Sherwood Spirit
November 2017
From Mr. Walerstein's Desk
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It seems that autumn is finally here. The cool air has arrived, and the leaves are falling from the trees. It is hard to believe that November is here, and winter is right around the corner.
November is going to be quite a busy month. Our PTA Food Drive is still in full swing; please bring any non-perishable food items to the front office. Our PTA will host the Sherwood Night of Giving on 11/14, and they will be sending more information out about the event shortly.
This month, we are beginning to highlight some of our students in our newsletter. If you scroll down you will see updates from some of our fourth graders. Our aim is to include students as much as possible to give them more ownership in their school. We hope that you enjoy the short videos below.
Our habit of the month for the month of November is "Begin With the End in Mind" and we are encouraging students to focus on their responsibilities. Among the ideas we will try to foster this month are to plan ahead; to think about the choices they make every day; and to set goals for things that have meaning and will make a difference. We hope that you will discuss these ideas with your children as we try to promote these positive habits!
Some reminders for our fifth graders. The fifth grade is fresh off of their successful Biography Day, and they will have their annual Sports Night on November 16th; additionally, they will be taking a field trip to see the movie Wonder on November 21st.
Finally, some general reminders for the month of November: Superintendent's Conference Day will take place on 11/7; school make-up photos will take place on 11/9; school will be closed on 11/10 in observation of Veteran's Day; and Thanksgiving recess will be 11/23-11/24.
I wish everyone a great month, and a warm and happy Thanksgiving to all. See you next month.
Warmest Regards,
Chad Walerstein
Principal
A Reminder Regarding Start Time
School starts promptly at 8:50 am.
Please do not drop students off prior to 8:30 am. There is no supervision prior to this time. Leaving students unsupervised presents a serious safety issue.
Please also be aware that students who are not in their classrooms by 8:50 am are marked late. This is reflected in their attendance record. Students should arrive at school prior to 8:50 am.
Thank you for your cooperation.
PTA News
October has been a busy month for the Sherwood PTA. Our Fall Book Fair was a huge success. It was so great to see the excitement in school while the kids picked out their books. Our “All for Books” Coin Challenge during our book fair raised over $860 in books for classroom libraries, the Reading Room and the Sherwood Library. Scholastic matches our donation by donating 860 books to three charities in communities recently affected by the hurricanes this year. Great Job Sherwood!!
The Sherwood PTA Food Drive is ongoing until November 10th. Please send in donations of non-perishable Thanksgiving items to school. Please join us for a "Night of Giving" on November 14th at 5:00 and help us put together baskets to donate to local Islip families during the Thanksgiving holiday. Remember, If one CAN make a difference… imagine what more CAN do! The spirit of giving continues in December with Sherwood’s Toy Drive. Please send in donations of unwrapped toys to school from November 27th - December 15th.
A special thanks to Coyle’s Ice Cream for hosting our ice cream fundraiser. What a great night for Sherwood and the Islip Community. Look for information to come home soon on our SES Pizza Night.We are busy planning a Holiday Family Fun Night in December. Any help and ideas are always greatly appreciated. Remember to keep sending in your Box Tops! We want to reach our fundraising goal this year of $3000.
Throughout the year, the PTA will provide many programs and events for your kids that will be fun and educational. Your PTA membership helps fund these programs. It will also make sure that you stay up to date on PTA and other school events throughout the year. There are many opportunities to volunteer. Remember, no one can do everything, but everyone can do something!
Our next PTA meeting is on November 8th at 7pm. Join us in the new STEM Lab at Sherwood and see what it is all about. Sign up for important updates from the Sherwood PTA with the Remind App. Text the message @sespta17 to the number 81010. Any questions, please feel free to email us at SherwoodPTA@aol.com.
Dates to Remember
11/1: Emergency Shelter Drill; 2:30 pm dismissal
11/7: Election Day/Superintendent's Conference Day - School Closed for Students
11/7: Board of Education Meeting, 7:30 pm - IMS Library
11/8: PTA Meeting, 7:00 pm - Sherwood STEM Lab
11/9: Picture Make Up Day
11/10: Veteran's Day - School Closed
11/14: Sherwood's Night of Giving (PTA), 5:00 pm - Sherwood Cafeteria
11/14: SEPTA Meeting, 7:00 pm - IHS Community Room
11/16: Grade 5 Sports Night, 7:00 pm - Sherwood Gymnasium
11/17: Marking Period Ends
11/21: Grade 5 Field Trip, Sayville Movie Theatre
11/21: Board of Education Meeting, 7:30 pm - IMS Library
11/23: HAPPY THANKSGIVING! - School Closed
11/24: School Closed
11/27: PTA Toy Drive (through December 15)
11/29: Report Cards Issued
12/1: Parent/Teacher Conferences - 10:15 am dismissal
12/8: Parent/Teacher Conferences - 10:15 am dismissal
Grade 3 Students Learn About "Skull Science"
The third grade students enjoyed participating in a D.E.C. Program entitled "Skull Science." The students observed various animal skulls such as a raccoon, bob cat, skunk and deer. Through the process of inquiry they learned about the animal's diet through the observation of their teeth, habitat as well as predator/prey relationships. The students were able to view the animal's pelt. This was a great "kickoff" to our upcoming animal unit.
From the Health Office
In an effort to maintain the healthiest environment for our students, I have provided some important guidelines:
- Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
- Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children home with a fever will reduce the number of people who may get infected.
- Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.
- Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or a hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.
- Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food, or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue. When a tissue is unavailable, children should cover their coughs and sneezes using an elbow, arm, or sleeve instead of their hand.
Thank you for your continued cooperation!
NOTE: As the weather gets colder we will continue to try and get the students outside for recess. Please ensure that your children come to school with appropriate clothing to go outside.
-Ann Marie Ferry, R.N.