MKES Newsletter
December 2019
From the Principal's Pen
Lights and Festivities
Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or Three Kings Day, on behalf of the faculty and staff at MKES, I want to wish you and your family a festive month full of magic, peace and light.
Mindful Breathing
At MKES, students understand the purpose of why we breathe every morning together as a school community. They know (because I tell them) that we get our mindful bodies ready to take air into our lungs because this exercise allows us to engage with our bodies. Additionally, we practice breathing because we need a strategy to manage our emotions.
MKES students know that emotions are like energy surges and in order to navigate them successfully, we have to pay attention to them and watch them come and go. I remind your children that there’s always a new minute that brings with it a new emotion and that this is true for everyone. Emotions rise and then they fade away.
At the heart of my daily practice with the students is prioritizing their health and wellbeing because I believe deeply that children are not available to learn and succeed in school if they are not healthy and joyful learners.
Parents play an essential role so I invite you to join me in this effort. When you are facing a challenge to effectively manage your child’s behavior, try telling him/her to breathe at home, in the car, on a walk or while you are out. You can say, “Let’s try the mindful breathing exercise you are doing with Mrs. Morsi-Hogans called Lazy 8.” Children know how to inhale and trace half the eight for 3...2...1 then exhale and trace the other half of the eight for 3...2....1. Feel free to repeat this as many times as you need to with your child. This can be done with eyes open or closed. It can be done in the air, on the floor, on the seat or anywhere that feels comfortable.
Please share feedback with me about your child’s health and wellness journey and let me know if you see a positive impact.
Parenting for Prevention
I am sharing with you, via the links below, very important information regarding safety and prevention for our children. Please take the time to read this. We as a community have to come together and be vigilant.
Thank you for your trust and partnership.
With Kindness,
Inas
Go MKES!
Important Dates for December
Monday, December 2nd
5th Grade Field trip to ARC Stages - During School Hours
MKESA After School Class (Field Hockey) - 3:15 - 4:15 pm
Wednesday, December 4th
4th Grade CEE Enrichment - Who's Eating Whom- During School Hours
MKESA After School Class - Curiologists - 3:15 – 4:15 pm
Parent University - Healthy Nutrition Workshop in Spanish - 5:15 – 6:45 pm
Thursday, December 5th
Bus Drills- During School Hours
MKESA After School Classes (Basketball and Roaring Dancers) - 3:15 – 4:15 pm
MKESA Bingo Night & Bake Sale - 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Friday, December 6th
School Picture Retakes
Principal's Coffee - 9:15 - 10:15 am
5th Grade It's Elementary Mentor Program - 3:10 – 4:10 pm
MKES Chorus Town Tree Lighting - 5:45 pm
Monday, December 9th
MKESA After School Class (Field Hockey) - 3:15 - 4:15 pm
Winter Concert - 7 pm
Tuesday, December 10th
1st Grade Family Celebration - 9:30 - 10:30 am
Wednesday, December 11th
Cafecitos Monthly Parent Meeting - 9:00 - 10:30 am
MKESA After School Class - Curiologists - 3:15 – 4:15 pm
Thursday, December 12th
2nd Grade Personal Narrative Celebration 9:30 - 10:30 am
MKESA After School Classes (Basketball and Roaring Dancers) - 3:15 – 4:15 pm
Friday, December 13th
Superintendent's Conference Day- 1/2 day for students
Monday, December 16th
3rd Grade High Tech High Touch Science - Electricity - During School Hours
Wednesday, December 18th
3rd Grade High Tech High Touch Science - Electricity- During School Hours
Kindergarten Holiday Sing - 9:15 - 10:15 am
Grade 2 and 3 It's Elementary Mentor Program - 3:10 – 4:10 pm
Thursday, December 19th
4th Grade It's Elementary Mentor Program - 3:10 – 4:10 pm
Friday, December 20th
2nd Grade Winter Celebrations - 9:30 – 10:30 am
1st Grade Classroom Holiday Party - 10:30 – 11:30 am
Monday December 23rd- Tuesday, December 31st
Holiday Recess- No School
Kindergarten Learns About Thanksgiving
Kindergarten has been learning all about the important holiday in November, Thanksgiving! We learned that Thanksgiving is a time families get together to have a big feast. It is also a time where we think about what we are thankful for. We learned about the history of Thanksgiving and how it all started! We learned that the Pilgrims and Native Americans ate together at a large table to celebrate the good harvest. They ate food like corn, squash, and turkey! We learned English and Spanish songs about turkeys and sang them with our classmates. We made a turkey craft and wrote down what we were thankful for on a feather. At the end of the month, we had a big Thanksgiving feast with all the 5 kindergarten classes and each family was invited to celebrate too! We made turkey headbands and ate traditional Thanksgiving dishes!
First Grade Family Showcase
First graders have been hard at work learning about their families and heritage during our Social Studies unit focusing on Families. They have had meaningful conversations in the classroom, as well as at home, about families and how unique each family is. We have explored the countries the students are from as well as traditions celebrated at home. The first grade teachers have worked collaboratively with the music and art teachers during this unit. Students were taught how to sketch realistically, as they created their own family portraits, and also learned a song about families. First graders are getting ready for their first Family Showcase which will be the culmination of this collaborative project.
Second Graders get Tough!
The challenges of second grade are in full effect and the students are doing an amazing job of working hard when met with a challenge. The teachers are reinforcing perseverance and going strong when faced with an obstacle. The students have met these challenges head on and with determination. Please emphasize the importance of persevering and hanging tough when met with a challenge!
The second graders are wrapping up their first published writing piece of the school year! Through careful thought and consideration, the students have written about a small moment when something interesting happened to them. It’s amazing how much they have already grown as writers!
Please continue to read to your child every night, as hearing fluent reading is an invaluable component for them in becoming independent readers.
Third Grade - Learning the Multiplication Facts
Students have been working to build their understanding of multiplication and division. We have used many different ways to solve a multiplication problem and have begun to use different strategies to help us remember the facts.
Now it is time to start learning the multiplication facts for quick recall. Students will begin to bring home flashcards to study as part of nightly math homework. Studying the facts for just 5- 10 minutes a night can help your child feel success when working on more challenging math problems.
Math Skills in Fourth Grade
The fourth grade students have been working hard to master many mathematical concepts this fall. Your children have been learning vertical division and how to solve challenging multi-step word problems. We have spent time finding factors of a number and learning to apply divisibility rules. Ask your child to show how to find the factors of a number, you will be impressed!
We ask you to remind your children to study their basic facts daily and to work carefully on their nightly math homework. We are proud of their hard work and for using many mathematical strategies to solve challenging problems.
What’s News in Fifth Grade
Can you believe it’s already November? Following a very successful State Fair, the fifth graders are now embarking on a journey through the chemical world. Throughout the month of November, fifth graders will engage in various science experiments in efforts to utilize the scientific method effectively. Feel free to ask your child the following questions:
- What experiments have you conducted in class?
- When you conducted the penny experiment, why did the number of drops initially vary?
- What is the purpose of a hypothesis?
- Why do scientists write down their observations about an experiment?
- Can you share any of the observations you made in your latest experiment?
Fifth graders also had the opportunity to visit Manhattanville College. At Manhattanville, the students explored campus classrooms, learned about the variety of course offerings, and other opportunities offered to Bedford Central School District high school graduates. They also learned which MKES faculty members attended Manhattanville College! With Fox Lane Middle School on the horizon, our hope is that this trip excited students about the endless educational possibilities after high school.
Lastly, the Fifth grade teachers would like to thank all of the parents that have helped and or donated money or goods for 5th Grade fundraisers. We are extremely thankful for you and all that you do!
CONTACT INFORMATION
Ms. Desiree Beriguete - dberiguete3717@bcsdny.org
Ms. Elizabeth Condon-Kim – econdonkim1772@bcsdny.org
Ms. Michele Nigro – mscarpellinigro1998@bcsdny.org
Ms. Madelyn Ortiz - mortiz1728@bcsdny.org
Main Office – 914.666.2677
MKES Community Garden
Our amazing community garden is just about put to bed for the season.
This month, 1st and 3rd graders worked well together as they removed dead plant material and put it into our compost area.
We planted special winter cover crops (oats and peas) and put gentle layers of straw mulch around our kale so it can live through the winter.
Everyone learned about the magic temperature: 32 degrees. It creates 2 hour delays, snow days and FROST in the garden.
Our kale just gets better once the frost kicks in. It be delicious next week, our final week, when we enjoy some kale quinoa salad.
We’ll have extra for administrators to enjoy as well.
See you soon,
SuRu
Join Us at the Town Tree Lighting
Band with Ms. DiGrandi
The Winter Concert is almost here! The 5th grade band has been working hard to prepare the three pieces that will be played in the concert. Please make sure 5th grade band students attend every Monday rehearsal as well as weekly lessons during the school day.
The Winter Concert is Monday, December 9th at 7 PM in the gym.
4th grade band members have been busy learning new notes and songs like Hot Cross Buns, Au Claire De La Lune, and We Will Rock You. It is important to practice note and rhythm reading at home, so that we may continue to move forward as developing musicians.
Consistent practice at home is the best thing that you could do to improve on your instrument. Playing long tones, studying the fingering chart, and slowly playing through your music are a couple of effective ways to practice. Students should be practicing AT LEAST three times a week for twenty minutes at a time. This will greatly improve note reading, rhythmic accuracy, and tone production each week!
Thank you!
Multisensory Vocabulary
by the ESOL/Bilingual Team
Vocabulary building is important to all learners. Developing vocabulary as a part of knowledge requires more than memorizing new concepts. It’s about expanding language comprehension and building on the skills students have. Coming across new words could seem like a boring task but there are many ways to make it engaging using multisensory approaches.
Once you find out what the new word means, you can:
- Illustrate the word: Find pictures or create a video clip showing the meaning of the new word. This helps makes the new word less abstract and allows them to channel their creative side.
- Make it a game: Write the word on an index card. Put a few words in a bag and you can pick one and act it out.
- Making connections: Think about the new word and see if there’s another word that’s similar. You could even try to find a real world connection.
- Visual compare and contrast: Using a Venn Diagram, or a T-Chart, have students find what’s similar and different with the new words they learned. They can show this through drawings, making a list, or sharing their ideas out loud.
So next time you are snuggled up with a book and come to a new word, think about using one of the strategies to make learning new words authentic and fun.
December Fun
L. Calandra, M. Gilbert, B. Leslie, J. Smith, and L. Viviano, Learning Specialists
We would like to wish you and your family a holiday season filled with joy, laughter, and happy memories! With the way the calendar and holiday dates fell this year, the Holiday Recess break is a full two weeks - two weeks to fill with activities, games, and projects that the whole family can enjoy!
Just for fun, see how many activities you can check off this list!
- Visit the library and take out some books to share with your family. Have you read these books?
*The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
*The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper, illustrated by Carson Ellis
*The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club by Alex Bell, illustrated by Tomislav Tomic
- Go for a walk around your neighborhood or hike on a trail.
- Pop a big bowl of popcorn and watch a favorite movie together.
- Have the whole family play a game together - Charades (with Disney characters or movie titles that everyone knows), or board games are more fun when everyone joins in.
- Take a walk or drive around town to admire the holiday lights on display.
- Build a snowman - if there is snow!
- Bake/make traditional holiday favorites (our family loves to make frosted holiday cookies together!)
- Make play dough - the recipe follows…
Play Dough Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 cup of flour - whatever kind you have on hand)
ÂĽ cup of salt
1 Tbsp cream of tartar (optional)
½ cup of warm water
5 drops of food coloring
Instructions:
- Mix together the flour, salt, and cream of tartar
- Mix together the warm water and food coloring.
- Slowly pour the water into the flour mixture, stirring as you pour. Stir until combined, then knead with your hands until the flour is completely absorbed. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour until it doesn’t stick at all.
- Repeat with whichever colors you want to make.
Notes: Mixing the food coloring with the water before combining with the dry ingredients allows you to blend them by stirring, without staining your hands.
Recipe: https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-playdough-recipe/
And most importantly, while the holidays can be very busy, try to find time to enjoy each other’s company, share conversations and create wonderful memories that can be carried into the new year!
Sports Section
By John DelFavero, Craig Henley, and Melissa Ponzio
MKES students have been exercising and engaged in a variety of fun and challenging activities during PE classes. Our kisco kids have also been introduced to the new The MKES Wellness Center. The center will provide an opportunity for our students to learn about nutrition education and practice yoga, mindfulness, and develop fitness skills.
We would like to thank the outstanding Kisco 5K Coordinators Kathy Lynch, Kathy Tilden, Paula Imaz, and Ann MacDonald for their very generous donation of $5,000.00 to MKES for the wellness center.
Our Kindergarten, First, and Second Graders have learned about and participated in the following:
- Exercise of the Month
- Tabata Exercise Routines
- Tag Games
- Scooter Activities
- Frisbee Games
- Fitness Skill Development
- Nutrition
- Wellness Center
Our Third, Fourth, and Fifth Graders have learned about and participated in the following:
- Exercise of the Month
- Tabata Exercise Routines
- Frisbee Games
- Speed Ball
- Fitnessgram – Pacer, Push-Ups, Sit-Up Crunches, and Flexibility Assessments
- Nutrition
- Wellness Center
Looking for a great holiday gift!
By: Tara Caglione and Donna Furphy, Speech and Language Therapists
Here are some board games that promote language skills:
- Outburst Jr.
- Blurt
- Scattegories Jr.
- 5 Second Rule
- Guess Who?
- Scavenger Hunt for Kids
- Headbanz
- Apples to Apples Jr.
- Catch Phrase Jr.
- Cranium Jr.
- Would you rather?
- Pickles to Penguins
Mindful Breathing: A Way to Build Resilience to Stress and Anxiety
The MKES students start each day with Ms. Morsi-Hogans leading them in the Mindful Breathing Exercise, have they shared this with you?
The benefits of Mindful Breathing are many. As the School Nurse, I have seen the great benefits from our students’ ability to regain control of their breaths when they are tearful from a playground fall, an upset in school or a bump in gym. We take our mindful breaths together as they calm and tell me what has happened and express how they are feeling. It has been so exciting to see how receptive students are to using these skills and we see how it is impacting students in positive ways.
When we practice Mindful Breathing, we are drawn into the present moment with a gentle and accepting attitude, so it helps us to focus.
Mindful Breathing helps to reduce our anxiety and stress, it helps with emotional regulation.
When we breathe mindfully, we can restore a sense of calm and feel happier and at peace.
When we practice mindfully breathing regularly, we sleep better.
Mindful Breathing helps us to pay attention, have a clearer focus and improved memory
which can be helpful in school.
Mindful Breathing is better for our body as it improves our mood and helps lower our heart rate and blood pressure.
Children and adults who practice mindful breathing feel more in control of their emotions.
Practicing mindfulness sets our children up for success.
Please ask your child to show you how to take Mindful Breaths. Perhaps it can become a family practice as well as a school mindset.
Our school faculty are creating the MKES Wellness Center for students and staff!!
For additional information on the benefits of Mindfulness, please read the New York Times article, “Mindfulness for Children” by David Gelles