Year-End Updates
June 25, 2026
Dear Garden City School Community,
It is hard to believe that another school year is coming to an end.
As I have visited our schools over the past several weeks, I have been struck by the excitement that fills our classrooms and hallways. Students are looking forward to summer, staff are wrapping up another successful year, and families are celebrating all that has been accomplished.
Throughout this time, we have celebrated student achievements, performances, awards, and other important milestones. For the members of the Class of 2026, this is a particularly meaningful time as they reflect on their years in Garden City and prepare for the next chapter of their lives. I hope our seniors enjoy prom today and take time to appreciate these special moments with friends and classmates. We are incredibly proud of the Class of 2026 and look forward to celebrating their accomplishments at commencement this Saturday. They leave Garden City well prepared for whatever lies ahead, and we cannot wait to see the difference they will make.
While summer offers an opportunity to rest, recharge, and spend time with family and friends, it is also a season of preparation across our district. Behind the scenes, our educators and staff will continue planning, designing, renovating, and preparing for another outstanding school year.
Summer Learning
Learning does not stop when the school year ends. To support continued growth, we have compiled a variety of summer learning resources for students and families. These resources include literacy and math activities for our elementary students, as well as summer assignments for middle and high school students.
In addition, we are inviting all students entering grades 4–7 to participate in our districtwide summer reading experience featuring The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World by Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price. This engaging graphic novel offers practical strategies for navigating a screen-filled world while maintaining balance, independence, and meaningful connections. I hope many of our students will choose to participate. Our elementary principals and middle school principal will be sharing additional information with families in the coming days, including details about a summer student book discussion.
Summer Programs
Through our continued partnership with SCOPE Education Services, students entering grades K–6 will once again have access to a wide variety of engaging enrichment opportunities, including STEM, theater, art, fitness, culinary experiences, academics, and kindergarten readiness. We also look forward to welcoming students participating in our Extended School Year program at Stratford. For more information, click here.
Summer Construction and Planning for the Future
While students enjoy a well-earned break, our schools remain busy as we continue investing in learning environments and programs that will benefit students for years to come. Construction will continue this summer on the high school's new fitness center, Bloomberg Business Center, renovated science and art classrooms, and air conditioning upgrades in key areas of the building. We are excited to offer our new Bloomberg Business course this fall, further expanding opportunities for students to develop skills aligned with college, career, and future readiness. We look forward to unveiling these new learning spaces during the upcoming school year.
We also want our community to be aware that our high school track will be closed most of the summer as we need to replace the turf on our football field.
Equally important, our educators will spend the summer engaged in curriculum design work that will strengthen teaching and learning across the District. A major focus will be preparing for the launch of Benchmark, our new K–5 primary literacy resource, following an extensive review process that included classroom visits, pilot feedback, and input from educators, administrators, students, and families. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this important work. We will be sharing additional information about the Benchmark adoption and implementation at our July 1 Board of Education meeting.
In addition, teams will continue expanding STEM and business pathways through new offerings such as Bloomberg Business, Personal Finance, and College Calculus, while strengthening assessment practices through science question banks and middle school performance-based assessments aligned to our Portrait of a Graduate. These investments will help ensure that Garden City students return in September to learning experiences that are rigorous, engaging, and designed to prepare them for success in an increasingly complex world.
Parent Learning Series
Looking ahead to next school year, the district will launch a monthly parent learning series focused on raising children in today's rapidly changing world. These sessions will provide practical information, resources, and strategies to help families navigate the opportunities and challenges facing children and adolescents. We know families are navigating an ever-changing world, and we look forward to partnering with parents through these conversations. Additional information about topics and schedules will be shared before the start of the school year.
Bike Safety
Before I close, I would also like to ask for your partnership in helping keep our children safe this summer. As students spend more time riding bicycles and enjoying the outdoors, recent tragedies across our region remind us how important it is to remain vigilant. Please take time to review safe riding habits with your children, encourage them to wear helmets, and remind them to stay alert while riding throughout our community.
A list of bike safety tips provided by the Town of Hempstead can be found here. The New York State Department of Transportation also provides list of resources that families may find helpful.
As another school year comes to a close, I want to sincerely thank our students, families, faculty, staff, Board of Education, and the entire Garden City community for your continued partnership and support. It is truly a privilege to serve this remarkable school district. Together, we continue to create opportunities that help every student learn, grow, and thrive.
I wish each of you a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable summer. To the Class of 2026, congratulations once again. We are proud of all you have accomplished and look forward to seeing where your journeys take you. To everyone else, we look forward to welcoming you back in September for another exciting year of learning and growth.
Sincerely,
Kusum
Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.