The Mighty Dragon
Ruth C. Kinney Elementary School
SEPTEMBER 2016
Contact Us:
1 Spur Drive South, Islip Terrace, NY 11752
Telephone: (631) 581-1862 Absentee Line: (631) 581-0969
Recap Photos from June 2016
Principal's Message
I am looking forward to greeting the children on opening day and to meeting parents while I am a part of the RCK family. Teachers have caringly prepared their classrooms and we anticipate an academically rich and productive school year!
As noted in the welcome back letter, please be advised that home baked goods and other foods prepared at home can only be used for INDIVIDUAL consumption. Food cannot be brought in for birthdays and special events as per the new Board Policy. The policy is available for review on the East Islip Website. http://www.eischools.org/Assets/Student_Health_Information/Food_Allergies_Policy.pdf?t=636075536906430000
We appreciate your help in complying with the new policy.
This year we will once again be using Day 1 through Day 4. Each grade level will have one Art, one Music and two Physical Education Classes within the four day cycle. The September calendar is attached for your reference.
The faculty and I look forward to greeting you on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at “Meet the Teacher Night.”
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call 631-581-1862 or e-mail Hillary.Bromberg@eischools.org.
Both the staff and I look forward to working with you and your children. Once again, welcome back to you and your children to what I am sure will be a terrific school year!
Sincerely,
Hillary K. Bromberg, Ed.D.
East Islip Board of Education
President…………... Christopher Zachry
Vice President……..William Carpluk
Trustee………...….........Steven Beehan
Trustee……………….....Jessica Carney
Trustee.......................... Philip Montuori, Sr
Important Notices
Non-Discrimination Notice:
The East Islip School District hereby advises students, parents, employees and the general public that it offers educational, as well as employment opportunities, including vocational educational opportunities, without regard to race, color, national origin, creed, religion, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.
Inquiries regarding this non-discrimination policy may be directed to:
Title IX Coordinator:
Stephen Restivo, Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics
(631) 224-2000, Ext. 2138
Section 504 Coordinator:
Dr. Lisa Belz, Section 504 Compliance Officer
(631) 224-2000, Ext. 2060
ADA Coordinator:
Eric Woellhof, Plant Facilities Administrator
631-224-2000, Ext. 2035
Child Find Notice:
Special Education/Section 504 Programs:
The East Islip School District works with an interdisciplinary team to determine the educational needs of both pre-school and school age children. If you have concerns about your child’s academic and/or developmental progress, please contact your child’s primary school to discuss these concerns with the team. If you feel your child may have a disability that impacts his/her academic performance you may contact:
Dr. Lisa Belz, Director of Pupil Personnel Services and Special Education
Section 504 Coordinator
Craig B. Gariepy Avenue
Islip Terrace, NY 11752
(631) 224-2060.
PTA Happenings
Dear Parents and Students,
On behalf of the RCK PTA Board, I would like to welcome all new and returning families to our RCK family. The overall purpose of the PTA is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.
The PTA plans and supports many activities and events at our school. As a member and volunteer, your time and funding go toward events such as cultural arts events, assemblies, Red Ribbon week, Holiday sales, and book fairs, just to name a few. In order to be most effective, the PTA needs the backing and involvement of our parents and families. Your elected PTA board has been busy planning for the upcoming school year and there are a lot of opportunities for everyone to be involved! We thank you for your past and continued support.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at 516-445-5796 or rckpta1516@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for your support and I look forward to meeting you all!
Kelly Schumacher
RCK PTA President
2016-2017 RCK PTA BOARD MEMBERS:
President Kelly Schumacher rckpta1516@gmail.com
1st Vice President Deni Cuoco dcuoco3@gmail.com
2nd Vice President Cheryl Rigogliosi abijazz@verizon.net
Treasurer Briana Martinez briana_otto@yahoo.com
Recording Secretary Melissa Kneisel melissakneisel@gmail.com
Corresponding Sec. Nina Penny ninapenny@aol.com
Join the PTA and Follow them on Facebook
The PTA Membership Application is now available online. The online address is:
2015-2016 Cultural Arts programs
Our Living Planet
Jack "Blackjack" Ryan
Mad Science
Important Reminder about Absences
Please be reminded that regular school attendance is not only mandated by law but is a key ingredient for educational success. Legal reasons for absences include illness, death in family, court appearances, and observance of religious holidays. If your child is frequently absent due to illness, you will be contacted and medical documentation may be requested.
All other absences will be considered unexcused or truant. Please also be aware that lateness to school can be considered partial truancy and is monitored as closely as absences. Chronic lateness is disruptive to the students in the class, the teacher, and most importantly, to the child. Parents and guardians are asked to contact the school to report each absence. This can be done by calling our Absentee Line at 581-0969. Students are requested to submit a written and signed excuse note for each absence when they return to school.
East Islip Code of Conduct
The complete revised version of the E.I. Code of Conduct is available in RCK’s main office. September’s weather is often quite hot. Please monitor your child’s clothing by ensuring that he/she comes to school dressed appropriately, specifically:
· No tight, brief, or exposing garments (specifically the midriff) or short skirts/shorts that are mid-thigh or higher.
· No halter tops or tank tops with spaghetti straps - all straps should have a wide band that is “3 fingers” in width.
· No hats or head coverings are permitted (except in cases of religious or medical reasons).
· No loose shoes, flip flops, high heels, or shoes with wheels are permitted. Appropriate footwear is to be worn at all times.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
2016/2017 District-wide Committee Application
Our district embraces a shared decision making approach which involves all constituencies, parents, staff and administrators in discussing matters that will have an impact on our students and our district, now, and in the future. We encourage parents and community members to avail themselves of the opportunity to be selected to participate on the district-wide committees we established throughout the school year. If interested, please complete the application to serve on such committees. The deadline for receipt of these applications will be Friday, October 14, 2016. The application can be found on the East Islip School District’s website at: http://www.eischools.org/district/committees
Cafeteria Updates
Students may either bring their lunch or purchase hot or cold lunch in the cafeteria. The cost of lunch will be $1.80, and milk will be $.70. The district lunch provider will continue to use an electronic accounting system where the children are provided with an
individual account number. You may deposit cash or checks into your child’s account.
Breakfast is also available between 8:30 a.m. - 8:57 a.m. daily at the cost of $.75.
RCK Meet the Teacher Night
Parents of students in:
Grade 3 - 6:30 p.m. - 6:50 p.m.
Grade 4 & Mrs. Iuliucci - 6:55 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
Special Area and Support Staff Teachers - 7:20 p.m. - 7:40 p.m.
Grade 5 & Mrs. Sternberg - 7:45 p.m. - 8:05 p.m.
This is an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and get to know his or her daily classroom activities. Students are asked not to attend. Please note that this is not the time to discuss your child’s individual progress. (That conversation should wait until Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 21st and 22nd.) Of course, if you have questions or concerns prior to that meeting, do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher to discuss these issues.
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2016, 06:30 PM
1 Spur Dr S, Islip Terrace, NY, United States
September's Patriotic Song
The Star Spangled Banner.
Please take the time to look over the words and join us each morning as we sing and celebrate the great country that we live in!
O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed
at the twilight's last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets' red glare,
the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
RCK Welcomes the Newest Members of our Staff
I would like to officially welcome the newest members of the RCK Family:
Welcome to….
Bethany Merlucci - Social Worker
Elizabeth Gibbons - Art Teacher
Jamie DeMaria - Music Teacher
Ron Fox - Music Teacher
Vinnie Grazidei - PE Teacher
Carolyn Biscardi - Resource Room Teacher
Peanut Allergy Alert
When preparing your child’s classroom snacks and lunches, please remember that several students in our school have a severe allergy to peanut and nut products. This condition can become life threatening causing Anaphylactic Shock.
A student may experience a severe reaction if they come in contact with nut products. Ingestion is not the only way an allergic reaction may occur - smelling and touching the food may cause serious reaction, too.
We are seeking your support, cooperation and assistance on this important topic. It would help if you sent in alternative snack and lunch options that do not contain peanuts or nut related products whenever possible.
Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Visit the District Website
Please visit the East Islip School District Website for news from around the district, updates and revised policies from the Board of Education, and useful links to engageNY.com and other curriculum related parent sites.
Doors Locking at Dismissal
Due to security and safety, the building will promptly close at 3:30. Unfortunately, students and parents will NOT be permitted to return to classrooms for any reason. We have encountered several breaches of CONFIDENTIALITY when some parents have returned to the classrooms after hours.
Please remind your child to be sure he/she has all belongings, homework, etc. before leaving for dismissal.
Parent cooperation is greatly appreciated in helping secure our school.
Picture Days
This year, Irvin Simon, our school photographer, will be here on Wednesday, September 21st, Thursday, September 22nd, and Friday, September 23rd.
As usual, all picture packages must be paid for in advance. More information will be coming home to you shortly.
A Message from the School Social Worker
Welcome back to a new school year! All students received a lunch/breakfast form for the 2016-2017 school year in the mail. Please complete this as soon as possible so that your eligibility for the program can be reviewed. Families who qualified last school year remain eligible for free or reduced lunch/breakfast for the month of September. A new form must be received by October 1, 2016 to continue in the program. Please remember, you may apply at any time during the year or make changes if your income status changes.
~Mrs. Merlucci
A Message from the Health Office
Welcome back! I am looking forward to a healthy school year. Please note that all new entrants to our school and 4th grade students are required to have a physical examination. Please arrange to have these done at your earliest convenience. Forms are available in the Health Office.
Outdoor recess will be more fun for your child if he/she has on sneakers with socks. Open shoes, flip flops, dress shoes, platforms, and Heelys are not permitted on the playground. Please dress your child in layers as the temperature from morning to afternoon varies quite a bit at this time of year.
If there are any changes in your child’s medical history or emergency contact information, please contact the Health Office at 581-1883.
Sincerely, Mrs. McLoughlin,
Character Education Virtue of the Month - Patience
This year, we will be using a school wide book of the month to illustrate the character virtue of focus. This month as we focus on Patience, the story The Gardner, by Sarah Stewart, will be shared throughout each classroom.