School 81 Newsletter - Buffalo Public Schools
Transcript of School 81 Newsletter - Buffalo Public Schools
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School 81
Newsletter Fall 2018
Denise Cobbs Assistant Principal
Nicholas Klaich Principal
Ryan Shepherd Assistant Principal
Buffalo Public School 81 140 Tacoma Avenue Buffalo, New York 14216 (716) 816-4060
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Table of Contents
Letter to the Parents PG. 3 National Junior Honor Society PG. 4 World Wildlife Fund PG. 5 Guidance Office PG. 5 Pre-K PG. 6 Kindergarten PG. 6 First Grade PG. 7 Second Grade PG. 7 Third Grade PG. 8 Fourth Grade PG. 8 Fifth Grade PG. 9 Sixth Grade PG. 10 Junior High ELA PG. 11 Junior High Math PG. 12 Junior High Science PG. 13 Junior High Social Studies PG. 13 Technology PG. 14 Home & Careers PG. 14 Music Department PG. 15 Art Department PG. 16 Physical Education Department PG. 16 Reading Department PG. 17 Math Department PG. 17 Speech Department PG. 18
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Dr. Kriner Cash Superintendent
November 7th, 2018 Dear Parents/ Guardians, Remind your child that 1st quarter grades close, Thursday, November 8th. We want to thank you for sending your son/daughter to us each and every day on time. Please discuss with your son/ daughter the importance of completing all assignments, doing their best work and reaching their full potential at School 81. Their attendance at School 81 is critical to their success. School 81 is currently at 95% daily average attendance for the school year. As inclement weather approaches, please be reminded to drive safely at our morning arrival/ dismissal and respect the right of way of other cars, our buses and pedestrians. Be reminded that School 81 does not open its doors to students until 9AM; please do not drop off students before this time. We thank you for not picking up your child early from school as this does cause disruption of their school day. Be reminded that any change in dismissal must be through a parent note (preferred) or phone call to the main office. Change of dismissal cannot be accommodated after 3:15.
Pre-K to Grade 5 – Continue to read nightly with your child. School 81 participates in the Principal’s Reading Challenge on a monthly basis, competing with other district schools. All students have access to MYON – an online library of books.
Grades 2 to 4 – Every student has access to Reflex Math online computer program, please ask your teacher for log in information if you do not have it already.
K to 6 students have access to Lexia – an online program through Clever.
Grades 7 to 8 students – access to Lexia and I-Ready Math. Ask your child if they have been using the program/ if they have log in information. Both of these programs can be used at home or at the local library with internet access.
6th grade students are working diligently on the Global Scholars Program. Finally, continue to look at our school website and monthly flyers for upcoming school 81 dates. Sincerely, Nicholas Klaich Denise Cobbs Ryan Shepherd Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
“Putting children and families first to ensure high academic achievement for all”
BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
School #81
Nicholas Klaich, Principal
Denise Cobbs, Assistant Principal
Ryan Shepherd, Assistant Principal
140 Tacoma Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14216
(716) 816-4060
fax (716) 871-6041
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National Junior Honor Society
National Junior Honor Society is a leadership
organization which encourages students to succeed
through service, citizenship, and character. Each
fall, we invite students to apply to join. Seventh
and eighth grade students have received
applications to join National Junior Honor
Society. These applications are due November
30th.
Students who are invited to be in NJHS must have and maintain a minimum
grade point average of 85%. Grades are not the only
requirements. Students must show character, service, scholarship,
citizenship, and leadership in order to be invited to join. Candidates will
receive a letter on or before December 21 if they are accepted. We will
hold a formal induction ceremony in early February.
Friday November 30 will be our annual Caps For Kids Day. Students can wear
a cap to school for $1. All proceeds go to Caps for Kids to help purchase
caps and sports memorabilia for children undergoing cancer treatments.
We will again have a Giving Tree at School 81. Students may purchase
ornaments for $.50 for the tree. NJHS is still in the process of choosing
this years' charity. You may also send in mittens, scarves, and hats for the
tree. These items go directly to our students as needed. You may also send
in new unwrapped toys that we will send home to our families in need.
Linda Zakrzewski
NJHS Advisor
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World Wildlife Adoption
of the Month Club
Ms. Blake
Hello Nature Lovers!
Thank you to everyone who has purchased a ticket(s) for this very
important organization. The two baby Koalas and the two baby 2-toed
sloths have already been raffled off but there are still sixteen more
animals to be won. We have raised $253.00 so far, less than half of our
goal of $550.00. Tickets can be purchased until the end of the school year
for 50¢ each or 12 for $5.00. So if you haven’t entered the contest or you
would like to purchase more tickets, they are available from your child’s homeroom teacher or
from me in Room 120. Please know that all of the money we have raised is sent to the World
Wildlife Organization which helps animals and their habitats around the world.
Thank you,
Ms. Blake and the World’s Endangered Species
Guidance Office We are continuing to meet individually and in groups to complete our
8thgraders high school applications. The Buffalo Public Schools have
programs in place every high school to help all our students achieve
college and career success.
The goal of the Comprehensive School Counseling Program at School #81
is to address the needs of all students by helping them to acquire
competencies in personal, academic and career development domains. Students need skills in
these domains to succeed in school and in life.
A special thank you to all faculty, support staff, teachers and wonderful parents who reinforce
these skills every day.
Sincerely,
Dawn M. LaMendola School Counselor
Buffalo Public Schools, #79 & #81
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Pre-K
Kindergarten
Our Prek students have been busy adjusting to school routines. We have
been busy learning how to work and play together. We have been learning the letters of the alphabet to Gg. We have also been busy learning our beginning Math concepts and skills. We are looking forward to the coming Holiday Season in PreK. Please check your child's book bag and folder each night. Thank you for your continuing support.
Parents,
Thank you for all of your support this year!
Our classrooms are off to a great start and it is all
due to working cohesively to help our students progress
and achieve their goals! We are very thankful for being
diligent in helping your children complete all homework
assignments and reading logs each week. Also, thanks
again to those parents for helping out on our Pumpkin
Farm field trip. It was a lot of fun and a great
success! The workers at the farm complimented us
many times on how well our students behaved. That
really means a lot! Our fall celebration was another
wonderful event that the students really enjoyed. They
were able to parade through classrooms and the school
and show themselves off as well! Lastly, the
Kindergarten team also wanted to give you a little
update on where we are in our curriculum after the
first two months of school. The classes are doing a
wonderful job and their progress is undeniable!
Reading/ELA
-Introduced and reviewed letters Mm, Ss, Aa, Tt
-Learned sight words I, like, the, see, and, we
-Rhyming words
-Beginning sounds
-Word blends
-Oral vocabulary and sensory words
-Parts of speech
-Informative writing
Math
-Introduced and reviewed numbers 1-10 (oral and
written)
-Counting sets of objects
-Putting objects in groups (classifying)
-Introduced flat shapes
Social Studies
-We learned about rules/routines/procedures
-Jobs and different types of work
-School helpers
-Family
Science
-Living/Non-living things
-Things that make plants grow and what seeds are
-The way animals move
-Sinking/Floating
The Kindergarten Team
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First Grade
Second Grade
Parents/Guardians,
The school year has
started out great! The first
graders have been working
hard in both ELA and math.
Please remember these
young readers should be
reading every night.
We will be sending home a “Just for
You” binder with each student. This binder is
filled with some extra work that is
differentiated to your child’s needs. Please
send back the binder on Fridays so more work
can be added. Please see the blue page in the
front of the binder for more information.
We have been working on addition and
subtraction in math. As we move along to
word problems, it is very helpful to have
those facts memorized. Addition and
subtraction flashcards are a great way to
practice math facts. Flashcards can be found
at the dollar store, target, etc.
The students have enjoyed Science
Fridays! Thank you to all of the parents that
have sent in supplies for our science
experiments! The kids especially loved the
apple volcanoes, and cleaning out pumpkins!
We are so proud of how our students
behaved at the BPO field trip. The students
had a great time and enjoyed all the music.
The farm field trip was a blast! It was
fun to be out of the classroom and in a
pumpkin patch!
As always, thank you
for your ongoing support,
Mrs. Comerford, Mrs. Mendola, Mrs. Maurer,
& Miss. Reedy
Dear Second Grade Parents,
As our first quarter comes to an end, and
we begin the second quarter, we are
pleased to tell you that many second grade
students have begun the year well. We are
mastering classroom routines, and
experiencing success with spelling,
reading, math, social studies, and science
endeavors.
We are enjoying our new science
curriculum. Also, as our Journeys reading
curriculum often enhances social studies
and science topics, we will have a visit
from the Traveling Touch Tank from the
aquarium on November 28. The cost of
this special visit is to be covered by the
supplemental fee included in the student
supply list. If you have not sent in your
$5.00 yet, please try to do so .
You will soon be receiving your child’s
report cards. Please review both cards
with your child, encouraging them in areas
of concern.
As you may be out holiday shopping in the
near future, please remember to replenish
your child’s supply of pencils, glue sticks,
and crayons.
Thank you for all you do to help your child
experience success in second grade!
The Second Grade Teachers:
Ms. Hand
Mrs. McCabe
Mrs. Gompah
Mrs. Amico
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Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Students have settled into 3rd grade nicely. By
now our students should know the classroom
procedures, the school rules, and what is expected
of them as 3rd graders.
We are now a 1:1 Classroom! This means that all
third grade students have their own iPad. We use
them to enhance our learning and increase student
engagement.
In October, the third grade classes enjoyed the
sounds of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at
Kleinhan’s Music Hall. Third-graders also enjoyed
their Halloween parade.
We have completed Unit 1 in ELA, and are almost
finished with Unit 2. Students have read and applied
strategies to respond to fictional and informational
texts. All classes completed the first District
Benchmark Assessment in ELA, which was comprised
of selections and questions from the 2016 NYS
Common Core ELA Assessment.
We encourage students to read independently
every night. Students also should be using myon.com
and mylexia.com to improve their phonics skills,
comprehension and fluency. Students are also
participating in the Principal’s Reading Challenge.
In Math, we have completed Module 1, which
focused on the properties of multiplication and
division. In Module 2, we focused on place value,
rounding, addition, subtraction and problem solving
with units of measurement. The District Benchmark
Assessment was recently administered. Students
should continue studying their multiplication
flashcards nightly as well as using Reflexmath.com
to improve their fluency.
It is very important that students have all of their
supplies for third grade. Please refer to the supply
list and replenish anything needed. Please do not
hesitate to contact us with any questions or
concerns.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Amato, Mrs. Joseph, Ms. McAuley, Ms. McCool
& Ms. White
Hello Parents/Guardians,
We hope everyone has a blessed and
restful Thanksgiving break. We need to
recharge and prepare for the long cold month
of December ahead! Attendance is crucial and
we need to be healthy and in school! Continue to
practice health and wellness behaviors like hand
washing, eating healthy foods, and getting
proper rest.
We are very proud to report that our
Buffalo History Museum tour on November 9th,
2018 was a great success. We learned about
this great “Queen City” and realize how lucky
we are to be a part of it and its history. A few
topics we learned about were the
Haudenosaunee. We were able to study a model
village, experience a walk-in longhouse, and
make our very own pinch pots. We also learned
about pioneer life in Buffalo Creek Village, as
well as the Pan-American Exposition. Many of
the children asked profound questions and had
insightful revelations regarding the topics.
We are proud of the way many of our
students ended the first quarter, working hard
and putting forth their best effort. We can
only ask that you continue this effort
throughout the year and really push yourselves
above and beyond! There is always room for
growth and improvement.
Thank you for all of your continued
support throughout this school year.
Sincerely,
The 4th Grade Team
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Fifth Grade
Upcoming Events
Winter Recess: December 24th – Jan. 1st
School Resumes: January 2nd
Martin Luther King Day: January 21st
Mid-Winter Recess: February 18th –22nd
Meet the
Teachers
Mrs. Clark: [email protected]
Mrs. Day- [email protected]
Mrs. Palumbo: [email protected]
Mrs. Tronolone: [email protected]
Our Learning
Math (Module 1) Topic A: Multiplicative Patterns on the Place Value Chart Topic B: Decimal Fractions & Place Value Patterns Topic C: Place Value & Rounding Decimal Fractions Topic D: Adding and Subtracting Decimals Topic E: Multiplying Decimals Topic F: Dividing Decimals
Math (Module 2) Topic A: Mental Strategies for Multi-Digit Whole Number Multiplication Topic Topic B: The Standard Algorithm for Multi-Digit Whole Number Multiplication Topic C: Decimal Multi-Digit Multiplication Topic D: Measurement Word Problems with Whole Number and Decimal Multiplication Topic E: Mental Strategies for Multi-Digit Whole Number Division Topic F: Partial Quotients and Multi-Digit Whole Number Division Topic G: Partial Quotients and Multi-Digit Decimal Division
Reading (Unit 1 & 2) Lesson 1: A Package for Mrs. Jewels Lesson 2: A Royal Mystery Lesson 3: Off and Roaming Lesson 4: Double Dutch Lesson 5: Elisa’s Diary Lesson 6: Quest for the Tree Kangaroo Lesson 7: Old Yeller Lesson 8: Everglades Forever Lesson 9: Storm Warriors Lesson 10: Cougars
Continue to read every night! Continue to practice
multiplication facts (0-10)
At-Home Practice
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Sixth Grade It’s hard to believe we are already 10 weeks into the new school year! Please
continue to make sure your child is in school each and every day and is continuing to
complete all homework assignments. Also, check Parent Portal frequently as grades
are updated frequently in all subjects. This will give you an accurate picture of your
child’s current grades.
The 6th graders this year each received a computer for use in school. The 6th
graders have been learning many new programs on the computer, such as Microsoft
One Note, Power Up Lexia, and Prodigy. The students are able to use Power Up Lexia
online at home to earn extra credit for ELA. Please encourage your child to use this
program at home as it is a reading program tailored to meet the needs of each child
specifically.
Another program our 6th graders are participating in this year is Global
Scholars. Students have already begun speaking with students all around the world
and have posted their welcome videos to introduce themselves and our beautiful city.
We are working on setting up a Skype with students in London, England in the next
month or two.
In ELA, we will be working on an argument writing essay: “Should students be
allowed to use cellphones in school?” Sixth graders will be conducting research on
their computers and completing all of the steps in the essay writing process. The
students will be coming home with different steps in the research process and essay
writing to complete. Please encourage your child to keep up with the work so they do
not fall behind.
We are looking forward to a successful 2018-2019 school year. As always,
please feel free to contact us via e-mail or phone (716-816-4060).
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dmoch
Mrs. Golding
Mrs. Koscielski
Mrs. Williams
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Junior High ELA
7th & 8th Grade All students are preparing to pass the new demands of the Common Core
test. It is absolutely essential that students stay organized. Each student
should keep all ELA notes and worksheets in his or her ELA binder.
Students must complete all homework assignments completely, as missing
assignments add up quickly.
Seventh grade students have learned the proper symbols to edit a
sentence for grammar and punctuation. They have been working on how to properly write an
eight sentence short response paragraph by including text evidence and citations. In this unit,
students will make inferences from textual evidence about the differences in perspectives
from informational text. They will read Linda Sue Park’s A Long Walk to Water, and they will
study the history of the Sudan Civil War.
Eighth grade students have continued practicing their eight sentence paragraph format with
proper text citations. In this unit, they will explore the struggles of being a refugee in
Thanhha Lai’s Inside Out and Back Again. They will examine how word choice, or diction,
contributes to meaning and tone in literary and informational texts. Students have been
working rigorously to complete the eighth grade curriculum and additional texts and ninth grade
skills. They have introduced high level transition words into their writing. In this unit, they will
write a critical analysis essay comparing and contrasting the elements of the text with the
outside perspective of the reader and audience.
On November 8th students will have a guest speaker from Journey’s End Refugee Center. The
speaker will discuss how they help rehome refugees in Buffalo, and students will be able to
connect their refugee stories that they are reading in class directly to their community. During
the month of November, we will collect toiletries for Journey’s End.
Parents, please feel free to contact me at the email below with any questions or concerns that
you have. If you would like to receive free homework text messages, please subscribe to the
Remind app. A letter went home with each student in September.
Mrs. Ward-Pitman
Seventh and Eighth Grade ELA
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Junior High Math
7th & 8th Grade
In 7th and 8th grade math class we need to work very hard to be
successful. In order to be successful, you need to have all your
work handed in on time.
Please keep your eye on parent portal in order to see your child's
grades that are updated every week.
Each student needs to always do your best by...
*coming to class prepared with pencil, paper, notebook, calculator, protractor and
ruler
*handing in all completed assignments, in pencil, on time and to the best of their
ability
*staying focused in class and complete all information taught
*doing your best in class and try to participate at least twice each day
*spending about 20 minutes each night reading the notes to review the material
taught in class if you have a question about some information you read you should
mark it and ask the next day in class
*raising your hand and ask a question if there is something that you do not
understand
*studying each day and prepare for each test
*always acting in a responsible and polite manner
*looking on parent portal weekly to check on your math grades
*using the informational videos on my web page to help learn the material taught
in the modules
You will be successful, if you always do your very best. Work hard. You can achieve
great things! Happy Holidays!
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Junior High Science
7th & 8th Grade
It's hard to believe that we have finished one third of
the school year already. All science students are reading
articles from Science World magazine that they choose
and writing in their journals. This is how we connect
science concepts taught in the classroom to the real world.
Grade 7 students are exploring the wonders of the human
body by learning about the systems that work together to
keep us alive. Grade 8 students are learning about
heredity, which is the passing of traits from parents to
offspring. Students will be able to use a Punnett Square to predict what the
offspring will look like.
Junior High Social Studies
7th & 8th Grade
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The school year has started off and is moving along very quickly.
Seventh graders are already working on the American
Revolution. Eighth graders are beginning their unit on the
Progressive Era.
Parents - please remember to ask for and review your child
lesson Plan Outline each A Day. this also requires your signature.
It will allow you to see what we are working on in class each day, each cycle. Also you
will be aware of what homework is each night as well as when tests are scheduled.
If you ever have any questions, or would like to meet - I am more than happy to do so.
Sincerely,
Mr. McKenzie
Social Studies 7 & 8
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Technology
This month in Technology the 6th grade students are finishing up
the simple machine catapults. They learn how to design and use
hand tools to fabricate and build a machine. The 7th grade classes are just finishing their gumball machines,
they are introduced to manufacturing. During this unit they will
design and fabricate 15 different parts and assemble them to make a gravity fed
gumball machine that actually works.
The 8th grade students designed and built a portable cell phone charger, so they
can now charge their phones while they are out on a hike and getting
exercise. They also designed their own Website on their new laptops.
Home and Careers . Grade 6 students have completed their
pillows and will soon begin their cooking
unit. We are learning about kitchen safety
and lab procedures.
Grade 7 students are almost done with their
day bags. Some students are making extra
bags for the Gingerbread Shop. Our food
unit this year will focus on healthy choices
and simple meals.
Grade 8 students did a wonderful job preparing and serving a Thanksgiving
luncheon for the staff. I received many compliments. Now it's time to teach
them how to make turkey soup!. They will now continue to make their lap top
bags. We are hoping to be done before the December break
Linda Zakrzewski
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Music Department
Mrs. Dormer
3rd grade students are practicing steady beat and singing together. We are using music and
literature to develop both listening skills and creative movement. This month will be based on
the book Everyone Asked About You. We are working on our white belt for Recorder Karate
learning BAG on the instrument as well as identifying these notes
on the treble clef.
4th graders are working on visually identifying instruments as well
as the timbre of each instrument. We will be using Benjamin
Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra composition and
interactive board games to promote this skill. We will also look at
Peter and the Wolf and explore qualities of different characters’ musical themes using musical
vocabulary and descriptive words (adjectives). We are working on our white belt for Recorder
Karate learning BAG on the instrument as well as identifying these notes on the treble clef.
5th graders are studying the opera Amahl and the Night Visitors. They will identify vocal
range, recitative/aria and elements found in an opera using libretto. Students are notating on
manuscript paper rhythms dictated to them developing their listening skills. We are working on
our white belt for Recorder Karate learning BAG on the instrument as well as identifying these
notes on the treble clef.
6th graders are continuing to work on alternating mallet technique with the song Hi-Ya an ABA
Rondo Form composition. They are studying/acting the opera Carmen which reinforces
music/opera vocabulary as well as identifying key motifs/excerpts of music from the opera.
7th graders are continuing to work on alternating mallet technique with the song Hi-Ya an ABA
Rondo form composition are also being introduced to the Baroque Period with composers such as
Bach, Handel and Vivaldi. They are experimenting with ostinato patterns using percussion
instruments to perform the song Sweet Guava Jelly.
BPS #81 Chorus is working on our annual Holiday Concert.
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Art
Department
Physical Education
Department The students of School
#81 have been very busy
in the art room. They
began the year learning
about different techniques and art
movements and used what they learned
to create artworks. The third graders
are still working on a mixed media fall
landscape. The fourth grade students
are getting ready for winter. They
learned all about cardinal birds and drew
their best version of one in the snow.
The fifth grade students are discussing
different types of trees and focusing on
drawing silhouettes of evergreens. The
silhouettes will soon be in the snow like
the cardinal birds. The sixth graders
learned about three elements of art:
shape, form and value. They took three
circles and made them into spheres using
value. The spheres soon looked like a
snowman in moonlight. The eighth grade
students just completed some very
interesting line sculptures based on the
works of Nancy Rubens. They are now
working on stained glass paintings of
their favorite superhero. Look for all of
these magnificent students works in the
halls of school #81.
It’s been a wonderful start
to the year in Physical
Education and School #81
Athletics!
In PE grades 4-8 did a
terrific job completing
their National Fitness
Testing. In grades K-3
they’ve been working on
knowing the rules of the
gym and special awareness.
The Cross Country team
had an outstanding season
with all the runners
improving their times as
the season went along. The
boys’ team even had the
overall district winner,
Brian Freeman! Basketball
season is now in full swing
as well for both the boys’
and girls’ teams.
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Reading Department
Ms. Blake
Math Department
Mrs. Orengo Dear Parents/Guardians,
Where does
the time go? A
quarter of the
school year is
already over! All
of the remedial
reading classes are working very hard
to establish effective reading skills
and strategies. It is so important for
students (at any reading level) to read
for pleasure every day. This can be
done on their own, with someone else or
by listening to a prerecorded book.
Don’t forget about myOn, a fantastic
online collection of thousands of
enhanced digital books provided by the
Buffalo Public Schools. Working a bit
of reading time into your child’s daily
schedule, so they are expecting to do it
every day, might be the easiest way to
get your child to read. Reading builds
up vocabulary, background information,
comprehension, etc. and helps students
in every subject across the curriculum.
It is never too late to become a good
reader!
Happy reading,
Ms. Blake, Title I Reading
Building Math News
Students across the building are
working hard to build on the
knowledge they learned last year,
so they can master the material
for this year. You can help at
home by making sure they
complete all of their homework and
practice their math facts.
If you need any clarification on
your child’s homework to help
them, the Buffalo Schools
Mathematics Department Website
has some great resources. If your
child is in grades K-2, you can find
module tip sheets at
https://ny01913551.schoolwires.ne
t/Page/3226. For grades 3-8, you
can get the tip sheets at
https://ny01913551.schoolwires.ne
t/Page/3228. I am available if you
need me as well. You can contact
me at
Let’s work together to help your
child achieve greatness!
Mrs. Orengo
Support Math Teacher
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Speech Department
Our students are off to a
great start working to improve their
speech-language skills! By now, you
should have received your student’s
Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The IEP indicates the level of
speech services, speech-language goals, and other important
information relevant to your student for the 2018-2019 school year.
You should have also received a copy of your student’s progress
monitoring for the first quarter. If you have any questions regarding
the IEP or your student’s progress, please don’t hesitate to contact
us.
Our speech therapy sessions have been targeting articulation
(correct speech sound production, speech intelligibility), expressive
language (responding to question forms, formulating
sentences/expanded utterances, using correct grammar, implementing
grade level vocabulary), receptive language (auditory comprehension
of sentences/stories, following directions, understanding grade level
vocabulary & concept vocabulary ), pragmatic language (topic
maintenance, turn-taking, problem solving, social interactions), and
fluency (identifying and using strategies for smooth speech).
Please reference your child’s most recent progress report for
current data and recommendations and make note of information
regarding upcoming CSE meetings. We are looking forward to a great
rest of the school year!
Mrs. Schiller & Mrs. Campbell-Cook