MARCH 1, 2024

The Millbrook Minute

Don't forget to check out the weekly Millbrook Minute above every Friday afternoon!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE MILLBROOK MINUTE WEBSITE

VIEW AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE MILLBROOK MINUTE ON YOUTUBE

Millbrook's Pre-K Program Boosts Learning With Variety and Fun

It’s impossible not to smile while walking down the hallways in Elm Drive Elementary School while pre-k classes head back to their classrooms from lunch. Soft giggles and the tapping of little feet echo in the hallway as students hop from letter to letter on an alphabet hopscotch decal affixed to the floor.

“Movement and variation is so important at this age,” said pre-k teacher Samantha Hale. “We try to do as much of it as we can.”

Now in its third year, Millbrook’s pre-k program has grown from two classes to three. Hale, who has been with the program since its inception in 2021, said that she’s pleased with the work she and her counterparts Alessandra Suriano and Denise Angelucci have been doing in their classrooms.

“We’ve been offered a lot of professional development opportunities and have noticed a huge leap in student engagement as a result,” she said.

The teachers have learned about and adopted programs such as Intentional Center Based Learning, Eureka Math² and Mindful Movements as part of their curriculum: evidence-based applications that focus on flexible student-led math and literacy activities as well as immersive math instruction and frequent “movement” breaks for students throughout the day to help them release energy and regulate their emotions.

The work students do in centers is a good example of the concept; they choose and rotate between activities ranging from art and building with blocks to scientific explorations and enjoy activities on tablets. This week the centers were focused on water – a subject that Hale recently introduced.

Pre-k student Hannah Smith said that her favorite part was an art activity about aquatic animals. She smiled as she pasted pieces of blue and white construction paper into a box to simulate a penguin’s habitat.

“It’s fun to put the papers in the box and make it look real,” she said. “We’re helping the animals when we play because we put them in their right habitats. I like playing with the penguin toys too.”

Hale explained that students have been working on water-based nature scenes to include in their dramatic play center as well as working on creating waterways with blocks, experimenting with the effects of water sprayed paintings and watching what happens when they put droplets of water on objects like pennies and Legos.

“The kids really enjoy choosing different approaches,” said Hale.

Another feature that sets Millbrook’s pre-k program apart is the location: the Elm Drive Elementary School building, where students will attend kindergarten the following year. They learn their way around and are even given a complete menu of “big kid” specials in preparation for kindergarten. Hale said that the students’ work with tablets in centers is just one way that the teachers prepare their students for kindergarten.

“Most of them don’t have much experience with technology so it’s helpful for them to be exposed to it in a classroom setting,” she said.

Archer Wager expressed his excitement at being able to use a tablet in class.

“I like tracing letters and numbers!” he said. “I’m learning a lot on this tablet.”

Principal Alicia O’Connell said she was proud to provide students with a full menu of kindergarten readiness offerings.

“Our pre-k students build a strong foundation in social, pre-academic and life skills that set them up for success in their academic journey,” said O’Connell. “I’m glad that we are able to offer it to our community.”

“We recently found out that our program is a step ahead of the game when it comes to our work with purposeful play (a type of play in which children develop specific skills in a meaningful way),” she continued. “New York State released literacy briefs last month that outlined goals for purposeful play in early childhood, and we’re already there.

“As for the kids, I love having them in my building. They have such an energy about them and are a great part of our school culture.”

Interested in registering your child for pre-k or kindergarten at Millbrook this fall? Visit https://www.millbrookcsd.org/quick-links/online-registration

Millbrook CSD Partners with

GLSEN for Inclusive Education

Inclusivity and diversity are a focus at Millbrook Central School District, where a new training program aims to help educate the school community – including both staff and students – about creating a welcoming school environment this year.

The program is provided by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a national organization that works to ensure that every student is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

Millbrook’s Supervisor of Student Services Samantha Holsborg explained the motivation behind bringing GLSEN’s resources to the district.

“I surveyed our staff and students last year and saw that we were getting a lot of requests surrounding inclusivity,” she said. “(Superintendent) Caroline Hernandez-Pidala and I agreed that it was an important area to focus on, so we looked for solutions, and GLSEN’s offerings met our needs.”

GLSEN offers a structured training program for educators designed to equip them with tools to cultivate a safe learning environment that embraces diversity. The program, which began this year, includes comprehensive training sessions for staff aimed at supporting students – as well as themselves and their colleagues – in creating an inclusive school culture.

Holsborg stressed the importance of not only focusing on the well-being of Millbrook students but also their staff.

“We have a diverse community at Millbrook, and we want to make sure we’re fostering a welcoming environment for all,” she said. "If we want to support the students, we also need to be sure we include our educators in that conversation. GLSEN’s program addresses that and so much more.”

The student component, which is primarily in the planning stage, will aim to teach students ways to support and stand up for inclusivity within the school community as well as their peer groups.

“We want to empower our students to advocate for themselves and their classmates,” Holsborg said. "I’m hoping that LGBTQ+ students as well as students in other populations will see that we’re working hard for them.”

“I’m also hoping that this makes them feel comfortable reaching out to appropriate staff if they feel they need support,” she continued. “If they like the program, we’d love to hear from them about it as well as other ways they feel we can support them.”

With one training under their belts so far, and three more to come, the response from staff members has been largely positive. Initial feedback about the learning series revealed that approximately 80% of teachers felt they had made progress toward their goals after the first session. Many expressed gratitude for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of its continuation and expansion.

The program is part of ongoing efforts to promote social and emotional learning and well-being among district students and staff. Holsborg hopes that it reflects a collective commitment to fostering a culture where every individual feels respected and supported.

"We want to make sure we’re evolving as a school district," Holsborg said. “We’re always looking forward to bringing more chances to do so, and this is a great part of that.”

“It’s all about creating a culture of respect and support at Millbrook.”