The Cornwell Connection ~ Feb. '26

Welcome to The Cornwell Connection

At Cornwell Avenue, we believe school should be a place where children feel safe, known, challenged, and deeply cared for. Every day, our staff shows up with intention and heart, creating classrooms where learning is joyful, expectations are high, and relationships come first. The Cornwell Connection is one way we stay connected with you as partners in that work — from our school to your home.

Our days are full and meaningful. You will see students reading, writing, questioning, celebrating growth, and learning how to be part of a community. Behind the scenes, teachers and staff are thoughtfully planning, reflecting, and adjusting to meet the needs of every child. We take seriously the responsibility of creating a school where children are supported, challenged, and given what they need to grow — academically, socially, and emotionally.

As you read through The Cornwell Connection, we hope you feel the heart of our school — the pride we have in our students, the care we have for one another, and the joy that lives in our classrooms. Thank you for trusting us with your children and for being such an important part of the Cornwell community. Together, we are growing, learning, and making each day beautiful.

Where every child matters.

In future editions of The Cornwell Connection, we’ll continue to share timely updates and meaningful opportunities for families as this newsletter grows alongside our school community.

Future editions will also share important dates, including schoolwide events, individual class schedules, safety drills, Grade 3 testing, and NWEA testing...

Our School Decision Making Team always welcomes new parents, and we encourage anyone interested to join us. Our next meeting will be held on the third Wednesday in February - 2/25/26.

Most importantly, we’ll continue to offer practical ways to support learning at home. And as always, our message remains simple—and powerful: read, read, read! 📖

From our CA article in the District Newsletter:

February Literacy Activities &

The Skills Families Can Support

Celebrate Black History Month: “Hero Highlight”
Literacy Focus: Comprehension & Vocabulary
Reading about influential Black leaders, authors, and poets helps children understand real people and events while learning new words in meaningful contexts. Talking about who the person was and why they mattered strengthens understanding and discussion skills.

World Read Aloud Day (February 3)
Literacy Focus: Fluency
Reading aloud helps children read more smoothly, confidently, and with expression. Listening to themselves or others read also improves pacing and understanding of how stories sound.

“Warm Up with a Good Book” Reading Theme
Literacy Focus: Stamina & Comprehension
Cozy, shared reading builds the ability to focus for longer periods and encourages deeper conversations about stories. These moments help children practice following a story from beginning to end. Hot cocoa is optional - but is a great treat with marshmallows and books!

Valentine’s Day: “Book of Love”
Literacy Focus: Comprehension & Expression
Writing or talking about a favorite book or character helps children explain their thinking, make connections, and use details from the story to support their ideas.

Random Acts of Kindness Week – Books About Friendship & Kindness
Literacy Focus: Vocabulary & Comprehension
Stories about kindness introduce meaningful language and help children think about characters’ feelings, choices, and lessons. These conversations build empathy while strengthening understanding.

“Book Match” Pairings (Fiction + Nonfiction)
Literacy Focus: Background Knowledge & Vocabulary
Reading both a story and an informational book on the same topic helps children learn new words and better understand what they read by building background knowledge.

Reading Voices Challenge
Literacy Focus: Fluency
Rereading books using different voices helps children read more smoothly and with expression, making reading both fun and effective.

Poetry Pops
Literacy Focus: Fluency & Vocabulary
Poems help children notice rhythm, rhyme, and interesting word choices, building confidence and enjoyment in reading aloud.

Favorite Line Friday
Literacy Focus: Comprehension
Choosing a favorite sentence and explaining why encourages children to think about meaning and notice how authors use words to tell a story.

What Families Can Remember 🖤💛🖤💛🐏

• Reading aloud builds confidence

• Talking about books builds understanding

• New words are best learned through stories

• Enjoyment matters just as much as practice!

Two weeks until our February Break - visit the WH Public Library to gather books that will hit it home with these warm, family Literacy ideas!

Grade 3 took the simulation for the NYS Computer Based Math test and all went smoothly. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher for more information or questions!😀

Our 3rd grade State Test dates are as follows:

ELA - April 22nd & 23rd with a make-up day on the 24th.

Math - May 11th & 12th with a make-up day on the 13th.

Bring a can of food to the Special Persons Dance for the Women's Shelter - The Mary Brennan Inn!

• If your child will be absent, please call Nurse DeStasio before 8:30 AM at 516-390-3145
• If there will be a change in your child's afternoon transportation, please write a note or email to the teacher/main office. For last-minute changes, please call Mrs. Amaya or Ms. Hernandez before 2:00 PM. 516-390-3140
• Early pick-up must be before 3:00 pm, at which times buses begin arriving. U-turns and speeds of more than 5 MPH are STRICTLY prohibited for everyone's safety.
• Please do not block the driveways of the homes around our school. Also, please exercise patience during drop off and pick-up (no horn-honking, etc.)