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NOVEMBER 3K NEWSLETTER
Happy November from Ms. Cristino, Ms.Gosset, Miss Karol, Mrs. Nath, Miss Erika and Mrs. Esther!
WHAT WE ARE LEARNING:
We are finishing up our unit on “TREES”. We will begin working on the next topic of study which will be “CLOTHING”. We’ve noticed that the children are very interested in clothes. They talk about clothes, put on and take off dress up clothes, compare clothes, and add clothing details to their drawings. We think clothes will make an interesting study. As we study clothes, the children will learn concepts and build skills in language and literacy, math, science, social studies, the arts and technology. They also will use thinking skills to investigate, ask questions, solve problems, make predictions and test their 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.
Please check class dojo and your child’s mailbox daily and return all correspondence in a timely fashion.
IMPORTANT DATES
November 4- Election Day- No school
November 3rd and 5th- 3K In-Person Conferences
November 6th – Half Day- 11:30 dismissal
November 11- Veteran’s Day- No school
November 27th and 28th- Thanksgiving Recess- No School
April 14- Happy Birthday Aniyah!
April 24- Happy Birthday Sebastian
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Pre-K November Newsletter
Teachers:
Mrs. Longo & Mrs. Jenn
Mrs. Kelly & Ms. B
Ms. Vozzolo & Mrs. Feller
What we are learning:
Your children will continue learning about trees. We will observe and compare trees to learn what lives in them, what they are made of, and who cares for them. We hope this study will help children explore and appreciate nature. If you are able to take a "tree walk," you can collect a small bag of tree parts such as leaves, bark, acorns, twigs, etc. We will celebrate Thanksgiving by having a Thanksgiving Celebration with our class families., date will be announced.
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:
Election Day (No School)- Tuesday, November 4th
Parent-Teacher Conferences- Thursday, November 6th is a Half day, 11:30 dismissal. Please contact your child’s teacher if you haven’t had a conference yet.
Veteran’s Day (No School)- November 11th
Thanksgiving Break (No School)- November 27h & 28th
Birthdays:
Mrs. Kelly- November 5th
November, 2025 Kindergarten Newsletter
Happy Fall! Autumn is in full swing and so is Kindergarten!
This month, our HMH Module 2 is titled There’s Only One Me! In this module, students will learn about what makes each of us special. We will celebrate our similarities and differences. Students will learn about inside and outside traits, learn how to feel good and proud of themselves through sharing personal experiences and stories.
We continue to focus on Phonics using the RGR program online, Heggerty, and we are beginning Edmentum online.
In Math Unit 2, we will continue to focus on writing numbers 1-5,
and counting and comparing 1-5.
This month is very busy with parent teacher conferences. Your child’s teacher will reach out to schedule with you.
Tuesday, Nov. 4 is Election Day and school is closed.
Tuesday, Nov. 11 is Veteran’s Day and school is closed.
Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28 is Thanksgiving. School is closed and we wish you and all the P.S. 81 families a very happy Thanksgiving.
Classes will have Thanksgiving Feasts. Your teacher will reach out to discuss this with you.
Kindergarten has a trip planned this month to Kids N Shape. Your teacher will send home a permission slip.
Thank you for your continued support and help.
November 1st Grade Newsletter
Mrs.Villalta, Mrs.Frydel, Ms.Rooney, Ms. Mondesi, Mrs.Benenati & Mrs.M
Dates to Remember:
· No School Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
· Half a day, Thursday, November 6, 2025.
· Parent/Teacher Conference: November 6, 2025
· No School Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
· No School Friday, November 27 & 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: Students will learn how to add and subtract within 20 using number line, double facts, and near double facts.
Phonics: Students will learn how to print upper- & lowercase letters and sounds. Students will learn the short vowel sounds O and U as well as the digraph "sh." They will continue to practice using CVC words and creating sentences.
ELA: Students will describe characters, settings, and key details in a story. They will write a descriptive essay about something wonderful in their world.
Second Grade Newsletter
Ms. Garcia, Ms. Olivo, Ms. Ululati, Ms. Arias, Mrs. Saleh, and Mrs. McKenna are thrilled to share that the school year is off to a fantastic start! 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 learn about how people can work out disagreements.
● Math: In units 3 and 4, students will learn about adding two-digit numbers using strategies such as a hundred chart, a number line, and place value.
● Writing: Children will also write a persuasive essay about an issue that may cause disagreement.
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:
● No school on November 4th, 11th, 27th and 28th
● Parent-teacher conferences will take place virtually or in person the week of November 3rd
● Students will have a half day on November 3rd - 11:30 dismissal
● Swimming classes will continue on each classes’ specified week day
Terrific Third Graders
2024-2025 October Newsletter
Reading: Module 2: Use your words
· Essential Question- How do people use words to express themselves?
In this module, students will listen to, read, and view a variety of texts and media that present them with information about the importance of words and how they are used to express ideas and feelings. A genre focus on letters and poetry provides students with opportunities to identify elements of poetry and figurative language to better understand unfamiliar texts. Students will also
encounter memoir and fantasy to build knowledge across genres.
As students build vocabulary and synthesize topic knowledge, they
will learn that words can take them on an adventure or teach them something new.
Writing: Letter
· READ the following sentence: The future me is open for all possibilities.
· THINK about your hopes and dreams
for the future.
· WRITE a letter to your future self as a grown-up. Describe your goals and how you think you can accomplish them.
Math: Topic 3 Apply properties: Multiplication facts for 3,4,6,7,8
o Essential Question: How can unknown multiplication facts be found using known facts?
o In topic 1 students learned that they could use multiplication to find the total of an array. Students now use arrays to understand the Distributive Property, which states that a multiplication fact can be broken a part into the sum of other multiplication facts.
o As students’ progress in their work with multiplication, they can apply more strategies to complex problems. By learning the Distributive Property, they gain a stronger conceptual understanding of number sense and the operation of multiplication, giving them greater recall with known facts.
Science: Force and Motion
What is force and motion?
· Unit Question: What can make an object move or not move?
Important Dates:
· November 4th - Election day No Students are in attendance
· November 6th- Parent Teacher Conferences/Half a day
· November 11th- Veteran’s Day School Closed
· November 27th and 28th Thanksgiving Holiday School is Closed
4th Grade
Reading-Rise to the occasion - What does it take to meet a challenge?
We are still working on Module 3. Over the next few weeks, they will build and strengthen their reading, writing, listening, speaking, and thinking skills as they explore facing challenges. Titles include
● Rent Party Jazz
● Hurricanes:A Force of Nature
● My Diary:From Here to There
These titles will provide students with opportunities to synthesize ideas, identify plot elements, and identify themes to better understand unfamiliar texts. Students will also encounter narrative nonfiction, autobiographical fiction, and a play to build knowledge across genres.
As students build their vocabulary and synthesize topic knowledge, they will learn that with personal courage and the support of family, friends, and community members, people can face any challenge.
WIN – What I Need
We are almost finished with assessing students for placement for the school wide phonics program which will begin promptly at 8:15. It is important to have students come to school on time so they do not miss this program.
Writing: Opinion Essay (continued)
Friends and family can work together to overcome challenges.
Students are coming along with the new writing unit. Students are learning how to
• clearly state opinions
• support opinions with reasons, facts, and examples
• use persuasive language
Math: Topic 3 In this unit students will use strategies and properties to multiply by 1-digit numbers. They'll be able to use basic facts and place value patterns to find products when one factor is 10, 100, or 1000. They will also use rounding to estimate products and check to see if answers are reasonable. More importantly students will be learning multiple ways to multiply including distributive property or alien ears, partial products, as well as the traditional way of multiplying.
Science: Mrs. Fanning has begun the Amplify Science Program during her classes. She is currently working on the Vision and Light unit. Over the course of this unit, students investigate the role that animal senses, primarily vision, play in survival as they try to understand a realistic fictional problem with a real organism. They investigate why there is a decline in the number of Tokay geckos living in one area of a rain forest in the Philippines. Humans change the environments in which we live in many ways—clearing forests to make roads and build houses, removing species of plants and animals that are dangerous to humans, installing lights to make it easier to see at night, and so on.
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Upcoming Events
Important Dates
November 4th - Election Day - NO SCHOOL
November 6th ***PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES******
November 6th - ½ Day Dismissal is 11:30
November 11th - Veterans Day - NO SCHOOL
November 27th and 28th - Thanksgiving - NO SCHOOL
Parents please check with your child’s teacher to set up a time for Parent Teacher conferences to discuss report cards.
Fifth Grade Newsletter
Fifth Grade November Newsletter
Happy November!
In ELA, we are in Module 2. The essential question for this module is: How does genre affect the way a story is told?. This module focused on reading fantasy fiction texts, poetry, and a drama (play). The skills we will practice this month were asking and answering questions in regards to literary elements, figurative language, character development, elements of drama, elements of poetry, author’s purpose and the theme of a story. At the end of this module, the assessment is online consisting of passages with multiple choice questions, short response questions, an essay, and editing grammar questions.
In writing, we are writing narratives about a character who is on a journey to discover something. Students follow the “Writing Process” to develop their narratives. This includes prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing.
In Math, we are in Topic 4. Topic 4 focuses on multiplication of decimal numbers. The skills we will learn are estimating the product of a decimal and a whole number, multiplying a decimal by a whole number, using models to multiply a decimal and a decimal, multiplying decimals using partial products, using properties to multiply decimals, using number sense to multiply decimals, and problem solving real world word problems. There are a total of 10 lessons, review, then the topic assessment.
*Remember to study those multiplication facts! Students who do not know facts from memory, have a much more difficult time with 5th grade math.
Helpful Links: khanacademy.org mathgames.com
The Salvadori Program is going strong with Ms. Shreya. We are learning about landmarks, monuments, and memorials. The children are learning to identify material properties and developing their map skills.
Physical Education
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This November, our fourth and fifth graders are actively participating in the NYC Fitnessgram, focusing on improving their personal fitness levels and learning about the importance of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. They’re working hard to set goals, track progress, and develop confidence in their physical abilities.
Our younger students are busy building foundational skills through fun, hands-on activities. Kindergarteners are exploring locomotor movements—like hopping, skipping, and galloping—while learning the basics of throwing. First, second, and third graders are practicing underhand throwing using a variety of manipulatives to strengthen coordination, accuracy, and teamwork.
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September/October Newsletter for ENL
We are working with our English Language Learners/Multi-lingual Learners (ELL/MLL) with HMH Into Reading. This year we are using The Designated English Development slides that are aligned to each Module, week and session. We follow the Integrated ENL model where we push into the classroom and offer support. Additionally, we have some free standing ENL groups where we work with the children in a small group setting. We are working with the same stories as the HMH Into Reading program, but by chunking the text, the children are able to engage with the material on their level. Grammar is taught through the HMH material and Deconstructing the Text helps to breakdown the reading into comprehensible input. There is an Exit Ticket to evaluate
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Library Newsletter
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Library Newsletter-November
In November, students in grades 2-5 will enjoy stories of thanks in preparation for Thanksgiving, such as Gracias: The Thanksgiving Turkey, Thank you Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving, The Thanksgiving Bowl and Thanksgiving at the Tappleton’s . While reading these stories, students will be introduced to library skills while improving their literacy skills with an HMH focus. Students in first grade will be participating in “Mo-vember,” in which we will be doing an author study of Mo Willems. Mo Willems has written the Pigeon and Elephant & Piggie books, which are a favorite of all children. The author study will conclude with Mo Willems’ The Thank You Book-a perfect book for Thanksgiving.
Over 1000 books have been borrowed from the library so far, so please continue to ask your children about their library books and sit down and read them with your child or children.
Happy November!
Music Newsletter for NovemberSPOTLIGHT: Thanksgiving is on the way, but we will be working mostly on our Holiday concert in December this month!THIS MONTH:Kindergarten - I’m Mr. Turkey, Holiday Concert SongsFirst Grade - Turkey Woogie, Holiday Concert SongsThird Grade - Many Thanks, Holiday Concert SongsFourth Grade - It’s Good to Give Thanks, Holiday Concert SongsFifth Grade - The Great Big Holiday Bake Off Show for Holiday ConcertDID YOU KNOW?: Mrs. Brosky loves Thanksgiving! Her favorite food is her mom’s sweet potatoes! She is thankful for being your music teacher!JOKE OF THE MONTH: What is the most musical part of the turkey? The drumstick!All Music Newsletters Here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19iz9hZbq0kku_lPrycFqjjRYTOluvhGwNzvwyIm1rsY/edit?usp=sharingFOR FEBRUARY
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JOKE
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Mindful Moments with Savage
Grades 1–5
What We’re Learning This Month
· Yoga: We’ll explore new poses that help us feel strong, balanced, and calm.
· Mindfulness: We’ll practice ways to notice our breath, our thoughts, and our feelings.
· Calm Our Heads: We’ll learn fun techniques to quiet busy thoughts—like “balloon breathing” and “mindful listening.”
Yoga Pose of the Month
Tree Pose (Vrksasana):
We’ll practice standing tall and steady, like a tree, to build balance and focus.
Mindfulness Focus
This month, we’ll practice:
· Breathing slowly when we feel upset
· Taking “mindful pauses” during the day
· Using kind thoughts toward ourselves and others
Reminder
I will have a meeting on the first Monday of every month to share what’s coming up, answer questions, and talk about what we’ll be doing together.
Ms. Savage 510
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SCIENCE NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 2025
Ms. Fanning and Ms. Kassnove
Kindergarten- Our smallest scientists will learn about surfaces with light shining on them and how they get warmer than surfaces without light shining on them. They will learn to think carefully about how the model is like the real thing they are trying to learn about.
Grade 1-Our first grade students are going to investigate what animals eat and begin to think about the process of how animals eat other living things.
Grade 2- Our young botanists are studying why the Chalta tree is not growing in India. Some of our explorations include a growing roots game, Celery stem experiments, light, shade and seed dispersal activities.
Grade 3- Our biologists are studying why there is a wolf with white fur in a pack of brown wolves. Our explorations and models are helping us to understand species, variation, offspring and DNA.
Grade 4- Our Zoologists are studying why the Tokay Gecko is having difficulty surviving in the rain forest. Our experiments are helping us understand the structures of the eye, how animals use their senses to catch and eat food and what problems can exist in an environment that can block animal senses/ survival.
Grade 5- Our food scientists are studying what makes up matter by exploring the “nanoscale”. We are investigating atoms, molecules, substances and mixtures. We are making discoveries as we mix substances together and even separate them into parts!
Speech & Language Newsletter
Hi, We are the Speech-Language Pathologists (Speech teachers) at P.S. 81!
What is our role in helping the students at P.S. 81?
Speech-language pathologists, also called SLPs, are experts in communication. SLPs work with people of all ages, from babies to adults. SLPs treat many types of communication and swallowing problems. These include problems with speech sounds, language, literacy, social communication, voice, fluency and cognitive-communication. Speech sounds are how we say sounds and put sounds together into words. Language is how well we understand what we hear or read and how we use words to tell others what we are thinking. Literacy is how well we read and write. People with speech and language disorders may also have trouble reading, spelling, and writing. Social communication is how well we follow rules, like taking turns, how to talk to different people, or how close to stand to someone when talking. Voice is how our voices sound. We may sound hoarse, lose our voices easily, talk too loudly or through our noses, or be unable to make sounds. Fluency, also called stuttering, is how well speech flows. Someone who stutters may repeat sounds, like t-t-t-table, use "um" or "uh," or pause a lot when talking. Cognitive-communication is how well our minds work. Problems may involve memory, attention, problem solving, organization and other thinking skills.
If you have any questions about your child’s development, please feel free to contact any of us.
Jessica Amato, Jaclyn Castaneda, Rose Ann Mascia, Cristina Quintanilla and Noelia Rosenthal
Here are some Fall activities you can do with your child to encourage their speech and language development.
1. Fall Scavenger Hunt (Language & Vocabulary)
Goal: Build vocabulary, describing skills, and following directions.
How to Play:
· Make a list of fall items (leaf, pumpkin, pinecone, acorn, squirrel, scarecrow).
· Go on a walk or look around the yard/house.
· As your child finds each item, have them describe it:
o “What color is it?”
o “What does it feel like?”
o “What can you do with it?” Speech tip: Use full sentences (“I found a brown leaf.”).
2. Pumpkin Talk (Articulation & Conversation)
Goal: Practice target sounds or social language.
How to Play:
· Carve or decorate a pumpkin together.
· Each time your child takes a turn (drawing, scooping, etc.), have them say a word with their target sound (e.g., /p/ words: pumpkin, pie, pop, paper).
· Or ask “conversation” questions:
o “What face should we make?”
o “What do you like about fall?”
3. Apple Taste Test (Describing & Comparing)
Goal: Practice describing words and comparison.
How to Play:
· Try different types of apples (red, green, yellow).
· Use words to describe: “sweet,” “sour,” “crunchy,” “soft.”
· Compare: “The red apple is sweeter than the green one.” Speech tip: Encourage complete sentences and new adjectives.
October 2025
Counselor's Corner: Josephine D’Amico
October brings cooler weather and the excitement of fall activities. This month, we’ll be focusing on the importance of building empathy and understanding within our school community. As we celebrate the season, let’s also take time to appreciate the diverse perspectives and experiences!
Upcoming Events
The Beautiful Me and Confident Kids, self-esteem programs have begun with our 5th grade students during their lunch periods. Class 5-412 is the first class participating in this program.
· The Beautiful Me lessons will increase their positive body awareness and build healthy friendship skills.
· The Confident Kids lessons will promote their appreciation of their genuine qualities, accurate self-awareness and developed coping skills.
Focus of the Month:
Building Empathy & Understanding
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. This month, we’ll be exploring how students can practice empathy in their daily interactions and why it’s so important for creating a supportive and inclusive school environment.
Halloween Safety Tips
· Stay on the sidewalk.
· Don’t eat candy before it is inspected by an adult.
· Don’t eat unwrapped candies.
· Stay with your group/ family.
· Wear reflecting items on your clothes so cars can see you.
· Observe trick or treat hours.
· Have a Haunting good time!!
Contact Information:
If you have any questions or concerns, I’m here to help. You can reach me at ([email protected]) or call (718-821-9800). Let’s work together to support your child’s growth this year!