October 2026 Newsletter
October ____, 2026
From Ms. Amendola
Happy middle of October!
October is here, and we are FALL-ing into another amazing month at South Avenue! Lots to do this month from school spirit to fall festivities, there is so much to enjoy as we learn, grow, and make memories together.
Here are some important October dates:
Pink Wednesdays: Wear pink on October 21 and 28!
Trunk or Treat: Will now be held on October 23
There are plenty of other fun, important and upcoming dates listed below! We can't wait for all the rest of October!
All the events listed above are already on the South Avenue Calendar. If you would like to add the calendar please see the information below! We add as much information to the calendar so we can keep everyone up to date and informed on all the fun happenings at South!
The South Avenue Calendar for the 2026 - 2027 school year can be added to your calendar by clicking here.
Here are some important upcoming events:
Upcoming Events:
October 17: Girls in Sports Day (Grades 3-5) @ BHS
October 19: Dance Residency Program Starts (K &1)
October 22: Fire Prevention Assembly
October 23: Swimming - Grade 3
October 23: Trunk or Treat!
October 26 - 30: Spirit Week, Stay Tuned!
October 28: Picture Retake
October 30: Halloween Parade
November 3: Superintendent Conference Day, No Students
November 11: No School
November 16: 4/5 Band Trip, BHS
November 19: Family Service Night, Used Book Sale
November 20 - 21: Used Book Fair
At-A-Glance Calendar: October
Learning Spotlight!
We loved spending time with them, thank you, Raffi, Wilbur and Bob, for making our day a little brighter!
🐶 🐾
#pantherpride #182daysofsouthave #southavepanthers #wearesouthave
Trunk or Treat: New Date!
Wednesday Wear Pink!
Picture Retake!
Used Book Fair!
Roll Out - This Weekend!
Join us on Sunday, October 18th for Roll Out Beacon’s Annual Community Print & Steamroll Event!
Our 5th graders have been busy exploring the art of printmaking in art class, learning to carve designs into linoleum as part of a collaborative project inspired by the game Exquisite Corpse. On Sunday, October 18th, they’ll have the opportunity to see their artwork come to life as it’s printed with a steamroller at Roll Out Beacon’s Annual Community Print & Steamroll Event! Students and their families are welcome to attend and help with the printing process.
South Ave 5th graders will be printing their collaborative artwork between 1:30 and 2:30 PM!
Roll Out is a printmaking collective that celebrates community, creativity, and art for everyone. This free, interactive event brings together local artists, schools, and community members to experience the exciting process of printmaking, including the use of a steamroller to print enormous woodblocks!
We encourage everyone to attend and enjoy this unique artistic experience. We hope those who are available will be able to stop by and enjoy the event!
In addition to seeing the steamroller printing in action, families can enjoy a variety of free activities, including:
- Live steamroller printing of large-scale woodblocks created by local artists and public school groups
- Hands-on printmaking stations featuring LEGO prints, foam stamps, vegetable prints, and more
- Lino carving for ages 12 and up
- Live DJ, music, and refreshments
Menus!
Menu is subject to change, please use the link below for the daily food choices!
Missing Something?
Positivity Project
Dear Families,
This week, our school will focus on the character strength of Creativity. Creativity means coming up with new and original ways to think about and do things.
Creative people see the world differently. They are open to new experiences and think independently. They come up with many ideas and pursue them with energy and enthusiasm. Creativity takes courage because sharing original ideas can sometimes lead to criticism.
Creativity is vital to our world! Creative solutions can help resolve conflicts and find compromises that satisfy everyone involved, strengthening relationships. It helps us solve tough problems, create new things, and see the world in fresh ways. Examples include treatments for deadly illnesses, such as cancer, the invention of the cell phone, and the development of solar panels. Imagine life without Impressionist paintings or the creation of airplanes and rocket ships.
To encourage creativity with your child at home, visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.
Next week, our school community will focus on the Other People Mindset of Knowing That My Words and Actions Affect Others, which means having an awareness that everything that we say and do can affect others — and our relationships with them.
Whether we speak, email, text, or post, our words and actions can have a positive or negative effect. The words and actions we choose can lift others up or bring them down, and they also impact us. When we all think carefully about our words and actions and show respect and care for those around us, we create a happier and healthier community.
To practice and encourage this Other People Mindset at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.
Thank you for your support!
Halloween Parade: Save the Date!
Attendance Reminder
Caregiver Conferences!
Dear Elementary School Families,
As we begin the 2026–2027 school year, we want to share some important information regarding Student Progress Conferences, assessments and grade reporting throughout elementary trimesters.
Individual student results from the New York State assessments will be sent home with students on Friday, September 18. These reports provide families with information about their student’s performance on last spring’s state assessments. This information is just one data point our educators use to inform instruction.
In addition, at the beginning of the school year, elementary students participate in universal screening assessments in reading and mathematics. Families can discuss the universal screening results with the classroom teacher at conferences.
Elementary schools operate on a trimester system, meaning the school year is divided into three reporting periods. At the end of each trimester, families receive a report card reflecting their student’s progress toward grade-level learning standards. Report cards will be backpacked home at the end of each trimester. Progress reports will be made available on Parent Portal with the exception of the first progress report. PreK and Kindergarten does not receive a progress report in the 1st trimester.
Student Progress Conferences will be held on Monday, November 23, and Tuesday, November 24. During Meet the Teacher Night, families will have an opportunity to sign up for a conference time directly with their student’s classroom teacher. Conferences can be in-person or virtual, there are no evening conferences on November 24.
Students will follow a half-day schedule on both conference days, with elementary dismissal at 11:40 AM.
District Wide Conference Times:
Beacon HS: 11:30 AM-2:20 PM, 5:00-8:00 PM
Rombout MS: 12:10 PM-2:50 PM, 5:00-8:00 PM
Elementary Schools: 12:40 PM-3:30 PM, 5:00-8:00 PM
*No evening conferences on 11/24
We look forward to partnering with families throughout the school year and providing opportunities to discuss your student’s academics!
Newsletter Outline
We know so much information is going home throughout the school year and we know it can be a lot to keep track of!
To make communication more effective and easier to access, we will outline the community newsletters more clearly. We will have a live, running document with each newsletter and all the information included in the newsletter. Easier access and all in one place!
Our goal is to keep you informed and connected with us without trying to find which newsletter might have had the information - thank you!
Fire Drills & Lockdowns
We've already completed our first Lockdown of the year and our first fire drill! Please note, we have three upcoming lockdowns and seven more fire drills to complete for the year.
We will be holding another Fire Drill in the upcoming week!
Attendance Matters at BCSD!
Girls in Sports Day!
Tomorrow is Girls in Sports Day! (Girls Grades 3-8), it is not too late to sign up! Event is 10/17 from 9:00-2:00pm at BHS!
South Ave PTA
It’s time to sign up for or renew your membership to the South Avenue PTA! We invited all parents, guardians, teachers, staff and community members to sign up for annual membership. Membership dues are a suggested donation of $10.
