Woodhull School pre-K-6 students took audience members on a musical journey that highlighted holidays around the world during their annual winter program, “Once Upon a Housetop.” The show taught students and attendees the rich traditions that make cultures unique through music, dance and story.

The program was much more than a performance. As students prepared for “Once Upon a Housetop,” they gained valuable lessons about collaboration, global awareness and the joy of expressing themselves through the arts. They explored Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas and Parranda, a holiday tradition that started in Puerto Rico and spread to other Caribbean countries.

“The program also broadened the students’ understanding of the world and helped develop an appreciation for the diversity of traditions that bring communities together,” Superintendent of Schools Travis Davey said. “We are so proud of our students for their hard work and for reminding us that the holiday season is about more than tradition – but about coming together as a community.”

A huge thank you goes to directors Mr. Laster and Mrs. Margolin, whose expertise, creativity and passion inspired the students to reach to new heights. Their guidance and encouragement turned a collection of young voices into one harmonious celebration of culture, learning and joy.

Click here to view the Once Upon a Housetop 2024 slideshow.

Date Added: 12/19/2024

In celebration of the holiday season, Ocean Beach residents and village employees treated Woodhull School students to a festive parade of decorated golf carts. As the popular vehicles rolled through the community, dazzling student judges, who peered through holiday-themed glasses, chose category winners such as most festive, best theme and overall favorite. 

From a Grinch-mobile to Spiderman-inspired charm, a Christmas Candyland and an Amazon delivery truck, the creativity was boundless. Some carts added extra magic by sending snow flurries into the air and blasting reindeer food. Others made special deliveries to students and spread cheer at every turn. 

The district sends a heartfelt thank you to its Ocean Beach friends for creating such a memorable experience for community students. 

Click here to view the Holiday Parade Comes to Woodhull School 24-25 slideshow.

Date Added: 12/17/2024

Second graders have been hard at work designing information guides for visitors of Fire Island. These creative and informative guides feature colorful illustrations and helpful details about local wildlife, transportation options, highlights of Woodhull School and even their favorite stores and restaurants.

With their guides, the students have captured what makes their community such a special place to visit and explore. Anyone looking for tips and recommendations about Fire Island can stop by Ms. McNulty’s classroom to pick up one of these thoughtfully crafted guides.

Click here to view the Do You Know About Fire Island? slideshow.

Date Added: 12/11/2024

Woodhull School values service and hopes that these efforts instill a lifelong commitment to helping others in the community. Thanks to the generous contributions from the community, the fifth and sixth grade classes collected essential food items for Pronto, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping families in need.

The students eagerly organized the goods, carefully weighed each box and tallied up the collective contributions. The students calculated 232 pounds of food!

This tremendous effort demonstrated the power of teamwork and the kindness that defines the school community.

Click here to view the Fire Island Students Shine in Service slideshow.

Date Added: 11/26/2024

Woodhull School sixth graders put their thermal energy knowledge to the test in a hands-on design challenge. Under the direction of teacher Danielle Flaumenhaft, the students were tasked with creating a cup that would keep liquids icy cold, using only three additional materials and ensuring it could fit a typical car cup holder.

Before constructing the cup, students analyzed each design component and considered how factors like lid height might influence evaporation, whether a straw hole would let in warmth, and how the choice of materials impacted insulation. They also explored the reusability and recyclability of their materials and cost-effectiveness of each design.

Once the cups were built, students used a light bulb as a heat source and observed how external heat affected the temperatures inside their cups. They then refined their designs based on how well their cups maintained the chill.

After recording their findings, students compared the performance and cost-efficiency of each cup. Through trial and error, they discovered which designs best resisted warming and came away with valuable lessons in science, sustainability and creative problem-solving.

Click here to view the Thermal Energy Innovators slideshow.

Date Added: 11/19/2024