Grundy Ave Newsletter
~ October 2017 ~
Autumn begins...
Dear learning community,
The days are getting shorter and the weather is beginning to get cooler and Grundy Ave is in full swing! We have ironed out the kinks of the first few days of school and now everyone is adjusted and into the routines of the day. We began our year with a full school assembly called Cultivate Kindness. Kindness is like a seed that needs to be cultivated in order to grow. The presenter, Rich Specht, challenged each student to pay it forward and to find a way to be kind each day. We also celebrated International Dot Day which is based on the book, The Dot by Peter Reynolds. The idea behind the story is that it encourages us to be brave about expressing ourselves. It gently reminds us to start small and explore the ideas we have. Our students are very creative!
Our upcoming events for October include a visit from the Holbrook Fire Department to support our safety theme. Our second Family Connect Night will be on October 4th, which means no written homework. Please send me pictures so we can display them in our school. We will also have our Halloween Parade. More information to come home via email and all school information can be found on our home page, here . The PTA also has many activities planned including, school pictures, an ice cream social, a Spooktacular Dance, a Yankee Candle Fundraiser and more! Please support this incredible group and join today! Your membership supports ALL students through programs and field trips at Grundy Ave.
Grundy also started a Book of the Month initiative to use a piece of children's literature to support Character Education. The teacher and students will read and discuss these books which will help students learn about some of the pillars of good character and leadership. The book of the month for September is dedicated STEAM; Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Our STEAM initiative was started in the summer with our calendar of #SummerSTEAM challenges. Many of our Grundy families participated in these fun events. To continue with this theme, our first book of the month will be Ada Twist, Scientist written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts.
As you can see, Grundy is off to a great start to the school year. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, you can always reach me at 631-471-1820. Happy Autumn!
Mrs. Amato
Kindergarten news...
Grundy’s kindergarteners are off to a great start. September was a busy month for all of us. We have spent a lot of time learning rules and routines, as well as getting familiar with the layout of the building. Children have started to learn important and relevant topics in math, language, science and social studies. In addition, the students have been entertained by meaningful read-alouds from books like, “No, David” by David Shannon, “Chrysanthemum,” by Kevin Henkes and “The Kissing Hand,” by Audrey Penn. Students attended an in-school program, entitled “Cultivating Kindness,” which taught students how kindness grows when we are kind to each other. Students will also attend another in-school program at the end of the month entitled, “Energized Guyz.” This program will teach children about how energy is used and ways we can conserve it. Kindergarten wrapped up September by celebrating “Johnny Appleseed Day.” Students learned about Johnny Appleseed and apples, of course! We read stories, identified facts about Johnny Appleseed and used our senses to describe apples and graph our favorites. September was a great month! We are looking forward to what October has in store for us!
First Grade News...
We are off to a fantastic start in first grade. We are learning and having so much fun each day! We have begun launching into our readers and writers workshop where we are learning and practicing the routines of great readers and writers. In math, we have begun adding while looking for the whole and part of an equation. In science, we are enjoying seeing the world as scientists. We are learning about different forms of matter and their properties. We have so much fun spotting different forms of matter in our classrooms each day. In social studies, we are learning about being good citizens and showing kindness. We have learned that good citizens help others, take care of the earth, are kind to animals, act respectfully and follow the rules. We look forward to more learning and fun in October!
Second Grade News...
Third Grade News...
Third Grade has gotten off to a wonderful start! The students have worked so hard to make their classrooms bright and beautiful! We have been practicing class routines and participating in activities to learn more about our new classmates! To kick off our Character Education program, we read a book titled, Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty and enjoyed a program called "Cultivating Kindness." Our Social Studies Maps unit has begun. The students have created colorful brochures to highlight where they live. We have also launched Reader's Workshop. The students have learned how to choose "just right books" and are practicing the workshop routine. We can't wait to read all of the wonderful books that make up our first unit. We have jumped right into math. We are working on place value and understanding greater numbers. The students have adapted so nicely to third grade. We can't wait to see what the year will bring!
Fourth Grade News...
The fourth graders have adjusted well to their new classrooms and have even made new friends. Our curriculum is in full swing and the students are excited to learn new things this year. The students have been working on the routines and structure of Reading and Writing Workshop. Although we are still in our Reading and Writing launch, the students have been trying out new strategies during independent reading and writing time. In Math we have been reviewing the different strategies for multiplication and division. Our next topic will explore patterns. The students will be required to identify a pattern and continue it. In Social Studies we are learning about the geography of New York. Be on the lookout for information to study for our first test. This year we plan to incorporate many fun STEAM activities related to our curriculum. We are looking forward to a productive and wonderful school year.
Fifth Grade News...
Fifth grade is off to an AMAZING start! We've had so much fun getting to know each other and develop a sense of community and family in our classrooms. We kicked off our Reader’s and Writer’s Workshops and are excited to learn how to deepen our comprehension and critical thinking skills as we read our Just Right books along with planting seed ideas in our Writer’s Notebooks. These entries will certainly come in handy when it comes time to write our personal memoirs. In Math, we reviewed place value including numbers in the millions and decimal numbers. Knowledge of place value will aide our success in math throughout the year. We recently attended the “Cultivate Kindness” assembly program. Our presenter, Mr. Specht, taught us the importance of spreading kindness and paying it forward. These valuable lessons are so important to us, our community and the world! We’re hoping to spread kindness throughout the fifth grade and Grundy School by taking part in our “Spread Kindness Around Like Confetti” bulletin board project. Students and teachers add kind messages to the board daily to lift spirits and encourage kindness in others. It was great to see parents participate during Open School Night by putting up messages of kindness. We are definitely off to a great start in Grundy’s Fifth Grade and we’re looking forward to the BEST YEAR YET!!!
News from the Art Room...
The Art Room is a buzz with many different activities to start off the school year!
The first through fifth grade began the year with a collaborative project, creating flowers for their grade level flower pot. The project was inspired by Vincent VanGogh’s paintings of sunflowers. The pots were on display at open house on September 12th and 13th.
Currently, the Kindergarten is working on a project inspired by the Dutch painter Piet Mondrian.
The first graders are working on seeing things like an artist, using their “art eyes” to see details.
The second graders are working on an autumn themed painting in the style of Australian, Aboriginal dot paintings.
The third grade has been celebrating “International Dot Day”, which was September 15th. International Dot Day is a day that celebrates the book The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds. The theme “make a mark and see where it takes you” has become the inspiration for many dot pictures.
Fourth grade is creating “Patterned Leaves” with influence from Austrian painter, Gustav Klimt.
Fifth graders are creating a “Pumpkin Cubism” inspired by Pablo Picasso.
We have had a great start to the school year! The children have come back to school motivated to create! I will be sharing their progress on Twitter and Instagram. Please follow me @grundyartroom!
News from PE...
Grundy Physical Education is off to a good start! All grade levels are quickly learning the class routines and warm up exercises.
All classes have been participating in a “Chasing & Fleeing” unit. Focus has been on safety, teamwork, cooperation, locomotor & non-locomotor skills, and spatial awareness.
Just a reminder…All students need to have sneakers on PE days that can be tied or secured with Velcro. Please do not send your child in with crocs, sandals, or slip on shoes.
In addition, for safety, please leave all jewelry and personal items at home or in the classroom on PE days.
There is a lost & found bin on the main entrance side of the gym. Please take a look for any misplaced items. The bin will be emptied every making period and all items will be placed in a black bag & stored in one of the locker rooms.
Feel free to visit Mrs. Malleys’ website for more information.
Building Leadership Team....
Grundy’s Building Leadership Team consists of three teachers, three parents, and our building principal. We work together to support the staff, students, and community members. Our initiative is to help foster the mind, body, and spirit of all members of our community. Each action team includes teachers and parents who have one goal in mind – seeing every individual succeed mind, body, and spirit.
GRUNDY’S BUILDING LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS
Mrs. Laura Amato - Principal
Mrs. Tricia Troise – Teacher Member/Facilitator
Mrs. Nicole Liuzzi – Teacher Member
Mrs. Gina LoManto – Teacher Member
Mrs. CarriAnn Berotti – Parent Member
Mrs. Theresa Ponce – Parent Member
Mrs. Mary Tarantino – Parent Member
GRUNDY’S ACTION TEAMS
MIND ACTION TEAM
This action team will focus on academics as well as overall mindset. Study habits, the power of positive thinking, goal setting, and perseverance will be issues we address.
BODY ACTION TEAM
This action team will focus on healthy choices and healthy practices. Physical activity, food choices, nutrition, and healthy body image will be issues we address.
HEART/SPIRIT ACTION TEAM
This action team will focus on empathy, compassion, and meaningful, beneficial socialization. Self-awareness and self-confidence will be among the issues we address.
News from the Reading Room....
Our first and second grade students have access to Kids A-Z, an online reading website. Log in information was sent home recently. Kids A-Z includes a variety of leveled books and quizzes to ensure students receive differentiated instruction. All online student activity is tracked in data-driven reports to help monitor reading progress and determine future instruction.
It would be beneficial for your child to listen to the story first, then read and answer the comprehension questions. Please utilize this valuable resource to support reading development at home.
Music notes....
Welcome back Grundy musicians! With September coming to a close, all performing groups have started to rehearse. Mr. T.’s 5th grade band students rehearse before schools on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 8:15am. Mr. T.’s 5th grade orchestra students rehearse before schools on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8:15am. Mrs. Gallagher’s soprano singers rehearse Tuesday mornings at 8:15. Mrs. Gallagher’s alto’s rehearse on Friday mornings at 8:15am.
Our winter concert is on December 13th, 7:00pm at Sachem North High School. Mark your calendars, we can’t wait to see you there!
News from the Resource Room
Resource Room is off to a fantastic start! We dove in to our writing and shared what we did over the summer vacation! Some of the things we wrote about was family vacations, fun times at the beach, a visit to the Sachem Public Library and some of us relaxed in their pajamas all day!
Some of the strategies we are working on are adding details to our writing to develop our point. Adding details is a great way to entertain our readers and helps them imagine in their minds what the story is about.
We look forward to more writing during the year!
News from the Nurse's office
As the winter months approach we start to see more illness going around. Many parents ask, “When is my child sick enough to stay home from school?”
This is not always an easy question to answer! I hope that these tips can help!
A child who is sick will not be able to perform well in school and is likely to spread the illness to other children and staff. We suggest making a plan for childcare ahead of time so you will not be caught without a comforting place for your child to stay if he/she is ill.
Our school policy states that you should not send your child to school if he/she has:
Fever in the past 24 hours (100 degrees or more)
Vomiting in the past 24 hours
Diarrhea in the past 24 hours
Pink eye (must be on medication for 24 hours before returning)
Sore throat
Strep Throat (must have been taking an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school)
Bad cold, with a very runny nose or bad cough, especially if it has kept the child awake at night
If your child becomes ill at school and the teacher or school nurse feel the child is too sick to benefit from school or is contagious to other children, you will be called to come and take him/her home from school.
Feel free to contact me at 471-1820 ext.1 if you have any questions.
Mrs. Bruno
Hurricane Relief Efforts....
THANK YOU GRUNDY!!! The Texas school supply drive was a HUGE success. We received a tremendous amount of school supplies to send to our friends at Caldwood Elementary School in Beaumont, Texas. Our Texas friends will be pleasantly surprised to receive our gifts and letters. We would also like to send a BIG thank you to our fifth grade leaders who made announcements each morning and a special phone call home to our Grundy community members. Together, we made a difference! GO GRUNDY EAGLES!
Grundy Ave School
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Email: lamato@sachem.edu
Website: http://www.sachem.edu/schools/grundy
Location: 950 Grundy Avenue, Holbrook, NY, United States
Phone: 631-471-1820
Facebook: facebook.com/grundyavenueelementaryschool
Twitter: @GrundyAve