
OUR SCHOOL NEWS -
May
ASK publishes a monthly newsletter to
keep our families informed of the latest happenings at our
school.
•
May Newsletter -
includes PTA News
District providing fall sports physicals in
May & June
Physicals for
fall sports are being done in school now through the month of
June. All sixth grade students, who want to participate in a
fall sport next year at the Middle School, MUST see their school
nurse for paperwork and to find out if they require a sports
physical by the beginning of the season. For more information,
please call the ASK health office at 858-3100, Ext. 13700 or
13701.
Third Quarter Honor Roll
Congratulations to all of the
students in grades 4 to 6 who qualified for the Third Marking
Period Honor Roll!
Click here to view the Honor
Roll.
ASK students drop everything to read
The entire ASK school community dropped everything and read for
15 minutes the mornings of April 9-11. This event was part of
the national Drop Everything and Read program, which is held
annually to celebrate the birthday of children's author Beverly
Clearly. It is designed to remind folks of all ages to make
reading a priority activity in their lives. Visit the
D.E.A.R. web site to learn
more.
Bus O Named March Bus of the Month
Congratulations to Bus O for being selected as our March Bus of the Month!
As a part of our Doing Things the Right Way! incentive
program, ASK is
honoring a bus with the best and/or most improved behavior each
month. Drivers recognize students for Doing
Things the Right Way. Our school Bus Rules are displayed on all buses.
Elementary Schools celebrate National
Nutrition Month
Fun activities teach healthy eating habits
March was National Nutrition Month
– ASK & HBE celebrated by providing healthy eating
activities during specials in the month of March.
The students learned
about the USDA My Plate campaign in physical education
classes, created "My Plate" artwork during art classes, had
healthy reading materials displayed in the Library, sang healthy
tunes during music and played interactive nutrition games during
computer class.
For more healthy eating tips, please visit the following web
sites:
•
www.ChooseMyPlate.gov
•
www.kidseatright.org
•
www.eatright.org/nutritiontipsheets
Mighty Milers reach half-way point
ASK Mighty Milers
have reached their half-way point by walking a total of 13.1
miles. The students are pictured with physical educational
teacher Nicole Beam, who organized the program at ASK. She
rewarded each of them with a medal for their hard work and
dedication. The Mighty Milers are striving to reach their goal
of 26.2 miles, which is the equivalent to walking a marathon, by
the end of the school year. Let's cheer on these students who
are making healthy lifestyle choices!
Reading Rally kicks off Read Across America
Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School's
third annual Reading Rally was a mega celebration that included
all of the students and staff, the Raider Cheerleaders, Raider
Athletes, a Hollywood celebrity and three very special visitors!
MORE
Read Across America Celebration
For one week every year, students
and staff can be found wearing red and white striped hats – a
sure sign that Dr. Seuss and the Read Across America activities
are in full force. Students at Anna S. Kuhl Elementary
School participated in Read Across America Week to celebrate the
birthday of children’s author and illustrator, Dr. Seuss.
MORE
First graders decorate eggs to welcome spring!
The first grade students in
Heather Tufano, Amy Bavoso, and Melissa Pulsinelli’s classes
enjoyed dying eggs to welcome spring.
All Irish
eyes were smiling on St. Patrick's Day
All of the students in Kristin
Wadeson's class eyes were smiling when they created their Green
Shamrock Shakes as part of their St. Patrick's Day celebration.
Mr. Puopolo's class caught
doing things the right way
Congratulations to all of the students in
Louis Puopolo's class...
The entire class was recently recognized for getting caught
Doing Things the Right Way!!
Kindergarteners spread their wings
ASK Kindergarteners were treated with an interactive visit from
Pat's Pets Educational Animal Program. The program is designed
to educate through entertainment, stimulate the imaginations and
promote the curiosity of the audience by allowing them to
experience first hand the amazing creatures we share the earth
with. The Kindergarteners loved every minute of the program from
when they met their guide Pat Rose to when they got up close
with various kinds of animals from all over the world. The
children's excitement and interest where shown by the smiles on
their faces. Additional information can be found at
www.patspalsllc.com.
ASK students celebrate the
100th Day of School
We're
100 Days Smarter!!
Heather Tufano’s first graders celebrated being “100 Days
Smarter”
by creating festive hats and glasses.
Messy Fun!
Andrea Schmitzs' kindergarten class enjoyed getting messy in
celebration of the 100th day of school.
100th Day
Math Activity
Students in Kathy Little's class enjoyed working on the 100 Grid
- a fun, hands-on math activity.
ASK students win second Radio Disney
Dance Party
We are the champions - again!
Radio
Disney returned to Port Jervis last month to throw another party.
The crew from the nation's top kids’ radio network brought its
high energy road dance show back to Anna S. Kuhl Elementary
School last month to reward students and staff for winning the
Get Active, Get Fit Challenge - for the second year in a
row.
The school won the Radio Disney dance party by having one of the
highest participation rates in the New York State Empire Blue
Cross and Radio Disney Get Active, Get Fit Challenge!
This marks the second year ASK Elementary School was one of the
state’s top competitors.
MORE
Fifth graders design models of frontier homesteads
Students in James Modugno’s fifth
grade guided reading group present a culminating project on
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare. After
completing the book, the students researched and designed their
own projects, which included a 3-dimensional model of the book
setting.
Our fundraiser will help your garden grow!
Sixth graders are selling spring flowers
The ASK sixth grade is holding a Flower
Power sale to raise money for our class trip to New York City.
You can order the flowers online or from any sixth grader now
through Friday, April 5. Every plant is fully guaranteed.
Order onlines:
Click here to place an order on the Flower Power web site.
Online orders will be shipped directly to the customers' homes.
The ASK 6th grade will receive 50 percent of all orders. The
profits will go directly toward our class trip. Thank you for
your support!
No Name Calling Week
Working together to put an end to name calling
ASK students, teachers and staff spent an entire week
participating in educational activities aimed at ending name
calling. National No Name-Calling Week activities included daily
theme days that gave everyone the opportunity to Dress the
Message. Students also participated in fun, hands-on activities.
MORE
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Wall of Kindness:
The 6th grade Student Council,
along with a few members of the Port Jervis High School Friends
of Rachael club, worked together over two days
to build the "Wall of Kindness." The wall consists of over 900
bricks with the names of ASK students. The bricks symbolize
their pledge to be kind to others and to make our school a
kinder place. The students signed the bricks in their classrooms
after reading books about about kindness.
New procedures enhance school security
On January 14, the following new
Drop-off, Pick-up, and Walker procedures went into
effect at ASK. The measures are designed to enhance
school security and make the arrival/dismissal process
more efficient.
•
Morning “Drop-off” – Parents
can continue to
drop off students in the normal drop-off area (near the library entrance). Students
are escorted along the sidewalk to the front of the building
where the rest of the students enter. Staff members are positioned on the sidewalk to guide students along.
•
Afternoon “Pick-up” – Students
are dismissed
to the gym. Parents can go to the first set of gym
doors (east) nearest the playground to pick up students.
Two staff members will be outside to greet you and will
have sign-out sheets available. Parents need to
show photo identification and sign the student out prior
to release. The students will be kept in the gymnasium
until it is verified that they may be released to the
appropriate person.
•
Walkers – Students are dismissed to the gym.
Walkers are released out of the second set of gym
doors (west). Staff members are there to greet
students and check their names prior to them leaving the
building.
2012-13 PTA Reflections Program
Students Honored for Outstanding Creative Works
An awards
presentation was held at the ASK December Art Show to recognize
the students who participated in the 2012-13 PTA Reflections
program.
The national PTA Reflections Program encourages students across
the country to explore their artistic talents. Nationally, the
program promotes arts in education by offering students an
opportunity to create theme-based artwork in areas ranging from
film production and literature to photography and visual arts.
All of the entries at ASK Elementary School were created by
students during their art classes. Participation focused on one
category – visual arts, which is traditionally one of the most
popular categories nationwide. The entries were judged on the
use of materials, artistic expression and the interpretation of
this year’s theme “The Magic of a Moment.”
Congratulations to the following grade level division
winners:
Gr. 1- 2: Layla Shihada, Arianna Merchan-Espada, Jacob Edwards, Alexis
Tufano
Gr. 3-5: Emily Eckerson, Andrew Gillian, Rachel
Fuller, Maria Schlosser
Gr. 6: Kaila Torres, Gwen Boonyan, Kasey Samalot,
Zackary Davis
Sixth graders bring holiday cheer to seniors
ASK sixth graders brightened the
holidays for the seniors at St. Joseph's Place by performing a
mini-concert of festive Christmas carols.
The caroling was part of the senior citizen outreach program
organized by guidance counselor Dawn Jones. Every month, since
the beginning of this school year, Jones takes a
group of approximately 20 students to visit the long-term
care facility at Bon Secours Community Hospital.
The students generally spend close to two hours at the center
interacting with the seniors. They talk, work on arts and crafts
projects, and play games.
MORE
A Cup of Holiday
Cheer Performing Arts
Fundraiser
ASK music students and
staff hosted A Cup of Holiday Cheer fundraiser to raise money for the
ASK Sixth Grade Performing Arts Club. Over 100 people came out
to support the event - and enjoy a fun cabaret-style night of
holiday music and good food.
MORE
First grade classes perform
holiday favorites
ASK families packed into the
cafeteria Dec. 19
to hear the first grade classes perform the songs
of the season. The annual first grade Holiday Concert featured a
selection of seasonal favorites ranging
from The Dreidel Song to Jingle Bells.
Click here to see more concert
photos.
ASK raised $1,010 for Long
Island Dog Shelter

Stars from the former reality TV show Rescue Ink Unleashed came to
ASK Elementary School Dec. 17 to accept a generous donation to
help them rebuild their Long Island animal rescue shelter. Known
for their no-nonsense approach to rescuing animals, the
Rescue Ink members gained national notoriety when their reality
TV show ran on the National Geographic Channel. The
group's animal shelter was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. This
month, ASK raised $1,010 through a coin drive to help rebuild
the shelter.
MORE
Third graders learn about
Hanukkah traditions
After enjoying a Hanukkah feast
of steaming hot latkes with applesauce and sour cream, the
students in Maura Brady-Wilson’s and Mary Grace Carlton’s third
grade class enjoyed singing Hanukkah songs and playing the
dreidel game. Happy Hanukkah to all!
ASK helps victims of Hurricane
Sandy
The sixth grade
Student Council would like to thank everyone for their generous
donations in response to the collection for the victims of
Hurricane Sandy. On Nov. 16, students sorted the items donated -
that included everything from clothing to cleaning supplies -
and packed them in teacher Thomas Reilly's car. Mr. Reilly
generously offered to drive the collected items to Staten
Island, where they were given to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to
Towers Foundation. To learn more about this foundation, please
check their website at
tunneltotowers.org.
ASK students collect over
1,700 food items
Students at ASK collected over
1,700 items for our canned food drive. The food was donated to
the local Salvation Army. Fifth grade students collected and
totaled all of the items. Students learned the importance of
giving back to their community and helping those in need.
ASK students are Up
in Arms about bullying
ASK students now have more
"tools" to help stop bullying thanks to Drew and the other
puppets at Up in Arms. The Mid-Hudson Valley based puppet
company presented students with an important anti-bullying
message during the musical assembly Helping Drew. The fun
and engaging program helps students recognize bullying and look
for solutions within themselves.
It also gives the students “real tools” to use everyday to
prevent and protect others from bullying.
Kindergarten
Thanksgiving Feast
Each
year, Kindergarteners at ASK get to participate in the tradition
of giving thanks, and this year was no exception. Students from
each of the classrooms gathered in the hallway together and gave
thanks for different things in their lives, while enjoying
healthy snacks with their classmates.
MORE
Save
the elephants
ASK students contribute
art to Cornell fundraiser
Port
Jervis students are doing their part to raise funds and
awareness to save the endangered African forest elephant. Paper
elephants created by the 4th, 5th and 6th grade art classes were
displayed at the Nov. 3 Evening for Elephants fundraiser at
Cornell University.
MORE
ASK unites against bullying
Throughout the
month of October, ASK students, faculty and staff participated
in activities that promoted anti-bullying. Photos of these fun
and educational activities can be viewed in a special
Bully Prevention Month slide show.
Fire Prevention Week
Huguenot firefighters teach fire
safety
ASK students were
treated to a visit by the Huguenot Firefighters during fire
prevention week. The students had the opportunity to meet these
local heroes, see their different trucks, and get up close and
touch some of the tools that the firefighters use to help save
lives everyday.
The firefighters
main message this year was "to have two ways out" of your house
in case of a fire. It is important to have a home fire escape
plan so your family can think fast and get out quickly when the
smoke alarm sounds.
ASK's Walking
School Bus is on the road again
ASK's
Fit Kids Committee organized its second Walking
School Bus. All students in
grades 2-6 who are considered walkers were invited to
participate.
The caravan of students,
parents, staff and community leaders enjoyed a fun walk to
school on October 4. ...It was like carpooling to school
without the car! The Fit Kids Committee held the event -
which has grown in popularity since the first Walking School Bus
hit the streets in May - to encourage students to walk and enjoy
exercise.
MORE
Military
soldiers are true heroes
Port grad teaches students good values
Students in
Theresa Fontanas' Kindergarten learned that you do not need to
be a famous athlete or rock star to be a hero. Port Jervis
alumnus Marine Reserve Staff Sgt. Tyler Hinkley spent the
afternoon helping to teach the children a good work ethic and to
pride in themselves. Hinkley read and acted out stories,
listened and answered questions about his service, and then
rolled up his sleeves to help the class bake monkey bread.
At the end of the
day, one of the students asked if she could give Hinkley a "high
five", and asked when he could come back because "she had so
much fun learning with him." You could tell that Hinkley really
made a lasting impression on the students, by seeing the smiles
that went from ear to ear.
Staff Sgt. Tyler Hinkley is pictured with the class and his
mother ASK Kindergarten aide Karen Hinkley. In honor of Hinkley
and his fellow soldiers, ASK asked all faculty/staff and
students to wear camo to dress like a hero on October 12.
Anti-bullying
Message:
Call Me By My
Name
School
counselor Dawn Jones and social worker Lisa Bongiovi kicked off
Bullying Prevention Month by talking to students about how it
feels to be bullied. On Oct. 1, they visited Theresa Fontanas'
kindergarten class to share a story about a girl, who wished
just to be called by her name. Students were given the
opportunity to discuss different ways people can be bullied and
how they feel because of it. At the end of the activity,
students were asked to look in the mirror, state their name, and
saying why they are special.
ASK
participates in the JAM World Record Event
ASK
participated in the JAM World Record 2012 with national Let's
Move in School on September 27. Everyone at the Port Jervis
elementary school stopped what they were doing at 10 a.m. to
join students at thousands of schools across the country in
physical activity. The goal was to reach 2 million JAMmers and
to set a world fitness record.
MORE
New ASK Parent
Handbook is now online
The
new
ASK Parent Handbook was
developed to provide parents and guardians with a handy guide
for answers to frequently asked questions about school
procedures and policies. A separate student handbook, and a copy
of the District Code of Conduct, will be given to students when
they return to school.
|
We
caught you Doing Things the
Right Way! |

Craig Fisher's
sixth grade class was caught doing things the right way...The
class was rewarded with ice cream from the Riverside Creamery.
This is the first class whose respectful and responsible actions
earned them a special reward through the new We Caught You Doing
Things the Right Way program. Throughout the school year, ASK
administrators will be rewarding students and classes with all
different rewards from pencils and post cards (with the new
school motto) and various other incentives.
Congratulations to Mr. Fisher & his class!!
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