PQ Tuesday Newsday
December 7, 2021
Weekly Thoughts
Dear PQ Families,
Welcome to December! The temperature is finally changing to be more typical for this time of year. Please remember that dressing appropriately for recess is important as we want to get outside as often as possible. Shorts are no longer appropriate unless wearing leggings under the shorts or sweatpants over the shorts. Hats and gloves are needed and boots too once we have that first snowfall. Please help us get outside by making sure your child is dressed appropriately.
This time of year is very busy for everyone. There are many fun events happening for our students over the next couple of weeks! This week is dedicated to Hour of Code! Students in Grades 2-5 will have a coding experience this week to expose them to world of Computer Science. Lauren Tarshis, author of the I Survived series and many other books, will be virtually visiting our second grade students next week. Our Student Council elections are next week. Many 4th and 5th graders are creating posters and preparing speeches. Thanks to the PTO, the 5th graders will have their first social event creating gingerbread people that will decorate our community! Be on the look out for them at local businesses and municipal buildings! And, I think, the kindergarteners will be looking for the Gingerbread person soon! There is a wonderful buzz throughout the building.....such a fun time of year for everyone!
Have a great week!
Kindly,
Mary Johnson & Roy Martin
Kindergarten Registration - THIS WEEK
Kindergarten Registration is here! This year, Kindergarten Registration will take place BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Kindergarten Registration will take place at PQ from December 6-10th from 3:30-6:30 pm. Registration forms are now posted on the website. Use the link below to access the forms. Please contact Jean Jerussi at 914-669-5317 x3056 to make an appointment.
New York State Assessment Results Spring 2021 - For Parents of Students in Grades 4 and 5
As you are aware, last Spring, your child participated in the New York State Education Department’s Common Core State Standard Assessment program in both ELA and Math. Due to the pandemic and the uncertainty of consistent instruction throughout the State, the assessments were modified as compared to previous years. The ELA and Math assessments were each one day tests. They were strictly multiple choice tests and released passages were used on each of the ELA assessments. While the assessments can not be compared to previous administrations of the test, they provide teachers with one data point regarding their performance on one day last year. With other data points like our STAR assessment and grade level assessments, teachers will use the data to plan instruction based on your child’s needs.
Beginning this year, you will access your child’s scores from the Parent Portal. Once you are logged on to the Parent Portal, click the links to obtain your child’s assessment results. In addition, results of Science (grades 4 & 8) are accessible if the assessment was taken. Before accessing your child’s scores, you will be asked to complete the NYS Digital Equity Survey which will pop up when you log in.
The Individual Student Report indicates the scores and the performance levels achieved by your child on each assessment. The report also describes the skills and the performance levels associated with each assessment. You can also find suggestions intended to help you support your child’s success. Please take some time to review the reports. Should you have any questions, you may contact the classroom teacher or building Principal. Additional information may also be obtained on the Internet the NYSED Parent Dashboard.
Pursuant to the NYSED Common Core Implementation Reform Act, no student’s assessment results can or will be included on the student’s official transcript or in the student’s permanent record.
Please be assured that we are aware of our responsibility to constantly seek improvement. As a district, and in our schools, we will carefully analyze our results and will implement instructional plans designed to meet the needs of all students. We strive for excellence and believe that a partnership with parents makes for a stronger education.
Thank you for your attention to these reports. We look forward to continuing our work together.
Sincerely,
Julio Vazquez, Ed.D
NYS Digital Equity Survey
Dear North Salem Parents and Guardians,
So far we have collected 254 survey results for the Digital Equity survey that was sent out on September 28, 2021 . Our district, along with all other school districts in New York, is mandated by the New York State Education Department to collect a survey for each student. We have 758 surveys remaining that will need to be completed. In an effort to facilitate the completion of these surveys we will be shifting the collection of these surveys to the Parent Portal. In order for you to access your child’s information, you will first need to complete this required survey by New York State. The survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete. If you have already completed the survey, you will not need to redo the survey.
Collecting accurate data regarding digital resource access for our students will greatly help educators to better serve all students and families. In order to accomplish this, the New York State Education Department is asking parents or guardians to complete a Digital Equity survey (for each student in the family) in Kindergarten- Grade 12. This survey will provide information on student access to devices and internet access in their places of residence. To assist us in this process, please answer each question in this survey.
Thank you for your time and cooperation.
Estimados Padres y Guardianes de North Salem,
Hasta ahora hemos recopilado 254 resultados de la encuesta sobre equidad digital. La encuesta fue enviada a las familias de North Salem el 28 de septiembre del año 2021. Nuestro distrito, junto con todos los demás distritos escolares de Nueva York, tiene el mandato del Departamento de Educación del Estado de Nueva York para recopilar una encuesta para cada estudiante. Nos quedan 758 encuestas que deberán completarse. En un esfuerzo por facilitar la realización de estas encuestas, trasladaremos la colección al Portal para Padres. Para que pueda acceder a la información de su hijo, primero deberá completar esta encuesta requerida por el estado de Nueva York. La encuesta tarda menos de 5 minutos en completarse. Si ya completó la encuesta, no será necesario que vuelva a realizarla.
La recopilación de datos precisos sobre el acceso a los recursos digitales para nuestros estudiantes ayudará enormemente a los educadores a brindar un mejor servicio a todos los estudiantes y sus familias. Para lograr esto, el Departamento de Educación del Estado de Nueva York está pidiendo a los padres o guardianes que completen una encuesta de Equidad Digital (para cada estudiante de la familia) en Kindergarten-Grado 12. Esta encuesta proporcionará información sobre el acceso de los estudiantes a tabletas y acceso a Internet en sus lugares de residencia. Para ayudarnos en este proceso, responda cada pregunta de esta encuesta.
Gracias por tu tiempo y cooperación.
4th Grade Winter Concert and 5th Grade Band Concert
As for the 5th grade Band part of the concert, our students have not yet had the opportunity to play as a band. We will definitely be having a Spring concert but we are working on recording small groups of students to share their growth as musicians.
After School Enrichment
ASE NEWS
All Tuesday ASE classes will have their final class on December 7th (makeup due to weather on 10/26). The makeup dates for Chess are 12/8 and 12/15.
The PQ ASE Committee would like to thank the parents and children who participated in this session. Feel free to reach out with any comments, feedback and course suggestions for 2022. Registration for the spring term, which starts in March, will be available at the end of January.
As a reminder, the PTO will issue refunds to those students who were under a school mandated quarantine or a quarantine mandated by the DOH. Those are the ONLY two situations where a refund will be issued. Parents who are requesting a refund under these circumstances must email the committee during the week that their children miss class. The PTO will issue refund checks at the end of the fall term.
Please email us at pqase@northsalemschools.org with any questions.
Thank you,
Jackie Lester and Sandra Uram (scheduling and finance)
Sae Ortiz (school liaison)
Kaitlin Palencsar (Registration)
Lisa Derose (BOCES Coordinator)
Marisol Alves (Course Coordinator
Upcoming Building Events
DECEMBER
December 14 - PTO Meeting 7:00 pm VIRTUAL
December 15 - Board of Education 7:30 pm
December 21 - Recording of 4th Grade concert sent to parents
December 23 - Early Dismissal 11:30 am - Holiday Break
JANUARY
January 3 - Back to School
January 5 - Board of Education Meeting 7:30 pm
January 10 - Early Dismissal 11:30am for Professional Development
January 11 - PTO Meeting 9:00am
January 17 - NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King Day
January 19 - Board of Education 7:30pm
January 27 - PQ Coffee With the Principals 7:00pm
January 28 - PQ Report Cards Available Online
School Links
Technology
Community Links
About Us
Website: www.northsalemschools.org
Location: 173 June Road, North Salem, N.Y., USA
Phone: 914-669-5317
Twitter: @pq_elementary