Dear Families,
It was great to see so many of you here at the school today for parent-teacher conferences, and I was also comforted knowing that parents who couldn’t get to the school could still enjoy their time with teachers virtually as well. We had some isolated glitches along the way, but everyone was flexible, patient, and responsive – Go Team!
REMINDER: TRANSLATING THE FRIDAY FLYER AND THE WEBSITE
Please know that you can always translate the Friday Flyer and our website into just about any language! Look for “Translate” on the upper-right side of the Friday Flyer, and at the top of the website, then search/select a language.
FINAL DAYS OF THE SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR!
Saturday, March 25th is the last day for the Book Fair!
Remaining Book Fair Hours:
Friday, March 24, 2:00-7:00
Saturday, March 25, 2:00-7:00
MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSICAL: “HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL JR.”
Our cast and crew have been working so hard to prepare for our musical – and they sound and look great! Opening night is TONIGHT!!
NOTE: THE SHOWS WILL BE LIVESTREAMED!!
At any showtime, please click the link to join (if you try to join early, it may block access):
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87197540527?pwd=dHlsS0pOK2tCVUJ3TnpaQkp5YUxudz09
Passcode: 662119
Here are all the showtimes:
Friday, March 24, 7:00pm (opening night) NO MORE AVAILABLE TICKETS
Saturday, March 25, 3:00pm (matinee) TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
Saturday, March 25, 7:00pm (closing night) NO MORE AVAILABLE TICKETS
Tickets are “General Admission” and they are FREE. However, you must reserve tickets in advance. Here is the link – which anyone can use – to reserve seats to the show(s) you plan on attending. Feel free to forward the link to family. Please do not reserve seats “just in case.” https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=8vwaRGdFrUCoLS3hmd-Ph22EsvjWefFEpdJDH8B70RpUM1dBMUg2VkNYUzlETFQwQzMwMlYzTElWQy4u
PARKING: Gate 1 or Gate 3
SEATING: Auditorium opens 30 minutes prior to showtime
BOOK FAIR: Visit the Book Fair before the show – it will be closed after the evening shows.
FOOD DRIVE GOAL OF 200 ITEMS
Our Student Government wanted to add a schoolwide incentive to collect food. It was agreed that if the school could collect 200 items, then we would allow kids to purchase ice cream on an additional day of the week right before spring break! We are currently at 123 items!
PTA FUNDRAISER – BULB AND SEED SALE
The PTA Bulb and Seed Sale is back! Beautify spring and order garden bulbs from our Pocantico Seed Sale! You can order for your home, as gifts, or for our school’s wish list!
Order by March 31st here: http://pocanticohillsschoolpta.fpfundraising.com/.
To purchase items for our school’s garden and grounds, click here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090548AEAF2DA3FD0-pocantico
Thank you! Questions? Email PTA@PocanticoHills.org.
NYS ELA STATE ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE
All of our students in grades 3-8 will be taking the ELA test on computers – very exciting! All tests consist of two sessions, and we give one session per day. However, we are going to test in two groups – grades 6-8, and grades 3-5. Here are the dates we’ll be giving our NYS ELA State Tests:
Wednesday, April 19 – Grades 6-8, Session 1
Thursday, April 20 – Grades 6-8, Session 2
Tuesday, April 25 – Grades 3-5, Session 1
Wednesday, April 26 – Grades 3-5, Session 2
· We always start testing in the morning, usually by 8:45.
· Tests are UN-timed, so kids can take as long as they need. Generally, they take a little over an hour, but it could be longer if kids are taking their time (which isn’t a bad thing!)
· Yes, kids can go back and change answers or edit their writing! They can even bookmark questions to go back and review, make notes for themselves, and more.
· Even though the test is computer-based, kids still get paper and pencils to plan as they wish.
· We conducted a simulation this winter that allowed the kids and teachers to experience the platform and learn how to use all the “bells and whistles.”
· If you’d like to check out a practice version of the test platform, you can try it out here: NY Question Sampler (questarai.com) (answers are not saved, don’t worry) – I actually think it’s a great platform and the kids thought it was easy to use.
If you drive your children to school, PLEASE make sure they are on-time. Also, please make sure they get a good night’s sleep and breakfast. Any students who miss any of the testing days will be able to make them up until April 28 – we'll work that out at school scheduling-wise, so no need to worry.
CHANGE TO THE BOE MEETING SCHEDULE
Please be advised that the next Board of Education meeting will take place on March 28, at 7:30. This is also posted on our website.
CAMP REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Summer camp online registration began on February 27th! Please see the attached flyer, as well as our website, for more details.
YEARBOOKS ON SALE
Our yearbook is created by our 7th & 8th grade yearbook staff with input from our 8th graders. It is an amazing full-color memory of the school year and is available for only $35.00.
Please use the link below to purchase online: Buy the 2023 Poco Yearbook
DON’T FORGET: COVID HOME TEST KITS STILL AVAILABLE
There is still plenty of general winter sickness around us, especially coming off of the holiday break. Please pay extra close attention to symptoms of flu or COVID, and If you’re in need of COVID home test kits, even if just to have in your closet, please reach out to Nurse Juliet and we can send home some boxes in your child’s backpack. We have plenty to share with you.
Have a fantastic weekend, and hopefully I’ll see you at one of the shows!
Adam
Adam Brown
JPK-8 Principal and Curriculum Leader
Pocantico Hills School
Sleepy Hollow, NY
(914) 631-2440 x712
