October 19, 2012

 

SIWANOY EXPRESS

school

Siwanoy

Express Deadline

The Siwanoy Express is a weekly newsletter emailed to the Siwanoy community each Friday. We welcome school-related content from students, teachers and parents. If you've got any announcements, news or photos from class trips, projects, parties, etc., please feel free to email me details by Tuesday, 5pm.
Thank you!
-Amie Hughes

Looking Ahead.....


Thurs,Oct.18,Family Time Eat Together: Connections Count

Mon., Oct. 22, Deadline, Pelham Rec. Dept.'s Poster Contest 

Tues., Oct. 23, 12:00pm, Site-Based Council Mtg., Library

Tues., Oct. 23, 11:00am, Emergency Phone Blast Test   

Wed.,Oct. 24, 5:30pm, Siwanoy TIPS Dinner:Bring the Family

Sun., Oct. 28, 4:00pm, Pelham Rec's 'Rag a Muffin' Parade 

Tues., Oct. 30, 12:00pm, Early Release for Staff Training 

Wed., Oct. 31, 1:00pm, Halloween Parade at Siwanoy

Fri., Nov. 2, 3:15pm, Daisy Troop #1603 Meeting, KG's room

Mon., Nov. 5, School picture re-take

Mon., Nov. 5, 7:45pm, Dads' Club at Rockwell's

Tues., Nov. 6, 5:30-8:30pm, TIPS

Mon., Nov. 12, Veterans Day, NO SCHOOL 

Quick Links

In this Issue...

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Click on Heading for Quick Links!
Principal Note
Siwanoy Express Deadlines
Getting to Know Our Teachers
Orchestra Reminder
School Picture Re-Take
District Calendar
School Superintendent Search Update
Board of Education Coffee Talk
Emergency Phone Blast Test
October-November Lunch Menu
September PTA Meeting: Get Informed!
October Site-Based Council Meeting Minutes
PTA & TIPS to Provide Free Dinner, Babysitting, Healthy Eating Info
Pelham Rec Dept.'s Rag-a-Muffin Parade and Poster Contest

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Siwanoy News

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Expressly Yours from the Principal:

The "first six weeks" of school and the halfway point of the trimester have passed. Students are signed up for their after school activities, and school is humming along. It is always amazing to see the growth in this short time period, especially our kindergartners who feel comfortable coming and going around the school, have settled in to the routines and the demands of school, and who delight us each day with their enthusiasm and their joy for learning.

This coming week on Wednesday we have our first TIPS event. See further down for more information. I hope you can join us for this important session on nutrition, a topic of particular interest to me. On Thursday is the first PARP (Parents as Reading Partners) event of the year. Remember you can access the school calendar on our home page.

I will be scheduling the first Principal's Coffee and Conversation for November. Please email me if you have any particular topic of interest for me to discuss.

 


Enjoy the weekend! 
Sincerely,
Susan

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Siwanoy Express Deadline
Please Submit Your News by TUESDAY Each Week! 
The deadline to submit announcements to the Siwanoy Express is 5pm on Tuesday. The Express is emailed each Friday.  PTA members, teachers and parents are all encouraged to submit school-related news, announcements and photos. If you have any questions, please contact Amie Hughes. If you would like a school-related event photographed please contact
Erin O'Neil  or Karen Teller .    

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  Emma McNulty Performs at Town Meeting

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The Express' New Feature:
'Getting to Know Our Teachers & Staff' 
We've created this new feature as a way to showcase the great credentials of our wonderful Siwanoy teachers -- and also to give you a glimpse into who they are when they are NOT teaching our children. First on deck:

Our Kindergarten Team!

 PRISCILLA GOLDSACK ~                       
Ms. Goldsack comes from a long line of teachers and has always been inspired by her family's ability to foster a love for learning in children. She grew up in Pearl River, and recently moved near Pelham. She has been teaching for four years -- this is her first year at Siwanoy. Ms. Goldsack loves to spend time with her niece and nephew. On days she can't see them, she makes sure to FaceTime them! Hobbies: reading, baking, and listening to country music.. She also serves as a volunteer basketball coach during the winter and summer seasons.

BETH ROTHSCHILD ~
 
Mrs. Rothschild attended the University of Maryland for her undergraduate studies and Iona College, where she received her Master's Degree in Literacy. She has been teaching kindergarten for 10 years, six of them at Siwanoy. She likes warm weather, frozen yogurt, going for walks with her son, Jax, running and baking.
 
  

ALISA SCHAPS ~
Ms. Schaps has been teaching for 11 years, eight of them at Siwanoy. She taught at The Spence School and The Hewitt School in NYC while completing a Master's Degree with dual certification in Literacy & General Ed. from Bank St. College of Education. She loves teaching & strives to provide a stimulating, nurturing and exciting environment for the children. She grew up locally in Scarsdale, and enjoys spending time with her adorable niece and nephew, exploring Central Park, hiking, yoga, cooking, scrapbooking and reading. 

*If you've got some additional ideas (i.e. for articles/design, etc.) on how to make the Express more interesting, please send them to Amie Hughes. We'd like to see our readership DOUBLE by the end of the year. 

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Orchestra Reminder: Music to Your Ears!  
Ms. Bean is sending reminder emails before lessons, which are held on Day 1 or Day 4. The 4th-5th graders have early practices every Wednesday. If you need to be added to the "reminder" list, please email Ms. Bean as soon as possible. 

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 4F Performs the "Scientific Method" at Town Meeting

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Got Candy? Donate Your Surplus to Our Troops Overseas 
Please join 4S and Siwanoy Cub Scout Pack 4 in sending a sweet care package to our Troops. A little bit of chocolate always makes things better and rumor has it the Troops like to trade with soldiers from other countries.

Please bring in your extra/unwanted Halloween candy AFTER Halloween. Candy will be collected in the marked collection box in the Main Hallway.

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Say Cheese! School Picture Re-Take Day is November 5  
If you haven't returned your payment and/or unwanted school pictures, please do so immediately. Any pictures not turned in by Wednesday, October 24th should be sent directly to Irvin Simon Photographers. 
 
If you have a concern regarding your pictures, please call IRVIN SIMON PHOTOGRAPHERS directly at 516-437-4700. Picture Retake day is scheduled for Monday, November 5th. Any child not on the retake list will not be sent out of their classroom to take their pictures. Please email Julianna DiPaola right away if your child plans to take a retake.

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Mark Your Calendar: Site-Based Council Meeting is October 23  
Please join us for Site-based Council meeting being held in the Siwanoy library from 12:00-1:00pm next Tuesday. For additional information and the meeting agenda, please click here

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DISTRICT NEWS 
District Calendar
The district calendar is available:
  • On the Pelham School District website: pelhamschools.org  
  •  In the  "Quick Links" section of the Siwanoy Express, below "Looking Ahead" 

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Pelham School Superintendent Search Update
Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, a national search firm assisting the Board of Education in the selection of a new superintendent, developed a Leadership Profile that defines key qualities to seek in the next school leader and identifies the strengths and challenges facing the Pelham Schools. The profile is based on focus groups with 70 school and community representatives and 360 surveys. 

Click to download Leadership Profile Report.   
Click to view presentation on the report from the October 15 Board of Ed Meeting. 
 
To recommend a candidate or to send a query or concern regarding the Leadership Profile, please email:  [email protected].  Please include in subject line: Pelham Schools Superintendent Search.

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Coffee Talk: Pose Your Questions to Members of the Board of Ed.
The Board of Education, together with its Community Engagement Committee, held its first informal one-hour "coffee" at M.A.D. Cafe this morning at 10:00. Gatherings such as this one will become a regular occurrence. Two board members will generally be present at the events, which will be held at various locations in town, alternating between daytime and evening hours.

The board hopes that Pelham community members will stop by, grab a cup of coffee and bring their questions or concerns to these events.

Be sure to check out www.pelhamschools.org Excellence section entitled "Did You Know" to be "in the know" about various achievements in our school district.  

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Emergency Phone Blast Test on Tuesday, October 23 - 11:00am 
The District will test its emergency phone blast system next Tuesday so please make sure the school office has the right phone and email contact information to reach you. We will test all phone numbers on file (cell, home and work).  If you do not receive a call, please tell the school office. This is important in case of a real emergency. 

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Click on OCTOBER-NOVEMBER LUNCH MENU 

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PTA NEWS 

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September PTA Meeting Minutes: Get informed!
Click on here  to read the Minutes from the September 11 PTA Meeting.  

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October Site-Based Council Meeting Minutes 
Click here to read the minutes from the SBC's October 3 meeting. To read their revised Handbook click here. The next meeting is Tuesday, October 23 at noon in the school library. SBC's meetings are open to the public.   

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PTA & 'TIPS' to Provide Free Dinner & Healthy Eating Info
October 24, 5:30-8:00pm, Siwanoy Gym
Are you out of time and ideas when it comes to providing healthy and nutritious meals for your family? Join the Siwanoy PTA on Wednesday, October 24 from 5:30 to 8:00pm for TIPS (Topics and Information for Parents at Siwanoy) on promoting good eating habits at home. The panel presentation will feature two nutritionists and a program manager from Stone Barns Farms. At 5:30, bring the entire family to enjoy a free, healthy meal catered by Whole Foods. At 6:30, parents will head to the library for the event as PTA babysitters look after your children (if they are out of diapers).

For questions, or to RSVP, please contact any member of the TIPS Committee:
 

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Community News

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Join the Pelham Rec. Department's Rag-a-Muffin Parade!
Sunday, October 28

Feeling artistic? Want to get the most out of your kids' Halloween costumes? Why not get into the Halloween spirit and encourage your children to participate in the Halloween Poster Contest and Halloween Parade.
  • The deadline for the Poster Contest is Monday, October 22 (all participants win a prize).
  • The Parade kicks off at 4:00pm on Sunday, October 28 (participants start at Pelham Art Center, march down Fifth Ave. and end at the Daronco Town House/Gazebo Park).
Boys and girls from Pre-K through fifth grade are invited to wear their costumes. Hot dogs, drinks and special treats will be served against a backdrop of music and crafts. Please click here to download the Poster Contest Registration form and for additional details about the event.

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Siwanoy School
Pelham Manor NY, 10803
(914) 738-7650
Fax:738-8199 
Principal: Susan Gilbert  [email protected]                 
PTA  Co-President: Romina Levy  [email protected]          
PTA Co-President: Clay Bushong [email protected]    
Siwanoy Express Editor: Amie Hughes [email protected]              
Express Photographers: Erin O'Neil [email protected] & Karen Teller  [email protected]