by Kerri Schlissel, Principal
and Salvatore Dossena, Assistant Principal

Birch School is ready for a 2010-2011 school year filled with enthusiasm, rigor and learning for all. We have spent the summer with the Birch team preparing for the opening of school on September 7.  

The children who attend Birch School are bright and compassionate, each one holding the potential to achieve greatness.

The possibilities are endless when you combine our students’ potential with the involved parent community that surrounds Birch School.

Together, with the talented Birch staff of dedicated and knowledgeable professionals, we aim to prepare our children for their future successes. This school year marks a very special time for Birch School, as we will celebrate our 50th Anniversary.

Our Site-based Team, which comprises parents, teachers, teaching assistants and administrators has already begun preparations for a year rich with history, community and special events.  We are eager to continue communicating with Birch alumni, as well as past and present faculty and community members, to provide our students with their unique perspectives and historical accounts.  Happy Birthday, Birch!

Our school continues to focus on “Building a Foundation for Our Futures” through improving academic skills for all of our students.  In doing so, we look forward to enhancing our current curricular programs.  With the support of our literacy coaches and Aussie Consultants, we will continue to implement a balanced literacy approach for all grades.

As a school, and a school district, our students continue to make gains with the Wilson Fundations Reading Program in grades K-3.  Other positive initiatives aimed toward improving academic skills, including reading interventions such as READ 180, Leveled Literacy Intervention, and the Wilson Intervention Program, will continue, as will the Foreign Language for Elementary School (FLES), APEX, the partial departmentalization model for the sixth grade, and co-teaching. 

It is important to the Merrick School District that all students develop an understanding and respect for the similarities and differences that exist within our community, and in the world around us. In order to prepare our students for a diverse and global world, we must promote a culture of inclusion in which everyone feels valued, respected and supported.  

At Birch we are committed to providing an environment for our students that reflects the diversity, which exists throughout our population.  Our educational and cultural arts programs will continue to support this philosophy by focusing on diversity, anti-bullying, conflict resolution, and promoting positive relationships amongst our students. 

We will continue to maintain high standards of conduct through our school-wide positive behavior support approach, “Birch is R.a.R.E.,” which stands for “Respectful and Responsible Everywhere.”  We thank our parents and teachers for working as a team to prepare Birch students for a changing world.

This year, Birch will again be emphasizing the importance of arriving to school on time.  In order to do this, we will need to continue to work together as a home/school team.  Academic and special area classes will begin promptly at 8:40 a.m. so that we can maximize instructional time for our students.  This means that if your student does not take the bus, she/he should plan on being at school between 8:30 a.m. and 8:35 a.m. to ensure she/he makes it to class in time to begin work at 8:40 a.m.  

Supervision for students not taking a bus will begin at 8:30 a.m., and buses will arrive at school in time for students to arrive to class on time.

With so many exciting ventures ahead, we need parent and community support.  There is truly no better way to support Birch School than becoming involved and active in the Birch PTA.  The PTA provides so many wonderful opportunities for our children and support to our school.  

The PTA assists with community building through activities such as the Welcome Back Picnic and our PTA will be an integral part of the planning for Birch’s 50th Anniversary.  The PTA also provides classroom and academic support through the organization of class parents, as well as PTA funded and planned field trips, and cultural arts programs. Much thanks also go to the PTA for providing Birch students with the opportunity to purchase hot lunch.    

As the new principal, I am excited to continue the wonderful traditions of excellence that have been firmly established at Birch School.  We are thrilled to welcome our new assistant principal, Salvatore Dossena, to our community. Additionally, we look forward to getting to know our new staff members: Cory Gerand, art teacher; Riva Kaplan, speech teacher; and Sherri Ma, APEX teacher.  The year ahead is full of great opportunities for learning and growing throughout the Birch community.  

We look forward to sharing in these educational experiences with you and your children. See you September 7!