KES 2026 November Newsletter 🦃

Reminder: Schools are closed on the following days:

• Wednesday, November 11 Veteran's Day.

• Thursday, November 26 and Friday November 27 (Thanksgiving Holiday)

As we begin November, we take time to recognize two meaningful occasions that remind us of the importance of gratitude, service, and community. On Veterans Day, we honor and thank the brave men and women who have served our country, including members of our KES community and their families. As Thanksgiving approaches, we are reminded to appreciate the many people who make our school community such a special place to learn and grow. We are grateful for the partnership, kindness, and support of our KES families and for the many ways we come together to help every child feel a sense of belonging.

Wishing all of our families a wonderful November filled with gratitude and meaningful moments together!

• 11/5 Early Dismissal, Conferences from 6-8pm
• 11/13 Early Dismissal, Conferences from 12:55-3:40pm
• 11/18 Early Dismissal, Conferences from 6-8pm

Notes for dismissal on half days:

· Doors for Pick-up will be open at 11:55 and buses will leave at 12:10

· There are no ASA activities on half days

· If you have a dismissal change for your child, please enter it on Visitor Aware by the day before

· If your child is riding a different bus or getting off at a different stop, they MUST have a bus note. Please send your child in with a note from home.

*** 11/4 Interim Reports and MTSS Benchmarking Reports will be available on Parent Campus 4pm.

Our lost and found collection is taking on a life of its own! If your child is missing a favorite hoodie, vest, or jacket, we’ve probably recovered it. During Parent-Teacher Conferences, we’ll be laying everything out in the main hallway so you can easily reunite your child with their stray gear.

Quick tip for the future: A quick label with your child's name on tags or inner linings works wonders for sending items straight back to their rightful owner!

From November 18–25, there will be a temporary change to the single point of entry at KES while our main entrance vestibule is reconstructed. All visitors should follow the posted signage for the designated entrance at the gym entrance during this time.

Our standard visitor entry procedures, including presenting identification before entering the building, will remain in place. Thank you for your flexibility and cooperation as we complete this important building improvement while maintaining the safety and security of our school community.

Each month, we will be providing curriculum highlights from each grade level. Please know that these are snapshots and do not reflect all the curriculum and learning in the classroom.

In kindergarten, students have begun our second Fishtank unit in reading and writing, entitled Celebrating Fall. Through nonfiction texts, classroom discussions, and drawing activities, students will explore seasonal changes, particularly how leaves change color and how the weather becomes cooler. Students learn to notice those changes, ask questions about why they happen, and use books and observations to become informed researchers. Students continue to develop the foundational skill of learning the letters- their names, associated sounds, and formation. In math, students are developing their number sense by counting, representing, and comparing quantities from 0 to 10. In science, the students will take on the role of scientists to investigate how plants and animals get what they need to live and grow.

In First Grade, students will begin a new ELA unit called Folktales Around the World. Throughout this unit students will be exploring important lessons about hard work, friendship, honesty, happiness, and humility. Through stories, discussions, and writing activities, students will connect these lessons to their own lives and learn how to make good choices and treat others with kindness. Our phonics time will be spent finishing up our learning about digraphs (like sh and ch). In math, students will continue building their addition skills by practicing sums within 10 and using strategies to add within 20, including counting on, making 10, and using doubles and near doubles. In science, students will build on their understanding of how plants and animals use different structures to meet their needs and survive.

In Second Grade, students will begin an exciting new ELA unit, Exploring Habitats! Students will investigate forest, desert, water, rainforest, and wetland habitats, comparing and contrasting information about how plants and animals survive in each environment. Through a variety of texts, students will also learn how text features help readers better understand a particular idea or topic, deepening understanding. In Phonics, students will continue building their decoding skills with a focus on reading longer words by breaking them into syllable parts. These strategies will help students become more confident, accurate, and independent readers! In Math, students will continue developing their addition and subtraction skills within 100. They will practice a variety of strategies, strengthen their number sense, and learn to select and explain the strategies that best represent their mathematical thinking. In Social Studies, students will travel back in time as they continue learning about communities! They will discover how communities have changed over the decades and compare life in the past with life today. Their learning will culminate in a fun-filled 1950s celebration on our 50th day of school! We can't wait to take this trip back in time! In Science, students will continue investigating the properties of materials. They will make predictions, conduct experiments, and work to answer the big question: What makes a glue both sticky and strong? Get ready for more hands-on discoveries! As Veterans Day approaches, students will learn about the meaning and importance of this special day and reflect on the bravery, service, and sacrifices of our veterans. We are so grateful for all they have done for our country and look forward to honoring them on November 11th.

In Third Grade, students will be diving into history with their next ELA unit, "Exploring Ancient Civilizations: Rome." Through nonfiction books, students are discovering how the Roman Empire grew, how its citizens lived, and why it eventually fell. Your child is practicing Informational Reading: Determining the main idea and analyzing how facts build across different texts, Using Text Features: Navigating maps, timelines, and illustrations to quickly locate historical information, Cause-and-Effect Analysis: Connecting historical events to understand why the empire changed over time, and Expository Writing: Paragraph building using precise history vocabulary and words like because to explain facts. In the Envisions Plus Math program, here are the key skills your child is practicing: Topic 3 (Multiplication Facts & Properties): Mastering harder facts (3, 4, 6, 7, 8) and using the distributive property to break complex problems into simpler pieces, Topic 4 (Division Concepts): Learning that multiplication and division are opposites and using "fact families" to solve division problems, and Topic 5 (Patterns & Word Problems): Finding number patterns on multiplication tables and solving multi-step real-world word problems. In our Amplify Science unit, "Balancing Forces: Investigating Floating Trains," third graders will take on the role of engineers to figure out how a futuristic city's train can rise, float, and fall. Through hands-on experiments, digital models, and readings, students will learn how touching forces (like friction) and non-touching forces (like gravity and magnetism) cause objects to start moving, stop, or stay perfectly still.

In fourth grade, students will embark upon a cross-curricular study, learning about Indigenous groups in New York State and beyond, and studying informational texts to gather information. We will also begin an ELA unit using informational texts to gather information, develop research skills, and learn more about natural disasters. In math, students will learn new strategies for multi-digit multiplication, and beginning to understand strategies for division. In science, we are concluding our first unit, looking at how fossils form and learning about how the landscape can change over time, forming rocks, fossils, and different environments.

In Fifth Grade, students are excited about the launch of our second ELA unit of study, Exploring Mars: Spirit and Opportunity! In this engaging nonfiction unit, students will discover the remarkable missions of the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity while exploring the importance of perseverance, problem-solving, and STEM in space exploration and the world around us. Through reading, discussion, and writing, students will strengthen their critical thinking and literacy skills as they analyze scientific texts, compare authors’ points of view, integrate information from multiple sources, and write informational essays and a creative narrative poem from the perspective of a Mars rover. In math, fifth graders will explore multiplying and dividing whole numbers and decimals. We will also make meaningful connections between science and ELA as we continue our exploration of Patterns of Earth and Sky. In social studies, students are learning about the early peoples of the Western Hemisphere. We will further connect and consider how ancient civilizations used their knowledge of the sun and stars to navigate their world, track time, and support their communities. Throughout the month, students will put their research and creativity to work as they use KES library databases to explore topics in American history, develop multimedia presentations, and design 3D floats for our exciting “Day Before Thanksgiving” Parade on Wednesday, November 25. Fifth-grade families are invited to join us for this special celebration of learning and creativity. More details to come!

November, aka KNOW-vember, is full of curiosity, discovery, and creativity in the KES Library!

All students will be diving into nonfiction reading! Our K-2 grade students will explore the differences between fiction (not “fake”!) and nonfiction, discovering the unique features that help us enjoy stories and learn new facts about the world around us.

Third and fourth graders will take their KNOW-vember learning a step further as they explore engaging informational texts and different types of nonfiction, including expository and narrative nonfiction. Students will practice important research skills as they learn to ask questions, locate and evaluate information, identify key details, and use text features to deepen their understanding, all while building their information literacy skills!

Fifth graders will join in the KNOW-vember fun as they research interesting U.S. history topics for our annual Day Before Thanksgiving Day Parade project. Students will become researchers and storytellers as they uncover the people, places, events, and symbols that have helped shape our nation.

Across all grades, students will also enjoy stories that celebrate gratitude and thankfulness. Through these stories, we’ll discover how small acts of kindness, thoughtful choices, and taking time to appreciate others can make our school community an even brighter place.

Here’s to a November filled with questions, discoveries, and a whole lot of KNOW-ledge!

STREAM

KES students are learning to STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and what it means to be a STREAM thinker!

Together, we’re exploring the qualities that help us grow as learners: perseverance, teamwork, flexibility, problem-solving, and communication. We’re learning that STREAM is all about the process, not about knowing the answer right away, but figuring it out along the way! We try, test, learn, change, and try again!

Students have been putting these skills to the test through a series of unplugged STREAM challenges, including Build Something That Flies – LEGO Edition!, the Back-to-Back LEGO Challenge, and the Can You Build the Tallest Tower? Challenge. With the same materials and instructions, students work to tackle each challenge while practicing their STREAM thinking skills.

After each challenge, students reflected on their successes, the challenges they faced, and what they might do differently if they had another chance. In the STREAM Lab, the goal isn’t to get it right the first time, it’s to learn, grow, and discover what’s possible!

As we continue developing our musical skills this fall, students will strengthen their singing, rhythm, movement, and instrumental technique through a variety of engaging musical experiences. Students will also explore music connected to Native American Heritage Month and songs associated with Diwali, making meaningful connections between music, culture, and community.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten students will continue developing their singing voices through activities that encourage healthy vocal tone and pitch exploration. They will explore short rhythmic patterns through speech, body percussion, and unpitched percussion instruments while strengthening their ability to maintain a steady beat. Students will also begin developing proper mallet technique and engage in dramatic play and movement activities that encourage imagination and musical expression. In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, students will explore songs and dances connected to Native American cultures, as well as songs associated with Diwali.

First Grade

First-grade students will continue strengthening their ability to maintain a steady beat through singing, movement, and unpitched percussion instruments. They will develop their pitch-matching skills while building rhythmic literacy through identifying and performing quarter notes, quarter rests, and eighth notes. Students will also explore songs centered on gratitude and appreciation while developing their musical expression. In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, students will explore songs and dances connected to Native American cultures, along with songs associated with Diwali.

Second Grade

Second-grade students will continue developing their singing voices through activities that emphasize head voice technique and accurate pitch matching. They will strengthen their rhythmic understanding by reading and performing patterns that include quarter notes and eighth notes while exploring the expressive use of dynamics in musical performance. As they prepare for Special Person's Days, students will learn songs that celebrate kindness, gratitude, and appreciation. Students will also explore songs and dances connected to Native American Heritage Month and songs associated with Diwali.

Third Grade

Third-grade students will continue developing their instrumental skills through recorder instruction, focusing on proper breathing, controlled airflow, and accurate tone production. They will strengthen their music-reading skills while learning to perform melodies and developing part independence through two-part musical arrangements. Students will also explore songs and dances connected to Native American cultures in recognition of Native American Heritage Month, along with songs associated with Diwali.

Fourth Grade

Fourth-grade students will continue refining their vocal technique while developing part independence through two-part singing and seasonal repertoire. They will begin preparing music for their upcoming grade-level musical production, strengthening their ensemble skills, musical expression, and performance confidence. Students will also explore songs and dances connected to Native American cultures in recognition of Native American Heritage Month, along with songs associated with Diwali.

Fifth Grade

Fifth-grade students will continue refining their vocal technique and developing part independence through two-part singing. They will explore musical expression through singing, speech, and movement while strengthening their understanding of dynamics and musical phrasing. Students will also develop their conducting skills by learning to demonstrate and interpret triple meter. In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, students will explore songs and dances connected to Native American cultures, along with songs associated with Diwali.

In physical education class, the month of November will kick off with our football unit where students will participate in a variety of modified football activities. Grades K-2 will be involved in multiple football games, relays and touchdown tag while grades 3-5 will participate in a flicker ball tournament. We will end the month with some Thanksgiving themed games and activities including a fan favorite, Turkey Pin Knockout! We hope to get the students excited for the upcoming holiday while keeping up with their daily fitness routines. 🏈🦃

We will also be covering health topics in PE class as students will learn about the importance of medicine safety, making healthy choices, and how smoking can affect their bodies and ability to run and play. We will also discuss peer pressure, recognizing when something doesn’t feel right, practicing how to say “NO,” walking away from uncomfortable situations, and asking a trusted adult for help. Our goal is to help students build confidence and develop healthy habits that will keep them safe!

Finding Calm in the Present Moment

This month, we are highlighting The Marvelous Now, a wonderful book that encourages children to slow down, take a breath, and focus on the present moment. Through its message of mindfulness and self-regulation, children learn that they can use simple strategies to manage big feelings, find calm, and appreciate the here and now. These are valuable skills that support both learning and well-being at school and at home.

As a district, we are committed to fostering a strong sense of belonging and well-being in alignment with Pillars 2 and 5, ensuring that every student feels seen, heard, and accepted. We are excited to invite interested middle and high school students, colleagues, community members, and parents to participate in our district-wide Equity and Racial Justice Committee (ERJC).

This year, our work will be more student-driven, with student voice and perspective helping to shape our conversations, priorities, and work together. Whether you have participated in ERJC in the past or are considering joining us for the first time, we hope you will be part of this important work.

All meetings will take place in the JJHS B Wing from 3:00–4:30 p.m. on the dates listed below. All are welcome!

December 3

February 2

March 31

June 2

This month, KES is launching a "Waste-Free November" initiative to help students and families build lifelong, eco-friendly habits. We believe environmental stewardship starts with small, daily actions, and our activities are designed to be simple, hands-on, and easy for kids to practice both in the classroom and at home. Throughout the month, we will have weekly themes that promote healthy habits and sustainability.

Our 5th grade Student Leaders will be explaining the four themes to all of our students.

The week of 11/2 Reduce, 11/9 reuse, 11/16 recycle and the balance of November, protect our planet. Examples of this include but are not limited to:

• Students will learn to properly compost during lunch

• Use both sides of their paper before recycling,

• Turn off classroom electronics when not in use

• KES will also be encouraging recess litter cleanups.

Take a look at our Waste-Free November Classroom Pledge.

Waste-Free November Pledge

I promise to do my part to keep our school and community clean. I will reduce waste, reuse what I can, recycle the right way, and take care of our environment. Every small action I take can make a big difference. Together, we can create a cleaner, healthier planet for everyone.

Bring the Eco-Fun Home!
You can easily keep this positive momentum going at home by partnering with your child on a few simple lifestyle adjustments. Try packing a waste-free school lunch using reusable containers and send them to school with a refillable water bottle instead of single-use plastics. At home, you can encourage your child to turn off lights when leaving a room, compost kitchen fruit and food scraps, or sort through their closets together to donate gently used books, toys, and clothes. You can even consider planting flowers or trees to help the environment, or walking/biking to nearby places of interest. By working together as a school and family community, we can show our kids how small choices add up to a massive, positive impact on our planet!

SEL lessons will focus on Feelings Identification and Emotion Management. In earlier grades, the students will practice naming their own feelings and learning to ‘read body language’ to identify the feelings of others. The concept of empathy will be introduced.

In upper grades, there will be more specific discussions about how to manage feelings such as frustration, loneliness, anger, stress, and anxiety. Students will review the natural human responses to fear of 'Fight, Flight, or Freeze' and how these responses impact us today.

Students will review and learn 'Calm Down Skills' such as Belly Breathing, Pausing and Naming Your Feeling, Self-Talk, and Taking a Break and Counting. Here are some songs and a worksheet.

Calm Down Song K/1

Calm it Down Dance 2/3

Calm Down Song 4/5

Grades4/5EmotionManagementWorksheet.pdf

Cristy Harris, Principal and KES Dignity Act Coordinator 763-7700 or charris@klschools.org

Kweon Stambaugh, Assistant Principal (designee) 763-7705 or kstambaugh@klschools.org

Jessica Fulton, Social Worker (designee) 763-7669 or jfulton@klschools.org.

Ms. Nedwick, KES Library Media Specialist and Ms. Mezzo, KES Technology Teaching Assistant, will collaborate during library classes to engage students in age-appropriate lessons that build from Kindergarten through Grade 5.

Across grade levels, students will explore six broad themes:

• Healthy Habits: We find balance in our digital lives.
• Privacy & Safety: We protect ourselves and others online.
• Digital Footprint & Identity: We define who we are.
• Relationships & Communication: We value human connection.
• Cyberbullying & Online Harms: We are kind and courageous.
• Media & Information Literacy: We think critically about what we see, hear, and share.