March 2024
Lewiston-Porter IEC
From the Principal's Office
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we welcome the much-awaited warmth of spring, it brings a sense of renewal and energy to our school community. The flowers are in bloom, the days are longer, and the promise of exciting outdoor activities is in the air. It's a wonderful time for both learning and the joy that comes with the beautiful weather.
Throughout this month, our focus remains steadfast on providing a rich and engaging educational experience. As the school year progresses, we are delighted to witness the growth and achievements of our students in various areas. Whether it be in the classrooms, on the stage, or in the arts, their passion and determination shine brightly.
We are excited to present Aladdin in April. Please consider buying an Aladdin shirt to support our Musical team. They are working extremely hard. It is going to be an amazing show.
Spring brings not only a change in the weather but also a sense of anticipation for the exciting events and activities that lie ahead. Our dedicated team is working diligently to organize a variety of events that will add an extra layer of joy to the learning journey of our students.
As we gear up for the remainder of this school year and begin preparations for the next, we understand the importance of a positive and nurturing learning environment for your child. We appreciate the enthusiasm from some families who express their preference for a specific teacher for the upcoming year. Your active involvement in your child's education is truly commendable.
In considering teacher requests, we want to assure you that our IEC team is dedicated to creating well-balanced classes. We take into account various factors, such as academic performance, learning styles, social-emotional development, student compatibility, and friendships. Our goal is to provide a supportive and enriching educational experience for every student.
While we value your input, it is crucial to maintain balance within our classes. We kindly request that you put in writing in an email to the administration to begin the process. We ask that you provide us with three different teacher preferences when submitting your request. This approach allows the IEC team to consider multiple factors and create classes that foster a positive and inclusive learning environment.The deadline for all teacher requests must be received by Thursday, May 23, 2024. Requests received after this date may not be processed. Rest assured that the IEC team will dedicate significant time and effort to reviewing and considering all requests to create the best possible learning environment for every student.
While we strive to accommodate your preferences, we cannot guarantee specific teacher placements. Our primary focus remains on the overall well-being and growth of each student, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
I encourage you to stay connected with the school community by participating in the upcoming events, parent-teacher conferences, and other opportunities for engagement. Your involvement and support are invaluable in shaping the success and well-being of our students.
Thank you for your continued partnership in making the IEC a place where curiosity is cultivated, and dreams take flight. Wishing you a wonderful month filled with growth, learning, and the joys of spring!
Wishing you a wonderful and productive spring season!
Mrs. Rodriguez
📆 Mark the Calendar
Friday 3/8- International Women's Day
Sunday 3/10- Ramadan begins
Sunday 3/10- Daylight Savings (spring forward 1 hour)
Spirit week 3/18- 3/22 (See picture below)
Sunday 3/17- Saint Patrick's Day
Tuesday 3/19- Early Release Day, Dismissal 2:25 pm not 3:25 pm
Thursday 3/21- World Down Syndrome Day
Monday 3/25 Holi Hindu Festival
Monday 3/25- Monday 4/8 Spring Recess No student attendance
Friday 3/29- Good Friday
Sunday 3/31- Happy Easter
One District One Book Friday March 1st
Sprit Week!
March is Women's History Month
Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history.
Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.
In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians—led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance)—successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th 1980 as National Women’s History Week.
Subsequent Presidents continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week in March until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, each president has issued an annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”
In 2024, Women's History Month celebrates the theme Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. The theme recognizes women who speak up and are leading change in their fields.
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Each individual, regardless of their abilities, has the right to be respected, embraced, and provided with opportunities to thrive. Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month serves as a profound reminder of these principles, emphasizing the value, rights, and aspirations of those with developmental disabilities.
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (D.D.A.M.), observed throughout March, is a nationwide event to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and address the barriers that those with disabilities face.
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is a month-long observance that brings attention to the varied and unique experiences of individuals with developmental disabilities. It’s a time to celebrate their achievements, advocate for their rights, and promote understanding and inclusivity within society.
- International Wheelchair Day – March 1
- Neurodiversity Week- March 18-22
- World Down Syndrome Day – March 21
- Purple Day for Epilepsy – March 26
- Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month – March
- Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month – March
Rock your Socks! Multi-Age Service Learning’s March Project
To Celebrate Diversity, Inclusion and Acceptance
Join Us March 1-21st for the #LotsOfSocks
World Down Syndrome Awareness Campaign
3 Ways To Get Involved…
→Join the Sock Design Contest in your classroom during your DEAL time.
Socks will be displayed in the foyer and one winner from each grade level will be announced on March 21st for a grand prize!
→Purchase a pair of specially designed Lew-Port crew socks for $15
(Cash or Venmo- @Lindsay-Scalfani). Crew socks are available in shoe size Youth (12-5), Intermediate (6-9) and Adult (9-12). Socks will be available to purchase during DEAL time in Room 101, March 1-March 21st.
If using Venmo, please include your child’s name, teacher & size in your payment.
→#ROCKyourSOCKS! Donate $1 (or whatever monetary donation you would like) to wear a fun pair of socks on Thursday, March 21 to help raise awareness for Down Syndrome. Simply choose some socks that are going to get noticed. They might be mismatched socks or your craziest and most colorful socks!
All proceeds will go to Gigi’s Playhouse Buffalo, a local Down Syndrome Achievement Center. GiGi's Playhouse is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and is solely funded by donations.
Kids Heart Challenge 2/23-3/15
March is National Music in Our Schools Month!
It’s the time of year when schools across the country focus on the importance of music programs at school such as general music, chorus, band and orchestra! For nearly 40 years, March has been designated as Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®). Music has a lasting positive impact in our lives. The positive impact on music in the lives of our students lasts a lifetime.
Every day, in classrooms and rehearsal rooms across our school district, music educators dedicate themselves to reaching all students with life-changing musical experiences. Parents, administrators, and the wider community often only see the wonderful results of music performances; however, we miss the months of practice and rehearsals and more importantly the learning process that takes place to make it all happen.
We encourage members in our community to acknowledge and celebrate music education as an essential part of every student’s educational journey.
To celebrate, We have three district concerts during the month of March. Please help us celebrate Music in Our Schools Month by attending our District Kaleidoscope Concerts on:
March 7th- Grades 5-12 Choral Kaleidoscope Concert 7pm High School Auditorium
March 13th- Grades 5-12 Band Kaleidoscope Concert 7pm High School Auditorium
March 21st - Grades 5-12 Orchestra Kaleidoscope Concert 7pm High School Auditorium
3rd Grade Chorus Concerts!
Congratulations to the IEC 3rd Graders on outstanding Beginners Concerts. All third grade students performed their very first chorus concert on Tuesday, Feb. 27 (Daly/DeFranco/Baio and Marchetti’s classes) and Thursday Feb. 29th (Siuta/Schultz and Topolski’s classes). They were very excited (and a little nervous) to perform for their families and friends. They did a great job! Mrs. Zachary is very proud of their performances. Check out our Lewiston Porter Music facebook page for a recording of the concert.
Tuesday's concert- 2/27/24
Miss Daly/ Mrs. DeFranco/ Mrs. Baio and Mrs. Marchetti's Classes
Thursday's concert 2/29/24
Mr. Siuta, Miss Mona & Mrs. Behm, and Mrs. Topolski's classes
Summer Camp for Inventors!
Register at INVENT.ORG/CAMP or 800-968-4332
Paint Parties!
Drop Everything and Lead
Dear Parents,
At the IEC, we work hard to develop leadership skills among our students. Each day students participate in DEAL (Drop Everything and Lead) from 8:50-9:25. During this time, students discover their unique talents, become active listeners, create community and culture within their classrooms, and grow in self-confidence. Additionally, they discuss the 7 habits and the 5 Leader in Me Core Paradigms.
We believe:
Everyone has genius
Everyone is a leader
Change starts with me
We empower students to lead their own learning.
Educators and families partner to develop the whole person.
We encourage you to ask your child about how they are a leader at the IEC.
Collecting Pull Tabs for Ronald McDonald House
Play Flag Football!
🙌 IEC Shout-Outs
Mrs. Danahy's class had a lovely presentation about the Lunar New Year from our student Linda and her father Mr. Liang. Our class learned all about Chinese New Year traditions and enjoyed homemade Dumplings!
IEC Music Leaders of the Month
Each month, one student from Band, Orchestra, Chorus and General Music will be chosen as a Music Leader of the Month. These students demonstrate the 3 R’s (Responsibility, Respect and Resourcefulness) in these classes.
For the month of February, the following students have been chosen by Mrs. Spinnegan, Mrs. Zachary and Mrs.Carere:
Band - Ben Elia
Orchestra - Emma Seguin
General Music - Emmett Tidwell
Chorus- Whitney Seguin
Congratulations! Keep up the great work!
IEC Music Students Perform in NCMEA All-County Festivals
The Niagara County Music Educators Association (NCMEA) sponsors three annual
All-County Music Festivals. Each festival showcases the top vocal/instrumental musicians in the county from grades 5-12. Vocal and Instrumental students audition in December to be selected for a position in their ensemble.
These festivals are two-day events in which students rehearse with a guest conductor all day on Friday and again on Saturday morning with an afternoon concert to conclude the festival.
This year’s Elementary Chorus Festival was held at Lockport CSD on Feb. 2 & 3.
Fifth Grade students selected to represent Lewiston Porter IEC were:
Layla Anthony
Dylan Bielec
Mia Hawthorn
Noah Rookey
This year’s Elementary Orchestra Festival was held at Niagara-Wheatfield CSD on Feb 9 & 10. Fourth and Fifth Grade students selected to represent Lewiston Porter IEC were:
Ashlynn Petko, String Bass
Megan Tower, Violin
Violet Donnelley, Violin
This year’s Elementary Band Festival was held at Wilson CSD and NCCC on March 1 & 2. Fifth Grade students selected to represent Lewiston Porter IEC were:
Emmett Tidwell, Trombone
Cole Karbowski, Trombone
Atticus Clark, Trombone
Eric Rogers, Tuba
Mrs. Spinnegan, Mrs. Zachary and Mrs. Carere are very proud of everyone for all of their hard work and dedication to make these events so successful! Congratulations on outstanding performances and for representing Lewiston-Porter with pride!
All County Orchestra!
All County Chorus!
L to R
Mrs. Zachary, Liam Woods (Gr 6), Mia Hawthorn (Gr 5), Noah Rookey (Gr 5), Dylan Bielec (Gr 5), Layla Anthony (Gr 5), Alyssa Cardamone (Gr 6)
All County Band
pictured below left to right:
Eric Rogers, Emmett Tidwell, Cole Karbowski, Noah Rookey, Atticus Clark
On March 1st, these students headed to Wilson CSD for the day
to participate in the NCMEA Elementary all-county Band
Year of the Dragon Spring Festival
Lewiston- Porter students attended a special assembly on
Thursday, February 22, 2024
9:15 am - 10 am in the HS Auditorium
2024 Spring Festival Celebration: Year of the Dragon
African Drums & Dance Performance
On Friday, February 16 PEC and IEC students walked to the high school gymnasium to watch an amazing presentation put on by the Ade Jembe Fola Dance and Drum team.
Founded in 2002 by Jamil Kasumu, Ade Jembe Fola seeks to bring arts, culture, and wellness to the Buffalo community. According to the Bamana people in Mali, the name of the djembe drum, also known as a jembe, comes from the saying which translates "Everyone, gather in peace". This also defines the drum's purpose and is part of their mission. They want to unify Buffalo's diverse demographics by using the arts, in particular, African drumming and dance as a means to achieve this.
Students greatly enjoyed the experience and participated with clapping and dancing. What a great way to celebrate diversity!
Golden Spoon Winners! 🥄
For the month of January the IEC had a 4 way tie of classes winning the Golden Spoon Award!
Congratualtions to the students in
Mrs. Marchetti's class
Mrs. Stafford's class
Mrs. Niccola's class
Mrs. Jaruszewski's class
The Golden Spoon Award is a school-wide competition to reward classrooms that demonstrate positive behaviors in the cafeteria. This monthly award is given out to one classroom in grades 3 through 5 that continually follows the school rules; follow directions, communicate with respect, keep hands, feet and objects to yourself, bring all materials to lunch, and raise your hand and wait to be called on.
Mrs. Rodriguez treated the winning classes to a pizza party lunch on Tuesday 2/27/24!
We hope you will maintain your hard work, leadership skills, and continue to enjoy your school success!
Mrs. Marchetti's class
Mrs. Jaruszewski's class
Mrs. Niccola's class
Mrs. Stafford's class
Elementary Education Coordinator Dr. Vantine wvantine@lew-port.com
Main Office 716-286-7253