Important Dates

January 21 -  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,  school closed

January 25 - Report Cards available

January 25 - Pocketbook Bingo, 6:30 pm

February 4 - Session 2 of the Lunch Program begins. Order deadline is Friday, January 25th

February 11-15 - Kindergarten Registration Week

February 15 - 3rd Grade Concert, Parent Performance, 8:45 am

February 18-22 - Winter Recess -  school closed

March 8 -  Cultural Night, 6-8:30 pm

March 21 -  Kindergarten Concert, Parent Performance, 8:45 pm

March 29 -  PTA Family Fun Night, 6-8 pm  

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CET Newsletter January 18, 2019

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

Message from the Principal, Mrs. Kelly Maloney

Dear CET Families,

So much for the snow that was suppose to come last night!  Let’s see what this weekend brings!

If you build a snowman, take a picture of it and submit it to the Croton Recreation Department. For more information, read the blurb “Snowman Contest Returns” that can be found further along in this newsletter.

Next Friday afternoon your child’s report card will be available on the eSchool Parent Portal.  In order to help you understand your child’s report card grades, I want to explain the scoring indicators that we use to communicate a child’s skills and understandings of the New York Common Core Learning Standards. Each skill or concept is graded with a numeral system of 1-4. The difference between a 3 and 4 is the thoroughness of understanding. A “4” means that the child has an understanding of the concepts and skills beyond expectations and consistently exceeds standards while a “3” indicates that the child has an understanding expected at this grade level.  A “2” means that the child has a partial understanding of the concepts and skills expected at that grade level.  A score of a “1” indicates that the child does not demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and skills expected.  For the January report card, students are graded based on where they should be and what they should know at this time of the year.  

The rating scale for Behaviors that Promote Learning communicates the frequency (consistently, sometimes, rarely) in which a student demonstrates behaviors that will help to ensure their academic and social-emotional success in school.

All children receive report card grades in art, library, music, and physical education.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s report card, you should contact your child’s teacher(s) directly.

On a completely different topic, our PE and music teachers began their Drumming for Fitness program this week.  Using exercise balls, buckets, and wooden sticks, students are drumming and exercising to some of their favorite songs!  

I hope to see many of you at Pocketbook Bingo on Friday night! Tickets will be available at the door. In an effort to support the fundraising efforts of our PTA, the faculty has organized this event.

Stay warm,

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 27 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 icy 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 backpack 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.

News from Lauren Fitzgerald, School Psycologist 

Reward Systems within Your Home

Recently, I have been reading about different reward systems that parents can use in their homes to help motivate children to complete tasks. During my years as a school psychologist, I’ve encountered individuals who do not believe reward systems work and/or are necessary. I often hear the excuse that I shouldn’t have to reward a child to engage in a behavior that they should do anyways. According to Dr. Laura Markham, author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting, “all of us need some incentive to do the right thing and give up something we want… There are lots of things we "should" do that we're more likely to do if we see that there's something in it for us.” She suggests looking for a “Win/Win” solution that motivates your child to engage in the undesired activity is an easy and successful solution to everyday battles.

When creating a reward system for school-aged children, tangible rewards or time spent doing something special are often most effective. Stickers work as incentives throughout the day/week and then the tangible item can be rewarded to the child at the end of the day or week. If it’s an activity that your child finds especially challenging, having a reward more than once a week may be more effective. Also, make sure you discuss the reward system with your child so that they understand it is an incentive and not a punishment. Simple is best when creating a reward system and the end result is to make both you and your child feel happy and successful.

 News from Patricia Lynch, Math Teacher

C.E.T. Loves Math! 

Your child’s C.E.T. report card will be posted online next week.  Although this may cause a little anxiety in parents and students alike, please know that in Math, as in all subject areas, students are assessed on their retention and application of the New York State Learning Standards.  Although the standards are updated every few years, they basically continue to revolve around the same grade-level concepts.  I can assure you that we are proactive with any Math Standards updates and plan extensively to ensure your child has ample opportunities to master these standards.  Our Eureka Math program is based on the EngageNY Modules and is ranked among the best programs for elementary level mathematics year after year.   

In addition, our district ‘Portrait of a Croton-Harmon Graduate’ goals are evident in our Math Program.  Our math projects and problem solving activities revolve around this portrait and encourage ‘out of the box thinking’ and extensions of the standards.   

Please know that we continually review data to ensure that student strengths and needs are identified so that we are providing the right level of support for your child.   We view your child’s success through a team approach with you.  We welcome your insights on your child’s progress and thank you for supporting these math goals at home.  If you would like to learn more about the general NYS Math Standards or our guiding ‘Profile of a Croton-Harmon Graduate’ information, please follow the links below.  

New York State Next Generation Mathematics Learning Standards (page 7 and 8 in particular) 

http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/programs/curriculum-instruction/

nys-next-generation-mathematics-p-12-standards.pdf 

Profile of a Croton-Harmon Graduate 

https://www.chufsd.org/cms/lib/NY01913608/Centricity/shared/district/

web%20docs/Profile%20of%20a%20CHUFSD%20Graduate.pdf

News from CET PTA

Cold temperatures and snowy conditions in the forecast set the perfect scene for upcoming PARP happenings! Everyone in the family will want to “Pick A Reading Partner” and snuggle up with some good books. Be sure to ask your kids about meeting author Gabrielle Balkan on Thursday, Jan. 24, and find out what they are inspired to read about. Details of the annual reading competition will be coming home next week for tracking minutes between Jan. 28 and Feb. 3– but don’t wait until then to enjoy the pleasures of reading together!

Next week also brings a great chance for the adults to have an evening out, thanks to the efforts of CET teachers. Mrs. Strattner has been leading the charge in planning an amazing Pocketbook BINGO fundraiser, taking place on Friday, Jan. 25, 6-9 pm (CET Multipurpose Room).

For more practical matters, don’t forget to sign up for Session 2 of Lunch Service. Deadline is Jan. 25, Service starts Feb. 4. If you're child is signed up for Session 1, don't worry - that service continues through January 31.

Detailed information on all of the above found at www.CETPTA.com.

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Children's Dental Health Month - February 2019

The 9th District Dental Association is conducting a poster contest for "Children's Dental Health Month 2019". The Contest is open to all students K-12 and entries are to be received on or before Friday, March 8th.  To submit your entry and/or have any questions regarding rules, awards, etc., please write to:

Ninth District Dental Association

364 Elwood Avenue

Hawthrone, NY 10532

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SNOWMAN CONTEST RETURNS!

The Village of Croton is conducting a snowman contest. Have your family build a snowman or snow sculpture, take a 4"x6" photo of it and its builder, and mail it with name, address and phone number on the  back to the Croton Recreation Department by noon on March 8th.

If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation office at 914-271-3006

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NEW YORK CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST

The General Federation of Women's Club (GFWC) is sponsoring a creative writing contest. Entries should be of a short story or poem. To submit your entry and/or have any questions regarding rules, forms, deadlines, etc., please contact:

GFWC-NEW YORK

CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST

Nancy Keoghan

4821 Royal Meadow Drive

Liverpool, NY 13088

315-457-4013

nkeoghan@twcny.rr.com

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

DATES: FEBRUARY 11-15, 2019

Students who reside in Croton and will be 5 years old before December 1, 2019 are eligible to attend kindergarten, If you are in need of a kindergarten registration packet and/or an appointment, please contact:  

Gail Anzovino, Secretary to the Principal 

914-271-5184 ext.3212

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Updating You and Your Child’s Information in the K12 Alerts System 

To be sure we have the most up-to-date information for you and your child, you may access K12 Alerts by either logging on to the CET Homepage where you will find “Parent Portal/K12Alerts” or by accessing the Croton-Harmon School District’s Homepage and clicking on “Parent and Resident Portal/K12Alerts”. Once you log in to the K-12 Alert System, you will be able to make any necessary changes to your or your child’s information.

If you have any questions please contact Denise Cuomo, 914-271-4793, ext. 4200.

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LOST AND FOUND

Please check our “Lost and Found” for your belongings. They miss you and their home! We will be donating items at the end of the month if they are not claimed.