Parent Communication

Hello CHAMPS families!

I hope this newsletter finds you all well. I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude for your continued support and involvement in our school community.

We need parent representation on our School Leadership Team! If you are interested in being selected to join the team or would like more information please give me a call at 315-435-4660.

Please remember, consistent attendance is vital for student success. Please make every effort to have your child at school on time daily. With the weather getting nicer, please be mindful of our traffic patterns and your speed when driving through the neighborhood.

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or the main office. We are grateful for your partnership and dedication to your child’s education. Your partnership makes a significant difference in our students' lives. Let’s continue working together to make this a positive and productive spring.

Principal Thomas

C.H.A.M.P.S.: Courageous Hardworking Accountable Motivated Persistent Safe

Van Duyn is an inclusive learning environment where everyone is respected, empowered, encouraged, and supported to thrive and succeed as responsible global citizens while being held to a standard of excellence in academic achievement and personal character

We are an inclusive community that believes all students can learn.

Please help our school out by completing the survey below

Happy Spring! This month we are wrapping up our animal units and moving into the plant unit. This month we have also worked on managing big feelings such as disappointment, anger, and how it feels to wait. Please talk about these feelings at home. We are also wrapping up the month with our science visit from the Bubble Man! Please watch for pictures coming soon. Please remember to read, read, read every night at home! From your PREK team!

Keep up the good work from the PreK Staff!

Thank you!

In the month of April, we will continue Math Module 4: Number Pairs, Addition and Subtraction to 10. Students begin to harness their practiced counting abilities, knowledge of the value of numbers, and work with embedded numbers to reason about and solve addition and subtraction expressions and equations (K.OA.1, K.OA.2). We will introduce number bonds and use the terms whole and part. Within this module you will see addition facts as 2+3=5 or 5=2+3. Please pay attention to where the equal sign is.

In ELA we will begin Skills Unit 7. This unit we will introduce words with digraph endings such as ch, sh, th, ng, and ck. We are still practicing reading words without sounding them out. This is called automaticity.

We will begin Science towards the end of April. The Unit is called Animals Two by Two. Your child will be engaging with live animals. Please make sure you sign the Science Permission Clip for this unit and circle either I Give Or Not Give Permission and return it to your child’s teacher.

For math we are finishing addition with two-digit numbers and will be starting on shapes. Integrated knowledge we are learning about needs and wants, producers and consumers. Skills we are learning about opinion writing and focusing on r-controlled vowels.

😊 Ms. Glover, Ms. Acevedo, Ms. Peneston and Ms. Floyd

In 2nd grade we are in the middle of a math unit that is focusing on equal groups and repeated addition. The students are doing great so far and are really enjoying this module. In ELA, we are on a new unit and focusing on reading fluency. We are reading a lot in class and highly recommend students read at home as well! If you need any resources, please reach out to your child’s teacher.

Student Shoutouts:

MyKayla R. in Ms. Garcia and Mrs. Napolitano’s class! MyKayla is a great role model for other students, as she is courageous and hardworking. She is also motivated to learn new things and always tries her best.

Isabella T. in Mrs. Tzetzis class has made a lot of progress since the beginning of the school year. She is always trying her best. Isabella is engaged and focused during lessons. She is always willing to participate and has great thoughts and ideas to share with the class. Isabella is a kind, likable, and friendly classmate.

😊Ms. Garcia, Ms. Napolitano, and Ms. Tzetzis

Important Dates:

April 4th: Field Trip to the Zoo

Please ensure students are here promptly at 9:05 with appropriate shoes and jackets.

April 7th and 8th: NYS ELA Test

Please ensure students get a good night's sleep and have a nutritious breakfast the morning of testing. Please ensure students are here promptly at 9:05 so we can begin their test.

Humanities:

We have just begun our Genre Review and Test Prep Unit, where students learn various skills to assist them with their New York State Test and overall Reading Comprehension. Students will continue practicing the CER writing format to answer written response questions.

Math:

We have just begun Module 5, where students are introduced to fractions and how they work in correspondence to a whole, and then to a number line. Students have practiced partitioning wholes into equal parts and will soon begin comparing their relation to one whole and other fractions.

Science:

We are finishing up our Motion and Matter Unit, and students are becoming experts at understanding push and pull forces and their relation to systems. They are also beginning to explore reactions and mixtures.

😊Ms. DelaCruz, Ms. Kendall, and Ms. Perez

We are finishing the units we started march:

Humanities:

In this unit, we will explore the immigration experience of Asian individuals and families who arrived in the United States through Angel Island. Students will learn about the historical background of Angel Island, which was used as an immigration station from 1910 to 1940. They will discover the challenges and hardships faced by immigrants during their time at Angel Island, including long waiting periods, language barriers, and interrogations. Through various activities, such as reading personal stories, analyzing photographs, and discussing the impact of immigration policies, students will gain a deeper understanding of how these experiences shaped the lives of immigrants and contributed to the diverse fabric of American society. By the end of the unit, students will be able to express their thoughts and feelings about the immigration experience and reflect on the importance of empathy and understanding in our communities.

Math:

In Grade 4, Module 5 of Eureka Math, students focus on the concept of fractions. This module helps students to deepen their understanding of fractions as numbers. Key topics include:

• Understanding Fractions: Students will learn to recognize and represent fractions on a number line and understand the meaning of numerator and denominator.

• Equivalent Fractions: The module covers how to find and generate equivalent fractions, including using visual models to support their understanding.

• Comparing Fractions: Students will learn strategies for comparing fractions with different numerators and denominators, including using common denominators.

• Adding and Subtracting Fractions: The module introduces the addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators and eventually extends to fractions with unlike denominators.

• Real-World Applications: Through various problem-solving activities, students will apply their knowledge of fractions to real-world situations.

By the end of Module 5, students will have a solid foundation in fractions, enabling them to tackle more complex mathematical concepts in future modules.

Writing:

In The Literary Essay unit, students have the opportunity to transfer all they learned about essays in Boxes and Bullets to crafting arguments about literary text. Students will do high-level reading work of interpreting texts with a focus on big ideas about characters, lessons, author’s message, and theme. Their interpretations/opinions become their claims in their literary essays. The claims will be supported by reasons and times when from the reading. In addition, students will learn how to provide specific evidence from the text in the form of examples, quotations, and mini-stories.

The SCSD implementation of this writing unit will highlight interdisciplinary connections, specifically across the reading (IFL’s Paper Son Unit) and the social studies inquiry (immigration). To support these connections, we will substitute the touchstone text in The Literary Essay unit with Fiona’s Lace by Patricia Polacco. By integrating across content areas, the hope is to provide a more cohesive learning experience for students with opportunities to synthesize knowledge, vocabulary, skills and strategies as readers, writers, and historians.

😊Ms. Huynh-Boyle, Ms. Newton, Ms. Markland, and Mr. Montgomery

MATH:

Hi Family! Spring is here and summer is upon us, I can’t wait for warmer weather! Shoutouts to those of us passing our Core Set Fluency Assessment and moving on to the next set: Xena and Jahdal! Please make sure you are practicing your math facts every night.

This month we are moving into Module 5, addition and multiplication with volume and area. We will be building onto our knowledge of area and using the skills acquired in module 4 to add and multiply fractions and decimals. We will close the month out with preparation for the NYS that we are taking at the beginning of May. As always please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns that you have. - Mrs. Marquis

HUMANITIES:

Hello 5th Grade families!! We have had a busy month of March! We are currently working on test preparations for the NYS ELA test. Please help your child in getting a good night’s sleep each night so they are prepared and ready to learn each morning.

In the month of April, we will be taking the NYS ELA tests the week of April 7th. Once we are finished with the state testing for ELA, we will finish up our unit on the Study of the Americas and move on to our Esperanza Rising unit.

Please be on the lookout for information about our next family night! It will be a fun filled night of reading, books, games, food and fun! ~Ms. Dewey

SCIENCE/WRITING:

We have just finished up or Lens of History writing unit where we wrote historical pieces connected to what we learned during our Westward Expansion unit in Humanities. Coming up we are starting our Living Systems unit for Science. This is a fun unit where we learn about all different types of living systems. ~Mrs. Jackson-Davis

Upcoming Important Dates:

April 4: Schoolwide Pep Rally

April 9-10: 5th Grade NYS ELA Test

April 14-18: Spring Break—NO SCHOOL

😊Ms. Dewey, Mrs. Marquis, Ms. Grady and Mr. Simmons

Physical Education:

Spring is here and this month we are continuing our basketball unit learning/combining the skills of passing, dribbling, and shooting. Following spring break, the younger elementary students will be using lightweight, brightly colored scarves to develop a variety of movement skills in fun and creative ways. Scarves are a great way to build hand-eye coordination, rhythm, focus and motor planning. We are also going to introduce Flickerball for our upper elementary students! This fun activity is a fast-paced, team-based activity that combines the elements of basketball and ultimate frisbee. This game is a fantastic way to build teamwork, throwing and catching skills and strategic thinking!

Art:

4th and 5th grades are working on masks from around the world

2nd and 3rd grade are working paper sculptures

Kindergarten is making collage with warm and cool colors

Music:

In Music Class in April...

Grades 4/5 will continue creating music using rhythmic notation and playing on bucket drums.

Grade 3 will continue singing, playing recorders and creating music.

Grade 2 will continue singing and creating music with high and low pitches and play games with crescendo and decrescendo ( gradually getting louder and softer).

Grade 1 will continue singing and creating music with high and low pitches

Kindergarten will be singing, practicing musical opposites ( like fast and slow, loud and soft), playing on instruments and creating their own rhythms

Spanish:

Students in 4th and 5th grade are going to learn numbers in Spanish so they can have conversations about their age and birthdays. Students in 2nd and 3rd grade are learning about colors and objects in Spanish.

Library:

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Scholastic Book Fair! Proceeds from the book fair will go towards getting students free books to read over the summer.

In April, Kindergarten and 1st grade are continuing to explore Non-Fiction books. We will be learning about different non-fiction text features, as well as how to distinguish between facts from opinions. 2nd grade is still continuing their fairytales around the world unit and Third grade is working on different fiction genres in the library.

😊Ms. Talham, Ms. Hurne, Ms. Hernandez, Mr. Zawadzki, Mr. Grecco, Ms. Kailer

School attendance builds a strong foundation for learning that helps students succeed in the future. It's difficult to make up for too many absences with homework or take-home assignments.

Each month we put all the names of the families that have 95% or better attendance into our attendance raffle.

Each month we also do a class attendance contest. Daily we track classroom attendance, and the classes that have 95% or better get a token on our attendance matters board. At the end of the month, the classes with the most tokens win!

• April 7th & 8th- 3rd grade ELA state testing
• April 9th & 10th- 4th and 5th grade ELA testing
• April 14th- 18th- Spring break NO school

• PFO meetings are once a month: April 21st

Please enter door 3 (by the playground)

• All Champ family members are welcome to join PFO. If you are interested in joining PFO please join our meeting. If you cannot attend the meetings and still want to be involved in Van Duyn PFO reach out to Ms. Monique Hill or Ms. Richardson by calling the number listed below.

Contact information:

Van Duyn PFO President Monique Hill

Email: vanduynpfo@gmail.com

Phone: 315-435-5406

ARRIVAL:

• Doors open at 9:05am.
• At 9:15am Door 2 will close and all students must go through Door 1. All late students who arrive between 9:15am-9:30am will enter Door 1 and be signed in.

DISMISSAL:

• Dismissal starts at 3:35pm.
• Parents picking up children in K-5 may pick up their child outside Door 1. Parents picking up a PreK student may pick up their child at Door 3. (By the Playground).
• We do not dismiss between 3:15pm and 3:35pm. If you need to sign your child out before that, please call the main office and let them know.

Before school arrival time is 7:45am. Students cannot enter before school after 8:35am. They will have to wait until the start of the school day if arrive after 8:35am. After school dismissal time is 5:40pm. Student pick up for afterschool will be at door 1. There is no after school on Fridays and for the month of April. In addition, there is no after school on April 29th.

It is crucial for our students to perform their best, and we want to share some important dates: ELA testing will be on April 7th-10th, Math testing on May 6th-9th, and Science testing on May 14th.

To help your child prepare for these assessments at home, consider the following tips:

• Discuss why these tests are important and how they help assess their learning and growth.
• Encourage regular reading and math practice to build their confidence.
• Ensure they get plenty of rest the night before each test.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education. Together, we can help them succeed!

The student council will meet on April 8th at 3:35 p.m. after school. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ms. Huynh-Boyle

Our student council members are:

Ms. Dewey & Mr. Simmons class:

Aries F. - Student Council Secretary

Jazmine P. - Student Council Fundraiser Liaison

Ms. Grady's class: ALL 3 students tied with 18 votes each.

Lineka H.

Makayla H.

Tamia M.

Mrs. Marquis's class:

Brielle R. - Student Council Treasurer

4th Grade:

Ms. Newton:

Kennedy M.

Kamryn B. - Student Council Vice President

Ms. Markland & Mr. Montgomery:

Jade M.

LaMarrah M.

Mrs. Huynh-Boyle:

Jayden L. - Student Council President

Tr'Veyah C.

Teachers nominated students that showed fantastic CHAMPS behavior. Student council members then interviewed those students. Below are March's Students of the Month!

Website: https://www.syracusecityschools.com/vanduyn
Location: 401 Loomis Ave Syracuse NY 13207
Phone: (315)435-4660
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanduynchamps

Principal: Amanda Thomas

Vice Principal: Nicole Heath

Dean of Students: Zakia Richardson

Social Worker: Molly Phelps

Guidance Counselor: Sharon Boatwright

Board of Education Officers

Tamica Barnett-President

Twiggy Billue-Commissioner of Education

Nyatwa Bullock-Commissioner of Education

Karen Cordano-Commissioner of Education

Mary Habib-Commissioner of Education

Gwendolyn Raeford-Commissioner of Education

Ranette Releford-Commissioner of Education

Administrative Staff

Anthony Q. Davis, Superintendent

Pamela Odom, Deputy Superintendent

Britt Britton, Chief Academic Officer

Rob DiFlorio, Chief Operations Officer

Timothy Moon, Chief Accountability Officer

Laura Kelley, ED.D., Chief of Student Support Services

Scott Persampieri, Chief Human Resources Officer

Michael Puntschenko, Chief Financial Officer

Monique Wright-Williams, Chief of Staff

Katie Moulton, Assistant Superintendent