The Lion's Pen Bi-Weekly Newsletter

William P. Bohen, Ph.D.

Principal

Greetings from Maple East! We have had a great fun filled week with daily spirit days and costume celebrations at school today! Below are a few important updates as we approach November:

Erin's Law

In 2019, New York State enacted Erin’s Law, which requires all public schools in New York to provide annual, age-appropriate prevention education regarding child sexual abuse and exploitation. The law is named after Erin Merryn, a brave survivor who was abused by trusted adults as a child and struggled with fear, shame, and not knowing how to ask for help.

Because keeping children safe is our highest priority, the Williamsville Central School District has partnered with the Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf to deliver these presentations across our elementary schools. On Wednesday, November 4, a facilitator from BestSelf will present to students during PE time. Your child’s PE teacher and our School Counselor will also be present.

The presentation uses age-appropriate, sensitive, and non-threatening language focused on:

• Empowering students to speak up to keep themselves and others safe.

• Demonstrating kindness to classmates and community members through everyday relationships.

• Communicating effectively with trusted adults at home, at school, and in the community.

• Helping students identify the safe adults in their lives.

If you have any questions regarding these presentations, please feel free to contact our main office.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

It is hard to believe that November is already here! We are currently preparing for our Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences, which will take place on the following dates:

• Thursday, December 3: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

• Friday, December 4: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Half day for students; 10:25 AM dismissal)

• Monday, December 7: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Half day for students; 10:25 AM dismissal)

We will send a WITS mail during the week of November 2 with detailed sign-up instructions. Conference registration will be open in your WITS Parent Portal from Thursday, November 5 through Wednesday, November 25. We will once again offer both virtual and in-person options.

Important November Dates

• Wednesday, 11/4: Erin's Law Presentations

• Wednesday, 11/11: Veterans Day (No School)

• Friday, 11/13: PTA Ice Skating at Northtown Center

• Wednesday, 11/18: Student of the Month Parade

• Wednesday, 11/18: PTA General Meeting at 6:30 PM

• Thursday, 11/26 – Friday, 11/27: Thanksgiving Recess (No School)

Kristy Giardina, Assistant Principal

A Quick Reminder About Morning & Afternoon Drop-Offs

Hi everyone! As we work to keep our morning and afternoon transitions running smoothly and safely for all of our students, we’d love to share a quick refresher regarding our parking lot:

• Bus Loop: To make sure our buses can safely load and unload students, cars are not permitted in the bus loop before 8:30 AM or after 1:30 PM.

• Accessible Parking: The handicapped parking spaces are reserved strictly for vehicles displaying a valid permit or tag. If you are using these spots, please make sure your tag is clearly displayed on your dashboard or rearview mirror.

Thank you so much for your cooperation and help in keeping our school grounds safe and accessible for everyone!

FALL RETAKE PICTURE DAY📸

Wednesday, November 18th, 2026

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BEGINNING OF YEAR REMINDERS

Reminder for Pick Up

Please remember to always have ID when coming into school as you may be required to provide it when picking up your child.

Visitor Sign In Procedure

Our District utilizes the Raptor System for visitors coming into the building. With this procedure, you will need to provide photo ID that will be scanned into the system for security purposes. Once you are scanned the first time, subsequent visits will only require us to sign you in with your last name. Your name remains in the system from year to year.

Attendance Reminder

If your child will be out sick, please be sure to contact the Attendance Office via WITS Mail or by calling 716-626-8800/option 1.

Dismissal Reminder

If there is any change to your child’s regular dismissal routine, please call the MAIN OFFICE at (716) 626-8801 as teachers may not always get the message in time for dismissal.

Joelle McCormack, RN, School Nurse

Just a reminder for the 26-27 school year

If your child needs an emergency medication( EPI, INHALER) to be kept in the health office please drop off during school hours. A current doctor order is needed at the time of drop off. Thank you.

Please consider sending in extra clothes with your child to store in their cubby, the health office has a limited supply.

Getting back to school. Some tips on distinguishing between cold and flu season vs allergies

Allergies:

A change of season may trigger some seasonal allergies. Allergy symptoms include:

• Sneezing

• congestion

• runny nose

• Itchy eyes

• Clear nasal drainage

• Fever free

These are some ways the body can respond to allergens in the air

Seasonal allergy symptoms can come on suddenly and last awhile.

Colds:

• Runny nose or stuffy nose

• Cough

• Sneezing

• Sore throat

• Watery eyes

• Occasional fever

Cold symptoms are contagious and usually peak in 2-3 day

Good hand washing is encouraged.

Influenza “the Flu” has been confirmed in your child’s school. Influenza is a very contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. Influenza can cause mild to severe illness. Most cases will resolve on their own within seven to ten days, but some cases may require hospitalization.

Common symptoms one to four days following exposure to Influenza may include:

- fever or feeling feverish/chills

- cough

- sore throat

- runny or stuffy nose

- muscle or body aches

- headache

- fatigue

- some may experience vomiting and diarrhea

Children experiencing the following symptoms require immediate medical attention:

- fast breathing or trouble breathing

- bluish skin color

- not drinking enough fluids

- very sleepy or lethargic

If your child develops the above symptoms, please do not send your child to school. Instead, please contact your child’s health care provider and mention that Influenza is in the class, for a prompt and proper diagnosis and treatment. Young children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic medical conditions such as heart and lung disease, asthma or diabetes are at higher risk for a more severe illness and complications such as pneumonia, ear infections, and dehydration. A child with Influenza may return to school 24 hours after the child’s last fever and when the child is well enough to learn.

The best way to prevent the spread of Influenza is to get a flu vaccine each year, wash your hands frequently with warm soap and water, refrain from putting your hands to your face and mouth, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school nurse or your child’s health care provider. For additional information, please visit the NYS Department of Health website at https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/fact_sheet.htm

At Maple East, we care about our students and families, and we know that sometimes a little extra support can make a big difference. Below is a link to a form that is a great way for us to learn how we can help with things like food, winter clothing, and holiday gifts.

Everything you share will stay confidential and will only be viewed by the Social Worker to connect your family with resources and assistance. Please complete the form below if interested to let us know what would be most helpful for your family. Together, we can make sure every child has what they need to feel cared for, learn, grow and feel included. Please feel free to reach out at any time for any support that your family may need.

https://forms.gle/kUaUHhDsnhaiLdpH6

Please feel free to reach out to Nikki Klatman (nlklatm@williamsvillek12.org or 716-626-8806) at any time for any support that your family may need.

Andrea Armstrong

Wellness Facilitator

Together We Stand Against Bullying!

Get ready to wear ORANGE! On Wednesday, October 21, our school will celebrate Unity Day, a special day dedicated to kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and standing together against bullying.

Started by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, Unity Day reminds us that every student deserves to feel safe, valued, and welcomed at school. Wearing orange is a bright and powerful way to show that we care about one another and believe that no one should ever experience bullying.

To celebrate, we invite all students and staff to wear orange on Wednesday, October 21! Let’s fill our school with orange and show our commitment to creating a kind and caring community.

We’ll also come together in our hallways to sing and dance along to Glen Colton’s anti-bullying song which celebrates friendship, respect, and the importance of standing up for one another.

Remember, Unity Day is more than just wearing orange for one day. It’s about the choices we make every day: including others, using kind words, helping someone who is being bullied, and speaking up when something isn’t right.

Let’s show that when we stand together, we can make a difference. Wear orange, spread kindness, and let’s unite against bullying!

DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)

The Maple East Elementary DEI Committee met on October 20, 2026, to conduct an analysis of the school's core curriculum, specifically focusing on identifying examples of cultural responsiveness across grade levels in both Social Studies and English Language Arts (ELA). Given the implementation of a new ELA program—Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA)—this school year, the committee prioritized examining how concepts crossover between subject areas and spiral as students advance through the grades. The analysis revealed robust alignment across grade levels and subjects, demonstrating that students are consistently exposed to diverse cultures, traditions, beliefs, and multiple perspectives on historical events as they progress through the program. To synthesize these findings into a practical instructional tool, the committee's immediate goal is to develop a comprehensive matrix documenting these examples as a resource for educators.

SDM (Shared Decision Making) Update

The Maple East Shared Decision Making Committee held its first meeting of the school year on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

2026–2027 SDM Team Members:

• Administrators: Principal William Bohen and Assistant Principal Kristy Giardina

• Teachers: Kelly Cecchini, Jennifer Grohusko, and Jennifer Wulf

• Parents: Courtney Slabyk (and one position TBD)

During our September meeting, the committee reviewed, revised, and finalized our school goals for the 2026–2027 school year. These goals will be posted on the school website in the near future, and we will send an update as soon as they are available for you to review. At upcoming meetings, committee and department chairs will share updates on the progress being made toward these goals.

Our next SDM meeting is scheduled for November 18, 2026.

Stacie Durnford

PTA President

September 18, 2026

Become a member - www.mapleeastpta.com

@maple.east.pta

Maple East PTA

StrongWILL Food Pantry is pleased to host a Thanksgiving Market on Saturday, November 21, from 9:00 AM to Noon in the Mill Middle School cafeteria.

This special event is designed to support local families who could use a little extra help this holiday season. Families will have the opportunity to shop at no cost for Thanksgiving groceries, including a turkey and traditional holiday sides, with items such as boxed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, cranberry sauce, rolls, and pies, to prepare a holiday meal at home.

Families interested in participating are encouraged to contact their school social worker for more information.

http://www.williamsvilleseptsa.org/

Important/Save the Dates - (every Friday is Wear Blue Spirit Day!)

• Wednesday, 11/4: Erin's Law Presentations

• Wednesday, 11/11: Veterans Day (No School)

• Friday, 11/13: PTA Ice Skating at Northtown Center

• Wednesday, 11/18: Student of the Month Parade

• Wednesday, 11/18: PTA General Meeting at 6:30 PM

• Wednesday, 11/18: PTA General Meeting at 6:30 P

• Thursday, 11/26 – Friday, 11/27: Thanksgiving Recess (No School)

Main Office:

William P Bohen, PhD, Principal

Kristy Giardina, Assistant Principal

Laura Mietz, Senior Clerk Typist

Cynthia Carlino, Clerk Typist

Kimberly Beck, Part Time Clerk Typist

Phone: 716-626-8800
Fax: 716-626-8808

Attendance:

Lindsay Pecoraro, Attendance/ Health Office Aide

Phone: 716-626-8800

Health Office:

Joelle McCormack, RN, School Nurse

Phone: 716-626-8810
Fax: 716-626-8831

School Website:

https://mapleeast.williamsvillek12.org/

Address:

1500 Maple Road
Williamsville, NY 14221