Parent Newsletter #1
🐏The Cornwell Connection— Week 5
Growing Readers. Growing Leaders. Growing Together.
💛 Hello, October!
Dear Cornwell Families,
It is hard to believe that we have already completed our first month of school!
September was filled with new routines, new friendships, lots of learning, and many opportunities for our Rams to grow. Our students have settled into their classrooms, our teachers are getting to know them as learners, and we are beginning October ready to build on that strong start.
As we enter our second month together, we'll continue encouraging our students to read, think, ask questions, solve problems, and be kind to one another.
Thank you for being such an important part of our Cornwell community!
💛🖤
Mrs. Scollo
📅 This Week at Cornwell
💙 Monday, October 5
Anti-Bullying Day — Wear BLUE!
We invite all of our Rams to wear blue as we stand together for kindness, inclusion, and respect.
Throughout the day, students will have opportunities to think about how their words and actions can make a positive difference in our school community.
At Cornwell, kindness matters! 💙
👀 Looking Ahead
📅 Monday, October 12 — No School
We hope our Cornwell families enjoy the long weekend!
🌐 Visit Our Teaching & Learning Page!
Looking for ways to stay connected to what your child is learning at Cornwell?
Be sure to visit the Teaching & Learning page on the Cornwell website and check out your child's grade-level monthly resources!
These resources are a great way to see what students are working on and find ways to continue the learning and conversation at home.
📚 Check back each month for updated Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 resources!
🧠 October Habit of Mind
Metacognition — Thinking About Your Thinking
Our October Habit of Mind is Metacognition, which simply means helping children become aware of how they think and learn.
Throughout the month, we'll encourage students to pause and ask themselves:
💭 What am I thinking?
🎯 What is my plan?
🤔 Is my strategy working?
🔄 What could I try differently?
You can practice metacognition at home, too!
When your child is reading, completing homework, building something, playing a game, or solving a problem, try asking:
“How did you figure that out?”
Giving children an opportunity to explain their thinking helps them become more independent and reflective learners.
📊 NWEA | Fall Testing Complete!
Our initial fall NWEA assessments are complete! 🎉
Thank you to our students for working hard and to our families for helping them come to school ready to do their best.
Our teachers will use NWEA as one piece of information alongside classroom work, observations, and other assessments to better understand each child's strengths and areas for continued growth.
The most important part isn't simply the score.
It's what we do next to help every learner grow.
📖 Mrs. Scollo's Reading Corner
Let Them Do the Thinking!
Sometimes when we're reading with children, it's tempting to jump in quickly when they get stuck.
This week, try giving your child a little extra thinking time.
If they come to a tricky word or aren't sure what something means, pause before giving them the answer.
Try asking:
📚 “What could you try?”
🔎 “What do you notice?”
💭 “What are you thinking?”
🔄 “Does that make sense? What else could you try?”
That little pause sends an important message:
I believe you can figure this out.
🏠 Parents as Partners in Reading
Ask One More Question
After your child reads—or after you read together—go beyond:
“Did you like the book?”
Try asking one question that gets them thinking:
💬 Why do you think the character did that?
💬 What part made you think the most?
💬 What would you have done differently?
💬 What makes you say that?
There doesn't have to be one “right” answer. The conversation itself builds comprehension, vocabulary, and confidence.
Read it. Talk about it. Think about it. 📚
🌱 Cornwell Spotlight
Be The Change
Our second graders had a very special experience as we welcomed Grade 10 students from our Secondary School to Cornwell for Be The Change Day!
Our older students worked alongside our younger Rams to explore kindness, positive action, and the idea that even small choices can make a difference.
Students also planted seeds that will remain in their classrooms as they watch them grow. In the spring, we hope to reconnect with our Grade 10 partners and bring those plants to our Cornwell garden!
It was a wonderful example of students learning from students across our West Hempstead community.
🌱 Small actions can grow into meaningful change.
🐏 Ram Family Challenge
Think About Your Thinking!
This week's challenge connects to our October Habit of Mind.
Ask your child to teach you how to do something!
It could be:
🥪 Making their favorite snack
🧱 Building something with blocks
🎨 Drawing a picture
⚽ Doing a favorite sports skill
📚 Solving a word or math problem
🎲 Playing a favorite game
Here's the catch:
They have to explain their thinking while they do it!
Ask them:
“What are you thinking about right now?”
“Why did you choose to do it that way?”
“What would you do if that didn't work?”
You may be surprised by just how much thinking is going on inside those little minds! 🧠💛
💬 One More Chapter...
Our first month was about getting to know one another.
Now we're helping our students get to know something else:
Themselves as learners.
When children learn to think about their thinking, talk about their learning, and reflect on what works for them, we begin building the independence and confidence that will serve them far beyond the classroom.
Thank you for continuing to learn and grow alongside us.