Jennifer Nolan, KLSD School Psychologist (during Dr. Schwartz's maternity leave)

Patricia Smith, School Aide in our K-2 Special Class

Kindergarten: Students are starting the year thinking about who they are as readers and engaging with familiar texts such as Max and the Tag-Along Moon and Harry and the Dirty Dog. Students are also engaging with informational books like Fur, Feather Fin -All of Us Are Kin and Pack: Strength in Numbers. In writing, students are telling stories through talking, drawing pictures, and writing. Students are also using their knowledge of letter sounds to help them “write”. In Kindergarten, this usually means lots of random letters, squiggles, and initial sounds. In math, we will be launching Math Workshop and focusing on numbers to 5.

Grade 1: Students are starting to build their good reading habits, using the mentor text, Rusty Plays At The Park while in writing they are starting their small moments unit using the mentor text, Hair Love. Students are also solidifying their letter sounds and blending words in Fundations. In math, students are working on fluently adding and subtracting within 10.

Grade 2: Students are busy building a community and establishing routines. Students are enjoying read alouds and making connections to characters in books such as Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away and First Day Jitters. Students are also writing about memories that matter and recognizing small moments in their lives that were actually big! Drill sounds, review of digraphs and blends, and snap word practice is important work happening during Phonics instruction. In math students will be fluently adding and subtracting within 20 and working with equal groups.

Grade 3: As we create a feeling of belonging in the classroom by building connections and reflecting on our identities as learners. Reading workshop begins by building a reading life and a love of books. In writing, students will craft true stories and learn how to become storytellers by stretching out the heart of the story. In Math, students will begin to explore and learn about multiplication and division of whole numbers.

Grade 4: While students are building a learning community in their classrooms, they spend their first weeks interpreting characters in reading, making inferences, and analyzing the author’s craft. In writing, students are examining the arc of the story and using the writing process to develop narratives with complex characters and storylines. In math, students are working on generalizing their place value understanding and fluently adding and subtracting multi-digit whole numbers.

Grade 5: September is a time to gather as an academic community and develop norms and routines that will support the success of each student. This is also a time to reflect on our identities as readers and writers and set goals for continued growth. Reading workshop begins the year by exploring story elements such as character traits, character motivation, setting, and plot. This work is done through whole class and small group shared reading experiences. In writing, students work on using a variety of idea generating strategies to share and document meaningful small moment stories. In math, students continue to build their understanding of place value.

Any change of your typical dismissal plan (either bus or pick-up) requires a written communication from a parent or guardian via our Change of Dismissal Form.

Please click on the link below to complete the form. The link is also posted on our IMES school website and will be included in each of our family communications.

Please note that the Change of Dismissal Form must be completed by 12PM on the day of the dismissal change to ensure the information is relayed and followed.

Each September, we take the time to teach and practice daily routines. To help students learn their daily dismissal plan and routine, which includes helping students getting to know their bus number and bus drivers, students may only ride their assigned bus at the end of the day during the month of September. We will begin honoring individual playdates (riding a different bus) in October. If the bus is over capacity, bus notes for playdates cannot be honored.

If you have a special circumstance (childcare needs), please contact Eden Ladd in our main office 763-7117.

A written excuse is required by New York State Law each time a child is absent or late. The excuse should be sent with the child when he/she returns to school or on the day of lateness. In addition to the specific dates, the reason for the absence or lateness should be stated in the note and signed by a parent or guardian.

Parents are requested to call the school attendance line (763-7150) on the first day of each absence. If a child is absent and no call is made, the school will attempt to contact the parent. This is done for the safety and protection of the child.

We will continue implementing our breakfast program for elementary students. Please see the details below about our breakfast program:

· Students who participate will enter the building during arrival time (beginning at 9:10 am) .

· “Grab and Go” breakfast bags will be available. Sample items include a bagel, muffin, or breakfast bar along with a fruit with a choice of milk.

· Students will eat their “Grab and Go” breakfast in the classroom during the morning routine.

· Monthly Menus are available on the website.

Breakfast costs $1.75. To see if you qualify for the Free and Reduced Priced Meal program (breakfast and/or lunch), please refer to THIS LINK.

As a school community, we work toward establishing an atmosphere where children can learn and develop academically, socially, and emotionally. We embed social and emotional learning opportunities into the classroom and school-wide to help students build relationships, identify and manage emotions, and develop a growth mindset. Morning Meeting is a time where students come together as a class to learn, discuss, and practice these skills, while connecting with each other and their teacher. Through these and other approaches, such as monthly school-wide sharing assemblies, we teach and reinforce positive behavior.

Increase Miller’s expectations derive from our mantra of “Kind, Responsible, and Safe.”

Explicitly teaching these behaviors helps students to understand what is expected to create a positive environment. Our school expectation guide linked below displays Kind, Responsible, and Safe expectations across school settings. At the outset of each school year, classroom teachers facilitate the process of identifying Kind, Responsible, Safe classroom expectations with students. These expectations are reinforced with a classroom system to recognize positive behaviors as students demonstrate them. Similarly, Kind, Responsible, Safe expectations are taught, reviewed, and positively reinforced in special area classes, lunch and recess, and on buses.

In the beginning of the year, students are issued a school iPad. iPads are for school use only. Classroom teachers will communicate expectations regarding student use.

The use of personal devices by students during the school day is not permitted. This includes communication via cell phones, apple watches, and other devices. Please ensure that students do not bring personal communication devices to school. We cannot guarantee the security of these devices, and they can become a distraction to the learning environment.

Our Family Handbook link below includes a summary of our philosophy, policies, procedures, and services. We hope the IMES Family Handbook below will help you gain a greater understanding of what makes the school run smoothly and safely and will serve as a resource to you. We trust that this handbook will provide you with answers to questions you might have throughout the school year.

Wednesday, September 13 PTO Meeting & Principal's Coffee 9:30

Thursday, September 14 PTO Welcome Back Picnic!

Friday, September 15 School Compact Team Meeting from 8:15 - 9:10 am

Tuesday, September 19 Grades 3, 4, and 5 Curriculum Night at 7 pm

Thursday, September 21 Grades K, 1, and 2 Curriculum Night at 7 pm

Monday, September 25 Schools Closed/Yom Kippur

Tuesday, September 26 Picture Day K-5

Friday, September 29 School Store and School Spirit Day!

Friday, September 29 SEPTO- Back to School Bash- Lewisboro Town Park from 4-7pm

Monday, October 9 Schools Closed/Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day

Thank you to the PTO's Bulletin Team for creating beautiful boards to welcome students.

Thank you to our office team, Mrs. Ferentini and Ms. Ladd for all their hard work this summer in preparing for the new school year!

Thank you to all our teachers and staff for welcoming students and creating a sense of belonging!

Thank you to our custodians for making our learning spaces clean and ready for the beginning of school!