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

1. Welcome to Kensico School“A Fun Place to Learn!” Open House Monday, September 22, 2014

2. 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.

3. Schedule for the Evening

4. 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)

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. Recess Before Lunch • Students have the same amount of time for playing and eating as they had in the past. • 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. School Spirit • PARP • Winter Concert/Celebrate the Arts • Band/Chorus/Orchestra • Assemblies • Family Reading Nights • Book Fair • 5th Grade Bring a Friend to Lunch • Student Council • School Store • School Spirit Days • Food Drives • Clothing Drives • Canned Food Drives • Talent Show

12. 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

13. Common Core State Standards • 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 EngageNY.org 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

14. Standardized Testing

15. Kensico School AIS Pyramid of Interventions Very Intensive Support Intervention and Enrichment Daily Direct Instruction

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. Understanding New Levels

20. Reading Anchor Standards • Key Ideas and Details • Read closely… • Analyze…summarize • Analyze…develop • Craft and Structure • Interpret • Text structure…words • Point of View/Purpose • Integration of Knowledge and Ideas • Integrate and evaluate • Evaluate the quality • 2 + Analyze and Compare

21. Writing Anchor Standards • Text Types and Purposes • Write argument • Write informative • Write narrative • Production & Distribution of Writing • Develop, organize, style…purpose • Plan, revise, edit, rewrite • Technology…produce/publish • Research to Build and Present Knowledge • Research • Range of resources • Use evidence

22. 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

23. Kensico School Faculty/Staff Mrs. 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

24. 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 DiBariand Ms. Julie Antonecchia – Secretaries

25. Kensico = Lighthouse

26. Thank You for Spending Your Evening With UsLet’s Have a Great Year! This PowerPoint presentation will be available on the Kensico School website.