Important Dates

February 10 - PTA Family Fun Night, 6-8:30 pm

February 13-17 - Kdgtn Registration by appointment.

February 16 - 3rd Grade Concert-Parent Performance 8:45 am

February 20-24 - Winter Recess,  School Closed

March 17  -  Kindergarten Concert Parent Performance, 8:45 am

March 21 - Parent/Teacher Conference -  No school for students

March 28-30 - NYSELA  Grades 3 & 4

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CET Newsletter February 10, 2017

http://www.chufsd.org/schools/carrie_e_tompkins_es

Message from the Principal, Mrs. Kelly Maloney

Dear CET Families,

I hope that you have dug yourselves safely out from yesterday’s snowstorm!  Or was it a blizzard? According to what our kindergarten students learned this year, yesterday’s weather conditions would be considered a blizzard !  The distinction between a snowstorm and a blizzard is the amount of snow and wind speed.   Mrs. Reich and her third grade students took advantage of all the snow and went snowshoeing today!  Check out the photos I tweeted of them! You can follow us on Twitter at #CETelementary!

We had a nice turnout for the PTA Principal’s Coffee last week. The topic was Mathematics. First grade teacher, Mrs. Lynch, and fourth grade teacher, Mr. Campanaro demonstrated some of the strategies used for teaching mathematics.  The RDW (Read, Draw, Write) model for solving word problems is used across grade levels.  Students are taught to read and reread a word problem and to use a model drawing.  A model drawing is a step by step, visual method of translating a word problem into a diagram or model, in order to understand and successfully solve the problem.  A tape diagram is an example of a model drawing.  If you would like a better understanding of the mathematical skills, content, and strategies taught at each grade level, I encourage you to visit EngageNY.org and our teacher web pages. Teacher web pages under Parent Resources tab include a Parent Roadmap for supporting your child that outline the standards taught for that specific grade level.  Remember you can access teacher web pages under the Staff Directory tab on our CET homepage.

You can also find information about the upcoming New York State Tests that are given in grades 3-8 on EngageNY.org.  Annotated questions from previous English Language Arts (ELA) tests and Mathematics tests are available. You may want to see what students are being asked to do in these curricular areas.

Thank you for the donations of canned food!  We exceeded our goal of collecting 592 cans (the total CET student population) so we will have a Wear Your Favorite Jersey Day on Friday, February 17.  We collected 608 cans!  The food collected will be donated to the Cortlandt Emergency Food Bank.  

I hope to see you tonight at Family Fun Night!

Warmly,

Kelly

News from the Assistant Principal, Mrs. Kerri Bianchi  

Winter Weather and Recess

 Should we have Indoor or outdoor recess?  That is a very common question during these cold winter months.  We obviously want to get our students outside to play as often as possible during the winter but sometimes that is just not possible.  I wanted to share some guidelines that we use when trying to determine where we are having recess.  The first thing we look at is the temperature.  Generally speaking if it is above 30 degrees we will send the children outside to play.  We also look at the wind chill and the “real feel” temperatures when making our decision.  Next we look at snow and ice.  If there is significant snowfall or icing conditions we will keep the children inside. During indoor recess children spend time in their classrooms because the gym is not available during recess times.  While in their classrooms children spend time playing indoor games, building with blocks or other toys, working on puzzles, coloring or reading just to name a few activities.  Fourth grade students are also supervised in the fourth grade hallway so that they can socialize with friends from other classes.  Due to concerns of frostbite we require students to wear long pants and jackets if the temperature is below 40 degrees.  We acknowledge that the building can be warm even in the winter months and do not object to students wearing shorts in the building during the winter months.  However, we ask that those children wearing shorts to school bring a pair of sweatpants in their book bag to change into for outdoor recess.  If the temperature falls below 40 degrees and a child does not have sweatpants of their own to wear we will provide a pair from the nurse’s office for them to wear.  Safety is always our number one concern when it comes to determining if we will have indoor or outdoor recess.  If for some reason your child finds it too cold to be outside during recess they are always welcome to come into the multipurpose room.  If your child has an ongoing or temporary health concern that would prohibit them from going outside for recess please contact the nurse’s office.  Additionally, PLEASE REMEMBER TO LABEL ALL OF YOUR CHILD’S OUTERWEAR.  We have so many unclaimed jackets and sweatshirts and we make every attempt to return them to their owner.  This task is much easier when the clothing item is labeled.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

CET PTA

Hope that everyone enjoyed the snow day yesterday. If you are ready to get out of the house, join us tonight for Family Fun Night in the CET Multi-purpose room and Gym. Doors open at 6 PM when we will have pizza for sale as well as a Bake Sale. Games start at 6:30 PM. $10 per person. Each ticket includes 1 Bingo card, 1 round of mini-golf, and 1 round of angry birds.

Also, mark your calendars for the next PTA General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, March 8th at 9:30 AM in the Projects Room!

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCE

Please sign up for your Parent/Teacher conference. The conference link is on the CET webpage.

SPECIAL AREAS NEWSLETTER

The Special Areas newsletter is now posted on the CET webpage. Please take a moment to read their newsletter to find out what your child is doing in art, library, music, and physical education.

  KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Students who reside in Croton and will be 5 years old before December 1, 2017 are eligible to attend kindergarten. If you are in need of a kindergarten registration packet and/or appointment please contact:

Gail Anzovino
914-271-5184 ext. 3212

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DENTAL CONTEST

This contest is open to students in grades K-12. Create a dental poster depicting good and bad oral health. The paper or poster board should be no larger that 11x17. Entries are due by March 10, 2017. Have your child see Mrs. Maloney, Principal for more information.