News Alerts

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• May Newsletter

  3K2 – 104A

  Mr. Jackie, Ms. Erika, and Ms. Esther

   

   

  For roughly the month of May, the children and their teachers will be exploring and studying the following unit – “Exercise.”

   

  Investigation 1: What do we know about exercise? What do we want to find out?

  o The children will begin their investigation by discussing and sharing what they already know about exercise. The children and their teachers will also take this time to develop any specific questions they have about exercise. They will discuss the type of exercise they do, know, and/or have seen. Furthermore, considering the warmer weather and the change in season, the children will be encouraged to specifically focus on thinking about the exercise they do outdoors as oppose to indoors.

  Investigation 2: What are the different types of exercises?

  o The children will be introduced to a few different types of exercises in which each morning throughout the week, they will engage and participate in a few simple movements related to cardio, stretches, yoga, etc. During this time, the children will also be introduced to vocabulary such as balance, endurance, flexibility, and strength and learn about how different types of exercises relate to each of those terms.

  Investigation 3: Where do people exercise?

  The children will discuss indoor versus outdoor exercises with an emphasis on the latter. Children will first learn how even certain activities that they may not consider as exercise is in fact exercise such as dancing. They will then discuss outdoor exercises and during “Gross Motor” will practice and participate in some of the outdoor exercises discussed such as jogging, skipping, galloping, climbing, etc. During this week, the children will also briefly talk about how machines can also be used for exercise as well.

  Investigation 4: What type of equipment do people use to exercise?

  o In the previous week, the children were introduced to a few different types of equipment and machines that can be used for exercise. This week, the children will focus more on identifying and if possible, using a few simple exercise machines to work with. For example, the children may work with a few light hand weights and/or a balance beam.

   

  Simple Family Activities Related to Our Study

   

  1. Have your child practice and work with you when you – the parent/guardian – are exercising at home. Explain to them the purpose of the different types of exercise.

  2. Visit a local park and see if there are any exercise equipment available to use – some parks have balance beams, simple ellipticals, pull-up bars, warm-up benches, etc. Talk with your child about how the different types of exercises make you feel.

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• MAY 3K102A NEWSLETTER

   

   

• MAY 3K102A NEWSLETTER

   

   

  Ms. Cristino, Miss Karol and Mrs. Nath wish everyone a very happy May !

   

   

  WHAT WE ARE LEARNING:

  We are working on our unit “EXERCISE”. Young children are in nearly constant motion. Moving makes children feel capable and confident, releases tension, and builds strong bodies and minds. Children’s love of movement will make a study of exercise very exciting! We will try many types of exercise, watch other people exercise, explore the places that people exercise, and explore equipment that’s used. We will learn concepts and skills in language and literacy, physical development, math, science, social studies, the arts and technology. We will also be developing thinking skills to observe, investigate, ask questions, solve problems, make predictions and test our ideas.

   

   

  REMINDERS:

  Arrival time is between 7:45 and 8am in the annex. Students who arrive after 8:15 will be marked late.

  Dismissal time is promptly at 2:00. Any student not picked up by 2:20 will be walked to the main building gym.

  Please pack a water sippy cup and snack for your child, daily. We cannot store food in the classroom.

  PLEASE SIGN UP TO BE A PARENT READER. Sign-up sheet on side of classroom door.

   

  IMPORTANT DATES:

  May 1- Parent Teacher Conferences on google classroom.

  6pm-6:45 English only

  7pm-7:45- English/Spanish

  May 28- Dance Performance for 3K-1st grade- All Parents invited

  May 31- Annual “We Are District 24 Day” at Forest Park

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• May Pre-k Newsletter

   

   

  What We Are Learning..

  The children will continue to explore how to reduce, reuse, and recycle trash. We will then begin to learn about water and the different ways we use water, how it changes, and how it helps people and the environment.

   

  Reminders

  • Please be sure to send a healthy snack and a reusable bottle of water each day.

  • Blankets will be sent home for cleaning. Please be sure your child returns with a clean blanket the following week.

   

  Important Dates

  Cinco de Mayo Celebration- May 5th

  Memorial Day (No School)- May 26th

  Dance Performance- May 28th

   

  Birthdays

  Darien S (Class 101A)- May 11th

  Khadeejah B (Class 103A)- May 19th

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Kindergarten May Newsletter

Lenneberg/Ms. Kozlowsky Class K-211m

Mrs.Vozzolo Class K-202a

Ms. Markov Class K-202m

Ms. Richman Class K-204m

We are continuing to learn to read high-frequency words (heart words) by sight and we are working on blending sounds and reading three-letter words that we call “CVC” words. For example: (hat, pan, sun) We are learning about vowels and middle sounds. We continue to enjoy learning with our Really Great Reading program! In math, we are focussed on the addition and subtraction of one-digit numbers.

In our HMH Literacy program,we will be learning about how each of us have our own opinions about which foods taste best. Over the next month, we will read books about how food gets from plants to our plates. We will even take a look underground to find out about special animal helpers that work behind the scenes to make gardens grow. In writing, we will share our opinions about school food and favorite fruits and vegetables. All along the way, we will observe growing plants!

Please continue to work with your children at home. It teaches them that education is important and they absolutely love the attention you are giving them. They also love showing off everything they’ve been learning in class. As always, we appreciate the support!

Students will be taking their end of the year assessments in M-class, HMH and MAPS. We are so proud of them and how far

they have come! We hope that we have instilled a love of learning in them that will last through their academic careers.

Important Dates:

Thursday, May 1- Parent/Teacher Meetings(Virtual)

Wednesday, May 28- Dance Performance

Friday, May 30- Queens Zoo Trip

Saturday, May 31- 3rd Annual We Are District 24 at Forest Park

 

 

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May: 1st Grade Newsletter

Mrs.Villalta, Mrs.Frydel, Mrs.Scherr, Ms.Oro, and Mrs.Benenati

Dates to Remember:

Queens Zoo- May 21, 2025

No school - May 26, 2025

Dance Show- May 28, 2025

Reminders:

· Please check your child’s folders every day.

· Please check homework every day.

· Arrival is in the gym at 8:00 am on Bleecker St.

· Dismissal is in the gym at 2:00pm on Bleecker St.

A peek at what we are learning:

MATH: Unit 11: Students will subtract 2-digit numbers. They will use different strategies such as number lines, base ten blocks, hundreds chart, open number lines and other math manipulatives.

Phonics: Students will continue to learn how to print upper & lower-case letters. Students learn about contractions and r-controlled vowels. They will learn word endings. They will continue to practice using CVC words and creating sentences.

ELA: Module 10- Dare to Dream

Reading: Students will continue to read stories and learn about main idea, character, and setting

Writing: Students will learn how to write a biography by interviewing someone who is special to them.

Second Grade Newsletter MAY

Ms. Garcia, Ms. Olivo, Ms. Ululati, Ms. Arias, Mrs. Saleh, and Mrs. McKenna are thrilled to share that second grade is having a wonderful year! We’ve loved getting to know your children and can’t wait to continue learning and growing together in the months ahead.

What we are learning:

● HMH Into Reading: Students will be learning about different cultures.

● Math: Students will be working on adding and subtracting 3 digit numbers with regrouping using various strategies.

● Writing: Students will experience a new traditional or cultural experience. They will then write a thank-you letter to the person they shared the experience with and write about what they learned or why that experience was important to them.

Reminders:

● Please check your child's folder and homework daily.

● Arrival is at 8:00 a.m

● Dismissal is at 2:00 p.m

● There are spelling tests every Friday

Important dates:

● Parent Teacher Conferences - Thursday, May 1st

● Memorial Day NO SCHOOL - Monday, May 26th

● Dance Performance - Tuesday, May 27th

● Trip to the Zoo - Wednesday, May 28th

Please check your dojo.

Terrific Third Graders

2025 May Newsletter

On Wednesday May 7th and Thursday May 8th our fabulous students will taking the New York State Math Test. Please make sure that your child comes to school on time those days. A good breakfast and a good night’s sleep will help set them up for success!

Math- Attributes of Two-Dimensional Shapes

In this unit, students will apply prior knowledge to learning the names of different quadrilaterals. Students will also learn specific attributes that the quadrilateral unique. These lessons lay the groundwork for other lessons in the topic where students will classify shapes according to their attributes and analyze and compare quadrilaterals.

Science- Butterfly Life Cycle

We will be learning about the Butterfly Life Cycle this month. Students will observe and explore how a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, and how this process is part of a larger cycle in nature.

Reading-

Module 8: Imagine! Invent!

Essential Question: What does it take to make a successful invention?

In Module 8, we will dive into the world of inventors and inventions. Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about inventors and inventions, with a focus on the nonfiction genre. We will read texts about what it takes to make a successful invention.

Writing- Research Report

What are some inventions that we use every day?

This month, students will also work on research writing. They will choose an invention that interests them and conduct research to learn more about it. This will help them build their writing and critical thinking skills as they develop a deeper understanding of how inventions impact our world.

Important Dates:

· May 1st: Meet Your Future Teacher!

· May 7th & 8th: New York State Math Test

· May 26th: No School – Happy Memorial Day!

4th Grade - May

Reading

We are beginning to work on Module 9 - Essential Question

What can people do to care for our planet? In this module, students will listen to, read, and view a variety of texts and media that present them with information about conservation. A genre focus on persuasive text provides students with opportunities to identify ideas and support, text and graphic features, and author’s craft in order to better understand unfamiliar texts. Students will also encounter a graphic novel, realistic fiction, and a biography to build knowledge across genres. As students build their vocabulary and synthesize topic knowledge, they will learn that it is up to all of us to work together to preserve our planet and its natural resources.

Writing: We are still working on our 4th writing task where we are focusing on how to write a letter. We have begun to write a letter to an expert in that field of study asking for more information. We have used formal language and have shown that we already have some knowledge on the topic. We need to use the correct format for a letter, clearly state your reason for writing your letter, use formal language, use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and sentences.

Please encourage your children to read every night

WIN – What I Need

In the morning for 30 minutes, students have been divided into groups based on their needs.

Tier 3 is working on primary phonics- Sound Sensible

Tier 2 is working on the next level of phonics- S.P.I.R.E

Tier 1 is working on Socratic Reading Circles

Math: Decimals and Geometry

Now with the state exam a few days away we will dig deeper into decimals and geometry. We will cover Units 12, 15 and 16

**Memorizing multiplication facts is important because it builds a strong foundation for more advanced math concepts. It improves problem solving speed. It boosts confidence and calculations which is why we Please encourage your child to study their multiplication facts.**

Upcoming Events

● We have started dance again with the great Mr. E. Please be sure to check with your child's teacher to know when his or her scheduled day is so they can wear sneakers.

● We have begun practicing for the MATH state exam.

Important Dates

May 1st - Parent/Teacher Conferences (information to follow)

May 8th and May 9th - NYS Math Exam

May 26th - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

May 28th and 29th - Dance Performances (information to follow)

Fifth Grade Newsletter May

READING: We will continue to work on Module 9 in our HMH curriculum and begin module 10 mid month of May.

Essential Question for Mod 9 is: What makes something mysterious, and what makes people want to solve mysteries?

So far the students love this unit. They find the readings fun! We are reading two mysteries, which are stories that have the main character set out to solve a mystery, crime, or other puzzle. Students are currently learning about dialogue, detailed descriptions of a characters’ perspective, observations, feelings, sometimes told in third person point of view, a plot, events often appear in chronological order and illustrations to help create a mood. We are currently reading an informational text about FINDING BIGFOOT! We will study how informational texts may be organized by headings and subheadings. We will discuss how central ideas are supported by relevant details such as facts, definitions, examples or quotations. Students will understand that authors of information texts may include science or social studies words that are specific to the topic. Finally, we will notice visuals and text features, such as sidebars, enhance the text and provide additional information.

The Essential Question for Mod 10 is: What can we learn about ourselves by observing and interacting with animals?

This unit encourages students to explore the natural world by examining the lives, behaviors, and environments of animals. Students will use their knowledge of informational text as they explore humans’ curiosity about, and relationships with

animals. Through a variety of texts, students learn how scientific observation, empathy and research help us understand animals and the world they live in. Skills that students will learn in this module are determining the main idea and supporting details, compare and contrast information across texts, summarize informational texts, and use text evidence to support conclusions.

WRITING: The focus statement is :

Characters are at the heart of stories.

We will continue to write an imaginative story in which the children developed a character whose personality and action drive the plot. The students will include details to describe what the character hear, sees, smells, touches, and tastes. Also, they will create a setting using sensory details, and include problem for the character to solve and dialogue.

MATH: We are working on Topic 10: Understand Volume Concepts

Essential Questions: What is the meaning of volume of a solid? How can the volume of a rectangular prism be found?

In this topic, students explore the concept of volume, which is the amount of space a 3D object takes up. Students will learn to:

· Understand what volume means and how it's different from area.

· Measure volume using unit cubes.

· Count unit cubes to find the volume of a rectangular prism.

· Use formulas to find volume:

o Volume = length × width × height

o Volume = base area × height

· Understand that volume can be added — like combining two boxes into one.

· Solve real-world problems that involve finding and comparing volumes.

This topic helps students connect math to the physical world and prepares them for geometry and science concepts they'll encounter in middle school.

Remember to study those multiplication and division facts!

Helpful math links:

khanacademy.org

mathgames.com

We are done with our ELA state exams! Yay!

We will continue to prepare for the Math NY State exam. We are taking practice tests in class to help students familiarize with test format.

This includes using elimination techniques for multiple choice questions, using what we know is wrong to determine what is right, looking for clue words in the question to help determine which mathematical operation to use, and showing our work.

IMPORTANT DATES:

· New York State Math Exam: May 6th and May 7th

· New York State Science Exam: May 13th

· No School Memorial Day: Mon. May 26th

· 3rd Annual District 24 We Are Fair at Forest Park: Sat. May 31st

Friendly Reminder:

Please remember to begin or continue to pay for the end of year

5th grade trip, if you haven’t done so already.

Physical Education

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• Happy Spring.

   

  This May will be wrapping up our units in different grades.

   

  3rd, 4th and 5th grade are finishing up the Basketball unit.  We will be continuing with our students favorite unit…Soccer.

   

  1st and 2nd grade will be completing their long instruments unit of using tennis racquets, pool noodles and hockey sticks.  Students will be moving on to a soccer unit.

   

  Please mindful to your students as the weather is changing to please wear layers for physical education and wear proper shoes.  If you need to know what day your student has gym you may email me any questions or concerns at [email protected]

   

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  MS

   

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• In the month of May all ELL/MLL's will be taking the NYSESLAT (New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test). The purpose of the test is to determine how well they are learning English. Beginning in late April students will be individually administered the Speaking portion of the NYSESLAT. There is one exam for Grades 3-4 and fifth graders are given the exam for Grades 5-6. The testing window for the Listening, Reading and Writing portion is May 12-May 23. 
  • The reading section asks students to answer questions about stories printed in their test books.
  • The writing section asks students to write in response to questions and prompts in their test books.
  • The listening section asks students to select the correct response to a picture and/or word or statement read aloud.
  Unlike the State ELA and Math tests, the NYSESLAT is paper based. Performance on the NYSESLAT determines eligibility of ENL services the following academic year. Students who score Commanding level (demonstrating English proficiency) will continue to receive ENL services for two years.
   
  The results are reported in raw scores, scale scores, and performance levels. The “raw score” is the number of correct answers, which is converted to a “scale score,” to make it possible to compare scores across grade levels. Scale scores are divided into the following five performance levels that show how well students have mastered English language skills.
  Commanding:
  • Students function fluently in listening, reading, writing, and speaking
  • Students' skills are equal to those of native English speakers at their appropriate grade level
  • These students have gained the skills necessary to participate in an English-speaking classroom
  Expanding:
  • Students are able to use skills at a higher level than intermediate students.
  • Although their knowledge and use of English is at a more advanced level, these students make mistakes usually involving more:
  • subtle use of language
  • difficult levels of vocabulary and grammar
  Transitioning:
  • Students have better English skills than students at the basic level
  • However, these students' skills are often not well developed and they make significant errors in the four skill areas
  Emerging:
  • A student at the Emerging level needs some supports and structures to improve their academic language skills
  Entering:
  • Students are at the beginning level in the four skill areas
  • These students’ English skills are minimal
  How are the results used?
  Students will continue to receive English as a New Language or bilingual services until their scores on the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test show that they have learned English well enough to participate in English-only classes. Educators also use students’ New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test scores to help decide which instructional standards to focus on, and to evaluate their programs.
   
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• ENL Grades K-2
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• Welcome spring. Our spring break is almost here. During the vacation please make sure your child reads every day. Also have your child go onto Starfall.com. There are many activities for your child to do to learn  and review the letter as well as its sounds.  Please only do those activities that are free.In school we are reviewing the letters and its sounds. Some of the classes are learning the long vowel sounds as well as the vowel teams. We are then taking our knowledge of phonics to reading the decodable books.
  If you ever have a questions or concerns please email me at [email protected].

   

   

   

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• May Library Newsletter

   

  Students in kindergarten and first grade will celebrate May by learning about the different holidays and special days, such as Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. Students will enjoy various picture books that support the seasonal topics with an accompanying craft or activity. Students will also be given opportunities to improve their reading skills by having time to choose their own books and read independently.

   

  In second and third grades, we will continue with our Jory John author study. Students have enjoyed all of the books that we have read so far and have grown in their own social-emotional understanding. Children will read The Couch Potato, The Sour Grape, The Smart Cookie and The Big Cheese throughout the month. Students will identify similarities amongst his stories and utilize the skills of prediction and inference upon starting his new stories throughout the month. We will culminate the author study by creating a bar graph to show which book is a favorite amongst the second and third graders.

   

  Students in fourth and fifth grades will work on a Digital Citizenship unit. Digital Citizenship encompasses skills such as online safety, digital etiquette, critical thinking and responsible information sharing. They will listen to enriching stories, such as Chicken Clicking, The Fabulous Friend Machine, Old MacDonald had a Phone and If You Give a Mouse an iPhone that help to teach them to be good digital citizens. These stories introduce and discuss the potential risks and benefits of technology and using it appropriately. The goal is to teach them how to use technology responsibly, safely and ethically, thus making them good digital citizens.

   

  “There are many little ways to enlarge your world.

  Love of books is the best of all.” -Jacqueline Kennedy

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  MAY NEWSLETTER FOR MUSIC

   

  THIS MONTH: 

  Kindergarten - May Songs

  First Grade - Carnival of the Animals (Pianists, Fossils, Swan)

  Third Grade - Music Around the World Unit (Mexico)

  Fourth Grade - Continuing how to play The Recorder and playing songs

  Fifth Grade - Graduation Songs (Star Spangled Banner, Kindness, Let There Be Peace on Earth) and The Wizard of Oz

   

  SHOWS

  All grades that have music will be celebrating with an end of year performance soon!  Letters will go home shortly! 

   

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Just like different types of stories, there

  are different GENRES, or types of music.  Classica, Rock, Jazz, Hip Hop, Blues, Reggae, Country  and so many more! What kind of music do you like?  

   

  JOKE OF THE MONTH?

  Why did the singer climb the ladder?

  They wanted to reach the high notes! 

   

  For previous newsletters, visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/10paUwZiIoXP_HV6zpbgdlHDwhXdJ-CivR88iVHTmnzk/edit?usp=sharing

   

  MUSIC NEWSLETTER FOR FEBRUARY

  THIS MONTH:

  Kindergarteentine and February Songs

  First Grade - Carnival of the Animals (Mules and Tortoises)

  Third Grade - Music Around the World Unit (China, 

  Fourth Grade - Learning how to play The Recorder and playing songs

  Fifth Grade - Graduation Songs (Star Spangled Banner, Kindness, Let There Be Peace on Earth) and starting our Spring Show

  Movie Night: Need a movie to watch during February Break?  Try one of these: Enchanted, Anastasia, High School Musical, Trolls, The Swan Princess

   

  Short, Busy February

  February is such a busy month for being so short!  Don’t forget to celebrate Groundhog Day, Presidents Week, Valentine’s Day, 100th Day of School, Cypress’ Birthday, Super Bowl Sunday and mnal favorite - Random Acts of Kindness Day!

   

  JOKE OF THE MONTH What did the drum say on Valentine’s Day?

  My heart beats

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  MUSIC NEWSLETTER FOR FEBRUARY

  THIS MONTH:

  Kindergarten - Valentine and February Songs

  First Grade - Carnival of the Animals (Mules and Tortoises)

  Third Grade - Music Around the World Unit (China, 

  Fourth Grade - Learning how to play The Recorder and playing songs

  Fifth Grade - Graduation Songs (Star Spangled Banner, Kindness, Let There Be Peace on Earth) and starting our Spring Show

  
  

  Movie Night: Need a movie to watch during February Break?  Try one of these: Enchanted, Anastasia, High School Musical, Trolls, The Swan Princess

  
  

  Short, Busy February

  February is such a busy month for being so short!  Don’t forget to celebrate Groundhog Day, Presidents Week, Valentine’s Day, 100th Day of School, Cypress’ Birthday, Super Bowl Sunday and my personal favorite - Random Acts of Kindness Day! 

  
  

  JOKE OF THE MONTH What did the drum say on Valentine’s Day?

  My heart beats for you! 

  MUSIC NEWSLETTER FOR FEBRUARY

  THIS MONTH:

  Kindergarten - Valentine and February Songs

  First Grade - Carnival of the Animals (Mules and Tortoises)

  Third Grade - Music Around the World Unit (China, 

  Fourth Grade - Learning how to play The Recorder and playing songs

  Fifth Grade - Graduation Songs (Star Spangled Banner, Kindness, Let There Be Peace on Earth) and starting our

  Movie Night: Need a movie to watch during February Break?  Try one of these: Enchanted, Anastasia, High School Musical, Trolls, The Swan Princess

  
  

  Short, Busy February

  February is su a busy month for being so short!  Don’t forget to celebrate Groundhog Day, Presidents Week, Valentine’s Day, 100th Day , Cypress’ Birthday, Super Bowl Sunday and my personal favorite - Random Acts of Kindness Day!

  JOKE OF THE MONTH What did the drum say on Valentine’s Day?

  Mart beats for you!

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• Mindful Moments with Savage

  May Newsletter | Theme: Integrity

   

  Dear Students and Families,

   

  Happy May! As we stretch into the final months of the school year, we’re focusing our minds and hearts on a powerful theme: Integrity.

   

  What is Integrity?

  Integrity means doing the right thing—even when no one is watching. It’s about being honest, making good choices, and being true to yourself. In yoga and mindfulness, integrity helps us stay grounded, kind, and connected.

   

  This Month in Yoga Class

  We’ll be exploring poses and practices that help us understand integrity in our bodies and minds. Some highlights include:

   

  · Warrior Poses to build inner strength and confidence.

  · Tree Pose to help us feel steady and true.

  · Partner activities that teach trust and responsibility

  · Mindful Moments focused on honesty, respect, and making thoughtful choices.

   

   

  At-Home Mindfulness Tip

  Try this “Truthful Breathing” exercise:

   

  1. Sit quietly and take a few deep breaths.

  2. Think of a time when you made a good choice, even if it was hard.

  3. As you breathe, say to yourself: “I am honest. I do what’s right.”

   

   

  Family Challenge: Integrity in Action

  Each week in May, talk together as a family about a real-life situation where someone showed integrity. What happened? How did it feel? Can you think of a time you showed integrity?

   

  Quote of the Month

  “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” — C.S. Lewis

   

  Wishing you all a mindful May, filled with strength, honesty, and heart.

   

  Namaste,

  Ms. Savage

  Yoga and Mindfulness

   

Coding and Robotics

In May the upper grades will work with Minecraft Education game-like setting where students can practice math skills while solving problems, thinking critically, and being creative. Minecraft Education’s pre-built worlds and lesson plans provide effective tools for students to strengthen and showcase their mathematical skills. The resources we will use to get started include the following lessons: “Ratio Riddles” for developing key concepts of ratio, proportion, fractions, and scale, “Mummy Mayhem” which introduces students to the concepts of shape, symmetry, and spatial reasoning and more.

In May the lower grades will begin a final project. The students can creating a game or alter a game they have worked on earlier this year. For this game, students will learn about the elements of games. They will also be shown how to create two different types of games on the ScratchJr application. They will then spend the several sessions designing and sharing games.

• Science News

  Mrs. Fanning

  Grade 2- Students are exploring landforms and how they can change over time. We are experimenting with water and wind erosion using chalk, pumice and candy models. Students are learning the names and characteristics of landforms around the world.

  Grade 3- Students are completing their unit on weather with a focus on climate, clouds and severe weather systems. Experiments included creating tornado bottles and hurricane shelters. We are also working on the New York State Investigation called “Cloud in a Bottle” where students can model the water cycle and temperature fluctuations in specific climates.

  Grade 4- Students are completing their unit on sound. Experiments include creating instruments to explore amplitude (volume) and frequency (pitch). Our final project will be creating sound wave art for a popular sound. Students will also be completing a New York State Investigation called “Light it Up” to explore electrical circuits.

  Grade 5- Students are completing their unit on Patterns of Earth and Sky. We explored how planets and the moon move and how that impacts what we see in the sky. Experiments included creating moving models of planets, investigating gravity toys, and making models of revolutions and rotations of the Earth. All fifth graders have been meeting and working on model questions to prepare for the upcoming New York State Science Exam. This exam will be held on May 13th and will be computer-based.

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• Speech & Language Newsletter

  Strategy of the Month: Ask Open-Ended Questions
   
  Asking Open-Ended Questions allows children to respond in a variety of ways instead of a simple “yes”, “no”, nodding their head or gesturing.  Open-ended questions include who, what, where, when, why and how questions.
   
  Examples of open-ended questions:
  -What are you building?
  -What happened in the book?
  -When do we wash our hands?
  -Who is at the door?
  -What do you like to eat for lunch?
  -Where is the duck?
  -How do we play the game?
  -Why is the cat sad?
   
  Language Activities:
  -Ask Open-Ended Questions while playing house.
  -Take a walk down your street and ask your child Open-Ended Questions about different Spring related items you pass.
  -Plant a flower or a seed with your child. Talk about the different parts of a flower. Discuss what your flower or seed needs to grow and how you will nurture it.
  -Paint a butterfly with your child. Cut a white piece of paper into the shape of a butterfly and fold it in half vertically. Have your child paint only the left wing. Talk with your child about the life cycle of a butterfly as you paint. Close the wings and press them together. Open the wings to find a fully painted butterfly. Discuss how this happened (The wings of a butterfly are symmetrical). Look for other items in your home that are symmetrical.
   
  Suggested books:
  -Ladybugs, written by Gail Gibbons
  -The Very Hungry Caterpillar, written by Eric Carle
  -The Curious Garden, written by Peter Brown

May Newsletter

Counselor's Corner - Josephine D’Amico

As the school year comes to a close, May is a time to celebrate achievements and prepare for transitions. This month, we’ll be focusing on the theme of reflection and celebration. It’s important for students to look back on their successes and growth this year and to start thinking about the future with optimism and excitement.

Focus of the Month:

Reflecting on the past year helps students recognize how much they’ve learned and grown. This month, we’ll be encouraging students to celebrate their accomplishments, both big and small. We’ll also be discussing how to approach the upcoming transitions.

Wellness Tips:

Transitions can be both exciting and challenging. Help your child prepare for the next steps by discussing what they’re looking forward to and what they might find challenging. Encourage them to express any concerns and talk about strategies to manage change.

Upcoming Events:

Parent Teacher Virtual Conferences:

Thursday May 1, 2025

Math Exam: Grade 3 - May 7 & 8

Grade 4 - May 8 & 9

Grade 5 - May 6 & 7

Contact Information:

If you have any questions or would like to discuss how to support your child’s progress, please feel free to contact me at ([email protected]) or call (718-821-9800).