April 2026

One Purpose. Your Pathway. Our Promise.

Dear PEC Families,

Spring has sprung!. The Primary Education Center Staff believe that parental involvement in a child’s educational program is an essential cornerstone for a successful school year. We also recognize that each child has a unique learning style. To nurture your child’s strengths, we will continue to create innovative instructional classroom models at each grade level for the 2026-2027 school year. The following education programs will be implemented at the Primary Education Center next school year:

• Traditional Elementary Classroom (K-2): Students remain with the same academic teacher for the entire instructional day.
• Departmentalizing Model (1-2): Students transition to another class for one subject. Teachers specialize in a curriculum area like math and writing.
• Co-Teaching Model (K-2): Students are in one classroom and are instructed by two teachers for the whole or part of the day.
• Looping (K-2): This is an educational design or structure in which a whole class stays together for two consecutive years with the same teacher.

If you need more program information, please contact me at 286-7220. We place all of our students in classrooms that are balanced in needs across a learning continuum. Although we can not always honor teacher requests, we are interested in placing your child in a classroom design that meets his/her needs. We will consider placement requests through May 15th. Thank you.

Respectfully yours,

Mrs. Tamara Larson

Principal, Primary Education Center

March 30-April 10!

Year 10 ODOB Family Night Highlights:

Year 10 of One District, One Book is in the books! From the voting at our local libraries, the grand Reveal, community scavenger hunts, trivia, and Orange Cat themed-drinks to our “wondermous” Family Night Reading Celebration…year 10 was a huge success! The longevity of this program is a testament to the dedication and commitment of all who have been a part of it over the years: teachers, aides, administrators, parents, our community librarians, and both staff and student volunteers.

• 563 in total attendance!

• 60 staff and High School/Middle School student volunteers from MS National Junior Honor Society, HS Art Club, HS Key Club, HS National Honor Society, Future Teacher’s Club, Economics 12, and AP Government.

• Partnership with MS National Junior Honor Society- who, together with their advisor, Emily Lagamba, raised enough money, by providing snacks and drinks to our participants, to purchase NJHS tassels for all the NJHS 8th graders in their Moving Up Ceremony.

• 12 businesses and community partners were a part of our evening

• 13 committee members led by Mrs. Lindahl and Miss Zeitz

• $344 was raised for our local libraries through the “Community Give Back Raffle”, Our libraries will be purchasing high-interest circulation items for our school community: a telescope (Youngstown Free Library), STEAM Kits (Ransomville Free Library), and visually accessible books (Lewiston Public Library.)

Reflection on a Decade of Elementary Family Literacy (2016–2026)

Over the past ten years, our One District, One Book elementary family literacy program has grown from a hopeful initiative into a vibrant community tradition. Since its launch in 2016, the program has centered on a clear and purposeful mission: to create a rich, engaging, and immersive shared reading experience that takes place within families’ homes and throughout the community. Supported in classrooms across our K–5 elementary buildings and strengthened through partnerships with our three local libraries and area businesses, the initiative brings literacy beyond school walls and into everyday life.

In its earliest years, the program focused on building excitement around a single shared book. Families gathered for reading nights, interactive activities, and celebrations that transformed literacy into a communal experience. Parents, grandparents, and siblings came together to explore stories through discussions, games, and creative projects. These events reinforced a simple but powerful idea: reading is not just a school skill, but a meaningful family activity that builds connection, curiosity, and joy.

As participation grew, so did the program’s momentum. Simply put, we created excitement, buzz, and anticipation around books. That energy spread into homes, classrooms, libraries, and local businesses, fostering a shared sense of purpose across the community. Families reported reading together more often, children approached books with greater enthusiasm, and local library program participation increased. Through these collective efforts, we began to see the deeper impact of our work—cultivating an authentic appreciation of literature and laying the foundation for lifelong reading habits.

Then came 2020.

The pandemic disrupted traditional schooling and separated families from the physical spaces where our program had thrived: our schools, community, and libraries. Yet the need for connection, stability, and meaningful learning was greater than ever. Rather than pausing, we adapted. Online book voting, virtual reveals, recorded chapter read-alouds, virtual family night with take-home family night literacy kits, and contactless book and prize distribution ensured that our program continued to reach families.

As in-person events gradually returned, the program emerged stronger and continued to grow as it always had: organically. Shaped by the needs, voices, and relationships within the committee and community. It continuously evolved naturally through collaboration among teachers, families, local libraries, community partners, and an ever-changing committee of dedicated and dynamic individuals.

Looking back across this decade, the most enduring success of the program lies not only in participation numbers but in relationships and culture. Children who participated in the earliest events now carry forward positive associations with reading and come back as volunteers. Community give-back opportunities have presented themselves with not only an opportunity to support local organizations but to allow students to see the value in helping others. Families have additional tools to partner in their children’s learning. Libraries and local businesses have become active champions of literacy, reinforcing that reading is a shared community value.

Simply stated, the program has fulfilled its purpose: to inspire a rich appreciation of literature, nurture lifelong readers, and support a culture of family literacy. What began as an initiative has evolved into a movement—one that brings homes, schools, and the broader community together around the power of a story. Methods may evolve, technologies may change, and challenges may arise, but the heart of the program remains constant. When families read together, children flourish. Stories connect us. When communities unite around books, a culture of literacy takes root and opens doors that can last a lifetime.

As we celebrate ten years, the One District, One Book program stands as a testament to what can happen when a school district invests not only in students, but families. We are proud of what has been accomplished and look forward to the countless stories still waiting to be shared. Literacy flourishes when it is nurtured together.

The passion and excitement for a shared reading experience across our community continues to create a culture of literacy in every home, marking one decade this year.

Written By: Heather Lindahl

Literacy & Technology Specialist

Primary Library Teacher &10 year ODOB Co-Coordinator

Students on Bus 10 and 22 earned a breakfast pizza with Shadow for synergizing on the bus. Thank you to Officer Nicoletti and Officer Stafford! Our students enjoyed learning about the life of a police dog and how Shadow keeps our community safe.

We have been working on Habit 6 which is Synergizing! Synergize teaches the value of listening to others ideas, and together we can create better ideas than one person can do alone.

Please use this link to access a fun family activity for Habit 6: Synergize!

Our students recently had a wonderful opportunity to connect their learning across subjects! In STEAM class with Mrs. Sullivan, students explored the science of sound by creating their own homemade instruments. They experimented with how vibrations create sound and discovered how different materials and designs can produce different tones.

Instead of sending the instruments straight home, Mrs. Sullivan brought them to Miss Mosier’s music class, where students could continue the experience in a new way. In Miss Mosier’s music class, students had the chance to play the instruments they created and share them with their classmates. Together they listened carefully to the unique sounds each instrument made and talked about how they were similar or different.

The students then grouped their instruments by the kinds of sounds they produced and, with Miss Mosier, played songs using each group. Finally, everyone combined their instruments and performed as one giant classroom band

The students had so much fun hearing their inventions come to life and using something they built in STEAM to actually make music together It was a joyful way to see how science, creativity, and music can work hand in hand!

Lost and found is in the cafeteria. If your child is missing something, please have them take a look in the special section at lunch time. We may also have items in the front office.

Many parents ask, “When is my child sick enough to stay home from school?”

This is not always an easy question to answer! We hope that these tips can help!

A child who is sick will not be able to perform well in school and is likely to spread the illness to other children and staff. We suggest making a plan for childcare ahead of time so you will not be caught without a comforting place for your child to stay if he/she is ill.

Please do not send your child to school if he/she has:

- Fever (100.0 or higher) in the past 72 hours (Must be fever free without medication)

- Vomiting in the past 24 hours

- Diarrhea in the past 24 hours

- Chills

- Sore throat

- Strep Throat (must have been taking an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school)

- Pink Eye – redness, itching & drainage of the eye(s)

- Bad cold, with a very runny nose or bad cough, especially if it has kept the child awake at night

- COVID - follow CDC recommendations. See the Lew-Port website.

- Head lice – until your child has been treated according to the nurse or doctor’s instructions

If your child becomes ill at school and the school nurse evaluates that the child is too sick to benefit from school or is contagious to other children, you will be called to pick-up the child from school. It is essential that your child’s school have a phone number where you can be contacted during the day and an emergency number in the event you cannot be reached. Please be sure that arrangements can be made to transport your child home from school and that childcare is available in case of illness. If your daytime or emergency phone number changes during the year, please notify your child’s teacher immediately.

Please call the school’s Health Office if you have any questions or concerns.

PRIMARY EDUCATION CENTER

Health Office

4061 Creek Road, Youngstown, NY 14174

Phone: 716-286-7225 Fax: 716-286-7855

It is that time of the year where we are all hoping that the groundhog was wrong and that spring weather will soon be upon us. It is a good time to review our student appearance code with families. Staff members are required to send any violations of this code to their building administrators for review as they act as the final authority on these matters. Students who violate the student appearance code will meet with the building principal or designee to discuss modification of their appearance. Any student who refuses to do so shall be subject to accountability and restorative practices as outlined in the Code of Conduct.

All students are expected to give proper attention to personal cleanliness and to dress appropriately for school and school functions. Students and their parents have the primary responsibility for acceptable student dress and appearance. Teachers and all other District personnel should exemplify and reinforce acceptable student dress and help students develop an understanding of appropriate appearance in the school setting. The school setting is defined as both in-person and online or virtual learning experiences. A student's dress, grooming, and appearance, including hair style/color, jewelry, make-up, nails, body piercings, and tattoos, shall:

1. Be safe, and appropriate, and not disrupt or interfere with the educational process.

2. Recognize that extremely brief and see-through garments are not appropriate.

3. Ensure that underwear is completely covered with outer clothing.

4. Include footwear at all times. Footwear that is a safety hazard will not be allowed.

5. Not include the wearing of hats and headgear (including hoods) in the classroom except for a medical or religious purpose.

6. Not include items that are vulgar, obscene, provocative, libelous, or that denigrate others on account of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

7. Not promote and/or endorse the use of alcohol, tobacco, vaping or illegal drugs and/or encourage other illegal or violent activities.

Our morning announcements are uploaded by 9:30am every day and are organized by monthly folders. Each week, a different class leads our school pledge. We celebrate birthdays, leadership, and special events on our student-led Morning Announcements. Click the below link to view. Please remember to never post our videos to social media in order to protect the privacy of other students. For any questions, please contact Mrs. Lindahl, our Morning News Producer, by email hlindahl@lew-port.com.

Dear Families:

At Lewiston-Porter we have made a strong effort to ensure that all students have equitable access to digital materials while they're at school and while they're at home. To that end, we have partnered with T-Mobile to offer free mobile hotspots to families that are in need.

If you would like to request a hotspot please complete the form below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSft9K1RiDe21tZ6OZP--y8uaIGuTKJG-a9MuZaHxlUjJR3r5Q/viewform