Albany Avenue Elementary has a PAWsome new program. Every Friday, their 6:1:1 classes are visited by Long Island Therapy Dogs. Students are given time to pet, unwind and practice their reading skills with a therapy dog. Research shows that therapy dogs support psychological and academic growth while increasing social skills and self-esteem in adolescents.

I wonder, what could it be? That’s the question Albany Avenue third graders asked as they examined artifacts brought into the classroom courtesy of the Hofstra University Museum of Art’s Art Travelers program. The program helps develop and strengthen critical thinking and visual literacy abilities. Students will go on two field trips to Hofstra’s museum during the school year and have several in-classroom activities led by Museum Educators.

The Farmingdale school district opened for the start of the 2022-2023 school year on September 6, 2022. Administrators, teachers, and staff welcomed more than 5,000 students at Farmingdale High School, Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, Albany Avenue, Northside, Saltzman East Memorial, and Woodward Parkway Elementary Schools.

“Welcome back, Dalers!,” said Superintendent Paul Defendini. “I am confident that the traditions and the experiences we will share in the 2022-23 school year will be reminiscent of the past and will bring us that sense of fulfillment that we so richly deserve.”

Farmingdale Schools welcomed forty newly-appointed teachers to the district! A three-day New Teacher Orientation—hosted at Weldon E. Howitt Middle School and led by Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Jennifer Olsen provided our new educators with the opportunity to meet key staff, and learn about a range of topics, from school culture and curriculum standards to safety and digital technology in the classroom. Dr. Sam Thompson led the group on a school bus tour that began with a ride down Farmingdale’s Main Street. From there they traveled to every school in the district and were given a brief orientation from building principals. Welcome to Farmingdale!

The district’s Extended School Year program, which is housed each summer at Albany Avenue, has gotten off to a great start! With this year’s Explorer theme, students have maintained their learning goals with plenty of hands-on activities and individualized instruction. Learning about ocean and forest animals, practicing fruit smoothie math, paper bead-making for fine motor skills, and strengthening reading in small groups, are just some of the classroom happenings that students have been experiencing.

“Our ESY program would not be as successful without our dedicated team of teachers, aides, and support staff. The students are our priority, and we love to see their smiles each day!” Bonnie McClelland, principal of the Extended School Year program.

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