Letters from our Superintendent
August 21, 2019
Dear Garden City Parents and Guardians,As the summer begins to wind down, I hope that each of you has had a restful and enjoyable few months! It’s hard to believe that the start of the 2019-2020 school year is already upon us. I look forward to reconnecting with our returning students, as well as welcoming our new families who have joined our district. This includes approximately 307 new kindergartners who will begin their educational journey with us in early September!
It has been a busy summer in Garden City. Faculty and administrators have been working to enhance the curriculum in an effort to continually improve programs offered to students. Staff undertook a number of curriculum writing projects, most notably in the area of elementary literacy and computer science. This year, we are excited about fully implementing Reading Workshop in all of our K-5 classrooms through our partnership with the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University. This will enhance the literacy skills of our elementary students. We are also excited about bringing Project Lead the Way to our middle school with the app creator course for our 6th and 7th graders.
As we continue to enhance our programs offered to students, we have also worked this summer on improving the learning environment. We have outfitted numerous classrooms with flexible furniture, allowing students the ability to easily collaborate with one another in a variety of configurations. In addition, we have completed the hot water heater and some restroom upgrades at the high school, roofing projects at Homestead and Stratford, and masonry work at Stratford and Stewart. Technology infrastructure enhancements included upgrading every wireless access point in every classroom throughout the district, as well as all switch upgrades in our high school and middle school.
Student safety continues to be a top priority. Our entire bus fleet has been outfitted with cameras and GPS systems, and all school buildings now have a “one-button” lock-down system. Any school throughout the district can now initiate a lock-down and notify the police using a single button – this is essential in a true emergency. We are in the process of completing the installation of visitor management system to improve our screening process for anyone entering our buildings. Additionally, our security consultant will work with our district full-time for 2019-20. This enables him to offer expertise to our staff, address individual safety needs, and ensure that all buildings are following proper security protocols and procedures.
- Full implementation of Reading Project K-5 through Teachers College
- Expansion of Fundations to grade 2
- Embedding Computational Thinking (K-5) in our curriculum
- Implement Project Lead the Way course App Creator for 6th and 7th grades
- Continue to enhance MakerSpace in the Middle School
- Implement new high school electives in AP Computer Science Principles and Media Arts I
- Explore and implement programs to meet mental health and social emotional needs
- Engage in a Facilities Study with a focus on instructional structures that work best for students (classroom space, science labs, global learning spaces)
- Continue work on completing vestibules, visitor management, one-button lock down, and camera software upgrade
- Expand camera coverage as needed
- Training of staff and students
Thank you for your continued support of our schools. I look forward to sharing our progress with you on the above initiatives as the school year progresses. Please accept my wishes for a wonderful remainder of your summer, and I look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks.
I, along with our administrators, faculty, and staff, are looking forward to welcoming your children on September 3rd. Best wishes for a fulfilling school year!
Sincerely,
Kusum
Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Garden City Public Schools
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 478-1010
February 28, 2019:
Dear Parents and Guardians:
A recent social media challenge targeting children and young adults called the “Momo Challenge,” has created concern throughout the country due to its disturbing nature. The purpose of this letter is to make you aware of this challenge, provide you with information, and urge you to monitor your children’s use of social media and the Internet. The “Momo Challenge,” a game found on Facebook and WhatsApp (a free smartphone messaging app), features a frightening avatar making contact with a child from an unknown number or name who asks its viewers to perform various violent tasks and provide photos as proof. The "Momo" threatens those who do not perform the tasks.
You can learn more about the “Momo Challenge” by visiting the links below. Please be warned that some of the images and stories may be disturbing:
https://wnep.com/2018/12/13/momo-challenge-a-dangerous-viral-game-prompts-warnings-to-parents/
https://www.wkbw.com/news/the-deadly-momo-challenge-are-your-children-playing-it
In addition, it has also been brought to our attention that several YouTube videos have surfaced on both YouTube and YouTube kids with explicit instructions on how to commit suicide. The videos range from cartoon-like to real life people facilitating step by step instructional content on how to end your life. The videos have been found spliced within other video content so they may not appear readily when viewing content on YouTube.
Our counselors and administrators are aware and will be addressing this issue and internet safety in general with our students.
To assist you in considering age appropriateness for children’s use of technology and time spent on social media I am also providing you with some links that offer advice and assistance:
https://childmind.org/article/media-guidelines-for-kids-of-all-ages/
https://www.safesearchkids.com/
https://www.parenting.com/gallery/social-media-monitoring-kids?page=2
We encourage you to remind your children not to accept any invitation to play a game from an unknown number and not to click on unidentified links. Please also remind your children to change email and social media passwords frequently and block unknown numbers inviting them to play immediately.
If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s principal.
Sincerely,
Kusum
Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
_____________________________
"Momo Challenge" UPDATE - 2-28-19 - from Nassau BOCES:
Determining whether the "Momo Challenge" is a real threat or more of a social media “urban legend” is difficult to discern. There are multiple postings that present both points of view which you can review below. Please feel free to use this information to make your own determination.
The main takeaway: Keep track of how our children/students are using the internet and social media and encourage them to report any online interaction that is scary or threatening.
Articles on the "Momo Challenge" and why it may be a cause for concern:
CBS News: Police issue warning to parents after “Momo Challenge” resurfaces
MSN: What You Need to Know About the “Momo Challenge”
Articles on the "Momo Challenge" that may help you feel a bit better:
Snopes: How much of a threat is the ‘Momo Challenge’ Suicide Game?
Rolling Stone: What Is the Momo Challenge?
_____________________________________
3-1-19: And here are a few more links with important Internet Safety information:
Re: the Momo hoax
The Atlantic:
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/02/momo-challenge-hoax/583825/
NBC News:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna977961
____________________________
December 7, 2018:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I would like to provide you with an update regarding school safety and security and our progress with the District’s current security projects.
Based on the recommendations from last year’s security audit, we have moved forward with hiring a dedicated Supervisor of Security with expertise in the area of law enforcement and security. This person will:
- assess our current security and safety protocols and identify any gaps,
- work closely with district and building administrators on safety and security matters,
- assist with the implementation of recommendations from the security report,
- train our faculty, staff, and students.
There have been a few incidents in our buildings this year. Having someone with experience and who is dedicated to school safety and security is needed.
Below is an update on additional items we have completed or are in the process of completing:
- Installation of six door alarms on exterior doors at Stewart.
- Installation of door alarms on exterior doors at Stratford – in process.
- Monitoring of all exterior doors through a live video feed at Stewart and Stratford until
the vestibule project is completed. - Custom doors and wall partitions have been ordered to seal the areas between the two
sets of entry doors for the school vestibule project at Stratford School, Middle School and
High School. - Outside groups (i.e. blood drive) will no longer be permitted inside our buildings during
school hours where safety is compromised. - Implementation of new dismissal procedures at our primary and elementary buildings.
- Added exterior drop-off bins at the Middle School to minimize the number of people
entering the building during the school day. - A Visitor Management System has been selected.
- Addition of GPS and cameras to our buses is in progress.
- Access to real-time camera viewing of every building to the Garden City Police
Department.
Our focus continues to be the safety of our staff and students. Training for both groups is an essential part of keeping our schools as safe as possible. We continue to work very closely with the Garden City Police Department to ensure the security of our buildings and explore ways to enhance school security. We greatly appreciate the support of Commissioner Jackson and his team.
Safety and security also includes the relationships we build with our children. We will continue to create schools that are safe, welcoming, and where students feel a sense of belonging. That feeling of belonging is key to academic growth, but it’s also essential in creating a safe environment.
We will do everything within our power to continually create safe and secure learning environments where our children have the opportunity to excel. Your children are our priority, and we thank you for the privilege of working with them every single day.
Sincerely,
Kusum
Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
______________________________
November 21, 2018:
Incident update:
Dear Parents:
Today, at approximately 1:28 p.m., we received a call from Garden City Police that there was police activity near the Hemlock Primary School. There were three suspects. Two of the suspects were apprehended, and one suspect fled on foot. This resulted in the police setting up a perimeter to contain the suspect, which no one could enter. We then decided to place Hemlock School in a lockout. Also, we held all buses from our other schools whose drop off was near Hemlock and only released walkers from other buildings to parents.
We received clearance from the police department at approximately 2:42 p.m. and resumed our dismissal process. We were kept informed throughout the incident, and a police officer was stationed at Hemlock the entire time.
Please know that our children were safe at all times.
I want to thank you all for your cooperation and understanding. I would also like to thank our police department who work so closely with us in keeping our students safe.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your building administrators or my office. In the next two weeks, I will be updating you on our district-wide safety and security plans.
With Thanksgiving tomorrow, I am grateful to be part of this school community whose commitment to our children is unparalleled.
Sincerely,
Kusum
Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Garden City Public Schools
56 Cathedral Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 478-1010
_____________________________
November 21, 2018:
Dear Parents,
As we reflect on the many things we are thankful for this Thanksgiving, we are thankful for our students who give us all a daily reminder of what is important and why we are here in Garden City. We are thankful to you, our parents, as you share your most valuable possession with us, your children, and partner with us in your children’s education, safety, and well-being.
We are also thankful to our PTA, SEPTA, and the numerous parent organizations who support our educational programs and contribute so much to our schools. We thank you for all you do to support your children and our schools.
I hope you enjoy family and friends this Thanksgiving and take time to celebrate all that we have.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sincerely,
Kusum
Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
_____________________________
November 20, 2018:
Dear Parents,
The Garden City Police Department informed us of an incident that occurred Monday afternoon where a middle school student walking on Chestnut Street was approached by a male, approximately 25-30 years old, wearing a black baseball cap, black backpack, and riding a black and yellow bicycle. This person followed the student and asked the student questions. The student was able to divert the individual and get home safely.
No one was harmed in the incident. The Garden City Police Department is continuing its investigation.
We want to inform you of this incident as part of our continued efforts to ensure the safety of all students. I encourage you to use this notification as an opportunity to review safety rules with your children and remind them to avoid circumstances that increase their vulnerability. If ever you see anything suspicious you are encouraged to call the Garden City Police Department at 516-465-4100. Please be assured that we will continue to keep you informed as warranted.
Sincerely,
Kusum
Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
___________________________________
November 9, 2018
Dear Parents,
In light of the recent shootings at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Thousand Oaks, California, we are reminded of how dangerous a world this can seem to a child. It is difficult enough for us to understand as adults. We feel deeply saddened for the victims and their families. As much as we try to shield our children from these tragedies, they unfortunately can be exposed to upsetting events like these through social media and peer discussions.
As teachers, administrators, and school employees, we strive to keep our connections strong to each and every one of our students. Please engage in conversations with your child to stay connected. If you feel your child may need to talk to someone, we have counseling support available in our buildings.
Here are some resources that may be of help to you:
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/16/07/coping-community-crisis
On another note, as we celebrate Veterans Day this Monday, November 12th, let us remember the men and women who are serving or who have served this country in our military. Many members of the Garden City community have served this nation. Their service has distinguished them as individuals who have made great sacrifices to protect us. They are the men and women who ensure that each and every one of us can enjoy the freedoms we do. We honor and thank our Veterans and their families.
Finally, as we approach the season of giving thanks, we encourage you to attend the various school events planned for the next few weeks to see your child(ren) in their schools and classrooms.
Enjoy the long weekend.
Sincerely,
Kusum
Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
_________________________________
November 1, 2018:
Dear Parents,
The Garden City Police Department has informed us of an incident that occurred Wednesday afternoon on Avalon Road in which a gold/beige 4-door sedan, driven by an unknown male, stopped and asked a child if he wanted some candy. The child had just gotten off the school bus and was walking up the driveway. The vehicle then slowly left the area south bound on Avalon. There is no description of the driver.
No one was harmed in the incident. The Garden City Police Department is continuing its investigation.
We want to inform you of this incident as part of our continued efforts to ensure the safety of all students. I encourage you to use this notification as an opportunity to review safety rules with your children and remind them to avoid circumstances that increase their vulnerability. If ever you see anything suspicious you are encouraged to call the Garden City Police Department at 516-465-4100. Please be assured that we will continue to keep you informed as warranted.
Sincerely,
Kusum
Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
_________________________________Mental health of our students is an important topic for us as a school community. Today, we see noticeably an increase in the number of students with anxiety and depression in schools. Just this year, New York State has identified Mental Health Education as a priority and a new mandate for schools. As we move forward to create a consistent K-12 approach to our students’ mental health, our goal is to educate our students about mental health where they will be able to effectively recognize signs and symptoms in themselves and others and will know where to turn for help. In our schools, we address mental health through various programs, such as mindfulness, yoga, health classes, co-curricular programs, among others. We want to create learning environments that decrease negative stigmas, and encourage students to communicate and to develop healthy, resilient behaviors.
To support this initiative, we are creating a web page as a resource for our school community. “Continuum of Well Being” will appear under “Recent News” on the District’s main page: www.gardencity.k12.ny.us. Information and links will be posted and included in upcoming District newsletters as we broaden our vision and knowledge.
We are grateful to our PTA for their support in bringing expert mental health speakers to our school community. Programs such as “Angst” remind us that our students need support to deal with the pressures of growing up in today’s society. The presentation has sparked meaningful conversations and increased awareness of the importance of helping our students to recognize and communicate when they are having difficulty coping with such stressors.
Here are links to recent articles that focus on anxiety, social pressures, and achievement pressures of our youths that you might find helpful:
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/17/11/resilience-anxious-students
Kusum
Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
______________________________
Dear Garden City Parents/Guardians,
Opening Day is always very special as we welcome our students back! Today, approximately 3,900 students arrived at our seven school buildings to begin the new school year. Our students were greeted at school by their administrators, teachers, and staff. This morning, I visited each of our schools and many classrooms where students were already happily engaged in learning, even with today’s high temperatures. With the temperature being so elevated, please remind your children to stay hydrated and drink lots of water and know we are keeping the heat index in mind for all outside activities.
As your children are back in school, I did want you to know our students’ safety, both physical and emotional, continues to be our top priority. We work very closely with our Police Department and had police presence at each of our buildings today. In addition, every officer is assigned to monitor our schools on their post throughout the year. The District and the Police Department work hand in hand regarding security and traffic matters that impact our children. We are grateful to Commissioner Jackson and his team for working so closely with us.
Additionally, last year we underwent an extensive school security audit from hardware and software to protocols and drills; every aspect of school safety was examined. Over the summer and during the upcoming months, we are implementing many of the recommendations we received, which include a visitor management system, additional security cameras, strobes, a one button lock-down system in each of our schools, and training for our school personnel. We will continue to keep you informed with our progress.
We want every child to feel they are an integral part of our school community – to know that our schools are safe places where they can learn, grow, and thrive. We want each student not only to like coming to school, but to love attending school.
I look forward to meeting you in the coming months. Until then, best wishes for a wonderful school year.
Sincerely,
Kusum
Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
_______________________________________Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year!
At the primary level, we will introduce Fundations, a program designed to strengthen young learners' phonemic awareness, phonics and word study.
At the elementary level, we are excited to welcome back Dancing Classrooms, a physical education program that focuses on students’ social-emotional growth using movement and dance.
At the middle school, a revised and revamped study skills program will be offered to our sixth graders, and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) Club will be introduced.
At the high school, our award-winning college Project Lead the Way (PLTW) sequence will include civil engineering and architecture for our fourth-year engineering students.
Several middle school teachers participated in a rigorous program on project-based learning at Harvard University, which they will incorporate in their classroom practice.
We will also have additional classrooms with flexible furniture at Stratford and Locust that will enhance instructional practice.
Over the past two months, many significant building projects have taken place in all of our school buildings. In the high school, a new air conditioning system for the auditorium has been installed; the lobby bathrooms are being upgraded with anticipated completion this fall; the art lab has been completely renovated with re-cabling for 30 new 21.5” iMac computers, plus new furniture, and flooring; the auxiliary gym floor has been refinished, and it has been fitted with new wall and floor mats. In addition, new blinds have been installed in the science and social studies wings, and the safety netting system on the turf field has been replaced, completing the field replacement project. Also, the bus circle on Rockaway has been widened with new curbing, sidewalks and asphalt; the Middle School’s auditorium stage floor was sanded and repainted, and several classrooms in Stewart received drop ceilings with LED lighting.
www.gardencity.k12.ny.us - for updates and additional information. You can also follow me on Twitter, @GCPSSupt, and also the district, @GCUFSD.
Superintendent of Schools
