KES Newsletter #12

School-Wide Pajama Day and Family Hall of Holidays Gallery Walk

Join your child for a walking tour of our Hall of Holidays from around the world, then return to their classroom for some treats and good cheer! Sign out sheets will be in classrooms if you would like to take your child with you. Parents are welcome to join in the fun and wear their pajamas!

Hall of Holidays Schedule:

9:30 - 10:00 Pre-K & Kindergarten

10:15 - 10:45 Grade 1

11:00 - 11:30 Grade 3

11:45 - 12:15 Grade 2

Please note! If we have a 2 hour delay, we will run the Hall of Holidays as follows:

11:00-11:30 Grade 3 and Strauss

11:45-12:15 Grade 2

12:30-1:00 Pre-K and Kindergarten

1:30-2:00 Grade 1

Hall of Holidays will be on Thursday, December 19. If we have a school closure, we will run the Hall of Holidays (including pajamas) on Friday, Dec. 20.

Mrs. DeMarco, School Counselor, and Mrs. Mehalak, Schol Psychologist put together a few resources for the holiday season on gratitude.

Students are welcome to bring snow pants, boots, and gloves if we have snow worth playing in.

Please note, students without snow pants and boots are not permitted in the snow, but get to play outside.

School closings or delay notifications are sent out via robo call, text, and/or email.

They are sent the same way you receive the KES Newsletter. If you are not receiving these messages and would like to opt in, please contact Randi Chase:

rchase@rondout.k12.ny.us

Please note that sometimes a closing does not happen right away, as was the case with our last storm. The District Office considers closing school carefully. They may start off with a delay, and then change it to a closing. Look for multiple messages!

You can also keep tabs on the school district website, which will indicate a closing or Delay once the notifications go out:

https://www.rondout.k12.ny.us/

December 3, 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM: Capital Project Vote

District Office, 122 Kyserike Road, Accord

December 19: Hall of Holidays celebration! Full information at the start of the newsletter.

Hall of Holidays Schedule:

9:30 - 10:00 Pre-K & Kindergarten

10:15 - 10:45 Grade 1

11:00 - 11:30 Grade 3 & Mrs. Strauss

11:45 - 12:15 Grade 2

(Snow Date, December 20)

December 23 - January 1: Winter Holiday Recess

Happy New Year! School is back in session January 2.

On Tuesday, December 3, the Rondout Valley Central School District community will vote on a Capital Project that focuses on security, safety, and the arts.

The best part? The proposed project would not increase the local tax levy.

The project addresses several high-priority items that were identified in the State-mandated Building Condition Survey, as well as key security and safety enhancements, significant improvements to recreational fields and learning spaces, a complete auditorium and music suite upgrade at the High School, and more.

At KES, we are going to receive many upgrades to security features including enhanced secure vestibule for visitors, a new playground, soccer field, a basketball court, new windows in the wing for grades 1-3, and more!

Check out the link to view the informational flier!

https://www.rondout.k12.ny.us/district/news-annoucements/news-details/~board/district-news/post/rondout-valley-board-of-education-proposes-capital-project-with-no-increase-to-the-local-tax-levy

View the KES PTA Newsletter here! Check out information on the recycling program and Skate Time! Clickable purple bar takes you to the newsletter.

Thank you for all of your generosity! Our collection was incredible, thanks to all of you.

Your donations matter - thank you for helping those in need!

Use this link to view a complete list of upcoming events through February 28!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zAeZYb4w2j3QkQBcEhLT5JTZSz-ICHkKowQoi7W8Z3o/edit?usp=sharing

Regular school attendance is crucial for academic success, especially in reading and math.

Thank you so much for sending your children to school each day! Our goal is for students to meet the Federal Benchmark for good school attendance: fewer than 18 absences per year.

Please keep your child home if they are sick. If they attend every day when they are well, they will easily meet the attendance goal.

For more information on school attendance, check out the attached resource from Attendance Works. There’s more on their website:

https://www.attendanceworks.org/

Mrs. Mayone's class used a Gratitude Journal to practice writing skills using The Writing Revolution Framework. They also set up a Gratitude jar for the class. They decided to add notes of gratitude to one another all year, and open it in June to check out all of their wonderful memories. Thank you, Mrs. Mayone!

Thank you, Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Bartle, for curating our PBIS Books of the Month!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GiJxR1eXOlGJWJc_SDqsT84zTnJbwXpG6OPbXb9kkS8/edit

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

The Spiffiest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson

What Is Given From the Heart by Pat McKissack

Harold Loves His Woolly Hat by Vern Kousky

You Won’t Like This Present As Much As I Do by Lauren Child

Thank You, Omu! By Oge Mora

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett.

A Little Spot: A Story About Sharing and Generosity by Diane Alber

Boxes For Katje by Candace Fleming

PBIS stands for "Positive Behavior Intervention Supports."

Students are learning that having a growth mindset is a super power! "Yet" is a powerful word. When students are learning new skills, they also learn to say "I can't do that...YET!" That little word changes everything.

Students earn Gander tickets for demonstrating safe, responsible, respectful behavior.

We are working to earn a movie in December! Each grade needs 5 buckets

Grade Pre-K and K: 1 bucket filled

Grade 1: buckets filled

Grade 2: buckets filled

Grade 3: buckets filled

Each month, students are selected for Gander Certificates by their teachers for being exceptional role models. Recipients are honored at lunch time and get to choose a book from the Book Vending Machine, courtesy of the KES PTA!

PBIS programs stress the importance of telling students what safe, respectful, and responsible behavior looks like and sounds like. Each year teachers set these guidelines in their classrooms. We also teach students what is expected in other school locations. We begin with hallway expectations, then cafeteria, bus, and recess.

Currently, we are working on hallway, cafeteria, and recess expectations.

In the hallway:

Safe = Walking in the hall

Respectful = Voice level 0

Responsible = Going directly to your destination

In the cafeteria:

Safe = Walking and not sharing food (some students have allergies, and we do not want to spread germs that make us sick.)

Respectful = Voice level 1-3, or conversation with the people at your table. It also means going to voice level 0 and listening for directions when the teachers give the signal, which is typcally turning down the lights, clap for attention, or call-response.

Responsible = Cleaning up after yourself.

At Recess:

Safe = Safe bodies (Hands and feet to ourselves)

Respectful = Treating others asa you would like to be treated.

Responsible = Following adult directions and managing your belongings.

Please remind your child of the expectations shown in this newsletter. You can also read or watch a video read-aloud of our books of the month!

Our PBIS Books of the Month and video links can be found using this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GiJxR1eXOlGJWJc_SDqsT84zTnJbwXpG6OPbXb9kkS8/edit