Happy Spring Chestnut Street Families,

It’s hard to believe that May is already here and your kindergarteners are getting ready to move up to 1st grade. Time truly flies, and it’s been incredible to watch your children grow, learn, and flourish over the year. Thank you for your continued support, dedication, and for sharing your wonderful children with us at Chestnut Street School. We’re so grateful for all that you do.

May is packed with exciting events and activities! From field trips to Moving Up Day in June, there’s so much to look forward to. Please keep an eye out for school flyers with important dates and details to help you stay connected and informed.

As the school year winds down, let’s keep the joy of reading alive. Your children have developed strong reading skills and strategies, and now is a great time to encourage conversations about the books they enjoy. Keep having fun with reading!

After reading a book with your kindergartener(s) ask them some of the following questions to strengthen their conversation skills about the text:

• What is happening in this part of the story?
• Do you agree or disagree with how the character acted? Why?
• How did the character change from the beginning of the book to the end?
• What can we learn from this book?
• What was your favorite part? Why?

Planting seeds is one of our favorite kindergarten activities and many of our classrooms are in the process of germinating seeds. After planting the seeds, children learn the importance of taking care of them while observing their growth. Be sure to ask your kindergartener(s) about the seeds they have planted.

Kindergarteners have also been developing and analyzing visual images for quantities up to 10. Have them share strategies for accurately counting and keeping track of larger quantities of things around the house!

Let’s finish the race strong!! Giving and doing our best until the end of the year!!

#WHe are always here to help!

Dr. Lisa Minicozzi

• Help math and science skills bloom in your garden. If you’re working on a garden, this is a perfect opportunity to teach math and science concepts while your kids get some fresh air. Have them measure water into a watering can, count seeds, start tallying days on a calendar to keep track of plant growth, and record observations. Try starting a windowsill garden with kids. They can measure soil into small pots, count and plant seeds, predict which seeds will sprout first, and make observations.
  
• Enjoy the outdoors. Engage in outdoor family activities that give your child’s motor skills a pick-me-up. Choose activities that involve both gross motor skills (running, jumping, playing catch, dribbling a ball) and fine motor skills (collecting and sorting objects, using small tools). Go on a family walk and play “I Spy.” Have an outdoor family dance party. Collect things like pinecones, acorns, and pretty stones in a pail, and help your child sort them into groups. Make and hang homemade feeders for your backyard or windowsill birds. Your kids will get critical motor skills practice, and the fresh air and fun will give everyone an emotional boost.
  

• If your child will be absent, please call Nurse Angela before 8:30 AM at 516-390-3155
• Kindly ensure your child has a full change of clothes in the classroom.
• If there will be a change in your child's afternoon transportation, please write a note or email to the teacher. For last-minute changes, please call Mrs. Ventura or Mrs. White before 2:00 PM. 516-390-3150
• Please select your child's daily lunch order on the printed menu by circling or highlighting the choices and return it to school ASAP. The link for the menus is below. Please note, at times the item listed on the menu may not be available and your child will be offered an alternative option.
• Please do not block the driveways of the homes around our school. Our neighbors have reached out to express concern about their driveways being blocked during drop-off and dismissal. Thank you for your cooperation.

If you or someone you know has a child who is eligible for PreK or Kindergarten for 2025, please call Mrs. Ventura today at 516-390-3150 to find out about our upcoming registration. We still have some remaining spots for this year open. Eligibility requirements: resident of the WHUFSD and born between 12/2/2019 and 12/1/2020.

5/6: 7:30 PM Board of Education Budget Hearing and Business Meeting Video Conference Room

5/13: 7:30 PM PTA/PTSA/SEPTA Candidates Forum Video Conference Room

5/19: 6:00 PM Chestnut Street Incoming Kindergarten Parent Orientation

5/19: 7:00 PM PTA/SEPTA Meeting CS Cafeteria

5/20: Budget Vote/Annual Meeting/Trustee Election 7:00 AM-9:00 PM North Gymnasium

5/29: 6:00 PM Districtwide Family STEAM Night Secondary School

The Habits of Mind are an identified set of 16 problem solving, life related skills, which contribute to creating a healthier learning environment. The habits are cross-curricular and applied throughout the West Hempstead UFSD, in all grades and levels. Currently in kindergarten, we are focusing on listening with understanding & empathy.

This Habit of Mind is important for students to understand because it helps students recognize the importance of listening. We want students to learn to devote their mental energies to another person and to invest themselves in their partner’s ideas. We want students to learn to listen to and entertain another person’s thoughts. This is a complex skill requiring the ability to monitor one’s own thoughts while at the same time attending to a partner’s words. Listening in this way does not mean we can’t disagree with someone. Good listeners try to understand what other people are saying. In the end, they may still disagree, but because they have truly listened, they know exactly the nature of the disagreement. Check out the video below to learn more about this Habit of Mind and ask your kindergartner(s) about how they are growing this skill.

Questions to Spark Conversation with your kindergartner(s):

• What are some good listening skills? Why should we listen to each other?
• What does it mean to empathize with someone?
• How can we make someone feel better if they are angry or upset?