FRIDAY FLYER

Dear Families,

It’s been a great week back from break – so much action as we gear up for the home stretch of school! The final ten weeks or so are always filled with events, so be on the lookout this spring for notices and reminders.

REMINDER: TRANSLATING THE FRIDAY FLYER AND THE WEBSITE

Please know that you can always translate the Friday Flyer and our website into just about any language! Look for “Translate” on the upper-right side of the Friday Flyer, and at the top of the website, then search/select a language.

SPRING INTRAMURALS FOR GRADES 3-6: LAST CALL

So far we have close to 50 students signed up for intramurals across the four grade levels, 3rd through 6th. If your child is interested and committed to attending but you haven’t signed up yet, use the link below to do so. We aren’t turning anyone away, but it may be a little crowded!

Grades 3 and 4 - Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00-4:00
SESSION 1 - SOCCER/FUTSAL: Monday, April 17 - Wednesday, May 3
SESSION 2 - TENNIS: Monday, May 8 - Wednesday, May 24
SESSION 3 - BASEBALL/SOFTBALL: Wednesday, May 31 - Wednesday, June 14

Grades 5 and 6 - Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00-4:00
SESSION 1 - SOCCER/FUTSAL: Tuesday, April 18 - Thursday, May 4
SESSION 2 - TENNIS: Tuesday, May 9 - Thursday, May 25
SESSION 3 - BASEBALL/SOFTBALL: Tuesday, May 30 - Thursday, June 15

Use this link to register your child for any/all sessions: https://forms.office.com/r/wBwHXgXCzv

REPORT CARDS NEXT FRIDAY

Today is the last day of the third quarter, so teachers will be finalizing their grades and comments in the coming days and we anticipate that report cards will be posted to the parent portal one week from today.

NYSSMA SOLO FESTIVAL

We are so excited for over HALF of our middle school students to participate in this year's solo festival at Anne M. Dorner Middle School next weekend (4/21 & 4/22). That is an unbelievable percentage! If your child is participating, they should have given you a letter and audition time from Mrs. DePaola and Mr. Murray this week. If you haven't received it, please email the teachers.

SPRING CONCERTS ARE APPROACHING!

Please check the schedule below and email Mrs. DePaola if you have any questions!

May 3rd - Elementary Spring Concerts

6PM- First & Second Grade (“Just Sing!”)

7PM- Third & Fourth Grade (“Shake it Up with Shakespeare”)

Elementary students dress nicely, and there are no color requirements

May 10th - Middle School Spring Concerts

6PM- Fifth & Sixth Grade

7PM- Seventh & Eighth Grade

Middle School students dress in white tops and black bottoms

REMINDER: 11:45 DISMISSAL - FRIDAY, MAY 5th

Friday, May 5th is a half day for students, as our teachers have professional development in the afternoon. We wanted to make sure you had enough advanced notice on this.

POCO PTA: DINE-IN / TAKE-OUT FUNDRAISER – APRIL 20th

Mark your calendar, POCO, because next week is the POCO PTA Dine In / Take Out fundraiser, Thursday, April 20, 2023, with Raasa Indian Cuisine from 4:30 pm - 9:30 pm! Order your delicious cuisine whether it's for take-out or dining in, give Raasa the POCO flyer that will come home with your child this Monday, and Raasa will donate 10% back to Pocantico!

Raasa Indian Cuisine, 145 East Main Street, Elmsford, NY
Tel : 914-347-7890 or order online: https://www.raasany.com/

NYS ELA STATE ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE

All of our students in grades 3-8 will be taking the ELA test on computers – very exciting! All tests consist of two sessions, and we give one session per day. However, we are going to test in two groups – grades 6-8, and grades 3-5. Here are the dates we’ll be giving our NYS ELA State Tests:

Wednesday, April 19 – Grades 6-8, Session 1

Thursday, April 20 – Grades 6-8, Session 2

Tuesday, April 25 – Grades 3-5, Session 1

Wednesday, April 26 – Grades 3-5, Session 2

· LAPTOPS WILL BE KEPT AT SCHOOL CHARGING OVERNIGHT BEFORE TESTING DAYS.

· We always start testing in the morning, usually by 8:45.

· Tests are UN-timed, so kids can take as long as they need. Generally, they take a little over an hour, but it could be longer if kids are taking their time (which isn’t a bad thing!)

· Yes, kids can go back and change answers or edit their writing! They can even bookmark questions to go back and review, make notes for themselves, and more.

· Even though the test is computer-based, kids still get paper and pencils to plan as they wish.

· We conducted a simulation this winter that allowed the kids and teachers to experience the platform and learn how to use all the “bells and whistles.”

· If you’d like to check out a practice version of the test platform, you can try it out here: NY Question Sampler (questarai.com) (answers are not saved, don’t worry) – I actually think it’s a great platform and the kids thought it was easy to use.

If you drive your children to school, PLEASE make sure they are on-time. Also, please make sure they get a good night’s sleep and fortifying breakfast. Any students who miss any of the testing days will be able to make them up until April 28 – we'll work that out at school scheduling-wise, so no need to worry.

DO YOU HAVE THE POCANTICO HILLS APP?

Pocantico Hills CSD has an app for both iPhones and Androids – simply go to your app store and search “Pocantico Hills CSD.” Once you’re in the app you can go to Settings and select the District notifications you want and schools you want to follow. If you want push notifications, you should also go into your phone’s Settings, scroll down to the Pocantico app, and turn them on.

CAMP REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Summer camp online registration began on February 27th! Please see the attached flyer, as well as our website, for more details.

YEARBOOKS STILL ON SALE

Our yearbook is created by our 7th & 8th grade yearbook staff with input from our 8th graders. It is an amazing full-color memory of the school year and is available for only $35.00.

Please use the link below to purchase online: Buy the 2023 Poco Yearbook

RECOGNITIONS AND DATES

Arab American Heritage Month

Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month

Autism Awareness Month

Poetry Month

Holocaust Remembrance Day – April 18

Ramadan Ends – April 21

Earth Day – April 22

Have a super weekend and stay cool (I can’t believe we’re saying that already)!

-Adam

APRIL RECOGNITION MONTHS

• National Poetry Month
• Autism Awareness Month

4/14/23

• End of 3rd Marking Period

4/18/23

• Holocaust Remembrance Day
• Board of Education Meeting - 7:30 PM

4/19 - 4/20/23

• NYS ELA Test - Grades 6-8

4/20/23

• POCO PTA: DINE-IN / TAKE-OUT FUNDRAISER - See Details in Friday Flyer

4/21/23

• Ramadan Ends

4/22/23

• Earth Day
• NYSSMA Solo Festival at Ossining High School

4/25 - 4/26/23

• NYS ELA Test - Grades 3-5

MAY RECOGNITION MONTHS

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
• Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month
• Mental Health Awareness Month

5/2 - 5/3/23

• NYS Math Test / Grades 3-8

5/3/23

• Elementary Grades 1-2 Spring Concert - 6 PM
• Elementary Grades 3-4 Spring Concert - 7 PM

5/4/23

• Board of Education Meeting - 7:30 PM

5/5/23

• Early Dismissal for Students - 11:45 AM Dismissal
• Professional Development for Teachers - PM

5/10/23

• National School Nurse Day
• Middle School Grades 5-6 Spring Concert - 6 PM
• Middle School Grades 7-8 Spring Concert - 7 PM

5/16/23

• Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election: 7 AM - 9 PM / Gymnasium

5/17 - 5/19/23

• 8th Grade Trip to Washington, DC

5/18/23

• Board of Education Meeting - 7:30 PM

5/29/23

• Memorial Day - District Closed