Each spring, there is considerable discussion about placing children in classes for the next school year. Since this is a matter that we do not take lightly, Ms. Pavlick and I, working in collaboration with the professional staff, spend countless hours constructing well-balanced classes in which all children have the opportunity to learn and grow academically as well as socially.
It is hoped that a frank review of our procedures for class placement of students will eliminate the need for parents to individualize their concerns or make requests for specific teachers.
When classes are structured, a clear set of guidelines is followed. Classes are formed into heterogeneous groups with the following in mind:
A full range of aptitudes within each class
An even proportion of abilities and learning styles
Number of students requiring support services
Possible student conflicts
Once these factors have been considered, teachers begin to build classes of children who show promise of working well together. As the process unfolds, attempts are made to match pupil and teacher style while taking into consideration the professional judgment of those educators working with your child.
We welcome your input concerning your child’s individual learning needs; we trust you understand that your comments constitute just one of the many factors considered during the process. The final decision on class placements must reside with the school, and requests for specific teachers cannot be honored. If there are special considerations you would like us to be aware of, please feel free to share those by filling out the form below by March 31st. Please do not assume that past history or concerns will automatically be addressed during placement if you do not fill out the form.
Optional Google Form for Placement: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KySiTaZszb77W8mewUNZkVXDHXKV4-D68PIQfw_cPQ0/edit
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Dr. Gerhard
Dr. Gerhard
Principal
__________
We invite you to review the linked letter containing important information regarding the NYS Grades 3–8 Assessments.
Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-lBlLEaCDJ0JyJIZ9ssN6HUWC094bKkK/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=116442019154430759621&rtpof=true&sd=true
Thank you,
The Massapequa School District
Click the link below to access our February Paw Print Press!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PrEhn0bxzwMkesKlMLrm9mERa5_Gwyi5/view?usp=sharing
Sincerely,
Dr. Gerhard & Ms. Pavlick
Please see the flyer regarding P.A.R.P. spirit week this week, March 2nd-March 6th.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eW0mgGVzC80O99nxQvTITf88a3RuhpvB/view?usp=sharing
Thank you,
Dr. Gerhard, Ms. Pavlick & Fairfield's PTA P.A.R.P. Committee
At Fairfield, we know that the strongest support system for our students is the partnership between home and school. That’s why we are so excited about the 3rd Annual Parent University on Wednesday, March 4th.
This is a chance to connect with other local families, grab some fresh insights from educators, and chat about how we can best support our kids in today's world.
When: Wednesday, March 4th | 6:30 PM
Where: AMES School Campus
Register Here: www.msd.k12.ny.us/parentu
For full details on workshops and the evening’s schedule, visit www.msd.k12.ny.us/parentuniversity. We can’t wait to see the Fairfield community there!
Sincerely,
Dr. Gerhard & Ms. Pavlick
Dear Parents/Guardians,
There’s still time to sign up for the 3rd Annual Parent University hosted by the Massapequa School District!
Join us on Wednesday, March 4th - 6:30 PM at the AMES School Campus for a special evening that brings parents and educators together for learning, connection, and meaningful conversation about supporting our students both at home and in school.
Registration is still open, and we encourage you to secure your spot today. Please review the informational flyer or visit www.msd.k12.ny.us/parentuniversity for complete details, including keynote session information, workshop descriptions, and student activity room offerings.
Register today: www.msd.k12.ny.us/parentu
We look forward to seeing you for an evening of partnership, learning, and community.
Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District
We are so happy to have everyone back! I am writing to provide a quick update regarding our Book Fair schedule.
Due to the recent closure, all students who were originally scheduled to visit the Book Fair on Tuesday, February 24th, will now attend on Friday, February 27th.
To accommodate this change, the PTA will be sending out a new Sign-Up Genius link shortly for volunteers. We appreciate your flexibility and continued support in making this event a success for our students.
Have a wonderful day!
Best regards,
Dr. Gerhard & Ms. Pavlick
We are excited to inform you that the LI Herald will be showcasing our Kindergarten classes in a special K Kids Edition! This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to be featured in the newspaper.
The LI Herald will be visiting Fairfield on Tuesday, March 3rd to take pictures of all our Kindergarten classes and their teachers. Each child will also answer the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Please note that the paper only uses first names and does not place names near the pictures of the children.
If your child is camera-shy or you prefer they not participate, please let us know, and we will ensure they are not included in the photos.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Dr. Gerhard & Ms. Pavlick
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Have you signed up for the Massapequa School District’s Parent University yet? There’s still time!
Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual Parent University hosted by the Massapequa School District on Wednesday, March 4th at the AMES School Campus. This special evening brings parents and educators together for learning, connection, and meaningful conversation about supporting our students both at home and in school. If you haven’t registered yet, we encourage you to do so today! Please review the informational flyer or visit www.msd.k12.ny.us/parentuniversity for complete details, including the keynote session, workshop descriptions, and student activity room information.
Register today: www.msd.k12.ny.us/parentu
We look forward to seeing you for an evening of partnership, learning, and community.
Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are excited to announce that registration is now open for our 3rd annual Massapequa School District Parent University, taking place on Wednesday, March 4th at the AMES School Campus. This special evening brings parents and educators together for learning, connection, and meaningful conversation about supporting our students both at home and in school.
Please review the linked flyer or visit www.msd.k12.ny.us/parentuniversity for complete details, including the keynote session, workshop descriptions, and student activity room information. When you are ready, please register at www.msd.k12.ny.us/parentu.
Linked Informational Flyer: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1e7CYF6qB-SNIGVmIVDpGoyCyhMxLp65f&usp=drive_fs
We look forward to seeing you for an evening of partnership, learning, and community.
Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District
The Massapequa Fine & Performing Arts department would like to announce the 2026 Massapequa Philharmonic Inside Out Informance. The event is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026, in the Berner Middle School Cafeteria at 1:00 pm. Third grade students will soon have the opportunity to select an instrument to begin playing next fall. The Inside Out Informance by the Massapequa Philharmonic is a wonderful way for your child to begin to explore possible instrument choices.
The Inside Out Informance is an opportunity for third grade students to sit inside the orchestra with the musicians and to experience what it is like to be in the ensemble. Following the Inside Out Informance, students can participate in the Instrument Meet and Greet; a time to speak with teachers and students, see the instruments up close, and ask questions.
The full schedule is:
12:45 pm: Students Arrive
1:00 pm: Inside Out Informance
1:30 pm: Instrument Meet & Greet
Seating is limited to 115 third grade students and a parent escort. To sign up your child for this exciting program, visit https://forms.gle/u6Tr2tLrofPGW58t9 to access the registration form.
We look forward to welcoming you to the music performance program here in Massapequa.
Musically yours,
Vincent Green
Dear Parents/Guardians of K-8 Students,
We invite you to read our iReady Parent Letter that includes important information on how to access iReady resources and parent reports. Additionally, please view our Massapequa School District video - Understanding grade level learning expectations and your child’s performance.
Please note that your child’s winter i-Ready Parent Report will be available on the Parent Portal under the Student Portfolio tab beginning today, February 11, at 3:00 PM.
Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District
To Parents/Guardians of Students in Grade 5-11,
The ability to view your child's 2026-2027 courses via the "Class Registration" icon in the navigation menu on the Parent Portal has been enabled. You may access this on the web portal located at: https://msdps.powerschool.com/public. Please note, if your child has an IEP, all recommendations will be discussed and course selections finalized at your child’s CSE annual review meeting.
Parents of Students in Grade 5:
If you have questions regarding a recommended reading support class, please contact your child’s current 5th grade teacher or Mrs. Patricia Quinn-Hendry, Comprehensive Literacy Chairperson K-12, at 516-308-5153. Any other schedule questions or concerns can be made directly to the Berner Guidance Department by Friday, February 13, 2026.
Parents of Students in Grade 6:
If you have questions regarding recommended support classes, please contact your child’s current sixth grade teacher. Any other requests for a course change must be made directly with the Berner Guidance Department by Friday, February 13, 2026. Important - Please note, acceleration class notifications and schedule updates will be sent home starting on March 25, 2026.
Parents of Students in Grades 7-8:
Any questions or concerns should be directed to your child's guidance counselor. Requests for a course change must be made Friday, February 13, 2026.
Parents of Students in Grades 9-11:
Parents will not see any requests in the parent portal until after their child meets with their counselor. As a result, course requests may not be viewable until February 12, 2026. If you have any questions after reviewing the listed course requests, please contact your child’s guidance counselor as soon as possible.
If you have any questions in reference to the scheduling process, please do not hesitate to contact the guidance office at Berner, MHS - Ames Campus or MHS - Main Campus. For questions about the Parent Portal, please email the PowerSchool Parent Portal support team at powerschool@msd.k12.ny.us.
Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District
Dear Elementary and BMS Parents,
We invite you to view the following communication from our Science Department.
Discovery Fair Information/Registration: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yh-WbyqyRmvIdip2Bq6QFaA0_djgbo0t/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=108182737150405836077&rtpof=true&sd=true
Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District
The safety and security of our students and staff remain our highest priority. To ensure that our school community is prepared and confident in our emergency procedures, we are writing to remind you that we will continue to conduct safety drills throughout the remainder of the school year.
These exercises are an essential part of our preparedness program. Our drills include fire evacuations, bus safety, lockdown drills and more. Students will be informed by their teachers prior to the start of any drill.
Regular practice allows us to identify any areas for improvement in our response times and protocols while helping students become familiar with the procedures.
We appreciate your partnership in keeping Fairfield a safe place to learn and grow.
Best regards,
Dr. Gerhard
Click the link below to access our January Paw Print Press!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QW-Aqi6jw61WD6O1HNn9szpMX7XIQNEs/view?usp=sharing
Sincerely,
Dr. Gerhard & Ms. Pavlick
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are excited to announce our 3rd annual Massapequa School District Parent University, a wonderful opportunity for parents and educators to come together for an evening of learning and connection.
Please review the linked information or visit www.msd.k12.ny.us/parentuniversity and save the date - March 4! Details about the keynote, workshops, and registration will be shared in the near future.
Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District
Linked Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WyO05mbHOJgBGA9lENSEjT8Wr3TpDwCb/view?usp=sharing
Dear Fairfield Families,
We are so excited to announce that Fairfield will be celebrating P.S. I Love You Day with a special Spirit Week from February 9th through February 13th. This beautiful movement is dedicated to spreading kindness, fostering mental health awareness, and ensuring that every student feels supported and loved.
We are also incredibly honored to welcome Brooke DiPalma, the founder of P.S. I Love You Day, to Fairfield on Thursday, February 12th. She will be holding a brief assembly for all of our students to share her inspiring message of hope and the importance of looking out for one another.
Spirit Week Schedule
Monday 2/9: Mindful Monday – Wear comfy clothes to remind ourselves to be soft and gentle with ourselves and others.
Tuesday 2/10: Team Up Tuesday – Wear your favorite sports attire or jersey to show we are all on the same team.
Wednesday 2/11: We Are The Light Wednesday – Wear bright or neon colors to represent how kindness helps others feel seen.
Thursday 2/12: Thoughtful Thursday – Wear something with a positive message, heart, smiley face, or peace sign.
Friday 2/13: P.S. I Love You Day! – Wear purple, our uniform of unity, to show that bullying has no home at Fairfield. Each dot in our sea of purple is someone who is seen, loved, and looked after.
Throughout the week, students will participate in various activities designed to strengthen our community and spread joy. We look forward to seeing our hallways filled with purple and positivity!
Thank you for your continued support in making Fairfield such a warm and welcoming place for our children.
Warmly,
The P.S. I Love You Day Committee at Fairfield
🎉🏀 Good Morning, Fairfield Families! 🏀🎉
We have some exciting updates regarding Harlem Wizards Fundraiser ticket sales — and even bigger news to share! ✨
📍 NEW LOCATION:
Due to high interest, the event has been moved to a larger gym at Berner Middle School so we can welcome even more families!
⭐ Waitlist Families:
If you added your name to the waitlist, keep an eye on your inbox! You’ll receive an email from the Harlem Wizards this Thursday and will have 24 hours to purchase your tickets.
🎟️ Each waitlist entry guarantees ONE ticket — so if you signed up multiple times, you’re eligible for that same number of tickets (for example, 3 entries = 3 tickets).
📣 General Admission:
General admission ticket sales will open Saturday at 7:00 AM. While we don’t anticipate selling out, we strongly encourage you not to wait — just in case!
This is shaping up to be an unforgettable night of fun, laughter, and basketball magic for the entire Fairfield community. We can’t wait to see you there! 💥🏀✨
The Fifth Grade Committee
Good afternoon, Massapequa families! 🎉
We have exciting news! After selling out our Harlem Wizards fundraiser in under 12 hours, we were able to secure a larger gym space—which means more tickets are coming!
We will be reopening the ticket box office first for families on the waitlist, followed by the general public. Class parents and the Fifth Grade Committee will be sharing the official date and time tickets go back on sale very soon, so stay tuned!
Thank you so much for your patience and incredible support. We can’t wait to see everyone at what is sure to be an unforgettable event! 🏀✨
Fairfield's Fifth Grade Committee