March 2023

From the Principal's Office

Dear Parent/Guardian:

We are in our final week of the One District One Book celebration. On Friday, March 10 we will have our K-6 culminating activity at the IEC. Please be sure to come to the IEC for a great time. I hope that you and your family enjoyed the book, trivia questions, activities and all the special events in our community. When it comes to being read to at home, many students told me that the main reason they love ODOB was because they got to spend time with their mom or dad without any interruptions. Thank you for making our ODOB a memorable experience! I am looking forward to next year's event already.

The end of the 2nd trimester is quickly approaching. The trimester will end on March 10th with report cards going home on Wednesday, March 15th. There will be no student attendance on Friday, March 17th for Parent Teacher Conferences. The IEC students and staff are proud and excited for the progress we have made thus far. The students are making great gains in Reading and Mathematical concepts, and we look forward to the continued growth.

The AimswebPlus reports have been put on your parent portal. If you have any questions or concerns, please call me and I would be happy to discuss these reports with you. A Lancer Shout Out to all our parents and guardians in your involvement in helping your child at home. Let’s make the 3rd trimester the best, and finish STRONG!!!!!

With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, we are Lucky to be a Lancer! Please share with the IEC what makes you feel LUCKY to be a Lew-Port IEC Lancer. Please fill out the Luck Of The Lancers form attached below.

Lucky to be a Lew-Port Lancer

Sincerely,

Mrs. Rodriguez

Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is about developing the full range of skills and a positive identity that students need for academic success, fulfilling careers, healthy relationships, and responsible citizenship. SEL also improves well-being and helps build a positive school climate. All learning is social and emotional, and all schools impact the social and emotional development of children and adults – intentionally or not. SEL focuses on the skills of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and decision making. All of these skills are important in helping our students at Lewiston-Porter be ready to face the world with confidence in themselves and show what they can contribute to society. Happy National SEL week!

Join us in celebrating National SEL Day during the week of March 6th to 10th - showcase your spirit by dressing up and raising awareness about social emotional learning.

Here is a list of some ideas to promote social emotional learning at home and in the classroom:

What is SEL?

https://www.nu.edu/blog/social-emotional-learning-sel-why-it-matters-for-educators/#incorporate-social-emotional-learning-in-the-classroom

Classroom Ideas

https://www.edutopia.org/article/8-activities-students-and-teachers-create-mindful-classroom/

Mindfulness Resources

https://www.edutopia.org/article/mindfulness-resources/

“Just Breathe” https://www.mindfulschools.org/news/just-breathe-julie-bayer-salzman/

Family Resources

Engaging Students & Families at Home Toolkit

Important Pickup Patrol Review Information

Please make sure all plan changes are entered in Pickup Patrol BEFORE 11am

Please make sure to note in Pickup Patrol if your child is staying for clubs/ activities

Below you will find previously shared information about Pickup Patrol from the beginning of the school year as a refresher.

If you have any questions for the IEC please call 716-286-7253

Default plans must be entered into Pickup Patrol by the school office
Parents are sent an email with a Google form to fill out their preferred dismissal default plan prior to the beginning of the school year (please make sure your email on file with the school is correct)
Pick up/ Drop off locations other than home address require a form to be filled out and submitted to the bus garage. The form is located on the www.lew-port.com website, IEC main page, scroll down and look on the left hand side. Alternate pick up/ drop off locations must be for a set schedule, for example every Tuesday/Thursday student goes to an after school program.
TWO pickup authorization cards with student’s name on them are mailed home in the start of school mailing. If you have the card, staff knows you are parent/ guardian/ authorized to pick up that student. If adult picking up student does not have the card, parent/ guardian must enter into pickup patrol (prior to 11am day of the pickup) the full name of person who is authorized and will pick up student (make sure they bring ID- it will be checked) The school no longer keeps a list of who is authorized to pick up each student.
Entering into Pickup patrol for a student to take a bus to a different address is NOT valid, and can not be performed. For example, a parent will be working late- student needs to take a bus to Grandma’s address. All bus assignments are made by the bus garage in advance, occasional bussing to non- home addresses is not available. In this instance you would enter into Pickup Patrol (prior to 11 am that day) that Grandma/ Aunt/ another adult (full name so we can check ID) will pick up the student at dismissal. Additionally, you can give Grandma the pickup card that was sent home with the start of school mailing, in which case we will not need her ID (because she has the card).
If a student will be absent or a late arrival to school, please enter that information, as well as the reason into Pickup patrol. By doing so the teacher and school office will be informed, and you will not need to call. If you do not enter the reason for absence, the school office will call to follow up, and you will need to notify the office of the reason prior to the student returning to school.
Please call the school office at 716-286-7253 with any questions

Student Appearance / Dress Code

All students are expected to give proper attention to personal cleanliness and to dress appropriately for school and school functions. Students and their parents have the primary responsibility for acceptable student dress and appearance. Teachers and all other District personnel should exemplify and reinforce acceptable student dress and help students develop an understanding of appropriate appearance in the school setting. The school setting is defined as both in-person and online or virtual learning experiences. A student's dress, grooming, and appearance, including hair style/color, jewelry, make-up, nails, body piercings, and tattoos, shall:

1. Be safe, and appropriate, and not disrupt or interfere with the educational process.

2. Recognize that extremely brief and see-through garments are not appropriate.

3. Ensure that underwear is completely covered with outer clothing.

4. Include footwear at all times. Footwear that is a safety hazard will not be allowed.

5. Not include the wearing of hats and headgear (including hoods) in the classroom except for a medical or religious purpose.

6. Not include items that are vulgar, obscene, provocative, libelous, or that denigrate others on account of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

7. Not promote and/or endorse the use of alcohol, tobacco, vaping or illegal drugs and/or encourage other illegal or violent activities.

IEC KIDS HEART CHALLENGE 2023

3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students have kicked off their KHC Event this

past week!

We are working on Jump Rope skills to keep our bodies moving.

We are also learning about keeping our hearts healthy and supporting kids with special hearts. *SEESAW announcement went out 2/27/23.

Envelopes went home this week with instructions for online registration and encouraging our families to help raise funds for the American Heart Association!

Please check out how to complete “Finn’s Challenge” as it is near and dear to our hearts. We challenge everyone to know “Hands Only CPR”.

Last year our school earned $1,000 by completing the Principal's Challenge. The P.E. staff spent that money on RECESS Packs for each classroom. The students were very excited to receive that equipment this week!

Let’s meet this year’s Challenge again! We just need 50% of our IEC students to register ONLINE! 50% is 195 students. LET’S DO IT!

SIGNING UP IS EASY AS 1 - 2 - 3!

DONATION DEADLINE THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2023

BE THE TORCH!!!!!

March is national reading month

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday, (March 2nd) March is designated as National Reading Month - a month to motivate Americans of all ages to read every day.

Reading is fun and has many benefits, regardless of your age. It's a key component of education and professional development. It also has immediate and long-lasting health benefits such as increased cognitive function, memory, vocabulary, empathy and decreased levels of stress.

Skills closely related to later success with reading and writing

Alphabet knowledge—the ability to name letters and the sounds they make
Phonological awareness—the ability to hear and manipulate the sounds of spoken language (such as hear the beginning sound of a word)
Rapid letter or number naming—the ability to quickly name letters or numbers
Rapid object or color naming—the ability to quickly name random series of colors or objects
Phonological memory—the ability to remember spoken information for a short period of time
Writing letters or one’s own name—the ability to write single letters in isolation, or write their own name

March is Women's History Month

Why do we celebrate Women's History Month? We celebrate Women's History Month to remind ourselves of the accomplishments of women throughout the years to our culture and society. From science to politics, it's is a chance to reflect on the trailblazing women who lead the way for change.

Did you know?

Wyoming Territory was the first place to grant women the right to vote.

The first female state governor was Nellie Tayloe Ross. She was elected in Wyoming in 1924.

Marie Curie was the first woman to receive two Nobel prizes. Her first award was for physics for her work on spontaneous radiation with her husband, with her second being in Chemistry for her studies of radioactivity.

Jane Addams was the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Jane Addams pioneered the concept of social work by opening Hull House in Chicago in 1889. She also co-founded the ACLU and was a staunch pacifist throughout her life. Her prize honored her commitment to improving the quality of life for humanity.

Aretha Franklin was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Referred to as the “Queen of Soul,” Franklin has placed ninth in Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” two times!

Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female justice on the Supreme Court. She served as a justice from 1981-2006.

In 1739 Elizabeth Timothy became the first female in the American colonies to assume the role of publisher and editor of a newspaper. This was for the South Carolina Gazette.

Kamala Harris was the first woman vice president. She assumed office as vice president of the United States on January 20, 2021.

The 19th amendment didn’t give all women the right to vote. The 19th amendment was signed into law on August 26, 1920. Unfortunately, at the time, other laws prohibited Native American, Black, Asian American, and Latinx women from voting.

Geraldyn “Jerrie” Cobb was the first woman to pass astronaut testing in 1961. Unfortunately, Cobb wasn’t allowed to travel to space due to her gender.

Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S. In 1849, she was instrumental in opening up the field of medicine for women, mentoring many women who went on to careers in the field. Dr. Blackwell also focused on providing better health care for women and children.

Women make up 16 percent of active-duty military members. This ranges from about 8 percent in the Marine Corps to 19 percent in the Air Force.

Information from https://www.weareteachers.com/womens-history-month-facts/

Mrs. Fontanarosa’s 4th Grade Celebrates World Read Aloud Day With Nick Bruel

On February first Mrs. Fontanarosa’s class got a special treat when they visited the library. Nick Bruel, author of the “Bad Kitty” series was there live via Flip video to share his experiences as a writer and an illustrator. He talked about his writing process and the importance of working through “writers block”. He shared that he often creates his sketches first and then puts words to his stories. Classes from across the country were able to ask him questions about his books. Finally, he shared a chapter of his latest Bad Kitty book titled Bad Kitty, Supercat. He even showed us how he draws bad kitty through a “how to” directed drawing of Bad Kitty. Ours weren’t perfect but, they were pretty good!

By Mrs. H. Kazulak NBCT

IEC Music Leaders of the Month

Each month, one student from Band, Orchestra, Chorus and General Music will be chosen as a Music Leader of the Month. These students demonstrate the 3 R’s (Responsibility, Respect and Resourcefulness) in these classes.

For the month of February, the following students have been chosen by Mrs. Spinnegan, Mrs. Zachary and Mrs. Carere:

Band - Maci Stopa

Orchestra - Ashlynn Petko

General Music - Katherine Fura

Chorus- Sabrina Berti

Congratulations! Keep up the great work!

The Lion King Experience for Kids

The IEC is preparing for the production of the Lion King Experience in May. We have over 60 students in 4th and 5th grade involved in the cast and stage crew. Our directors are Miss Yager and Mrs. Eckstein. The Music Director is Mrs. Spinnegan, and the Choreographer is Mrs. Jaruszewski. We are so excited to be working on this amazing production set in the African savannah.

Mrs. Frederick, our amazing Art teacher, is helping to create the beautiful and breathtaking sets. The Art department at the high school is also contributing to the sets. Parents are volunteering to help with the sets, hair and makeup, costumes, and so many other things.

It is going to be an awesome community experience!

Lewiston-Porter IEC Presents

The Lion King Experience: Kids

Rafikis (narrators): (7)

Alyssa Cardamone

Vienna Costrino

Arabella Janese

Kaylee Jeffords

Victoria Keller

Annalise Lacey

Hailey Tarnowski

Mufasa:

Liam Scully

Sarabi:

Ashlyn Spriggs

Zazu:

Alex Roscetti-Creamer

Scar:

Kylie Halliday

Young Simba:

Dylan Bielec

Adult Simba:

Lucas Berman

Young Nala:

Olivia Heath

Adult Nala:

Emma Unwin

Banzai:

Ethan Zahradnik

Shenzi:

Mia Hawthorn

Ed:

Joshua Tower

Timon:

Maxim Ebos

Pumbaa:

Addison Dziamski

Hyenas/Other animals (Ensemble): (10)

Zoe Balzer

Jason Brown

Ella Clark

Juliet Dimieri

Vanessa Forbes

Emma Friedrich

Declan Macnamee

Ashlynn Petko

Samantha Saturley

William Wright

Lionesses (Ensemble): (5)

Eva Dziamanski

Evonna Farrar

Zoe Jaruszewski

Camryn Nichols

Lily Notarianni

Gazelles (Ensemble): (5)

Marlowe McCarley

Natalie Nablo

Serenity Pietrangeli

Sophia Tomlin

Giana Quatraro

Wildebeests/Other animals (Ensemble): (3)

Noah Gregory

Parker Kramer

Emmett Tidwell

Giraffes (Ensemble): (4)

Kaden Brown

Alyvia Dixon

Noah Rookey

Aubrey Hill

Zebras (Ensemble): (4)

Jocelyn Dennis

Ivy Jolbert

Emily Miller

Harper Placek

Stage Crew: (7)

Damien Barber

Cadence Fetzner

Carter Ries

Eric Rogers

Luca Soffritti

Emmett Tidwell

Alana Thompson

Learning About the African Language and Culture

The setting of “The Lion King” takes place in the beautiful savannas of Africa. The musical celebrates the amazing and gorgeous culture of Africa. During this experience, students have been able to learn more about the language, the dancing, the drumming, the music and the symbolism of so many different aspects of African culture.

In order to help our students learn about the pronunciation, the meaning, and richness of the words they are speaking and singing, Dr. Asiaki Dede (Anna) Adjei-Barrett joined us on February 15th. She is an educator, speaker, purpose discovery, and realignment expert. It was an honor to watch her celebrate with our students as they worked on a call-and-response approach. Students were able to appreciate the words they were saying and singing, and put meaning to them. It was awesome to see the smiles on their faces and the ability to get up and sing and dance. Dr. Barrett was able to take them on this wonderful journey that I am sure they won’t forget.

As they sing songs such as “The Circle of Life”, “One by One”, and “He Lives in You”, the songs will take on a much more important meaning. We learned that Simba means “Lion” and that Nala means “gift”. Sawubona means “I see you”. Thank you Dr. Barrett for bringing our experience to life. We see you and appreciate you….

Art Show March 22nd

Save the date !

The elementary art show will take place on March 22nd from 5-6pm at the LEVEL art gallery inside the high school. I look forward to seeing you there! The secondary showing will begin at 6pm. Artwork that will be on display from the IEC will include: Day of the Dead art, Collage Portraits, Birch trees, Fall Leaves, Plaster Sculptures, Banyon Trees, Bonsai Tree Sculptures, Mixed media quilts, and Foil and yarn reliefs. These students have been notified via Seesaw and in class with Mrs. Frederick.

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (D.D.A.M.), observed throughout March, is a nationwide event to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and address the barriers that those with disabilities face.

On February 26, 1987 President Ronald Reagan officially declared Proclamation 5613 making March National Disabilities Awareness Month. The proclamation called for people to provide understanding, encouragement and opportunities to help persons with disabilities to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

Wear orange. Orange is a color symbolizing energy and positivity. It's also the official color of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

March 14 world maths day- The International Day of Mathematics

Why do we celebrate World Maths Day? World Maths Day is celebrated every year in order to encourage students around the world to sharpen their skills in arithmetic and problem solving!

The International Day of Mathematics is 14 March. It is also known as the Pi Day, because the mathematical constant π can be rounded down to 3.14. UNESCO's 40th General Conference decided Pi Day as the International Day of Mathematics in November 2019

The Golden Spoon Award

The Golden Spoon Award is a school-wide competition to reward classrooms that demonstrate positive behaviors in the cafeteria. This monthly award is given out to one classroom in grades 3-5 that continually follows the school rules; follow directions, communicate with respect, keep hands, feet and objects to yourself, bring all materials to lunch, and raise your hand and wait to be called on.

The winning classroom displays a huge Golden Spoon in their room for the month. In addition, students take part in a special dining experience with Mrs. Rodriguez and Mrs. Kresicz. The winning classroom is announced at the announcement at the beginning of each month.

One District One Book Peer Reading!

Students in Mrs. Khatib’s 4th grade Service Learning class from the IEC partnered with 2nd grade students in Miss Khatib’s 2nd grade class from the PEC for a wonderful peer reading experience. Using Dragons in a Bag, the chosen book for this year’s ODOB event, students enjoyed reading together in small groups. This experience allowed older students to be role models for their younger friends while highlighting the JOY of reading!

FEBRUARY Was a Month of Love at the IEC!

IEC students and their families showed their love to families in need this February during the

FEBRUARY LOVE DIAPER DRIVE!”

All sizes and brands of diapers were collected and then donated to the survivors of domestic violence being assisted by Carolyn's House in Niagara Falls.

Al HUGE heartfelt THANK YOU to Lewiston-Porter IEC!

Service Learning classes send Valentines

Our Service Learning students in the class of Mrs. Khatib made Valentines for residents of Wheatfield Commons to share the love!

Valentines to OLP

K-Kids Spreading Love This Valentine’s Day

The 5th grade K-Kids were busy making Valentine’s for residents at Our Lady of Peace. Club members made a variety of valentines that were distributed to their elderly friends on February 14th. The students had fun as they let residents know that they are a valuable part of our community!

Drum and Dance Assembly 2/27/23

In celebration of Black History Month, performers from Ade Jembe Fola organization and City Honors High School executed a drum and dance program for our IEC students. The emphasis of this assembly was on the importance of listening to - and learning from - one another about the richness of culture in America and across the world. Ade Jembe Fola is a non-for-profit organization, and the founder, Mr. Jamil Kasumu, is a former elementary school teacher. At the assembly he led a rousing drum performance, and taught the children that "jembe" means "together" in Yoruba (a native language of Nigeria). His message emphasized kindness towards all, and that learning about all cultures in America is everyone's job. He spoke eloquently about the importance of listening to our parents and teachers, and encouraged our students to read as much as they can to enhance their knowledge of the world and their community. Some of our students were selected to join the performers on stage to learn basic drum patterns and dance steps, and the crowd jumped to their feet when their teachers were pulled up on stage to check how good their listening skills were. It was an exciting and educational experience for our IEC, and we look forward to growing with the Ade Jembe Fola organization in the years to come!

Bridge Engineering in Enrichment

For the month of February students in Fifth grade Enrichment learned about engineering. To begin the project Mr. Frederick had us learn about the history of bridges, and we learned about sturdy structures and how different bridges come in different designs. We then were given balsa wood as our material and we had to design and build our bridge. We had to make a blueprint, use measuring, and learn how to mark angles. Some groups built tall bridges, short bridges, thick bridges, and skinny bridges. Some groups cut angles for their bridge and some just overlapped the pieces.

Later in March we will be testing our bridges by stressing them using a weight system to see which bridge design is the strongest.

The best part was when our blueprints were complete and we could begin cutting and gluing the material together and to see our final bridge design come alive!

By Grace Campise and Evonna Farrar