skip to main content
Home Facebook Contact Information Board of Education District Policies Alumni Information

West Elementary School

Weekly Update
 

 

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

 

Kindergarten

For the week ahead we anticipate that students will...

Week Ending 3/13/20

In reading students will understand that:

  • Growing readers interact with informational texts to get a deeper understanding of the information being presented.
  • Growing readers continue to interact with informational texts to get a deeper understanding of the information being presented.
  • Growing readers ask questions of their texts to clarify their thinking.

 

In writing students will understand that:

  • Growing writers continue to use questions to drive their research.
  • Growing writers generate potential topics for an "All About" book by using their background knowledge.
  • Growing writers think about certain criteria when choosing their topic from an "All About" book.

 

In math students will:

  • Model decompositions of 6 using a story situation, objects, and number bonds.
  • Model decompositions of 7 using a story situation, sets, and number bonds.
  • Model decompositions of 8 using a story situation, arrays, and number bonds.

 

Other notes or information:

 

 

Back to Top

 

First Grade

For the week ahead we anticipate that students will...

Week of 3/13/20

In reading students will:

  • learn, read and write consonant blends and digraph blends.
  • focus on R-controlled vowel sounds: ar, or, er, ir, ur
  • think deeply about a text by asking and answering questions after reading.

 

In writing students will:

  • determine what a fact is by identifying what is true and certain.
  • discuss what an opinion is by recognizing that it's the way you think or feel about something.
  • write their opinion on various topics using OREO graphic organizers.

 

In math students will:

  • compare the efficiency of counting by ones and counting by 10's.
  • use the place value chart to record and name tens and ones within a two-digit number.
  • interpret two-digit numbers as either tens and some ones or as all ones.

Other notes or information:

March 12th - Trip to Tanglewood Preserves
March 13th and March 20th - Early Dismissal *12:15* for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Have a wonderful week!
 

Back to Top
 

Second Grade

For the week ahead we anticipate that students will...

 

Week Ending 01/31/20

In reading students will:

  • review the long vowel sounds of
    vowel-consonant-e.
  • notice text features of an
    informational text.
  • read on-level books in their
    guided reading sessions.

 

In writing students will:

  • Understand that the foundation of
    an interesting realistic fiction
    starts with a believable problem.
  • Use descriptive words when
    revising their beginning of their
    realistic fiction piece.
  • write across pages to make sure
    their story makes sense.

 

In math students will:

  • use a place value chart to
    represent hundreds, tens and
    ones when subtracting.
  • use math drawings to represent
    subtraction with and without
    decomposition and relate
    drawings to a written method.
  • complete sprints to build fluency.

 

Upcoming Events:
January 30 - Bedtime and Books
January 27-31 - Showing HEART for Puerto Rico and Australia
(see flyer for details)

Back to Top

 

Third Grade

For the week ahead we anticipate that students will...

Week Ending 1/24/20

In reading students will:

  • Build engagement, curiosity, and
    wonder about a surprise topic by
    analyzing pictures and text.
  • Write the main idea by
    extrapolating key details from a
    text and illustrations.

 

In writing students will:

  • Collect more information about
    their topic by sketching, adding
    labels, captions and timelines in
    their notebook.

 

In math students will:

  • IMultiply by multiples of 10 using
    the place value chart.
  • Use place value strategies and
    the associative property to
    multiply by multiples of 10.

 

Other notes:
No school - January 20th MLK Day

 

Back to Top

 

Fourth Grade

For the week ahead we anticipate that students will...

Week of 3/6/20

In reading, students will be able to say:

  • I can read, annotate and answer
    multiple choice questions using
    strategies taught.
  • I can underline the important
    language of a multiple choice
    question to recognize what the
    question is asking to help
    determine the correct answer.
  • Activities: guided reading, read
    aloud, shared reading,
    independent reading

 

In writing, students will be able to say:

  • I can write a response to a
    text by restating the question,
    answering it and give details
    to support an answer.
  • I can use an organizer to write
    a multi-paragraph essay
    incorporating a thesis
    statement and topic
    sentences, using an organizer..
  • Activities: independent and
    guided writing

 

In math, students will be able to say:

  • I can decompose fractions as a sum of unit fractions using tape
    diagrams.
  • I can decompose unit fractions using area models to show
    equivalence.
  • Activities: cooperative learning groups and independent practice

 

Back to Top

 

Fifth Grade

For the week ahead we anticipate that students will...

Week Ending 3/6/20

In reading students will:

  • Readers craft short version of
    text by summarizing complex
    nonfiction texts.
  • How is the work we do as
    researchers of our to[ics (and of
    our world) similar to and
    different from the reading work
    we do in books?

 

In writing students will:

  • Writers credit their sources by
    using parentheses or transition
    words.
  • Writers give voice to
    informational writing by
    commenting on details and facts.
  • Writers connect ideas by
    carefully choosing words that
    help one idea flow into another.

 

In math students will:

  • Relate a fraction of a set to the
    repeated addition interpretation
    of fraction multiplication.
  • Find a fraction of a
    measurement, and solve word
    problems.
  • Compare and evaluate
    expressions with parentheses.

 

Please note:

3/2/20- Elementary Read Across America Day/ West PARP Kickoff
3/6/20-West Spirit Day and book swap
3/6/20-West Supermarket Bonanza 7pm

Back to Top

 

Current News

LARC & APT Students Recognized at Recent Board Meeting for Regional, National, and International Awards

Students in Long Beach's LARC and APT programs. thumbnail266936

Students in Long Beach’s LARC (Learning Activities to Raise Creativity) and APT (Academic Program for the Talented) programs achieved remarkable success in a variety of prestigious competitions at the regional, national, and international levels. These students were recognized at a recent Board of Education meeting.

WordMasters Challenge National Honors

Long Beach LARC students earned impressive accolades in the 2024 WordMasters Challenge™, a national critical thinking competition that tasks students with mastering vocabulary and solving analogies that require both analytical and metaphorical reasoning.

A team of LARC 3rd graders placed 4th in the nation out of 81 teams in the second meet. Contributing to this success were:

- Beckett McCaffrey-Ricardo
- Grace McCaffrey-Ricardo
- Reef Tomao
- Leo Kushner
- Ade Burgess
- Jesse Sardis
- Graham Wilsusen
- Max April
- Benjamin Onufrock
- Juliet Polland
- Waverly Schaffer
- Declan Garvey

Additionally, Jackson Ferraro, Theodore Bergman, and Jiya Klarner each earned a perfect score of 20 on the final meet.

Top Honors:
The following students ranked in the Top 2% nationally and were recognized with High Honors:

- Max April
- Presley Cavallo
- Caylee Donaghy
- Arwyn Donofrio
- Charles Johnston
- Slate Koss
- Benjamin Kupferman
- Beckett McCaffrey-Ricardo
- Kylie McDonnell
- Rowan McLaughlin
- Jack McNicholas
- August Rodabaugh
- Luke Weiss
- Graham Wilsusen
- Theodore Bergman – Perfect Score
- Jiya Klarner – Perfect Score

Honorable Mention:
Awarded to students who ranked in the Top 10% nationally:

- Mason Bermeo
- Ade Burgess
- Noelle Calabrese-Decatrel
- Colin Cestaro
- Brody Dowler
- Madeline Eckert
- John Fenrich
- Peter Latman
- Daniel Mooney
- Vittoria Mortillaro
- Savannah Munisteri
- Maeve O’Sullivan
- Juliet Pagano
- Wolfe Scanio
- Laina Sisko
- Lincoln Tomao
- Jack Wilsusen
- Jackson Ferraro – Also earned a perfect score
- Juliet Polland – Also part of 4th-place team in Meet 2

Wonder League Robotics International Invitational

Long Beach’s 4th grade LARC Robotics teams qualified for the Wonder League Robotics Competition (WLRC) International Invitational Round, an international challenge with over 8,000 teams from 70 countries. Only the top 12% advance to this round, following five months of intensive, story-based coding and problem-solving challenges.

Invitational Team Members Include:
Rider Lalli, Blythe Aull, Noa Johnson, Dylan Llewellyn, Benjamin Kupferman, Jiya Klarner, Luke Kupferman, Noelle Calabrese, Rocket Martin, Savannah Munisteri, McCartney Borello, Presley Cavallo, Brynn Gerns, Elliana Kessler, Dylan Lomitola, Juliet Pagano, Rafe Kaminsky, Luke Weiss, Cole Weiss, Dylan Watts, August Rodabaugh, Mackenzie Pastuch, Abigail Northrop, Ila McNally, Theodore Bergman, Colin Cestaro, John Fenrich, Jonah Jackowitz, and Charles Johnston.

SIFMA Foundation’s Regional Stock Market Game Success

Two LARC teams earned Top 10 Regional Rankings out of approximately 200 teams in the SIFMA Foundation’s Long Island Stock Market Game:

Rosalia Heindrichs and Truman Rodabaugh (Grade 5): 6th Place
Anthony Amato and Luke Johanson (Grade 3): 8th Place

Additional students placing in the Top 30 include:

Dana Donofrio, Samuel Valencia (Grade 3)
Luke Kupferman, Juliet Pagano (Grade 4)

This financial literacy challenge teaches students to manage a $100,000 virtual portfolio, enhancing their understanding of economics, investing, and personal finance.

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Science Awards

Four LARC teams earned Honorable Mention in the Toshiba NSTA ExploraVision Science Competition, placing in the Top 10% of entries across the U.S. and Canada. These projects were recognized for their innovation in solving real-world challenges.

Award-Winning Projects (Grade 6 APT Students)

TFOBL: The Future of Bionic Limbs
Harlen Werner, Ryann Jennings, Jack Wilsusen, Madeline Eckert
BreatheEasy: The Asthma Shirt
Laina Sisko, Grayson Eichin, Jayden Torres
FinSpotter
Arwyn Donofrio, Kailin Haber, Brody Dowler, Murphy Moser
Brain Buddy Robot
Caylee Donaghy, Cruz Nafte
Additional Honorable Mentions

EcoBot Cleaner: Harper Tomao, Abe Jackowitz, Emmet Klein
Artificial Ice Sheets: Brendan Smith, Jack O’Grady, Joseph Montone, Lucas Onufrock
Air20: Mackenzie Kaplan, Victoria DaSilva, Isla Lomitola, Zoey Pinto
Regional Winners

Visionary: Cole O’Connor, Sam O’Donoghue, Sullivan Limmer, Edward Grossman

WordMasters Gold Division – Additional Honorable Mentions

Paxton Cavallo
Lucas Onufrock
Diane Seman


These outstanding results are a testament to the creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking fostered through Long Beach’s LARC and APT programs. Congratulations to all students, coaches, and families involved!

 

Date Added: 6/11/2025

Back to Top

LB Fifth Grade Students Learn from Real Hearings and High School Mock Trials Ahead of Upcoming Competitions

Students in front of courthouse thumbnail266329

The Long Beach Public Schools’ four fifth-grade Mock Trial teams recently visited the Nassau County Supreme Court for a unique, hands-on learning experience that brought their classroom studies into the real world of law and justice. The trip was highlighted by a special invitation to observe a live courtroom hearing and a personal visit to the chambers of the Honorable Judge Ellen Tobin, a Long Beach parent and longtime supporter of the district’s Mock Trial program.

Judge Tobin graciously welcomed all four teams, representing Lido, East, West, and Lindell Elementary Schools. The Long Beach students had the rare opportunity to witness a real courtroom hearing involving a lively case about asset division. Afterward, Judge Tobin answered questions and personally guided them through the courthouse to observe high school teams competing in their own Mock Trial events, providing valuable insight for the fifth graders as they prepare for their upcoming competitions.

The Long Beach fifth-grade Mock Trial program includes 51 students who have been working in teams, supported by volunteer attorneys helping prepare both prosecution and defense arguments for the case The People of the State of New York v. Noah Gray. These dedicated students will present their cases in competitions at the Nassau County Supreme Court on May 19th and June 3rd.

“Our students were so engaged and enthusiastic about this opportunity,” said Long Beach Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Janna Ostroff. “Visiting the court and seeing older students in action was an inspiring moment that gave them a sense of what’s to come.”

The Long Beach program is led by advisors Dana Monti, Caroline Espinet, Dr. Justin Sulsky, and Michael Vasikauskas. Special thanks to the following volunteer Attorney Advisors, Gabriella Amato, Thomas Haberlack, Arlette Herrera, Denis Kelly, Joseph Lupo, Hillary Massey, Scott Nigro, Philip Rizzuto Sr., Philip Rizzuto Jr. and Shawn Schatzle

With their official mock summons in hand, the fifth graders are excitedly preparing to take the courtroom stage ready to deliver compelling arguments as prosecutors or defense attorneys.

Date Added: 5/16/2025

Back to Top

Resources

Family Resources

Read More

Student Resources

Read More

Staff Resources

Read More