A.W. Becker Buzz

Can you believe we are already at the half way point in the school year! As we move into February, there are many dates and upcoming events to share.

2/13 PTA Panera Night
2/14 PTA Real Time Smart Talk Program, 6:00 pm
2/15 Board of Education Meeting at High School, 6:00 pm
2/20 Presidents’ Day: No School
2/20-2/24 Winter Recess: No School
2/21 Pre-Kindergarten Registration for the 23-24 School Year Opens (online)
2/27 Classes Resume
3/1 Board of Education Meeting at High School, 6:00 p.m.
3/3 End of Second Trimester (PK-5)

Yearbooks for AWB can be purchased through this link: https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1016107419381036.

OR, by visiting https://www.treering.com/, click on the "buy yearbook" button, and enter the following passcode: 1016107419381036.

Yearbooks cost $14.69 and the due date for orders is April 18, 2023.

For questions about the AWB 22-23 Yearbook, please contact Clare Esmond at cesmond@rcscsd.org.

If we want our kids to be safe, kind and responsible online, it’s important for families to have ongoing conversations with them about:

· When and how they use their devices

· Ways to keep themselves and others safe

· How they are representing themselves online

The A.W. Becker PTA is excited to offer families at RCS the chance to have interactive technology conversations during our Smart Talk Family Event, sponsored by Norton, on February 14, 2023 at 6 PM at A.W. Becker Elementary. This will be a fun, family-friendly event that encourages open and honest communication around digital safety. Here is the agenda.

Please use this link to register to participate: https://forms.gle/rb9BptnhJ6FLgLFq7 or click in the title above for a detailed flyer with QR code.

Dinner will be provided. Kids are welcome to join the conversation but we will also have childcare and Valentine’s Day activities to keep them entertained.

We are very excited to host this important event and hope to see you and your family there!

Questions? Contact Erin Sinisgalli at RCSAWBPTA@rcscsd.org

• Buses depart at 12:30 p.m.
• Parent pick-up will begin at 12:20 p.m.
• PM Pre-K students will not be coming to school this day, and AM Pre-K students will be dismissed with all other students.

• Students will eat lunch prior to dismissal.

• Afterschool childcare programs will be held.

• Parents/guardians should be prepared for their students to be home 3 hours earlier.

Our students love PE and there's no wonder why! Our teachers are always making physical activity fun, while connecting it the NYS standards and student interests. This month, our entire gymnasium became a Mario Cart obstacle course with our students participating on scooters while collecting tokens. Fun was certainly had by all!

We continue to go outside for recess in the wintertime unless the "Real Feel" temperature drops below 20 degrees or there is inclement weather. Thank you for sending your children to school with warm clothing. If they choose to play in the snow, they need snow pants AND snow boots.

We are beginning a facility dog program in our school during the 2022-2023 school year! Please click here to learn more about the program.

We are excited to introduce you to our newest “staff” member. Her name is Waffles! She is a beautiful Goldendoodle pup who we hope will be part of our school for years to come. Our puppy will be joining us at AWB and PBC in February of 2023!

We have formed a team of handlers at both Pieter B. and A.W. Becker who are currently being trained to work with our school facility dog directly. These members include Ms. Wolfe (adopter), Ms. Engelhardt, Ms. McKown, Ms. Burns, and Ms. Hughes at AWB and Ms. Sollien, Mr. Hilker, Ms. Manning, and Mr. Powers at PBC. If you see one of these members holding a leash with our canine colleague, please ask if you can meet our new “staff” member. Our dog needs to follow many rules, so if you do see her, please let our dog handler get her ready to say hello before you approach her.

As always, we put the welfare of our students and staff at the forefront of all we do. We will always be kind and respectful to everyone in our community. If you have any concerns about the dog, be it a fear of dogs or an allergy concern, please contact our principal. The principal will work with the handling team to develop the right plan around the needs of our dog, our students, and staff. Any concerns that you have will be treated with privacy and respect.

More details and pictures will be shared soon. For now, welcome to Waffles and enjoy the adorable picture!

We are mid-way through our Winter Benchmark Assessments in reading and math. These assessments are given three times per year and allow teachers to measure progress using the same tool. We use the new data to determine groupings and instruction to ensure progress. This is one measure used to help our school increase achievement for all students.

We have hit our school target of at least 50% of the students receiving at least one positive referral. To date, 347 students have received positive referrals this school year! We are proud of students following our "Bee Rules": Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible. Thank you for encouraging your students at home!