Chestnut Street Monthly Newsletter

Happy New Year and welcome back!

Dear Families,

We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and a restful break spent with loved ones. As we return to school, we are settling back into our routines and continuing our learning journeys together. January is an exciting month in kindergarten, and we have many engaging learning experiences ahead!

December was filled with joy as students learned about holiday traditions and customs. They practiced building words using the letter sounds they have studied so far and ended the month writing simple sentences—showing wonderful growth in their early literacy skills.

Winter Benchmark Assessments

Each January, we take time to assess how students are progressing in reading and math. Our district uses the Northwest Education Association (NWEA) MAP Growth assessments as a benchmark. A benchmark is simply a standard used to measure progress.

The MAP assessment is unique because it adapts to each child’s responses. When a student answers a question correctly, the next question becomes a bit more challenging; when an answer is incorrect, the next question adjusts accordingly. Kindergarten teachers use this information—along with classroom observations and other assessments—to plan instruction and ensure each child’s learning needs are met.

Supporting Reading at Home

Daily reading makes a tremendous difference! Please continue to read:

• Library books

• Sight word readers

• Books borrowed from the CS School library

We encourage families to read with their child every day, in the language you are most comfortable using. Talking about stories, asking questions, and enjoying books together all support comprehension and confidence.

At-Home Reading Tips:

• Ask your child to retell the story in their own words.

• Point out sight words your child recognizes.

• Encourage your child to look at pictures and predict what might happen next.

• Read the district literacy newsletters when they come home—they include helpful strategies and insights into our literacy instruction.

Writing Focus

January through mid-March, students will explore persuasive/opinion writing. At home, encourage conversations that invite your child to share their opinions:

• What is your favorite dinner? Why?

• Which TV show or book do you like best?

• What makes that your favorite?

At this stage, children are not expected to spell every word correctly. Spelling words like dog as “dg” is perfectly appropriate. We celebrate students listening for sounds and using what they know—vowel development takes time, and progress happens every day!

Math Learning in January

In math, students will continue exploring shapes, including building and filling hexagons and learning about 2-D geometry. From January through mid-February, we will focus on collecting, counting, and measuring.

Students will explore these essential questions:

• What is addition?

• What is subtraction?

• How do we measure?

• How can we use objects to solve joining and separating problems?

We are counting to 50 by ones and tens, practicing writing numbers 11–20, and playing games that build “counting on” strategies. Students are also developing an understanding of the words more, fewer, greater, and lesser.

At-Home Math Tips:

• Practice counting objects around the house (toys, steps, snacks).

• Have your child count by 10s using everyday items.

• Play simple addition or subtraction games using small objects (blocks, coins, buttons).

• Talk about “more” and “less” during daily routines.

Thank You, Families!

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing parent volunteers who supported us in December. We loved having you share in our celebrations and truly appreciated your help with the holiday week fundraiser. Thank you to all of our families for your continued partnership—it makes a difference every day.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out or contact the main office. We are always here to help.

Warm regards,
Dr. Lisa Minicozzi

• Play board games with your child(ren) to practice taking turns.
• When reading you can ask your student to guess the word by looking at the first sound and using the picture to help.
• Ask your child to identify sight words in the texts they see.
• When listening to music with your child, ask them to listen for rhyming words.
• Use a family calendar and show your child the date. Practice counting down to winter break or and upcoming family event.

• If your child will be absent, please call Nurse Angela before 8:30 AM at 516-390-3155
• Kindly ensure your child has a full change of clothes in the classroom.
• If there will be a change in your child's afternoon transportation, please write a note or email to the teacher. For last-minute changes, please call Mrs. Ventura or Mrs. White before 2:00 PM. 516-390-3150
• Please select your child's daily lunch order on the printed menu by circling or highlighting the choices and return it to school ASAP. The link for the menus is below. Please note, at times the item listed on the menu may not be available and your child will be offered an alternative option.
• Please do not block the driveways of the homes around our school. Our neighbors have reached out to express concern about their driveways being blocked during drop-off and dismissal. Thank you for your cooperation.

If you or someone you know has a child who is eligible for PreK or Kindergarten for 2026, please call Mrs. Ventura today at 516-390-3150 to find out about our upcoming registration. We still have some remaining spots for this year open. Eligibility requirements: resident of the WHUFSD and born between 12/2/2019 and 12/1/2020.

1/8: 7:00 PM Secondary School STEMposium

1/9: UPK 26-27 Parent Interest Survey Closes

1/12: UPK 26-27 Lottery

1/12: PTA/SEPTA/PTSA Meeting @7:30 SS VCR Rm

1/19: Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday (Schools Closed)

1/20: BOE Mtg. @ 7:30pm SS VCR Room

1/23: End of Quarter 2

1/26: 7:00 PM PTA/SEPTA Meeting GW Cafeteria

1/30: Report Cards sent home

The Habits of Mind are an identified set of 16 problem solving, life related skills, which contribute to creating a healthier learning environment. The habits are cross-curricular and applied throughout the West Hempstead UFSD, in all grades and levels. Currently in kindergarten, we are focusing on Managing Impulsivity.

This Habit of Mind is important for students to understand because it helps students recognize the control they have over their bodies and actions- and provides them with skills and solutions to help regulate some of their impulsive behaviors. Whether it be impulsive decisions or impulsive body movements, students benefit from explicit instruction in this Habit of Mind to ensure that they develop a deeper understanding of the fact that they are in control of their bodies and the decisions they make.

Impulse control is such an important self-management skill to teach children. Many kids need practice with these life skills. Linked below are some of my favorite videos for teaching self-control to kids. In this list, you'll find interactive activity and freeze dance videos, explainer videos, animated videos, videos with songs about self-control, and read aloud books for self-control.