The Mighty Dragon
Ruth C. Kinney Elementary School
April 2017
Contact Us:
1 Spur Drive South, Islip Terrace, NY 11752
Telephone: (631) 581-1862 Absentee Line: (631) 581-0969
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
Can you believe April is here? Time flies when you are having fun! As the warmer weather approaches, we will follow our Board of Education policy that requires students to attend school in appropriate dress that does not interfere with the learning process. The following guidelines should prove helpful in planning for warm weather attire:
- No tight, brief or exposing garments, specifically the midriff or shorts/skirts that are mid-thigh or higher.
- No halter tops or tank tops with spaghetti straps - all straps should have a wide band that is at least “3 fingers” in width.
- No hats or head coverings are permitted, except in cases of religious or medical reasons.
- Appropriate footwear is to be worn at all times. Flip flops, high heels and strappy sandals are not permitted.
In addition, students will continue to go outside for recess. Therefore, appropriate outerwear and footwear should be worn. Our primary goal and focus continues to be the safety and well-being of our students while providing them with a sound educational program. I thank you in advance for your support and cooperation.
The end of the third marking period is approaching, and the parent portal will open on April 23rd at 3:00 p.m.
Our next PTA meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18th in the RCK Library. I hope you can join us. Let’s have an Amazing April!
Sincerely,
Hillary Bromberg, Ed.D.
East Islip Board of Education
President…………...........Christopher Zachry
Vice President…….........William Carpluk
Trustee………...…............Steven Behan
Trustee……………….........Jessica Carney
Trustee..........................Philip Montuori, Sr
If you do not want to join Twitter, please use the Twitter Search link, https://twitter.com/search-home and type in our handle @EIprideRCK to see all of our school's happenings at RCK.
If you do join Twitter, you can follow the school’s account, RCKelem, @EIprideRCK, and always see the updates on your twitter feed.
March Mathness
Students at RCK participated in a math competition from March 6th to March 27th. They logged on to the IXL site and solved as many math problems as they could for as many minutes as they could. Students competed against the computer, fellow students, other classes in RCK and themselves. This was a three week online competition of math strength, endurance, and most of all math hustle! We are proud to say that RCK students solved over 260,000 math problems! The class team winner in each grade is as follows...In third grade practicing math for an average of 232 minutes per student -- The Miller Mustangs! In fourth grade practicing math for an average of 271 minutes per student -- The Fix's Fighting Irish. In fifth grade practicing math for an average of 312 minutes per student -- The Talbot Tarheels. The leader board changed daily as the students really fought hard to practice the most math.
Teachers Shot Baskets
Pep Rally
Band played at the Pep Rally
International Monopoly Day
The students in Mrs. Talbot's and Ms. Macher's classes celebrated World Monopoly Day on March 20th during math class. This was done in recognition of the announcement made by Hasbro to replace 3 of the board game's iconic pieces. After a world-wide contest, the thimble, wheelbarrow and boot will be replaced by a t-rex, rubber ducky and penguin. The students celebrated by playing the game Monopoly in groups of 4. Each student enjoyed thinking over all of the strategic math moves that had to be solved during their turn.
PTA Happenings
Dear Parents and Students,
Spring is here and we are getting ready for an exciting month! April will kick off with a visit from Mad Science of Long Island. Each grade will attend an exciting and interactive assembly. We’ve begun sorting bottle caps in preparation for our Earth Day Bottle Cap Mural Project. Students will be voting on which mural they would like to see crafted and they will assist with bringing this project to life!
We are gearing up for our annual plant sale and Scholastic BOGO book fair in May and Men’s Boutique in June. We are always looking for helping hands to assist students with shopping, and with set-up. If you are interested in volunteering, please email rckpta1516@gmailcom.
The nominating committee met in March and we are still without a full slate for the 2017-2018 school year. In order for our unit to continue to provide cultural arts events, holiday sales, book fairs, red ribbon week, PARP, student appreciation day, Zingo, Sweetheart Dance, reflections, etc. we need at the minimum a President, Treasurer and Recording Secretary. If anyone has the time and desire to step into this position please contact any board member or a member of our nominating committee. Elections will be held at the April 18th Meeting.
President:
1st Vice President:
2nd Vice President: Anjie Lewis
Recording Sec.: Deni Cuoco
Corresponding Sec.: Cheryl Rigogliosi
Treasurer: Briana Martinez
Upcoming Events:
April 18, 7:00pm, PTA Meeting/Elections
May 10 & 11, Plant Sale
May 12, Staff Appreciation Day
May 23 & 24, Buy One, Get One Free Book Fair
June 13 & 14, Men’s Boutique
Thank you for your continued support!
2016-2017 RCK PTA BOARD MEMBERS:
President Kelly Schumacher rckpta1516@gmail.com
1st Vice President Deni Cuoco dcuoco3@gmail.com
2nd Vice President Cheryl Rigogliosi abijazz@verizon.net
Treasurer Briana Martinez briana_otto@yahoo.com
Recording Secretary Melissa Kneisel melissakneisel@gmail.com
Corresponding Sec. Nina Penny ninapenny@aol.com
Join the PTA and Follow them on Facebook
The PTA Membership Application is now available online. The online address is:
Nutrition Week
3rd Grade's Wax Museum and Art Fair
Arrival and Dismissal Safety
A safe arrival and dismissal for our students is very important to all of us. We are asking for your help in making sure that we are all working together to ensure all students’ safety.
At arrival, it is imperative that the bus lane at the entrance of the school is not blocked by cars. All cars dropping off students should leave their children on the Spur Drive sidewalk in front of the school, and they will be safely walked via the crosswalk by our monitors.
At dismissal, cars making illegal U-turns on Spur Drive are creating a dangerous flow of traffic. As a reminder, the side parking lot is not to be used during dismissal for the safety of the children. Thank you for your help in making our arrival and dismissal safe for all.
April's Patriotic Song
Our Patriotic song for the month of April is "This Is My Country". The words are printed so all can proudly sing along each morning.
THIS IS MY COUNTRY
This is my country!
Land of my birth!
This is my country!
Grandest on earth.
I pledge thee my allegiance,
America, the bold,
For this is my country, to have and to hold.
Box Tops for Education!
The Box Tops for Education program has been very successful. Through the Box Tops for Education program, an everyday trip to the grocery store can make a difference for the students at Ruth C. Kinney Elementary. This program allows families to clip the Box Tops coupons, found on hundreds of common grocery items, and send them into school where they will be combined with coupons from other families. Each coupon is worth 10 cents for your school. The dollars add up quickly! The average family purchases more than 100 Box Tops products each year, and 100 Box Tops totals $10 in earnings for our school. Ruth C. Kinney Elementary can earn up to $20,000 per year with your help.
This school year we have raised close to $1000 so far! Keep them coming!
Our Makerspace is located in our Imagineering Zone
What is Makerspace?
Makerspace is a unique area in our school that allows for creativity and innovation to occur. Students have the freedom to design, engineer, fabricate, create, build and collaborate. We are starting small, but thinking big! Makerspace is part of the Maker Movement and it incorporates STEAM initiatives – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.
What can we Use?
We are always accepting donations from the community for our Makerspace. These materials enhance the learning for the students during the time they spend in our Imagineering Zone. Please feel free to bring any of the supplies listed below. There is a bin set up in the main lobby labeled "Imagineering Zone". Thank you!
Makerspace in Action
Designing and building catapaults
Visiting the supply hub to create her design
Creating Snap Circuits
15-Minute Emergency Dismissal Drill
Friday, April 21, 2017
2:57 Dismissal
Please Plan
Accordingly.
Thank you!
Character Education Virtue of the Month - Friendship
The school wide book of the month to illustrate our focus on Friendship will be the story, The Old Woman Who Named Things, by Cynthia Rylant. This book is a story of an old woman who doesn’t know she’s lonely until she meets a plucky puppy who needs a name--and someone to love. Enjoy the following book trailer for the book of the month!
Student Showcase
The character education virtue for the month of April is the word “friendship.” The students in Mrs. Breen and Mrs. Danowski’s fourth grade class were given different writing prompts about friendship. They each selected the prompt of their choice and completed a small writing piece. We hope you enjoy reading the students’ thoughts about friendship.
What are friends for?
Having a friend is about having fun, hanging out together and having sleep overs. Some of my favorite things to do with my friends are having water balloon fights, having sleep overs, playing and doing crafts with each other.
- Written by Lilly Burton
How are you and your best friend different?
Me and my friend Ella are different in many ways. Ella does not like milk, but I love milk. Ella likes cupcakes, but I do not. Ella sleeps in the same room as her sister and I do not. Ella’s mom works and my mom does not. Ella and I are different in many ways.
- Written by Jordan Schumacher
Me and my best friend Jordan are different by she has two sisters and no brothers and I have one sister and 3 brothers. I am the fourth youngest and she is the oldest. I have five pets and she has none. She plays the piano and I don’t. She plays the viola and I play the violin. She has been on a cruise and I haven’t. She likes milk and I don’t. She has long hair and I have medium hair. She has her own room and I share a room. Her birthday is in February and mine is in April. She is allergic to bees and I am not allergic to bees.
-Written by Ella Johnston
What things should friends never do?
Things friends should never do:
- One thing is that you should not call them mean names or tell them “shush.”
- Two, you should never push, kick, slap or punch.
- Three, never say “You are not my friend.”
-Written by Joseph Norrby
One thing that a friend should never do is betray another. Another thing that a friend should never do is ditch another. Another thing that a friend should never do is take advantage of someone, meaning to trick them. Another thing a friend should never do is replace a friend with another. The last thing a friend should never do is physically hurt someone.
-Written by Sally Attard
Write a FRIENDSHIP acrostic poem.
F orever
R eal
I ntelligent
E veryone gets along
N ice
D ependable
S mart
H appy
P artner
- Written by Kenny P.
F orgiveness
R espect
I mportant
N ever not forgive
D on’t not help
S ee how they feel
H elp
I magine their feeling
P rotect from bullying
- Written by Keira Higgins
F riends are kind and honest
R ate you 5 stars
I trust them
E xcellent acquaintances
N ever lie or gossip
D on’t fight
S uper good friends
H ope we can stay this way
I bake with them
P laydates
-Written by Kelly Nelson
F orever
R espect
I ncredible
E xcellent
N ice
D edicated
S atisfaction
H eart
I ntelligent
P eace
- Written by Jonathon Henke