The Southlawn Scoop
OCTOBER 2021 NEWSLETTER
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Families,
I would like to welcome you back to an exciting new school year! I have thoroughly enjoyed welcoming our returning students back to school along with our new entrants and kindergartners. This year, through the West Irondequoit Central School District’s Strategic Plan, we will focus on four big areas, or “rocks,” for refinement. Our four rocks are Curriculum, Instruction, Implementation Systems and Well-Being of Self and Others. Throughout this work, we will embed the Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Framework from New York State to ensure that our district motto of, “All Means All,” is realized is every classroom. This Framework focuses these four areas:
- Welcoming and Affirming Environment
- Inclusive Curriculum and Assessment
- High Expectations and Rigorous Instruction
- Ongoing Professional Learning and Support
This month, teachers have focused on building a “welcoming and affirming environment” that is conducive to learning. Some of the ways that teachers are supporting this area is through community building circles during various parts of the school day (in the morning, after lunch/recess, before leaving for the school day). Community building circles allow for each student to have a voice in their classroom. This is an opportunity for all classroom members to learn about each other and what makes them special and unique. It’s also a mechanism for teachers to focus on social emotional learning (SEL) through explicit lessons and opportunities to learn more about classmates through personal student reflections. By learning about each other and respecting each other's uniqueness, classrooms become welcoming and affirming. Teachers are also able to extend what they learn about students during this time to curriculum and instruction, thereby creating a more inclusive curriculum.
Next month, I will expand on the other tenets of the Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Framework and what our K-3 teachers are doing to achieve those and reach goals within our Strategic Plan. To see the full Strategic Plan, please click here. To see the full NYS document for the Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Framework, please click here.
I look forward to working with you all this year! Our school community is strong when there is ongoing dialogue and a good connection between home and school.
Sincerely,
Kelly Santora
Principal
CONTACT INFORMATION
Principal: Kelly Santoral | kelly_santora@westiron.monroe.edu
Secretary: Melissa Vella | melissa_vella@westiron.monroe.edu
Main office: 585-266-5070
Fax: 585-336-3097
Website: https://www.westirondequoit.org/southlawn_school
Health Office: 585-336-4714
· Nurse: Sue Johnston
Transportation: 585-336-2992
District Office: 585-342-5500 | District website: westirondequoit.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
October
- 10/8: Go Home Early Drill 2:55 Release time
- 10/11: NO SCHOOL - Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day
- 10/15: PTSA Family Event 6:30 PM "Trunk or Treat!"
- 10/29: Halloween Parade - Time TBA
November
- 11/2: Parent/Principal Hour
- 11/10: Picture Make Up Day
- 11/11: NO SCHOOL - Veterans Day
- 11/12: NO SCHOOL - K-12 Full Day Parent Conferences
- 11/19: PTSA Family Event 6:30 PM
- 11/19: Report Cards Available on Parent Portal
- 11/24-26: NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Recess
December
- 12/16: Holiday Singalong - Time TBA
- 12/24-31: NO SCHOOL - Winter Recess