Grundy Ave Newsletter
~ June 2017 ~
Dear Grundy Ave Learning Committee;
With only a few waning weeks of school left, the school year 2016-2017 is quickly coming to a close. We still have much to do and plenty to celebrate as our students and staff race to the finish line!
Our NYS Assessments are over and testing is behind us. We are looking forward to our Night in Celebration that will be held on June 7th from 4:00-6:00. Every student at Grundy will be showing off some of their published writing pieces that they created this school year. Come and check out our blossoming authors and illustrators! I’d like to thank our BLT Action team that worked so hard preparing for this to make it happen. This also is Family Connect Night so no HW on June 7th!
Our Field Day for students will be on June 2nd and as a reminder it will be a full day of school. Our beginner concert will be on June 8th. It will include the 4th graders who will perform in the band and orchestra and the 3rd graders will sing in the chorus. With only a few short months of lessons and hard work, it should be a wonderful show.
It is also bittersweet to bid farewell to our 5th grade class. They are talented, smart and they demonstrated their leadership skills throughout the course of this school year. The 5th grade trip to see Blue Man Group is on June 13th. A BIG thank you to our 5th grade coordinators for making this a very special year. Grundy’s moving up ceremony will be held on June 21st at 7:30 at North HS. They are a very special group of boys and girls and we are proud of their success.
The last day of school is June 22nd. Both Monday June 19th and June 22nd will be a half day with a dismissal time of 12:15. Grundy will start a new tradition of singing, See You In September and a salute our 5th graders as they make their way to the buses for the last time. Report cards will be available on the Parent Portal of eSchool after 1:00 on the 22nd.
If you have not signed up for our email list for important information from the district, PTA, or Grundy, please call the school and do so. Grundy is now “Green” and no hard copies of any notices will be sent home. All information can also be found on our website by going to www.sachem.edu and clicking on the schools tab and then finding Grundy.
It’s a busy time at Grundy Ave! I look forward to seeing you at our next school event! Have a wonderful and relaxing summer! If you have any questions or concerns, I can always be reached at 631-471-1820.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Laura Amato
Principal, Grundy Ave.
Kindergarten News
The end is here and our cute kindergarteners are ready to fly into first grade! They have grown so much as they came in knowing how to spell their name and singing the alphabet, to reading and writing their own stories! As we get ready to move onto first grade, we are celebrating with an ABC Countdown to the End of the Year. Each day we have fun activities planned. One activity was a field trip to Benner’s Farm where we learned about the plants and animals. Another activity was Favorite book day where we shared our favorite stories with each other. We are very proud of all that they learned and what great students they have become. Keep reading and writing over the summer to keep the skills we have learned. Good luck next year! We will miss you!
First Grade News
May was a marvelous month in first grade! Our first graders got to go on a fantastic field trip to Benner’s Farm. This trip was an excellent extension to our science curriculum wherein we learn about plants and animals. On the trip our first grade students got to see a real working farm and the animals that live on it. It was so exciting to see real life goats, chickens, ponies, cats, ducks, pigs, sheep, and bunnies. Some of our first graders favorite parts of the farm included seeing a 700 pound three-year-old pig named Shrek. The farmer told us that when Shrek is full grown he will be over 1,000 pounds. Students also enjoyed feeding baby goats and sheep fresh goats milk. The farmers told us that baby goats and baby sheep drink milk that is a very warm 102 degrees! We had such a fantastic time learning at the farm!
May was poetry month in first grade. We read and wrote poetry each day! Some of our favorite poems were on display for our Grundy community to see during our Primary Poetry Exhibit on May 16th. We hope that you all had a chance to view this fantastic first grade display! We are so proud of our first grade writers! They did a wonderful job!
We look forward to a joyous June in first grade with more learning and fun!
Second Grade News
Second Grade was on the move during the month of May! We went to the Patchogue Theater to see Seussical. The play was energetic, vibrant and enjoyable. It was great for the students to see another way to present literature. Then we were off to Island 16 to see Disney’s Born in China. The movie took us away to a far off land where giant pandas, snow leopards and golden monkeys live. We saw all different landforms and remarkable animal moments. Finally, poetry is blooming in second grade! We have been working on all different poetry and we are so proud of our hallway display!
Third Grade News
The third grade students have been learning about the life cycle of a butterfly through our science curriculum. We watched the larvae go through the stages in the life cycle and finally grow into an adult Painted Lady butterfly. Our butterfly release picnic was exciting. .. we wonder where our butterflies will travel. As a culminating activity, we enjoyed a field trip to the Riverhead Aquarium where we were able to visit the butterfly exhibit and learn about the wildlife living in and around the Peconic River. The boat tour was fantastic!
The students also read and researched facts about an animal of their choice. The dioramas depicting the habitat of the animal, the report and the masks were all amazing examples of the weeks of hard work and creativity. Thank you families for your support!
Our last school-wide literacy unit is about poetry. We are enjoying reading various types of poems and creating poems of our own. The final math lessons involve learning about two dimensional shapes and their attributes. Keep practicing multiplication and division facts so you're ready for 4th grade!
Finally, our third graders are excited for their first musical performance. We have been practicing and working hard with Mrs. Gallagher. Our third grade year has been filled with a lot of exciting memories!
Fourth Grade News
Fifth Grade News
Our days are certainly getting busy as our fifth graders near the end of their time here at Grundy! The students in band, orchestra and chorus put on a terrific set of concerts here at Grundy and a wonderful performance at Seneca! All of their practicing and help from Mr. T and Mrs. Gallagher is really helping to create some talented musicians.
We were lucky enough to have a visit from the author, Ralph Fletcher. He has written many novels as well as poetry. Our students have been learning all about his writing life and becoming familiar with his work. They really enjoyed hearing him speak and a few boys had lunch with him and were able to get to know him better. They shared their own writer’s notebooks and some good conversation.
After months of preparation, our fifth graders put on a fabulous Wax Museum! All of the costumes and posters truly displayed all of the creativity and effort the students put in. We are so proud of all of their hard work. We had a huge turnout - the museum was visited by the second, third and fourth graders as well as our Grundy families. Thank you for being such great visitors and supporting our event. See you at moving up on June 21st!
News from the Resource Room....
It is hard to believe that the end of the school year has arrived! 10 months have passed very quickly!
The year’s end always brings with it a tremendous sense of accomplishment. So many things have been accomplished this year! We should not forget the tremendous amount of learning which has taken place during the year. Students have worked hard and continue to put forth their best effort. Remember to read with your children this summer and give them a composition notebook so they can write down all of their fun summer adventures while practicing the writing process!
Happy Summer!
Ms. Turner
News from the Nurse...
Melanoma Awareness and Prevention
Skin cancer is when the cells in the skin grow out of control. The most common types of skin cancer -- basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas -- are often curable, although they can be expensive and cause long-term health issues. Melanoma is a more dangerous form of skin cancer and can cause death if it is not treated early. Approximately 9,000 people die each year of Melanoma. Luckily, skin cancer is preventable.
What Causes Skin Cancer?
The majority of skin cancers are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light sources. UV light can come from the sun, tanning beds, and sun lamps. Most people are exposed to two types of UV rays: UV-A rays are the most common kind of light from the sun and can damage tissue which increases the risk of skin cancer. AV-B rays help produce vitamin D, but too much can still cause damage. The UV Index can help you know when it is safest to be outside.
How to Prevent Skin Cancer:
Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher and both UVA and UVB protection. Apply every two hours, even on cloudy or cooler days.
Tip: many moisturizers contain sunscreen- try to wear something with SPF 15 or higher every day.
Wear protective clothing
Hats with a wide brim
Sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays
Clothing that covers your arms and legs
Stay in the shade when the sun is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 4.p.m.).
Avoid indoor tanning devices that use UV radiation.
What about vitamin D? The 2015 -2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans says that nutritional needs should be met primarily from foods, fortified foods and, if necessary, dietary supplements. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about meeting your recommended vitamin D levels.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S.
Early Detection is Prevention:
Watch for any changes on your skin- new growths, sores, or changes in a mole. Talk to your doctor about any concerns.
Signs of melanoma include asymmetrical moles or spots, jagged borders, uneven color, spots larger than the size of a pea, or any recent changes to an existing mole or spot.
Who is at Risk?
Anyone can potentially develop skin cancer, but risk is greater for people:
- With lighter skin
- Who burn easily
- With a family history of skin cancer
- With a personal history of skin cancer
- Who are exposed to the sun frequently
- Who have a history of sunburns
- Who have a history of indoor tanning
- Who have blue or green eyes, and blonde or red hair
- Who have certain types or a large number of moles
For more information you can contact the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Office of Health Education at (631) 853-3162, or visit the American Cancer Society’s “Be Safe in the Sun” page at https://www.cancer.org/healthy/be-safe-in-sun.html
Police Week...
Musical notes...
Congratulations to the 5th grade band, 5th grade orchestra and 4th and 5th grade chorus. Your concert was wonderful and you made all of Grundy proud. Bravo!
Due to a conflict with a 5th grade trip, our Beginner’s Concert has been moved to:
Thursday, June 8th at 9:50am in the Grundy Cafeteria
The 3rd grade chorus, 4th grade band and 4th grade orchestra have been working hard and are very excited for you to listen. See you there!
Don’t forget about the Ducks game on June 10th. Grundy students who have already purchased tickets will be singing the National Anthem on the field. Thank you to Mrs. Klug, Mrs. Friedman and the Grundy PTA for running such a wonderful fundraiser and giving our students this amazing opportunity to perform for the community.
News from the Art Room....
Mrs. Liuzzi would like to thank all of the families who came out to view Grundy’s Annual Art Show! It was another successful year! You could see the enthusiasm of our students, and their families, as they walked the hallways. The students work so hard all year long in preparation for this event, and your attendance is greatly appreciated! Stay tuned to the Art Room website (which can be viewed form Grundy’s homepage) for pictures from our fabulous show!
Building Leadership Team: BLT News....
"We must remember our sense of childlike wonder, the immense human need to be valued and noticed, and our ability to be creatively inspired and, in turn, inspire others."
~ Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome
The Building Leadership Team has been very busy recently. Our Mind Action Committee is hosting our very first Writing Celebration here at Grundy on June 7, 2017 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. We will be celebrating a piece of writing from all of the authors in the building. We hope to see all of you then. Our Body Action Committee planned a wonderful, energetic Kerboomkidz assembly. Mr. Kershel Anthony had the students (and the teachers) up and grooving to some fabulous music. The Heart and Spirit Committee has been holding an ongoing fundraiser. "Stuff the Bus" has brought in several school supplies that will benefit many children right here in our very own community.
On behalf of the entire BLT, we want to thank you all for an amazing year. We were able to reach many of our goals this year and we look forward to many more successful years together.
News from PE....
On behalf of your Special Area teachers, Mrs. Gallagher, Mr. Kudrick, Mrs. Lawler, Mrs. Liuzzi and Mrs. Malley, we thank all of the families who donated and/or came out to participate in Grundy’s Family Fun Run! We had a great turn out, and the weather even held out for this exciting and beneficial event. We were able to raise a great sum of money for the American Heart Association. We even had families who helped out our BLT initiative to “Stuff the Bus”, and donated school supplies to help our community. Everyone had a great time, and got some great exercise too!
Red Nose Day
News from the Library....
Thanks PTA!
All of us at Grundy sincerely thank our PTA for the hard work and effort put into making our students experience here at school such a great success. Mrs. Freidman and her executive board have gone above and beyond to bring in programs and assemblies for our children. We say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts.
We also wish the Best of Luck to the new board!
President - Katie Apicella
1st VP - Mary Tarantino
2nd VP - Melisa Kubacki
Treasurer - Nicole Lim
Recording Secretary - Kelly Walstrom
Corresponding Secretary - Cathy Bandl
News from the Math room....
Our school year is coming to an end, and we are looking at ways to keep our children involved in what they have learned this year. Here are a few math ideas to help your child keep the math skills he/she acquired this year.
A web site for all ages is www.mathplayground.com The children can explore math games, logic puzzles, word problems, Timez Attack (for mastery of multiplication facts), geometry, perimeter, area, probability, pattern blocks, Lego shapes, and measuring angles.
Some children enjoy playing school and using workbooks. These can be found in many of the grocery and card stores, and in the bigger stores like Sam’s Club. Math poetry is also fun, and two books that all children enjoy are Louis Sachar’s, Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School, and More Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School. The children will have fun solving more than 50 mathematical brain teasers while reading this great collection of Wayside School stories.
And don’t forget how we use math in our everyday lives. If your child is helping you set the table, you can ask “If there are five of us for dinner and we each get a knife, fork and spoon, how many pieces of silverware do we need altogether?”
There is certainly something for everyone, and it will help keep your child’s skills geared up for September. Enjoy your summer!
News from the Reading Room....
Research has shown that the best predictor of reading achievement is the amount of time spent reading. Children who do not read or have access to books over the summer, may lose up to 2 months of reading performance. Therefore, provide daily opportunities to read to your child and with your child.
Students in grades K-2 have access to raz- kids. Please encourage your child to listen, read and answer the questions.
Reading students in grades 2-5 have a license for i-ready and their accounts are active over the summer.
Your day to day routines can provide authentic reading experiences—cooking, reading instructions for a new game, and reading brochures for your vacation spots.
Read during transitions times—Get some reading time in during the drive to Grandma’s house or while waiting for the dentist.
Keep reading those old favorites—Reading books that are a little easy or are even memorized build confidence and fluency.
Talk about books—Ask your child open-ended questions such as “What do you think about that story? “What would you have done if you were that character?”
Support your child’s writing—encourage practice with letter formation and letter sounds. Provide supplies for your child to write—letters, lists, messages, or a vacation journal.
Visit the library-have your child find “just right” books to read independently.
Grundy Ave Elementary School
Email: lamato@sachem.edu
Website: http://www.sachem.edu/schools/grundy
Location: 950 Grundy Avenue, Holbrook, NY, United States
Phone: 631-471-1820
Facebook: Facebook.com/GrundyAvenueElementarySchool
Twitter: @GrundyAve