January 2025... News to Know

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Happy New Year! I hope that you had a restful and relaxing holiday break. We are excited to be back at school and are ready to kick off an awesome 2025!

As the holiday season draws to a close and the calendar has turned to January, it’s nearly impossible not to hear people talking about their New Year’s resolutions. While the idea of "resolutions" may not apply to young children, this is a great time of the year to revisit the idea of goal-setting. In his book, The 7 Habits of Happy Kids, Stephen Covey discusses goal-setting in Habit #2: Begin with the End in Mind. Students who think with the end in mind say, “I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference; I am an important part of my family and my school community and I can make a difference. I look for ways to be a good citizen and partner to all.”

The habit of "Beginning with the End in Mind" extends beyond school. Here are some ideas that you may want to incorporate at home with your child-

• Have your child set a goal in an area that may need improvement (ex. putting clothes in the hamper, learning multiplication facts, riding a bike). Have them keep track of the steps they are taking to reach their goals.
• There are many examples of "beginning with the end in mind" all around us. Use a recipe and shopping list as a real-life reference for thinking ahead. Talk with your child about how using a map before a trip helps you know when you need to leave and where you need to go. Point out how the picture on the puzzle box helps you figure out where to put the pieces.
• Start small and help your child see how a simple act (picking out your clothes the night before) can help with organization and staying focused.

This short video explains the ideas behind Habit #2 and helps young children understand the steps involved with meeting a goal.

Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!

Sincerely,

Marcie Ware

Principal

Eric Traugott

Assistant Principal

• Monday, January 13th, 27th and February 3rd and 10th — Indian Landing Ski Club at Bristol Mountain
• Thursday, January 9th — PTO meeting; IL Library; 7:00 PM
• Thursday, January 16th, Friday, January 17th and Saturday, January 18th-Drama Club performances; 7 PM IL Cafeteria; Information on how to order tickets will be sent home by Mr. Seaman
• Monday, January 20th—NO SCHOOL in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Tuesday, January 21st — Beginner's Concerts*; PHS Auditorium; 7:30 PM

*For those of you who would like to enjoy from the comfort of your own home, we have partnered with PCTV to live stream all of our winter concerts. Click here to tune in: www.penfield.org/PCSDMusic

• Wednesday, January 29th — NO SCHOOL in observance of Lunar New Year
• Thursday, January 30th — LEGO Night; 6:00-7:30 PM

Looking ahead—

• Wednesday, February 12th- Black History Month Career Night

There will be no school on Monday, January 20th in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We encourage you to speak with your child about what they have learned about Dr. King. If you would like to learn along with us, here is the message and video that will be shared over Morning Announcements—

Dr. Martin Luther King was a civil rights activist that fought for equal rights for all Americans. He led peaceful demonstrations to create much needed change. He is most famously known for his “I Have a Dream” speech that he gave on August 28, 1963 . We celebrate his work today as it led to laws being created to make America a more peaceful, and equal country. Check out this video from PBS Kids to help us learn more on Martin Luther King Jr.

As we continue to celebrate the rich diversity within the Indian Landing community, we are excited to announce that we will be highlighting Korean American Heritage Day this month. This special day (January 13th) is dedicated to honoring the contributions, culture, and history of Korean Americans.

Korean American Heritage Day provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about and appreciate the vibrant traditions and achievements of the Korean American community. Throughout the month, our students will engage in a variety of activities that include classroom discussions, storytelling, cultural performances, and art projects.

We are looking forward to having all students participate and embrace this opportunity to learn about and celebrate the diverse cultures that make up our school community. As always, we invite parents and guardians to ask their children about their experiences around this topic and to learn along with us! We will be celebrating and learning together through daily announcements, shared stories, and other activities. Our K-2 students will be reading Sunday Funday in Koreatown and 3-5 students will read Rice From Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans.

Thank you for ensuring that Indian Landing is a place where every culture is celebrated, and every student feels welcomed, valued and included!

We are excited for the 8th Annual Indian LEGO Night on Thursday, January 30th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Sign-up information was sent home in backpacks with students prior to the break. Copies of the form can be also be accessed with this link, printed out and returned to school- LEGO Night Intent to Participate. Students may sign up to create a LEGO display to share as part of our IL LEGO Museum. In addition to the museum, LEGO Night will include robotics demonstrations, coding activities, a maker station, and much more!

Recess is a time for students to decompress, be active and get fresh air. During the winter months, we make every effort to send students outside whenever possible. Students go outside for recess when the temperature (including wind chill) is at or above 15 degrees. Staff who supervise recess will be instructed on when it is appropriate to send students inside, i.e. complaint of numbness or tingling or complaint of feeling cold. It is important to make sure that your child comes to school appropriately dressed for the weather with the following items- jacket, snow pants, hat, boots, and gloves/mittens.

District policy will not allow students to wear shorts outside when it is less than 50 degrees.

Registration for incoming Indian Landing kindergarten students is currently underway! Parents of eligible children will soon be receiving registration materials in the mail.

If you have a child who will be turning 5 by Dec. 1, 2025, and you do not receive materials by February 14th, please call 249-5729.

We raised over $2,000 and collected hundreds of food items as part of our Holiday Helping Hands initiative. Thanks to your generosity we were able to make the holidays a lot brighter for several families in need.

Thank you!

Would you like to help out at your child’s school and earn a little cash while you do it? We are always in need of substitute teachers, teaching assistants, lunch monitors or clerical. You can work as little or as much as you would like! If you’re interested please visit our website.

The Indian Landing (IL) Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a partnership of parents, guardians, teachers, and administrators committed to supporting and enhancing the educational and social growth of all students at Indian Landing Elementary School.

As we head into the second half of the school year the PTO is hard at work planning fundraisers and several events such as Bingo Night, the Ice Cream social, our Square One art fundraiser, and our legendary IL Carnival. We are in need of volunteers and coordinators... please consider becoming involved!

Want to learn more? You are welcome to join us at our next meeting! Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM. Meetings rotate between in-person and ZOOM. Please check out the PTO website for more information.

Website: indianlandingpto.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndianLandingPTO
Twitter: @indianlandngpto

Every new student receives a red IL t-shirt courtesy of the PTO when they start kindergarten or when they enroll at Indian Landing. As we know all too well, children tend to grow like weeds and that tiny shirt they received in kindergarten may not fit your 4th or 5th grader!

Replacement shirts are available to purchase online through the PTO. Shirts are $12 each and when orders are placed, shirts will be delivered directly to students in their classroom.

Our district's goals continue to focus on developing and supporting the whole student. Our approach to positive behavior support will emphasize the idea of Be a Partner! Students will learn specific expectations focused on these key concepts- Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Safe. Be Kind.

These ideas are a part of what we do each and every day, and our staff will continually be looking for ways to acknowledge students who are respectful, responsible, safe and kind. Students will receive Partner's Pride stickers as recognition from adults in the building and on the bus. Students who receive stickers will be eligible for random prizes such as bracelets and t-shirts. Once a month, we will be recognizing "Partners Proud Moments". Students selected for this honor can be selected by their teacher for any reason- a positive attitude, responsible behavior, overcoming a difficulty, or meeting a personal goal are just a few examples of reasons why a student may be selected for a Partner's Proud Moment. These students receive an Outstanding Student certificate, as well as a special star pin.

Indian Landing has Twitter and Facebook accounts! Please follow us on Twitter at @ILPrincipal or on Facebook at Indian Landing Elementary School as we share important updates and celebrate the amazing learning that is taking place each and every day! *Please note that these accounts are not intended to be a form of two-way communication. If you have a specific question or concern, please email or call the teacher or principal directly.

The Principal’s News to Know newsletter will be sent each month by email. To ensure that you receive the newsletter, please make sure that you have a working email address on file with the district. The newsletter will also be posted to the Indian Landing School page on the district website under the “Principal’s Page” tab. If you would like to request a paper copy, please submit a note to the Main Office and we will be sure to get one to you.

Email: mware@penfield.edu
Website:http://www.penfield.edu/IndianLanding.cfm

Location: 702 North Landing Road, Rochester, NY, United States
Phone: 585-249-6900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndianLandingElementarySchool/
Instagram: @IndianLandingElementary