Dear Families,

As we move further into a wonderful school year, I want to take a moment to celebrate some of the exciting things happening in our building. First, congratulations to the cast, crew, and staff of Disney’s Descendant’s for an incredible job well done! Their energy, talent, and teamwork made for an unforgettable performance. We are looking forward to the start of girls’ volleyball and boys’ basketball season; good luck to all of our athletes. Our clubs are now in full swing, offering students a wide range of opportunities to get involved, explore their interests, and build connections. Additionally, our school counselors have launched an after-school peer tutoring program; any student interested in participating should reach out to their counselor for more information.

I also want to share some important updates about MOOV, our new attendance system. The attendance pilot has begun, with all students tapping into the building and at least one class for attendance purposes. Students must bring their Renaissance ID cards to school every day and should make wearing them a part of their daily routine. If a student needs a new ID, the first replacement can be obtained from the AP’s office at no cost; additional replacements will be $5. As MOOV expands into all classrooms, attendance will be recorded and sent directly to Infinite Campus, allowing for greater accuracy and efficiency. One of the major benefits of this system is enhanced safety: MOOV provides real-time information about which learning spaces students are in throughout the day. Please speak with your child about the importance of bringing their Renaissance ID to school every day.

As we approach the end of 2025, we wish our Islip Middle School community a very happy holiday season!

Sincerely,

Meg Stern

Principal

631-650-8505

Tis the season IMS Families,

It is that time of year to count our blessings. The team, students, and community are each a blessing. Special thanks to the PTA for their support throughout the Thanksgiving holiday. Also thank you to the district and community for supporting the IMS PTA in their endeavor.

Our clubs and staff have been working hard on food drives, decorations, concerts, and all the meaning that the holidays bring to the classrooms and hallways at IMS. We are fresh off field trips to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Top Golf, and our musical the Descendants. The trips were enjoyed, thought provoking, and insightful. Our incredibly talented students put together an unforgettable performance as our early winter sports and clubs are in full swing. Be sure to find some time during the holidays to come root on the IMS Buccaneers.

Tis the season, peace on earth, family, friends, and festivity. That’s what the holiday season is all about. A time of giving, grace, and to see the value in living in the world and not of it. The activities and food drives are examples of just that… great inspiration, teamwork, celebration, and entertainment. The community, district wide, have been amazing throughout each of our events. We truly represent, support, and cheer as one.

We look forward to a December that is packed full of Holiday concerts, Middle School basketball, and volleyball games, not to mention a cookie and some eggnogg from time to time. Our advisories are hailing Habit 4, Think Win Win. IMS advisories will be involved in discussions and activities that encourage students to express ways we can pay it forward with the gift of giving. They will also be working together in designing a gingerbread man and on December 22nd there will be a contest regarding who created the most unique and creative gingerbread man. Good luck!

“The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better for those around us.” – Unknown

I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such wonderful teachers, staff, and students. Each one of our students is a blessing within themselves.

Always enjoy,

Curt Juengerkes

Assistant Principal

631-850-8515

Dear Islip Middle School Community,

December is here, and we are excited to continue the positive momentum that has been building throughout the fall. November was truly a month of gratitude at IMS. Our students and staff participated in a variety of activities and community drives that showcased kindness, compassion, and thankfulness. From classroom initiatives to schoolwide efforts, our community once again demonstrated what it means to support one another and give back. We end the month with a huge congratulations to the cast, crew, and staff for their incredible performance of Disney’s The Descendants. Their hard work, energy, and talent were on full display, and we are so proud of everyone involved in bringing this production to life.

As December approaches, we look forward to our upcoming 6th grade and 7th/8th grade winter concerts, always a highlight of the season and a wonderful opportunity for our students to shine. Throughout the month, we will also celebrate the theme of “paying it forward” as we continue encouraging kindness, generosity, and positive action within our school community.

Winter I sports are officially underway, and we are excited to cheer on our boys’ basketball and girls’ volleyball teams as they begin what we know will be great seasons.

Thank you for another wonderful month at IMS. It is truly a special community. We wish everyone a very happy beginning to the holiday season and all the best in however you choose to celebrate.

Sincerely,

David Bodner

Dean of Students

Islip Middle School

November is a time to celebrate gratitude—and our students give us plenty to be thankful for! In honor of World Kindness Day on November 13th, they spent time spreading positivity through thoughtful gestures and meaningful acts of kindness. This included discussions throughout each advisory as well as the opportunity to write positive messages, words of affirmation, and kind acts on post-its to be hung up by the dining rooms for all to see!

While social-emotional learning is a vital part of a school counselor’s role, another major component is helping students prepare for life after graduation. Building career awareness and college readiness early on is essential, and students will continue to develop these skills in high school as they work toward identifying their ideal career path. During November, counselors visited 7th- and 8th-grade classrooms to deepen students’ understanding of post-secondary planning and self-exploration. Students were introduced to Naviance, an online platform designed to help them explore their interests, research colleges and careers, and reflect on who they want to become—linking their school experiences to future goals. They will continue using Naviance throughout high school as they shape their plans and identify career paths that align with their strengths and aspirations. For those pursuing higher education, Naviance also serves as the platform for submitting electronic college applications.

Italian Fall Fest was a spirited celebration of Italian language and culture! The event took place on November 14th here at IMS. The gymnasium was lined with posters and displays that Ms. Stanco’s classes and Italian Club made. There were 200 attendees, made up of students in grades 6-12, as well as their families. 

Italian Fall Fest was filled with fun games, crafts, and raffles that related to Italian culture. Whether students were answering trivia questions, making mosaic coasters, or getting temporary tattoos, the fun didn’t stop! Everyone brought their appetite for some delicious Italian food because let's face it- it wouldn’t be an Italian fest without some pizza and pasta. 

During the event, attendees were invited to vote for their favorite poster submission for the Italian poster contest. In the weeks leading up to Italian Fall Fest, twenty-three students created posters that followed the prompt, “Italy’s Footprint in America.” Towards the end of the fest, the top 3 poster contest winners were announced. Seventh grader Ralph Alvarez received first place, followed by fellow seventh grader Angelina Medina-Borja in second. Tenth grader Max Carminio placed third. Everyone cheered as they received their prizes. Thank you to everyone who participated in the poster contest and to everyone who joined us for a great night!

The IMS CARE and KIC Clubs want to thank our IMS community for its generosity and help in making this year’s holiday food drive so successful. An abundance of canned vegetables, fruit and gravy, stuffing, mashed potato, and cake mixes, as well as coffee and juices were received. 

The CARE and KIC Clubs, with the help of our Buildings and Grounds crew, delivered over twenty boxes of food to a local food pantry and many hearts were warmed this past Thanksgiving Day due to our IMS community! The CARE and KIC Clubs thank you for your continued support!  

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach out via the following: