January 30, 2013

 

SIWANOY EXPRESS

school

Siwanoy

Express Deadline

The Siwanoy Express is a weekly newsletter emailed to the Siwanoy community mid-week, each week. 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 Friday, 5pm.
Thank you!
-Amie Hughes

Looking Ahead.....

Fri., Feb. 1, Deadline to submit news/announcements to Express

Fri., Feb. 1, Deadline for Food Drive (canned & packaged goods)

Fri., Feb. 1, Deadline for Mr. Maley's Flip Flop Drive  

Sat., Feb. 2, Dads' Club Ski Outing to Mountain Creek

Mon., Feb. 4, 7:45pm, Dads Club at Rockwell's 

Mon., Feb. 4, 8:00pm, BOE Meeting, Alumni Hall, PMHS

Tues., Feb. 5, Town Meeting 2:15

Tues., Feb. 5, Family Time! No Homework; Eat Dinner Together 

Thurs., Feb. 7, Siwanoy Apparel Orders Due 

Wed., Feb. 13, 8:30am, PTA Meeting in Library

Mon., Feb. 18, School Closed for Winter Recess

Mon., Feb. 25, School Re-Opens   

Quick Links

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In this Issue...

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Click on Heading for Quick Links!
Siwanoy Express Deadlines
'Express-ly Yours from the Principal
Photo of Siwanoy Students
Let's Help Mr. Maley Get Varsity Softball Team to Spring Training!
Raise Money for Siwanoy by SHOPPING!
With Joy and Thanks Creates Joyful Readers
Photo of Siwanoy Students
School Apparel Deadline Extended to February 7
Important Reminders About Enrichment
Family Time Next Tuesday - No Homework - Eat Dinner with Family!
Photo of Siwanoy Students
Food Service Department Makes Some Changes
Ski Trip Scheduled for February 2 - Sponsored by Dads' Club
Photo of Siwanoy Students
District Calendar
January-February Lunch Menu
Pelham SEPTA Presents Seminar on 'Effective Parent Participation in the CSE Process'
Access Important BOE Information
December PTA Meeting: Get Informed!
October Site-Based Council Meeting Minutes
NY State PTA Offers Parents Useful Resources
NYS PTA Blog on Governor Cuomo's Budget Proposal
Fun Fridays at the Pelham Library!
Pelham Rec Soccer Registration is Open!
Register Now for Spring Rec Lacrosse
Free Homework Help Available at Library on Wednesdays

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Siwanoy News

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

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"Express"-ly Yours from the Principal:
  

Hard to believe, but the year is almost half over, time to rev up for the months leading to the state assessments and then on to the end-of-the-year activities. I want to pause and share some thoughts. As you know, we are in an era of gauging teacher and principal performance based on student growth. Some of this data is taken from standardized assessments and the bulk from classroom performance. So much has been in the news of our focus on standardized assessments that one can lose sight of the purpose of school- the learning, not to do well on a test or ultimately get into a good college or get the best job, but learning for the sake of and the joy of the pursuit of knowledge, of enriching our lives through the study of ideas, the observations in nature, or experience the impact a character's story, or a piece of music or art can have on us.

 

I was reading an article about Rod Baird, husband of art teacher Nancy Baird, who wrote a book, "Counterfeit Kids: why they can't think and how to save them." The idea for the book came from his experiences in the classroom. I admit I have not read the book...yet, but his premise is provocative in these high stakes times we live in. He writes about seniors only caring about getting good grades and gaining admittance to a good college over acquiring knowledge. When he gave his students an opportunity to focus on "critical thinking and global issues, teaching them how to thoroughly examine an issue and then turning them loose to pursue whatever topic they were truly passionate about...The same students who couldn't get their Hemingway chapter read were turning in 30 - or 40- page papers. These kids beam. They have arrived at the land of intellectuality."

 

Many years ago, while teaching third grade, a student of mine solved a puzzle, one of those three by three squares with one of the nine squares removed. You have to move the pieces around until the picture is created. When I marveled at it, she told me, "My parents showed me the trick." I still remember feeling so sad for her that the gifts of persistence and joy of discovery had been taken from her. Real learning comes from hard effort; we know this from brain research. I hope here at Siwanoy we succeed in creating an environment for your children with the right balance of supports and challenges, as well as the balance of traditional and non-traditional projects and assessments. Children come to us curious and eager to learn. We want to keep that fire lit.

 

At Siwanoy we strive to focus on the whole child, teaching the content and skills that will be assessed and that are required through the New York Common Core Learning Standards in a way that is thoughtful and enriching, while teaching the requisite skills and vocabulary of taking a test. We are developing performance based assessments that give students the opportunity to dig deeply into a subject through a project that allows them to use their learned skills and content and apply to real world situations. This is active learning that sticks, that has the potential to light the fires of wondering and questioning that lead to a joy in learning. One example is shown below, from our fifth grade social studies classes.

 

Have a wonderful week.

Sincerely, Susan

 

 

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Economics Project in the Fifth Grade Social Studies Classes

Rachel Lanzillotto 

In SS, the 5th grade has been designing products to incorporate into a business plan as a culminating project in their Economics Unit.  They designed and created a product, then wrote a business plan to go with it.  Within the project, the students worked together to design an original product, discuss materials used and the prices of those materials.  They also discussed making a profit in a mixed market economy.  They decided on a 5% increase on their final products.  They also marketed and made commercials for their products.  The students learned cooperation and incorporated the study of the three economies in SS integrated with writing, reading, researching, presentation and math concepts.

  

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We created the Cloud Cushion for school kids because their desk chairs are so hard.  These cushions are stylish and make it more comfortable to students to sit at their desks all day.  We learned how to work together and got to know each other even better!

 Matt Tiso , Grace Aronson, Rosie Spagnuolo, Chris Rhodes, Cassie Ventura (5R)

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We made the Cool Holder.  It is a water bottle cooler and holder, it keeps your water bottles cool and prevents spilling on your papers at school.  We think this will help kids at school.  We learned how to work together and how much it costs to make a product and a profit.

 

James Mahler, Emma McNulty, Victoria Colombo, Luke Gould, Joshua Timmermans, (5L)

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Siwanoy welcomes new students Madison Cohen (3P), Jessica Cunha (5R) and Justin Cohen (KS) during Town Meeting 

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Mr. Maley Needs Our Help
Flip Flop Fundraiser to Raise Money for PMHS Girls
Varsity Softball Team
As you may know, Mr. Maley doubles as the Pelham High School girls varsity softball coach when not teaching P.E. to our kids. In a few months he'll be taking the team to Florida for spring training and they need our help!
To raise money for the trip they are selling cute "Pelham"-emblazoned flip flops and slides (see images above). Please click here for more information and to access the order form.
Those interested in purchasing a pair (or two) should put their order forms and cash or checks made out to "Pelham High School Booster Club" in Mr. Maley's mailbox by 
THIS FRIDAY!
Shoes will be delivered in 6-8 weeks -- just in time time for Spring!   

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Help Earn Money for Siwanoy!

 Students Increase Annual Fundraising Goal

 Here are three easy ways that your family can contribute to our school:  

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'Box Tops for Education' Program

The Box Tops for Education program pays eligible schools $0.10 for each qualifying "box top" label sent in. Look for these labels (like the one seen in the photo above) on the packages of many of your favorite foods. While $0.10 may not seem like much, it can certainly add up. Siwanoy earns hundreds of dollars each year from this program! Click here to see a list of participating brands. You can clip your box tops and put them in the appropriate bin  

by Mrs. Gilbert's office!

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'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. " Make your trips to Target count for Siwanoy and Visit Target.com/tcoe or call 1-800-316-6142 to sign up now!  

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Receipt Program at DeCicco's

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). 

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With Joy and Thanks Creates Joyful Readers 
When was the last time you made a charitable contribution and saw exactly 
where that money was going?  
Well, look no further than our own elementary classroom libraries 
which will see a substantial increase in the number of books filling their shelves 
thanks to your participation in the Pelham Education Foundation's 
With Joy and Thanks holiday teacher recognition program.  
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With an emphasis on increased non-fiction reading, all our elementary schools 
will receive additional titles to stock classroom libraries. 
Thank you for making With Joy and Thanks 
such a success and for bringing joyful smiles to our young readers! 

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Third grade Brownie troop 1657 took a walk through the park at Bartow-Pell Mansion on Sunday, January 20. The tour was led by a park ranger who showed them how to spot nests in the bare trees, discussed the importance of salt marshes and told them where to find harbor seals in the Bronx during the winter.

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School Apparel Deadline Extended!
Order Your Siwanoy-Logoed Items By February 7  
Available clothing include T-shirts, PJ bottoms, sweatpants and hoodie sweatshirts.
Please return forms to the copy room on the second floor in the "apparel" box with checks made payable to 'Siwanoy PTA'. Questions can be directed to Karen Teller. 

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Important Reminders About Lunch-Time Enrichment Program

* Classes start this week

* Kids can buy or bring lunch on enrichment days

* If they bring lunch, make sure they are peanut-free!  

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Family Time Next Tuesday, February 5
No Homework for Grades K-5!
 Take the time on this evening to share a meal with your family. Also designated as a "No Homework Night" for elementary grades K-5 so families can have more time to spend together around the table. Family Time is a PACT- sponsored initiative aimed at raising awareness of the importance of family meals. Research shows when families share regular meals together, kids are less likely to smoke, drink or use illegal drugs.  
 
Feel rushed to prepare dinner on your own? Make it easy and order in! Visit pelhampact.org to view take out menus from more than 15 local restaurants that support Family Time.

 PACT is a community coalition encouraging youth to make healthy, safe
and substance-free choices.  

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The All-Pelham Fourth Grade Orchestra with representatives from all four elementary schools performed at the Pelham Music Festival on Saturday, January 26, led by Ms. Marcia Bean, pictured at back.

The students from Left to Right are:
Jack Herin, Ella Burns, Grant Roll, Maxwell Resnick, Nicholas Hibbler, Vanessa Rosado, Aiden Levy, Isabella Lippolis, Aidan Resnick, Evan Rosskopf, Georgia Connolly, Emmett McLaughlin, Ethan Lee, Sofia Tahan, Dylan Lee, Eliza Bratone, Sophia Leung, Sam Sucena, Brett Bober  

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The Pelham Public School's Food Service Department 
Enhances Online School Meal Payment Service
 For complete instructions on how to use your mySchoolBucks account click here.  
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Accessing your account:
* Enter your existing MyNutrikids.com username and password
* Click LOG IN
* Verify the child(ren) linked to your account 
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To add new students to your household you'll need the child's name, birthdate & student ID
To make a payment:

* Once logged in, click MAKE A PAYMENT

* Click CAFETERIA MEAL PAYMENTS

* Select or enter a payment amount for each child

* Click ADD TO BASKET

* Click CHECK OUT NOW to complete the payment process

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* NOTE: You may fund up to $120 per child, but you may pay for all of your children on a single transaction.

* mySchoolBucks accepts Visa�, Mastercard�, Discover�, Electronic Checks [E-Checks is turned off unless you specifically ask for it to be turned on]

All support-related issues should be directed to mySchoolBucks at 855-832-5226 or by email.  Please do not call the Food Service office for support. 

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Dads' Club Ski Trip to Mountain Creek
THIS SATURDAY
  
The Dads' Club is organizing a ski trip for Siwanoy families and friends at Mountain Creek in New Jersey, a family-friendly mountain with lots of snow-making and plenty of open trails (and a tubing park!). Please click here for more information about the mountain.

Families should arrange for their own lift tickets, ski rentals and transportation.
However, the Dads' Club will designate a manned-Siwanoy Meeting Place and will offer up free hot chocolate and hand-warmers!
They need an expected headcount -- so please RSVP by emailing [email protected]

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Sam Plunkett, Christopher Rhoads, Brian Mcfarland, Gianfranco DeChiaro & Steven Tahbaz sport their number shirts in support of "Numbers" school spirit day. 

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DISTRICT NEWS 
The District Calendar is available 
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On the Pelham School District website: pelhamschools.org  

 In the  "Quick Links" section of the Siwanoy Express, below "Looking Ahead" 

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 Click here for the January 14 - February 15 lunch menus

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PELHAM SEPTA PRESENTS:
Effective Parent Participation in the CSE Process
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 - 7:30pm
Pelham Middle School Information Center
 18 Franklin Place
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Guest speaker, Naomi Brickel, directs the Hudson Valley Special Education Parent Center and the Transition Resource Center at the Westchester Institute for Human Development.
The purpose of the Special Education Parent Center is to educate parents so that
they can participate more meaningfully and collaborate more effectively in the
special education process.

The CSE process, from identifying a child's needs to developing a plan to educate that child, can be a daunting task. Navigating it well and participating with confidence is important to your child's educational future. Join us as Naomi unravels some of the issues and presents best practices for actively participating in the special education process.

The event is sponsored by Pelham SEPTA, the Special Education Parent Teacher Association in Pelham. It represents those who are interested in Special Education throughout the Pelham School District. Parents, teachers and all community members are invited to join our efforts to support the appropriate education of all students to strengthen our schools.

SEPTA is on Facebook! The page offers information about SEPTA, workshops, events and links to resources. Please search for Pelham SEPTA on Facebook and 'Like' to receive regular announcements about events in the Tri-state area.
Click here to access SEPTA's new website.

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Click on the Links Below to Access Important BOE Information 

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PTA NEWS 

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December PTA Meeting Minutes: Get informed!
Click on here  to read the Minutes from the December 18 PTA Meeting.  

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October Site-Based Council Meeting Minutes 
Click here  to read the minutes from the SBC's October 23 meeting.
SBC's meetings are open to the public.   

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NY State PTA Offers Parents Useful Resources 
The NY State PTA would like to invite you to access some important school-related information and useful resources  

January Fast Facts

Fast Facts Page

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Thoughts About Governor Cuomo's Budget Proposal
NYS PTA blog on the Governor's Proposed State Budget 
This past week, Governor Cuomo unveiled his state spending plan for 2013-14, which includes a 3% increase in school operating aid. He hailed his successes over the past two years to bring to $1.3B a budget gap that had been projected to be $17.4B for this year; to pass a state spending and local tax levy cap to reign in property taxes; and to improve educational accountability via adoption by 99% of NY's school districts of APPR, the teacher/principal evaluation plan. Restoration of dollars to offset the GEA (gap elimination adjustment) and cuts to high tax aid are intended to distribute dollars to high-need areas.
To read more from this blog, please click here

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Community News

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Fun Fridays at the Pelham Library!
Sponsored by the Friends of The Town of Pelham Public Library
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Drop off your 1st-5th grader to enjoy a movie, arts & crafts, playing games & story time.

Homework assistance/tutoring offered.

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Time: 7:00-9:00pm

2013 Dates: 2/8, 3/8, 4/5, 5/3

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Place: The Town of Pelham Public Library

530 Colonial Avenue 

Tel: (914) 738-1234

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Register NOW for Spring Rec Soccer for Grades K-4 
Season Begins April 6
The Spring program for Pelham Rec Soccer will be held on Saturday afternoons and is open to children in grades K through 4. The season will be from April 6 through June 8.
Registration is open.
Please click here for more information and to sign up. 

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Register NOW for Spring Rec Lacrosse for Grades K-6
Season Begins March 15
The Rec lacrosse season for boys in grades K through 6 will begin on March 15 and will run through June 14. Please click here to register online. Look for the orange "REGISTER NOW" button on the homepage. The fee is $150 for the season.

 
Note: There are two major changes to this year's program:  

~ The Rec Dept is hiring professional coaches and will convert all practices 

to "skill development sessions."  

~ The sessions will expand from two 1-hour weekly sessions to one 1.5-hour weekly session (Friday night or Saturday morning -TBD soon). 

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Free Homework Help Available!
Pelham Library Invites Students to Drop by  
Wednesdays,3:30-5:00pm
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.   

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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]