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Principal's Message for the 2024-25 School Year

HOWARD B. MATTLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

PLAINVIEW-OLD BETHPAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT     

100 Washington Avenue

Plainview, NY  11803

(516) 434-3050

August 23, 2024

Dear Parents and/or Guardians:

 

Welcome back to a new school year! We hope you had a restful and enjoyable summer, filled with opportunities to create lasting memories.  We are excited to continue building a strong partnership with you,  grounded in our shared commitment to nurturing not just the minds of our students, but also their hearts.  Indeed, in reviewing our academic data, it reveals that students’ achievement demonstrates that our school’s core curriculum is healthy and vital to the future success of our students. 

 

This coming year, beyond the exceptional academic expectations, there will be a renewed emphasis on developing the character of our students.  At Mattlin Middle School, we acknowledge that Every Student Matters, Every Moment Counts.  As such, we will focus on the importance of building peer-to-peer and student-to-teacher relationships, providing students’ opportunities to develop character and leadership.  

 

Additionally, we believe that learning should be an exciting and joyful experience.  When students find joy in what they are learning, they are more engaged, motivated, and likely to succeed. Our teachers will continue to create a safe and healthy environment that inspires curiosity and love of learning. 

 

For families, preparing children to go back to school in September often means buying new school supplies, having exciting talks about seeing friends in hallways, or even choosing a “first day of school” outfit.  This year, I am asking families to add one new ritual to your preparations - reminding children about the importance of treating all peers with respect.  As parents, we can never assume that children “know” what should and should not be said on social media, in text messages, or even in-person, about a peer.   We encourage family talks about the idea that there are some things that are “never okay to say” and support giving children explicit directions on areas not appropriate to comment negatively about, including: race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability level, and/or gender.   On our side, the Mattlin team will host “lunch and learns” or principal chats on these topics and provide students opportunities to learn and make good choices and better decisions. 

 

Our purpose is to create a safe and healthy school for all of our students. This means we expect student actions to demonstrate kindness, empathy, respect, and integrity to all in our school community.  Students will be reminded of our common language with renewed purpose, and you will hear more readily about Mattlin PRIDE.  Mattlin PRIDE emphasizes Personal Best, Respect, Impulse Control, Decision Making, and Empathy.  PRIDE continues to serve as a character building resource in developing the whole child and overcoming challenges.  Mattlin PRIDE is what makes our school special, and supports the value of good citizenship.  

 

In the coming year, it is my hope that the main focus of our students shifts to the treatment of their classmates and neighbors.  It is there, in the emphasis on feelings of others, that we would truly find success. 

 

Thank you for your continued support, and I wish you all the best this coming school year.

 

Respectfully,

Joseph Coladonato, Ed.D

Principal, Howard B. Mattlin Middle School