Bully Awareness Day

June 17th was "Bully Awareness Day." John Street students and staff showed their support by wearing the color yellow and making a pledge to help prevent bullying. Students and staff signed the amazing banner (provided by the JSS PTA) that stated: "It's Not Cool to Bully at School!" The 6th grade also created DI projects and videos to inform everyone about the harmful effects of bullying. Please enjoy our video presentation!

John Street School's 2nd Annual Read-Aloud Revue

John Street School was proud to participate in their 2nd Annual Book Buddies Read-Aloud program organized by the Hooked on Books Committee. Each day, all students were engaged with an authentic, high-quality novel read aloud by their teacher. Students of all grade levels enjoyed literature including Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Superfudge and Maniac MaGee.

After completing the book, cooperative groups worked on various ways to present their story. Teachers and students worked diligently as they prepared raps, songs, skits, posters and costumes for the big stage. They certainly exceeded expectations as they presented on the John Street stage for the “Read-Aloud Revue”. Students exhibited their talents, showed enthusiasm and appreciated their peers’ hard work.

Overall, the “Read-Aloud Revue” was a huge success and students enjoyed the opportunity to explore and display learning in a creative way!!

Astronaut Michael Massimino Lands at John Street School

January 29, 2010 was a special day here at John Street School. We had an exciting visit from our very own JSS alumnus, astronaut Michael Massimino. Michael Massimino returned from his space flight in May where he restored and worked on the Hubble telescope.

There was a great deal of preparation that took place prior to his visit. John Street School students worked with Mrs. Randazzo to help make the decorations to welcome him, which were displayed in our school gymnasium. The third grade students displayed their space projects in the main lobby. Invitations were sent and refreshments were prepared by our dedicated PTA.

Michael Massimino organized a presentation for us where he shared some video footage of his launch into space, the crew that he worked with and how he practiced for his trip into space. He showed the students the most recent images taken with the Hubble telescope. Throughout his presentation, Mr. Massimino always referred back to how hard he worked to get where he is today and how much he enjoys being an astronaut. Most importantly, he told our students how important it is to follow their dreams and never give up. He continued by explaining how NASA turned his application down the first time, but through his persistence and determination he was able to fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut.

Although the students of JSS are not astronauts themselves, they still had the opportunity to travel into space through the heart and spirit captured in Mr. Massimino's beautiful photographs. In honor of Michael Massimino being a JSS alumnus, the students of JSS sang the John Street School alma mater and presented Mr. Massimino with a new JSS mascot t-shirt! He was very humbled by all of the attention. He wished he could have stayed all day long, after all, this is where his dreams began!

Verses for Veterans

On Monday, December 7th, (Pearl Harbor Day) the students and teachers of John Street School honored Veterans in a program called “Verses for Veterans.” As part of the assembly, students in grades four through six honored Veteran’s with patriotic songs, poems and artwork.

In addition to the student tributes, the United Veterans Organization was in attendance to instruct students on how to fold a flag, how to dispose of a flag, and how to form a color guard; all while providing interesting information on American History.

The final piece to the program included Franklin Square resident, Mr. Chris Patti, who presented Mrs. Candreva with a commemorative sign as a tribute to former John Street School student, Joseph Nick D’Ambra.

The ceremony, was a great learning experience for the students of John Street School.

Baskets for Bubba

The students of John Street School recently took part in a fund raising event organized by the John Street School Student Council. The program, entitled, "Baskets for Bubba" was organized to inspire all students to find strength and courage to overcome adversity, just as Scott "Bubba" Pollock had.

Bubba used his strength and courage to develop an incredible sense of self and wholeness that some able body people never come to realize in their lives. Those who knew Bubba well, recognized that his mantra, "Failure is Not an Option, " was his approach to everything in life.

The Baskets for Bubba program was launched on Monday, November 23rd with an assembly led by two amazing students, Cara Liebowitz and Kathleen Downes. These two amazing young ladies shared stories of inspiration they had received from Bubba, as well stories about the challenges they face in their own lives. Both girls are past recipients of Bubba Fund Scholarships through programs at Southhampton Fresh Air Home.

In addition to the assembly, the student council organized the sale of "Failure is Not an Option" bracelets and the "Baskets for Bubba" foul shot day. Throughout this celebration, students were challenged to shoot foul shots in memory of Bubba Pollack. Basketball was one of Bubba's greatest passions of all. All proceeds from the sales went directly to the Bubba Fund.

The Bubba Fund is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities. Bubba's dream, and their mission, is to create a fund to expand the recreational, educational and social programs that will promote growth and independence among physically challenged children.

To learn more about Bubba and the Bubba fund, please visit: http://www.TheBubbafund.org

Please feel free to comment on any inspiration that you or your child may have received from Bubba, or the "Baskets for Bubba" program.

JSS Thanksgiving Day Food Drive

The John Street School community has just completed their 22nd Annual Thanksgiving Day Food Drive. Each class worked together to prepare and decorate food baskets, accompanied with a frozen turkey, to donate to local organizations that help needy families in our community.

The Thanksgiving Day Basket project provides some of our local families with a gift that will make their Thanksgiving Day a little happier. In turn, the students of JSS are learning the importance of giving, sharing, and caring.

Thank you to Mrs. Derby for helping to organize this year's food drive and thank you to all of the John Street School students and parents that made this year's food drive a huge success.

Happy Thanksgiving.

John Street School Students are "Bucket Fillers"

Are you a bucket filler or dipper? That is the theme of the school wide book entitled, "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" The book is part of our character education program at John Street School and provides all of its young readers with the tangible analogy of choosing to be a bucket filler rather than a bucket dipper. It's simple.

We all walk around with an imaginary bucket to place our feelings in. If a child says something nice, or performs an act of kindness, they are "filling" another student's bucket. This act will also fill your own personal bucket. When a person does something that may hurt someone else's feelings, that is referred to as "bucket dipping."

The students and teachers have responded greatly to the book and its theme as bucket filling activities and displays can be seen throughout the school.

We look forward to filling your bucket.

Please feel free to comment on how you, or your child, may have filled someone's bucket recently.