January 2021
Intermediate Education Center Newsletter
From the Principal's Office
Dear IEC Families,
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a restful, safe, healthy and happy break! It was wonderful to relax and recharge. I am looking forward to the many experiences for our students as we kick off 2021. Our first exciting event will be our One District, One Book initiative starting next week. ODOB is a program designed to create a shared reading experience across our school and community. Every student can vote on their preferred choice between two books. Each student will receive a copy of the chosen book to keep, then, every family reads it together at home while enjoying some packets from school. The shared reading experience will be supported by enriching activities at school. Please follow along the ODOB opportunities on Seesaw.
Will it be...
Almost Super, by Marion Jensen, is a fresh, funny adventure about two brothers in a family of superheroes who must find a way to be heroic despite receiving powers that are total duds. Filled with humor, heart, and just the right kind of heroics, Almost Super is a winning story that will satisfy would-be heroes and regular kids alike. Everyone over the age of twelve in the Bailey family gets a superpower. No one knows why, and no one questions it. All the Baileys know is that it's their duty to protect the world from the evil, supervillainous Johnson family. *shake fists*
But when Rafter Bailey and his brother Benny get their superpowers, they're, well . . . super-lame. Rafter can strike matches on polyester, and Benny can turn his innie belly button into an outie. Along with Rafter's algebra class nemesis, Juanita Johnson, Rafter and Benny realize that what they thought they knew about superheroes and supervillains may be all wrong. And it's up to the three of them to put aside their differences and make things right. They may not have great powers, but together, they're almost super.
Or...
Fenway and Hattie, by Victoria J. Coe Fenway, is an excitable and endlessly energetic Jack Russell terrier. He lives in the city with Food Lady, Fetch Man, and—of course—his beloved short human and best-friend-in-the-world, Hattie.
But when his family moves to the suburbs, Fenway faces a world of changes. He's pretty pleased with the huge Dog Park behind his new home, but he's not so happy about the Evil Squirrels that taunt him from the trees, the super-slippery Wicked Floor in the Eating Room, and the changes that have come over Hattie lately. Rather than playing with Fenway, she seems more interested in her new short human friend and learning to play baseball. His friends in the Dog Park next door say Hattie is outgrowing him, but that can't be right. And he's going to prove it!
Get a dog's-eye view of the world in this heartwarming, enthusiastic "tail" about two best friends.
Families will be able to choose either Almost Super, by Marion Jensen, or Fenway and Hattie, by Victoria J. Coe, as the book we will read together as a K-6 community. This is the 5th year of the ODOB. Together the PEC, IEC, MS 6th grade, and our families will embark on a literary adventure. Reading as a family will help reading comprehension, as well as bring our community together along the way.
Families will be given the opportunity to vote for the book of their choice the week of January 8th-16th, 2021 on the Lewiston Public Library Facebook page, Ransomville Free Library Website or Youngstown Free Library Website. The voting is virtual this year. Each family member gets a vote. The links for the local Libraries will be shared via Seesaw on January 8th.
Once the book is selected and every student and staff member receives a copy of the book there will be videos of guest readers for students to view at home or in school. Once we have completed reading the book, there will be a virtual celebration of our One District, One Book success. The goal of this initiative is to promote reading aloud at home, and to create a culture of literacy. Reading aloud will not only provide great family time, but will also address 21st century skills of communicating, collaborating, creating, and critical thinking.
Be on the lookout for our first video to introduce the two books created by your Principals in the first week of January. We are all very excited to begin our ODOB reading adventures with each one of you. Happy January, Happy New Year!
From the School Nurse!
Student physicals are mandated by New York State for all children in PreK or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11th grades and all new students to the Lewiston Porter School District. The nurses are now accepting physical exams for the 2021-2022 school year. If you have a child currently in K, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th grades and they see their doctor for a well visit anytime during the current school year, the physical exam will be valid for the 2021-2022 school year. Please send a copy to your child’s school nurse.
Exams for current 4th graders can be faxed to 286-7854 or emailed to gklettke@lew-port.com
or sent via seesaw to Gloria Klettke.
New York State allows physicals to be considered current up to one year before the start of the
school year. Physical forms are available online at www.lew-port.com/Health Services/Forms.
A provider computerized copy is also allowed but it must be in the New York State Physical
Exam format as of January 31, 2021.
Health & Wellness Update:
Mrs. Jaruszewski’s and Ms. Stafford’s classes will be participating in the Health & Wellness
program during the month of January with Mrs. Thompson. Topics that will be discussed include:
● The Role of Family/Self-esteem
● The Endocrine system and the role of hormones in growth & development
● Gender differences
● Personal hygiene
● Nutrition & Physical Activity
● Puberty
● Cyber safety
● Infections/HIV & AIDS
Mrs. Zito’s 3rd grade classes will be participating in the Health & Wellness program during the
month of January. Topics that will be discussed include:
● The Role of the Family
● Neighborhood Awareness
● Personal body safety & Internet Safety
● Stranger Danger
● Talking to a Trusted Adult
● Nutrition/Healthy Eating & Exercise
● Hygiene
Students will keep a journal for the classes, and will be asked to reflect on topics discussed each week. Students are also encouraged to leave questions in the “question box” each week on anything that is discussed that requires further explanation.
Christmas Traditions!
Students from Mrs. Jaruszewski and Mrs. Yager’s class create elf stories. Mrs. Rodriguez’ office is a stop in the elf stories.
3rd Grade Art News - Stained-Glass Pumpkins!
Grade 3 is finishing up their stained-glass pumpkins. I have included a few that were finished. Some are onto the third project which is a continuation of our study of lines and shapes we are looking at geometric shapes verses organic shapes then drawing a “Thing”.
Check out your IEC student’s Seesaw lesson - I was so excited when I found this lesson. It involves art, music and technology. So cool!!!
Mrs. Gorney
4th Grade Art - Radial Symmetry Name Designs
To start off the year, 4th grade artists created designs using their name!
To begin, we learned about radial symmetry, which is symmetry around a central point.
Next, students folded a square piece of paper into triangles before creating a name design, stretching their letters to fit the triangular shaped space. The most important part was making the letters stretch to touch the edges of the triangle, to create shapes.
Students then traced over their design with a Sharpie marker and by flipping parts of the paper over each other, were able to trace their original design to repeat it in all the remaining triangles. Students then added color to their design using markers.
Featured 4th grade artists: Lily Yeates, Stella O'Donnell, Charley Heath, Noah Balcom, Waylon Fallesen, Nathaniel Unversaw, Olivia Lachick, Brayden VanEgmond, Caroline Gray, John Wright, Landen Shaner, Peyton George, Olivia Leardini, Isabella Grace Loughran, Bryn Lammers
They are hard at work on the next lesson -Tiki Batik. They learned about the Polynesian Culture craze brought back to the United States by the servicemen in WWII.
Mrs. Gorney
5th Grade Art - Day of the Dead!
Mrs. Gorney
STEAM Lab News!
Pictured are 4th Graders Brynn Lammers and Julia Leardini
IEC Music Leaders of the Month
Each month, one student from Band, Orchestra, Chorus and General Music will be chosen as a Music Leader of the Month. These students demonstrate the 3 R’s (Responsibility, Respect and Resourcefulness) in these classes.
For the month of November, the following students have been chosen by Mrs. Spinnegan, Mrs. Zachary and Mrs. Carere:
Band - Samantha Rock
Orchestra - Charlie Stainbrook
Chorus - Sam Drumsta
General Music - Waylon Fallesen
For the month of December, the following students have been chosen by Mrs. Spinnegan, Mrs. Zachary and Mrs. Carere:
Band - Gabby Sand
Orchestra - Campbell Sweeney
Chorus - Claire Kowalyk
General Music - Lyla Wright
IEC Annual Food Drive!
Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF!
Upcoming Events:
Siuta Science Club - January dates:
Tuesday, January 19th for the Green Team
Thursday, January 21st for the White Team
K-Kids Meeting Dates - Wednesdays & Fridays @ 8:10a.m:
February 10th & 12th
March 10th & 12th
April 14th & 16th
May 12th & 14th
June 9th & 11th
Lancer Leader tentative meeting dates:
Please drop off your child at 8:10 at the IEC main entrance.
Green Team:
Wednesday, January 27th
Wednesday, February 24th
Wednesday, March 24th
Wednesday, April 28th
Wednesday, May 19th
Wednesday, June 2nd
White Team:
Friday, January 22nd
Friday, February 19th
Thursday, March 25th
Friday, April 23rd
Friday, May 21st
Friday, June 4th
January 18 : District Holiday - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February 15 & 16 : District Holiday - President's Day
March 29 - April 9 : Spring Recess - No Student Attendance
Intermediate Education Center
Grades 3-5
Email: trodriguez@lew-port.com
Website: lew-port.com
Location: 4061 Creek Road, Youngstown, NY, USA
Phone: 716-286-7252
Twitter: @LewPortIEC