MKES Bulletin
February 2020
From the Principal's Pen
Gratitude
We are immensely grateful to everyone who helped make one of my favorite nights; Family Fun Night a huge success. A special thank you to Mr. Matthew Morgana and Mr. David Ley. Evenings like these are impossible without the partnership and support from each person to make it amazing. Every performer was spectacular!
Parents Night Out was a success again! We thank the parents who stayed to watch the children while parents enjoyed a night out for a few hours. We thank all those who donated food and snacks!
DLBE
We have started planning and preparing for the 2020-2021 school year at MKES. MKES hosts the District’s Dual Language Bilingual Education Program, or DLBE, which presently begins in Grade 1. Families who are interested in DLBE in the future may now enroll their child in kindergarten at MKES for the 2020-2021 school year. To date, we hosted an information session, panel discussion and lesson demonstrations. Building tours are scheduled for this week on Thursday, February 6, 2020 at 9:30 - 10:45 AM or 1:15 - 2:30 PM. Families who are interested in enrolling their child in kindergarten at MKES will indicate their interest by February 14, 2020. We look forward to meeting our newest students and families in the coming weeks at kindergarten registration. If you have questions about the enrollment process and timeline, please contact me.
PT Conferences
Spring conferences are now being scheduled in partnership with you. This is an opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher as part of what we believe is an important home/school partnership. You should have received a chart to complete with your first, second and third choice. You will receive confirmation for your appointment in a separate letter. If you have more than one child attending MKES, please remember to complete a separate form for each child, but indicate on each form the sibling's name and class and teachers will work to schedule conferences consecutively.
MKES is registered to participate in the movement that Scholastic calls attention to. I plan to read a book with the entire school after our morning greeting in the gym on Wednesday, February 5th. It is a great honor to share a story with your children. I am looking forward to this celebration.
100th Day of School
We are counting up as we approach the 100th day of school which is scheduled for Tuesday, February 25th! We plan to have fun as a school with the number 100.
Community Care
We ask families using car drop-off and pick-up to please keep environmental care a priority and turn off your car. Idling a car is illegal in Mount Kisco so please remember to wait in your car while it is turned off.
Technology
We want all of our students to remain free of possible cyber-bullying opportunities and play appropriate games when they are at recess but we are noticing an increase in physical aggression. Children share with us how much screen time is happening for them at home and leave us wondering about the level of monitoring and supervision that is happening at home. I know how difficult it is to keep track of what the children are doing on their screens. It’s especially challenging for us as parents because our children have never known a time without being connected.
Knowing what your child is up to on the screen helps prevent unpleasant surprises. We know that it can be difficult to monitor your child’s use of websites and apps on the internet. It is sometimes hard to choose appropriate video games. Some websites can seem safe, but they have social networking capabilities embedded within the site or app that may present a risk to your child. Some video games display violence that students copy when playing at school.
Here is a list of inappropriate websites, apps, and video games to help monitor your child’s internet usage and video games.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/learning-ratings is a website you can also refer to when checking what apps, games, and movies are appropriate for your child.
The following websites/apps are inappropriate for children under 13 years old:
Instagram, oovoo.com, Spotify, Kik, Messenger, Snapchat, Tumblr, Periscope, YikYak, Twitter, Facebook Messenger, Musical.ly, TikTok, Ask.fm, Pinterest
The following video games are inappropriate for children under 13 years old:
Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto, Mortal combat, Medal of Honor, Call of Duty, Star Wars, Assassin’s Creed, Halo, Dead Space, Fallout, That’s You!, Uncharted, Knowledge is Power, Night in the Woods, What remains of Edith Finch
As always, I am honored to join you in this work and appreciate our partnership.
Go MKES!
Inas
Important February Dates
Tuesday, February 4th
Bus Drills (school wide) - 9:00 am
Wednesday, February 5th
Kids Heart Challenge Presentation during K-2 PE Classes - 12:45 – 3:00 pm
Thursday, February 6th
DLBE Parent Coffee and Tour - 9:15 – 10:30 am
DLBE Parent Coffee and Tour - 1:15 – 2:30 pm
Kids Heart Challenge Presentation during K-2 PE Classes - 12:45 – 3:00 pm
Friday, February 7th
Superintendent's Conference Day Half Day for Students - 11:30 am dismissal
Tuesday, February 11th
2nd and 3rd grade enrichment - am & pm
Wednesday, February 12th
5th grade Elementary Mentor Program
4th grade High Tech High Touch - Science Enrichment a.m.
Friday, February 14th
Valentine’s Day
Monday February 17th- Friday February 21st
Winter Recess - No School
Tuesday, February 25th
Franklin Institute - Grade 2 & 3 - Chemistry
Wednesday, February 26th
Franklin Institute - Grade K - 1 - Weather; Grade 4 & 5 - Human Body
Kicking Off 2020 in Kindergarten!
Kindergarten kicked off January by celebrating 2020! All K students celebrated the New Year by having a class party with friends and teachers. We wrote down our own New Year’s resolutions. We continued to learn more about the chilly weather in winter. We read several books about winter and made a big snowman craft. We also learned about Martin Luther King Jr. Day! We learned that he led many walks and made a very important speech about fighting for equal rights for all people.
Science in First Grade
First graders have been fascinated by the second unit in our new science curriculum. We have been studying sound waves and light waves. Our objective has been to discover how light and sound allow us to see and hear. Students have done experiments where they made their own string telephones, as well as used tuning forks and found objects to determine how things make sounds. Key vocabulary included the word vibration. Students have also used flashlights and explored new vocabulary including transparent, translucent, and opaque. We have also made connections to our first unit in science on the sun and the moon. One way you can reinforce these concepts at home is to make your own musical instruments using found materials such as cardboard tubes, oatmeal containers, and rice or beans.
The Second Graders’ Take on Challenges:
The second grade students have worked hard to learn how to regroup with addition and subtraction. While we’ve dedicated significant time and effort to mastering these skills, please continue to practice at home.
Our focus has shifted to communities and the distinguishing characteristics of urban, suburban, and rural communities. As you notice these neighborhoods, be sure to point out the different characteristics each one has.
The kids had a blast while partaking in a dance program called, Sol y Sombra! The students learned dance movements from different Latino cultures and some history behind each one. Watching their smiling faces let us know the program was a success!
Finally, as we enter the halfway point of the school year, be sure to stay consistent with your homework routines and out of school practice. Please make sure your child is reading on daily basis. Model fluent reading to them, as that is a key component for them to become better readers.
Studying Characters in the Books We are Reading - Third Grade
Recently we started a new reading unit called Character Studies. In school, we are reading fiction books in both English and Spanish. We are getting to know the characters in our books and are thinking about what traits best describe them. We will be following characters across the stories we are reading and thinking about how or if they change. Finally, we will be comparing and contrasting characters from different books.
At this time in our school year, it is extremely important that your child dedicate 30 minutes nightly to reading from the books they are bringing home. This will help them strengthen their reading skills by building reading fluency and stamina.
As your child reads, you can engage him/her in discussion about the books he/she is reading. Here are some conversation starters.
- Tell me about the main character in the book.
- What is her name? How does she behave? What traits would you say she has?
- What problems does he encounter? How do you think he might solve them?
- Do you think the character changes from the beginning to the end? Why or why not?
- Which character in the story would make a good friend? Why?
- Which character would not make a good friend? Why?
Fourth Graders Learn About Fractions
The fourth grade students have been learning about fractions in math. We reviewed many of the concepts that students learned in third grade, such as putting fractions on a number line and recognizing equivalent fractions. We are building upon this foundation by teaching the students how to compare fractions with like and unlike denominators. In addition, students are learning about mixed numbers, improper fractions and adding/subtracting fractions with the same denominator. They are learning how to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions and are finding a common denominator for fractions they are working with. So far, we are very impressed with all of their hard work in order to learn these new concepts.
What’s News in Fifth Grade
Happy New Year! The fifth graders started the new year with a visit from ARC Stages. As we shared in the last newsletter, the fifth graders visited the ARC Stages theater in December to watch performances written by students. In the first week of January, ARC Stages staff came to MKES to perform again and visit each fifth grade classroom to help students begin writing their original plays. Students generated ideas by creating:
- A setting
- A hero or main character
- A goal or motivation for the main character
- A problem
- Realistic and interesting dialogue
By the end of January, the ARC Stages staff will return to MKES to help the fifth graders revise their writing. All final drafts of plays will be due on Valentine’s Day. We can’t wait to see what our amazing student will write!
CONTACT INFORMATION
Ms. Desiree Beriguete - dberiguete3717@bcsdny.org
Ms. Elizabeth Condon-Kim – econdonkim1772@bcsdny.org
Ms. Michele Nigro – mscarpellinigro1998@bcsdny.org
Ms. Madelyn Ortiz - mortiz1728@bcsdny.org
Main Office – 914.666.2677
Sports Section
By John DelFavero, Craig Henley, and Melissa Ponzio
Gymnastics has been the theme in PE classes! Students have been participating in a variety of gymnastics skills which will help them develop muscular strength, flexibility, and muscular endurance. We are proud of our students for the teamwork, cooperation, and safety that they demonstrated throughout this unit!
Our Kindergarten, First, and Second Graders have participated in the following activities during the month:
- Gymnastics warm-up exercises and stretching routines.
- Basic gymnastics tumbling skills such as pencil rolls and log rolls.
- Jumping and landing skills.
- Climbing and hanging skills on the cargo net and rope.
- The rock wall and balance beam.
- The gymnastics obstacle course.
- Wellness center fitness exercises.
Our Third, Fourth, and Fifth Graders have participated in the following activities during the month:
- Gymnastics warm-up exercises and stretching routines.
- Basic and high level gymnastics tumbling skills.
- Vaulting skills.
- Rope climbing and the cargo net.
- The rock wall and balance beam.
- The gymnastics obstacle course.
- Wellness center fitness exercises.
Band with Ms. Di Grandi
5th grade band rehearsals have begun! The band members are beginning to work on music for the Spring Concert.
All 5th grade band members who have chosen to do NYSSMA solos should be working consistently!! Below is a link with more information about NYSSMA- its requirements, practice strategies, and how to order music. Please explore and let me know if you have any questions.
https://sites.google.com/a/student.bcsdny.org/nyssma-solo-festival-website/home
4th grade band members are delving deeper into their instrumental studies. All lesson groups know at least 5 notes already! We have started to practice songs that will be included in our end of the year concert for parents. This concert is separate from the Spring Concert. You will receive more information as we get closer to May.
Feel free to check out the band website that Dr. Mulder and I share. There are many useful resources including schedules, fingering charts, rhythm and note reading exercises, and interesting information about each instrument.
https://sites.google.com/a/student.bcsdny.org/dr-mulder-s-band-pages/
A note to all band members- Practice, practice, practice! Practice makes progress. The more you practice, the more you will improve!!
Thank you!
Mrs. Ring’s Strings
Students are hard at work on concert music. 4th and 5th grade students are practicing 4 different pieces for our spring concert on June 2nd. Keep encouraging your child to practice in small sections until they can work up to larger ones.
3rd grade students are having a concert on Wednesday, May 13th at 8 am in the Multi-Purpose Room. Please mark your calendars for this very exciting event.
Expressing Feelings
by: Christine Doherty, School Psychologist
Caryn DaLoia, School Social Worker
Just as adults feel different emotions, so do children. In school, we always want our students to know that it is okay to express their feelings. At home, when you see your child angry, worried or sad, ask them how they are feeling, while letting them know it is okay they feel that way. You may say something like, “I can see you are feeling really sad right now. I’m so sorry you are feeling that way. How can I help you?” Some children may feel comfortable expressing themselves, but some may be uncomfortable. There are different modalities that can help our children talk about their feelings. Most young children (and some older) may not be ready to verbally express themselves, so drawing a picture is one way they can show how they are feeling. For older children, writing about how they are feeling may be easier for them. You may also tell your child a story about a time you felt the way they are feeling at that moment. This can increase your connection with your child.
We want children to know that emotions are not dangerous things. You can have them and it is okay to talk about them. It increases the chances that they will be able to identify and express emotions themselves next time.
Wordless Books
By: Tara Caglione & Donna Furphy, MKES Speech-Language Pathologists
Connect to literature and build your child’s language skills through wordless books. Wordless books are books that don’t have any words and tell their story through illustrations. The pictures give clues about what is going to happen next. Have your child tell a sibling or family member the story using the pictures or have him create his own wordless book with his drawings or pictures cut from magazines. Using wordless books can help improve children’s language skills and spark their imaginations.
Some suggestions are:
A Boy, A Dog, and A Frog By Mercer Mayer
Ben’s Dream By Chris Van Allsburg
Changes, Changes By Pat Hutchins
Clown By Quentin Blake
Frog on His Own By Mercer Mayer
Good Dog Carl By Alexandra Day
Goodnight Gorilla By Peggy Rathmann
Winter Reminders from the Health Office
By Nurse Maureen Ronan
- The flu season continues so your family should receive the flu vaccine if your health care provider recommends. Remember that Handwashing is the best daily defense to sickness.
- If your child is vomiting or has a fever, the school policy is that he/she must stay home and not return to school until they have been without symptoms or fever reducing medication (Tylenol, Motrin) for 24 hours. Please do not give your child any Tylenol/Motrin and then send them to school, the fever may return during the school day and your child may be contagious to others. We want to keep all of our students and staff healthy!
- Please do not send any medication, even cough drops, in your child’s backpack for their use during the school day. If your child needs any medication, I can administer it from the Health Office with a health care provider prescription and your signature on the Medication Administration form. All medications must be in the original container with your child’s name on it. We ask that the parent bring the medication to the Health Office. Please call me with any questions or if you need a Medication Administration form sent home to complete.
- A child who is sick or still recovering from an illness will not be able to participate in the school/learning environment. It is to your child’s benefit that she/he remain home and rest until they are able to engage in a full school day.
- A healthcare provider’s note is necessary when your child is restricted from a school activity (ie: gym, outdoor recess). The note should specify the specific restriction and the dates that it is in effect. Otherwise, children will go outside for fresh air and play during recess and will fully participate in gym.
- Please dress your child for the temperature outside. Have them wear winter coats, mittens, hats and snow boots (sneakers are still be needed at school to change into for gym, etc.).
- Remember to label all outdoor clothing and outer layers with your child’s name. We have a Lost and Found next to the Health Office, so you can check for any clothing that may not come back home. Kindergarten parents, please send in an extra set of winter clothes.