November 9, 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.....


Fri., Nov. 9, 6-8:00pm, SEPTA Character "Breakfast," PMHS, Cafeteria C

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

Tues., Nov. 13, 'Stuff a Bus' PJ's/Books donation deadline

Wed., Nov. 14, 12:00pm, Site-based Council Mtg., Siwanoy Library, open to the public 

Thurs., Nov. 15 & Fri., Nov. 16, Siwanoy Book Fair   

Fri., Nov. 16, 3:05pm, First Daisy Meeting, held in KG's room  Mon., Nov. 19, 8:00pm, BOE Meeting, Alumni Hall, PMHS 

Wed., Nov. 21, 12:00pm dismissal

Thurs., Nov. 22, NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Recess 

Fri., Nov. 23, NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Recess 

Mon., Dec. 3, 8:00pm, BOE Meeting, Alumni Hall, PMHS 

Mon., Dec. 3, 8:00pm, Dad's Club Meeting, Rockwell's 

Quick Links

In this Issue...

 .

Click on Heading for Quick Links!
Principal Note
Siwanoy Express Deadlines
Keep Siwanoy Earns Money by Recycling Juice Pouches
Getting to Know Our Teachers
Stuff-A-Bus Deadline: Tuesday, November 13
School Make Up Days
Storm-related Missed Enrichment Classes Won't Be Re-scheduled
Book Fair is November 15 & 16
Earn Money For Siwanoy!
Cub Scouts & 4S Collecting Surplus Halloween Candy for the Troops
SEPTA Character Breakfast Tonight
District Calendar
October-November Lunch Menu
September PTA Meeting: Get Informed!
October Site-Based Council Meeting Minutes
Food Drive to Help Hurricane Sandy Victims
Pelham Picture House Offers Up Movies on Monday (No School!)
Free Homework Help Available at Library on Wednesdays
Gas App Tells You Where to Find Gas...Now!

 .

Siwanoy News

 .

Expressly Yours from the Principal:

 

We had a productive week settling back into school routines in spite of the surprise snow storm. Given everything that has happened, we still have three bags of pajamas and two boxes of books for the Stuff a Bus program. We are hoping to meet our goal of 300 pairs of pajamas and books by Tuesday morning (yes, you can bring in pjs and booksTuesday!) There is more need than ever this year, as these pajamas go to children without homes and often without parents. If you cannot help by Tuesday, we will keep on collecting through next week. However, it would be great to really "Stuff that Bus" on Tuesday.

 

I wish you all a warm and lighted long weekend as we honor our veterans and close in on the Thanksgiving holiday. I have much to be thankful for.

 

Sincerely, Susan

 

 .

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 .    

 .

 
Fourth-Graders Presenting School's New "Terra Cycle" Program 
Jack Herin, Nicholas Hibbler, Emma O'Shea & Marc Madeira
Don't Throw Away Your Juice Pouches!
Each One Collected Earns Money for Siwanoy 
TerraCycle is a great organization dedicated to recycling things we normally throw away. Siwanoy is joining the "juice pouch brigade" and will hopefully join additional brigades in the future. Siwanoy receives money for each juice pouch returned. Third grade teacher Michele O'Neil has spear-headed the project.

Mrs. O'Neil, whose husband recently started the program at his school, said she has always wanted to do the same at Siwanoy. Marc, Hannah and Nicholas were in her class last year and loved her unit on composting/recycling. She mentioned the idea and they decided to write a bill about it and submit it to student government. The group has met several times at lunch and finally introduced the project to the school on Tuesday at Town Meeting.
Note: Any juice POUCH (not box) will be accepted. The most popular ones are Capri Sun and Honest Kids. Click here to read more about the TerraCycle Brigade.


TerraCycle offers national programs (Brigades�) to collect previously non-recyclable or hard to recycle waste. While some programs have a cost, most of Brigades offer free shipping as well as a donation for each piece of garbage collected. Click here for more information.
 

 .

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 staff -- and also to give you a glimpse into who they are and what they are doing when they are NOT teaching our children. This week we are featuring...

Mr. Katz & his son building a house in Mississippi 
ERIC KATZ,
MUSIC TEACHER ~                
Mr. Katz loves teaching music in the Pelham schools. He's from New Rochelle and still lives there. His wife is also a music teacher. He has twins who are seniors in high school and are both excited about starting college next year. He helps to run a house building organization, One Small House. He was recently in Mississippi to build a house, and will be going to Mexico and Louisiana during the next school breaks to build more. He also likes to play jazz on the vibraphone.


         ADELE REYNOLDS, FIFTH GRADE TEACHER ~ 
  Mrs. Reynolds grew up in Pelham and still lives here. She graduated from Hutchinson and the Pelham Middle and High Schools. She married her high school sweetheart and their four children -- Allyson, 21; Meghan, 18; Jayson, 12; and Matthew, 10 -- are 4th generation in the Pelham schools. She taught at Prospect Hill for nine years prior to coming to Siwanoy. Mrs. Reynolds loves sports, especially softball. Mr. Maley coached her daughter Meghan, who now plays softball in college on an NCAA scholarship. She loves Christmas and her favorite subject is math.

*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. 

 .

Stuff-A-Bus Pajama Program- Deadline Tuesday, November 13
Delivering Warm Sleepwear & Nurturing Books to Children in Need
 
The Pajama Program supports children in need, many of whom are waiting and hoping to be adopted. All the PJs collected in Westchester County go to local children who may not know the comforts of a parent to tuck them in and read them a bedtime story.  Many have been abandoned, most deprived of any love at all. Their need is especially great post-Sandy. 

Please bring in a new pair of PJs and/or a book (or books) for a child in need. 
Note:  If we collect 200 pairs of PJ's, the special bus will come on Tuesday so we can stuff it! Please contact Suzie Reavey with any questions.

 .

Update on School Make-Up Days 
In response to questions about missed school days due to Hurricane Sandy, Dr. Lauro said only NYS legislators could waive the mandatory 180 school day requirement. No decisions had been made to date.   

The Pelham Schools  have four days for weather- and emergency-related closings built into the schedule (we have taken five so far). Thus, only one day may have to be made up, assuming there are no others taken over the next seven months. The first make-up day, if necessary, would be March 25. Schools will be closed on Veterans Day (November 12), a legal holiday that must be recognized by all NYS schools.

 .

Enrichment Classes Missed Last Week Will NOT Be Rescheduled 
Due to the storm and school being closed we will not be able to make up the enrichment classes that were missed last week. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for understanding. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this please contact
Wendy Dougherty or Nicole Brown

 .

Save the Date! Siwanoy Book Fair - Nov. 15 & 16   
Please join us for our Family Night on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 6-8:00 pm. There will be free pizza for all. Have a slice while doing some holiday shopping!

You can RSVP for Family Night Pizza by returning the pizza party registration flyer to your child's teacher by Tuesday, Nov 13, or by emailing Anne Fredbeck and including the number of people attending. The Book Fair will also be open Nov. 15 from 7:30am-4:00pm, 6:00-8:00pm and Nov. 16 from 8:00am-1:00pm. A schedule of class visits will be included in next week's PTA announcements. 

 .

Fifth Grade Town Meeting Hosts 
Joseph Puchalla, Emma McNulty, Betsy Siegel & Luke Gould
 

 .

Reminder: There are a Few Easy Ways to Earn Money for Siwanoy   
1.Take Charge of Education Program at Target   
If you have a Target credit card ("Red Card"), you can designate Siwanoy to receive up to 1% of every purchase you make when using your credit card through the "Take Charge of Education program. " Siwanoy has received a total of $1044 of Target donations through August 2012! There are currently ONLY 25 families who have designated Siwanoy for this program. So make your trips to Target count for Siwanoy and Visit Target.com/tcoe or call 1-800-316-6142 to sign up now. 

 

2. DeCicco Receipts 
Please remember to get your DeCicco receipts stamped at check out and place them in the bin in the Main Hallway (next to Mrs. Gilbert's office). DeCicco donates a portion of total receipts back to Siwanoy. We ask that you submit them promptly as DeCicco tallies them monthly. This is a significant fundraiser for the 5th grade activities (i.e. field day, yearbook, graduation party).  

3. Box Tops for Education
The Box Tops for Education program pays eligible schools $0.10 for each qualifying "box top" label sent in.  You might find these labels on many of your favorite foods you already have in your cupboard.  While $0.10 may not seem like much, it can certainly add up. Siwanoy earns hundreds of dollars each year from this program! Clip your box tops and submit them to the appropriate bin by Mrs. Gilbert's office. 
 

 .

Candy to Our Troops Drive a HUGE SUCCESS! 
Thank you 4S and Siwanoy Cub Scout Pack 4 for sponsoring this candy drive and sending sweet care packages to our Troops. The Scout dad, Anthony Rosa, was surprised and overwhelmed at the HUGE amount of candy collected. 

 .


Reminder: Tonight is SEPTA's Character Breakfast...for Dinner! 
Enjoy a Fun-Filled Night While Supporting Pelham's Special Ed PTA
It's not too late to make your reservations for tonight's "Breakfast for Dinner with the Characters," presented by The Pelham Special Education PTA.

Come meet your favorite Princess, Super Hero, or Cartoon Character. Join us for Face Painting, arts and crafts, music, and a delicious breakfast buffet.

Tonight: 6:00-8:00pm, Pelham High School Cafeteria C
Tickets with Reservations: Adults $10.00; Children: $8.00; Under 2 free
At the door: Children $10.00
For reservations Call: MaryAnn Smith: 914-572-2384 

 .

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" 

 .

Click on OCTOBER-NOVEMBER LUNCH MENU 

 .

PTA NEWS 

 .

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

 .

October Site-Based Council Meeting Minutes 
Click here  to read the minutes from the SBC's October 23 meeting. The next meeting is Wednesday, November 14 at noon in the school library. SBC's meetings are open to the public.   

 .

Community News

 .

Food Drive to Help Victims of Hurricane Sandy
Please Help If You Can!
So many of us are looking for ways to help those hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy. County Harvest is organizing a food drive to help victims of the hurricane.  Please feel free to let your friends and neighbors know so we can maximize our efforts.

The most urgently needed items are: 
  • water
  • peanut butter
  • shelf-stable milk
  • tuna, chicken, salmon (in pop-top cans or packets)
  • cereal
  • granola/breakfast bars
  • juice boxes
  • crackers
    Drop off location: 49 Hillcrest Drive, Pelham (please put items inside garage)
    *Items can be dropped off anytime through Monday, November 12. 

 .

Need Something to do on Monday (no school)?
Pelham Picture House Offers Up Family-Friendly Movies
In the aftermath of Sandy did you forgot that there's no school this Monday?  Looking for something to do with your kids?  Look no farther than The Picture House, which will be showing 'Curious George' at 11:00am and the family classic 'Back to the Future' at 1:30pm. Admission is free for members, $5 for adults and $3 for children.

 .

Free Homework Help Available!  
Pelham Library Invites Students to Drop by Wednesdays, 3:30-5:00 
Volunteers are on hand to help students study for tests, answer questions, provide homework help and explain topics. Students in grades 1 through 8 are welcome. Snacks will be provided and there is no sign-up required. So please have your kids bring their homework, projects and assignments to the library any Wednesday after school until 5:00pm.  

 .

Need Gas?
For anyone looking for gas, here is an app that you can download to find gas from stations that have it available right now. Just type in your zip code and you'll see where to go. Click here to access the app.   

 .

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]