Forest Park Flyer
Forest Park, a place to dream, believe and achieve!
December 2022
The character trait for the month of December is Kindness.
From the Principal...
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to enjoy the holiday with your family. I know the staff and I were grateful to be able to spend time with our families and are looking forward to the many celebrations that lie ahead this month.
This year, we are thankful to see the return of many of the traditions that make Forest Park such an amazing community. On Friday, December 2nd, the PTA will be hosting our Cocoa, Carols and Crafts event for the first time in two years. This is a wonderful time for families to connect with one another, visit our book fair, sing holiday tunes and make a card for members of our community who are homebound. Later this month, we will host Festive Friday. This is a tradition that was started by a former Forest Park student nine years ago. When one of our first graders realized that there are children who may have to spend the holidays in the hospital, she initiated Festive Friday. On this special day, everyone wears their holiday gear and donates a dollar to support the Bernard and Millie Duker Children's Hospital at Albany Medical Center. These two Forest Park traditions have always played an important role in our school community, and we are excited about their return.
As we work to spread kindness in the community, it is important for staff, students and families to show kindness to themselves (especially during this hectic time of year). During the pandemic, we quickly learned that our children's social-emotional needs must be met in order for them to be heathy and grow, both academically and socially. At Morning Program, we provide students with instruction in mindfulness as part of our effort to support their social-emotional needs. Members of our school community, including both staff and students, volunteer to join us as our Mindful Master during morning program. They may teach us a new breathing technique or another strategy to help us focus on what is happening at the moment while dismissing our intrusive thoughts or anxieties. Studies have shown that mindfulness plays an important role in reducing anxiety or mental woes (Time Magazine, November 2022). By teaching our children to "intervene in their own state of mind", we are empowering them to calm their minds and their bodies when they feel themselves getting overwhelmed or upset. As adults, we know what an important life skill this is for our children (and us) to have as they navigate all of the surprises that life holds for us all.
During the holiday season, give yourself and your family the gift of kindness by inviting your Forest Park student to help you all take a mindful moment together. Our health and the health of our children and family is truly the greatest gift of all.
Mrs. Penn
Inclement Weather
When school is delayed, the Before School Program will not be held. Please do not drop your children off at school in advance of the start time on days when we are delayed because staff will not be available to supervise them. On those days when school is closed due to inclement weather, the Before and After School programs are also cancelled.
If the weather deteriorates while we are at school, the district may decide to dismiss the children early. If school is dismissed early (more than 15 minutes before regular dismissal), the After School Program will not be held. In the case of an early dismissal, parents and guardians will be notified via Parent Square.
Staying Healthy During the Holidays
Some typical symptoms that you may see in your child with any of these illnesses include fever, congestion, sneezing, coughing and sore throat to name a few. Although these may sound like typical ailments that we all expect our children to have the past two years of wearing masks and completing quarantines have impacted children's immune systems so the common cold and respiratory viruses are more severe than usual this year.
As we continue to navigate the winter months, please be sure to monitor your child(ren) for symptoms and, if they have a fever, severe congestion, coughing or just don't feel 100%, please give them a day or two to rest. Sending your child to school when they are sick, particularly with everything that is going around, may result in them becoming much sicker than expected. While we understand that families have work demands and may find it challenging to keep their child(ren) at home, the severity of the symptoms many of our students have experienced these past few weeks suggest the few days at home may be the best way to avoid serious illness.
Virtual Learning Days and Snow Days
This year, the District anticipates returning to traditional snow days or delays when inclement weather occurs. If we have a bad winter and are running out of snow days, however, the District will schedule a virtual learning day instead of closing school so as not to impact spring break or the end of year schedule.
If, after we have utilized our snow days, a storm is on the horizon, the District will determine if a virtual learning day will be scheduled. If it is decided that the District needs to close due to an impending storm, families will be notified in advance. Chrome books will be sent home with those students who need to borrow technology. More information about how to borrow a chrome book will be shared in the near future.
As a District, we will still have traditional snow days on which virtual learning will not take place. Major weather events, instances when power outages occur and unexpected storms will still result in the total closure of school. To ensure that you are notified of school closures and virtual learning days, be sure to sign up for Parent Square so messages can be sent to your cell phone and/or home phone. The District also posts the information on our website and on local media stations. Please do not hesitate to contact the building at (518) 869-3006 if you have questions about how to sign up for Parent Square.
Festive Friday
Winter Break
Dec. 23rd - Jan. 2nd
School Reopens: Jan. 3rd
Pajama Day
Shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, hats --- all festive attire is welcome! We look forward to this fun and festive day together as a school community!
Kids' Corner - Mrs. Geddes' Class
“Start each day with a grateful heart.” Practicing gratitude is not something our class just does during the month of November, but all year long. Each morning as part of their morning check-in, students list one thing they are grateful for. By practicing gratitude first thing in the morning, we are inviting positivity into our day. A positive mindset can lead to great things!
Sophia A. – I am grateful for my family and home and our state.
Almamun A. – I am grateful for the people that helped our country and kept us safe.
Ali B. – I am grateful for the world and people who worked hard.
MJ B. –I am grateful for friends and teachers and fun.
Krishane B. – I am grateful for our amazing principal that holds the school together.
Amy B. –I am grateful for my family, friends, teacher, pets, principal and my mom.
Aria B. – I am grateful for my family and that I can celebrate with my family, and I love my dog.
Bodie C. – I’m grateful for my family and friends.
Max D. – I’m grateful for my house and family and school.
Lily F. – I’m grateful for my tree house and family.
Mia G. – I’m grateful for healthy food and clean water to drink because you need them to live
Yunus H. – I’m grateful for my friends.
Karlee H. – I'm grateful for my mom and dad.
Rocco M. – I’m grateful for family, friends, school, and animals.
Elaina O. –I’m grateful for my dog, family and friends.
Ayah O. – I am grateful for Axolotls.
Alesia P. – I am grateful for food Because it helps us survive.
Aaragon P. –I am grateful for good sleep.
Paul R. – I’m grateful for fun things to do when bored.
Eileen W. – I’m grateful for a brother.
Monaza Y. – I am grateful for my family and friends.
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots (Nov.28-Dec. 5) South Colonie is once again partnering with the Marine Corps. and the South Colonie Central School District to provide holiday gifts to families in need right here in our own community. A new, unwrapped toy may be donated at Forest Park through Dec. 5th to support this important program. Staff from our bus garage and a member of the Marine Corps. will be visiting our school to collect donations on December 5th. Thank you, as always, for your generous support of our community.
Physical Education and Recess
A Look Ahead
December
2nd - Cocoa, Carols and Crafts (6-8 PM) and Book Fair & Literacy Night (6:00-7:30 PM)
9th - Festive Friday
9th - Report Cards Sent Home
16th - School Spirit Day
22nd - Pajama Day
23rd - January 2nd - Winter Break
January
3rd - Students return to school
9th - Yearbook orders begin
10th - PTA Meeting 6:30pm via Zoom
16th - No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
20th - Movie Night 6-8pm
27th - School Spirit Day
30th - Day 1
PTA News and Notes
Some upcoming events you can put on your calendar for 2023 are included below. Keep an eye on Parent Square & our Facebook page for more information as we approach the dates:
December 2: Cocoa, Carols, and Crafts! Come join us for this exciting event and stop by the book fair to do some shopping while you are here. We will have crafts for the kids, hot cocoa, and some music! Free for families to join us! Volunteers are still needed, click here to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4AAAA628A3FE3-cocoas
January 10: Next PTA meeting (we do not have a December meeting) - agenda will be forthcoming
January 20: Family Movie Night - we will be hosting a movie night at the school that all families will be welcome to join. Admission is free and refreshments will be on sale.
February 7: February PTA Meeting
February 10: Winter Dance for families! Come have a fun evening with your family and show off your moves!
March 7: March PTA Meeting
We are pleased to share that the PTA was awarded the October On Target & Trailblazer Membership awards by the NYS PTA for enrolling so many members. Thank you all for joining us. If you haven’t joined yet and would like to, please go our MemberHub site listed below:
https://forestparkelementaryschoolpta.memberhub.com/store
Membership is $8 and every person in the family is welcome to join! Please follow us on our new facebook page for updates throughout the year: https://www.facebook.com/colonieforestparkpta
Recycle Your Bottles and Cans
The Forest Park PTA is partnering with Colonie Beverage on a year-long bottle and can recycling event. Label your bags of bottles and cans "Matt A - Forest Park PTA" and just drop them off at the Colonie Star Beverage Center (1823 Central Avenue). All the proceeds will go to the PTA! It's that easy!!
School Bucks (shopatcoloniecenter.com/school-bucks): Submit your receipt(s) and fill out the form at the security desk (downstairs between Moe’s and Five Guys) for Forest Park. For every dollar spent, the school gets a point and the top ten schools get prizes at the end of the year!
Box Tops for Education (www.boxtops4education.com): Download the app and scan your receipt! Any products that have BoxTops will be credited to the school- no more clipping and saving.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 10th at 6:30pm. The meeting will be online and an agenda and link to join will be posted on our Facebook and sent out to all registered members from MemberHub. The link to join us via Zoom is also included below. We hope to see you there!!
PTA Meeting
MEETING AGENDA
• Welcome & Meet and Greet
• Principal's Report (Jill Penn)
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2023, 06:30 PM
Zoom
Lost and Found
About us...
Email: fpattendance@scolonie.org
Website: http://www.southcolonieschools.org/forest-park-elementary-school/
Location: 100 Forest Drive, Albany, NY, USA
Phone: (518) 869-3006
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForestParkElementarySchool