Sherwood Spirit
April 2018
From Mr. Walerstein's Desk...
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Happy spring! With the winter behind us, we can hope for sunny days ahead. It was a busy March, and a compressed March thanks in part to Mother Nature.
This past month, the students engaged in learning about Habit #5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood. This habit is all about listening to others' ideas and thoughts, understanding differing points of view, and being more accepting of others. In the library, the students did a scavenger hunt where the students had to find classmates with specific attributes; this helped students to learn more about their peers in class. This month, students will be learning about Habit #6: Synergize. With this habit, we try to teach students that working together is better and that it is important to value strengths in others. Please discuss how important it is to work with others and let your child know the benefits of teamwork.
This past month, the Sherwood PTA also hosted another successful Book Fair; this included a night event as well. Teachers came out to make popcorn, and students and parents had the opportunity to bond over books! It is so important to develop a love of reading at a young age. Research on reading shows that independent reading improves comprehension, is a powerful way to develop vocabulary, helps develop fluency, and develops a broad base of background knowledge.
In March, we were also fortunate to have a visit from Quacker Jack from the Long Island Ducks. He was here to promote the EXCEL fundraiser taking place on June 2nd. At this game, the Sherwood Chorus will be performing during pre-game ceremonies along with the band from Commack Road. We hope to see you there. Flyers were sent home with students a couple of weeks ago.
Finally, our 4th and 5th grade students watched a performance from Theaterworks entitled "Freedom Train" that was all about Harriet Tubman. The students were treated to great acting and musical numbers that will surely leave a lasting impression.
As a reminder, this month, students will be taking New York State assessments in ELA. Testing will be from April 10-13. A schedule of testing was sent out prior to Spring Break. Math Assessments will be given May 1-2.
Have a great April.
Warmest Regards,
Chad Walerstein
Principal
Sherwood Elementary School
PTA News
Spring is here!! March was a busy month for the Sherwood PTA.
Our Spring Book Fair was a huge success. We raised over $440 for the ALL For Books Program. Mr. Le Vien’s class won the coin challenge! They raised $205.20!! Thank you for all your support!
Grade level winner for the most coins collected and winners of a popcorn party are the following classes:
· 2nd Grade - Mrs. Beck
· 3rd Grade - Mr. LeVien
· 4th Grade - Mr. Senese
· 5th Grade- Mr. Kunsch
Congratulations to our Family Event raffle winners: Matthew Soto, Emily Neil, Vincent Giambo, AJ Sodaro, Casey Torre and Isabella Feldman.
The grand prize winners of the Bubba’s Taco Party are: Mr. Le Vien’s class and Ms. Contant’s and Ms. Kruger’s class. Thank you to everyone who came to the family event to support Sherwood!
Sherwood’s Talent Show, “Night of the Stars”, was amazing. All the performers are so talented! A special thanks to Mr. Walerstein, Mr. Ruccia and Mrs. Markee for helping make the night a huge success. Thank you to all the students, parents and volunteers that helped make this show another amazing event for Sherwood.
Our Spring Plant Sale is coming up soon. Pre-orders are due April 9th. The kids will have an opportunity to shop the week of May 7th. We are looking for volunteers to help run this event. If you are interested please email us at: sherwoodpta@aol.com.
On Tuesday, April 24th, at 7:00 pm please join the Islip PTA’s for a Teen & Tech Presentation at Islip Middle School. All parents/guardians of K-12 students are welcome to attend.
Our next PTA meeting will be April 23rd. We will be welcoming the incoming second-grade parents. We are also looking for volunteers to chair PTA Committees for next year!
Any questions please email us at: sherwoodpta@aol.com
3rd Grade Updates
Dates to Remember
4/10 - 4/13: New York State English Language Arts Assessments (Grades 3-5)
4/10: Board of Education Meeting - 7:30 pm; IMS
4/11: Grade 2 Field Trip to Old Bethpage Restoration Village
4/16 - 4/19: New York State English Language Arts Assesments - Make Ups
4/18: Board of Education Meeting - 7:30 pm; IMS
4/20: Sherwood celebrates Earth Day!
4/23: Sherwood PTA Meeting - 7:00 pm; SES Library
5/1 - 5/2: New York State Math Assessments (Grades 3-5)