January 2024
Primary Education Center Newsletter
One Purpose. Your Pathway. Our Promise.
Dear Lewiston-Porter Primary Education Center Families,
Come Read With Us!
Happy New Year PEC! As we turn the page of 2023, I believe it is important to reflect on lessons learned and to set new goals. Our school community can be strengthened when we work together toward a common goal. One important goal we are focusing on this year is piloting new literacy curriculum resources. Our school mission is for our students to develop their identity as a reader and writer. In order for children to develop a reading and writing identity, they must have ample opportunity to read rich books at their reading level. Students need the time and the space to gather around books they love and talk about the books with their peers. In order to provide time and space for children in this way, our classrooms currently engage in the workshop model. The workshop model and our Independent Reading Level Assessment (IRLA) supports young readers and writers in developing personalized goals, as they meet in one-to-one conferring with their teachers. In our district curriculum and review cycle, we explored new resources grounded in the Science of Reading last Spring and two teachers at every grade-level Kindergarten-5th grade are piloting promising new approaches to literacy development. Our mission for all of our students is that they develop into skillful readers and writers who can live together as caring, thoughtful human beings that find lasting joy in reading and writing.
Mark Your Calendars!
The 8th year of our reading adventure continues with One District One Book. This year we will continue our One District, One Book (ODOB) initiative to ignite passion and excitement for a shared reading experience across our school community. Our elementary school community will decide on our ODOB children’s novel by voting in person Friday, January 5th-12th.
We will have all the same great events...family voting, reveals, dinner specials, community specials, scavenger hunts, trivia, reading events, and a family night in March. Don't forget to vote as a family at one of our local libraries - EACH family member gets a vote. Then, every child in UPK through 6th grade will receive a copy of the book. Every family in our elementary school community will read the same book at the same time. The shared reading experience will be maximized by enriching activities at school and in the community to enable children to share and experience the characters and world of the book through the month of March, culminating in a Family Reading Celebration Night.
When schools model the habit of regularly reading together as a family, a strong foundation for literacy is created in each child’s life. Reading aloud makes better readers. A volume of research explains that children who are read to hear more words and can instinctively recognize a grammatically correct sentence. As a result, comprehension and vocabulary will develop more fully.
One District One Book is not just a literacy program, it is a community building program. Our goal is to create a culture of literacy in every home.
I personally invite your family to READ WITH US at the Lewiston Porter Primary Education Center.
Respectfully yours,
Mrs. Tamara Larson
Principal, Primary Education Center
One District, One Book
Mason Mobus and Emma Siddall are ready for Polar Express Day!
The 2nd Grade Grinch Play
Andrew Walker
Grace Plante
Miles Lytle
Cuyler McFadden
Vinny Penale
I would like to nominate Vinny Penale for being a great example of what it means to be a PEC Lancer Leader. Every time that he comes to reading, Vinny Puts First Things First. He knows that we will do a fun activity on the Smartboard, but only after our work is done. He is an attentive listener who takes pride in completing his work carefully. He has set and achieved personal reading fluency goals by practicing regularly both in and out of school which shows that he Begins with the End in Mind. He shows that he is Proactive by following school rules, being kind and respectful and by being an overall leader. Keep it up Vinny!
Layla Dillon
Layla is proactive, puts first things first, and thinks win-win in the library every time she is there! Layla, without being asked, makes sure everything is in it's place before she leaves. She will straighten books, push in chairs, pick up anything that is dropped, and fixes the pencils in the cups. She is a Rockstar every library, without reminders or being asked. Great work Layla!
Olivia Leaderhouse, Adaline Williams & Carter Lederhouse
Olivia, Adaline, and Carter were Proactive and thought win-win in the library today! Some messes were made in the library. Olivia, Adaline, and Carter, without being asked, kindly cleaned up those messes just to be helpful! They are students who are willing to help out...not to be recognized for it, but because it is the right thing to do! Way to go! And thank you for having great character!
Colin Tarnowski
Colin is a leader in our classroom! Colin is always going out of his way to help other friends in our classroom! He is a hard worker who is focused on doing his very best in everything he does. When a friend was trying to get themselves organized Colin, without being asked, helped his friend- this is an everyday occurrence! We are so lucky to have Colin in our class! I am so proud of you!
Remi Chandler
Remi is a leader in our classroom! Remi is always being kind to everyone in our room, she is a friend that everyone can count on. She is always doing her very best and showing others how they can shine too! We are so lucky to have Remi in our class! I am so proud of you!
Jeana Fiore
Jeana is a leader in our classroom. She is always kind and makes sure everyone is included. Yesterday during recess, Jeana noticed that another student was playing alone, and without hesitation went over and asked if they would like to join her so they wouldn't be lonely! Jeana's kindness and big heart show in all she does. I am so proud of Jeana!
Leader In Me Family Connections
The PEC continues its important work with the 8 Habits. Students are learning and practicing these habits in their school work and relationships. We can see the positive impact that these 8 habits have already had on all of our PEC Leaders. Here are a couple links to use as you reinforce and use these Habits at home.
This is a fun set of question and answer cards:
https://www.leaderinme.com/resources/how-well-do-you-know-me-parent-caregiver
Habit 1: Be Proactive
https://www.leaderinme.com/resources/i-m-in-charge-of-me-family-worksheet
Habit 2: Begin With The End In Mind
https://www.leaderinme.com/resources/have-a-plan
Habit 3: Work First Then Play
Getting Started with Parent Portal
If you are a parent/guardian that has not yet had an opportunity to set up your parent portal, please take some time to do so as soon as possible. Having access to parent portal and using the app can be a helpful way to receive important information regarding your child's grades, missing assignments, and other important updates. This is especially true for parents of students in grades 3-12. It can also be used to verify your contact information, as you'll see in the next section. Parent Portal also gives you access to Porfolio + which is a data warehouse that we use to distribute report cards, Aimsweb reports and NYS testing data. To access the parent portal, visit our website and click on the icon that looks like the image you see pictured here on the right.
If you are trying to reset your username or password, there is a link on the sign-in page. Follow the prompts and check your email. Sometimes it may find its way into your spam box. Once you get the email you should be able to reset your account.
If you are new to Parent Portal, you should have received a letter that would give you access codes to get connected. If you did not get that letter, or if you experience difficulty getting signed up, you may call your child's school for assistance.
Click this link to visit the Parent Portal Resource Page on our website. Here you will find everything you need. I have also included some resources for you here:
1. Links to the apps:
PowerSchool App (Google Play Store)
PowerSchool App (Apple Store)
2. Video on how to get set up with PowerSchool (see below).
3. Written instructions are also available here.
*Parents will need a working email address, and a PowerSchool Access Code. This is provided by the school at the start of the year. If you need that information, please contact the main office of your child's school. For the app, you will also need the district code CSXQ.
Updating Contact Information in Parent Portal
Mobile Hotspot
Dear Families:
At Lewiston-Porter we have made a strong effort to ensure that all students have equitable access to digital materials while they're at school and while they're at home. To that end, we have partnered with T-Mobile to offer free mobile hotspots to families that are in need.
If you would like to request a hotspot please complete the form below.