Your KES PTA would like some feedback. Could you take a moment to respond to some questions?
Attending PTA meetings provides a great way to regularly stay up to date about information about your child's school, such as:
- Curriculum
- Social Emotional Supports, PBIS, and the Code of Conduct
- Upcoming Events
- Student Supports, such as Academic Intervention
- Construction projects, like the plan to replace the playground
- Drills and other school safety information
- Other important information
Meetings are also where new ideas are developed and feedback is shared. We are always looking for new members and participation. Thank you for responding to our survey!
Mrs. V. and the KES PTA
Wednesday, April 30: Kindergarten Field Trip, Minnewaska
(Mrs. Gillis' and Mrs. Rowe-DeFranco's classes)
Thursday - Friday, May 1-2: NYS Third Grade ELA Assessments
No special preparation at home is needed, other than a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast.
Thursday, May 1: Kindergarten Field Trip, Minnewaska
(Mrs. Thurst's and Mrs. McCann's classes)
Monday, May 5 - Thursday, May 8: Teacher Appreciation Week
Wednesday, May 7: School Nurse Appreciation Day
Wednesday, May 7, 4:30 - 6:30 PM: K-12 Art Show, High School
A beautiful display of artwork by every student across the district. Come see examples of student work, including work by your child!
Thursday, May 8: Grade 1 and Grade 2 Spring Concerts
(Parking available in the bus loop as well as parking lot areas)
10:00 AM: Grade 1 Concert and Animal Research Exhibit
11:00 AM: Grade 2 Concert
Thursday, May 8 - Color Run Sign Up Forms Due (Color Run will be held Sunday, June 1 at KES)
Friday, May 9: Superintendent's Conference Day. No School for Students
Wednesday, May 14: Grade 1 Field Trip, Minnewaska (Ms. Turner's Class)
Wednesday, May 14, 6:00 PM: KES PTA Meeting
Thursday, May 15: Grade 1 Field Trip, Minnewaska (Mrs. Eck's Class)
Thursday, May 15 - Friday, May 16: Grade 3 NYS Math Assessments
No special preparation at home is needed, other than a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast.
Monday, May 19 - Wednesday, May 21: Kindergarten Screening
Tuesday, May 20:
School Budget Vote (District Office)
No Place for Hate Field Trip / Regional Conference
Wednesday, May 21: Grade 3 Field Day (Intermediate School)
Pizza lunch provided. Students can bring lunch if they prefer.
Thursday, May 22 - Monday, May 26: School is closed
Unused snow days and Memorial Day
Wednesday, May 28: Grade 1 Field Trip, Minnewaska (Mrs. Snyder's & Mrs. Rowe-DeFranco's Classes)
Thursday, May 29: Grade 2 Field Trip to Sam's Point
Friday, May 30: Kindergarten Field Trip to Kelder's Farm
Third Grade New York State English-Language Arts and Math Assessments are coming up.
May 1-2: Third Grade New York State English-Language Arts Assessments
May 15-16: Third Grade New York State Math Assessments
We will utilize these assessments to better meet the learning needs of students. They will help us evaluate instructional practices, as well as what students know and can communicate. We believe that assessments provide valuable information as we make program decisions, evaluate our curriculum, and set building and district goals.
This year, we will be using computer based testing.
We encourage all students with parent support to participate in the assessment process. Your child’s scores on the state assessments will not affect their grades and it is one more opportunity for us to understand student learning and plan for next year.
There is no special preparation needed other than a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast.
A letter was sent home April 28 with this same information. If you have any questions about NYS assessments, please contact Mrs. VanNosdall:
(845) 626-2451 X4301
Kindergarten registration - If you have a child who will be eligible to enter Kindergarten in September (child must turn five years old on or before December 1, 2025), please visit https://bit.ly/4aA5cUb to provide your child’s information.
If you need assistance completing this form, please contact Kerhonkson Elementary School at (845) 626-2451 After submitting your child's information, you will receive a full registration packet. After you have returned your child's registration packet and all required documentation, the school will contact you to schedule your child's Kindergarten Screening.
Thank you, Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Bartle, for curating our PBIS Books of the Month!
If you open this link, you will find read-aloud videos for every story in the PBIS Collection.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GiJxR1eXOlGJWJc_SDqsT84zTnJbwXpG6OPbXb9kkS8/edit
May Collection:
Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds
Read Aloud- Say Something By: Peter H. Reynolds
Are You the Pirate Captain? by Gareth P. Jones
Are You The Pirate Captain- Read Out Loud With Miss Mae
The Day the Kids Took Over by Sam Apple
No read aloud available.
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
Swimmy - Caldecott Honor w/ Music - Leader In Me Book
I Want To Be a Leader When I Grow Up by Blake Bozarth
I Want to Be a Leader Now | Dramatic Read-Aloud | Timmy reads books
What’s My Superpower? by Aviaq Johnston and Tim Mack
What's My Super Power? - Children's Books Read Aloud!
Little Leaders and Their Stories by Peter J. Dean and Molly D. Shepard
No read aloud available.
I Campaigned For Ice Cream: A Boy’s Quest For Ice Cream Trucks by Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw
Our students, drivers, and staff had their final Peaceful School Bus meeting of the year on Friday, April 25. This also coincided with National School Bus Driver Appreciation.
Students and drivers discuss what is going well on the bus, what they want to work on, and what they appreciate about one another.
On Monday, April 28 we celebrated Earth Day! It was such a beatiful day - thankfully the weather cooperated!
Many thanks to the KES PTA and Jessica Swadosh for helping to organize this event. Stations included:
Jessica Swadosh: Jessica Swadosh is the parent of a second grade student. She is also our PTA Vice President. Jessica works with the Hudson Valley Seed Co. and planted with students in the pavilion.
Sara Jecko: Sara Jecko is a parent of a second grader. Sara joined us for Earth Day celebrations a few years ago and was very well received! Sara provided lessons through song and role play outside under the trees.
Judith Karpova: Judith Karpova works with the Town of Rochester Environmental Conservation Commision and provided a demonstration on invasive species. Joining her was Ryan Fitzgerald, a parent of a first grader, with information about 4H and a beautiful rabbit all of the students enjoyed.
Rondout Valley Growers Association: Olivia Petrocello wasbe here from the RVGA to talk about local foods and produce. Taste testing was a hit!
PBIS stands for "Positive Behavior Intervention Supports."
Students are learning that having a growth mindset is a super power! "Yet" is a powerful word. When students are learning new skills, they also learn to say "I can't do that...YET!" That little word changes everything.
Students earn Gander tickets for demonstrating safe, responsible, respectful behavior.
What Does it Mean to be Safe, Respectful, and Responsible?
PBIS programs stress the importance of telling students what safe, respectful, and responsible behavior looks like and sounds like. Each year teachers set these guidelines in their classrooms. We also teach students what is expected in other school locations. We begin with hallway expectations, then cafeteria, bus, and recess.
Currently, we are working on hallway, cafeteria, and recess expectations.
In the hallway:
Safe = Walking in the hall
Respectful = Voice level 0
Responsible = Going directly to your destination
In the cafeteria:
Safe = Walking and not sharing food (some students have allergies, and we do not want to spread germs that make us sick.)
Respectful = Voice level 1-3, or conversation with the people at your table. It also means going to voice level 0 and listening for directions when the teachers give the signal, which is typcally turning down the lights, clap for attention, or call-response.
Responsible = Cleaning up after yourself.
At Recess:
Safe = Safe bodies (Hands and feet to ourselves)
Respectful = Treating others as you would like to be treated.
Responsible = Following adult directions and managing your belongings.
How can I Help at Home?
Please remind your child of the expectations shown in this newsletter. You can also read or watch a video read-aloud of our books of the month!
Our PBIS Books of the Month and video links can be found using this link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GiJxR1eXOlGJWJc_SDqsT84zTnJbwXpG6OPbXb9kkS8/edit