Listwood Exchange
March 2023
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Hello Listwood Families,
I hope that everyone had an incredible February Break! It was wonderful to have some rest and relaxation.
During this time of the school year, I meet regularly with classroom and intervention teachers to review mathematics and reading data to assess student progress. These assessments provide our teachers with information on the skills students know and the skills they do not yet know. This data also informs us about which students may need additional support and opportunities for extension through our Response to Intervention (RTI) system.
Through established RTI blocks for reading, which occur for 30 minutes a day for five out of the six-day letter calendar, students are grouped according to what they know and what they need to work on next.
This structure allows teachers to provide targeted and specific instruction to meet students where they are in terms of reading and math development. For example, students identified as needing additional support in either reading or math qualify to receive intervention services during these RTI blocks. The benchmark data also shows us which students need to be challenged with exceeding grade level standards, and these students are grouped across both classrooms to receive the appropriate instruction. For the current school year, we are officially beginning RTI Reading Blocks in March, which means that your child may be receiving instruction from a different teacher during this time.
Your partnership is always valued, and I appreciate everything you do at home to strengthen your child’s ability to read fluently and ability to perform mathematical operations. For more information on what you can do at home to support your child in these areas, please review the PTSA website for practical guides on what students learn during each grade level and how you can support these learning outcomes. Click on the following link for more information: A Parent’s Guide to Student Success.
Thank you for your continued collaboration and commitment with your child. Our team effort creates a wonderful environment for success. We are fortunate to be in a learning community that focuses on the whole child.
In partnership,
Gayle Pavone
SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION
Principal: Gayle Pavone | gayle_pavone@westiron.monroe.edu
Twitter: @gpavone28
Secretary: Pamela Iannone pamela_iannone@westiron.monroe.edu
Website: https://www.westirondequoit.org/listwood_schoolLocation: 325 List Avenue, Irondequoit, NY, USA
Main office: 585-336-1640 | Fax: 585-336-1666
Health Office: 585-336-1648
- Nurse: Maria McCulloch maria_mcculloch@westiron.monroe.edu
- Clerk: Kelly Matteson kelly_matteson@westiron.monroe.edu
Transportation: 585-336-2992
District Office: 585-342-5500 | District website: westirondequoit.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 1 Kindergarten Orientation for 2023-2024 at 7:00 p.m.
March 12 Spring Forward! Daylight Savings Time Begins
March 24 PTSA Family Breakfast
March 24 Parent/Principal Coffee 8:30 a.m.
March 30 Open House 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
March 31 NO SCHOOL – K-12 Conference Day
April 3 – 7 NO SCHOOL - Spring Recess
April 10 School Resumes
April 13 Report Card Day K-3
April 14 DISMISSAL AT 11:30 a.m. Parent/Teacher Conferences
May 1 - 5 Staff Appreciation Week
May 19 PTSA Event – Listwood Carnival
May 25 Third Grade Parents/Incoming Iroquois Grade 4 Parent Orientation 6:00 p.m. @ Iroquois
May 29 NO SCHOOL – Memorial Day Recess
CLICK here to view the Listwood calendar on our website.
** Mrs. Shaughnessy's Class visits Helmer Nature Center **
** Play Area in Mrs. Shaughnessy's classroom **
** Mrs. Traub's Kindergarten **
Enjoy these photos from their Helmer Nature Center field trip,
the 100th Day celebration and Valentines' Day!
* * Mrs. Wixson's First Grade **
First graders had fun playing reading and math games in their Super Bowl theme day!
STUDENT SERVICES UPDATE
During the 2021-2022 school year, a group of outside consultants conducted an analysis of Special Education in West Irondequoit. The concluding report highlighted many strengths including our inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education environments and graduation rates for students with disabilities that are above county averages. The analysis also offered feedback on ways to further strengthen our special education programs and practices.
Following that, the Student Services Department convened a taskforce which consists of a multi-disciplinary group of professionals. The taskforce has been hard at work over the course of this school year examining the outcomes of the analysis and beginning to make changes for the benefit of students with disabilities in our district. Outcomes of this work will include improved transitions between grade levels and programs; enhancement of our current Continuum of Programs with the goal of maintaining students in their least restrictive environment; development of eligibility and exit guidelines for service providers to ensure students are receiving needed supports while increasing independence when they demonstrate readiness; improved alignment across the district of RtI and CSE processes; and an improved system for identifying and implementing high quality professional learning for our staff. The taskforce is passionate about building on the district’s culture of excellence to meet the needs of all learners, as reflected in our newly developed Student Services Mission Statement.
MAPLE SUGAR TOURS AND PANCAKES!
Come celebrate the Maple Sugaring Season at Helmer Nature Center the weekend of March 18-19! There will be Maple Sugaring Tours from 11 AM to 3 PM. Cost is $5 per person but HNC members and children 3 and under are FREE! There is no need to pre-register. A pancake breakfast runs from 10 AM to 1 PM both days! Enjoy some maple syrup made right at Helmer, 154 Pinegrove Ave. It’s our school district’s outdoor classroom and much, much more! For more details, click here: https://bit.ly/3EiY1Rv
Throughout Black History Month in February students learned about noteworthy people of color from our past and present. It is one of the Heritage Months that we celebrate. March is Women’s History Month.
For February, students learned about historical figures such as Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Harriet Tubman and Jackie Robinson. Others may have included more recent newsmakers such as Barack Obama and Serena Williams. One classroom at Colebrook showed an interest in black musicians, so their teachers helped them learn more. To hear more about that, including the voices of our own students in videos, click here: bit.ly/BHM_WI_2023.
Listwood School Reminders
LATE ARRIVAL TO SCHOOL
Parents and Guardians,
When your child arrives late to school, we ask that you please escort them to the front door to ensure their safety and entry into the school. After 8:30 am the front doors are closed and are locked and anyone entering Listwood must be greeted by school staff to enter. In special situations, when younger children may be with you in your vehicle, please call the main office at 336-1640 and we will be happy to come out to you and walk your child into school.
Thank you for your understanding with this extra step in safety for all our families.
ATTENDANCE
Please call the 24-hour school phone (336-1640) when your child will be absent. Please state your child's name, teacher and reason for the absence. You may also email your child's teacher or the school secretary at pamela_iannone@westiron.monroe.edu
TARDY
When your child will be late to school, we appreciate a call or email with that information as well.
LUNCH/TARDY
The daily lunch orders are placed at 9 AM. Please let us know if and what your child would like to order for lunch when you report the tardy so there is no disappointment at lunchtime! Thank you!
DISMISSAL CHANGES
Please send in a note when there is a day when your child's usual dismissal plan is changed.
During the school day, should a situation occur and you must change dismissal plans, we ask the you call the office before noon, if possible. This will prevent confusion and miscommunication at the very busy dismissal time. Thank you!
DISMISSAL PICK UP
Please note that if you are picking up your child at the end of the school day, dismissal is 2:30 p.m. Thank you for arriving in a timely manner.
CHANGING WEATHER
Please remember children need to be dressed appropriately for the changing weather. At recess, our children go outdoors when the temperature and/or wind chill is 20 degrees or above and it is not raining. Please label all belongings with your child’s name.
** Warm Coats ** Hats and Gloves ** Boots **
Your child’s participation and enjoyment during outdoor activities may be limited if not dressed appropriately. The school does not have extra outdoor gear to borrow. Thank you.
HEALTH CARE GUIDELINES
Dear Families:
On behalf of our hard-working West Irondequoit nurses and health clerks, to protect the health and wellness of student body and staff, we wanted to share a few reminders. Many sick students have been returning to school a bit sooner than they probably should. Please remember students should not come back to school after an illness until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. According to our medical consultants, a temperature of 100 or greater is considered a “fever.”
You can find helpful information on our website at THIS LINK Thank you!
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Parents/Guardians,
Do you:
- Have a new cell phone number or email address?
- Have a new work phone number?
- Need to update your emergency contacts?
Be sure to keep your child's school informed of any changes to your phone numbers or emergency contact information. Update info directly on the Parent Portal, or send in a note with your child. Thank you!