February 2025... News to Know

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Although there are many memes online joking about the 187 days of January, the month seems to have flown by for us here at school! It is hard to believe that we are already into February! Although it is the shortest month of the year, there is lots to celebrate in February. Teachers will be sending details about Valentine's Day and 100th Day activities and we have some exciting events and activities planned in honor of Black History Month. Additional details will be sent home as we get closer to each event, but a preview is included below.

Our Black History Month events have been planned in collaboration with our PTO, Partners in Learning, which is our Indian Landing shared decision-making team, and Project LEAD, our diversity, equity, and inclusion committee comprised of teachers and parents. We are excited about these activities and events and we hope that you will engage in learning along with us! Please check out the details below.

As always, thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Marcie Ware

Principal

Eric Traugott

Assistant Principal

• Wednesday, February 12th — Black History Month Career Night; 7 PM; virtual event via TEAMS

• Thursday, February 13th — PTO Meeting; 7 PM; virtual meeting via ZOOM
• February 17th -21st — NO SCHOOL February Break; School resumes Monday, February 24th
• Friday, February 28th — Family Game Night! 6-8 PM; Bay Trail Cafeteria; pizza and snacks provided! presented by PACE (Parents Advocating Challenge in Education) and the Bay Trail PTA
  
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Looking ahead-

• Friday, March 14th- Red & White basketball game; PHS; 6 PM
• Friday, March 21st- NO SCHOOL K-5; Parent-Teacher Conference Day

Black History Month is celebrated every February to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history. It honors all Black people from all periods of U.S. history, from the enslaved people first brought over from Africa in the early 17th century to African Americans living in the United States today.

In 1915, in response to the lack of information on the accomplishments of Black people available to the public, historian Carter G. Woodson co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. In 1926, the group declared the second week of February as “Negro History Week” to recognize the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history. Few people studied Black history, and it wasn't included in textbooks prior to the creation of Negro History Week. This week was chosen because it includes the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist (someone who wanted to end the practice of enslaving people), and former U.S. president Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln led the United States during the Civil War, which was primarily fought over the enslavement of Black people in the country. Many schools and leaders began recognizing the week after its creation. The week-long event officially became Black History Month in 1976 when U.S. president Gerald Ford extended the recognition to “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Black History Month has been celebrated in the United States every February since. (source: National Geographic for Kids)

Understanding Black History and diverse perspectives is work that we are committed to every day at Indian Landing. As we focus and celebrate Black History during February, students and families are invited to learn and celebrate with us.

This year we will be focusing on the concept of Black Joy. Students will learn what Black Joy is and why it is important to understand it as a citizen of America. Students will learn (in grade appropriate ways) that in American history, Black Americans were often treated as less than and they needed to find ways to cope with the mistreatment. Music and art become integral to Black Americans as a means to create joy and cultivate culture in a world that was trying to break their spirit. Black Joy can be seen in music, art, books, and all different forms of media. Students will listen to the book, We Are Here by Tami Charles and will participate in accompanying music and art activities. Books such as this can help us educate ourselves and increase our understanding of the contributions and legacy of Black people throughout history and today. For more information on this story and a guide for using the book at home please use this link— A Guide to Using We Are Here at Home and in the Classroom.

Our Morning Show will feature important artists from Black History each day. DISTRICT Black History Month Morning Announcements 2025.pptx Teachers and families will also be sharing stories through nightly BHM Read-Alouds every Monday through Friday starting on February 1st where you can listen along as staff from Indian Landing and across the district share their favorite stories with us! As always, you are invited and encouraged to use the interactive links above to learn along with us!

We hope that you will be able to join us for our 5th Annual Black History Month Career Night on Wednesday, February 12th. As we look at leaders throughout history, we also want to showcase the Black leaders right here in our community and from around the US. At this event, students will be able to ask questions and learn more about a variety of careers from local leaders. Special guests include a cosmetologist, engineer, news reporter, social worker, poet laureate, and more! This event will take place virtually via TEAMS from 7-8 PM. Please use this link to join: Black History Month Career Night

Report cards were made available in Infinite Campus on Friday, January 31st. Report cards are an important way for teachers to communicate information about student progress and a great deal of teacher time and energy go into their completion. In case you have forgotten, the directions on how to access report cards can be found here: Infinite Campus Parent Portal Accessing Report Cards.pdf.

If you have any questions about the information included in your child's report card, please reach out directly to the teacher.

Registration for incoming Indian Landing kindergarten students is underway! Parents of eligible children complete the online registration form by February 1st. Kindergarten Registration

If you do not plan to register your child for the upcoming school year, your child will be attending a private school for the upcoming school year, or if your child is currently attending Kindergarten in another school and will be registering for First Grade in the upcoming school year, please call the Indian Landing Main Office at (585)249-6900.

Our PTO is proud to be participating in the Wait until 8th campaign. The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. Let’s protect the elementary and middle school years from the distractions and the dangers of a smartphone. Banding together helps decrease the pressure to have a phone at an early age. Ten years old is the average age children get their first smartphone. You can change this!

More than 90,000 parents have said yes to waiting on the smartphone for their families. This is making a tremendous difference in communities across the country!

For more information, please visit https://www.waituntil8th.org/

Our Lost & Found is currently filled with MANY items from hoodies and hats, to lunchboxes and water bottles. Our Lost & Found is emptied and all items are donated at the end of EVERY month. We will be boxing up all items and donating them on Monday, February 3rd. If your child is missing an item, please have them stop by to check our Lost & Found area.

We do our best to try and match missing items with their owners! To help with this, all families are encouraged to label clothing and lunchboxes with your child's first and last name.

Recess is a time for students to decompress, be active and get fresh air. During the winter months, we make every effort to send students outside whenever possible. Students go outside for recess when the temperature (including wind chill) is at or above 15 degrees. Staff who supervise recess will be instructed on when it is appropriate to send students inside, i.e. complaint of numbness or tingling or complaint of feeling cold. It is important to make sure that your child comes to school appropriately dressed for the weather with the following items- jacket, snow pants, hat, boots, and gloves/mittens.

The following temperature and wind chill guidelines are recommended by our Penfield school nurses based on recommendations from the NYS School Health:

• Below 15 degrees— Indoor Recess
• Below 32 degrees — Gloves and Hats to go outside
• Below 50 degrees — Coat and long pants
• Below 60 degrees —Jacket or long sleeves

Please be sure to dress your child appropriately for the weather. Students are not allowed outdoors in shorts if the weather is below 50 degrees.

The Indian Landing (IL) Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a partnership of parents, guardians, teachers, and administrators committed to supporting and enhancing the educational and social growth of all students at Indian Landing Elementary School.

As we head into the second half of the school year the PTO is hard at work planning fundraisers and several events such as Bingo Night, Talent Show, the Ice Cream Social, our Square One art fundraiser, and our legendary IL Carnival. We are in need of volunteers and coordinators... please consider becoming involved!

Want to learn more? You are welcome to join us at our next meeting! Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM. Meetings rotate between in-person (in our IL library) and over ZOOM. Please check out the PTO website for more information.

Website: indianlandingpto.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndianLandingPTO
Twitter: @indianlandngpto

Our district's goals continue to focus on developing and supporting the whole student. Our approach to positive behavior support will emphasize the idea of Be a Partner! Students will learn specific expectations focused on these key concepts- Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Safe. Be Kind.

These ideas are a part of what we do each and every day, and our staff will continually be looking for ways to acknowledge students who are respectful, responsible, safe and kind. Students will receive Partner's Pride stickers as recognition from adults in the building and on the bus. Students who receive stickers will be eligible for random prizes such as bracelets and t-shirts. Once a month, we will be recognizing "Partners Proud Moments". Students selected for this honor can be selected by their teacher for any reason- a positive attitude, responsible behavior, overcoming a difficulty, or meeting a personal goal are just a few examples of reasons why a student may be selected for a Partner's Proud Moment. These students receive an Outstanding Student certificate, as well as a special star pin.

Indian Landing has Instagram and Facebook accounts! Please follow us on Instagram at @indianlandingelementary or on Facebook at Indian Landing Elementary School as we share important updates and celebrate the amazing learning that is taking place each and every day! *Please note that these accounts are not intended to be a form of two-way communication. If you have a specific question or concern, please email or call the teacher or principal directly.

The Principal’s News to Know newsletter will be sent each month by email. To ensure that you receive the newsletter, please make sure that you have a working email address on file with the district. The newsletter will also be posted to the Indian Landing School page on the district website under the “Principal’s Page” tab. If you would like to request a paper copy, please submit a note to the Main Office and we will be sure to get one to you.

Email: mware@penfield.edu Principal etraugott@penfield.edu Assistant Principal
Website:http://www.penfield.edu/IndianLanding.cfm

Location: 702 North Landing Road, Rochester, NY, United States
Phone: 585-249-6900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndianLandingElementarySchool/
Instagram: @IndianLandingElementary