John F. Kennedy
The Future Begins Here
March 2018
Contact us:
94 Woodland Drive, East Islip, New York 11730
Main Office: 631-581-1608 Attendance Line: 631-581-1354
Follow us on Twitter @jfkeipride
Principal Message
Dear Parents and Guardians,
During the month of February the students participated in PARP - Pick A Reading Partner program. The children were encouraged to read at home every night with their reading partner. Our wonderful PTA arranged to have author Brian Heinz visit JFK to kickoff the program! He was great and entertained audience members during his evening presentation. Thank you to all who participated in reading with the children. Hopefully the practices of reading each and every night will continue throughout their lives! Remember to read to achieve!
Our PTA is hosting a Book Fair this month, March 1st and 2nd.The annual free breakfast for all interested students will be held on Friday, March 9th at 8:30 A.M. in the cafeteria sponsored by the food services provider, Whitsons. Students will also be practicing their math skills during the month in a “March Mathness” competition! Information will be sent home shortly.
The weather is beginning to change, and spring is around the corner! Please make sure that students are dressed to go outside, since whenever possible we will have outdoor recess.
As always if you have any concerns, please call me at 631-581-1778 or email me at dsmith@eischools.org.
Sincerely,
Deborah Y. Smith , Ed. D.
East Islip Website
The East Islip School District uses our website to highlight school district news, student and staff achievements, upcoming events, school board actions and initiatives, and important district-wide parent notifications and information. The district site is updated on a daily basis. Be sure to bookmark it. You can also go directly to the JFK page http://www.eischools.org/schools/jfk_elementary.
Central Office Administration
John V. Dolan- Superintendent of Schools
Stephen Harrison- Assistant Superintendent for Business
Paul E. Manzo- Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Personnel
Eric Woellhof- Director of Facilities
Lisa M. Belz, Ed.D.- Executive Director of Special Education Grade 6-12
Aileen O’Rourke Ed.D.- Executive Director of Special Education Grade K-5
East Islip Board of Education
President…………...........Jessica Carney
Vice President…….........Philip Montuori, Sr.
Trustee………...…............Steven Behan
Trustee……………….........William Carpluk
Trustee..........................Christopher Zachry
News Around J.F.K.
Mrs. Dlouhy and Mrs. Haller's classes have worked on Native American presentations to be showcased at our 5th grade Social Studies Fair in April. Each child reported on a different tribe located in different regions of the United States.
Mrs. Chiofalo's ENL/RTI students are learning about "empathy" and how it differs from "sympathy". They are also becoming more 'mindful.'
Congratulations to Carly Amato, Jayden Dell Isola, Emily McIntee and Kenshin Brown for coming in first place at J.F.K.'s Sharp Shooter Contest. They move on to compete against other Town of Islip Sharp Shooter Contest winners this weekend at East Islip High School. Second place winners were Keira Bloch, Niko Meyers, Jordan Maloney, Ethan Benardos and John Talt. Congratulations to all these great basketball shooters!
Orchestra news:
String students have been preparing for the upcoming spring concert during rehearsals. We have some challenging music this season and can't wait for all to hear! We are also working on NYSSMA Solos. Please check your virtuoso's folder to find information on the festival. Paperwork went out the week of February 26th. Enjoy the next few months, they will be busy! Mrs. DeMaria
STEAM Class
Character Education January Stars
Carly Amato
Lucas Brelsford
Daniel Carroll
Dominic Cirillo
Tyler Connors
Jocelynn Ferrer
Bryanna Fils-Aime
Anna Franchi
Sofia Rae Galarza
Collin Inga
Jeffry Lazo
Jessica Leek
Anna Mei Massina
Madison McKinnon
Reilly Nolan
Aine O Boyle
Arthur Ranzie
Brandon Rizzuto
Alison Rosati
Joseph Schiano
Reese Stubbmann
Matthew Sundberg
Zoe Zilberstein
PTA Update
The March PTA meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 5th, at 9:45 A.M.
The Spring Book Fair will take place March 1st & 2nd. JFK Movie Night is scheduled for March 20th @ 6:30 P.M.
PARP at JFK
WINGO at JFK
It was a “packed” house for Wingo! #Allinatei
FTK Update
The 21st annual Gala will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Land's End in Sayville, New York, please join us.
Our 21st Annual Gala Honorees are Educator Advocate of the Year, Dr. Lisa Belz and Community Advocates of the Year, Mary Zito-Finn, Catharine York- Lemon and Suzanne Zembrzycki. These women are so vital to our school district, our children and FTK and we are thrilled to be honoring them.
Come join us for the 12th Annual JIGSAW 4 mile RUN/WALK
Sunday, Apr 22, 2018, 09:00 AM
East Islip Marina Park, Bayview Avenue, East Islip, NY, USA
A Message from Mrs. Yacovone, School Social Worker
Online Safety Guidelines for Parents
By taking responsibility for your children's online computer use, parents can greatly minimize any potential risks of being online. Make it a family rule to:
- Never give out identifying information (home address, school name or telephone number) in a public message such as chat or bulletin boards. Also be sure you're dealing with someone that both you and your child know and trust before giving it out via E-mail. Think carefully before revealing any personal information such as age, marital status or financial information. Consider using a pseudonym or unlisting your child's name if your service allows it.
- Get to know the services your child uses. If you don't know how to log on, get your child to show you. Find out what type of information it offers and whether there are ways for parents to block out objectionable material.
- Never allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer user without parental permission. If a meeting is arranged, make the first one in a public spot and be sure to accompany your child.
- Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening or make you feel uncomfortable. Encourage your children to tell you if they encounter such messages. If you or your child receives a message that is harassing of a sexual nature or threatening, forward a copy of the message to your service provider and ask for their assistance.
- Should you become aware of the transmission, use or viewing of child pornography while online, immediately report this to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-843-5678 or visiting the CyberTipLine online. You should also notify your online service.
- Remember that people online may not be who they seem. Because you can't see or even hear the person it would be easy for someone to misrepresent him or herself. Thus, someone indicating that "she" is a "12-year-old girl" could in reality be a 40-year-old man.
- Remember that everything you read online may not be true. Any offer that's "too good to be true" probably is. Be very careful about any offers that involve a meeting or having someone visit your house.
- Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your children. Discuss these rules and post them near the computer as a reminder. Remember to monitor their compliance with these rules, especially when it comes to the amount of time your children spend on the computer. A child or teenager's excessive use of online services or bulletin boards, especially late at night, may be a clue that there is a potential problem. Remember that personal computers and online services should not be used as electronic babysitters.
- Be sure to make this a family activity. Consider keeping the computer in a family room rather than the child's bedroom. Get to know their "online friends" just as you get to know all of their other friends.
News from the Nurse
Now is a good time to review our procedures regarding children who are sick.
If your child gets sick, it is often most appropriate to keep him/her home from school. A child who is sick will not perform well in school and is likely to spread the illness to other children and staff. Please make arrangements for childcare ahead of time so you will not be caught without a place for your child to stay if he/she is ill.
You should not send your child to school if he/she has:
1. Fever in the past 24 hours
2. Vomiting in the past 24 hours
3. Diarrhea in the past 24 hours
4. Chills
5. Sore throat
6. Strep Throat (Must have been taking an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school.)
7. Bad cold, with a very runny nose or bad cough, especially if it has kept the child awake at night.
If your child becomes ill at school and the teacher or school nurse feel the child is too sick to benefit from school or is contagious to other children, you will be called to come and take him/her home from school. It is essential that your child’s teacher have a phone number where you can be contacted during the day and an emergency number in the event you cannot be reached. Please be sure that arrangements can be made to
transport your child home from school and that childcare is available in case of illness. If your daytime or emergency phone number changes during the year, please notify your child’s teacher immediately. When your child returns to school, please send in an absence note from you and/or your Health Care Provider.
Attendance
(631) 224-2041.
ATTENDANCE: Unless there is a legal excuse, your child must come to school every day and be on time. Please remember that the continuity of instruction is compromised when students stay home. If your child will not be in school, it is important that you call the attendance hotline at 631-581-1354 and leave a message. Homework can be sent home if this call is made early enough in the day. Absence Notes/Direct Telephone for Reporting an Absence: The State Education Department requires all pupils to bring a written excuse from parents or guardians in each case of absence and tardiness. If not submitted, these absences will be noted as illegal. These notes are required even if a parent notifies the teacher or calls the absentee line. A doctor’s note is required for 6 or more consecutive absences. For your child's safety, the school will call home to verify absenteeism. In order to keep the number of verification calls to a minimum, we strongly urge you to call our absentee hotline at 631-581-1354. This district has a telephone answering machine in each elementary school for the sole purpose of absentee reporting.
Thank you for your cooperation.
New York State Test Dates
Important Dates:
Exam & Administration Dates:
Grades 3, 4 & 5 ELA- April 11 & April 12, 2018
Grades 3, 4 & 5 Math- May 1 & May 2, 2018
Delayed Openings/Emergency School Closings Due To Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather, which might cause hazardous road conditions, the closing of school will be announced as follows:
WALK (1370 AM, 97.5 FM)
WGBB (1240 AM)
WCTO (94.3 FM)
WHLI (1100 AM)
WBAB (102.3 FM)
WLIX (540 AM)
WBLI (106.1 FM)
TV Channel 12
If it is determined that a One-Hour Delayed Opening is needed, the starting time for JFK will be 10:12 A.M. The starting time for JFK in the event of a Two-Hour Delayed Opening will be 11:12 A.M.Please plan accordingly for morning pupil pick-up time, (i.e., buses will be one or two hours later than usual). Dismissal time will remain 3:12 PM. as usual.
Please be reminded, in accordance with East Islip School District Policy, once school is open, it will remain open until all children are picked up or dismissed at 3:12 PM. This policy also pertains to snowstorms and blizzards.
Now that the temperatures are low, please send your child in with a coat for recess as well as dismissal.
School Lunch & Breakfast Program Information
Breakfast Program- Breakfast is available from 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM. The cost is 75¢. Please do not drop off your child before 8:30 AM, as there will be no supervision. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Upcoming Dates
March 2- Spring Book Fair
March 5- PTA Meeting 9:45 A.M.
March 19- Science Fair- 6:30 P.M.
March 20- JFK Movie Night @ 6:30 P.M.
March 21- Family Connect Night
March 22- Board of Education Meeting- 7:00 P.M. District Office
March 28- SEPTO Meeting 7:30 P.M.
March 30- No School/Spring Recess
April 2-6 No School/Spring Recess
Help Wanted
Paraprofessional- If you are interested in a part-time paraprofessional substitute position, please call the personnel office at 224-2017.
Custodial Substitute- All shifts. Please send resume to East Islip School District, 1 Craig B. Gariepy Ave, Islip Terrace, NY 11752, Attn.: Buildings & Grounds Dept. or email to rspera@eischools.org $10/hour. EEO
Safety At J.F.K.
- Please do not drop off your child before 8:57 A.M. as there is no supervision. The school day begins at 9:12 A.M. Students will be dismissed at 3:12 P.M.
- Information about the Before and After School Programs is available by calling Stephanie Parker at (631) 224-2041.
- If you are picking your child up early, please be prepared to show photo ID. This continues to be the District’s policy. All doors to the building are kept locked. The buzzer to the right of the front doors will signal your arrival and you will be let in.
- If you are picking up your child, please remember that bus children need to be dismissed in an orderly and safe fashion. It makes it difficult when walkers and their parents congregate to talk and play in the bus loop after dismissal.
- Please take caution when walking or driving during arrival and dismissal. Our Aides, TAs and Crossing Guards are there for the safety of everyone. Please use the crosswalks. Do not walk across the bus loop.
- In an effort to teach responsibility, children are discouraged from returning to school to pick up forgotten items.
- The side parking lot is for staff only.
- As a reminder: Bikes, scooters, and small motorized cars should not be driven in the bus loop.
- Please do not block our neighbors’ driveways.
- We will continue to practice all our emergency drills. The children are always so cooperative.
- In case of an emergency, please let us know if you have a new cell or home phone number. Since e-mails are truly the fastest way for us to contact you, please make sure we have your newest address.
Important Notice
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 preschool and school age children. If you have concerns about your child’s academic and/or developmental progress, discuss these concerns with the team. If you feel your child may have a disability that impacts his/her academic performance you may contact; Lisa Belz, Ed.D, Director of Pupil Personnel Services and Special Education/Section 504 Coordinator Craig B. Gariepy Avenue, Islip Terrace, New York 11752.