Minisink Valley Middle School

Last evening's K-12 Art Show was beyond beautiful! It was bright, colorful, unique creative and full of pride by everyone who attended! We hope you were there! Take a peek at some of our proud student-artists who were thrilled to show their works of art. Did you know that approximately 1,000 students had at least one piece of art on exhibit? THANK YOU to our awesome art faculty in our five buildings for their work to stage such a gorgeous exhibit! We appreciate you! See more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD

Sixth-graders recently had a fantastic class trip to the Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament in Lyndhurst, N.J.! Their trip supported their Social Studies work focusing on the Middle Ages by providing an immersive and interactive learning experience! It was a great opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to a real-life understanding of the period through this great dining and theatrical performance opportunity. Take a look! See more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD •The medieval era, often called the Middle Ages or the Dark Ages, began around 476 A.D. following a great loss of power throughout Europe by the Roman Empire. The Middle Ages span roughly 1,000 years, ending between 1400 and 1450. Though, in Spain, 1492 is considered the end of their medieval period and the beginning of the modern era. •The Middle Ages changed the landscape of Europe through: A surge in Christianity leading to the building of great cathedrals; clearing of large tracts of land by peasants; settling of new towns and villages; and the building of great castles by local nobility The period was one of human expansion, centralization and great political upheaval and violence, resulting in the foundation of many modern European countries.

IMPROV FUN! The High School and Middle School drama clubs recently gathered for a special joint “Yes and…” Improv workshop, led by teachers Teresia Parker, Brendan O’Brien and alumnus Haley Parker who are members of Richmond, Virginia’s ComedySportz performance team! They learned new skills, made new friends and had a lot of fun. “Through a series of activities and improvisational games students bolstered their dramatic art skills and learned life lessons,” said Mrs. Parker. “They learned how to think on their feet, actively listen, trust their teammates, and experience the positive outcomes of saying ‘yes and...’ while building on someone else's ideas. They learned the importance of staying present and recognized that ‘mistakes’ can be gifts. In the theater world, improvisation, or "improv," is a form of live theatre in which the plot, characters, and dialogue of a game, scene, or story are made up in the moment. The method has been used for different purposes in theatrical history.

Congratulations to the four students who are winners of the Middle School Library’s recent Bookmark Design Contest! •Eighth-Grade: Gabby DeNonno and Lucia Garcia •Seventh-Grade: Alina Barone and Lily Mausling Their winning designs will be professionally printed and made available for people to take from the library.

CAN YOU HELP? Mark your calendar, ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! Giving back has never been cooler! Join us at Rita's on Dolson Avenue on Thursday, May 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. for a refreshing ice or custard and a portion of your money spent will go to the Tyrell J. Audian Memorial Scholarship at the High School! TJ was a 2019 graduate and dedicated his life to our nation by enlisting in the Marines right out of high school. Tragically, TJ suddenly passed away during a training exercise with his unit. A track scholarship in his honor has been created in collaboration with High School yearbook. Please consider supporting of this worthy cause!

The Middle School’s Pet Club has been fortunate enough to have some recent and very esteemed guests! Take a look! Students had the recent opportunity to learn about goats, ducks and chickens from Minisink Valley parent Erin O’Neill Ferraro. They also learned about proper rescue of backyard wildlife from Middle School eighth-grade science teacher and certified animal rehabilitator Diana Lucas. She showed pictures of some of the animals she has been able to help and what to do if they find an injured animal. Plus: students also met the two bearded dragons she keeps in her classroom and learned more about them and the care they require. Students also met bunny breeder and show owner Melissa Ordway. Her family raises and breeds show rabbits. She brought with her eight bunnies, including two babies, and spoke to students about breeds, proper care and the responsibilities necessary for keeping these animals. Advisor Kristine Ostensen and the Pet Club are thankful to all the volunteers who have come to their meetings to educate, support and share their animals with us this year. The Middle School’s Pet Club has been fortunate enough to have some recent and very esteemed guests! Students had the recent opportunity to learn about goats, ducks and chickens from Minisink Valley parent Erin O’Neill Ferraro. They also learned about proper rescue of backyard wildlife from Middle School teacher and certified animal rehabilitator Diana Lucas. She showed pictures of some of the animals she has been able to help and what to do if they find an injured animal. Plus: students also met the two bearded dragons she keeps in her classroom and learned more about them and the care they require. Students also met bunny breeder and show owner Melissa Ordway. Her family raises and breeds show rabbits. She brought with her eight bunnies, including two babies, and spoke to students about breeds, proper care and the responsibilities necessary for keeping these animals. Advisor Kristine Ostensen and the Pet Club are thankful to all the volunteers who have come to their meetings to educate, support and share their animals with us this year.

What’s cookin’ in Victoria Ingrassia’s Middle School kitchen? Eighth-grade FACS students have made pierogi! Take a peek at their preparation, cooking and “eating” time over these last few days, which also included sauteed onions, bacon and sour cream! Many members of the Middle School faculty stopped by for a very delicious snack! •Pierogi, a beloved Polish dumpling, have a complex and somewhat disputed history. While commonly associated with Poland, the dish's origins may have roots in Central Asia, with some tracing them back to China via Marco Polo's travels. Regardless of their exact origins, pierogi have a rich history in Poland, dating back to at least the 13th century. •While the exact origin is unclear, a popular story attributes the introduction of pierogi to Poland to Saint Hyacinth, a Polish saint who is said to have brought them from Ukraine in the 1200s. •Boiling pierogi is the most popular method of cooking pierogi because it adds no additional calories to your meal. It also offers a soft, delicate texture which is the more traditional way of eating Polish pierogi. •The word pierogi comes from the Slavic word, "pir," meaning “festivity.” This makes sense as pierogi are often associated with, and served during the holidays, also making them a comfort food for many.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! One of the biggest district-wide events will take place Tuesday, May 20: The annual annual District Art Show/K-12 Exhibition! Over 400 student artists representing the High School, Middle School, Otisville Elementary the Intermediate School and the Elementary School will have work on display from 5 to 8 p.m. at the High School cafeteria and auditorium. It's always a gorgeous and vibrantly colorful exhibition, featured all kinds of art mediums! This exhibition is equally wonderful because of the smiles on the proud families and students! Please join us!

Congratulations to the 17 students who were recognized at the NYSAHPERD Catskill Zone Leadership Awards Ceremony, held this past Saturday at Wallkill High School! This event honors top-grade-level students who exemplify excellence in fitness, leadership, and citizenship—key components of New York State learning standards. These students were selected for their commitment to an active lifestyle, responsible behavior, leadership qualities, and contributions to their school community. While athletic ability is not a requirement, each honoree embodies the spirit of personal growth and positive influence. "These students are role models who lead by example, showing us the power of character, effort, and service in physical education and beyond,” said Physical Education teacher Theresa Uhelsky, the organization’s past president. Students honored were: Middle School • Mason King • Ben Ziegler • Lennox Addo • Erin Arias • Lyla LeBarbera Otisville Elementary • Leah Galligan • Quinn Lattimer • Luca Artola • Eliya Graziano Intermediate School • Ella Manzie • Madison Worden • Jemma Marsala • Charlotte Kohler Elementary School • James Santos • Gary Boyajian • Declan Barry • Kaylee Jackler

There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes every concert season! Take a peek at Laura Hulle's eighth-grade band, which has been intensely practicing together to be ready for the Spring Concert! Every member in this ensemble is important and contributes to the overall band's success!

SOLDERING SUCCESS! Rich Budd's seventh-grade technology students recently had the opportunity to work more on their soldering skills in a project which allowed them to make their own LED night lights! Prior to this, students used a wiring diagram to properly arrange the components on the circuit board. The Night Light kit uses a photocell to automatically turn on a super bright LED as the room darkens and turns off the LED as the room lightens. Now, they have an extra light to make their favorite "dark" rooms a bit more brighter!

Reminder: The 2025-26 student calendar has been available for everyone's use!

Come play for a chance to support Middle School students, win a great bag and complete your Spring fashionista look! The Middle School PTO’s Designer Bag Bingo Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, May 3! It’ll be a great evening filled with lots of ways to win: A Tricky Tray, 50/50 and Lottery Apron raffles along with great door prizes and more! Tickets are $45 each. The event will take place at the Holy Cross Church Parish Center in Middletown, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and calling starting at 6:30 p.m. THIS EVENT WILL SELL OUT, so don’t miss out! Thanks for sharing! Purchase tickets at: //www.eventbrite.com/e/minisink-valley-middle-school-pto-pocketbook-bingo-tickets-1314103201049?aff=oddtdtcreator

Jamie Gallo’s eighth-grade ELA students, like their peers in other classes, have been reading Thanhhà Lai’s “Inside Out and Back Again,” the story of the story of 10-year-old Hà, who flees Saigon with her family as refugees to America after the fall of Saigon in 1975, and their journey to start a new life in Alabama, facing both kindness and challenges. This story involves many connections including experiencing grief and healing, challenges and resilience, adjusting to change and finding support, searching for identity and also finding strength. Despite the hardships, Hà and her family find strength in their bonds with each other and in the support of their new community. In this story, Hà planted a papaya tree in Vietnam, which is her favorite fruit. As part of their studies, students learned the papaya tree, which grew from a seed, and what that symbolized and how of her this symbolism can be aligned with them as well: •Fleeing South Vietnam: The papaya tree's growth and the papayas themselves can also be seen as a symbol of Hà's relatively happy childhood in Vietnam being cut short, as she is forced to flee with her family. •Hà's Personal Growth: The papaya tree's rapid growth, from a small seed to a large tree bearing fruit, mirrors Hà's own journey from childhood to adolescence and her experiences as a refugee. •Symbol of Change: The papaya tree's growth from a seed to a fruit-bearing tree represents the transformative journey Hà undergoes, from a carefree life in Vietnam to the challenges and opportunities of a new life in America. •Resilience and strength: Thriving (tree and main character) despite challenging circumstances. As a sweet, tasty and healthy way to conclude some of their work, students enjoyed taking part in a fruit mini-buffet, where they shared and discussed their own favorite fruit, childhood memories involving fruits they like or don't like and specifically why a particular fruit is their favorite. What an innovative to make connections to literature!

The Girls Lacrosse Program is off to a fabulous start! Varsity Assistant Rory Boice reports that the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams’ recent games against Pine Bush ended with the Varsity team beating Pine Bush in a 17-10 final! The team created an offensive onslaught that Pine Bush had difficulty containing! “The team left it all on the field,” Varsity Head Coach Jessica Gurrieri said. “It was a great day!” Additionally, the Junior Varsity team ran away in their Pine Bush game, besting that Junior Varsity team which beat them the last two consecutive in a 20-2 final. Junior Varsity Coach Samantha Woodward’s squad was unselfish with the ball offensively and stingy on defense, as they displayed their skills. To top things off, the Modified team beat Warwick in an 8-7 final! “We demonstrated excellent ball movement, control, teamwork and communication,” added Modified Coach Rachael Moran.

Kaylin Morran’s sixth-grade art students recently took a hands-on approach to learning the elements of art! Using 3D geometric and organic shapes students were challenged to make animals, foods and sports equipment. Then, as groups, they were tasked with building the tallest structure. This required students to experiment with balance and stability and they quickly learned they needed a base and couldn’t just build up! Students figured it out and the tallest structure was over 30 inches! Organic shapes contrast with geometric shapes, which have well-defined and regular attributes. These fluid and expressive forms add a sense of natural beauty and spontaneity to artistic compositions. These artistic shapes play a vital role in the world of art and design.

Ashley Hamilton’s and Bridget O’Mara-Green’s eighth-grade math classes have been studying the Pythagorean Theorem in class. Do you remember this: The Pythagorean theorem is the well-known geometric theorem that says the sum of the squares on the legs of a right triangle is equal to the square on the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle)—or, in familiar algebraic notation, a2 + b2 = c2. As a final project to conclude their learning, students combined art with math and created and designed their own Pythagorean spirals! These are geometric patterns that use the principles of the Pythagorean theorem to generate spirals, which are created by successively drawing squares with side lengths that correspond to the sum of the squares of the previous two side lengths. This relationship follows the formula from the Pythagorean theorem. Pythagorean spirals appear in art and even everyday life as a way to integrate mathematical elegance into visual design. This can be seen in abstract art, architecture, mosaic and tile patterns, digital and computational art, and even sculpture and installation art. The spirals combine the logical, structured world of math with the creative, expressive world of art, offering an aesthetic that is both ordered and visually dynamic. •In mathematics, a theorem is a statement that has been proven to be true, based on previously established facts or axioms, using logical reasoning and mathematical operations. •A Pythagorean spiral is also known as a spiral of Theodorus, or square root spiral, and was named after Greek mathematician Theodorus of Cyrene. •Creativity plays a vital role in mathematical thought by allowing individuals to approach problems and concepts from unique perspectives. It fuels exploration, drives innovation, and helps mathematicians develop new tools, models, and methods. By blending logical reasoning with creative insight, mathematics evolves and continues to impact both abstract theory and practical applications.

Sixth-graders recently completed a creative and innovative 3-D geography project tied to their continued studies on ancient Greece! The 6th grade teaching team led students on this project, requiring them to create a 3-D map of ancient Greece using supplies they contributed in addition to donations from their families and teachers. But equally important was that the group project also introduced them to group project work and the different roles that a person could be assigned to when working in a group. As they advance to higher grade levels, there’s more opportunities and requirements for group work, so this project further reinforces why working well with others is a key to both individual and group success. Each group was required to assign roles such as the label maker (creates the label flags, accurately places them on the map, and makes sure they are bold and legible); sculptor (uses the clay to sculpt the landforms and accurately represents the islands, seas, mountains, etc.; painter (correctly paints the map using the key and adds detail to each landform); cartographer (creates the scale, key, and compass rose and makes sure that others are following the key); and project manager (makes sure everyone has materials, fact checks the project, and keeps everyone on task). Students were assigned tasks to be completed each day over a 3-day period. By the end of the project, they were able to identify Crete, Athens, Sparta, Mt. Olympus, Peloponnesus, Ionian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, Rhodes, Turkey, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Ionia, Corinth and Delphi. Students were also expected to rate their group on productivity and contribution and provide both positive and negative feedback. Students were graded on accuracy, appearance, parts of a map and effort. Overall, the students demonstrated effective brainstorming skills, productive collaboration, and successful knowledge of the geography of Greece. Each map displayed creativity and uniqueness! THANK YOU to everyone who donated clay/dough, toothpicks, Post-it notes, paint, cardboard and more to make this project a reality!

Kudos to members of the Middle School Builders Club, which recently created 25 craft kits for children who may need a little uplifting during healthcare visits! Each kit contains a blank booklet, coloring pages, stickers, crayons and a message from our club members. These kits are being sent to Garnet Medical Center in Middletown. “Our members were very excited for this project and voiced their hope that we can do it multiple times a year,” said advisor Lauren Pullen. We hope we can reach as many children in need as possible. We’re so proud of the generosity that our members show.”

Today, April 1, Middle School eighth-graders attended a special “Break the Cycle” assembly which featured keynote presenters Pat and AnneMarie D’Aliso, who were Minisink Valley residents and have spoken to students here in recent years, as well as other speakers. Their son Patrick died by suicide at age 16 and Mr. and Mrs. D’Aliso have become important champions about undiagnosed depression and paying attention to anything that may seem out of sorts in the lives of young people. Mr. and Mrs. D’Aliso do this because they hope by telling their story, they may help to save the life of someone in crisis. We remain grateful for their ongoing interest in speaking to our students and thank them and the other speakers who were part of this important presentation. This topic is understandably a sensitive one, but one which we feel is very important to share to our students. Eighth-grade parents/guardians, to follow-up on a note Principal Michael Larsen sent to you in late March, please remind your child know you know that this assembly took place today and continue the important conversation of if he or she needs help for any reason, we are here to provide all the assistance we can. As a reminder, the middle school counseling team is always available to our students for assistance they may need on any topic or issue of concern. Likewise, if you have any concerns about your child’s mental health and wellbeing, please reach out to us. We are here to help. To learn more: https://www.breakingthecycle.com/