November 2025, Vol 1

As we enter this season of gratitude, I want to take a moment to share how truly thankful I am for the Ellicott community. These past years have been filled with joy, learning, laughter, and memories that I will always carry with me.

To our amazing students, thank you for being the brightest part of every day. Your curiosity, kindness, silliness, resilience, and big hearts have made this building come alive. You are the “why” behind everything we do, and it has been the greatest honor to watch you learn, grow, and shine.

To our incredible families, thank you for sharing your children with us and for being our partners in this work. Your support, communication, and belief in our staff and school make all the difference. Ellicott is the special place it is because of the deep trust between home and school.

And to the staff, thank you for showing up every day with heart, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to children. It has been a privilege to work alongside a team who pours their hearts into teaching, supporting and loving our students every single day. You make magic here.

Although this farewell comes with emotion, it is also filled with pride and hope. Ellicott will continue to soar, continue to innovate, continue to put children at the center, and continue to be the warm, joyful place it has always been. I will always cheer for this school, for this staff, and most of all, for our students.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of this extraordinary community. What an incredible place to be, and what an honor it has been to serve as your principal. I cannot wait to see all the great things that are yet to come! Team Ellicott!

With gratitude and love,
Mrs. Nigro

Tuesday, November 11th - Veterans Day - No School

Wednesday, November 12th - Picture Retake Day & PTO Red Robin Fundraiser

Friday, November 14th - Elementary Half Day - Dismissal Starts at 11:15

Friday, November 7th & Thursday, November 20th - Bills Days! 🏈💙

Wednesday, November 19th - Ellicott T-Shirt Day 👕

Tuesday, November 25th - 2nd Annual Ellicott Turkey Trot (Student ONLY event - during the day)

Wednesday, November 26th - Friday November 28th - Thanksgiving Break - No School

Fun Days are one of our favorite Ellicott traditions, and we are already starting to plan for this year’s celebration! What makes Fun Days so special at Ellicott is the focus on physical activity, teamwork, and school spirit, with all events thoughtfully planned and prepared by our own Physical Education teachers, Mr. Benning, Mr. Farrell, and Miss Weber. Another highlight is that our 4th and 5th grade students help run stations and assist younger students, giving them a meaningful leadership opportunity as they move into these grades.

With our growing enrollment at Ellicott (now 760 students!), we feel this is the right time to take a thoughtful look at how Fun Days are organized. To ensure a safe, fair, and memorable experience for everyone, we’ll be making a few adjustments this year that align with the district’s safety plan and help every student enjoy the day to the fullest.

Our goal remains the same: to celebrate our students through an event that promotes active play, teamwork, and lasting memories. As the culminating experience of our physical education program, Fun Days continue to highlight the joy of movement, friendship, and community.

More information will be shared in the coming months as details are finalized, and we look forward to another exciting Ellicott Fun Day!

In Pre-K art, we are exploring the world of lines—wavy, zigzag, curly, straight, and scribbly! Our young artists are creating layered, multimedia artworks that combine crayons and watercolor paints. Through this process, we’re discovering the magic of wax resist—how watercolor paint slides right off wax crayon marks—to make our colorful lines come to life!

Kindergarten and 1st grade artists have been building foundational art skills. Over the past few weeks, they have been learning to identify, draw, and use a variety of lines in their artwork. It has been exciting to see their confidence grow as they practice these skills and apply them to their own creative pieces. We have also been exploring the beautiful changes happening all around us during the fall season. We are observing how our environment transforms as the weather cools and the leaves begin to change color, and the different textures we experience. Together, we have been talking about warm colors—yellow, orange, and red—and noticing how these colors appear in nature as the leaves turn.

In 2nd grade, students have been diving into the world of printmaking. They are learning how to create different types of prints with various materials - experimenting with texture and pattern in their prints. Through our fall-inspired art projects, we are connecting what we see outside to the colors, lines, and textures we use in our classroom, bringing the cozy, colorful, and textured world of autumn into our artwork.

3rd grade artists have been working hard to grow their art-making skills by exploring new materials and techniques. Students have practiced discussing their ideas and adding greater detail and creativity to their work. We created clay pumpkin sculptures using a pinch-pot hand-building technique and designed spooky self-portraits, experimenting with expressive features and imaginative details. Creating a more caricature style self-portrait helps students build confidence and creativity as they bring their ideas to life!

Ellicott Art Teachers

Dear Families,

We are thankful for you!

As we prepare to take time off from school November 26th through November 30th for the Thanksgiving break, we want to share our gratitude for everyone in our school community. Your partnership makes it possible for students to come to school every day, on time and ready to learn.

Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to connect with peers and teachers, and to grow personally, socially and academically.

We are thankful for:

· Our students and their families who show up to school regularly, even when it isn’t easy.

· Our staff who go above and beyond to help make school a welcoming learning environment and help us stay safe, connected and excited about learning.

· Our many healers and helpers from support staff and volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our students need.

We appreciate each one of you. If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to your child's building.

We are grateful for everyone’s efforts to avoid taking extra days off during this holiday season. We look forward to seeing you again when school resumes on Monday, December 1st.

Thank you for partnering with us!

The PTO website is the go-to spot for the latest news and information. Bookmark it so you can check in anytime!

This is also where you can join the PTO. Membership helps support students through events, initiatives, and even some field trips. You don’t have to attend every meeting to be part of the fun, but you’re always welcome!

Meetings are always held in person, but with an option to join via Google Meet! Links will be sent out the night before.

Please consider signing up today by clicking below. While you're there, explore the website to see all the incredible things that are happening! ✨🔽

To read the November PTO newsletter in more detail, please click the pdf below.

This WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12th is Red Robin Night!

Tuesday, January 13 at 6:30pm (at Ellicott & via Google Meet)

Each month, our Occupational and Physical Therapists in Orchard Park create a fantastic collection of resources that can be used both in the classroom and at home. These activities and strategies support skill development that can benefit all children in many ways. Click the picture below to explore the resources and see if there’s anything you’d like to try with your child at home!

Building Gratitude Around Thanksgiving

November is the perfect time to slow down, cozy up, and focus on all the little things that make life special. Gratitude doesn’t just happen on Thanksgiving, it can be part of every day! Taking a few minutes to notice what we’re thankful for helps kids build positivity, empathy, and appreciation for the world around them.

Here are some fun ways to build gratitude together as a family this month:

💛 Family Gratitude Journal
Keep a small notebook in the kitchen or by your child’s bed. Each evening, take turns sharing one thing that made you smile or something kind that happened during the day. Younger children can draw their ideas or use stickers to decorate their pages.

🧡 Gratitude Jar
Grab a jar (any size works!) and start adding little notes of thanks throughout the month. Write down moments big and small, like finishing a tricky puzzle, playing with a friend, or snuggling up with a good book. On Thanksgiving Day, open the jar and read them all together.

💚 Thankful Tree or Window
Cut out paper leaves, hearts, or pumpkins, and write something you’re thankful for on each one. Tape them to a window, wall, or even a branch from your yard. Watching your “tree” fill up is a colorful reminder of just how much good surrounds you!

💙 Gratitude Walk
Head outside for a walk and take turns naming things you’re thankful for along the way: the crunch of leaves, a neighbor’s friendly wave, the smell of dinner when you get home. Gratitude grows when we slow down and notice the world around us.

💜 Acts of Kindness Challenge
Turn gratitude into action! Try one small act of kindness each day: draw a picture for a teacher, help set the table, share a toy, or write a thank-you note. Each act of kindness helps spread a little extra joy this season.

Whether it’s through journaling, drawing, or sharing smiles, these small moments of reflection help our families stay connected and thankful all month long. Here’s to filling our hearts, and homes, with gratitude this November! 🌟