P.S./I.S. 217 (Roosevelt Island School) November 2010 PTA Newsletter

P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School) November 2010 PTA Newsletter

K003 Students Pajama Day Read-a-Thon at the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217)

Tuesday, October 25th was students' favorite - "Pajama Day" - at the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217). Children in Lower Grades enjoyed a reading activity in the school hallways.

Photo update from K003 Class Parent Sarah Hill!  More photos from K003 Read-a-Thon here.

Student Government Elections 2010 at the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217)

Middle school students will elect Student Government members for the school year of 2010/11 today, October 25th.  7th and 8th grade students competed for the positions of "school president", "school vice-president", and "secretary" during debates lead by Social Studies teacher Mr. Ulmann this morning.  Alex, Autumn, Imane, Mohamed, Salman, Shahinda, Tamala, and Zulissa gave their speeches, trying to persuade their classmates to vote for them.  All candidates stressed importance of the Middle school fundraising, and promised to work with the school administration and the PTA to bring in more sport events and field trips for the Middle school students.  More photos here.

7th and 8th grade students are travelling to Philadelphia on Friday, November 12th.  This week they will sell "Halloweengrams" - silly messages with attached candy bags, - in the school hallways.  The Halloweengrams are only $1 each, so please, stop by on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, and support Middle school students' fundraising efforts!

Weekly Update From P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School) PTA

Hawks Happenings

For the week of Monday, Oct. 18th  - Friday, October 22nd:

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Parents Stepping UP! 

Special Recognition this week goes to 2 groups of volunteers - First, YOU as a Parent and partner for success in your child's education. Second, our Class Parents who have volunteered to work with their child's Classroom Teacher during this school year   

1) YOU as part of the big picture of Parents Stepping UP! 

THANK YOU to all of you that came out to the PTA General Meeting this past Thursday morning at the school.  We had a wonderful turn out, and minutes from the PTA Meeting will be posted on the PTA's website in the near future.  For anyone that did not know about the website, here it is for you to visit frequently!  www.ps217pta.org  Another way we wish to give thanks, are for all the parents that are finding a way to give back to the school.  The PTA asks that each parent/caregiver of a child at PS/IS 217 volunteers 1 hour each month during the school year.  1 simple hour that can bring such a great reward to students, staff and the school!   

Volunteering can come through many different opportunities - there are opportunities right within our own child's classroom when approved through their teacher and usually coordinated with the Class Parent.  AND there are many, many opportunities to volunteer with the PTA!  You might also not physically be able to volunteer during school hours, however upcoming are many opportunities to provide service outside school hours, and also for those whose time is very strained, donations to the PTA General Fund to give to the programs at the school is always very appreciated. 

Throughout the year the PTA has fundraisers and activities that we need YOU to be apart of!  Please read through the following events this week, and hopefully you can find at least 1 hour (if you can volunteer more we'll take it!) that you'd like to be part of the great movement of service and volunteering that helps our school and students in great ways!

Thank YOU for stepping up as a VOLUNTEER at your child's school and being part of their school success!  

2) Class Parents are an important part to our school, in that they are a wonderful way teachers can utilize extra help and support for their classroom when, and as, needed.   After coordinating with the teacher on specific events, projects and activities - our Class Parents have an opportunity to reach out to the parents of the class and invite them in for those times that work for the teacher and class schedule.  In order to contact you as parents, it is extremely important that the Class Parents have the email address or contact information for ALL parents in that class.  Please encourage other parents in your child's class to give their names & email to your child's Class Parent so that everyone can receive important updates and information about opportunities to be part of the classroom experience with our children!  

Thank you so much to our Class Parents.  We really appreciate what you have and will do for our students and teachers this year!  

Class/Teacher/Parent/Child

Pre-K/AM ~ Ms. Haya - NEW OPENING!  

{The Class Parent moved overseas - please let me know that you can help Pre-K/AM!}

Pre-K/PM ~ Ms. Haya - Ann Roth (Peyton) 

K001 ~ Ms. Kaplan - Loly Diaz (Nicole) 

K002 ~ Ms. Mermel - Kiran Purohit (Amrita) 

K003 ~ Ms. Consiglio - Sarah Hill (Riley) 

101 ~ Ms. Bloom - Tami Granot (Shani), Co-Parent: Debbie Ward (Lillian) 

102 ~ Ms. Villabrera - Sumayya Andrabi (Hafsah) 

103 ~ Mrs. Zuchnovich - Summer Lord (Bryson) 

201 ~ Ms. Feldman - Dawn Price (Gabrielle) 

202 ~ Mrs. Sheridan - Jinyan Han (Han), Co-Parent: Aiesha Eleusizov (Zamir) 

301 ~ Ms. Kenny - Michael Girard (Mira) 

302 ~ Ms. Lindman - Madina Canciello (Leila) 

401 ~ Ms. Rubenstein - Shirley Payne (Janiah) 

402 ~ Ms. Specker - Loly Diaz (Andrea) 

501 ~ Ms. Lewis ~ Kelly Goff (Faith) 

502 ~ Ms. Gambino - OPENING!  We need a parent to work with this wonderful teacher and class!  Please contact Summer Lord at summerday.lord@gmail.com if interested!  

Middle School Parent Board:  **NEW THIS YEAR!** 

Contact Ashanti Mandisa (daughter: Trinity) at ntzaevents@yahoo.com if you are a parent of a student in Grades 6-8, and want to be part of the Parent Board that will be working on helping with fundraisers, events, and being a strong support group for the Middle School!   

Weekly Update From P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School) PTA

 THIS WEEK:  

The students are invited to participate in SPIRIT WEEK at the school, where if the students choose to, they can dress up each day with these different themes: 

MONDAY - Dress Up Day!  {Dress like you are going to work}

TUESDAY - Pajama Day!  {Roll out of bed....doesn't that sound dreamy?!}

WEDNESDAY - School SPIRIT DAY!  

Wear school colors of PURPLE and YELLOW! 

THURSDAY - CrAzY Hair Day!  

FRIDAY - Costume Day! (NO masks, weapons or covered faces!!!)

HALLOWEEN-Grams 

A fundraiser brought to us by the Middle School Student Government, which money raised will help the students for such things as Field Trips this year to Philadelphia (7th and 8th grade students will travel there Friday, November 12th!), Hudson Valley and other main historic sites.  

Information and flyers on how to order a Halloween-Gram will be sent home asap through the Middle School.  You can buy them in the school hallways Tuesday through Thursday this week!!! Please consider purchasing one or more Halloween-Grams to send to your favorite 'Ghoul or Goblin'....better known as our Girls and Guys at the school! :) 

Friday will also feature:

A show for Kindergartners - 2nd Graders  

A friendly competition for 3rd - 6th Graders in the school yard 

A dance for 7th - 8th Graders 

MONDAY - Dress for Success Day

Student of the Month Assembly 

Students awarded the Student of the Month for October will be recognized in assemblies in the School Auditorium at the following times: 

3rd - 5th Grades: 9:00 - 9:35am

Pre-K - 2nd Grades:  9:40 - 10am 

6th - 8th Grades: 10:00 - 10:30am  

Learning Leader Training:  

1st Day of training for Elementary School Volunteers! 

Time:  9-11am, School Library (2nd Floor) 

Cherrydale Fundraiser 

This is the last day for orders to be turned in after the deadline was extended this past week!  Questions:  Contact Nikki Leopold at nikkipta@gmail.com for any questions. 

TUESDAY - Pajama Day

 A fun reading event is planned for Tuesday morning for students in Kindergarten - 5th Grade!  Be sure to ask your child about their Independent Reading activity that they will have with other students & classes!  

WEDNESDAY - School SPIRIT Day! 

Classes will work together to decorate their class hallways in School Colors to really celebrate the school and SPIRIT of the week!   

Be sure to look for these decorated spaces around the school:   

- Kindergarten Wing 

- 1st/2nd Grade Wing (2nd Floor) 

- 3rd Grade Wing (2nd Floor) 

- 4th & 5th Grade Corners (3rd Floor)  

2nd Day of Elementary School Learning Leader Training:  

Time:  9-11am, School Library (2nd Floor) 

THURSDAY - cRaZy Hair Day! 

3rd and FINAL Day of Elementary School Learning Leader Training:  

Time:  9-11am, School Library (2nd Floor) 

FRIDAY - Costume Day! 

BOX TOPS for Education DUE!  

Any Box Tops that students have collected during the summer months and through the month of October are due!  Students should turn in to their classroom teacher by Friday, in order for them to receive credit for the month of October towards: 

* 100 Box Tops for Individual Students to earn a FREE BOOK and 

* 500 Box Tops for Classes to earn a Build Your Own Ice Cream Party!  

Remember!  Check out http://www.boxtops4education.com/ to sign-up under our school's ID and track our progress. Also, you'll be able to receive coupons and special BOX TOP bonus opportunities and shop through BOX TOP Market Place to earn even MORE cash for our school.  Questions - please contact Summer Lord: summerday.lord@gmail.com

SPIRIT WEEK & HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS! 

School Activities - Time for each event will be announced 

K - 2nd Grade - Special Show will be schedule 

3rd - 6th Graders - Outdoor competition in School Yard 

7th - 8th Graders - Dance  

Classroom Celebrations - Contact your Classroom Teacher or Class Parent to find out if your class is doing their own Halloween Celebration in class, what time it will be held at, and what items might be needed to put together the activity.  

November 2010 PTA Calendar P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School)

November 2010 PTA Calendar PS/IS 217 (The Roosevelt Island School)

Halloween Party 2010 at PS/IS 217 (The Roosevelt Island School)

 

PTA HALLOWEEN FUNDRAISER!   

Help from parents & families of PS/IS 217 needed!  Please contact Nikki Leopold at nikkipta@gmail.com for specific ways in which you can volunteer your time & resources for this event!  

October "Student of the Month" Ceremony at P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School)

P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School) held the first Student of the month ceremony in 2010/11 school year this morning, October 25th.   Congratulations to our students of the month and their families!

Class 103 Field Trip to the Fire Museum

P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School) first graders visited Fire Museum of NYC on Friday, October 22nd.  Students watched a 15-minute video about fire safety, and learned about the history of firefighting in New York on a guided tour of the museum.  The tour concluded at a mock apartment - fire safety training room, - where students identified and discussed potential fire hazards at home, and finally had to escape from a simulated "fire" - steam-filled room.

Books for Class 103

We are still looking for book donations for the classroom library!  Update from Summer (Class 103 parent):

We have the following books that will be donated: 3 Junie B. Jones Books  &  A-Z Mysteries (from a Scholastic Book Order) 

Please let me know if there are books that you are willing to send in from the list: Amber Brown, Horrible Harry, Poppleton, Fox In Love, Marvin Redpost, Junie B. Jones, Little Bill, Frog and Toad, Cam Jansen, Henry and Mudge

Class 103 students during their reading time.

Halloween Class 103 Activity

Last week of October is a Spirit Week at P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School), which includes Middle School student-teacher basketball game on Wednesday, October 27th, obstacle course activities for Middle School and Elementary students, and of course children's favorite - dressing in different themes for each day.  This year we'll have Crazy Hair Day, Pajama Day, School Colors (purple and yellow) Day, Dress For Success (work attire) Day, with the final theme on Friday being HALLOWEEN COSTUMES!

Message from Class 103 parent Summer Lord:

The last day of the Spirit Week will also be a Halloween Class 103 Party. Time of the Class Party will be determined, as there are still factors TBD with the school schedule. We do know it would be in the afternoon...I will let you know the time as soon as it is decided upon.

Please let me know if you'd be interested in helping for any of the following areas:

1) Help put together one of the Craft/Activity Stations

The activities will be:
*Halloween Bingo
*Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin
*Jack-O-Lantern Art Activity

If someone is willing to make a Halloween Bingo at home using your computer and Clip-Art please let me know! We'd need about 4-5 different cards so you don't need to make all 20 Bingo Cards different!


The other 2 activities we can make the items for on Wednesday after the Pumpkin Scoop, as the children pack up to go to Spanish at about 1:45 pm, so we can stay in the room and work to have everything ready for the Halloween Party on Friday. We'd also be assembling little "goodie-punkins" for the students!

2) VOLUNTEERS FOR THE PARTY
* at least 4 parents that can help during the party with games, treats and fun!

3) PARTY TREATS

We'll be having a mix of fun and healthy snacks for our party....so there isn't a complete sugar over-load with the children! There is a mix of food and non-food items needed. Please let me know what you can send in for part of the Halloween Fun for that day!

Cupcakes (1 sets of 12 cupcakes. Talia has one set, so only one other set of 12 needed
Please put CHOCOLATE frosting on top! I'm going to add a little "grave-yard" cookie or pretend spider to the top of each cupcake for some ghoulish fun!
A bag of Pretzels, Chex-Mix, etc.
Sliced Apples - 2 parents that can send in about 40 apple slices (4 slices X 10 children)
Juice - 3 parents that can send in a package of 6 low-sugar juice boxes/pouches.
Paper Plates & Napkins - for 20 children, and perhaps a Halloween Design/colors :)

If anyone has any decorations or wants to donate balloons, crepe paper or such, feel free to send that in and during lunch time any parents interested can work to add some Halloween Spirit to the room!

***PLEASE SEND IN ALL DONATIONS FOR THE PARTY BY WEDNESDAY!*** (except for the cupcakes - those wouldn't taste very good by the party! Please bring those on Friday morning!)

Thank you to everyone! If you have any questions about any of this, please email or give me a call. And again if you are willing to sign up for something, please let me know so that we have everything covered and not duplicates in any area.

Pumpkin Scoop Activity for Class 103

Class 103 will be doing a pumpkin activity on WEDNESDAY, October 27th!

What we need:
* 4 pumpkins to be donated! {one for each table of children in class}
Please email me back and let me know if you can donate a Medium/Large Pumpkin.  Please cut the TOP of the pumpkin into a lid so that the children can reach inside and scoop out the insides (no other cutting required).

*LARGE metal spoons (or similar spoon to be used to scoop out the insides).  Please send them in to be used for the activity by TUESDAY with your name attached so that it can be returned to you.

*Newspapers...it is going to be a little messy.

*VOLUNTEERS!
4 parents that would be able to be with the class from about 12:30 pm onward (about 1 hour). Please email Summer to let her know if you'll be able to come and help!

Class 103 Class Fund

A message from Summer Lord (Class 103 Class Parent):

One of the things that I'm working with Mrs. Zucknovich with this year, is a trial run on a Classroom Discretionary Budget.  This was my idea as I noticed that costs were adding up and when asked I found out Mrs. Z is paying a lot out of pocket for extra things our children are benefiting from in class.  Examples are:  Envelopes and Stamps for the Pajama Drive, supplies, and favors and set-up for class events.   We decided to test run the idea of a Class Budget, and if it works here perhaps it will be the "thing" to do with all classes next year at the school!  If you could please send in $5 this month, and then each month another $5 to be sent in the first week of the month - this will help cover all these extra expenses.  If there is a time when there is a surplus in the class budget, than I will make sure that we let you know not to send in any more donations :)  Until then - if you can please send in $5 cash at your earliest convenience in an envelope marked 'October Money' and have your child turn it into Mrs. Zucknovich.  Thank you very much for your help on this matter!

There is also the Pajama Drive that the class is working on, which an update went home today with news that the class has been able to bring in 25 pairs of pajamas!  I will cover this again in next week's Class Update and include it in with the Hawks Happenings to be sent out with the entire school email list...however, the new point that we all might want to consider is if we know any Corporations or Businesses that will match our donation!

Last tid-bit before going into all the events coming up - Mrs. Zucknovich and I will be planning out events for Parents to come in and volunteer time and be part of the Classroom Experience.  Updates will come shortly!  

Thank you for your support! 

Fall Scholastic Book Fair at P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School)

P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School) will host a Scholastic Book Fair first week of November.  The theme for the fair is "Super Heroes".  Please be sure to stop by the Art Room any time on November 1-5 and pick the books to buy from you teacher's wish list for your child's classroom!


A message for Class 103 from Talia Jimenez:

"Ms. Zucknovich’s class needs books. Here’s a list that I asked Ms. Z for. They are mostly series books, levels L, M, N and O. If you have any of these books and are able to donate them, that would be great. If you can afford buying some for the class, all the better (you can buy now, or starting Nov. 1st is the Book Fair and money raised there comes back as Scholastic Credit that is given to teachers to buy even more books!). So that there are no duplicates, please reply to this list with the book(s) you are able to donate. Thank you!

Amber Brown

Horrible Harry

Poppleton

Fox In love

Marvin Redpost

Junie B. Jones

 Little Bill

Frog and Toad

Cam Jansen

A-Z Mystery

Henry and Mudge"

Weekly Update From P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School) PTA

Hawks Happenings

For the week of Monday, Oct. 18th  - Friday, October 22nd:

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Parents Stepping UP! 

A BIG thank you to these parents that volunteered their time on Picture Day!

Yukari Obinata, Miwako Okumura, Debbie Ward, Shirley Payne, Amy Chavez-Lamb, Tami Granot, Dawn Price, Loly Diaz, Ashanti Mandisa, Hina Asim, Tisha Whitehead, Madina Canciello, Laisa Kalotiti, Aiesha Eleusizov, and Olga Shchuchinov.  

We had so many parents excited to volunteer at the school, that we were able to help with the pictures for each class and individual students AND get these things accomplished: Count Box Tops; Put up Bulletin Boards; Mark donated books for teachers; Prep the Dare to Care Room where students will redeem their personal Beckman Bucks.  Wow!!! 

Thank you to our parents that contribute to our school in so many wonderful ways. 

CHERRYDALE Fundraiser 

Deadline for ALL orders & money - MONDAY, OCT. 25th!   

October Birthday Celebration!

THIS Wednesday the 20th ~ 2:15pm, Cafeteria 

All students with a birthday in the month of October, are invited for a Birthday Celebration with the Principal. *Parents of Birthday Students are invited to attend and help serve cake. Contact Aiesha Eleusizov to volunteer or for any questions: aieshae@yahoo.com

PTA General Meeting 

Thursday Morning - 8:45AM {upstairs/2nd floor}  ALL parents invited.  

Please come and discuss important updates and information regarding our students and the school at these meetings!  If you have any important questions or concerns, please drop a note either in the PTA Box in the school lobby or email PTA President, Nikki Leopold at nikkipta@gmail.com.  We look forward to seeing you there!  

Become a Learning Leader

Learning Leaders offers a very specific opportunity to become a volunteer within the school. Learning Leaders are trained in strategies for working with children in reading, writing and math - including child development and learning styles. There are also opportunities for Learning Leaders to become part of ArtWorks, Math Tutoring, Science Projects and much more! To become a Learning Leader you must complete ALL 3 training sessions. We are lucky to have the training sessions at PS/IS 217 this month of October...usually they are located at an office downtown - so please consider becoming a Learning Leader and join us for the training!

The dates for Elementary School Training:

• Monday, October 25th ~ 9-11am
• Wednesday, October 27th ~ 9-11am
• Thursday, October 28th ~ 9-11am

The dates for Middle School Training:

•  Monday, November 1st ~ 9-11am
•  Wednesday, November 3rd ~ 9-11am
•  Thursday, November 4th ~ 9-11am

An ORANGE colored paper was sent home from our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Lauraine Rademaker. Please fill this out and turn it back in by October 18th. If you need a new paper please stop by and visit Ms. Lauraine in the office, or email me back and I will see that a paper comes home with your child.

We are excited to have this opportunity and hope MANY of our parents will join in to become a Learning Leader! Visit www.learningleaders.org for more information.

International Dinner

The PTA is excited to start preparations for the International Dinner which will take place this year during the month of November. We are looking for those interested in cooking a dish representing your culture/home country, or in other ways to showcase about where you are from. More information will be sent home this week - please look for the flyer within the next few days!
We hope that you'll consider participating either in preparing something for the event or coming to the dinner in support the unique diversity of the PS/IS 217 Family Community!
For questions or to volunteer, contact Kristi Towey: kristi.pta217@gmail.com

BOX TOPS for Education! 
We are in the final 2 weeks to collect BOX TOPS for October! This is a huge month as students will be bringing in the BOX TOPS collected during the summer months as well as September and October. The results are going to be amazing!

Each student is encouraged to find/collect at least 10 Box Tops...however, any amount from 1 to 100 are appreciated! Students should submit BOX TOPS either on a Collection Sheet (located in the Parent Communication Corner/Hanging Folders) OR put into a Zip-loc bag WITH child's name printed legibly in permanent marker. Having the students name is critical so that we can track individual and class progress!
BOX TOP Competitions/Rewards for Classes/Individual Students:
*100 BOX TOPS - Each student that submits 100 BOX TOPS will receive a Certificate for 1 free book of their choosing, to be redeemed with the PTA.
*500 BOX TOPS - ANY class that reaches 500 will earn a 'Build Your Own Ice Cream Sundae Party! Which class will be the first to reach this goal?!
Remember! Check out http://www.boxtops4education.com/ to sign-up under our school's ID and track our progress. Also, you'll be able to receive coupons and special BOX TOP bonus opportunities!
Questions contact Summer Lord: summerday.lord@gmail.com

UPCOMING CALENDAR EVENTS:

• Monday, 25th - Friday, 29th - SPIRIT WEEK!
• More info. on themes for each day will be coming! 
• Friday, 29th - Parents Chit-Chat "Social" Hour, 8:30am 
• Come get to know other parents, hear PTA updates and talk together in a casual environment. Morning beverages provided. 
• Friday, 29th - BOX TOPS for OCTOBER DUE! AND Halloween Festivities!

Play Yard Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School)

P.S./I.S. 217 students joined ZogSports representatives this Tuesday at the ceremony officially opening our new play yard.  ZogSports players and Modell's Sporting Goods customers, raised over $25,000 for ZogSports/Play For Your Cause over Community Weekend at Modell's Sporting Goods. ZogSports/Play For Your Cause made a $25,000 donation to Out2Play to help sponsor the redevelopment of the playground at P.S. 217 on Roosevelt Island.  2nd Grade Classes sang a song, and 3rd Grade Classes wrote letters to those individuals that were instrumental in making possible the new play yard at the school.  Middle School Band students gave a performance in the auditorium.

Photo M.Lotus

Executive PTA Board Meeting with the Teachers

On Friday, October 8th, P.S./I.S. 217 PTA held an Executive Board meeting with the Roosevelt Island School teachers.  The PTA thanks all the faculty members for joining us and discussing their expectations of parental classroom involvements.  Teachers would like to see more parent volunteers for the field trip, and more support from the class parents in organizing events for their class.

 

Students from Class 103 gave a brief presentation for the Pajama Drive Community Project they are currently working on.

School Leadership Team Meetings at P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School)

P.S./I.S. 217 (Roosevelt Island School) will hold 2 School Leadership Team meetings this month: Friday October 15^th and Friday October 22. Any PS217 parent can attend, the SLT meetings start at 7:30 am in the Conference Room.


The School Leadership Team puts together the school’s comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP), which is due November 1st.  It is a document that details the school’s goals and strategies for the following year based on the current academic year’s progress.  Everyone is welcome to join the meeting.

Weekly Update From P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School) PTA

To: Parents & Families of PS/IS 217

Hawks Happenings

For the week of Tues., October 12th - Fri., October 15th: 

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THANK YOU! 

A big thank you to all of the families that helped with our first two community building activities and fundraisers for the year.  This past Saturday (Oct. 9th) we held both the PTA Tag Sale in the morning (at the Farmer's Market) and enjoyed Jeremy Plays Guitar in the afternoon (at the school). 

We appreciate support from families - whether you gave donations for the Tag Sale, stopped by to say 'Hello' and buy something at the Tag Sale, or gave your time in making the sale possible....we really appreciate you!  For the concert in the afternoon it was enjoyable seeing children and families dancing to the tunes of Jeremy and his band!  We shared the event with The Roosevelt Island Day Nursery families & look forward to those children joining PS/IS 217 Family Community within a year or two!  

PLAY YARD RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY 

TODAY!  Tuesday, October 12th 

Time: 10am 

Place: Outside in the play yard 

(If there is rain it will be moved to the Auditorium)

*All parents are invited to attend* 

Students that will participate in the ceremony include: 

• 2nd Grade Classes - singing a song 
• 3rd Grade Classes - they who wrote letters to those individuals that were instrumental in making possible the new play yard at the school.  
• Middle School Band students who will be performing. 

PICTURE DAY 

Reminder!  This Thursday, Oct. 14th is PICTURE DAY for all students at the school. Please fill out the paper that was sent home with what package you are choosing for your child and send in the payment with your child on Thursday.  If you need a new paper to fill out - please stop by the office and pick one up!  

We are in need of parent volunteers on Thursday to help the classes as they come down for pictures.  We would help with things such as making sure hair is combed, faces clean and outfits look their best!  

Please email Summer Lord at summerday.lord@gmail.com if you can volunteer, and please specify what time frame(s) you are available.  If there are multiple times or you can help at any time during the day - let me know you are flexible and I will fit you in where there is the greatest need.  You will be emailed before Thursday on where to meet that day.  Thank you for taking the time to volunteer which helps this event run smoothly for all classes and students the entire day!    

Picture Day Volunteers - Thursday - October 14th  

Time frame(s): 

8:30am - 10am   

10am - 11am

11am - 12pm

12pm - 1pm

1pm - 2pm 

2pm - 2:45pm (pick-up)  

CHERRYDALE FUNDRAISING 

This is the final week to have students participate and sale for the Cherrydale Fundraiser.  Please work to get ALL orders place and turned in by NEXT Monday, the 18th.  

UPCOMING CALENDAR EVENTS

Monday - Oct. 18th - Cherrydale Order & Payments are DUE! 

Wednesday - Oct. 20th - October Birthday with the Principal, 2:15pm 

ALL students who have had a birthday in the month of October will be able to celebrate).  *Parents are encouraged to attend and help serve the cake and help with the students.  Please meet in the Cafeteria at 2pm to volunteer on that day. 

Thursday, 21st - General PTA Meeting 8:45am - ALL parents invited!  

Monday, 25th - Friday, 29th - SPIRIT WEEK!  

More info. on themes for each day will be coming!  

October 2010 P.S./I.S. 217 (Roosevelt Island School) PTA Newsletter

PS/IS 217 Roosevelt Island School October 2010 PTA Newsletter

Learning Leaders Training Sessions

Learning Leaders offers free training sessions for parents of elementary school children. The program is primarily intended for volunteers, who would afterwards come and help teachers at their respective schools. Even if you do not have time for volunteering, this program provides valuable information for any parents.

There are three 2-hour sessions held at the PS/IS 217 Library, room 260.  The training will be conducted by Brian Tofte-Schumacher, Program Coordinator for Learning Leaders.

At the end you receive a book with lots of great teaching ideas and games. Those who complete the application form and obtain 2 reference letters available for downloading from Learning Leaders website, also receive a badge that grants them access to P.S.217 during school hours and allows to volunteer if they choose to do so.

The next 3-classes session for elementary school parents is in October
@9 am - 11 am on:
Monday, October 25

Wednesday, October 27

Thursday, October 28

You can sign up for these classes with Ms. Lauraine (parent coordinator) at the school main office.

Music Class Update

Students at P.S./I.S. 217 (Roosevelt Island School) are already busy rehearsing for the Winter Concert.  But singing is not the only thing they are learning during their music periods.  According to Harold Solow, PS 217 music teacher and Music Director for the school concerts, students in grades K through 2 play drums and other percussion instruments.  Children will have a choice of other instruments when they reach 3rd grade (flute, violin, French horn, trombone, clarinet, etc.).  In the meantime, Mr. Solow suggests parents taking their children to the concerts and exposing them to a variety of sounds from different instruments.  This will help students make informed decision when choosing the instrument they would like to play most by the 3rd grade.

PBIS Character Education Program Launch at the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217)

It was great to see so many parents this morning at the launch of PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) - school-wide character building program at the Roosevelt Island School. Teachers and administration, a.k.a. "217 Dare to Care Team", performed skits portraying students' behavior in the hallways. Mrs.Z (Class 103 teacher) was great as a "teacher", navigating the hallways with a group of "unruly students" played by actual P.S. 217 faculty members.  By the end of the performance students have seen examples of how to show Respect to themselves, their community, and their environment.  Children in Lower and Upper grades alike loved seeing their instructors as actors. School principal Ms.Beckman brought "Beckman Buck" - a new reward token - to life on stage as a giant pretend money bill.

Expect more theatrical sketches from the talented 217 "Dare to Care" Team about the Roosevelt Island School's core values: academic excellence, safety, respect, collaboration, and diversity!

Photos by M.Lotus

P.S./I.S. 217 Class 103 Field Trip to the Roosevelt Island Public Library

Students in Class 103 visited Roosevelt Island Public Library on Friday, October 1st.  It was a perfect trip for a rainy day. Students learned about library rules, listened to a story, picked up their own books and checked them out.

Pajama Drive Community Project Update

According to Class 103 teacher Mrs.Z., as of Tuesday, October 5, students have already donated 9 pajamas towards our class goal of 40 and brought in their first addresses to write to!  Children wrote multiple persuasive letters for the project this week, and are preparing an oral presentation for one of the upcoming PTA meetings.  A representative from Scholastic is due to come in - more details to follow.
Look for colorful posters made by Class 103 students in the school hallways!

P.S./I.S. 217 Dare to Care Team Launches PBIS

Come watch P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School) "Dare to Care" Team launch PBIS on Thursday, October 7, 2010!  Show times are 8:45 am-9:15 am for the elementary school students, and 9:30-10:00 am for middle school students.

What is PBIS?  PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.  It is a system approach to teaching our students behavior expectations in a positive and proactive manner.  The school is implementing it in response to parents' request for a comprehensive character building program at P.S. 217.

Mural at P.S./I.S. 217 (The Roosevelt Island School) Playground

Need a little something to brighten up this rainy day? Check out the video of ZogSports volunteers painting a mural at PS/IS 217 (Roosevelt Island School) new play yard!

FOSS Kits for Science Classes

Some parents asked what type of science kits do the students at P.S./I.S. 217 use during their science period.  Mrs.Z (Class 103 teacher) clarified:

"We use the FOSS kits at 217. We stagger them so 1 month (or so) it is Social Studies and the next it's Science. We will be starting a science unit on animals/insects around 10/17. We had to order the bugs and that takes at least 3 weeks. Other units include properties of matter and weather and seasons. All include observations and experiments that are hands on. So we are just waiting for the bugs to be sent."

FOSS website has a useful section, which parents can use to study with their child at home. Click on "Teacher/Parent Info" and then "Home/School Connection":

Letter to Parents

Each FOSS module includes a letter to parents to tell you what your child will be doing in the investigations at school and to share ways that you can develop their scientific interests at home.

Home/School Connections

There are many ways to extend your child's science experiences at home and have fun together. We have developed a Home/School Connection for each of the five investigations in the Insects Module. These require little or no materials from home. Young children will need a parent, grandparent, or a big brother or sister to help read the directions and play along. Check them out!

Investigation 1: Mealworms—Write a news flash to tell about your new insect!

Investigation 2: Waxworms—Write a news flash to describe your insect changes!