responded to the European refugee crisis.  Following his trip, he devoted his time to finding out more about the situation and engaging his peers in the dialogue by forming a local club.

“Meeting with so many refugees and hearing their stories of perseverance and struggle inspired me to help out other refugees,” he said. “Forming a branch in Irvington seemed like a special opportunity for our students to gain a global awareness.”

As a result, Marshall and his classmates have been able to meet and bond with student refugees in their local community. They’ve spent time teaching them English, discussing American customs and culture, playing sports and creating artwork, among other activities. He’s also working toward creating a mentorship program to help refugees adjust to their new lives.

“Most importantly, we have kept them company to make [them] feel at home in a setting that could not be more foreign,” he said. “We want everyone to look at this crisis from a humanitarian perspective and to recognize that we can make a difference through our effort, kindness and willingness to give time.”

Marshall said that spending time with student refugees has given him a new appreciation for the journeys that immigrants face, and he feels he needs to share that with his community.  

“We must recognize that individually we cannot help everyone, but together we can accomplish more than we can imagine,” he said. “It’s important for our students to understand that even a small act of kindness can have a profound and positive impact on themselves and someone else.”

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MID-WINTER BREAK

​There is no school from Monday, February 19 through Friday, February 23.
 
Enjoy the break!

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KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Kindergarten Registration remaining date: Tuesday, February 27, 6pm - 8pm
 
For more information, and for registration forms, click on: http://www.irvingtonschools.org/pages/Irvington_UFSD/Students___Parents/Kindergarten_Registration_Info
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​USED BOOK SALE
Book Collection Begins Monday, February 26

Please donate your used books! Books for all ages are welcome especially CHAPTER BOOKS!
 
Book collection boxes can be found in the Dows Lane lobby; outside the office at Main Street School; in the upper lobby at Irvington Middle School; and in the main office at Irvington High School, starting on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26th.
 
We will happily accept empty cardboard boxes (book moving size/Fresh Direct size/Wine size) and shopping bags, which are always needed for the sale. Please deliver to the Dows Lane lobby.
 
If you wish to volunteer your time or learn more about the sale, please contact Karen Arnett at karnett1007@gmail.com.
 
Please tell your friends and neighbors and don’t forget to mark your calendars with the dates the Used Book Sale is open to the public: May 10th &12th.

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PARENT BOWLING NIGHT
Friday, March 2

Who says the kids get all the fun? Join us for a night out for the grown-ups!
 
Date: Friday March 2, 2018
Time: 8pm-10pm (check-in at 7:45pm)
Where: Bowlmor Lanes, 47 Tarrytown Road, White Plains
Cost: $65 per person (Cost includes hot and cold finger foods, drink tickets, bowling shoes and 2 hours of bowling.)
 
Buy your tickets today!
Sign up deadline is TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27!  Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Online: Bowling Night Online Tickets 
Paper form/check: Bowling Night Form

 If you have any questions, please contact  Melissa Stein at melissa.stein19@gmail.com

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SCIENCE FAIR
Saturday, March 24

The Science Fair is Coming!
 
Irvington School District (K-12) Science Fair
 
 
Saturday, March 24, 2018
12pm - 3pm
Gina Maher Gym at the IMS/IHS Campus
 
Sign up to participate, to mentor participants, or to help out: http://www.irvingtonnyptsa.org/science-fair-2018.html
 

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RIVERTOWN PARENTS PRESENTATIONS
Save the Dates

MINDFULNESS
Wednesday, May 2
Hastings-on-Hudson
A presentation by Dr. Christopher Willard.  Dr. Willard teaches at Harvard Medical School and has presented at TEDx conferences.
He is the author of Child’s Mind (2010) Growing Up Mindful (2016) and Raising Resilience (2017)
 
 
FAMILY TINKER NIGHT
Friday, May 18
Irvington
TINKER, THINK, AND EXPLORE your way through an evening of hands-on STEAM! (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) See and experience innovative, inquiry-based learning in action on a night where everyone gets to be a kid again!
 
For more information, please see: RIVERTOWN PARENTS MAY 2018 SAVE THE DATES or visit: Rivertown Parents
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IUFSD NEEDS YOU!
Volunteers Needed for MSS, IMS & IHS School Site Committees

Now’s your chance to become a volunteer at your child's school. One Tuesday a month, for about an hour will afford you the opportunity to help make a difference.
 
Just some of the improvements made because of the leadership of the Site Committees are: Revitalizing Recess, Imagination Playground and the Peaceful Playground at Dows Lane; the development of the Community Garden, the Community Playground and improvements to indoor/outdoor recess at Main Street; creation of the Insider’s Guide to IMS, making revisions to the Student Handbook and recommendations for beautification of the Middle School, and enhancing the senior internship experience and the development of the Core Value Awards program at the High School.
 
Main Street School, the Middle School and the High School are each in need of one (1) additional Site Committee Member. If you would like further information, please click review the Shared Decision Making Plan, or if you wish to volunteer, please contact Donna Friedlander at donna.friedlander@irvingtonschools.org. 
 
If you have interest in serving on a site committee and would like to learn more about this important opportunity, please feel free to contact Irvington parent, Shari Wels at shariwels@gmail.com who has knowledge of the Site Committee experience.

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