Panther Press

Main Office & Attendance: (585) 247-2144

Health Office: (585) 247-2149

Email: cdgrattan@gateschili.org
Website: www.gateschili.org/prs
Location: 571 Paul Road, Rochester, NY
Phone: (585) 247-2144
Facebook: facebook.com/PaulRoadSchool
Twitter: @PaulRoadSchool

Hello Paul Road Families!

Can you believe we are already half-way through the school year? What a wonderful year it has been. These past two months were filled with fun and excitement as we took on the Great Kindness Challenge, welcomed families for our first-ever Family Movie Night, had some fun with winter crafts, and enjoyed the first Paul Road Band and Chorus concert of the year! In December, we also recognized some of our fifth-grade students with the GC PRIDE Award for their charitable work.

This month, we celebrate Black History Month. Each day a member of our Panther Pride Club shares a fact related to Black history over the announcements. Also, we will be celebrating the 100th Day of School on Feb.13, before breaking for mid-winter recess from Feb. 20-24. Additionally, our staff is busy planning some upcoming events for the spring, such as Day of Play and One School, One Book. More information on those will be coming soon!

Before break, please ask your student to check the lost and found. We will be cleaning it out over the break and items that have been there for several months may be donated if not claimed. Also, please take a moment to check your student's meal account balance to make sure it is current. As we've shared, districts in New York State have returned to paid meals this school year. For the 2022-23 school year, breakfast is $2.00, and lunch is $3.20. Per New York State Education Department policy, district staff will not refuse a student a breakfast or lunch meal for lack of funds in a student meal account, nor are they permitted to discuss insufficient funds with a student. However, it is imperative that student meal accounts are kept current. Login to or create a meals account with MySchoolBucks to view and/or pay any outstanding balances.

Lastly, Gates Chili is committed to strengthening family partnerships that contribute to student success. An important part of those partnerships is two-way communication and feedback. As the district explores constant opportunities for growth and improvement, we are once again seeking family input through a districtwide survey. The survey asks questions on a number of topics including communication, technology, school operations and more.

There is still time to complete the Family Communication and Satisfaction Survey (linked here) if you have not already done so. This survey will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

The survey will take about 10 minutes. Please complete one survey per family based on your current experience in the district. The data from this anonymous survey will inform important district- and building-level decisions and highlight opportunities for growth or improvement.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Stay warm, Panther families.

Mrs. Cutaia and Mrs. Doty

Do you have a little one, eager to join the panther family next year? Get them registered today by visiting www.gateschili.org/Kindergarten. There are three ways to register:

1. Email your completed registration packet to the district registrar by March 31

2. Drop off your completed registration packet at our Kindergarten Registration Event on March 14 from 4-6 p.m. at the GC Administration Building

3. Drop off your completed registration packet at the GC Administration Building anytime Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

As a reminder, at Paul Road we do not support bringing in food-related items for classroom or birthday celebrations. Here are some suggestions of alternative ways you may choose to celebrate your student's birthday:

• A craft or activity
• Reading with your student's class
• A book donation in your student's name for the classroom library
• Colorful pencils or markers
• Stickers, erasers, or other age-appropriate surprises

When community organizations have events and services available to our students, they are often advertised here! For example, currently linked is information related to virtual tutoring, the World's Largest Snowball Fight, youth mentor programs, and more!

You can find the Virtual Backpack under the For Families drop-down menu on the district website. It is linked here for your convenience.

Monday, Feb. 6 - PRSFA Meeting at 7 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 13 - 100th Day of School

Feb. 20-24 - February Recess - NO SCHOOL

Friday, March 10 - Conference Day - NO SCHOOL

This month we would like to highlight our school counselor, Mr. Scharf!

Mr. Scharf is an important part of our school community and works hard to ensure all students at Paul Road feel welcomed, affirmed, and supported. Aside from leading Social Emotional Lessons in classrooms and providing counseling services, he also helps to plan and coordinate some of our biggest events such as Socktober, Kindness Week, and Red Ribbon Week. Additionally, Mr. Scharf is an advisor of Service Club and Hiking Club, and this year helped put together our school's first-ever Kickball Club!

He truly makes a difference each and every day, and is a big part of what makes Paul Road a special place to learn and work! Thank you for all you do, Mr. Scharf!

Gates Chili has a variety of openings including elementary and secondary teaching positions, substitute teaching, support staff, transportation, facilities, and more! Visit www.gateschili.org/jobs to apply today!

The next PRSFA meeting will be held in the PRS Library on Monday, March 6 at 7 p.m. All are welcome! If you are interested in joining please complete this VERY BRIEF form and someone will reach out to you with more information!

PRSFA would like to thank everyone who came out for our first Family Movie Night! This event was well attended, and we all had a great time. Thank you for your patience as we pumped out the popcorn and snacks. We have some ideas for how to make this event even better next time and can't wait to do it again!

One way that PRSFA raises funds is through Box Tops! Did you know that you can submit them to the school electronically simply by scanning your receipts to an App? Download the Box Tops for Education App to your device, choose Paul Road Elementary School, and start collecting today!

Please reach out to PRSFA co-presidents, Clarissa Galvano and Laurie Miller for more information.

Lamiller@gateschili.org

Clarissa.galvano@gmail.com

Additionally, follow us on social media for updates and event highlights!

Facebook: Paul Road School and Family Association (PRSFA)

Instagram: Prsfa_gc

Our school website now features a link to a 24/7 online store where anyone may purchase Paul Road School apparel. Check it out now at www.gateschili.org/shoppr

Please click the link below to view December's Counseling Team Newsletter.

Counseling Contact Information:

Cameron Scharf

cpscharf@gateschili.org

It can be hard to know when to send children to school if they tell you that they do not feel well. Usually, the best place for them is in school, but there are times when keeping them home to rest or calling for an appointment with your health care provider is recommended.

Please keep your student home and/or contact your family doctor for:

• Fever greater than 100.4 (taken by mouth or tympanic)
• Vomiting and or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
• Severe sore throat along with fever and feeling ill for more than 48 hours, or after exposure to Strep throat infection (may return 24 hours after taking first dose)
• Honey-crusted sores around the nose or mouth OR undiagnosed rash on other body parts
• Large amounts of mucous (liquid) from their nose, with face pain or headache
• Severe ear pain or fluid coming from the ear
• Severe headache, especially with fever

If your student has a fever, it is not recommended to give them medicine like Tylenol, Advil or Motrin and send them to school because as soon as the medicine wears off, the fever may return, and you will be called to come pick up your student.

Please keep children home for 24 hours after the fever ends or they have completed 24 hours of medication if prescribed by your health care provider. If you have any questions about when or if to return to school, please contact the School Nurse Cynthia Cole.

If you find your student is frequently asking to stay home from school, if they are falling behind, appear anxious about school, or if there does not appear to be any physical illness symptoms, contact your school nurse or the school social worker to discuss your concerns.

Remind children to throw away used tissues, cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, keep their hands away from their face and fingers out of their mouth, and to wash hands often with soap and warm water, to help keep everyone healthier.

Nurse Contact Information:

Health Office Phone: 585-247-2149

Fax Number: 585-340-5571

Cynthia Cole, Nurse

cmcole@gateschili.org

Jenna Mosher, Health Aide

jemosher@gateschili.org

Click the following links for information related to our school nutrition program:

• Breakfast and Lunch Menus
• My School Bucks (Meal Payment)
• Free and Reduced Meal Application
• School Nutrition Snapshot

The cost of breakfast is $2.00 and the cost of lunch is $3.20 this year. Be sure to regularly check your student's meal account balance using MySchoolBucks. We encourage all families to submit a free/reduced lunch form. Both websites are linked above.

For more information related to our school nutrition program, please visit gateschili.org/SchoolNutrition.