October 2026: News to Know

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

Wow! September seems to have gone by in a flash! We have had a wonderful start to the school year. We are settling in to the routines of school and in many ways it feels as though we never left!

Many of you may have students in our building for the first time. We welcome you, and encourage you to be active participants in your child’s education. Thanks to all of our families who participated in our recent Curriculum Night. These presentations provided an opportunity for parents and families to create a personal connection with teachers and to learn more about their child’s classroom and school– certainly a great way to kick off a new school year! For those of you who may have missed it, a Welcome Presentation was sent by email. This presentation provides an overview of our school protocols and procedures: 2026 Curriculum Night Video.

In addition to the teachers who interact with students on a daily basis, we are fortunate to have an incredible team of Mental Health providers who can provide additional support to students. This support can be ongoing over the course of the year such as Tier 2 targeted skills groups, individual or group counseling, or it may be less formal and situational in nature, such as a Lunch Bunch. They also offer Tier 1 lessons in classrooms throughout the year. Our Indian Landing Mental Health team consists of a school counselor, school psychologist, and a school social worker. In addition, we are lucky to have a social learning specialist from the Center for Youth. To learn more about the fantastic individuals working in these roles, please see below. We also want to introduce a new feature of our monthly newsletter- The Mental Health Minute. Every month, our Mental Health Team will be sharing information about their work here at Indian Landing so that you can make connections at home. We think you will find it very helpful!

Thank you for your continued support. Enjoy the sights and sounds of autumn!

Sincerely,

Marcie Ware

Principal

Eric Traugott

Assistant Principal

• Thursday, October 8th — Early Release drill; Students will be dismissed 5 minutes early
• Friday, October 9th — Supt. Conference Day; No School for students
• Monday, October 12th — Indigenous Peoples Day & Columbus Day; No School
• Thursday, October 15th — PTO Meeting, 7:00 PM IL Library
• Saturday, October 24th- Make a Difference Day Pancake Breakfast; 9:00-10:30 AM IL Cafeteria; details below!
• Monday, October 26th- Picture Make-Up Day
• Thursday, October 29th — Partner's Pride Assembly; 2:15 PM
• Friday, October 30th — Indian Landing's Annual Costume Parade; 9:30 AM in the bus loop- weather permitting; See below for details

Looking ahead to November—

• Tuesday, November 10th— Veterans' Day Assembly; 9:15 AM
• Wednesday, November 11th— Veterans' Day; No School
• Thursday, November 12th— PTO 7 PM IL Library
• Monday, November 23rd and Tuesday, November 24th —Parent Teacher Conference Days- No School for students

Did you know that our Mental Health team is available to assist students and families with a wide range of needs? Learn a little more about who is who and what they do.

Elsbeth Ebenhoe- Our students know her as "Mrs. E" and this is her fifth year at Indian Landing. As the school social worker, Mrs. Ebenhoe works with individuals and groups, as well as providing whole-class lessons in grades K-5. She also participates in MTSS or CSE meetings as needed. In addition, Mrs. Ebenhoe is available to assist families who may benefit from connections to outside resources and agencies. She can be reached via email at eebenhoe@penfield.edu.

Tiffany Melendez- Ms. Melendez is our school psychologist. This is her third year at Indian Landing, but her second year in the Penfield district. Like the rest of her colleagues on the Mental Health team, Ms. Melendez provides counseling support to individuals and groups. Ms. Melendez is a core member of our MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) and she is the individual who coordinates all student psychoeducational evaluations for the Committee on Special Education (CSE). Her email is tmelendez@penfield.edu.

Tessa Perez- Mrs. Perez is our school counselor and she has been at Indian Landing for over fifteen years. She teaches whole group SEL lessons to grades K-5, and she also sees students for individual or group counseling sessions for issues that are school-based. Mrs. Perez will attend MTSS meetings for specific students as needed. Mrs. Perez is also the #1 human to our favorite therapy dog, Simon! Mrs. Perez can be reached at tperez@penfield.edu.

All members of our Mental Health team are available to provide behavioral and emotional support to students as needed. It is important to note that school-based counseling is for issues that are having an impact in the classroom, and for those behaviors that impede a child's ability to function successfully at school. If you have questions or need information about outside providers, we are happy to assist you. We work in partnership with outside counselors and therapists to provide a comprehensive approach to meet student needs.

In addition to our school-based Mental Health team, we are lucky to have additional support from our community partner, The Center for Youth Services. The Center for Youth provides a service called The Help Zone to our building. The Help Zone room is staffed with a Social Learning Specialist during the school day. The Social Learning Specialist at Indian Landing is Ms. Paige Fletcher. She runs our Help Zone and she works with students on social skills and problem-solving. Ms. Fletcher can be contacted via email at pfletcher@penfield.edu. The Help Zone is a room for students who need calm down time, a quick break, or just someone to talk to. The main goal is to give the students the time they need, teach them social emotional skills, and get them back to class so they miss minimal instruction. You might also see our social learning specialist running restorative circles in a classroom, teaching small groups, or helping students one on one. Their main goal is to work with students in different ways to learn social emotional skills and keep students in class whenever possible.

We also have partnerships with community-based agencies Delphi Rise and Villa of Hope. Mrs. Kaitlin Seaman is the prevention counselor from Delphi Rise and she works in our building one to two times each week, leading whole class lessons and providing group/individual support. Kelly Hierlwimmer provides individual counseling through the Villa of Hope satellite clinic at Indian Landing.

It's time for Homecoming! We will celebrate all week long with Spirit Days (see below) and Friday, October 9th is our evening community event! This event includes over 15 different food trucks, the Family Fun Zone, live music, a local football rivalry, and fireworks at the end of the game. This is an event for everyone, not just high school families. Please know that any elementary or middle school students attending the community event are welcome, but must be supervised by an adult during the entirety of the event.

Parking is a challenge for the community event, but you may access the Community Center for additional parking, as well as Cobbles Elementary School; bus and golf cart shuttles will be running throughout the evening to accommodate those who may need it.

Lastly, please be aware that motorized vehicles are not allowed on campus during Homecoming, including e-bikes and e-scooters. With 4,000 people on campus, our first priority is to make this a safe event for students K-12, staff and community members. With that, the Code of Conduct & Support is in effect for all students, staff and visitors on campus and can be found HERE for any questions you might have.

We are looking forward to another great Homecoming celebration!

Our arrival and dismissal procedures are carefully designed with student safety in mind. One of our primary considerations is minimizing the amount of time that students are walking independently near vehicles.

Car Drop-Off and Pick-Up are intended for families who wish to drive their child to or from school. Some students may have be dropped off and picked up as their regular mode of transportation or other families may use it as needed.

Families who walk their child(ren) to the front door for arrival, or families who meet their child at the library (walker) door at dismissal should be walking onto school grounds... not driving. And under no circumstances should children be dropped off or picked up in any area other than the car line behind the school. This includes the lower front parking lot or along Forest Hills Rd.

The simple rule is: If you are driving a vehicle to drop off or pick up your student, then you should be using the Drop-Off and Pick-Up lines. We understand that no one likes to wait, but the lines move fairly quickly when everyone is following the rules.

Thank you for your cooperation!

MTSS is designed to provide a framework that ensures every child receives the necessary supports to thrive academically, socially/emotionally, and behaviorally. It recognizes that each student is unique, with varying needs, and enables us to meet these needs effectively. Information was sent home to families via a district wide letter in November, but I wanted to take a few moments to review MTSS and how it can support students.

The primary goals of MTSS:

• Early Intervention – Identifying and addressing academic, social/emotional, and behavioral needs of students as soon as they start impacting educational progress.

•Data-Driven Decision Making – Analyzing student data from district assessments and benchmarks.

•Customized Support – Designing interventions and support systems, i.e., RtI, SEL, etc., to meet the specific needs of each student.

One advantage of utilizing the MTSS process, is that specific goals are created for students’ area(s) of need and progress towards meeting these specific goals is then monitored on a frequent basis with follow-up meetings every 6-8 weeks as necessary. In order to accommodate more meetings, the length of these meetings has been shortened and will only include the school’s MTSS team, the classroom teacher, and any specialists working with the students, Although parents/guardians will no longer directly participate in MTSS meetings, we believe that family involvement is crucial to the success of students, therefore we will communicate and partner with parents/guardians/caretakers throughout the entire MTSS process. With your collaboration and the MTSS continuum of support and intervention, we are confident that your student will achieve their full potential.

Principal Marcie Ware is the MTSS Coordinator for Indian Landing. Please reach out to your child's classroom teacher or Mrs. Ware with any questions you might have.

We will once again host our annual Costume Parade at the end of the month. We recognize that some families do not recognize or celebrate Halloween, and we will be providing alternate Fall Fun activities for students. If you do not wish to have your child participate in any Halloween activities, please contact Sheryl DiMuro at 249-6910 in the Main Office and we will be sure that they participate in Fall Fun rather than the parade.

Our parade will be held on Friday, October 30th at 9:30 AM in the bus loop (weather permitting). Parents are invited to join us since this will be an outdoor event. Students should wear their costume TO SCHOOL and bring a bag to put it in after the parade. In the event of inclement weather our parade will be moved indoors. Unfortunately due to space issues, parents will not be allowed to attend the parade if it is moved indoors.

If it looks as though we may need to cancel the outdoor event, a decision about the weather will be made on Thursday, October 29th by 6:00 PM. and will be communicated via ParentSquare.

Please keep in mind the following guidelines pertaining to the Parade—

· Costumes should be worn TO school. Please label all parts of your child’s costume and have them wear it to school. Please send in a separate bag to keep all the pieces in one place after your child removes their costume.

· We kindly ask that face make-up, paint, or props of a violent nature be left at home.

· Violent, bloody or overtly scary costumes are not considered appropriate for the school environment.

· Students are encouraged to make a literary connection to their costume as there are princesses, cowboys, super-heroes, witches, ghosts and many animals in our favorite storybooks.

We are excited to invite you to a Community Book Study of Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation.

Raising children in a rapidly changing digital world can bring both opportunities and challenges. This book study is a chance for Indian Landing families and educators to learn together, share perspectives, and explore practical ways to support healthy, joyful childhoods. No expertise is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to join the conversation.

Across four discussion-based gatherings, we’ll explore ideas from the book, connect them to our own experiences, and consider realistic ways to encourage play, connection, focus, and well-being for our children. Our goal isn’t to have all the answers, but rather to learn from one another and build a supportive community around these important conversations.

Book Study Details

• Dates: Thursdays: October 29th , November 5th , November 19th, and December 3rd
• Time: 6:30–7:30 PM
• Location: Indian Landing Library
• Attendance: If you sign up, please plan to attend at least 3 of the 4 sessions.
• Space: 25 spots are available for families, with additional spots reserved for Indian Landing faculty and staff.

How to Participate

Register using this link Anxious Generation Community Book Study by October 21st. Registration may close earlier if all available spots are filled.

Participants should bring their own copy of The Anxious Generation. Copies may be available through the Penfield Public Library or another local library.

We hope you’ll join us for an engaging, welcoming opportunity to connect with other members of the Indian Landing community and learn together.

Our Mental Health team is excited for the new year! They visited classrooms in September to remind students about who our team is and how they can access us if they are needing support during the school day. We also reviewed the importance of being safe, following rules, and respecting one another so we can have a school where everyone can be their true selves.

In October we will be doing lessons for National Bullying Prevention Month. We remind students that bullying is when someone hurts your feelings, your body, or your stuff, they do this many times, and it is "one sided" where mean things aren't being done in return. We discuss the difference between unkind things and bullying and encourage kids to be an "upstander" if they see any bullying happening.

In our September school-wide assembly we reintroduced our "Zones friends" including Green Zone Gary, Red Zone Regina, Blue Zone Brenda, and Yellow Zone Yvette who will talk to us throughout the year about emotion regulation and begin looking at executive functioning skills. Please contact your mental health team with any questions, concerns, or ideas at eebenhoe@penfield.edu, tperez@penfield.edu, or tmelendez@penfield.edu.

We offer a variety of extracurricular activities outside the school day. Some take place in the morning and others take place after school. Clubs may take place daily, weekly, or monthly. Each of our clubs have at least one Indian Landing staff member as the advisor. Information about clubs is sent home via Parent Square and parents/guardians must register their child. Some clubs have a limited number of spaces available so participants will be selected randomly via a lottery system. Below is a list of current clubs being offered this school year:

• Intramurals- open to students in grades 4/5; meets before school (runs September to December)
• Agriculture Explorers Club- open to students in grades 3/4; meets before school (is underway!)
• Art Club- open to students in grades 3/4/5; meets after school (starting soon!)
• Best Buddies Club- open to students in grades 4/5 (starting soon)
• Chess Club- open to students in grades 1-5; meets before school (starting soon!)
• Drama Club- open to students in grades 4/5; meets after school (is underway)
• Robot Overtime- open to students in grade 5; meets after school (starting soon!)
• Leadership Club- open to students in grades 4/5; meets before school (is underway)
• Rainbow Club- open to students in grades 3-5; meets after school (starting soon!)
• Yearbook Club- open to students in grades 4/5; meets before school (starts mid-year)

Detailed information about all our club offerings can be found in our 2026-2027 Handbook. Registration information is typically sent home through Parent Square and through paper forms in student backpacks.

Did you know that children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t? Yet, only a quarter of teens report having these types of conversations. Red Ribbon Week®, the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation, is your opportunity to get the ongoing conversation started. Visit www.redribbon.org to learn more about Red Ribbon Week® and get tips for talking to your kids about drugs.

The Penfield School District will celebrate Red Ribbon Week® October 27th through 31st with various events and activities, including Wear RED Day on Thursday, October 29th. This year’s theme is Make A Difference. Be A Hero. Stay Drug Free.™ In addition to lessons with our prevention counselor, Mrs. Seaman, a Red Ribbon pledge will be sent home for students to sign. Indian Landing will also celebrate with Spirit Days throughout the week- see schedule below!

Every new student receives a red IL t-shirt courtesy of the PTO when they start kindergarten or when they enroll at Indian Landing. As we know all too well, children tend to grow like weeds and that tiny shirt they received in kindergarten may not fit your 4th or 5th grader!

Replacement shirts are available to purchase online through the PTO. Shirts are $12 each and when orders are placed, shirts will be delivered directly to students in their classroom.

Our PTO membership drive is underway! Through membership dues and fundraisers each school year, we directly fund school programs at Indian Landing such as field trips, clubs, and the arts. We plan and support a number of special events for students and families such as the Back to School Bash, Ice Cream Social, and the Carnival. Becoming a member does not obligate you to volunteer your time. No time commitment is required. Your membership dues support the programs and events that IL PTO offers throughout the year for the students. We ask only that you contribute whatever time and funds that’s comfortable for you and your family. Participation is welcomed and encouraged – so are suggestions and ideas. NO experience is necessary. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to get more involved, learn about volunteer opportunities, or have questions, concerns or ideas.

Annual family membership is $15. Membership dues and donations may be submitted via:

Our ON-LINE MEMBERSHIP ENROLLMENT form through Square.

Our @Indian_LandingPTO Venmo account or using the following QR code below.

We are looking for any and all volunteers, but if you are someone who would like to take on a more active leadership role, our Vice President for Diversity position is currently open. We have a fabulous group of officers to work with! If you are interested in learning more please email indianlandingpto@gmail.com for more information!

Email: indianlandingpto@gmail.com
Website: indianlandingpto.org
Facebook: Indian Landing PTO

Our district's goals continue to focus on developing and supporting the whole student. Our approach to positive behavior support will emphasize the idea of Be a Partner! Students will learn specific expectations focused on these key concepts-

Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Safe. Be Kind.

These ideas are a part of what we do each and every day, and our staff will continually be looking for ways to acknowledge students who are respectful, responsible, safe and kind. Students will receive Partner's Pride stickers as recognition from adults in the building and on the bus. Students who receive stickers will be eligible for random prizes such as bracelets, key chains, stickers, and t-shirts. Once a month, we will be recognizing "Partners Proud Moments". Students selected for this honor can be selected by their teacher for any reason- a positive attitude, responsible behavior, overcoming a difficulty, or meeting a personal goal are just a few examples of reasons why a student may be selected for a Partner's Proud Moment.

Email:

Principal mware@penfield.edu

Assistant Principal etraugott@penfield.edu

Website: https://www.penfield.edu/47290_2
Location: 702 North Landing Road, Rochester, NY, United States
Phone: 585-249-6900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndianLandingElementarySchool/
Instagram: @indianlandingelementary