October Principal's Newsletter

We kicked the month of October with our Citizen of the Month Assembly! Students selected were recognized for displaying our BARK (Be Safe, Always Try Your Best, Respect Self and Others, and Kindness Matters) expectations throughout our school community.

During our first month of school, students learned about our new BARK expectations and strongly encourage you to practice these with your child.

B - Be Safe

A - Always Try Your Best

R - Respect Myself and Others

K - Kindness Matters.

Please review our SWPBS Handbook that includes more information about our BARK system.

This month Grandview Elementary students earned 1,132 BARK Bones and Morrisville Intermediate students earned 578 BARK Bones, totaling 1,710 BARK Bones for the month of September!

Our students have had a great start to the school year. Teachers did an excellent job walking their students through the BARK expectations lessons throughout the school to set the year off to a great start. Hallway behavior by classes and individuals has also started as a highlight in the new school year.

So far this year we have had 45 behavior referrals and only 16 of those were Major referrals.

As the year continues, we will support the students as needs arise. Another highlight for the start of the year is the number of BARK Bones that students have earned through modeling expected behaviors.

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected as a BARK Bone winner for the month of September.

Grandview Elementary:

Cattleya

Jason

Nyzir

Ziggy (2)

Miray (2)

Elizabeth

Ezra

Eli

Jazir

Linkin

Miles

Angel

Amouree

Mrs. White

Mrs. Coleman

Ms. Maxine

Ms. Peters

Ms. Fletcher

Morrisville Intermediate School:

Sean

Carmine

Musfirah

Jaiden

Griselenny

Khalil B. (2)

Astrid

Zoey (2)

Heiner

John

Ma'Kel

Ruby

Charlie

Liam

Ms. Marlin

Mr. Ratti

Mr. Woodruff

Ms. Dunn

Mrs. Madison

Phonological Awareness consists of many skills relating to oral sounds such as rhyming, identifying syllables, and segmenting a sentence into words.

Phonemic awareness is about individual sounds in spoken words. You can practice these skills by having your child say words with the same beginning sounds (bike, bell, blue, boy) or changing sounds to make a new word (change the /t/ for /m/- tap becomes map).

Please click on this link to learn more!

https://www.readingrockets.org/literacy-home/reading-101-guide-parents/reading-basics/phonological-and-phonemic-awareness

Did you know your English language learner can practice their skills at home? Please visit www.imaginelearning.com or download the Imagine Learning app onto a tablet. Email Mrs. Galante (tgalante@mv.org) if your student needs help with their username and password.

Looking for 5 easy Social Emotional Learning activities to do at home with your child? Click the link below to learn more!

https://betterkids.education/blog/5-easy-social-emotional-learning-activities-for-kids-to-do-at-home

We are so excited to partner our K-5 students this year with Sean Hollander.

Growing up in Lake Placid, New York, Sean had a unique advantage when it came to discovering the sport of luge—one of only two luge tracks in the United States was practically in their backyard. Now entering their 15th year in the sport and fifth year on the USA Luge National Team, they’ve built a career marked by perseverance and adaptability.

Originally competing in singles luge, Sean made the switch to doubles in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, teaming up with Zack DiGregorio. Though the transition was challenging—marked by numerous crashes and a steep learning curve—the duo’s determination paid off when they earned a spot on the 2022 Olympic team. Since then, they have gone on to become U23 World Champions and claimed a World Cup victory on their home track in Lake Placid.

Sean is currently training with a focused goal: qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

This month is all about Goal Setting!

One of the best predictors of academic performance is the ability to set goals, make a plan to reach them, and stay focused on them despite obstacles and distractions. Goal setting is part of critical thinking and good decision making. Students may already recognize the importance of setting goals on their way to accomplishing a task, but they may not know where to begin or how to strive toward their goals.

Goal setting is a practice — one you have to do again and again. Such a habit will become part of your approach to life and to challenges. Don’t assume that older students know what a goal is — everyone needs a working definition and a personal connection to internalize this mindset.

• Goals can help incite action and behaviors.
• Goals can channel focus.
• Goals can encourage progress.
• Goals can promote mastery.

We look forward to seeing Goal Setting in action this month!

Our Citizen of the Month trait for October will be focused one students who have set strong goals and is working to achieve them.