Mount Sinai Elementary Update
October 2023
A Message from Principal Catlin
It’s October already! This year is flying by! Thank you to everyone who came out for Homecoming, even though the weather was far from ideal. The annual PTO “Boo Bash” was also an excited event. Our PTO has worked really hard the past few years in setting up some fun dances and events for our kids and this is one of my favorites. Seeing the kids in their costumes dancing and having a blast is always a highlight of the fall.
We are also wrapping up our Harlem Wizards fundraiser and the kids are doing amazing! If they hit their targets they get to duct tape me to the wall of the cafeteria and I am being taunted on a daily basis by kids! They are so excited to duct tape me to the wall, I don’t know if I should be flattered or nervous!
As crazy as this sounds, we are already getting close to Parent/Teacher conferences in November and December. A reminder that we grade three times a year on a trimester system so the parent/teacher conference will not have a physical report card. The teacher should, however, be able to give you an idea of how your child is doing and roughly anticipate what they will be getting on the report card in December.
Thank you to everyone for adjusting to the new pickup procedure at dismissal. We have been releasing kids around the same time as we had previously (before 3:05) and we’ve been timing it internally and speeding up a little each day.
October 31st will be our annual Halloween Parade at 10 AM! A reminder that students are allowed to wear costumes and parents are allowed to attend as long as the weather holds up for an outdoor parade in the yard. We do ask that costumes are age-appropriate, however, with no horror movie icons or blood or gory costumes.
Looking forward to a fun Autumn Season!
Building a Culture of Kindness
On October 17th, our grade levels attended a Town Hall Meeting that was facilitated by the Student Council students. In these assemblies, students learned more about what kindness looks like, sounds like and how kindness can make a person feel. As thoughtful citizens of Mount Sinai Elementary School, students reflected on how they could contribute to a culture of kindness. Students also committed to a Kindness Pledge to continue to help make our school a special place to be.
Mount Sinai Elementary School celebrating Unity Day
by coming together in support of kindness.
Student Council Kindness Video
Inquiry in Science
Our classrooms are bursting with inquiry and curiosity in science. Throughout their elementary school experience, students develop an understanding of the four disciplinary core ideas including physical sciences; life sciences; earth and space sciences; and engineering, technology, and applications of science. The students develop ideas and skills that will allow students to explain more complex phenomena as they progress to older grades. These performance expectations also build Science and Engineering Practices in increasing complexity. This month, our grade levels begin some exciting units of study, including:
- Kindergarten: Weather & Climate - Matter and Its Interaction
- First Grade: A Bunny's Life - Structure, Function and Information Processing
- Second Grade: Earth's Systems - Processes that shape the Earth
- Third Grade: Investigating Weather & Climate - Weather and Climate
- Fourth Grade: Earth Processes in New York State - Earth's Systems, Processes That Shape the Earth
This month, each of the fourth grade classes participated in a live Zoom with Mission Commander Andy Raab from the Challenger Learning Center. During this Zoom, students learned all about the rotation of the Earth and how it affects day and night. Students also learned that the tilt of the Earth is what is responsible for giving us the four seasons!
Artist Inspiration: Paul Cezanne
Second grade students in Mrs. Stankiewicz's art class drew apples inspired by Paul Cezanne to learned about lines, patterns and still-life drawings.
Learn more about the work of Paul Cezanne here!
Mustang Club News
Conversations and Collaboration in Book Club
Our 3rd grade book club participants started with the book Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead. This fantastical read is a remarkable story of friendship and belonging.
Student Council
This group of 4th graders began with helping to plan an assembly to help cultivate kindness in the Mount Sinai Elementary School.
In Coding Club, students are learning to use the coding language “Scratch”, which is a block-based computer language. This year, they will work to create digital stories, games, and animations. In Math Olympiads, students take on multi-step problems and learn more complex pre-calculus mathematics.
Orchestra, Chorus and Band Take Off!
Take a look at the very first rehearsal for our 4th grade orchestra with Dr. Marceau! Students learn to play as an ensemble, focusing on their posture, technique, and listening skills.
Integrating Literacy and Engineering
Have you heard the story of the Three Little Pigs? Ms. Franks’ first grade class has and used variations of this fairytale as the inspiration for a design challenge – building a house secure enough for a little pig to hide in when the Big Bad Wolf comes huffing and puffing!
Fire Prevention and Safety Program
The Mount Sinai Fire Department delivered their annual Fire Prevention and Safety Program to our UPK, Kindergarten, First and Second Grade students. Students learned the importance of fire safety including making a fire safety plan, knowing emergency numbers, exiting a house during a fire safely and replacing batteries in your smoke detectors.
Mrs. Morris's First Grade Class
Fun fact – The firefighter on the right (Trevor Satchell-Sabalja) was also in Mrs. Morris's class in Third Grade in 2008.
🏀 Harlem Wizards Visit MSES 🏀
The SEPTO sponsored Harlem Wizards Assembly was extra special for our learning community. We had the opportunity to witness not one, but two surprise military homecomings as part of the assembly. Click here to view a video that captures this special moment.
Welcome home Technical Sergeant William Gilmartin, Attached to the 106th Rescue Wing
Welcome home Master Sergeant Joseph Britt, Combat Rescue Aviation
A Kooky Spooky Halloween Play
Our First Graders took a trip to see a musical about a ghost who's afraid of the dark call A Kooky Spooky Halloween. Attending theatre performances exposes students to various genres beyond text and helps their minds imagine new worlds, new possibilities and new ideas through the arts. Thank you to Friends of the Arts for supporting this event for our First Grade students.
Mustangs with Character
Catch a Kid
Acts of kindness, perseverance, honestly, respect... Every month we celebrate students displaying notable character traits that help make our school a great place to be!
Congratulations to these students for being positive role models in our school.
Charlotte McCaffrey
Musician of the Month
Brayden Walker
Artist of the Month
Joseph Iturrino
Reader of the Month, Kindergarten
Mason Hnetinka
Reader of the Month, 1st Grade
Miguel Calix
Reader of the Month, 2nd Grade
Ava Bernhardt
Reader of the Month, 3rd Grade
Abygale Taylor
Reader of the Month, 4th Grade
Lainey Gibson
Writer of the Month, Kindergarten
Nicholas Aspalto
Writer of the Month, 1st Grade
Amelia McCaffrey
Writer of the Month, 2nd Grade
Preston Czumak
Writer of the Month, 3rd Grade
Nina Gu
Writer of the Month, 4th Grade
A Big THANK YOU to our Volunteers!
Mount Sinai SEPTO and PTO donated pumpkins- Mrs. Lorusso and Bus driver Ray helping to unload this big hau.
Friends of the Arts sponsored a trip to the theatre for our First Graders!
PTO Boo Bash
Love on a Leash
We are partnering with Love on a Leash, which is a non-for-profit organization that will visit our school bi-weekly. Each class will have the opportunity to have a short visit with these furry friends.
Gabi is a Labrador mix that was rescued when she was only 7 pounds. She is very affectionate and loves to visit schools.
Captain Ray is a fluffy Keeshond and enjoys meeting new people while working as a Therapy Pet. Ray is also a Trick Grand Champion!
Important Upcoming Dates
- October 27th: Harlem Wizards Vs. Mustang Mania basketball game @ HS, 7:00 PM
- October 28th: SAFE HALLOWEEN @ HS
- October 30th Elementary food drive begins
- October 31st: Halloween parade in school @ 10AM
- November 3rd: Elementary food drives ends