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!