Dear IEC Families,

As we move into November, I’d like to extend a warm note of thanks for all the hard work and dedication shown by our students, families, and staff. November is a time to be thankful and connect with loved ones. Our Thanksgiving recess will be from Wednesday, November 27, through Friday, November 29, and students will return to school on Monday, December 2. I encourage everyone to spend this time with family, friends, and those closest to you, reflecting on all we have to be grateful for. As we move through November, let’s carry the spirit of gratitude with us, not just for this month, but all year round. Gratitude has a remarkable way of transforming our perspectives, fostering, positivity, and enhancing our overall well-being. May this month be a time of reflection, appreciation, and togetherness. Let us continue to be thankful for the many blessings in our lives, and the beautiful community we have created here at Lewiston-Porter IEC.

This month, we’re also emphasizing bus safety to and from school. Two of our 5th-grade leaders, Caleb and Xander, created informative slideshows on bus safety for all students. I encourage families to take time to review these presentations with your child. It’s essential that our students understand that the bus is an extension of our school environment and that they follow safety expectations to keep everyone secure. Thank you for reinforcing these important messages with your child.

"Bus Safety: Riding Safely to and from School" by Caleb

"Bus Safety: Riding Safely to and from School" by Xander

Additionally, our annual Apex Fundraiser kicks off on November 4 at the IEC, bringing excitement and school spirit as we work together to support school initiatives. This year, our fundraiser will conclude with a glow party to celebrate the hard work and participation of all our students! Look out for emails and videos related to the Apex program; they’re full of valuable information and will help you and your student stay connected to the events and progress.

Throughout the school year, we continue practicing safety drills to ensure that our school remains a safe environment. These drills help us prepare to respond appropriately in case of emergencies. Thank you for supporting these important practices.

Wishing everyone a safe and joyful November!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Rodriguez

Sunday 11/3- Daylight Savings Ends "Fall back" one hour

Monday 11/4- APEX PEP Rally

Tuesday 11/5 Superintendent Conference Day- NO student attendance

Tuesday 11/5- Election Day

Wednesday 11/6- IEC School picture re-take day

Monday 11/11- Veterans Day- NO student attendance

Friday 11/15- APEX Remix Party!

Wednesday 11/27-Friday 11/29- Thanksgiving Recess

Thursday 11/28- Thanksgiving

The Future is NOW! Our @apexleadershipcompany Remix Dance Party is now open for pledging! It's time to show your support by donating on your student’s pledge page. Simply log in to myapexevent.com using their unique student access code found on the VIP Badge that was sent home Monday 11/4/24. Check your email for daily updates from your child’s teacher. Together, let's rally behind our goal to raise funds for field trips and grade specific educational programs and make a meaningful impact! #ApexLeadership #SupportOurSchool #MakeADifference

If your child is staying after school for club meetings, please put "pickup after club meeting" in Pickup Patrol for the dismissal plan. In the comment section you can put which club (Spanish, Drama/ Chinese Mandarin, etc)

Changes must be entered in Pickup Patrol so the IEC staff knows that students are staying - if the plan is bus home, they will be sent to busses at dismissal.

Unfortunately, we cannot call/ double check the plan for all club students, it is the responsibility of parents/ guardians to adjust the dismissal plan.

You can adjust pickup patrol in advance- so you can put in for club dates ahead of time if that is more convenient. Daily changes can be entered until 2pm.

For all end of day changes click the top option where it says on the example picture

"dismissal plan Bus 1"

then adjust plan to either

Pick up after club meeting

Early release

Changing bus home to pickup at dismissal (add name of person picking up student)

Changing Pick up at dismissal to bus home

By: Miss Mang’s and Mrs. DeFranco’s Third Grade Class

Miss Mang, a student teacher in Mrs. DeFranco’s third grade class recently completed a mini unit about elections and the many hats of the President of the United States. The final project poster, “If I Were President…”, gave students a chance to voice their opinion as if they were president.

During the unit, students learned about the qualifications required to become president, voter registration requirements, and the many jobs of the President of the United States.

Here are a few wise words from our future leaders!

Diabetes Awareness Month happens in November of every year. Diabetes Awareness Month is a time to shine a spotlight on diabetes, bring awareness to those at risk, and support those already living with it. You can promote diabetes awareness by wearing a blue

November is National Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country seek to bring attention to diabetes. This year’s focus is on taking action to prevent diabetes health problems.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. It affects about 38 million Americans, including adults and youth. Diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart, and it is linked to some types of cancer.

But there’s also good news: Taking charge of your health may help you prevent diabetes health problems.

At the IEC, students are using the Leader in Me program. This plan allows students to develop leadership skills that they can use in everyday life. The Leader in Me program uses the Seven Habits of Happy Kids to help students become “leaders of their own learning.” Throughout September and October, the students learned the language and meaning of the 7 Habits. By hearing the same language at home and at school, you send your child a message that we are all on the same team. When parents and schools support one another, the sky is the limit!

Below is a summary of each of the habits:

Habit 1: Be Proactive - I hold myself accountable. I take initiative.

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind - I plan and set goals. I do things that have purpose and make a difference.

Habit 3: Put First Things First - I spend my time on things that are most important. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win - I compromise with others. When conflicts arise, I look for alternatives.

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood - I listen before I talk.

Habit 6: Synergize - I work well in groups.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw - I take care of my body by eating right, exercising, and getting sleep. I spend time with family and friends.

To encourage the 7 Habits language at home, here are some questions you can ask your child:

• How were you proactive today?

• What is your end in mind with this task?

• How do you plan to put first things first today?

• What would be a win-win for both you and your sibling?

• How do you know when you are being listened to?

• How can we work together on this?

• How would you like to sharpen your saw today?

November is designated as National Native American Heritage Month. This observance commemorates the history, heritage, and culture of Native Americans and Alaskan Natives. It is during this month we acknowledge the vast achievements of America's original indigenous people.

Native American Heritage Month is celebrated to honor the remarkable Native American and Indigenous people who have contributed a lot to improve the character of the nation.

This month is also referred to as the American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. November is the time to rejoice in diverse and rich cultures, histories, and traditions and to appreciate the great contributions of the Native Americans. This month allows us to spread awareness about tribes or to educate people about the various challenges faced by the Native Americans in the past and today. Throughout this month, we commit to keep on supporting the remaining Native American tribes and let the world know about their sacrifices.

National Native American Month started off as an effort to get a day of appreciation and acknowledgment for the unique contributions made by the first Americans for the growth and establishment of the United States. The effort has now resulted in a whole month being celebrated for that purpose.

Dr. Arthur C. Parker was one of the first supporters of having an American Indian Day. He was a Seneca Indian and the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, New York. He was also the one to convince the Boy Scouts of America to create a day for the Native Americans — the Boy Scouts adopted this day for three days.

In 1915, a plan concerning American Indian Day was formally approved in the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting. The president of the American Indian Association, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, called upon the country to observe this day. The first time American Indian Day was declared was in May 1916. In 1990, a joint resolution was approved by George H.W. Bush, which called for November to be named National American Heritage Month.

The government of Native Americans serves as the model of federated representative democracy. The government system of the U.S. is based on the system in which the power is distributed amongst the central authority and smaller political units.

There are many contributions made by the Native Americans such as the discovery of edible plants, which are widely eaten by people around the world. They were the first people to raise turkeys, guinea pigs, and honeybees.

Many of Native Americans' innovations in health and medicine have been around for thousands of years, predating — and contributing to — Western medicine. Native Americans chewed willow bark (shown above) to soothe aches and pains. The active ingredient in the bark is salicin, a chemical that in 1897 formed the basis of the discovery of aspirin, the most commonly used drug in the world. (Salicin is also a precursor to salicylic acid, the active ingredient in many over-the-counter acne treatments and dandruff-fighting shampoos.) The concept that led to the development of vaccines — protecting oneself from a virus or disease by exposing oneself to a modified version of it — was not lost on Native Americans. Dr. Sophie E. Neuner, a research associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, points to tribes inoculating themselves by ingesting small amounts of substances to protect their bodies from the harmful effects of the same substances in larger quantities.

“Ever since I started eating small parts of poison oak on a regular basis, I have not gotten the big rashes that I used to get,” said Neuner, a member of the Karuk tribe.

The world can thank Native Americans — the Iroquois and Seneca tribes, in particular — for inventing baby bottles and baby formula, important to infants’ health when breast milk is not available. And according to the History channel, Native Americans invented syringes.

The Indigenous community is expansive, with 574 federally-recognized tribes in the United States, 630 in Canada, and more than 17 million Indigenous citizens in Mexico.

Please see the information below on for the upcoming, no cost learning opportunities hosted by the School Mental health Resource and Training Center, and funded by the Office of Mental Health and New York State Education Department.

Join Dr. Melissa L. Rinaldi, PhD, Clinical Psychologist at the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University at Albany to discuss the unique mental health needs of autistic students and other neurodivergent learners, emphasizing the importance of explicit instruction in coping and emotional regulation skills. Participants will learn about evidence-based strategies and practical techniques to support autistic students well-being in school settings. The Educator Cafe will be a combination of didactic instruction and a Q&A. Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance.

To register for this and other upcoming webinars: mentalhealthednys.org/events/

In this webinar, Nicole Lomerson, MPH from the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University will share the current state of the science about parents with mental health diagnoses. Nicole will discuss the importance of the social model of disability when working with families headed by parents with mental health diagnoses, the common stigmas these parents face, and the importance of establishing trust and respect with these parents..

To register for this and other upcoming webinars: mentalhealthednys.org/events/

In August, the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, identified parental stress as an “urgent public health issue.” Join us for a conversation with parents about parental stress, the mental load of being a primary caregiver, and how this impacts them and their families. Hear about how parents and families like yours are coping with the stresses and pressures of parenting.

To register for this and other upcoming webinars: mentalhealthednys.org/events/

Did you order your yearbook yet?

Online orders due by Friday April 11th, 2025

Order code 9112Y

Wear PINK for breast Cancer awareness

Each month, one student from Band, Orchestra, Chorus and General Music will be chosen as a Music Leader of the Month. These students demonstrate the 3 R’s (Responsibility, Respect and Resourcefulness) in these classes.

For the month of October, the following students were chosen by Mrs. Spinnegan, Mrs. Zachary and Mrs.Carere:

Band - Ashtyn Abraham

Orchestra - Luci Cruz

General Music - Paxton Tiede

Chorus- Brielle Morris

Congratulations! Keep up the great work!

National Family Literacy Day is observed on November 1st. Families who read together succeed together. In 1994, the 103rd Congress passed Joint Resolution 413 Designating November 1 National Family Literacy Day. The day kicks off National Literacy Month.

There are more reasons than ever before for families to read aloud to their children from a young age. Besides the fact that reading creates quiet, quality family time, it develops early vocabulary skills. If that wasn’t enough to get a family reading together, check out these reasons:

• Expands their attention span and yours. Read chapter books even to your youngest child. They may drift off to sleep, but they are listening and their attention span will lengthen.
• It’s free. Books can be checked out from the library.
• You can read well above a child’s level, and they will still listen and comprehend.
• Improve listening skills. See above.
• It’s portable. Reading doesn’t require batteries. Except at night.
• Reading is a tool that can never be unlearned. Once a child learns to read, they never stop. You’ll know because you’ll have to stop spelling certain words to your spouse.
• It improves imagination and creativity.
• Reading opens up a dialogue between parent and child.

How to Celebrate National Family Literacy Day

1) Read together

Choose a book, or several, and have each family member read a portion of it out loud. Take turns reading pages, chapters, or even paragraphs to create a fun and interactive experience.

2) Visit the library

Take a trip to your local library and browse the bookshelves together. Let everyone pick out a few books to take home and read, or find a place in the library to sit down and read together.

3) Write stories

Encourage each family member to write their own story. Brainstorm ideas, create characters, and craft plots together as a family. Once finished, share stories with one another for an entertaining evening.

4) Play word games

Word games can be both educational and fun for the whole family. Try playing Scrabble, Boggle, or Word Search to help build vocabulary skills while having a good time.

Other ideas

1. Make a bookmark out of construction paper or reusable materials.

2. Read to stuffed animals.

3. Create a family book using family members as characters.

4. Cook a meal together that they've seen in a story Ex) Strega Nona-pasta

5. Flashlight reading

6. Create a play based off of a story you read

Why National Family Literacy Day is Important

A) It encourages a lifelong love of reading

Reading is an important skill that can benefit people throughout their lives. Celebrating National Family Literacy Day encourages parents and children to develop a love for books and literature, igniting a passion for learning in young minds that will last far beyond their schooling years.

B) It helps foster family togetherness

What better way to spend quality time with your loved ones than by snuggling up together to read a good book? Celebrating National Family Literacy Day helps promote bonding between parents and children and creates special memories they can cherish forever. Plus, it's an easy and fun way to teach little ones important lessons about the world!

C) It promotes literacy in underserved communities

Providing access to books and literacy resources is critical for helping ensure that all members of society have equal opportunities. National Family Literacy Day raises awareness of the importance of literacy in all communities, regardless of income or background, and works towards closing educational gaps across America.

This past summer at the Niagara County Fair, Niagara County Emergency Services held a scavenger hunt for children with the winner receiving a ride to school in a fire truck. This year’s winner is a 3rd grade student who attends Lewiston Porter, Adeline Belen. Mrs. Topolski's class went out to meet her in the firetruck on Friday, October25th.

National STEAM Day is November 8th! It is to encourage children to explore and pursue their interests in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEM/STEAM). The day also aims to inspire students about the many career paths available in these fields.

Our 5th graders have been working in the STEAM lab since mid-September and are currently working with Sphero robots. These robots have been a hit with the students, allowing them to explore coding and robotics in a hands-on way. In late November, we will have a special visit from a trainer from BOCES, who will introduce us to Lego Spike robots. We can't wait to see what our students will create and learn with these new tools!

Mrs. Peterson

Technology, STEAM, and Enrichment teacher

Left to right

Miss Daly (3rd grade teacher), Mrs. Baio (3rd grade teacher, ) Mr. Bistoff (District IT dept.), Mrs. Eckstein (Special Education teacher) Congratulations!

The Key Club, Builders Club, K Kids & Lancer Leaders collected winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves & snow pants for the Lighthouse Women's & Children's Center.

The 5th grade IEC K-Kids recently wrapped up a successful coat drive, collecting around 85 items to help keep our community warm this winter! The students worked together to encourage friends, family, and neighbors to donate gently used coats, hats, and scarves. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped make this drive a success!

IEC 5th grade safety patrol officers officially took the oath of office on Friday, October 25th. The students were part of a special opportunity with the Lewiston Police Department: Chief Previte, Officer Nicoletti and Officer Belin. The Chief took the time to educate this team on being a safe and responsible leader and a role model. They were sworn in following our Safety Patrol Pledge and their official rotations will take place this month.

What a fantastic morning we had at this year’s Annual 4th and 5th Grade Multi-Age Halloween Talent Show! Our talented students worked incredibly hard, rehearsing their acts and showcasing their creativity, from singing and dancing to magic tricks and comedy. We took this opportunity to honor our dedicated custodians and maintenance staff for everything they do to keep our school running smoothly. Their hard work often goes unnoticed, and it was wonderful to show our appreciation. Following the performances, families and friends gathered to celebrate together, enjoying a delicious spread of food. It was a morning filled with laughter, talent, and community spirit, reminding us all of the wonderful support we have within our school!