RH Highlights March 2018

Rolling Hills Primary School Rolling Hills Highlights March 2018 Vol. 15 Issue 4

Principal’s Message: Dear Rolling Hills Family, During the winter months, our students enjoy the PTA After School Workshops and the special building and classroom activities to celebrate the 100th Day and Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Our Arts in Education presentations continue to enhance the curriculum with visits from theater groups and artists. Recent programs include Star Lab, Bodacious Books and Click, Clack, Moo. Our students are engaged in exciting activities and lessons in all our classrooms, our computer and science labs as well as in our art room, gym, music room and library.

All the students and their parents who attended the PTA Dance at Rolling Hills on February 16 enjoyed this very special family event. Our annual Family Fitness Night organized by the PTA and our PE teacher, Mr. Seifert, was a wonderful opportunity for our students to gather at Rolling Hills to stretch and exercise with their families.

The success of our instructional program is truly due to the collaborative efforts of the members of our Rolling Hills staff and our families. Each member of our dedicated staff is actively involved in creating a comprehensive program to promote both academic and social and emotional learning for each student. We are also fortunate that the members of the PTA and parent volunteers graciously share their time and talents to plan and support wonderful programs that benefit all our students.

Please continue to access Backpack News for important District and building information. We also encourage you to view the Commack Courier on the District website. http://www.commack.k12.ny.us/CommackCourier/courier archive.asp We look forward to welcoming you to our Parent/Teacher conferences and upcoming building and PTA events.

With warm regards, Janet Studley Janet Studley Principal

February has come and gone and we were bursting with love! We created special cards and letters for the soldiers serving overseas and those recuperating at Walter Reed Hospital. They enjoyed the sweet notes as well as the sweet treats that we sent for Valentine’s Day. We enjoyed making projects for our own valentines and the 100th Day of School. There were so many fun activities involved in these celebrations. Learning to count to 100 and to skip count by twos, fives and tens was a lot of fun! It was interesting to hear what our students would buy with $100.

March is upon us and will be just as exciting! During March, we will explore the importance of good nutrition and keeping our bodies healthy. The children will also participate in activities that will enhance disabilities awareness. Learning about our differences helps us to be better friends.

During March, we will anxiously await the arrival of spring and hope for some beautiful weather!

Speaking of weather, the K students are in the midst of studying weather in their current Science Unit. Let’s hope we don’t have any more snow!! We want to see the tulips and daffodils bloom that we planted in the RH courtyard!

There are so many wonderful topics to explore in February and March, and the first graders have been working hard! We have learned about how to stay healthy through healthy heart, good nutrition, and dental health activities. We have also explored biographies by learning more about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

During reading and writing lessons, we have been focusing on non-fiction books. We have discussed the purposes for reading non-fiction as well as the features of a non-fiction book. We are excited about all of the wonderful facts that we have learned and shared with our classmates. We have also been writing “How To” and “All About” books which we have enjoyed writing, editing, and sharing.

In math, we have continued to improve our computation skills, number sense and problem solving skills. Calendar skills, graphing skills, problem solving and math vocabulary are also part of our class’ mathematical explorations.

The 100th day of school gave us an opportunity to support our understanding of numbers to 100 through reading, writing and hands-on mathematical activities.

In Social Studies, we are learning about concepts of economics such as needs and wants, saving and spending money and different types of jobs.

In Science, we have explored matter and energy, as well as natural patterns and cycles. We are

currently exploring a variety of animal groups and learning about their characteristics. We are looking forward to our field trip to the Vanderbilt Museum to enhance our study of animals.

Second graders have been hard at work. We’ve grown so much since the beginning of school and we’re looking forward to the upcoming months.

We finished our non-fiction reading and writing unit. We are experts at gathering information and writing research papers. We have moved on to our next unit; Fairy Tales, Folktales, and Fables and are excited to discover the humor, magic, and adventure found in this genre.

In science, we are learning about the living environment. We are studying the characteristics of animals and learning how animals are able to adapt to their environment based on their special features. Our next unit of study is plant life.

We were so lucky to have StarLab come to Rolling Hills to help us learn about astronomy. It was really out of this world!

Our geography unit in social studies was very interesting. We learned about the continents and oceans. We also learned about maps and different landforms. It’s so fascinating to compare where we live to other places around the world.

As you can see, we’ve been quite busy and our love of learning grows each day!

Music

March is Music in Our Schools Month!

March is Music in Our School Month, but every month is music month for Rolling Hills. All classes are currently working on their concert music for our Spring Festivals. We hope that you can join us for the First and Second Grade concerts on March 14, and the Kindergarten Concert on March 21.

The concerts are sure to impress as they are filled with upbeat songs combined with American Sign Language and movement.

In addition to working on our Spring Festival selections, students in each grade level are studying Sergi Prokoviev’s “Peter and The Wolf”. All of the children are learning about the musical themes for this piece. They are able to recognize the violin as Peter’s theme as well as several other instruments. The conclusion of this lesson is when the children act out “Peter and the Wolf” in the music room. Be sure to look for their pictures in the Commack Courier!!!

On a personal note, I would just like to thank all of you for allowing me to work with your children.

They really are a bright and happy part to my days! I love what I do, and I am so grateful to share my love of music with your children.

Anxiety in Children Dr. Lori Gary: adapted from: http://www.worrywisekids.org/node/70 What is Normal Anxiety?

Even in the best of situations, all children experience some anxiety in the form of worry, apprehension, dread, fear or distress. Occasional nervousness and fleeting anxieties occur when a child is first faced with an unfamiliar or especially stressful situation. It can be an important protection or signal for caution in certain situations. In fact, there are specific expected fears that accompany each stage of child development.

Anxiety: Normal and Necessary From toddlers to teens, life's challenges may be met with a temporary retreat from the situation, a greater reliance on parents for reassurance, a reluctance to take chances, and a wavering confidence.

Typically, these concerns will resolve when the child learns to master the situation or the situation changes. Incorporating their newfound abilities, whether it is mastering a new school, the neighborhood pool, taking tests, encountering dogs, kids move on from their fears and have no lasting ill-effects. Parents can facilitate a child's successful adjustment to a new challenge by: (1) being accepting of the child's concerns, (2) listening to the child's perceptions, and gently correcting misinformation, and (3) patiently encouraging a child to approach a feared situation one-step at a time until it is becomes familiar and manageable.

Typical Childhood Fears Infancy In response to a growing ability to differentiate familiar faces (parents) from unfamiliar, stranger anxiety (clinging and crying when a stranger approaches) develops around 7-9 months and typically resolves by end of first year.

Early Childhood As a healthy attachment to parents grows; separation anxiety (crying, sadness, fear of desertion upon separation) emerges around one year and improves over the next 3 years, resolving in most children by the end of kindergarten. As children's worlds expand, they may fear new and unfamiliar situations, and real and imagined dangers from big dogs, to spiders, to monsters. Children from age 3-6 are trying to master what is real and what is not, and until this is resolved, they may have difficulty with costumed characters, ghosts, and supernatural beings. While trying to master fears of what could be they may struggle with the dark, the basement, closets, and under the bed. As a child learns how to manage and put aside these fears, their ability to sleep alone will be secured.

School Aged Children Each year, with access to new information, children begin to fear real world dangers-fire drills, burglars, storms, or illness, etc. With experience, they learn that these risks can exist as remote, rather than imminent dangers. In middle school, the growing importance of social status leads to social comparisons and worries about social acceptance. Concerns about academic and athletic performance, and social group identification are normal. Learning about various physical and mental health diseases in school may lead to some temporary concerns about risk and safety. Teenagers continue to be focused on social acceptance, but with a greater concern for finding a group that reflects their chosen identity. Concerns about the larger world, moral issues and their future successes are common.

When to be Concerned Anxiety is considered a disorder not based on what a child is worrying about, but rather how that worry is impacting a child's functioning. The content may be "normal" but help is needed when a child is experiencing too much worry or suffering immensely over what may appear to be insignificant situations, when worry and avoidance become a child's automatic response in many situations, when they feel constantly keyed up, or when coaxing or reassurance are ineffective in moving them through. For these children anxiety is not protecting them, but rather preventing them from fully participating in typical activities of daily life-school, friendships, academic performance.

“Problem Anxieties” Unremitting anxiety lasting for weeks or months at a time can cause physical distress in the form of headaches, stomachaches, nausea, vomiting and sleeplessness, Difficulty sleeping, reluctance to go to school or elsewhere outside of the child's comfort zone, crying jags, tantrums and clinginess are common. Anxiety can also interfere with a child's concentration and decision-making. An anxious child's thinking is typically unrealistic, catastrophic and pessimistic. They may seek excessive reassurance and yet the benefit of that reassurance is fleeting. Irritability and anger can also be red flags for anxiety when a child becomes frustrated by the stress of worry, or worn down from sleep deprivation. Please always feel free to contact your child’s teacher or school mental health staff regarding any questions or concerns you may have.

Home School Connection Family Reading Suggestions for parents to keep in mind when reading to children:    

Preview the book by reading it to yourself ahead of time. Such advance reading allows you to spot material you may wish to shorten, eliminate or elaborate.

Read slowly enough to allow your children to build mental pictures of what they just heard you read.

Lead by example. Make sure your children see you reading for pleasure. Share your enthusiasm for whatever you are reading.

Arrange for time for your children to read by themselves, even if “reading” means turning pages and looking at pictures.

Adapted from The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease

Weather Procedures and Information Early Dismissal – Early closing procedures will be put into effect when it appears to be the safest way to get students home.

The Superintendent of Schools makes this decision usually by noon. Each student will go to the home that you indicated on the Early Dismissal Card. Please contact your child’s teacher immediately if there is a change in the information you provided at the beginning of the school year.

Delayed Opening – A delayed opening procedure will be put into effect when it appears that school can open safely one or two hours later than the regularly scheduled time. Please note that on a day that we delay our opening, the lunch program and the dismissal time follow the usual schedule.

School Closings – School closings or delayed openings will be posted on the Commack Website, http://www.commack.k12.ny.us. The District will endeavor to place an automated telephone call to each household with school aged children but cannot guarantee that all households will be reached.

Please remind your children to wear their warm hats and gloves or mittens to school. We enjoy outdoor recreation as the weather allows.

Late Arrival and Early Departures Late arrivals and early departures compromise your child’s instructional time, and consequently disrupt classroom routines. Please schedule appointments after 3:30 p.m. For unavoidable emergencies, please send a note to your child’s teacher to facilitate a safe, organized dismissal. Please remember, according to District policy, all early departures will be recorded for students who are picked up before 3:15 p.m.

School Bus Safety

During our first two bus drills, we reviewed safety guidelines with our students. Please review the following bus safety rules with your child: Arrive at the bus stop a few minutes before schedule.

Keep arms and head inside the bus.

Wait at the curb until the bus comes to a complete stop before boarding.

Sit in the bus seat and refrain from shouting and making loud noises to assure that the bus driver is able to drive the bus safely.

When exiting the bus, move directly to the curb.

No eating or drinking is permitted on the bus. .

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Lost and Found

If your child has misplaced an article of clothing, please stop by the Main Office to check the Lost and Found Box.

To Your Good Health

Teach your children wellness skills: 

Set a good example. Take stairs instead of elevators and reach for fruits at snack time.

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Guide children to participate in a variety of physical activities. In addition to playing sports, take a nature hike or walk through a local park.

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Set limits for “screen” activities. Look for video games that include some physical activity.

Adapted from the “Top Health Newsletter”

A heartfelt thank you to: Our Arts-in-Education committee for planning and supporting wonderful programs including, the CHS Students Sign Language presentation, Bodacious Books, Star Lab and Click, Clack, Moo. Our Birthday Bulletin Board Committee for posting our birthday information in such a creative manner.

Our Box Tops Committee for monitoring our box tops donations and creating a beautiful bulletin board.

Students Attending Private School If your child will be attending private school for the 2018-2019 school year, you must apply for transportation no later than April 1, 2018.

Applications are available through the Transportation Office at the Hubbs Administration Center (912-2020) or on the Commack website: www.commack.k12.ny.us/DO/forms/transportation.pdf All applications must be postmarked by April 1, 2018. ****************** Rolling Hills Primary School Mission Statement

We are dedicated to providing a nurturing school environment that fosters respect, compassion and tolerance. It is our mission to guide our students to develop a positive self-image and become life-long learners who make meaningful contributions to their community.

School-Based Management Team Members 2017 – 2018 Louis Cardinale Lori Gary Jodie Hawkins Nancy Lopes Jen Neri Laurie O’Grady Jill Piazza Jane Roman Jenn Ryan Janet Studley

Support Staff Teacher Representative Parent Representative Teacher Representative Teacher Representative Parent Representative Parent Representative Teacher Representative Teacher Representative Principal

Upcoming SBMT Meeting Dates 2018

April 10, May 8, June 5

Looking Ahead 4/9 4/10

4/11 4/12 4/16 4/18 4/24 4/25 4/26 4/27

SEPTA Support Group 10:00am RH Book Fair 4/10-4/13 8:30am RH SBMT meeting in Conference Room 4:00pm Teacher of the Year ceremony at CHS Little Theater 7:30pm Rolling Hills PTA Meeting 9:30am Gathering Wear your RH spirit wear!

3:30pm After School Workshops (last day) 10:00-11:30am Field Trip to Gurwin – Gallagher/Krompier BOE Meeting and Budget Adoption at Hubbs SEPTA Meeting at NR 7:00pm 10:00-11:30am Field Trip to Gurwin – Rosen/Ryan Second Grade – Cognitive Ability Test Arts in Education – LICAS Tropical Rainforest - Grade 1 9:30am Gathering Wear your RH spirit wear Second Grade – Cognitive Ability Test Second Grade – Cognitive Ability Test Arts in Education – LICAS Go Green - Grade K