Central Park East II
Week of January 11, 2016
New Plan for Community Meeting
Dates to Keep in Mind
Friday, January 15, 2016 Deadline to apply for Kindergarten in NYC (Pre K must apply)
Monday, January 18 - Martin Luther King Day - No School
Wednesday, January 20 - Friday, January 22 - 4th Grade Camping
Thursday, January 21 - Middle School Parent Meet & Greet
Friday, January 29 - Early Dismissal for All Students - 11:30 AM
Wednesday, February 3rd AND Thursday, February 4th Evening Family Conferences
Thursday, February 4th Afternoon Family Conferences - Early Dismissal - 11:30 AM
Monday, February 8th, Luna New Year - No School
Monday, Feb. 15 - Friday, Feb. 19 - Mid Winter Break - No School
Thursday, March 3 - Early Dismissal for Staff Professional Development
Friday, March 4 - Deadline to apply for Pre-K
Friday, March 25 – Good Friday - No School
Tuesday, April 5 – Thursday, April 7 – Grade 3 – 6 NYS ELA
Wednesday, April 13 – Friday April 15 - Grade 3 – 6 NYS Math
Saturday, April 16 – Spring Fair
Monday, April 25 – Friday, April 29 Spring Recess (including Passover) No School
Monday, May 30 – Memorial Day Observed No School
Living the Dream ALL YEAR
It has been 30 years since Martin Luther King Day was first observed as a National Holiday. It is important to remember the person, but also the vision. Every year our 5th graders work with students from Manhattan Country School and the Children's Workshop School in a project called, "Living the Dream" to think about Martin Luther King's vision and what that would look like today. They read and evaluate 10 to 12 picture books published in the previous year to select a final winner that the students feel best exemplify Dr. King's vision. Last year “As Fast as Words Could Fly,” By Pamela Tuck, won the award. Below are photos from the award ceremony. Here are a few of the 12 contenders this year. See what you think.
Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B. Schiffer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZOkYsMUzh8 Book trailer.
Stella's class is having a Mother's Day celebration, but what's a girl with two daddies to do?
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYd20IGgtXo Book trailer.
Morris is a little boy who loves using his imagination. But most of all, Morris loves wearing the tangerine dress in his classroom’s dress-up center. The children in Morris’s class don’t understand. Dresses, they say, are for girls
New Shoes by Susan Meyer
http://www.tfcbooks.org/book/9780823425280
Set in 1950s Anytown, U.S.A., the journey begins when Ella Mae’s mother takes her to Johnson’s Shoes to buy a new pair. They watch a white girl try on pair after pair, but the sales clerk will not permit Ella Mae to put her feet in any of them.
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Peña
http://www.tfcbooks.org/book/9780399257742
Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town?
Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown https://www.leeandlow.com/books/2854
Melba Doretta Liston loved the sounds of music from as far back as she could remember. As a child, she daydreamed about beats and lyrics, and hummed along with the music from her family’s Majestic radio. Overcoming obstacles of race and gender, Melba went on to become a famed trombone player and arranger, spinning rhythms, harmonies, and melodies into gorgeous songs for all the jazz greats of the twentieth century.
Parents have asked: What is a Writer’s Notebook and how do we use it at CPE II?
Our use of the “Writer’s Notebook” is based on the work of Ralph Fletcher. Fletcher is a children’s author but also the author of many professional books on the teaching of writing for young people. The basic premise behind his work is that writers need a place to collect story ideas on a regular basis.
At CPE II we introduce the Writer’s Notebook in second grade but it’s in grades three to six where the notebook lessons are really emphasized. Our hope is our students will keep a Writer’s Notebook for the rest of their life.
In grades 3 to 6 we begin the year by introducing strategies for “collecting ideas.” These strategies include (but are not limited to) making lists of first times, favorite places and important people in our life. They include capturing bits of conversation, gathering artifacts and wonderings we have about the world.
Throughout the year, students go back to their notebook again and again to add more and mine what they already have for story ideas. Years ago we were cautious about sending the notebook home for fear that it may not come back to school. We rethought this, because the notebook is so important we want to make sure our students have it with them to collect ideas even when they are not in school. After all, authors do not only have ideas from 8:20 to 2:40.
Often teacher assigns homework in the Writer’s Notebook. The work is usually to practice the strategy that was taught in school. This gives the students more of an opportunity to become familiar enough with the strategy to do it independently. This assignment is not graded and teachers normally do not write in a student’s notebook. Teachers read the notebook on occasion or when they particularly want to make sure a strategy was practiced. Our hope is for all students to love their notebook and want to use it.
At times students share their notebooks with classmates, when for example they are mining for story ideas or memories that might inspire poetry. Other students’ notebooks along with teacher notebooks often serve as an inspiration to others.
The Writer’s Notebook is not a diary, nor is it a journal. Some classes do have journals to report on the day’s events and daily feelings. Instead, the notebook is a place to collect important things from one’s life that may turn into a polished piece of writing one day.
For more information on the “Writer’s Notebook” visit http://ralphfletcher.com/?page_id=49.
WORKTIME HAPPENINGS
Making Kale Chips
Enjoying Kale Chips
Time to make the popcorn.
Crunchy Garlic Sesame Kale Chips
Benefits of kale chips: – cleanses your blood – strengthens your immune system – high in fiber, iron, protein and chlorophyll (oxygenates your blood) – crunchy – great snack (kids love them!)
Ingredients: – 1 bunch kale (dinosaur/lacinato/flat or curly – whatever you prefer) – 1 Tbsp sesame seeds (optional) – 1/8-1/4 tsp sea salt – ½ Tbsp garlic powder - 1 tsp sesame oil (or coconut oil, or olive oil). (Tip: Sesame oil and coconut oil are high heat oils so they’re perfect for baking + kale chips)
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Wash and dry kale really well (don’t want soggy kale chips).
3. Rip or cut kale into bite size pieces.
4. Mix kale, oil, and sea salt in a bowl.
5. Lay flat on a parchment paper (or tin-foil) lined baking sheet and sprinkle with sesame seeds
6. Bake for approx 6 minutes, turn over the pieces, bake for approx another 6-10 minutes until crispy. Check oven occasionally to make sure they don’t burn/parchment paper doesn’t burn.
Voila! Enjoy!
More worktime
Block Building
Working together
Magnetix
Cool Lettering at the Middle School
Magnetix at the Middle School
Creating at the Middle School
Learning about Three Kings Day in Billy and Jessica's Class
Does your child ride the yellow school bus? Please RSVP
Friday, Jan 15, 2016, 11:45 PM
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RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Community Meeting Schedule
Jan 8- whole school
Jan 15- Upper grades
Jan 22- Lower grades
Jan 29- No Community Meeting- Early Dismissal
Feb 5- Whole School
Feb 12- Upper grades
Feb 19- No Community Meeting- No School (Mid Winter Recess)
Feb 26- Lower grades
Mar 4- Whole School
Mar 11- Upper grades
Mar 18- Lower grades
Mar 25- No Community Meeting- No School (Good Friday)
Apr 1- Whole School
Apr 8- Upper grades
Apr 15- Lower grades
Apr 22- Whole School
Apr 29- No Community Meeting- No School (Spring Recess)
Apply for Kindergarten at CPE II - Deadline January 15, 2016
All families interested in having their child attend Kindergarten at CPE II (INCLUDING CURRENT PRE-K STUDENTS AND SIBLINGS) must apply to the Department of Education by January 15, 2016
Online at: http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/Elementary/kindergarten.html
By phone at: 718-935-2400.
In person at: Family Welcome Center: 333 Seventh Avenue, 12th Floor; Room 1211
Please contact the school for assistance.
Exploring Math with El Museo del Barrio for parents of pre-K through 2nd grade
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016, 09:30 AM
El Museo Del Barrio, 5th Avenue, New York, NY, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.