John F. Kennedy
The Future Begins Here
FEBRUARY 2018
Contact us:
94 Woodland Drive, East Islip, New York 11730
Main Office: 631-581-1608 Attendance: Line-631-581-1354
Follow us on Twitter @jfkeipride
A Message from the Principal
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The students at JFK have been learning so much this year! They have been writing personal narratives and now will be expanding their skills to include literary essays and opinion pieces.
Students have been involved in project based learning through collaboration in our STEAM room. It has been wonderful to see the creativity and innovation that the children are demonstrating.
Some of our fifth grade students, their teachers and their parents participated in the East Islip Community Book Talk and discussed the book by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, One for the Murphys. The conversations were meaningful and encouraged the students to keep on reading!
We are excited about the upcoming PTA Pick A Partner to Read - PARP program! We are urging the students to Read to Achieve! The students will be seeing the popular group Hip Pickles to kick off the next 2 weeks of reading activities. Also, author Brian Heinz will be at JFK from 6:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Monday, February 5th. We hope you can attend. The JFK PTA meeting will be immediately following the presentation.
Our wonderful PTA also sponsored WINGO night! It was an exciting evening with many winners not only of the games but also the fabulous baskets that were donated. Thank you to those who volunteered, donated items, and participated.
The Mid-winter recess is February 19-23. I hope you have an enjoyable week!
Sincerely,
Deborah Y. Smith, Ed.D.
East Islip Website
Central Office Administration
John V. Dolan- Superintendent of Schools
Stephen Harrison- Assistant Superintendent for Business
Paul E. Manzo- Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Personnel
Eric Woellhof- Director of Facilities
Lisa M. Belz, Ed.D.- Executive Director of Special Education Grade 6-12
Aileen O’Rourke Ed.D.- Executive Director of Special Education Grade K-5
East Islip Board of Education
President…………...........Jessica Carney
Vice President…….........Philip Montuori, Sr.
Trustee………...…............Steven Behan
Trustee……………….........William Carpluk
Trustee..........................Christopher Zachry
East Islip School District Kindergarten Registration
Dates: Monday, February 12, 2018, through Thursday, February 15, 2018
Times: 8:30 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Friday, February 16, 2018, 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. will be reserved for anyone who is unable to register during their designated times.
Children whose last names begin with letters A-D will register on Monday, February 12, 2018.
Children whose last names begin with letters E-K will register on Tuesday, February 13, 2018.
Children whose last names begin with letters L-P will register on Wednesday, February 14, 2018.
Children whose last names begin with letters Q-Z will register on Thursday, February 15, 2018.
Registration will be held on the first floor of the Administration Building (Early Childhood Center-Gymnasium) located at: 1 Craig B. Gariepy Avenue, Islip Terrace, NY 11752. Registration packets for students whose information is in the District’s census database should be received by the last week in January 2018. If you do not receive your packet by mail, please contact Central Registration at 224-2043.
News Around J.F.K.
Classroom News
Fourth graders have been exploring forms of energy and loved creating electrical circuits! They are eager to research and write about animal adaptations and survival. Many of these scientists are also preparing their experiments for the JFK Science Fair this spring. Scientists are in action at JFK!
Gym News
This year’s obstacle course in the Gym was a great success! The students had an enjoyable time and a wonderful workout. They jogged, jumped, balanced, crawled, scooted and swung through a challenging course. It was a wonderful way to end 2017! We look forward to an enjoyable 2018 with your children. We ask all families to help their children remember their sneakers on days with inclement weather. If the child needs to wear boots to school, sneakers should be placed in his/her backpack.
Music News
Congratulations to the following students who will be participating in the SCMEA festival this March.
Ella Tantillo-orchestra
Julianna D'Addario-chours
Lexi Hernandez-chorus
Ryan Flad-Band
Congratulations to Ella Tantillo who was selected to represent JFK at the LISFA Festival in January. Ella will be playing 1st violin at the festival. Bravo!
East Islip’s Community Book Club
Character Education DECEMBER Stars
Alivia Ancona
Brooke Andresen
Andrew Arena
Tammy Chen
Alison Coppinger
Andrew Jacobsen
Hailey Kiernan
Erin Kolensky
Christian Kozak
Eric Mauro
Erin McCarthy
Thomas Milo
Ryan Morris
Dominick Motz
Hanna Nilsen
Sahil Patel
Ethan Razza
Elena Shaw
John Simeone Jr.
Cailyn Talt
Casey With
Violet Young
PTA Update
FTK Update
The 21st annual Gala will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Land's End in Sayville, New York, please join us.
Our 21st Annual Gala Honorees are Educator Advocate of the Year, Dr. Lisa Belz and Community Advocates of the Year, Mary Zito-Finn, Catharine York- Lemon and Suzanne Zembrzycki. These women are so vital to our school district, our children and FTK and we are thrilled to be honoring them.
A Message from Mrs. Yacovone, School Social Worker
Preventing Absenteeism and Truancy
According to The Bureau For At Risk Youth, good attendance in school is one of the most important factors in a child’s educational career. Chronic absenteeism and truancy can lead to dropping out, low self-worth and eventual failure in life. Morally and legally, it is a parent’s responsibility to make sure their children stay in school.
How to Help Children Stay in School
-Become involved by helping your child with homework, working with him/her to develop good study habits and praising the child for good school behavior.
-Get to know your child’s teacher and principal.
-Join your school’s PTA/SEPTA
-Know your child’s friends.
-Suggest that your child gets involved with extra-curricular school activities of interest.
-Make a contract with your child. Good attendance gets rewarded.
-Stress the value of a good education and staying in school to graduate. Explain that better jobs are attained by having a high school diploma.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s attendance please contact me at 224-2000 ext 2425.
News from the Nurse
Sometimes it can be difficult for a parent to decide whether to send children to school when they wake up with symptoms of an illness or complaints that they do not feel well. In general, during cold and flu season, unless your child is significantly ill, the best place for them is in school where they have all already been exposed to the same germs and where they are less likely to expose other more vulnerable people, like the very young or very old. Remind your children to discard used tissues promptly, not to share personal items, to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, to keep their hands away from their face, and to wash hands thoroughly and often with soap and warm water. However, there are some situations in which it is best to plan on keeping your child home for a day to rest or to arrange for an appointment with your health care provider.
The following are a few situations that warrant watching and possibly calling your health care provider:
-Persistent fever greater than 100.4° orally, including a fever that requires control with medication such as Tylenol
- Child is too sleepy or ill from an illness, like vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Cough that makes a child feel uncomfortable or disrupts the class
-Sore throat that is severe along with fever and feeling ill for more than 48 hours, OR after known exposure to a confirmed case of Strep throat infection
- Honey-crusted sores around the nose or mouth or rash on other body parts; OR a rash in various stages including boils, sores and bumps that may be chicken pox; OR a significant rash accompanied by other symptoms of illness such as fever
- Red, runny eyes that distract the child from learning
- Large amount of discolored nasal discharge, especially if accompanied by facial pain or headache
-Severe ear pain or drainage from the ear
-Severe headache, especially if accompanied by fever
- Any condition that you think may be serious or contagious to others.
Be sure to ask your provider when it is safe for your child to return to school, both for your child’s health and for the health of the rest of the school.
Eileen Paradiso, RN
Attendance
ATTENDANCE: Unless there is a legal excuse, your child must come to school every day and be on time. Please remember that the continuity of instruction is compromised when students stay home. If your child will not be in school, it is important that you call the attendance hotline at 631-581-1354 and leave a message. Homework can be sent home if this call is made early enough in the day. Absence Notes/Direct Telephone for Reporting an Absence: The State Education Department requires all pupils to bring a written excuse from parents or guardians in each case of absence and tardiness. If not submitted, these absences will be noted as illegal. These notes are required even if a parent notifies the teacher or calls the absentee line. A doctor’s note is required for 6 or more consecutive absences. For your child's safety, the school will call home to verify absenteeism. In order to keep the number of verification calls to a minimum, we strongly urge you to call our absentee hotline at 631-581-1354. This district has a telephone answering machine in each elementary school for the sole purpose of absentee reporting. Thank you for your cooperation.
New York State Test Dates
Important Dates:
Exam & Administration Dates:
Grades 3, 4 & 5 ELA- April 11 & April 12, 2018
Grades 3, 4 & 5 Math- May 1 & May 2, 2018
Delayed Openings/Emergency School Closings Due To Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather, which might cause hazardous road conditions, the closing of school will be announced as follows:
WALK (1370 AM, 97.5 FM)
WGBB (1240 AM)
WCTO (94.3 FM)
WHLI (1100 AM)
WBAB (102.3 FM)
WLIX (540 AM)
WBLI (106.1 FM)
TV Channel 12
If it is determined that a One-Hour Delayed Opening is needed, the starting time for JFK will be 10:12 A.M. The starting time for JFK in the event of a Two-Hour Delayed Opening will be 11:12 A.M. Please plan accordingly for morning pupil pick-up time, (i.e., buses will be one or two hours later than usual). Dismissal time will remain 3:12 PM. as usual.
Please be reminded, in accordance with East Islip School District Policy, once school is open, it will remain open until all children are picked up or dismissed at 3:12 PM. This policy also pertains to snowstorms and blizzards.
Now that the temperatures are low, please send your child in with a coat for recess as well as dismissal.
School Lunch & Breakfast Program Information
Breakfast Program- Breakfast is available from 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM. The cost is 75¢. Please do not drop off your child before 8:30 am, as there will be no supervision. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Upcoming Dates
February 5- JFK Author Visit 6:00 P.M./PTA Meeting 7:00 P.M.
February 13- SEPTO Meeting 7:30 P.M. District Office
February 14- JFK Carnation Sale
February 14- JFK Sweetheart Dance
February 15- Board of Education Meeting/Budget Presentation #1- 7:00 P.M. District Office
February 16- JFK PARP Ends
February 19- JFK Bowling Day 10:00 A.M. East Islip Lanes
February 19-23- Mid-Winter Recess(Schools Closed)
Help Wanted
Paraprofessional- If you are interested in a part-time paraprofessional substitute position, please call the personnel office at 224-2017.
Custodial Substitute- All shifts. Please send resume to East Islip School District, 1 Craig B. Gariepy Ave, Islip Terrace, NY 11752, Attn.: Buildings & Grounds Dept. or email to rspera@eischools.org $10/hour. EEO
Safety At J.F.K.
Important Notice
Child Find Notice: Special Education/Section 504 Programs: The East Islip School District works with an interdisciplinary team to determine the educational needs of both preschool and school age children. If you have concerns about your child’s academic and/or developmental progress, discuss these concerns with the team. If you feel your child may have a disability that impacts his/her academic performance you may contact; Lisa Belz, Ed.D, Director of Pupil Personnel Services and Special Education/Section 504 Coordinator Craig B. Gariepy Avenue, Islip Terrace, New York 11752.