December 2023
Lewiston Porter Intermediate Education Center
From the Principal's Office
Dear IEC Families,
As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to take a moment to update you on some important dates and exciting events happening at our school in the month of December.
Important Dates:
December 1 - Data Day: Please note that there will be no school on December 1 as our dedicated teachers engage in a day of professional development and data analysis. This day allows us to reflect on our students' progress and make informed decisions to enhance their learning experiences.
December 8 - Parent-Teacher Conferences: Another reminder that there will be no school on December 8 due to parent-teacher conferences. This provides a valuable opportunity for you to connect with your child's teacher, discuss their academic progress, and set goals for the upcoming months. We encourage all parents to schedule a conference to strengthen the partnership between home and school.
December 20 - Last Day of School Before Winter Break: Our students will be wrapping up the year on December 20, marking the last day of school before the winter break. We wish all our families a joyful and restful holiday season!
Exciting Events:
School Book Fair: We're thrilled to announce that our school will be hosting a Book Fair from Monday, December 4 through Friday, December 8th. This is a fantastic opportunity to promote literacy, discover new books, and support our school library. Keep an eye out for more information on specific times and activities related to the Book Fair.
Merry Moose Holiday Store: The festive spirit will be in full swing as our Merry Moose Holiday Store opens its doors. This special store allows students to experience the joy of giving by selecting and purchasing affordable gifts for family and friends. Details about the store's hours and offerings will be shared soon.
We are grateful for your continued support and engagement in your child's education. As we approach the holiday season, let's take a moment to reflect on the accomplishments and growth of our students throughout the year.
Wishing you and your families a wonderful December filled with warmth, joy, and cherished moments. Thank you for being an integral part of the IEC community.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Rodriguez
Mark the Calendar
Friday 12/1- Data Day- No Student Attendance
Sunday 12/3-Advent begins
Monday 12-4-Friday 12/8 Scholastic Book Fair!
Thursday 12/7- Hanukkah Begins
Thursday 12/7- Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Friday 12/8- Parent / Teacher conferences- No Student Attendance
Sunday 12/10- Human Rights Day
Spirit Week Thursday 12/14- Wednesday 12/20
Wednesday 12/20- IEC Jingle Bell Run- students wear sneakers & don't forget you water bottles!
Friday 12/15- Bill of Rights Day
Monday 12/18- IEC Winter Concert @ 7pm, IEC Auditorium
(5th Gr Band, 5th Gr Orchestra, 4th/5th Grade Choir)
Wednesday 12/20- Jingle Bell Run
Thursday 12/21- Winter Solstice- start of winter
Thursday 12/21-Friday 12/29 No Student Attendance
12/21 & 12/22 Recess days due to remote instruction in lieu of emergency closure
12/25-12/29 Winter Recess
Monday 12/25- Merry Christmas
Tuesday 12/26 Kwanzaa starts
Tuesday 12/26- Boxing Day (Canada)
Thursday 12/28- Pledge of Allegiance Day
Sunday 12/31- New Year's Eve
Scholastic Book Fair at the IEC!
Reminder about Clubs
Please remember, students MUST wait with parent/ guardian until they are let into the school when clubs start.
Recently several students have been dropped off to wait outside alone prior to club start time, this is unsafe and against policy- please stay with your children.
Order your IEC yearbook online now!
News from the STEAM Lab
Over the past several weeks, fifth-grade students have been using mini Sphero robots in the STEAM lab. Students worked with a partner to design and program the robots to perform specific tasks or complete challenges. These tiny, programmable robots allowed the students to engage in many activities, from coding the robots to navigating mazes and obstacle courses to challenging other students in a soccer match. Programming taps into critical thinking as students explore coding, problem-solving, and collaborative learning. They had fun conquering challenges and unleashing their creativity!
Mrs. Peterson STEAM/Computer Technology Teacher
Drop Everything and Lead
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
This year we have continued to implement Leader in Me. We are focusing on the following:
Everyone can be a leader.
Everyone has genius.
Change starts with me.
Educators empower students to lead their own learning.
Develop the whole person.
Additionally, we worked to develop a deep understanding of the 7 Habits, incorporating the language, skills and strategies to our school and personal lives. We have created a special time every day from 8:50-9:25. This time is called Drop Everything and Lead or D.E.A.L. During this daily time, we have developed the leaders in ourselves and worked on creating a school culture that promotes the development of the unique leadership abilities of each of our students. We are very proud of the improvements and the transformations we have made so far. At the IEC we have:
Integrated a common language and leadership development approach based on the 7 Habits in every classroom.
Provided training for staff members in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® by William Blackford
Contracted a Leader in Me coach from Franklin Covey to support long term implementation.
This year, at the IEC we are focusing our efforts on…
Supporting our parents and caregivers in reinforcing the Leader in Me leadership principles at home.
Showcasing our students’ successes at the three assemblies
Creating and tracking the progress of our WIGs (Wildly Important Goals); classroom, personal, and school
Our IEC Wildly Important Goal: How many books can each grade level read?
Please continue to talk to your children about their academic and personal goals. We look forward to sharing how many books the IEC has read at the end of the year!
Heart Love and Soul * Please consider Donating
Lottery of Love…Spreading Love and Appreciation in Our School
A wonderful way to show our teachers and staff just how much we appreciate them. They work tirelessly to make our school a better place, and we believe it's time to give back. We've come up with a special program to spread love and appreciation, one note at a time.
Once a month, we'll randomly draw names of staff & faculty. Once the names are drawn, those staff members will receive special notes of appreciation from both students and fellow staff. We have a designated area in the main lobby where you can find sticky notes and drawing materials. The notes can be simple thank-you messages, drawings, or anything that shows our appreciation.
We hope to bring smiles to our teachers' and staff's faces and also create a positive and loving atmosphere in our school. It's a small act of kindness that can make a big difference. We strongly encourage everyone to participate. Let's spread love and appreciation in our school, one sticky note at a time.
Emergency Closing Information/ Virtual Schedules
Google Meet Support for Students & Parents
This video will explain how to join Google Meet from iPads and Chromebooks. It also goes through some of the functions within the meeting so you learn how to turn on your camera, mute/unmute, etc.
There are two segments to the video:
- The first segment is for parents and students in the PEC.
- The second segment is for students in grades 3-12 [ 3:59 ].
THe IEC Food Drive is a HUGE success!
This year’s Food Drive was a little different than past years- classes competed at each grade level to see who would bring in the most non-perishable food items. From November 1st through the 17th the school’s main foyer was filled with boxes and boxes full of pasta, sauces, soups and vegetables! In fact, more food was collected this year than any previous year!
While there were 3 winning classes, the real winners are the Care-n- Share Food Pantry and local residents who depend on the pantry to meet their basic needs. The pantry services residents in Ransomville, Youngstown, Lewiston, and Wilson. Students at the IEC were also winners because by participating in the drive they received the gift of joy that comes from giving and helping others- especially at special times like Thanksgiving.
And now, the winning classes…drum roll please..
In 3rd grade, with 121 items, is Mrs. DeFranco’s class!
In 4th grade, with 195 items is Mrs. Khatib’s class!
In 5th grade, with a whopping 239 items, is Mrs. Danahy’s class!
Congratulations to our winning classes! Enjoy your extra recess!
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Food Drive!
Kindness Spirit week 11/13-11/17
Mrs. Krecisz & Mrs. Rodriguez twinning (red shoes & Lewport shirts!)
Celebrating Our Leaders at Our First Leadership Assembly of the Year
On Thursday, November 16th the IEC came together as a school to celebrate 138 students who were recognized for their leadership skills. The two Leadership Habits that were focused on during the months of October and November were Leadership Habit 1: Be Proactive ,( be accountable for your actions) and Habit #2 Begin with the End in Mind; (Be Purposeful). Members of the Leadership club assisted with the assembly as Masters of Ceremonies, Greeters, Announcers and Sign holders. A special thank you to Mrs. Khatib and Mr.s Danahy’s classes for leading us in our leadership song!
Students were celebrated through song and Mr Auer, our Middle School principal spoke to us about the importance of being good leaders. We are already looking forward to seeing who will be recognized at our next assembly for their leadership skills!
By: Mrs. H. Kazulak
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 November, the following students have been chosen by Mrs. Spinnegan, Mrs. Zachary and Miss Faddis:
Band - Ellie Millar
Orchestra - Nola Wolf
General Music - Trevor Cairns
Chorus- Lauren Strassburg
Congratulations! Keep up the great work!
“We’ve Got The Golden Ticket”
Mrs. Jaruszewski and Miss Yager’s 4th and 5th grade classes had a wonderful surprise! After applying for a Mini Grant from our Lew-Port Alumni Association, the classes found out that they won the $500.00 Mini Grant surprise. Students unwrapped their candy bar prizes to unveil a “GOLDEN TICKET” that will award them with a tour of the Platter’s Chocolate Factory. The students will first do an entire Chocolate Unit that will include reading chapter books all about chocolate in book clubs. Then, as a culminating activity, both classes will take a trip to the Platter’s Chocolate Factory where they will take a tour and then get to have a delicious ice cream treat. Thank you so much to the Alumni for awarding us with this amazing and fun opportunity! We will definitely be sharing photos of a trip and our chocolate adventures!
Collecting pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House
The IEC is collecting the pop open tabs from cans of all drinks for Ronald McDonald House all this year!
Please save & send in your tabs for this amazing charity.
There is a bin in the hallway near the gym for tabs to be added to.
Thank you!