IMES Family News

Each year, our goal is to make our vision statement come alive.

Our vision is to create an inclusive, collaborative, and welcoming community of learners who experience a kind, responsible, and safe environment and a sense of belonging. We believe in creating joyful and meaningful academic, social, and emotional learning opportunities, building a foundation for independence and lifelong learning.

As we begin the new school year, we look forward to getting to know our students and learning and growing together!

November

Tues. November 4: Schools Closed/ Election Day/ Professional Development Day for Staff

Wednesday, November 5: School Picture make-up date

Wednesday, November 5: Interim Reports/Parent Portal Opens at 4 pm

Thursday, November 6: Early Dismissal: 12:15 pm/ No lunch served/Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences from 6 pm - 8 pm

Friday, November 7: School Spirit Day and Sharing Assemblies: Wear your spiritwear!

Tuesday, November 11: Schools Closed: Veteran's Day

Thursday, November 13: PTO & Principal's Coffee at 9:30 am

Thursday. November 13: Early Dismissal: 12:15 pm/No lunch served/Afternoon Parent-Teacher Conferences 1 pm - 3:45 pm

Thursday, November 13: Grade 5 Bingo at 12:15 pm (Grade 5 PTO event)

Friday, November 14: IMpact Committee Meeting at 8:15 am

Monday,. November 17: Early Dismissal: 12:15 pl/No lunch served/Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences 6 pm - 8 pm

Tuesday, November 18: Pre-K Panel at MPES at 9:30 am

Friday, November 21: PTO sponsored assembly/performance: RedHawk Indigenous Arts Council

Monday, November 24: Grade 1 Gratitude Concert

Wednesday, November 26: Early Dismissal at 12:15 pm

Thursday, November 27 Schools Closed/Thanksgiving

Friday, November 28 Schools Closed

The online reservation system for elementary school Parent-Teacher Conferences is now live.

To schedule a time to meet with your child’s teacher, please use this hyperlink.

Please note that making a reservation is a two-step process. Please click here to view the attached directions.

Please send an email to helpdesk@klschools.org if you experience technical issues with the site. Contact your child’s school for conference/teacher-specific questions.

Please see the flyer below regarding the Pre-K Panel Presentation for future Kindergarten Families.

Please RSVP using the QRI code to RSVP. Please note that this presentation if for parent/guardians.

Dear KLSD Families,

As you may know, KLSD is selecting a new K–5 literacy curriculum, following the recommendations from our recent literacy audit. To guide this work, we’ve formed a K-12 Literacy Leadership Team (LLT) of administrators, curriculum leaders, instructional coaches, and a literacy expert, which will meet regularly throughout the year. For updates on the curriculum selection process:

· A new “K–5 Literacy Curriculum” button is now available on the KLSD Curriculum & Instruction webpage under Curriculum & Assessments.

· When you click the button, you’ll see a timeline that will be updated as we move forward.

Our goal is to select a new K–5 literacy program by December, which we will implement starting in the 2026-27 school year.

This fall, our district has introduced two new assessments that will help us understand both each student’s current performance and their growth over time in reading and math. These tools will provide valuable information to guide instruction and ensure that students receive the support they need to continue developing their skills. Their selection was guided by recommendations from our recent Special Education and Literacy audits.

DIBELS – This assessment measures early reading and foundational literacy skills. It takes just a few minutes per student and is being given to all students in grades K–8. Click here for more information.

NWEA MAP – This computer-based assessment measures students’ growth in reading and math. All students in grades K–8 are taking both reading and math sections. Students in grades 9–11 are taking the reading assessment, and those enrolled in Algebra, Geometry, or Algebra 2 are taking the math assessment. Each test takes about 45 minutes and is completed independently by students under teacher supervision. Click here for more information.

This year, we will not be sending home formal DIBELS or MAP reports. Our focus is on ensuring these assessments are administered consistently, accurately, and with the right support in place. Teachers will continue to share updates about your child’s progress throughout the year, drawing from these and other classroom assessments.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work to strengthen how we assess and support each student’s learning and growth.

Kindergarten: In reading, students will continue to develop their knowledge of letters—their names, associated sounds, and formation. Students will learn to read books that contain familiar snap words and leverage their alphabet knowledge to help them check their reading as they go. Readers will work with a partner coaching each other when things don’t make sense or when pointing doesn’t match. In writing, students learn how to engage in the beginning process of spelling: drawing, labeling, revising, writing the most salient sounds, and then “stretching out” these sounds into full words, stringing words through phonetic spelling into full sentences and creating their own books. In math, students will continue to explore and compare numbers to 10 through a variety of lessons, activities, and games. In science the students have taken on the role of scientists in order to figure out why no monarch caterpillars live in the area that was converted from a field to a community vegetable garden. They are investigating how plants and animals get what they need to live and grow, and they will make a new plan for the garden that will provide for the needs of the monarch caterpillars and produce vegetables for humans.

Grade 1: First graders will officially begin their Word Detective training! Just like detectives, our readers are always on the lookout for “tricky parts” in words and are learning to solve them. Students are practicing looking closely at words from start to finish and zooming in on endings such as -s and -ing. They are also growing their bank of snap words to read automatically, while using their knowledge of letter sounds to figure out new words. Readers are continuing to monitor their comprehension as they read, paying attention to key story elements along the way. During Word Work, students are exploring words with bonus letters (ff, ll, ss, zz) and glued sounds (-all, -am, -an). In Writing Workshop, first graders are beginning a new unit on informational writing! They are creating “How-To” books that use both pictures and words to teach others how to complete different tasks. In Math, students are learning strategies to solve addition facts up to 20 with increasing confidence. We are also looking forward to celebrating the 50th day of school with activities centered around the number 50 and the 1950s! In Science, students are studying how animals use their physical structures to protect themselves from predators. Later this month, they will have the exciting opportunity to observe a live animal and investigate how its body parts and behaviors help it grow and thrive.

Grade 2: Second graders are getting ready to tackle non-fiction in both reading and writing. Students will share their expertise in an informational writing unit and learn the conventions of non-fiction books during reading. Second graders continue to partake in Fundations lessons to deepen their phonetic abilities. Students are working with suffixes and multi-syllable words within the program. In math, students will learn several strategies to add numbers within 100. Second graders will become geologists in science, studying what landforms are made of and how they change over a long period of time.

Grade 3: In November, students will learn essential skills for reading nonfiction. They will learn to read expository texts with fluency, determine what is important, and ascertain main ideas. Later, they will apply their knowledge of identifying central ideas in expository texts to narrative nonfiction. In math, students will apply strategies to achieve fluency with multiplication and division facts within 100. Later in the month, they’ll begin learning about area—first by using hands-on models and then moving to pictures and equations—to understand how area connects to both multiplication and addition. Also, this month, third graders will finish up the Balancing Forces unit in science. As we move through November, we will also take time as a class to discuss and reflect on gratitude, thinking about the people and moments we are thankful for in our lives.

Grade 4: In November, fourth graders will dive into non-fiction texts. They will practice using text features to make quality predictions, locate essential information, and set a purpose for their reading. They will also learn how to determine and comprehend the main idea based on the structure of a text. In addition, students will continue to learn about grammar and writing conventions to strengthen their writing skills, as well as study morphemes to build their word attack strategies and deepen their understanding of new or unfamiliar vocabulary. In math, students will continue to use strategies and properties to multiply by both one- and two-digit numbers and then extend this understanding to the division of 1-digit numbers. In science, students will finish their geologic studies by learning how environments change over time and studying the processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition. Finally, they will be introduced to their next social studies unit, in which they will discuss the indigenous peoples of New York and how their environment and local resources impacted their cultures and lifestyles.

Grade 5: In November, 5th grade mathematicians will expand their understanding of multi-digit multiplication by multiplying decimals. They will be provided with a variety of strategies from which to choose to do this work. Estimating products is an important part of this unit. In ELA, students will continue to think deeply and write long about their reading as they embark on realistic fiction book clubs. Understanding the various governments of the western hemisphere, along with their similarities and differences, will wrap up in November, and we will embark on our first unit of study in science, Patterns of Earth and Sky. In this unit, students will discuss and explore predictable daily patterns as well as the impact that size and distance have on what one can see in the sky at different times of day and night.

Kindergarten

Our youngest musicians are exploring music through dramatic play and movement! Students are learning to use proper vocal tone while engaging with short rhythm patterns through speech, body percussion, and unpitched instruments.
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, kindergarteners are enjoying songs and dances that honor and reflect Native American cultures.

First Grade – Gratitude Concert!

First graders are preparing for a very special event — the Gratitude Concert on November 24th at 9:45 a.m. right here at Increase Miller! Families are invited to join us as students share songs of thankfulness and community. This concert is always a cherished tradition and a beautiful way to welcome the season of gratitude.

Second Grade

Second graders are exploring music from Native American cultures, learning about traditional songs and dances that express stories, community, and connection to nature. They are also developing their musicianship on Orff instruments such as xylophones, learning to play different parts in harmony.

Third Grade

Third graders are beginning a composition unit using GarageBand! Students will experiment with new sounds, loops, and instruments as they compose and synthesize their own original pieces. Creativity is in full swing!

Fourth Grade

Fourth graders continue to strengthen their ukulele skills! In addition to chord practice and strumming techniques, we’ll also be exploring the music of composer John Williams, whose unforgettable film scores have inspired generations of listeners.

Fifth Grade

Our fifth graders are preparing for their musical auditions! We’ll begin by learning how to audition, practicing audition pieces, and focusing on character development. This process builds confidence, teamwork, and performance skills that will shine in our spring production.

4th Grade Band:

In fourth grade band, students undertook their first “band quest” to play and hold their first notes, and now that students have learned their first five notes, they are quickly working towards playing their first songs “Rolling Along” and “Hot Cross Buns”. Their next band quest will be to play the song “First Flight”, using all 5 of their notes.

5th Grade Band:

The fifth grade band is working on advanced band literature that will challenge their technical facility, learning new notes and rhythms as they work towards perfecting their pieces and playing their first major scales. The concert music represents a variety of musical styles- “Warp Speed” by Michael Story is a fast-paced work that explores a new rhythmic motif. “Monuments” by Sean O’Laughlin is a slower and more melodic piece that will introduce the band to ties, independent rhythmic motion, and lyrical style. Lastly, students will soon begin work on “The Tempest” by Robert W. Smith, a difficult piece that will require students to play new notes and dynamics to create the shifting musical styles required of the music.

4th Grade Orchestra:

In 4th grade orchestra, students took their first planet test by playing their open strings. Now, students are moving on to learning the notes of the D string and preparing to learn familiar songs “Rolling Along” and “Lightly Row”.

5th Grade Orchestra:

5th graders have been working on advanced musical concepts of tone, dynamics, and character. Each piece on our concert program is unique and contrasts from one another, giving 5th graders and opportunity to hone different musical skill sets. Dark Forest Legend is a fast, energetic piece, meanwhile A Beethoven Lullaby and The Abandoned Funhouse are slower and more lyrical.

In the library this November, students are continuing to strengthen their sustained silent reading routines across all grade levels, fostering quiet focus and deep engagement with print books. Our younger students are enjoying hands-on mini STEM activities inspired by beloved children’s books, bringing stories to life through creativity and exploration.

Our 5th graders are getting ready for their special K/5 Buddy Read, where they’ll share favorite picture books and reading time with Kindergarten partners.

3rd graders are busy preparing for their annual Balloon Parade, inspired by the nonfiction book Balloons Over Broadway. Our third graders will parade inside and outside of the school to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday as a community. Parents/Guardians are also invited to attend. Please see the flyer below.

It’s a month full of curiosity, collaboration, and celebration of books!

Students have been studying color theory through autumn-inspired art projects! The art room has been busy and full of creativity as students explore colors, lines, and seasonal themes. Kindergarten artists experimented with color mixing to create secondary colors and made festive pumpkin collages. First graders reused newspapers to design unique fall landscapes. Second graders crafted cheerful scarecrow collages using their own painted papers. Third graders admired sunflowers, discussed warm colors, and used oil pastels to blend and create bright, bold flowers. Fourth graders are studying color value and creating stunning stained-glass–inspired art. Fifth graders learned about Spanish Heritage Month and the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, designing 3D Model Magic sugar skulls full of color, pattern, and detail.

The art room is bursting with creativity and fall spirit!

As we head into November our physical education classes will continue to focus on fitness evaluations. Last month’s focus was on push-ups. This month we will be working on Squats, Squat jumps and lower body exercises to emphasize the importance of developing our leg muscles. We will be evaluating our students on their form, and their understanding of the fitness benefits they will be gaining.

We will be adding Thanksgiving themed games and activities throughout the month, as we continue to incorporate cooperative activities into our program.

In October, our teams administered new screening tools to assess student proficiency and determine next steps for instruction. Eligibility for Tier 2 and Tier 3 services will be based on these assessments along with classroom assessments.

If your child qualifies for Tier 2 or Tier 3 services, our Interventionists will be notifying you about reading and/or math services.

During November, gratitude is our theme in our K-5 classrooms. Classrooms will be reading books, singing songs, and reading poems about being thankful. Some of the books we have in our classrooms are included below:

Our Table, by Peter Reynolds.

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell

I Am Thankful: A Story About Gratitude and Family by Sheri Wall

Gratitude is my SuperPower by Alicia Ortego

I'm Thankful for Elaine Vickers

Our school Social Worker, Mrs. Ryan, will be using the resource Second Step, specifically the Child Protection Unit, to support our health curriculum, The Great Body Shop, in your child’s classroom. This curriculum is written for elementary school age children. Students in grades k, 2, 4 will receive two safety lessons. Students in grades 1,3,5 will receive one “refresher” safety lesson.

Students will learn three types of skills:

Personal Safety: Students will learn important safety rules, such as safety with dangerous objects, sharp tools, and fire, and when riding on wheels or in cars. They will also learn ways to help them decide if something is safe or not (The 3 R’s-recognize, refuse, report).

Touching Safety: Students will learn about safe, unsafe, and unwanted touches, and to tell an adult if someone breaks rules about touching private body parts.

Assertiveness: These lessons will also give students a chance to practice asking an adult for help, telling an adult about an unsafe situation, and being “assertive” to get out of unsafe situations.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Child Protection Unit, please contact Mrs. Kiri Ryan @ kryan@klschools.org. Mrs. Ryan will be implementing the lessons throughout the month of November.

November is Native American Heritage Month. We will learn about the contributions of our nation’s indigenous people and read the story of Thanksgiving from multiple perspectives.

Our PTO has also organized special assemblies to highlight Native American history and culture. On November 21, The Redhawk Indigenous Arts Council will perform Indigenous dance, music, storytelling and traditional arts. The council represents artists from North, South, Central American, Caribbean and Polynesian Indigenous cultures.

Our Grade 4 students also study Native American groups, chiefly the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Algonquian-speaking groups, who inhabited the region that became New York State. This unit is aligned with the NY State Social Studies curriculum.

We’re thrilled to share that 36 of our fifth-grade students have volunteered to be part of this year’s Start with Hello program! The group recently met with Dr. Schwartz and Ms. Ryan to discuss their motivations for becoming leaders and to learn more about the program’s goals.

Throughout November, our fifth grade leaders will visit kindergarten and first-grade classrooms to teach younger students about their unique “hello styles” and how to recognize when a classmate might be feeling lonely. They’ll also help students understand the difference between feeling lonely and enjoying healthy alone time.

Our fifth-grade leaders are excited to build connections across grade levels throughout the school year and help foster a kinder, more inclusive school community.

The IMES Green Team 2025 kicked off last week! All teams met and discussed what it means to "be green". The 4th and 5th grade leaders met with younger students in small groups and explored books around the sustainability theme. They began creating posters to hang in the halls calling attention to this important responsibility. The teams also started discussing ways for all students to get involved in making more responsible choices in our classrooms and in the cafeteria. The Green Team is excited to explore ways to practice sustainability and communicate their "Green" message to the school community this year!

We will be practicing evacuation/fire drills in November. Teachers will prepare students for the drills and we will notify families each time we conduct a drill.

DASA seeks to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all students, free of discrimination, intimidation, harassment, taunting and bullying. If you are aware of an incident or have a concern, please contact one of us listed below. You will be asked to complete the BOE Incident Reporting Form (see "button" below for attachment).

Kerry Ford, Principal and IMES Dignity Act Coordinator 763-7155 or kford@klschools.org

Michael Weschler, Assistant Principal (designee) 763-7117 or mweschler@klschools.org

Kiri Ryan, Social Worker (designee) 763-7155 or kryan@klschools.org

A written excuse is required by New York State Law each time a child is absent or late. The excuse should be sent with the child when he/she returns to school or on the day of lateness. In addition to the specific dates, the reason for the absence or lateness should be stated in the note and signed by a parent or guardian.

Parents are requested to enter their child's absence in our new Visitor Aware System (see directions above). If a child is absent and you do not enter their absence in Visitor Aware, the school will attempt to contact the parent. This is done for the safety and protection of the child.

Thank you to the Grade 2 Team and parent volunteers for joining us for Pumpkin Math!

Thank you to Margi Corsello, our Garden Leader, and parent volunteers for leading our school harvest!

Thank you to our parent volunteers for hosting Soup Day!

Thank you to Mrs. Zaremba and parent volunteers for displaying the beautiful art work in our hallways!

Thank you to Mrs. Miller for Launching our Reach Out John Jay Program!

Thank you to our IMpact parent volunteers for the beautiful learning and belonging board highlighting our heritage month and holidays!

Thank you to Mrs. Emig, Mrs. Griffin, and Mrs. Burroughs for launching our Green Teams!

Thank you to the Goldens Bridge Fire Department for the Fire Prevention Program!

Thank you to our Kindergarten Teachers and students for the Halloween Parade!