Mr. Mac's Weekly Wrap Up

Good afternoon Castlewood 🏰,

"Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices." President Harry S. Truman

As the son and brother of military service members, I have great respect for Memorial Day and the meaning behind it. As we gather around our BBQs this weekend, enjoying our freedom with family and friends, let's take a moment to consider the great sacrifice of the men and women in the military who laid down their lives for the very freedom we enjoy.

Here’s a fun fact to get your math mind moving! May 2025 is full of palindrome magic! There are 11 palindrome dates this month, starting with May 2 (5/2/25) and continuing through May 29 (5/29/25). The most remarkable stretch is from May 20 to May 29—ten days in a row where the date reads the same forward and backward… pretty cool!

This past week, we had the distinct honor of hosting all the District 26 Assistant Principals and Superintendent Inzerillo for the monthly District 26 administration meeting. Their visit left us inspired, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive! Next week, we look forward to welcoming the District 26 Principals to Castlewood. A heartfelt shout-out to Mrs. Kircher, Mrs. Panella, Mrs. Mahalko, Mrs. Klput, Ms. Restrepo, Ms. Khan, Ms. Zipkin, Mrs. Montes, Mrs. Riley, and Mrs. Koegel for graciously opening their classroom doors and shining so brightly in the spotlight. Your dedication makes our community proud!

We also want to extend a huge thank you to our incredible technology teacher, Ms. Chung! This past Saturday, our students competed in the Battle of the Boroughs Minecraft Challenge—and they did so with courage and confidence thanks to Ms. Chung’s meticulous preparation and unwavering dedication. We’re already looking ahead to next year’s challenge, with our eyes on bringing home first place for Queens!

Today, Ms. Gerlach, Mrs. Kruger and myself along with the PTA executive board had the pleasure of connecting with local elected officials, District 26 PTA executive board members, administrators, and parent coordinators at the annual Legislative Breakfast. It was a wonderful opportunity to advocate, collaborate, and celebrate our shared commitment to education. A special shout out to our very own Melanie Ingegno who was honored for her many years of service to the Castlewood community as PTA President.

Looking ahead—Field Day is coming up next Friday at the Queens County Farm! All the information was included in last week’s wrap-up and was sent home on Monday along with permission slips. Please be sure to submit your child's permission slip as soon as possible. It’s sure to be a fun-filled day of community and celebration.

And mark your calendars: Castlewood’s Annual Arts Festival will take place on Monday, June 9! We can’t wait to showcase the amazing visual arts, music, theater, and STEM projects our students have worked so hard on throughout the school year. It promises to be an evening full of creativity, talent, and joy.

Lastly I want to extend a thank you to Mrs. Rivera for her support and coordination of NYSESLAT testing—thank you for making it all run so smoothly!