Our
School News
Links to this month's newsletters are posted below.
•
ASK February Newsletter
• PTA
News
»Attendance
Matters!
ASK students recognized for Perfect Attendance
December Perfect Attendance
ASK wins Get
Active, Get Fit School Challenge
 ASK
was one of five schools in New York State that had the highest
percentage of completed participation in the Get Active, Get Fit
School Challenge. Our winning prize was the Deluxe Activity Kit
which includes: colorful mesh storage bags, 12 playground balls,
soccer balls, volleyballs, basketballs; flying discs, bean bags,
jump ropes, cones, and hoops. Way to go ASK students!!
ASK
participating in Think Breakfast program
 Thanks
to the Fit Kids Committee ASK is participating again this year
in the Think Breakfast campaign. Developed by the NYS Education
Department of Child Nutrition Programs, the free, three-week
program provides schools with a variety of support materials to
educate students about the benefits of eating breakfast. Every
ASK classroom received an interactive CD-ROM featuring an
educational breakfast game and Think Breakfast music video,
classroom posters, take-home materials for parents, motivational
rewards, such as pedometers and bookmarks, and fun, interactive
games to play online or on an iPod.
Parents
can find out more about Think Breakfast program by visiting
their web site:http://thinkbreakfast.com/.
Puppet
People held reinforce 7 Habits themes
 ASK
students recently enjoyed a special assembly presented by The
Puppet People. The Firebird show, which is based on a
traditional Russian Folktale, explores character education
themes such as cooperation, friendship, courage, self-esteem and
responsibility. In addition to being highly entertaining, the
show coincided with our 7 Habits themes of being proactive,
beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first,
thinking win-win, seeking first to understand then to be
understood, synergizing and sharpening the saw.
Hands-on
activities create a love for learning
ASK Kindergartner teachers are using different types of
activities to help their students learn and express their
newly-acquired knowledge. Working in small reading groups,
teachers can focus on the young learners' specific needs.
Hands-on activities such as writing in shaving cream, putting
puzzles together, and building words with magnets are used to
reinforce new material and build student confidence. Auditory
activities, such as exposure to literature through listening
centers, are also being used to help students who learn through
music or sound.
ASK
celebrate teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King
 ASK faculty, staff and students celebrated the teachings of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. by practicing Habit 5 of in our 7 Habits
Tree - Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. As
a sign of solidarity, everyone in the ASK community was asked to
wear tie dyed items and/or peace signs.
ASK
students are learning to become leaders
ASK's new Character Education program is
helping students develop
their leadership skills.
Based on
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, a popular book by
Stephen Covey, the program integrates leadership lessons in the
classroom at all grades levels.
Click here to learn more about
the program.
Onofry
returning to serve as interim ASK principal
 The
Board of Education has appointed Dr. Craig Onofry to
serve as interim principal of Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School.
The Port Jervis High School graduate and former Port Jervis
teacher and principal held this position last year after
retiring as superintendent of the Dover Union Free School
District in Dutchess County. He will return on Feb. 6 to lead
the school for the remainder of the year. Until then, Director
of Pupil Personnel Services Ruth Zuclich will continue to serve
as acting principal.
MORE
 First
graders learn about
Hanukkah traditions
Students in Amy Bavoso’s first grade class enjoyed learning how
to play the dreidel game as part of their unit of study on
Hanukkah.
Students Honored for Outstanding
Creative Works
PTA participates in national Reflections Program
 A
special breakfast was held at ASK to the students who
participated in the 2011-2012 PTA Reflections program. This
year, over 180 students submitted creative works inspired by the
national program theme, “Diversity Means…”
The National PTA Reflections Program is designed to enhance
quality arts education for students in preschool through grade
12, encouraging them to create works of art. At the local level,
ASK students entered works in the areas of visual arts and
photography. The entries were judged “blindly” by local artists
and photographers. Each participate received a certificate at
the breakfast. The winners of each grade-level division received
ribbons. Their entries advanced to the regional competition in
Goshen. Regional winners will have the opportunity to compete at
the state and national levels. The winning pieces of art will be
displayed at Upfront Gallery in Port Jervis.
Congratulations to the following local winners:
Visual Arts: Grades Kindergarten-2, Layla Shihada; Grades
3-5, Liam Tomasi; Grade 6, Matthew Petrides.
Photography: Grades Kindergarten-2, Michael Amato, Grades
3-5 Jackson Hoovler
ASK's Good
Deeds Stack Up
 ASK's
annual Canned Food Drive collected
over 1,000 items. All of the food was
donated to the local Salvation Army.
Special thanks to faculty members Amanda Hess, Stephanie Murphy
and Eric Hartmann
for organizing the collection.
Fit Kids
Committee hosts Family Night
The Fit Kids Committee teamed up with ASK's PTA to host a family
night at our school. Second grade teacher, and newly-certified
yoga instructor, Megan Kolvenbach led a gym full of students,
staff, and families in basic stretches and discussions/taste
tests about healthy food choices.
Author study
helps fifth graders branch out
 Students
in Stephanie Murphy and Amanda Hess' class recently learned
about land biomes. As a culminating project they created a "leaf
man" based on the book, Leaf Man, written by Lois Ehlert.
Students then wrote a story about their leaf man's adventure to
one of the biomes. The students had a wonderful time at their
authors' celebration, sharing their creations.
First Quarter
Honor Roll
Congratulations to all of
the students in grades 4 to 6 who qualified for the
First Marking Period Honor Roll.
ASK student
give thanks
 ASK
students learned about the
true meaning of Thanksgiving through numerous mediums - art,
poetry, music, books, and technology. "We give thanks" was the
theme and song sung for the annual Kindergarten Thanksgiving
Feast. Kindergarteners went around the table and shared what
they were truly thankful for this thanksgiving.
»ASK
students thank veterans for their service
 ASK proudly
saluted our military heroes by having veteran Fabrizzio Morejon
speak to our students about his experiences in the Marine Corps
and providing basic knowledge about the other branches of the
military. Morejon, as a way of honoring his fellow servicemen,
asked ASK students to thank veterans throughout the year. One
way that the students are showing their gratitude is by making
cards for Morejon to personally deliver to a local
veterans hospital.
Third graders
take virtual field trip to Buffalo
Third graders in Linda Molé and Scott Reichert’s library class
recently took a virtual trip to Buffalo, using the district's
video conferencing technology. The technology enable the ASK
students to interact with students their age in Buffalo. Both
classes designed a monster, documented the directions for
creating it and emailed the information to each other. Each
group used the direction to draw the other school's monster.
Then, we “met" to exchang and discuss the results.
Halloween
parade was fun for all!
 Storybook
princesses, lady bugs and a few feisty ninjas topped the
list of characters at this year's Halloween parade.
PARADE PHOTOS
Students in the upper grades enjoyed watching parade...All
grades enjoyed Halloween parties in their classrooms.
A video of the parade is now airing daily on Ch. 20 at noon.
ASK kicks off positive habits
program
 
ASK faculty and staff are
learning to "synergize," be more proactive and always think
"win-win" -- and they are ready to pass those lessons on to
students.
The traits are part of a program called "The Leader in Me," a
new framework for teaching leadership and personal improvement
that's being implemented at the school this year. Based on
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, a popular book by
Stephen Covey, the program integrates leadership lessons in the
classroom at all grades levels.
 Everyone
is excited about creating a solid foundation in which future
leaders within the Port Jervis community can flourish. The
traits are illustrated on the school's 7 Habits bulletin board
that is proudly displayed at our school entrance. (Pictured
above)
One of the leadership
initiatives pairs sixth graders in Catherine Intranuovo's class
with buddies in Teresa Fontana's Kindergarten class. The goal is
to create opportunities for leaders to emerge.
Kindergarten
students apply what they learn, do good deed
 Sue
McDonald's Kindergarten class wrote a book for Nick Moscatiello,
a PJHS Class of 2008 graduate, who is in Kessler Rehabilitation
Center recovering from injuries sustained in an accident that
occurred this summer. The students were applying what they
learned from The 7 Habits of Happy Kids, Be Proactive!
Click here to visit our
school's new 7 Habits page where we will be posting pictures
and stories throughout the school year about this special
program. Parents can get
involved too...The
Leader in Me web site provides students with fun and
engaging interactive activities that reinforce the 7 Habits
principle. Your child can do the online activities at home to
develop positive habits and grow his or her abilities - and
confidence to become a leader!
»Mr.
Wentworth participates in parachute play
 Assistant
Principal Matthew Wentworth is having fun with Kindergarteners
during parachute play.
Wentworth is one of our school's two assistant
principals. He joined the Port Jervis School District this
fall after serving as a teacher and
administration in the Middletown School District.
»Food
and Phonics: A Recipe for Success
Students in
Theresa Fontana's and Dawn Buzzelli's Kindergarden classes are
learning their letters, sounds and other reading strategies
while cooking and eating their way to academic success.
»Learning
more about the March of Dimes
 Students
in Eileen Holub's first grade class enjoyed a pizza party after
participating activities designed to raise awareness for the
March of Dimes.
Click here to visit the March
of Dimes web site.
»Huguenot
Fire Department provides safety tips
 ASK
students learned valuable lessons during Fire Prevention Week
from the Huguenot Fire Department. The firefighters spent two
days at our school interacting with students and teaching them
life-saving lessons on fire safety. They are provided safety
tips and demonstrated their fire fighting gear during assemblies
and classroom visits.
 The
first grade classes were treated to a special tour of the fire
department. The National Fire Protection Association gave this
year’s Fire Prevention Week the theme “Protect your Family from
Fire.” This year’s campaign emphasizes the importance of a home
escape plan and what families can do to prevent home fires. More
information is available on the the
Fire Prevention Week web site.
»Sixth
graders create amazing 3-D cell models
  Sixth
graders used their creativity to build 3-dimensional cells.
Using materials that included yarn, buttons, nuts, batteries and
even an egg, the students worked very hard to create the cell
of their choice. The project was the culminating activity in
their study of plant and animals cells, and the functions of
their organelles.
»We have
over 800 fans...
Help us reach 900!
Follow Port Schools on Facebook
 Port
Jervis has its own Facebook page. Everyone who becomes a
“fan” of the page will receive timely news about school
programs, student accomplishments, upcoming events, and
more. It’s easy to become a fan! Already on Facebook? Simply
click the Facebook icon on this page and “Sign up.” Not on
Facebook, but want to join? Go to
www.Facebook.com and create
your account. Then, visit the PJ Facebook page and become a
fan. Spread the word!
»When school's out, don't be left out in
the cold
 Want to be one of the first to know
about school closings and delays? Parents
can sign up to receive
SNN
(School News Notifier) text messages and/or email alerts
about early dismissals, inclement weather delays, and other
school emergencies. Other sources of this information are this
Web site and the local radio and television stations
listed on the
Emergency Closing Page.
Click here
to sign-up for School News
Notifier
»Have
a plan
for early dismissals/closings
Announcements:
During the school year, early dismissals &
school closings are reported on this web site, and on local radio and television
stations.
E-mail
alerts:
Parents can sign-up to have the school
district send alerts to their home and/or work email addresses.
Make arrangements for after-school care
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