Mahopack OL Bulletin Masthead win '12
Welcome!
 
Welcome to the Mahopac Online Bulletin, another opportunity to show you what and how our students are learning, creating and growing in Mahopac schools.

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Sincerely,
 
Thomas J. Manko
Superintendent

 

 

  

 


WORD PUZZLES are fun, with teacher Christina Salo, a Fundations fan.

 

'Fundations' Comes to the Falls

 

A    apple    ahh

K    kite       keh

S    snake   sssss

 

This is one way kindergartners are beginning to learn to read at Mahopac Falls Elementary School -- through a program called Fundations.

 

Aptly named for its game-like lessons and literacy building blocks, Fundations focuses on carefully sequenced skills that include print knowledge, phonemic awareness, alphabet awareness, vocabulary, fluency and spelling. It also helps to develop critical thinking, listening and speaking skills.

 

Fundations was introduced to the kindergarten program at the Falls in September and it has been enthusiastically received by both children and their teachers. Falls teacher Suzanne Coluccio said she believes that, with Fundations, teachers will see significant progress in students' basic literacy skills.

  

"It is really good practice to get kids to have strong reading skills from the beginning," said Christina Salo, a special education teacher at the Falls and a strong advocate for Fundations. She has seen the program work well in special education classes in our district for years. "I love it," she said. "I guarantee that you'll see a difference in performance when testing is done in March."

 

Fundations is a program developed by Wilson Language Training, which made its name in remedial reading and writing strategies.

 

"The program provides much needed structure and support to the kindergarten's literacy program," said Falls Principal Aaron Trummer. "This support and innovation is absolutely necessary given changing expectations for kindergarten students and the lack of time that is available in a half-day program. The staff at the kindergarten center continues to be outstanding in making literacy the first priority. With Fundations, that goal becomes a little more manageable."

 
 
 BANNERS OF INSPIRATION deck Lakeview auditorium.  

 

 

Banners, Murals Brighten Lakeview's Halls

 

"Aspire, Inspire, Dream, Create... " Printed on bold blue banners, these words of encouragement adorn the walls of the Lakeview Elementary School auditorium, thanks to an ongoing schoolwide beautification effort.  

 

So far, the activity, sparked by students, teachers and the school's Parent Teacher Organization, has:

  • Transformed the auditorium with newly painted walls and inspirational banners.
  • Turned an otherwise monotone hallway into a burst of color, with painted scenes of the seasons. The artwork was created by students with the guidance of Carmel artist Sarah Gilchrist and the PTO Beautification Committee.  
  • Installed a Brazilian rainforest mural in the cafeteria and a Lakeview Bulldog mosaic near the school entrance. The mural was painted by third graders in Theresa DiMicco's class last year, while the mosaic was done by fifth graders under the direction of art teacher Laura Davis. A floor mural was painted by fifth graders and Ms. Davis the year before.
    Maho-2-12_Lakeview_max
          BIRD SKETCH by fifth grader Max Sobieski   

Lakeview Principal Jennifer Pontillo likes the changes and is enthusiastic about the PTO's role: "I am often complimented on how much brighter and cheerier our hallways are looking, although the auditorium probably sparks the most conversation. The difference there is quite remarkable!"

 

 PTO member Deb Bloomer said the Beautification Committee began with a few moms who wanted to make the inside of Lakeview Elementary as beautiful as the outside.

 

"The auditorium was a huge empty space and one of the first areas we focused on for a facelift," she said. With the Beautification Committee organizing the effort, the walls were painted a sunny beige, using supplies donated by Wallauer's of Mahopac and painters from Bloomer Painting Inc., a Bloomer family company. Lettering and banners were produced at cost by T.C. Graphics. 

 

"The changes have transformed the room into a comfortable and bright meeting space that inspires students, their parents and faculty and staff to work to the best of their abilities," said District Superintendent Thomas Manko. "Ms. Bloomer and the PTO Beautification Committee are to be commended for making their vision become reality. Their efforts throughout the building in other endeavors are very much appreciated."

 

 

   

 

 CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS  

 
Maho-2-12_Noise_JR, DL
SAYING IT IN SILENCE: Jonathan Ruiz works with Diana Lulgjuraj on signing and spelling. 
 

 

When Is Noise Spelled Silently?

 

When a spelling lesson is under way in Sue Peloquin's class at Austin Road Elementary School, you may not hear a sound.

 

Second graders there often spell with their fingers, practicing sign language -- a skill their teacher learned in college and is sharing with them. Though the ability to sign is not essential in her second grade class, Ms. Peloquin said she believes it adds incentive and an extra pathway for children to learn about words and to develop fine motor skills. She uses sign language throughout the day in various activities.


The children work with partners and printouts illustrating hand signals, testing and helping each other. They are eager to display their skill.

 

 CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS

   


MAILING LETTERS is fun for students Ashley Kennedy and Preston Southlea.

 

 

Communication is a Focus at Austin Road   

"Neither snow, nor rain..." will keep Austin Road Elementary School couriers from communicating.

 In the school's front hall, a facsimile mailbox attests to a new Austin Road Postal System now under way.

 

Students in all grades can compose, mail and deliver messages from classroom to classroom, practicing their writing and expressing skills and learning about communication... pre-email and Facebook.

 

The idea, created by the school's Site-Based Team, is meant to promote the existing hallway street signs -- Library Lane, Trophy Trail, etc. -- and at the same time foster correct letter-writing skills among students. "This is an important skill for students to learn," said Principal James Gardineer, even with the advent of electronics, the internet and social media.

 

Over the remainder of this school year, students are being encouraged in their homerooms to write and post four brief letters, notes or postcards to members of another class. Once a month, first-graders will deliver the mail during their homeroom time.

 

Principal Gardineer will generate a weekly math problem teachers can use in their classrooms regarding the postal system. Suggested topics for the letters include: books to enjoy, projects under way, vacation plans, class trips and ideas for summertime.

 

Maho-2-12_Italian
UNO, DUE, TRE... High school senior Michael DellaMedaglia quizzes eager third graders at Fulmar Road Elementary School.
   

Teens Teach Language to Third Graders

 

Third grade classrooms at Fulmar Road Elementary School were buzzing recently ... in Italian.

It was la dolce vita to be sure.

 

As many as 40 Mahopac High School Italian Club and Italian National Honor Society members - freshmen to seniors - were sharing their enthusiasm for Italian language and culture with four Fulmar classrooms full of wide-eyed, eager eight-year-olds.

 

"I love this," said Fulmar teacher Gail Monahon as her students devoured the lessons the high school teens prepared and brought with them. "This is great. They're learning another language and that's always good. And they get to interact with the older kids. That's a big part of it."

 

"I'm having so much fun!" declared sophomore Elisa Giammo, quizzing a lively group of youngsters.

 

"The little kids learn language a lot faster than we do," observed sophomore Chris Aquina.

 

Italian Club advisor and teacher Luciano Racco explained that the club's trip to Fulmar is a highly successful annual tradition for the two schools. This year, at teachers' requests, he and Yvonne Viebrock, a teacher and fellow advisor, will take the teens to Austin Road and Lakeview Elementary classrooms as well.

 

"It's great to expose children to different cultures," said Fulmar teacher Michael Fiorisi.

 

While the Italian Club was preparing its message for Fulmar Road, the Mahopac Spanish Club and Spanish National Honor Society visited the school with a similar program the week before. "We have about 80 students between the Spanish Club and Spanish National Honor Society, said Spanish teacher and club advisor Sandra Williams. "We vary the schools we go to and take about two trips a year, visiting one or two classes at a time, taking about 15 students for each class.

 

"It is awesome to watch the high school students connect and teach the younger kids. The younger kids look up to the high school students and they, in turn, receive a real sense of self-worth. The interaction is so positive," she said.

 

The teens teach the third graders basic concepts, like numbers, dates, sports, body parts and food, jazzing up lessons at times with Simon Says exercises and the always hilarious "Il Ballo del Qua Qua" -- the chicken dance.

 

Along with the elementary school visits, the clubs pursue a variety of community activities. Among them are a fund-raising dodge ball competition, pizza sales, a car wash and sales of fruitcakes and cheesecakes at Thanksgiving. Members also tutor their classmates and other students.

 

 

 

Maho-2-12_Italian_Il Ballo
IL BALLO DEL QUA QUA, the chicken dance, is an ice breaker, led by teacher Luciano Racco. Italian Club
members are 
(from left) Laura Formisano, Michael DellaMedaglia, Caitlyn Brehm, Belle Plateroti and Christina Basso.
 

 

  

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS 

 

 

 

Mahopac Mission  

 Our mission is to ensure that every student in our schools acquires the skills,  knowledge, attitudes and interpersonal skills that will permit him or her to operate effectively   

in the broader community and lead a successful, productive life in a changing world. 
 

 

Board of Education 

Penny Swift, President; Patricia Greenwood-O'Keefe, Vice President
Earle Bellows; Raymond Cote; Lawrence Keane;  
John Malara; Leslie Mancuso; Michael Sclafani  

 

Superintendent of Schools

Thomas J. Manko

 

District Clerk

Dorothy A. Gilroy  

 

Published by Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES: 

Barbara Coats, Editor/Photographer; Maria Ilardi, Art Director  

 

www.mahopac.k12.ny.us