Welcome to Kensico School“A Fun Place to Learn!”

Open HouseMonday, September 22, 2014

Purpose of Open House

Learn about Kensico School … policies and procedures

Meet your child’s teacher(s).

Learn the expectations of your child’s classroom teacher(s)

Please refrain from discussing your child’s information. Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 20th, December 2nd and April 30th.

Schedule for the Evening

7:00–7:30 Opening remarks, introduction of staff – Gym

7:35–8:05 3rd Grade – Overview of Homeroom, ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies

4th & 5th Grade – Visit Special Subject Area Teachers/Refreshments in Cafeteria

8:10–8:40 4th & 5th Grades – Overview of Homeroom, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies

3rd Grade – Visit Special Subject Area Teachers/Refreshments in Cafeteria

School/Home Communication

Notes from the Principal – bimonthly (on Kensico website)

Website: most up-to-date source of information

Connect-Ed

Twitter: @KensicoMatt

E-mail

Student Agendas

Phone updates – voicemails for teachers and staff

Parent/Teacher Conferences – to share information about your child and review student progress (November 20, December 2 and April 24)

School SafetyDrop-Off and Pick-Up Protocols/Traffic Safety

Visitor Policy – have photo ID ready when entering school

School doors locked all the time (including after-school hours) – buzz in, sign in, obtain visitor badge, escort to your location

Please alert your child’s teacher and/or the office with changes in dismissal

Please watch your speed!

Drop-off is a quick one along sidewalk – exit passenger side only!

Please do not move cones!

Please do not park in the circle for an extended period of time. You can park in the circle to drop your child off in the morning after busses are finished and/or to pick up a sick child from the Nurse’s Office.

Behavioral Expectations

Kensico CARES: Cooperation Assertion Responsibility Empathy Self-Control

Behavioral Expectations Packet in homerooms

Stress all of the bus safety rules with your child(ren): Stay seated all of the time Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself at all

times Talk using an inside voice all of the time Camera on every bus

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

Ensures that all students: Are protected from harassment and discrimination Can attend school in a safe and supportive

environment where all student’s rights are protected Are encouraged to practice and appreciate the

importance of civility (politeness, courtesy, respect and good manners)

Are encouraged and expected to behave in a way that is in keeping with the school’s mission

Are encouraged and expected to respect the rights of others

Recess Before Lunch

Before eating lunch, students will be dismissed to the playgrounds for recess and then be brought in to eat lunch.

Following lunch, students will return to their classroom, ready to learn.

Benefits to “recess before lunch”: Children eat a more balanced diet. Improved lunchroom behavior and less waste or food thrown

away since students are not in a hurry to get outside to play. Improved classroom performance, as children return to class

feeling more full and settled.

We hope this new schedule will promote better nutrition and student achievement for all our students.

  Recess Lunch3rd Grade 10:55-11:25 11:30-11:504th Grade 11:30-12:00 12:05-12:255th Grade 12:10-12:40 12:45-1:05

Students have the same amount of time for playing and eating as they had in the past.

Information from our School Nurse

Attendance is a critical component to maximizing and increasing student achievement.

Please call the nurse’s office by 9:30 a.m. to report an absence or lateness (arriving after 8:45 am).

All new students and all 4th graders are required to have a physical.

If your child is vomiting or had a fever the night before, please keep him/her home. This is a safety issue.

All over-the-counter medications and prescription medication require a physician’s prescription and parental permission, e.g. cough drops, etc.

More emphasis on healthy foods for celebrations.

Field Trips

Neuberger Museum – Grade 3

SoundWaters – Grade 5

Albany – Grade 4

Franklin Mineral Museum – Grade 5

Broadway “Aladdin” – Grade 5

Smith’s Tavern – Grade 4

Nature’s Classroom – Grade 3

Botanical Gardens – Grade 4

Liberty Science Center – Grade 4

School Spirit

Student Council

School Store School Spirit Days Food Drives Clothing Drives Canned Food

Drives Talent Show

PARP Winter Concert/Celebrate the

Arts Band/Chorus/Orchestra Assemblies Family Reading Nights Book Fair 5th Grade Bring a Friend to

Lunch

Valhalla Union Free School District: Building a Shared Vision…

A+ = Accelerate Academic Achievement

21st Century Learning (5C’s) and the “Global Citizen”

Critical Thinking Collaboration Communication Curiosity & Creativity

Learning anywhere, anytime for everyone

Focus on the whole child…academics, arts, athletics

Safety first…see something, say something

……with your head and your heart

Common Core State Standards

ELA Read more non-fiction Learn about the world through reading Read more challenging material Talk about reading using “evidence” Learn to write from what is read Know more vocabulary words

Terminology Text – any written work Non-fiction – texts about real-life events or facts Evidence – bits of proof from the text Judgment – a student’s conclusion about what they have read Speed and accuracy – how quickly a student can solve math problems

correctly

EngageNY.org

The Common Core Learning Standards create clear expectations for what students in Pre-K – 12th grade should be able to do in reading, writing, speaking and listening, language and math.

The standards include “shifts”, or changes in how teachers teach to help children succeed in the topics and skills that matter most.

Math Build on learning year after year Spend more time on fewer concepts Use math facts easily Develop speed and accuracy in solving

problems Really know it, really do it Use math in real-world situations

Standardized Testing

Grades Test Dates

3, 4, 5 TerraNova March 9 – 12

3, 4, 5 NYS English Language Arts (ELA) Assessment

April 14 – 16

3, 4, 5 NYS Mathematics Assessment April 20 to 22

4 NYS Science Assessment (ESPET) Performance

May 20 to 29

4 NYS Science Assessment (ESPET) Written

June 1

Level 3-Special Ed Referral-Develop an IEP/504

Level 2-Instructional Support team (IST)

-Examine data -Small group/intensive support (5-7 students) from Reading

Specialist/Math AIS -Library Enrichment-Push-in/Pull-out support -Lunch Buddies -Social Skill

Instruction -Health-related/Nutrition-related support-Daily Behavior Slips -Parent Conference

-Morning Homework Help -Student teachers -Progress Monitor (Watch) -Continue/Change Intervention

Level 1

Classroom teacher provides:-Instruction delivered in Whole Class, Small Group, & Individual

-Balanced Literacy: Word Work, Shared reading, Self-selected reading, Guided reading, Writer’s Workshop (90 minutes daily Literacy block)

-Flexible grouping -Classroom centers -Cooperative Learning -Kensico CARES-Differentiated learning -Technology Integration -Class Charts (Behavior)

-Hands-on learning experiences -Math enVisions -Rotational Guidance-Assessments: Formative/Summative, Fountas & Pinnell, TerraNova, NYS ELA, Math &

Science-Focus on Attendance -Guidance lessons -Staff Workshops/Training

Very Intensive Support

Intervention and Enrichment

Daily Direct Instruction

Kensico School

AIS Pyramid of Interventions

Instructional Support Team (IST)

Committee members - Principal, Classroom Teachers, Speech Teacher, Reading Specialists, School Psychologist, AIS Math Teacher

Reviews students who are experiencing academic or behavioral difficulties

Discuss child’s strengths, areas of need and brainstorm how we can best meet the needs of the student

Action plan and follow up to assess how the child is performing

Hints to Help Your Child With School

Set up a consistent homework time and location

Attend school daily and arrive on time, ready for the day’s learning experience

Share school experiences with you so that you are aware of his/her school life

Have conversations in the car, at the dinner table, while waiting in line, etc.

Practice addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts constantly (use cards, dice, everyday numbers you see, etc.)

Inform you if he/she needs additional support in any area or subject

Read, Read, Read, Read, READ with your child(ren)

Ask questions during the reading Make a comment about the reading Develop a love for reading and to improve literacy skills

Kensico School PTA

Meetings: first Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. every other month

I encourage everyone to join our PTA!

PTA … Encourages parent involvement Promotes cooperation between the school and home Organizes events Fundraisers Supports our efforts to make your child’s experience better

Understanding New Levels

For grades 3-8 ELA and Math, students at Levels 2 and above are on track for current graduation requirements.  Students at Levels 3 and above are on track to graduate at

the aspirational college-and-career-ready level.

Level 4:  Student excels in the Common Core Learning Standards for this grade level

Level 3:  Student is proficient in the Common Core Learning Standards for this grade level(on track to achieve at the aspirational college-and-career-ready level, first required for Regents Diploma purposes with the Class of 2022)

Level 2:  Student is partially proficient in the Common Core Learning Standards for this grade level (on track to meet current New York high school graduation requirements)

Level 1:  Student is well below proficient in the Common Core Learning Standards for this grade level

Reading Anchor Standards

A. Key Ideas and Details

1. Read closely…

2. Analyze…summarize

3. Analyze…develop

B. Craft and Structure

4. Interpret

5. Text structure…words

6. Point of View/Purpose

C. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

7. Integrate and evaluate

8. Evaluate the quality

9. 2 + Analyze and Compare

Writing Anchor Standards

A. Text Types and Purposes

1. Write argument

2. Write informative

3. Write narrative

B. Production & Distribution of Writing

4. Develop, organize, style…purpose

5. Plan, revise, edit, rewrite

6. Technology…produce/publish

C. Research to Build and Present Knowledge

7. Research

8. Range of resources

9. Use evidence

7 Norms of Collaboration

1. Promoting a spirit of inquiry

2. Pausing

3. Paraphrasing

4. Probing for specificity

5. Putting ideas on the table

6. Paying attention to self and others

7. Presuming positive intentions

Kensico School Faculty/StaffMrs. Astrella Mrs. Baker Mrs. Pappalardo

Mrs. Walter Mrs. Walker Mr. Wright

Mrs. Frank Mrs. Kleinbaum Mrs. Romano

Mr. Singh Ms. Ward Mrs. Williams

Mrs. Adams Mrs. Della Sala Mrs. Gonzalez

Mrs. Guzzo Ms. Hulsebosch Mrs. Trehy

Mr. Pierce Mr. Rossi Ms. Kulers

Mrs. Griffin Mrs. Palongous Mrs. Voelkel

Mrs. Kincade Mrs. LaPorta

Mrs. Carpentieri Mrs. Horsa

Mrs. Mirwis Mr. Czerw Mr. Dooley

Mrs. Doyle Mrs. Butler Dr. Letizia

Mrs. Wilson Mrs. Kurlander Mrs. Branciforti

Mrs. D’Apice Mrs. Durkan Mr. Galin

Mr. Griffin Mrs. Patti Mrs. Pecora

Ms. Soricelli Mrs. Thomas

Mrs. Raiano Mrs. Soricelli Mrs. Garbus

Mr. Castellanos Mr. Bonilla

Mr. Dingle Mr. Montjoy

Student Teachers Pace Cohort Teachers

Kitchen Staff Bus Drivers

New Additions to Kensico School

Teaching, Learning and Technology Mrs. Elizabeth Kimiecik – Director Mrs. Claudia Floryshak – Chief Information Officer Mrs. Debbie Garbus – Secretary

Department of Special Education and Student Services

Mr. John Salatte – Director Mrs. Laura Faustini – CPSE Chairperson Mrs. Tina DiBari and Ms. Julie Antonecchia –

Secretaries

Kensico = Lighthouse

Thank You for Spending Your

Evening With Us

Let’s Have a Great Year!

This PowerPoint presentation will be

available on the Kensico School website.