Castle News

What an exciting time of year! School is back in session and we are already moving into week 4. Time does fly when you are having fun. Hopefully your middle schooler is adjusting to being back in school and is settling into a school routine. At school, the students appear to be comfortable in their spaces and are acclimating to their new teachers. Our sixth grade students are becoming pros at navigating the building. They are getting to their classes on time and are adjusting well to having five or more teachers. After school clubs have not started. We hope to begin clubs by the middle of October. If you are new to the Castle, the Castle News is one of the tools we use to communicate with families and provide up to date information. The Castle News is stored on the IEYMS webpage under Family and Community throughout the year, so you can also go back and check old editions as well as read new editions. Here's to a wonderful school year!

Here are a few dates to know!

September 15-October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

September 22: Grade 6 Box Out Bullying Assembly

September 29: Grades 7 and 8 Harlem Magic Anti-Bulling Assembly

October 1-31: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 5: Author Visit Pablo Cartaya

October 6: IEY PTA Color Run (Cancelled until the Spring)

October 6: Progress Reports for Marking Period 1 Released Home Access

October 9: Schools Closed Indigenous People's Day/Columbus Day

October 10: Half Day: Middle School Dismissal 11:50 Grade 6 and 12:00 Grades 7 and 8

October 12-13: Picture Day

October 23-31: Red Ribbon Spirit Week

What is a School Counselor? School counselors are educators uniquely trained in child and adolescent development, learning strategies, self-management, and social skills. School counselors work closely with students and families to ensure students are on track for school success. Each student is assigned to a school counselor who is the primary person responsible for coordinating educational and community services including educational program planning, post-secondary educational planning, career exploration, and personal and social adjustment.

What do School Counselors do? School counselors work with students and families to help them overcome unpredictable impediments to school success. They implement a comprehensive school counseling program to support students through their middle school developmental period. They provide education, prevention, and intervention activities, which are integrated into all aspects of students’ lives. They assist students in developing the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary for the academic, career, and social/ emotional development. Please contact this office for matters regarding overall student performance, student development, academics, parent conferences, report and progress reports, student schedules, student placement, middle and high school transitions, 504 services, middle school promotion requirements, college and career readiness, peer relationships, and summer programs. The name of your child's counselor is found at the top of your child's schedule, report card, and progress reports. There are four school counselors at IEYMS. Ms. Gabr, Mr. Rhett, Mr. Roberts, and Ms. Smith.

Students have free access to academic tutors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students can get access to tutors in math, ELA, science, social studies, study skills, writing and more. Students can log into tutor.com using their nredlearn launch pad class link. See the flyers below for more information.

We will utilize a variety of methods to communicate with families throughout the year including Emails, the principals’ and district newsletters, telephone calls, short text messages, robocalls, and the United States Postal Service. However, please note that if any of your contact information is out of service or out of date, if your address or cell/telephone numbers are incorrect, if your Email is not on file, or if you have opted out or unsubscribed from the district communication service, you will not receive updates and information. Your contact information (cell, home number, Email, address) must be correct in our Student Information System to receive communications. If you need to add or update any of your contact information, please contact the Main Office at 914-576-4360. New addresses/residencies must be verified before we can update the address change.

• The correct address allows for the delivery of mail delivered through the US Postal Service. This includes hard copies of report cards and progress notices, awards, celebratory notifications, special education notices, and general letters from the school or district.

• An active email on file allows for the delivery of important school and district information, updates, and newsletters. You also need an active email on file to sign up for and use The Home Access Center.

• An active telephone or cell allows for robocalls and voice messages including information about upcoming events, reminders, emergencies, school delays, and closings.

• An active cell allows for text messages, robocalls, and voice messages.

The Home Access Center is an important resource for parents that provides up-to-date information about their children, and it is free! With Home Access Center Parents/Guardians can view, online, their child’s:

• Live-period-by-period attendance for grades 6-12 and once-a-day for K-5

• Student Schedule with email links to each of their child's teachers
  (K-5 links to Homeroom Teacher only)

• Transcript and GPA information (Grades 8-12 only)

• Progress reports

• Report cards

• Check emergency contact information.

You can sign up for Home Access on the New Rochelle City School District website.

School pictures will be taken on October 12 and October 13. You may pre-order online by scanning the code or go to http://www.lorsstudio.com/undergrads/order/ to order.

We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 to October 15 to recognize culture and heritage that contributes to the fabric of American Society and to acknowledge achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx people.

• The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson.

• It was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period.

• It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.

“The timing of Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American nations. September 15 was chosen as the kickoff because it coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of five nations: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Those five nations declared their independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. Additionally, On September 16, Mexico gained its independence. Next is Chile, which celebrates its independence on September 18. Belize celebrates on September 21, and Puerto Rico on September 23.” Taken from (https://www.history.com/topics/hispanic-history/hispanic-heritage-month).

The New Rochelle City School District has adopted, “Child Lures Prevention: Think First and Stay

Safe!” and Teen Lures Prevention for secondary students, an evidenced-based personal safety

and prevention program, which will be implemented in each school by the school social worker

this school year. Keeping students healthy and safe is integral to a productive learning

environment and schools which proactively incorporate personal safety education help to

ensure that students come to school prepared and able to learn. The purpose of the “Child

Lures Prevention: Think First and; Stay Safe! Program is to provide elementary through high

school students with information to avoid a potentially unsafe situation, both in school and in the

community. The program reinforces personal boundaries and teaches the lures which provide

knowledge to prevent sexual exploitation. The program includes educational goals, and

behavioral objectives along with pre/post-test surveys which help us to determine and increase

the effectiveness of the program as it relates to students’ knowledge about safety.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school’s social worker or you can call

me at the district office at (914) 576-4274.