Dear Oysterponds,

Compassion: sympathetic consciousness of other’s distress together with a desire to alleviate it. As I sit and reflect on this week at Oysterponds, the word “compassion” comes to my mind. It warms my heart to see how caring our students are towards each other and their intrinsic desire to help others that are less fortunate. Community service comes naturally at Oysterponds where the children initiate projects and we support them.
This past week, there was the first meeting for Early Act, which is a nationally recognized service learning club, and I was so happy to see our fifth and sixth graders working together to create projects to make this world a better place. Our fourth graders who put together the “Giving Tree” are now organizing “Operation Love.” The whole fourth grade class is busy putting together this community service project that will include a video, posters and collaboration with the OCC preschool. Stay tuned as they continue to plan this. I can’t wait to see their campaign. Our sixth and first graders are presently holding a food and bedding drive for the North Fork Animal Welfare League. Our boxes are filling up with cat food, bedding, towels, blankets and peanut butter. This drive will continue through February 14th. Thank you to all that have contributed.
I recently read an article by a respected educator, Doug Reeves, and he stated that participating in community service is as important as learning math, science, social studies, reading and writing in school for academic success. Some of my greatest memories from school were the community service projects that I participated in like reading books with senior citizens at Leisure Glen, and my school participating in “Hands Across America” in New York City: the national campaign to end childhood homelessness and hunger. I am one that agrees with the old adage “to build self esteem you need to do esteemable acts.” I am happy to report that our students are really building their self-esteem while learning how to organize projects to help others. I am so proud to be our students’ principal and watch them care and show empathy towards others.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kindly,
Ms. Wittenburg Read more...

Division I SCMEA All County Band and Chorus
Congratulations to Jennifer Kravitz, Ana Llukaci, Jordyn Neese, Grace Syron, Chris Vedder and Sam Mastrangelo for being to chosen to participate in SCMEA All County Band and Chorus. 

Greenport High School National Honor Society
Congratulations to the following Oysterponds' graduates that will be inducted in Greenport High School's National Honor Society: Nicholas Connell, Megan Demarest, Matthew Dibble, Claudia Siverman, Courtney Weber and Edward Wright. 

Congratulations to Grace Syron for her winning logo design for Wellness Day.  The kids casted their votes and Grace's design was the winner!  We are still in need for volunteers to run workshops on Wellness Day about health, wellness, safety, physical fitness, stress reduction, etc.  If you would like to run a workshop or know someone that would like to please send the interest form to the school.  We are open to all different kinds of workshop in the area of wellness.  Wellness Day will be held on February 14, 2012.

Our mission is to educate and nurture the mind, body and spirit of all students.