Positively Primary Post

Dear Families,

It is hard to believe we are already a month into the new year...and we have been grateful for a few breaks in the cold weather so the children can get outside and play!

As we continue through the winter months and into spring, we wanted to share another friendly reminder about the importance of a home environment that creates the time and space for your child to read daily. Knowing firsthand the business of family life, especially in the evening hours, it can be hard to set this time aside. The amount of research to support this timeless activity is great and the conclusions are consistent...the amount of free reading done outside of school relates to achievement in vocabulary, reading comprehension, verbal fluency, and general knowledge. In addition, reaching achievement correlated with success in school! Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to create the conditions to promote your child's life-long learning and success.

With Warm Regards,

Jen Check

1. Spend at least ten wildly happy minutes every single day reading aloud. From birth!
2. Read at least three stories a day: it may be the same story three times. Children need to hear a thousand stories before they can begin to learn to read. Or the same story a thousand times!
3. Read aloud with animation. Listen to your own voice and don't be dull, or flat, or boring. Hang loose and be loud, have fun and laugh a lot.
4. Read with joy and enjoyment: real enjoyment for yourself and great joy for the listeners.
5. Read the stories that your child loves, over and over, and over again, and always read in the same 'tune' for each book: i.e. with the same intonations and volume and speed, on each page, each time.
6. Let children hear lots of language by talking to them constantly about the pictures, or anything else connected to the book; or sing any old song that you can remember; or say nursery rhymes in a bouncy way; or be noisy together doing clapping games.
7. Look for rhyme, rhythm or repetition in books for young children, and make sure the books are really short.
8. Play games with the things that you and the child can see on the page, such as letting kids finish rhymes, and finding the letters that start the child's name and yours, remembering that it's never work, it's always a fabulous game.
9. Never ever teach reading, or get tense around books.
10. Please read aloud every day because you just adore being with your child, not because it's the right thing to do.

~Mem Fox

Children learn academics most easily when they have strong social skills that let them take a positive role in classroom life. For example, the social skill of listening respectfully helps children learn from classmates’ oral reports, get information from their teacher about how to solve a math problem, and enjoy a book the teacher reads aloud to the class. Here are some of the specific social skills teachers focus on teaching throughout the year:

• Cooperation (working smoothly with others)
  
• Assertiveness (confidently putting forth your ideas and opinions)
  
• Responsibility (taking charge of yourself and working hard at your learning)
  
• Self-control (thinking before acting)
  
• Empathy (listening to others and understanding how they might respond to your words or actions)
  

This year, one of our building council subcommittees is looking closely at the topic of increased technology integration and keyboarding. While we do not know the future of technology and keyboarding, at this time children need to use a keyboard to show what they know as they continue their education. In our initial research regarding keyboarding, we are learning children who are most adept at using a keyboard are those who have exposure and experiences using it within a meaningful context. At school, children use keyboards when they type written responses in connection to integrated learning activities in their classroom, beginning in first grade. And while we know technology is a tool frequently used in our culture today, many apps children use often do not require the use of a keyboard.

If you have access to a keyboard at home or have a keyboard built in to a smart-device, consider opportunities for your child to use it to type a letter, create a shopping list, or any other written project. If your child is interested in specific lessons using a keyboard, www.typingclub.com is a free website resource available. We appreciate the strong partnership we have with families in supporting children in many different ways!

Here is a great activity to use with your child who is starting to learn about even and odd numbers. Roll two dice and add the numbers together. Use pasta pieces, pennies or any other small manipulative and count out the sum on the dice. Once you have the number represented in front of you, partner each piece together, or put them in groups of two. In other words, if you roll the number 12 you will have six groups of two which proves that 12 is an even number because each manipulative has a “buddy.” If you roll an 11 then you will have 5 groups of two and one extra with no buddy, proving that 11 as an odd number. This is quick, fun and easy to play!

Please join us for fun and fitness during our Physical Education in Action Night...it's a great opportunity to learn about what your child does in PE class!

Where: VPS Gymnasium

When: Wednesday, February 7th

6:00-7:00 - 2nd grade and K/1 Multi-age

7:15-8:15 - 3rd grade and 2/3 Multi-age

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing so you can participate! Due to space restrictions, we can only accommodate one adult per child in the gymnasium. Thank you for making child care arrangements for your child’s siblings.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you so much for all of the "soup-er bowl" donations! Mr. Fish's class sorted and organized the canned goods for transport to the Victor Farmington Food Cupboard. We couldn't have done it without your help!

Our 7th grade friends in Mrs. Bolger’s Home and Careers class visited the Primary School during their Child Care and Development Unit again this year and helped out in various classrooms. It is always a treat for our children and for staff to see some of their former students!

Safety Scouts are assigned strategic posts outside and inside the building. Their role is to assist in the safety of our students by making sure their classmates are acting in a responsible and respectful way as they enter and exit the building. Congratulations to the following third grade students who were selected as this month's Safety Scouts: Chris Balzano, Lucien Lana, Benjamin Fell, Danica Daggs, Cole Endres, Yerieliz Ruiz-Figueroa, Wesley Harris, Asher Tantillo, Anjiola Sangosanya, Casey Cronin, Reagan Squirrell, Audrey Klos, Zizi Alfatlawi, Jacob Moffett, Faith Cardona, Isabelle Rae, Jack Shields, Grayson Rowan, Ethan Watt, Landyn Martin, Ellie Prater, Carter Abbate, Abree Verzella, Vanessa Phan, Gwen Markese and Daniel Kirsch.

As an Enrichment Teacher and Health and Wellness Coordinator in the district , Mr. Doug Schmidt looks for books that expand his thinking as well as that of his students. Often times students ask, ”How do you know so much, Mr. Schmidt?” He tells them, “I read.”

Chew On This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food

by Charles Wilson, Eric Schlosser

By the authors of the book Fast Food Nation, this book was rewritten for 9-14 year olds to help them understand the dangers and marketing of fast food in our lives.

Chains (The Seeds of America Trilogy) by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book by New York author Laurie Halse Anderson was a National Book Award finalist. The well-researched novel accurately depicts the life of a slave girl during the American Revolution. Riveting characters and superb writing brings this story to life. First in the series, this is a great family read-aloud which can create many discussions about a piece of our early American history.

Blood and Guts: A Novel for Children by TR Isham

By my friend and colleague in the Primary building, Mr. Isham, this book hits just the right spot for that reluctant reader you might have. Goosebumpier than the Goosebump series. Grosser than any other book. If your child likes action, fast paced, page turner kinds of books this might just be for them. Check out his reviews on Amazon.

Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries who Shaped Our History . . . and Our Future! by Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl

A great read for boys and girls alike to share the contributions by women to the world that are often overlooked.

Origami Airplanes by Paul Jackson

What kid doesn’t like origami, and even better, paper airplanes? Often times with younger ages you will need to guide a student’s folding to be successful, but in no time at all you will find their fine motor control kicking in. You will be amazed at their dexterity.

We are stepping-up our social media! Follow us in the following virtual spaces:

FaceBook - /VictorPrimary

Twitter - @VictorPrimary
Instagram - @VictorPrimary

YouTube - Search for Victor Primary School, click Subscribe

Research shows that children who are in school the majority of the time have an edge over those who are not. Students can make up missed assignments and copy notes, but they miss critical class discussions and teacher instruction—questions and explanations that stimulate their critical thinking skills and help make learning come alive!

A child’s solid educational background can be achieved through regular school attendance. Being late to school hurts a child’s learning as well. A child who is habitually 10 minutes late to school will end up missing 30 hours of class instruction during the year.

Consider the importance of attending school regularly and the rules and consequences for missing school and being late. When possible, avoid scheduling doctor appointments or family vacations during school hours and make sure your child eats nutritiously and gets sufficient sleep and exercise. This will help your child stay healthy and in school!

Please call the Health Office if your child will be absent from or late to school (even due to a medical appointment) at 924-3252, ext. 2420.

Also, the Health Office is in need of boys pants sizes 6-8 if you have any your son has outgrown that you are willing to donate.

Lastly, if you send an email stating that your child will be absent, that email counts as a written excuse and you do not need to send in an additional handwritten note. Attendance email: delmonicos@victorschools.org

Thank you!

This is a reminder that head lice are a community problem brought into the schools unintentionally by unsuspecting children. The peak time that children become infested with head lice is in the summer, because of sleep-away camps, slumber parties and vacationing. However, because head lice are so small, and because symptoms of itching may not develop for weeks or even months after infestation, parents and children alike often don’t even know there is a problem unless the parent inspects the child’s head closely and often. Fall is the time of year when we start to see some cases of head lice on children in school. This is a good opportunity to begin looking carefully through your young child’s scalp at least once a day if you notice your child scratching their scalp more than usual. If you see any stage of the head louse, nits (eggs) attached to the hair shaft that are hard to remove or live lice, your child needs to be treated, and the nits removed before you send your child back to school.

Adequate treatment requires four ounces per six inches of hair of an over-the-counter product you choose. Use exactly according to package instructions, which will include repeating the treatment in a week to ten days.

Head lice are a nuisance, but they are treatable and are not life threatening. The district monitors carefully every instance of any potentially contagious condition, and the school nurse works closely with everyone involved to ensure the health, safety, and dignity of every child. Your own physician is an excellent resource for you if you have any questions or if you find that an over-the-counter treatment doesn’t help. Your school nurse can help you with specific issues related to your child’s attendance in school. Remember, the single most important way to prevent a head lice problem in school is surveillance by the parent at home.

Students may be dropped off at the south lot of the building (by the basketball courts) between 9:05-9:15 a.m. at the double-doors near the corner of the building closest to the main road. An aide will be there to greet your child. You do not need to sign your child in and it is not necessary for you to escort your child to his/her classroom. If you need to enter the building, as always, you will need to present a picture ID to the aide on duty.

If your child misses the bus or is being dropped off to school after an early morning appointment, please note that our drop off door opens at 9:05am on the South side of the building (across from the basketball courts). Please do not drop your child off to the main office earlier than 9:00am as staff is engaged in preparing for the day before students arrive. Thank you for your cooperation.

If you are dropping off your child to school after 9:15 a.m., your child is considered late. Please walk your child into the building and fill out a tardy slip at the Main Office window so that our Attendance aide (Sue Delmonico) knows that he/she is not absent and you do not receive a phone call. Your child will receive a hall pass to give to the classroom teacher so that the teacher knows he/she has checked in at the Main Office. If you can’t accompany your child into the building, you need to send him/her in with a signed note, stating the reason for tardiness. Please do not just drop off your child and leave.

Dismissal at the Primary School begins at 3:10 p.m. following the afternoon announcements. Requests for changes in dismissal must be done prior to 11:00 a.m. on the requested day. VPS Dismissal Request Forms were included in summer packets and are also available at www.victorschools.org. If you forget to send a note with your child you may call the office by 11:00 am with the dismissal change and office staff can write your child a note. IMPORTANT: Please do NOT send in an A.M. bus change with your child. All morning bus changes should be handled directly through the bus garage at 924-3252, ext. 5710.

If you are picking up your child from school at 2:45 p.m. or later, go directly to the dining room to sign-out your child. Park behind the building (south lot) by the basketball courts and enter through the dining room door. Please do not come to the Main Office to pick up your child if it is 2:45 p.m. or later, as you will be redirected to the dining room. This procedure is for the safety and welfare of our Primary students as well as to prevent parents from being detained in the bus loop as buses begin assembling into formation for dismissal.

If your child is to be excused before regular dismissal time, a note with the necessary information should be sent to school with your child that morning. Pick ups earlier than 2:45 p.m. take place in the Main Office.

If you are going to be volunteering in the building at the end of the day and would like to take your child home with you when you leave, you still need to send in a dismissal change note that morning and follow the above procedure to sign your child out.

As always, be prepared with a picture ID when picking up your child from school or visiting the building throughout the school day.

· Pick-ups before 2:45: Main Office

· Pick-ups 2:45 and later: Dining Room—park in back and enter through cafeteria

Thank you for your cooperation in making our dismissal process run smoothly!

Thursday, February 1

PTSA Meeting—10:00am, VEC Conference Rm A

Friday, February 2

NYS Race to the Top Initiatives - Noon Dismissal

Wednesday, February 7

PE in ACTION Night - 6:00&7:15pm, VPS Gym

Friday, February 9

VPS Father (Guest)/Daughter Event - 6:30pm

Tuesday, February 13

PIE Meeting - 7:00pm, VIS Media Center

Wednesday, February 14

2/3 Multi-age Concert - 6:30pm, VEC Auditorium

Monday, February 19 - February 23

Winter Recess - No School

Wednesday, February 28

VOICE Meeting - 6:30pm, VEC Conference Rm A

Do you have a new baby in your family? Do you have a friend or family member in the Victor School District that recently gave birth to a newborn or adopted a child? We would like to send a gift to that family. Please share the following information with us so we can extend our best wishes:

Name of Parent

Name and Age of Child

Child is M/F

Address

Return this information to Victor Primary School, Attn: Mrs. Jennifer Check, 953 High Street, Victor, NY 14564.

Please sign up for the Principal's ListServ for more and important information about our school. Simply follow these steps: Click on this link www.victorschools.org/primary.cfm, click on "Sign up for Mrs. Check's email updates, add your email address and click on "Primary School News" and any other boxes for the news you would like to receive, select "Subscribe" and then click "Submit."

If you prefer to "unsubscribe," follow the same directions and click on the pull-down menu which indicates "unsubscribe" and then click "Submit."

Website: www.victorschools.org/primary
Location: 953 High Street, Victor, NY
Phone: (585) 924-3253
Facebook: facebook.com/victorprimary
Twitter: @victorprimary

Primary Office: 924-3252, ext. 2410

Primary Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Principal: Jennifer Check, ext. 2410

Assistant Principal: Leah Kedley, ext. 2405

Principal's Secretary: Robin Kinsella, ext. 2410

Building Secretary: Kristen Stone, ext. 2411

Nurse: Lori Pownall, ext. 2422

Attendance: Sue Delmonico, ext. 2420

Health Office Fax Number: 742-7068

Psychologists:

Julie Braniecki, ext. 2201

Tim Trott, ext. 2182

Tania Zazulak-Angelini, ext. 2180

School Counselor: Kara Kupinski, ext. 2184

PTSA Website: www.victorPTSA.com

PIE Website: http://www.victorschools.org/people.cfm?subpage=120

At Victor Primary School we are not only concerned with your child's academic growth, but also with his or her development as a total human being. This includes emotional and social well-being, a sense of responsibility, appropriate behavior, and physical aptitude. To accomplish this, we work together as a team to foster a "positively primary" environment for all.