Good Afternoon Birch Lane Families,

We hope everyone is settling in nicely to the new school year! The past two weeks have been filled with excitement as students and staff work hard to establish routines and build a strong foundation for a successful year ahead.

Before we head into the weekend, we would like to share a few special celebrations taking place next week:

International Dot Day
Tuesday, September 15
Students and staff are invited to wear polka dots in celebration of International Dot Day, a day that encourages creativity, courage, and making your mark on the world.
https://www.internationaldotday.org/

Back to School Bash
Wednesday, September 16
Join us for our annual Back to School Bash, hosted by our fabulous PTA! This fun-filled event is a wonderful opportunity for families to connect, celebrate the start of the school year, and enjoy an evening with the Birch Lane community.
Tickets are still available for purchase. Please see the flyer below for additional information:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u04hjBfmdTBQ-0dq13CVnq7LZ8ryk_7G/view?usp=drive_link

National Thank a Police Officer Day
Friday, September 18
Students and staff are invited to wear their favorite law enforcement-themed apparel as we recognize and thank the dedicated police officers who serve our communities.

We would also like to extend our warmest wishes to all who celebrate Rosh Hashanah. May the New Year bring happiness, health, and peace to you and your loved ones.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best Regards,

Stephen Aspetti and Joyce Larkin

Welcome back to school, everyone!

We are excited to kick off the fall festivities with our PTA Plant, Décor & Vermont Maple Syrup Sale! The flyer was sent home yesterday in your Childs folder for complete information and use the link below to access our digital ordering form.

Please remember that the Fall Sale is preorder only, and all orders must be submitted by September 24.

Order from the Fall Plant Sale

If you have any questions, please email BirchLanePlantSale@gmail.com.

Thank you!

Your Birch Lane Plant Sale Committee

Good Afternoon Birch Lane Families,

We are looking forward to seeing you tonight at our Back to School Night. A few notes for this evening:

Our Schedule
Ms. White, Mrs. Montanino, Ms. J. Burke, Ms. Walsh, Grades 3, 4, and 5: 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Magnet, Special Area and Support Teachers: 7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Mr. Smithwick, Grades K, 1, and 2: 8:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Meeting Locations for Special Area and Support Teachers
Art, Library, Music and Physical Education teachers will be in the front gym
Speech teachers will be in room 58 (3rd grade hallway)
Reading Support teachers will be in room 24 (end of the 4th grade hallway across from the library)
Math Support teachers will be in room 42 (3rd grade hallway)
Our PPS staff will be in room 53 (3rd grade hallway)
Magnet will be in room 106 (3rd grade hallway)

General Reminders
Please enter and exit our building through the main entrance
This is a parent only event
This night is not to be used to discuss individual students. Individual conferences will take place on November 9th, 13th and 16th.

Parent Letter
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11ctuCuStuESl9QKSuIbJ1uVGh1F-0jO4/view?usp=drive_link

Best Regards,
Stephen Aspetti, Joyce Larkin and Stefanie DelGiorno

Dear Birch Lane Families,

Show your Birch Lane spirit with our Mini Spirit Wear Sale! Grade-level Spirit Packs include four shirts for $55, helping students prepare for Kindness Day, Field Day, field trips and Spirit Days throughout the school year.

Shop the Mini Spirit Wear Sale here:

https://shopnewwavesports.com/birchlane/shop/home
The online store is open now through September 18. Please see the attached flyer for additional details.

If a Spirit Pack is not the right fit for your family, the grade-level shirts worn for Field Day, field trips and Spirit Days will also be available for individual purchase during our Fall Spirit Wear Sale, launching at the end of September.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ We are also excited to offer Birch Lane fundraiser blankets as a separate purchase! Blanket order forms will be sent home in students’ backpacks tomorrow. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you for supporting the Birch Lane PTA!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14gMdClgXWXkcZFrOUwS-iY36_tLoR8mt/view?usp=drive_link

Warmly,
Birch Lane PTA

Dear Birch Lane Families,

Join the Birch Lane PTA as we kick off the school year with our NYC-themed Back to School Bash!

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 (Rain Date TBD)
4:00–6:00 PM | Birch Lane Schoolyard
Tickets: $17 per person. Children under 2 are free; all other attendees need a ticket.

Enjoy an afternoon of food, fun, and time with friends! Highlights include:

NYC street food: Sabrett hot dogs, sausage and pepper heroes, and all-American burgers.

Desserts and snacks: Jumbo NYC pretzels, Italian ices, black and white cookies, popcorn, and cotton candy.

Entertainment and activities: DJ/MC and dance floor giveaways, NYC-themed face painting, airbrush tattoos, Giant Connect 4, and assorted sports games.

Click here to purchase your tickets! You can also scan the QR code on the attached flyer.

We look forward to celebrating the start of a wonderful school year with our Birch Lane community!

https://my.cheddarup.com/c/back-to-school-bash-26/items

Warmly,
The Birch Lane PTA

Good Evening Birch Lane Families,

We had a terrific first day of school! It was wonderful to see all the smiling faces and feel the positive energy from our students and staff.

A big thank you to our PTA and to all of the families who donated items for our staff luncheon. Everything was delicious! We are very grateful for your generosity and support!

A few reminders as we head into Day 2:

Our Drop and Go arrival procedure will begin tomorrow morning on Nassau Street. Please remember that parking is not permitted on Nassau Street. Families who wish to park and walk their children to the building should use Beacon Drive.
Drop and Go_Nassau Street

Tomorrow is the first day of Kindergarten! All kindergarten families are invited to attend the PTA-sponsored Boo Hoo Breakfast. The breakfast will begin after student arrival. Families attending should enter through the GP Room doors located at the main entrance.
Boohoo Breakfast

Please notify us of any daily dismissal changes in writing. If your child will have a different dismissal arrangement, please send in a note to their classroom teacher. If a dismissal change needs to be made after the school day has begun, please do not send an email. Instead, call Ms. Cohen in the main office, and she will relay the information to the appropriate staff members.

We are looking forward to another great day tomorrow! Enjoy your evening.

Stephen Aspetti and Joyce Larkin

Good Afternoon Kindergarten Families,

It has come to our attention that many families have still not received their packets. We do not know the reason for the delay and apologize for this inconvenience. We will be putting together extra packets and lanyards for those who are still waiting for them to come. If you are in need of a packet, please complete the form linked below. We will have packets ready and hand deliver them to you when you pick your child up from Orientation.

https://forms.gle/7nPAigxZoSXdbZAd8

We are looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning.

Best Regards,
Stephen Aspetti and Joyce Larkin

Good Afternoon Birch Lane Families,

We hope that you had a nice weekend! We are super excited for Wednesday morning! A few reminders before we open our doors…

The first day of school
Grades 1-5: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Kindergarten: Thursday, September 3, 2026

Classroom Snacks
All snacks sent into our classrooms must be peanut/tree nut free. You will receive a separate letter in your child’s first day folder if there are any other contact allergens that must be avoided inside their individual classroom.

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Please click on the links below for detailed information regarding our arrival and dismissal procedures:
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LkgL1MWwNIdRT6R7b8Gst7zIiY1S59Oc/view?usp=drive_link
Arrival Map 2026-2027: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xsSXCFGznrzcjZOEYIhnUooVVtAUDV0x/view?usp=drive_link
Dismissal Map 2026-2027: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j2pgfoFhjoU96IrJfh1t_sF2Yn38T2X4/view?usp=drive_link

Drop and Go
Our drop and go arrival procedure will begin on Thursday, September 3rd. Please click on the link for detailed information on this procedure:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lJmZEAbGm0UqEJBzqJSpNPSfS6WKDS9w/view?usp=drive_link


With Purpose Foundation Backpack Drive:
Collection bins will be in the main lobby throughout the month of September
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wd-kqF8OfCSOSBvQyJFCOxTtfRdffNSy/view?usp=drive_link


Best,
Stephen Aspetti and Joyce Larkin

Good Morning Kindergarten Families,

We have had a few inquiries about orientation on Wednesday. Please note that a mailing went out last week that includes all the information needed to start your school year. If you have not yet received this mailing (look for a manila envelope), you should be receiving it today. I have included a link below for Orientation information.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K6MbLTnz-q9SEPx7yRM8ok5if71J8fiU/view?usp=drive_link

Best Regards,

Stephen Aspetti and Joyce Larkin

Good Afternoon Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

We hope that you are enjoying these last few days of summer and that you are as excited as we are to start a new year!

As you know, we have many procedures in place to ensure a safe and smooth dismissal for all of our students. One procedure that we implement is that we allow our fourth and fifth grade walkers to be dismissed on their own with written permission from a parent/guardian. Many families like to take advantage of this option, especially when they are picking up younger siblings from different classrooms. If your child is a walker and you would like his/her classroom teacher to dismiss them on their own, kindly click on the link below and complete the form.

If your child typically takes the bus, but may ride his/her bike or be a walker at times, and you would like his/her classroom teacher to dismiss them on their own on those days, you may also click the link and complete the form below. Please note, that this would be considered a dismissal change. Please remember to always send your child's classroom teacher a note indicating the change for that day.

https://forms.gle/tJ6UvGZbGrsVagm39

As always, please feel free to give us a call with any questions

Best Regards,
Stephen Aspetti and Joyce Larkin

Dear Elementary Parents/Guardians,

As we prepare for the start of the 2026-27 school year, we invite you to read the Massapequa Technology Information Letter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Pw-02s3j_4Anrm5gyv3pcFT87-EMiit0m8HRZtmXK-Y/edit?tab=t.0

The letter contains important information about staying connected with the Massapequa School District, Parent Portal access, bus information if applicable, the absence notification form, student document upload form, student Chromebooks, the Clever Portal, Schoology, and technology resources and support.

Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District

Good Morning Birch Lane Families,

We hope you have enjoyed a relaxing summer and are as excited as we are for the start of a new school year. Over the past few months, we have been busy preparing for the return of our students and staff, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back.

The first day of school is as follows:
Grades 1-5: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Kindergarten: Thursday, September 3, 2026

Back-to-School Night is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Additional details will be sent home on the first day of school.

Kindly take a few moments to review all the information below.

Teacher Assignments:
The Parent Portal will open for teacher assignments and class schedules on Tuesday, August 25, at 10:30 a.m. Parents and guardians of students in Grades 1 through 5 are encouraged to confirm that they can access their Parent Portal accounts before August 25th. Kindergarten parents should have received a letter with instructions for creating a portal account or adding a student to your existing account. Please contact our main office if you have not received this letter.

Medication Drop-Off
Mr. Delgenio will be available on the following dates for medication drop-off:
8/25: 9:00 - 12:00
8/26: 9:00 - 12:00
8/27: 12:00 - 3:00
Drop off will be in the main lobby.

Transportation:
Families of students who are eligible for transportation will have access to that information on the Parent Portal on the 25th as well. If you have any questions on the information provided or eligibility, please contact the district transportation department.

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures:
Please click on the links below for detailed information regarding our arrival and dismissal procedures:
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures 2026-27.pdf
Arrival Map 2026-2027
Dismissal Map 2026-2027.pdf

District Information
Stay Connected with MSD
Delayed School Opening

We are excited to see all of you in September and begin another wonderful year together. Until then, enjoy the remainder of your summer break!

Stephen Aspetti, Joyce Larkin, and Stefanie DelGiorno

Dear MSD Grade 1-12 Parents/Guardians,

In preparation for the new school year, we ask that you please check your child(ren)’s district-assigned Chromebook(s).

Reminder from our summer technology information email: If your child needs a physical Chromebook repair over the summer months or prior to the start of the new school year, we ask that you please drop-off the Chromebook at the district office with the front monitor between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. (If a non-physical repair, please follow the troubleshooting steps located at www.msd.k12.ny.us/tech > Student Chromebooks prior to drop-off.)

Update: If you need a repair, please drop-off the Chromebook in the district office by August 21. If after August 21, please ask your child to visit their elementary school Computer Lab or secondary school Chrome Depot on the first day of school.

Please note, all incoming elementary students (i.e. Kindergarten, school district transfers, etc.) will receive a Chromebook and account information in their class at the start of the new school year. All incoming secondary students will receive a Chromebook and account information during school orientation days or at the start of the new school year.

If you need additional support, we ask that you please visit www.msd.k12.ny.us/tech.

Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District

Dear K-12 Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are enjoying your summer! Beginning this school year, information for students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 will be shared by each school principal through email, the district website, and our app. Kindergarten families will continue to receive a summer mailing with instructions for creating a Parent Portal account or adding a student to an existing account.

Families should look for important back to school information from their child’s school later this month. As a reminder, if you do not already have our district, school, and teacher communication app, please download it now at www.msd.k12.ny.us/connect.

The Parent Portal will open for teacher assignments and class schedules on Tuesday, August 25, according to the schedule below. Parents and guardians of students in Grades 1 through 12 are encouraged to confirm that they can access their Parent Portal accounts before August 25. Kindergarten parents and guardians should check their mail later this month for their Parent Portal information.

Grade 1-12 Parents: To access the Parent Portal, visit www.msd.k12.ny.us/parentportal and sign in using your username and password. If you have forgotten your username or password, select the “Forgot Username or Password” link. For additional assistance, please email powerschool@msd.k12.ny.us.

August 25 Parent Portal Opening Times by School - Please mark your calendars.
MHS: 9:00 a.m.
BMS: 9:30 a.m.
AHS: 10:00 a.m.
BLE, ELE, and FFE: 10:30 a.m.
LHE, MKE, and UQE: 11:00 a.m.

We look forward to welcoming our students and families back for the new school year.

Sincerely,
Massapequa School District

2026-27 School Year - Returning Students

Dear Grade 1-12 Parents/Guardians,

To ensure we have the most accurate and up-to-date information on file, the Massapequa School District requires all parents/guardians to annually review and update their child's demographic information, emergency contacts, and required district acknowledgements.

All PowerSchool contact 1 parents will be receiving an email from PowerSchool Enrollment. We ask that you please read this email and follow the directions to complete the form.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District