March Newsletter

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Each year the New York State Education Department (NYSED) reviews information about the performance of each public school based on its school accountability indicators, which include, student achievement based on the NYS ELA and Math assessments, student growth, student attendance, and other indicators. Holmes Elementary has been newly identified as an Additional Targeted Support and Improvement School (ATSI) for the 2025-2026 school year, based on the underperformance of a small subgroup of our students enrolled, during the 2024-2025 school year. The intent of this designation is to promote equity and improve educational outcomes for all of our students by closing achievement gaps and enhancing the quality of instruction for all students.

As part of the ATSI support model, we will receive funding, resources, and additional support from the state and district to help improve student outcomes. This is an opportunity to enhance student performance and work towards excellence.

Please see this infographic, What You Need to Know About Support Model Identifications, which provides insight into what it means to be identified for additional support.

We are committed to continuous improvement and welcome your questions and feedback as we continue to work toward excellence.

Thank you for being amazing partners in your children's education!

Sincerely,

Heather McCarthy, Ed.D.

Principal

Holmes Elementary

HMcCarthy@ktufsd.org

Did you know that every school day counts? When students come to school regularly and on time, they build strong habits, strengthen friendships, and stay on track with learning. Even missing just a few days each month can make it harder to keep up with important skills in reading, writing, and math.

We love seeing our students’ smiling faces each morning! Consistent attendance helps children feel connected, confident, and ready to succeed. If your family is facing challenges that make it difficult to get to school, please reach out to Mrs. West our Social Worker— we are here to help and partner with you.

Let’s finish the school year strong-one day at at time!

Please review the following dismissal reminders to ensure a safe and smooth dismissal for all of our students:

• Dismissal begins at 3:25pm. All students must be picked up by 3:45pm.
• The bus loop is closed to cars 8:45am-9:00am and 3:00pm-3:45pm. We need our bus loop for buses and to ensure safety.
• If you are picking your student up for the day, please send a note or call the Main Office as soon as possible
• Please do not send teachers messages with changes to your student's dismissal plans. Please send a note or call the Main Office with any changes as early in the day as possible.

Our students use school-issued devices to learn, create, and explore every day! K-2 students use iPads and 3-4 students use Chromebooks. Please remind your child to use their device responsibly by keeping passwords private, using kind and appropriate language, and visiting only teacher-approved websites. Together, we can help our students stay safe, respectful, and responsible digital learners at school and at home.

In February, our students focused on sportsmanship and fair play through their SEL lessons, strengthening skills that support positive relationships both in and out of the classroom.

Our K–2 students practiced recognizing and managing big emotions when winning or losing, using positive self-talk, and making responsible choices during games and group activities. Students in Grades 3–4 built on these foundations by developing leadership skills, practicing perspective-taking, and using constructive communication to support and encourage their peers.

We’re “jumping” back into things in PE! As we settle back into our routines, students are reviewing gym rules and expectations to help ensure a safe, positive, and successful rest of the school year.

We’ve also kicked off our Jumping Unit, with each type of jump named after a different pasta to add some extra fun and engagement! This creative approach helps students remember skills as we begin building toward jump rope activities. Our goal is to help students develop strong jumping skills that will support their coordination, confidence, and lifelong fitness as we transition into using jump ropes.

We’re excited to see all the energy and effort in the gym. Keep jumping, everyone!

Creative energy is buzzing, as students across all grade levels begin their projects for this year’s Art Rocks! We are hard at work transforming one of our very own classrooms into a lush, student-made Buffalo Botanical Garden exhibit.

From vibrant flora to unique garden-inspired masterpieces, our young artists are turning Holmes Elementary into a local landmark. We can’t wait for you to walk through this botanical wonderland and see their hard work on display!

During March, students in the library will continue reading stories for Black History month (February) and Women's History month (March) as the topics are so closely tied to our reading program. We will also take a deep dive into studying the works of Newbery medalist Carole Boston Weatherford and Caldecott medalist Kadir Nelson. Please see the library website for additional information and reading lists!

Josie in Kindergarten chose Pete the Cat during book circulation time!

Music going into March is always a fun and exciting time! Our students have been building their skills throughout the year, and March is where we get to have more fun in showing what we can do with what we have learned. We have been through the Responding and Connecting portions of the artistic processes, but now it is time for the Creating and Performing to happen!

Reminder to families: the 3rd Grade Recorder Concert is on May 29th at 2pm. The 4th Grade Spring Concert (Band, Orchestra, and Chorus) is on June 2nd at 2pm.

How to help your child practice a musical instrument

1. Know what time of day works best for your child to practice.

2. Practice at the same time every day.

3. Practice with your child.

4. Focus on “times” not “time.”

5. Make practice fun.

Mrs. Aquino has a special challenge for all students in Kindergarten, First, and Third grades. Get those physical forms in for a chance to win a class prize! Please turn them in by March 15th.

Students at Holmes Elementary continue to work on following the school rules by being safe, being kind and being great listeners. You can help at home by asking how students are showing these three important behaviors in all areas of our school. You can ask questions like, "What does it look like to be safe in the cafeteria?" or "What are some ways you're being kind on your bus?"

Many students have been recognized as Upstanders this month for holding their peers accountable and expecting them to follow the rules. Upstanders receive awards, have their pictures taken, are added to our slideshow in the main lobby, receive a picture to take home and are entered to win special activities such as dance parties and Minute To Win It game at our PBIS assemblies! Be sure to ask your child about this and encourage great behavior at school and on the bus.

Our Linde Mentoring program had their annual Bake Sale in February, which was hosted next door at Linde in their cafeteria. They worked hard but not without having a little fun. When our students weren’t selling yummy treats they got to eat a delicious pizza lunch and play board games with their mentors and fellow students. All proceeds raised today will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of the Northtowns.

Liam, Leo, and Colin participated in our One School, One Book themed spirit days and dressed alike!

Holmes participated in the Purple Pinkie Project on Friday, February 28th. Students were encouraged to bring in donations in exchange for dipping their pinkie in purple dye. The donated funds go directly to distributing the polio vaccine across the world. Donations were doubled and tripled by community organizations. Our grand total was over $800!

First-graders in Mr. Bellanca's class are posing at Explore & More during their recent field trip!

Elena in third-grade purchased "VIP Recess" from our PBIS cart. Elena and several other students were given VIP access to our indoor Recess Room with Ms. McCarthy and Mrs. Cannon.

Our third session of afterschool programming, named "Holmes Beyond the Bell" has started! Ms. Wipperman runs a small group focused on idioms and figurative language.

Check out our upcoming events at Holmes Elementary! Click the link below to access the Holmes Google Calendar and see scheduled events!