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Principal's Message » Principal's Message

Principal's Message

September 11, 2026

Dear Maspeth Families,

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year!

It is with great excitement that we welcome our students and families back to Maspeth High School. The beginning of a new school year is always an opportunity for a fresh start- a time to set ambitious goals, build new relationships, challenge ourselves, and continue growing together as a community. Our halls are once again filled with the energy and excitement of our students, and we are thrilled to begin another year of learning, achievement, and connection.

At Maspeth High School, our commitment remains clear: to provide every student with a safe, supportive, and academically rigorous environment where they are known, valued, challenged, and prepared for success beyond high school. Our educators and staff work each day to create meaningful learning experiences while helping students develop the skills, confidence, and character they need to navigate an ever-changing world.

A central part of our work continues to be our Portrait of a Graduate, which reflects the qualities we want every Maspeth graduate to carry with them as they pursue college, careers, and life beyond high school. We challenge our students to be:

  • Organized in their approach to work and time
  • Investigative in their thinking and problem-solving
  • Empathetic in their relationships and understanding of others
  • Communicative in their expression and collaboration
  • Ambitious in setting and pursuing meaningful goals

These competencies are more than words on a page. They represent the skills and dispositions we want students to practice every day in classrooms, extracurricular activities, athletic teams, leadership opportunities, and throughout our school community. Our goal is not simply to prepare students to graduate, but to prepare them to thrive in whatever path they choose after Maspeth.

This year, we are also continuing to place a strong emphasis on literacy across all content areas. Literacy is fundamental to student success in every discipline, and we believe that every teacher is a teacher of reading, writing, communication, and critical thinking. Whether students are analyzing a historical document, explaining a scientific concept, solving a mathematical problem, or engaging with a complex text, we want them to develop the ability to read deeply, think critically, communicate effectively, and express their ideas with confidence.

We are also beginning the year with an updated grading policy designed to reinforce high standards, student accountability, and academic responsibility. The updated policy is intended to ensure that students understand the importance of consistent effort, engagement, and mastery while developing the habits necessary for success in post-secondary education, the workforce, and beyond. Families can review the updated grading policy on the Maspeth High School website, mhs.nyc, under the “Parent” tab. We encourage all families to familiarize themselves with these expectations and to partner with us in supporting their children throughout the school year.

Our partnership with families remains one of the most important elements of a successful school community. I want to extend a special thank-you to our PTA, whose continued involvement, support, and advocacy strengthen our school in so many ways. I encourage every family to join the PTA, remain active in your membership, and find ways to participate throughout the year. Your voice and presence matter.

More importantly, we want to see you in our building. When we invite families to an event, workshop, celebration, meeting, performance, athletic event, or other school opportunity, please come. Walk through our doors, meet our teachers, speak with our staff, celebrate your children, and become an active part of the Maspeth experience. A strong school community is built when students, families, and educators are present and working together.

We are excited about the year ahead and all that our students will accomplish. There will be challenges, opportunities, successes, and moments of growth, and we are committed to being there for our students every step of the way. Together, we will continue to cultivate a school community that is ambitious in its goals, compassionate in its relationships, and unwavering in its commitment to excellence.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for entrusting us with your children. We are grateful to have you as part of the Maspeth High School community, and we look forward to making the 2026-2027 school year one filled with learning, connection, achievement, and lasting growth.

Warm regards,

Principal S. Alicanoglu