Forest Park Flyer
Forest Park, a place to dream, believe and achieve!
February 2019
The character trait for the month of February is Social Thinking.
From the Principal...
At the start of the school year, families are asked to read the district code of conduct for students in grades K-4 and acknowledge their review of the documents by signing off that they have discussed the rules and ranges of consequences with their child(ren).
One of the rules about which some families have recently inquired is about the use of electronic devices at school and on the bus. According to the district policy, electronic devices include, but are not limited to, MP3 players, tablets, cell phones, cameras, etc. Please be advised that students are not permitted to use electronic devices within the school building, on school grounds or on any district transportation. If the device is used or is visible, it will be collected by the classroom teacher, staff member or bus driver and turned in to the principal. If the device is confiscated, it will only be returned to a parent or guardian.
As a parent, I understand that we often feel more comfortable if our child(ren) have a way to communicate with us in an emergency. If you do opt to provide your child with a phone and require them to bring it to school with them for that purpose, please remind your student to leave the device in their backpack and refrain from taking it out and/or using it while at school or on the bus. In addition to breaking school rules, if your child has a phone out on the bus or at school, they run the risk of the phone being lost, stolen or damaged. If the phone is lost, stolen or damaged, please be advised that the district is not responsible.
In the case of a true emergency, any communication with our families would be sent out by the building. If your child needs to contact you for any reason while at school, please be advised they are allowed to use the phones in the main office, in their classroom or in the nurse's office. Thank you, as always, for your willingness to work together to ensure your child is safe and has a positive school experience.
-Mrs. Penn
Student Groupings
While we do our best to ensure the needs of each student are met, we also invite you as parents to share your insight into your child to assist us in this important process. If you would like to provide input about the placement of your child, please click on the red button "Placement Letter" below which outlines the steps you can take to do so. Please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Penn if you have any questions. Thank you!
News from Nurse Criscione
Throughout the course of the year, the nurse's office sends home notifications about various illnesses that can be easily transmitted between classmates. Head lice and strep throat are among the most common about which families are contacted.
Head-to-head contact, the most common way lice is transmitted, is frequent during play at school, at home and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties and camp to name a few). Although uncommon, head lice can be spread by sharing clothing or belongings. Some examples of when lice can be transmitted in this manner include:
- sharing clothing (hats, scarves, coats) or articles recently worn or used by an infested person (hair ribbons, barrettes, combs, brushes, towels, stuffed animals)
- lying on a bed, couch, pillow, or carpet that has recently been in contact with an infested person.
At South Colonie Schools, we do not have a "no nit" policy. Children who have nits are allowed to return to school even when evidence of nits can be seen. This policy is based on the recommendation of both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) who suggest that schools allow children with nits or live lice to remain at school because they are not a public health risk and pose no harm to others. Both organizations agree it is more important for students to remain at school and be educated than be excluded for something that cannot be easily spread.
When lice or nits are found, we notify the families of the students in the classroom where the outbreak has occurred so they can check their children and prevent the spread at home. As a school, our primary responsibility is to maintain the confidentiality of all students and be sensitive to their health and medical situations. Because we do not have a "no nit" policy in South Colonie, families do not need to be notified when lice or nits occur. Our staff recognizes families often struggle to address this issue when it arises, however, so we will continue to notify parents of the students in the classroom where the lice or nits are present.
The best way to minimize your child's chances of contracting head lice is to stress the importance of avoiding head-to-head contact during play or social interaction. They should also be educated about the importance of refraining from sharing any items that cover their heads or ears.
Kids Heart Challenge
Toys at School
If the teacher or CYC after school program is planning a special activity during which toys from home are allowed, students should be reminded to leave these items in their bags until the appropriate time. As always, we appreciate your support to ensure your child has a successful experience while at school each day.
Library News from Mrs. Kuno
http://forestparklibrary.weebly.com/
Super Book
Throughout the months of January and February, students have been voting for Super Book. This book competition matches popular book series against each other and students vote each week to see which book will move on to the next round. In addition, students made a prediction about which book would become Super Book during the first week of voting. The students who predicted our Super Book will have their name placed into a drawing for a Barnes and Noble gift card. We will do a drawing at K-2 and at 3-4. The final round is the week of February 4th, and the Super Book will be crowned on Feb. 11th.
One Book, One District
This year, we are excited to announce that Forest Park will be joining with the other four elementary schools for One Book, One District. All five elementary schools will be reading the same book throughout the month of March. Information about the program will be coming home later this month. The book will be announced during our kick-off celebration at Morning Program on March 4th. Stay tuned for more information! This program is made possible through the generous support of the Forest Park PTA.
Author Visit
This year, our author visit will be with Diane deGroat. She will be visiting our school and meeting with students on April 17th. Diane is the award winning author and illustrator of the Gilbert series as well as the illustrator of the Ree Drummond Charlie the Ranch Dog series. Check out her website for more information about her and her books. More information about how you can purchase an autographed book from Ms. deGroat during her visit in March.
Super Book
1 Book, 1 District
Diane deGroat
Kids Who Care
Nutrition Education
- Prepare nutritious foods on a tight schedule and tight budget
- Find time in the daily routine for physical activity
- Help their children choose healthy snacks
- Make exercise fun
- Make nutritious foods attractive to children
If you have any questions about your child’s school breakfast, lunch or snack options or your child’s dietary restrictions please contact the Food Service Department at (518) 869-3576.
Use the three links below to:
- view this month's Nutrition Nuggets
- view this month's school lunch menu
- sign up for My School Bucks
Kids' Corner - Miss Capobianco
Our first graders have been learning about the sky during science. We have discussed the patterns of the daytime sky, which include the sun moving across the sky and the shadows this creates. The patterns of the nighttime sky were also a focus of this unit and included the stars and the phases of the moon which we learned are new moon, first quarter moon, full moon, and third quarter moon. We were able to get a first-hand look at the patterns in the nighttime sky during our Star Lab!
The Star Lab brought the sky to life with the support of high school science teacher, Mrs. Vernold. The Star Lab was available to our Forest Park students during the month of January. Our first graders were able to go inside the “travelling planetarium” and see the bright stars of our nighttime sky right in our cafetorium! We saw things like the winter sky, the summer sky, and Mrs. Vernold even taught us how to spot other planets and find constellations among the sea of stars. We were so lucky to have this opportunity at Forest Park and are very thankful to Mrs. Vernold for sharing her passion with us!
Kindergarten Registration
Pay Less for the Dress
iCARE, 99.5 The River, iHeartRadio and Best Cleaners have partnered for the annual Pay Less for the Dress event hosted at Colonie Central High School on Wednesday, February 13 from 7-11am. Prior to the event, iCare is looking for your dress donations! All formal and semi-formal, new or gently used dresses are wanted. All styles, cuts and colors are welcome!
That 1988 prom dress that you're finally looking for a reason to cut ties with...they will take it! The 2002 cornflower blue bridesmaid dress that screams of My Big Fat Greek Wedding...drop it off! The slightly mothball smelling floral print number from the 1994 Homecoming Dance...they will find a home for it!
The point is iCare will take anything, Best Cleaners will shine it up, and on March 22nd at Proctor's Theater all dresses will be sold for $9.95. All profits will go to support the Bernard and Millie Duker Children's Hospital and the Proctor's Scholarship Fund. Plus, think of all that new space you'll create for 2019 fashion trends!
Donations can be placed in the large donation bin located in the High School main entrance anytime prior to February 13th at 11am. Help iCare break their goal of 300 dresses collected!
School Banking
Winter Recess
Dance Party
A Look Ahead
February
1st - Healthy Heart Challenge begins
5th - PTA Meeting at 6:30pm in the Forest Park Library
8th - Winter Dance Party sponsored by the PTA 6:30-8:00pm, cafetorium
15th - Health Heart Challenge ends
15th - School Spirit Day
18th - 22nd - Mid Winter Recess (no school)
March
1st - March Madness
5th - Kindergarten Registration
8th - Yearbook order deadline
8th - March Madness
12th - PTA Meeting at 6:30pm
15th - March Madness
18th - March Madness
22nd - No School
27th - Report Cards distributed
29th - School Spirit Day
PTA News and Notes
We hope everyone is having a great start to 2019! There are some exciting PTA sponsored events coming up in the next few months at which we hope you can join us.
Tuesday, February 5th - Our Monthly PTA meeting will be held in the school library at 6:30pm. Please see the agenda below for details.
Friday, February 8th - We hope to see everyone at our annual Winter Dance Party on Friday, February 8th! It will be held in the school cafeteria from 6:30-8:00pm. There is NO charge for this fun evening! We will have a DJ, snacks, popcorn, and water bottles for the students. All students must have an adult present; this is not a drop off event. There will also be candy grams available for purchase and a photography booth!! If you are able to donate a peanut and nut free snack or bottled water, it would be GREATLY appreciated. Please indicate what you can donate in the space provided on the RSVP form. If you have not already let us know you will be joining us that evening, please do so as soon as possible so we can make sure we have enough goodies for everyone. We hope to see you there!
Friday, February 15th - School Spirit Day! Remember to wear your grade level color or Falcon shirt!
Friday, April 12th - 2nd Annual Science Invention Convention. More information about the event will be coming home soon. All future scientists, start your planning! We can not wait to see the experiments or inventions you come up with! If there are any questions or if you would like to volunteer to help with this event, please contact Carolyn Parisi at cparisi226@gmail.com.
Enjoy this short month, and, as always, thank you for your support of our PTA and of our school!
Candy Grams
WHEN: Candy grams are on sale now thru February 8th and will be delivered to classrooms on February 15th. Candy grams will also be on sale during the Winter Dance Party.
COST: Each candy gram is $1.00 and all sales support the Forest Park PTA!!
WHO: Parents may order one for their child, students can surprise their teacher or a student can send one to a friend!
Click on the link below to print out tags.
Fill out one tag per Candy Gram and return to school in an envelope labeled CANDY GRAMS
with your payment (checks payable to "Forest Park PTA") by 2/8/19.
Each tag will be attached to a peanut free lollipop! Make as many copies as you need.
Yearbook Orders
2018-2019 PTA Board
President: Chelsea Lattanzio- chealsealattanzio1130@gmail.com
Vice President: Kristina Lampariello- serendipitousbyk@yahoo.com
Vice President: Angela Futia- angelinaz1104@aol.com
Vice President: Teresa Pizzigati- clilly720@yahoo.com
Treasurer: Kristen Donnellan- kristenfall02@yahoo.com
Secretary: Carolyn Parisi- cparisi226@gmail.comPTA Meeting
MEETING AGENDA
• Welcome & Meet and Greet
• Principal Report (Jill Penn)
• Treasurer’s Report
• New Business
Review plan for dance on Friday. Questions? Is there anything else we are missing or in need of?
Update on Fundraisers
Fun Run update? Possible Fall date?
Science Fair information will go home late February. Carolyn Parisi is committee chair and will be in touch with those who already signed up to help - if interested in signing up, please contact her: cparisi226@gmail.com
• Schedule of upcoming events. Please sign up if you would like to help.
Tuesday, Feb 5, 2019, 06:30 PM
100 Forest Drive, Albany, NY, USA
About us...
Email: fpattendance@scolonie.org
Website: http://www.southcolonieschools.org/forest-park-elementary-school/
Location: 100 Forest Drive, Albany, NY, USA
Phone: (518) 869-3006
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForestParkElementarySchool