It's hard to believe another school year is coming to a close!
This week is packed with events, which are listed in our Upcoming Events section.
We'd like to share our heartfelt thanks to all of our families and community members for your support and contributions.
Please take a moment to complete a short survey, which will help us continue to grow and meet your child's needs:
https://tejoin.com/scroll/812060769
We hope you all enjoy a restful summer!
Mrs. V.
The calendar shows all of the important events for the month.
If you have a kindergarten student starting in the fall, please join us for Kindergarten Orientation on June 18 from 4:00 - 5:30 PM!
At orientation you will learn about our summer Jump Start program, and have the opportunity to sign up. You can also try out a school bus ride and visit kindergarten classrooms.
Over the summer we will hold family information sessions including:
- KES staff updates and additions
- Opportunities to see your child's classroom and meet their teacher
- Summer Reading Challenge
- Summer Self Service Book Lending Library
- New playground and other facilities projects
- Curriculum updates
- ...and more!
Information will be shared digitally, using newsletter like this one sent vis email and text, as well as two summer mailings.
Expect the first mailing in mid-July, which will include your child's welcome letter and supply list from their teacher and other helpful information.
The next mailing is typically sent in August and includes meet and greet schedules as well as helpful information for the start of the school year.
If you need us, the building is open from 8:30 - 3:00 in the summer, Mondays-Thursdays (closed Fridays).
Our office email: kesoffice@rondout.k12.ny.us
Our office phone: (845) 626-2451 X4300
Thank you! Mrs. V.
June 17:
- 9:30 AM: Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony
- 11:00 AM: Grade 3 Moving Up Ceremony
- 1:30 PM: Supreme Gander Awards
June 18, 10:00 AM: Pre-Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony
June 18: 4:00 - 5:30 PM: Kindergarten Orientation and Bus Ride
Meet the principal, staff, and PTA! Visit classrooms, take a bus ride, listen to a story, and sign up for Jump Start.
June 19: Juneteenth. School is closed.
June 20: KES Field Day
(Rain date, June 23)
June 24 - June 26: Half-days for students. 12:30 PM dismissal.
(Lunch is provided)
June 26: Last day for Students!
12:15 PM: Grade 3 Clap Out
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
June Collection:
The Grizzly Bear Who Lost His GRRR by Rob Biddulph
THE GRIZZLY BEAR WHO LOST HIS GRRRR! By Rob Biddulph
Maxine and the Greatest Garden by Ruth Spiro
Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever - Read Aloud With Illustrator Holly Hatam | Brightly Storytime
The One Day House by Julia Durango
That Fruit Is Mine! By Anuska Allepuz
Unstoppable by Adam Rex
Unstoppable: Kids books read aloud by Books with Blue
The Barnabus Project by Eric Fan
Up the Creek by Nicholas Oldman
Up the creek - a read out loud story book
Squirrels Who Squabbled by Rachel Bright
The Squirrels Who Squabbled by Rachel Bright & Jim Field | Children's story | Read-aloud | Audiobook
Our No Place for Hate Club finished the year by sharing a play written by the students. The play tackled the topic of recess, specifically exclusion, or leaving others out at play time. This is a tricky topic as sometimes exclusion can be subtle. The students did an amazing job showing how exclusion looks and feels on the playground.
Our students in the audience answered questions about the play, and it was clear that the message about the importance of including others hit home. All students, from our youngest preschoolers to our third graders were able to share what they learned.
All of our students are under the age of 9 at KES, which means they are all learning how to play together. If your child is feeling left out or needs support for peer related issues, please let us know.
It's always best to reach out first to your child's teacher, as they will have the best information about your child's school day. You can also reach out to me or our school counselor, Mrs. DeMarco. Mrs. DeMarco provides weekly in-class lessons to our students and visits with students in small groups at lunch times to check in.
Thank you!
Jackie VanNosdall, (Mrs. V.), Principal:
Courteney DeMarco, School COunselor:
Our littlest Ganders are getting ready to move up to kindergarten!
They recently had a real treat- lunch catered by McDonalds and a special event with Jack Hartman, a much beloved performer who provides educational videos for students.
Many thanks to Mrs. Bartle and Mrs. Morris for pulling this together!
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