English Village Family Newsletter
February 2023 Week 2
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPALS:
Greetings, EV families! We hope that you are all doing well. Here we are right in the middle of the school year. We have just finished our benchmark Winter assessments and have February recess coming up quickly. It will be a well-deserved break for all.
In the meantime, our staff are hard at work with your children making sure that they get what they need to be successful and are ready for the next grade level. We just finished up what we call Student Review meetings-These meetings consist of school administration sitting down with classroom teachers to review the progress of our students. We look at data, discuss observations, and hold general conversations about students and their strengths and needs. The purpose of these meetings is to make sure that none of our students slip through the cracks and that they all have the support necessary to make adequate growth. Our Reading, Math, Building, and Language Development Specialists as well as our Mental Health Team members will sit down and regroup students based on areas of need.
Here's to a great successful second half of the year where our students make those leaps and bounds moving forward both academically and socially! As always, please let us know if we can be of any support. Thank you for your continued partnership, take care, and have a fantastic February!
Jason Lewis
Rosa Bellone
Groundhog's Day Crafts
After school clubs sign up
Register Here - https://forms.gle/4ZEPM37WfwHuD3qM9
Winter '23 Perception Survey
Translated Family Survey:
Translated versions of the survey available online here - select the drop down at the top to pick a language. - https://surveys.panoramaed.com/greececentral/family22/surveys?language=es
Paper copies of the survey here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EWdsKg1JmezxYDu4TLXhL0Ki5pJ_gzhz?usp=sharin
If families complete the survey on paper only, your school's parent coordinator (Katy Cooper) can assist with inputting the data online.
How We Read
What happens in our brains when we read? It turns out, a lot. Reading is a complex process that involves multiple parts of the brain working together. Not everyone learns to read at the same pace, but all students can learn to read with instruction that is grounded in the science of reading.
This graphic booklet, designed for student and adult use, explains how we learn to read. It invites students to be partners in their learning--explaining how certain instructional methods can help them learn to read, and why becoming a strong reader is worth the work!
Activities for Families
Sink or Float: Turn your kitchen into a science lab. Gather up some items like a metal spoon, plastic spoon, block, small toy, and a plastic cup or bowl. Fill up the sink with a few inches of water. Ask your child to predict whether each item will sink or float and then test out the prediction. Items that float are called "buoyant!"
Kitchen Labeling: Ask your child to name some common items in the kitchen such as a cabinet or the sink. Write each word on a notecard or piece of paper, saying each letter aloud as you write the word. Place the card on the correct item and invite your child to "read" the words to you!
Mindfulness Corner
Winter Scavenger Hunt for young children and families.
Give Stress a Breather Feeling anxious or stressed? Stop for a moment, and take a slow deep breath. Check out these breathing techniques that can be used in your professional and personal life.
KidsCare
Exciting news for families who may need child care during the upcoming Presidents Week Recess, KidsCare will be opening up enrollment for the break to district families who are not currently enrolled at KidsCare. This year's program, Winter Wonderland, will run Tuesday through Friday (2/21-2/24) and will be provided out of Autumn Lane and Longridge Elementary schools at a cost of $170 for the week. Visit the KidsCare landing page at www.greececsd.org/kidscare for more information and directions to register. Please call the district KidsCare Coordinator, Kelly Giudice, at 966-2448 if you need additional support. Limited spaces are available!
Hello English Village families,
Happy February! We hope you are all staying warm. Random Acts of Kindness Week February 14th-20th. Here at English Village, we encourage one another to show kindness each and every day, not only during the national kindness week. One small act of kindness can create a ripple effect and have a lasting impact. Showing an act of kindness can be as small as holding the door open for someone or even helping a younger student tie his or her shoes. Your school counselors encourage all of our amazing students to do one small act of kindness this month.
February’s monthly classroom SEL lessons will focus on listening skills (Kindergarten) and apologizing (1st and 2nd grades).
Listening
What does it look like and feel like to actively listen?
How does it feel for you to be listened to?
Apologizing
The Four Steps for Apologizing:
“I’m sorry for…”
It’s wrong because…”
Next time, I will…”
Can I do anything to make it better?”
Stay healthy, safe, warm and kind!
GCSD District Event
Community Schools Corner
Neighborhood Navigation Center - Click here to learn how our GCSD Navigation Center can provide support and services to your family!
Save the Date - Please share this flier with students, families, and staff!
GCSD Parent Exchange - DATE CHANGE - Click here for the updated flier.!
Donations needed: Please share this flier with your school community!
PTA Updates
Next PTA Meeting - Monday March 13th at 6:30pm in the EV Library and Virtually
Valentine's Dance - Friday February 10th 2023 from 6:30pm - 7:30pm
More information regarding the following events coming soon.
- Kids invite someone special breakfast (KISS)
- Spring Carnival
Please consider joining PTA, membership in no way commits you to attend meetings or events.
Interested in supporting the PTA all year? You can set Amazon Smile up as your charity of choice so a portion of Amazon purchases can be returned to English Village.
Select - PTA New York Congress 07-152 English Village School PTA
Any questions/concerns can be emailed to evpta800@gmail.com
Feb. 10th: PTA Valentine's Dance
Feb. 13th: 100th Day of School
Feb. 16th: Last day of After school Clubs Session 2
Feb. 16th: GCSD Celebration of Black Excellence - Athena Performing Arts Center 6:30-8pm
Feb. 20th - 24th: February Recess No School Prek-12
Feb. 27th: After school clubs session 3 starts
March 27th: Spring Pictures
Mar. 30th: Last Day of After school clubs session 3.
April 15th: Community Schools Family Fest 11am-1:30pm
April 3rd - 7th: Spring Recess No School Prek -12
April 28th: Professional Development Day No School Prek-8
Useful Links
Virtual Backpack - contains flyers for events
Reading Resources for Families - Book Lists by IRLA level available here