A Note from the Principal

MCDONALD SCHOOL NEWSLETTER February 2014

A Note from the Principal Kindergarten Registration I want to acknowledge all the hard work the staff has been doing The springtime will be here before we know it, here at McDonald Elementary which brings the excitement of new students entering School. The teachers and aides school for the fall. If you have a little one that will have managed to find a balance between the hard be 5 years of age either on or before the last day of work of helping all students reach the standards and August then they are ready for Kindergarten. the enjoyment of unique projects (such as 2nd grade Kindergarten registration is scheduled for robots), trips and special times within the classroom. Wednesday, March 5th beginning at 6:00PM in the They have created time for writing workshop, Cafeteria. You must bring the following items in math centers, guided reading (that is small group order to register your child: reading and literacy centers), computer lab, inquiry-  The child’s birth certificate (original & a copy) based science lessons, basic facts tests and individual  The child’s immunizations (copy) tutoring.  The child’s social security card, if available They’ve also created time for field trips, after (copy) school clubs, Character Counts, Student of the  And (4) proofs of residency for Month, special assemblies, etc., etc., etc. What a yourself. Examples are: lease, bank wonderful and exciting place! statement, telephone bill, electric bill, School Director Recognition driver’s license, etc. Month If you are unable to attend this date to register your child or you have older children that you may January was School Director Recognition Month. need to register you may call the Administration We appreciate our members who volunteer their time Building at 215-441-6000 ext. 11046 between the and talents to better our educational community. hours of 7:30 AM-4:00 PM to arrange an They take the time to attend events and work to appointment to register your child(ren) for the support our students and staff throughout the year. upcoming school year. Thank you for everything you do! Celebration Books PA School Breakfast Challenge Our collection continues to grow Pennsylvania Governor, Tom through participation in our Corbett, and his wife are co- Celebration Book program. Many chairing an initiative to increase books were dedicated in December awareness regarding the importance of a healthy for our “A Book Is A Present” campaign. The breakfast, daily. Schools across the students at McDonald thank you for the opportunity Commonwealth are invited to participate in a challenge to increase school breakfast consumption you have afforded them to enjoy good books. How by 30% or more. about celebrating that special someone’s birthday Please visit the website for more information with a book dedicated in their name. Please consider regarding the benefits of breakfast and for adding a book to our library collection through this information regarding the state-wide challenge: wonderful program. Call Mrs. Wolf at 215-441-6157 http:// www.hungercoalition.org/breakfast. or email at [email protected]. We appreciate all the hard work of the students Outdoor Recess and teachers. A special thank you to Mr. Stremme for moderating, Mrs. Tangir and Mrs. Mahan for We are asking all parents to please remember to judging and Mr. Bellinger for judging and have their child dressed properly to go outside during coordinating this competition! recess. Weather permitting; we will be taking the children outside for recess, so it is important for all Volunteer students to have a coat, hat, mittens, etc. We thank Please think about becoming a you in advance for your cooperation. parent volunteer at McDonald by helping in the library (call Mrs. Wolf, H&S Fundraiser our librarian), tutoring (call Mrs. The fall fundraiser raised just under $10,000. Stackhouse, our Reading Specialist), With the profits the school can purchase lots of or becoming a Room Parent or chaperone for a class 'extras' for the students like field trips and assembly trip. Home and School is always looking for parents programs. Every class participated in the Pig Race to help out with various committees. on Tuesday, December 17, 2013. Library Volunteers Needed The winner of the K-2 Pig Race was Ms. Do you like to be involved in your child’s Schumann’s class and the winner of Grs. 3-5 was Mr. school? Do you like fun? Edney. They received a $25 gift certificate to spend The McDonald Library is the place for you! on educational items for their classrooms. Library volunteers not only have fun, they play an important role in keeping our library running Even though all the pigs were decorated very smoothly. Opportunities for volunteers are available well, we did have to select the best. The winner of during the morning sessions and the afternoon the Pig Beauty Contest was Pablo Pigasso from Ms. sessions. We will train you. Duties include checking Stanfield’s class and Pignic Basket from Ms. White’s books in and out, putting books back on the shelf, class. They won a $25 gift certificate to spend on mending books, helping students, and doing other educational items for their classrooms. tasks as they come up. Please contact our volunteer Thank you to the H&S for providing the pigs and library coordinator Mrs. Silberman at the gift certificates. Everyone had a great time! [email protected], librarians Mrs. Wolf [email protected] or Mrs. Brown Geography Bee [email protected] if interested in serving as a McDonald held their school Geography Bee on library volunteer. Wednesday, January 15, 2014. The following students represented their classes at the Read Across America Bee: Grade 4: Mrs. Sweeney – Zachary Our Dr. Seuss Read Across America Day rd Peters and Amber McQuaid, Mrs. celebration will take place on Monday, March 3 . In Powers – Kya Walsh and Lucian fact, we will be celebrating Dr. Seuss all week so Mihalics, Mrs. Stanfield – Matthew please join us in these fun activities: McDevitt and Sofia Siravo, Mrs. Lee – Abigail Monday, March 3- Dr. Seuss Hat Day- wear your Silberman and Dylan Pierson, Mrs. Phillips – Vicki Dr. Seuss hat today in honor of Dr. Seuss and Read Cannon and Julianna Gardner, and Mr. Fisher: JT Across America Day. Farkas and Dakota Gallagher. Tuesday, March 4 – Stripe Day- wear your favorite Grade 5: Mrs. Kline – Kaylie Schorn and Ayla stripes to school. The Cat in the Hat loves red and Kowalski, Mr. Piscano – Jake Cammarota and Israel white stripes. Alameda, Mrs. Masey – Morgan Lucero and Colin Wednesday, March 5 - Make today a WACKY Saladyga, Mr. Chester – Kayla McEachern and WEDNESDAY by wearing clothes that clash. Mix Michael Christian, and Ms. White – Rosemary Green patterns and colors and put together your wackiest and Nick Iadonisi. combination of clothing! The school champion was Jake Cammarota, Thursday, March 6 – Green Day- wear something and the runner-up was Kaylie Schorn. The H&S green (in honor of Green Eggs and Ham) graciously provided both students with a new Kindle. Friday, March 7 - Wear your CRAZY SOCKS-be Jake will take a written test to see if he will qualify like the fox and wear your socks (in honor of The for the state finals. Foot Book and Fox in Socks) Many thanks to our Home & School Association for providing bookmarks. We would also like to thank Ms. Brown and Ms. Wolf for coordinating this April 29-30: PSSA Science (Gr. 4) fun day! Inclement Weather Honors Chorus, Band & Please have a “BAD WEATHER” plan. Orchestra Children become anxious if they think they are going The following 5th grade students have been home to an empty house. Prepare your children in selected to participate in Honors Chorus: Lindsey the event you cannot be reached or are not at home Alford, Noelle Amato, Rhiannon Budnick, Michael when bad weather strikes and school is dismissed. Christian, Jasmine Foster, Rosemary Green, Michelle They should know what to do and where to go in Guzman Martinez, Caitlyn Koelble, Emma Lange, order to be safe until you arrive. Nathaniel London, Morgan Lucero, Trey Mannon, Kayla McEachern, Paola Medina, Shannon Mertz, The phone numbers on file in the office (the gold Rachel Morris, Brian Ortiz, Jessica Podilchuk, Jose Student Information Sheet) become very important Reyes, Faith Robinson, Katherine Sher, Fijona on these days. Please be sure to update your phone Shurdhiqi, Madisyn Smith, Hanna Solecki, Ashley numbers (home, work, cell phones and pagers) so Solomon, Davan Thomas, Carlton Walters, Sindy that we can make this difficult time, a little less Yanes and Brianna Zysk. The following 4th grade students have been stressful for your children. selected to participate in Honors Chorus: Courtney Centennial School District's Bragen, Victoria Cannon, Isabella DeMito, Brianna emergency closing number is 753. Glassey, Darby Kozin, Melissa McDevitt, Amber Closings are broadcast on local TV and radio McQuaid, Leah Moore, Gregory Pope, Alleyna stations, e-Alerts and our website. Rusin, Abigail Silberman, Sofia Siravo and Sunnova Stringer. Notes from the School Nurse th th The following 4 and 5 grade students have Hello Parents and Guardians, February is been selected to participate in Honors Orchestra: National Dental Health Month! Emily Auslander, David DaSilva, Fernando Lifelong habits begin at home. Make dental health Delgado, Morgan Farre, Gabriella Fenessy, Michelle part of your daily routine and share these reminders Guzman Martinez, Alivia Jenkins, Nathaniel London, with your whole family: Katherine Sher, and Davan Thomas.  Brush your teeth at least twice a day The following 5th grade students were selected  Floss every day for Honors Band: Aden Anderson, Jake Cammarota, Michael Christian, Natalie Chubb, Rosemary Green,  Limit snacks, especially sticky ones. Matthew Huck, Nick Iadonisi, Abigail Lehman,  Drink plenty of water Ethan Lynch, Trey Mannon, Max Puntel, Sebastian  Visit a dentist regularly for a routine check- Quintero, Leighland Rodrigo, Jenna Sparkevicious, up and cleaning and Will Wagner. All students in Grade 3 should also have an Thank you to Ms. Herman, Ms. Murr, Ms. updated Report of a Dental Health Exam on file. We Divine-McCaffrey and Mr. Regosch and for working will be sending home with Grade 2 students dental with the students to prepare them for the Fine Arts exam forms for next year. If you take your second Festival. Thank you to the parents for allowing the grade child to the dentist at any time during the year children to attend the extra practices. of 2014 it “counts” as a third grade dental. Congratulations to these students and we look Please remember to update your numbers with forward to hearing them perform in May. the front office and/or the Nurse’s Office. We appreciate all of your help and support! PSSA Save the Dates Please call or email us for any concerns regarding The PSSA is a state-mandated test, which all your child during the school day. Karen Pressler participate in during the designated testing window. ([email protected]) or Elizabeth Fleming We would kindly ask that you do not schedule ([email protected]), School Nurses at 215- vacations or appointments during these testing days. 441-6157 ext. 16025. Thank you! PSSA Testing Dates March 17-24: PSSA Math and Reading (Grs. 3-5) Arrival & Dismissal April 1 - 2: PSSA Writing (Gr. 5) For those arriving or leaving with a vehicle, the Helpful hint: paper and tape work just fine if you drop-off location is at the front of the building at the don’t have Post-it notes! main entrance (red doors.) Please see the arrival and If you have any questions or concerns, please contact dismissal maps on the school website for more one of our Reading Specialists at 215-441-6157 or email them directly. information. Miriam Infanti – Reading/Data Specialist In the AM, please utilize the valet system – with [email protected] 8 vehicles at a time pulling up to the curb before and Rose Miele – Reading Specialist after the crosswalk. We ask that the child(ren) exit [email protected] Sue Stackhouse – Reading Specialist the vehicle on the curb side for safety reasons. [email protected] Please remember in the morning to “Kiss and Go” so we can keep the arrival line moving quickly. Wednesday Express We are having parents stop and get out of the vehicle Every child will receive a large white envelope. to unbuckle students from seatbelts and to help them The envelope will be distributed each Wednesday out of the vehicle. If you wish to do that, please park and will contain informational materials from the in the parking lot and walk your child to the building district, school office and classroom teacher that (this is only allowed in the morning). We appreciate cannot be placed in the eFolder. your help and cooperation with this situation. Parents are requested to sign the outside of the In the PM, please utilize the valet system – with envelope as an indication that they have received and 8 vehicles at a time pulling up to the curb before and read the contents. It is due back to the classroom after the crosswalk. We ask that the child(ren) enter teacher the following day. Where possible, flyers the vehicle on the curb side for safety reasons. We will be distributed to the youngest child in each also ask that parents are respectful to each other as family to save paper. The replacement cost is $1. well. eFolder Thank you for your patience as we continue to improve this process. Most of our school information will be communicated to parents using the eFolder on our Reading Tips school website. Forms that must be signed and returned can be printed out at any time. For the Love of Reading-Summarizing We started the year by sending home paper Summarizing is retelling a story with only the copies with the youngest child in each family and important details. It is an important skill that posting information on the eFolder. On Wednesday, children will use throughout their lifetime. You can Oct. 2nd we went paperless for the rest of the school help your child develop this skill at year. home. To do so, you will need: Post-it All information, with the exception of classroom notes and a book of your child’s choice. Take a few minutes to sit down with your assignments and tests is available on our school child and preview the book. Have your child make website at www.centennialsd.org. Click on the predictions about what the story/chapter will be school link for McDonald. about. Have your child read a section (i.e. a few paragraphs) and “retell” what is happening. Jot down Home & School a few words or sentences or draw a picture of the Joining our active Home and School Association story’s events. By the end of the chapter, your child is another way in which communication between should have approximately one Post-it note per page. teachers and parents is improved. The school folders If you would like to create a bigger challenge, try to record information on one or two notes per chapter. or assignment books which are given to each student Remember to think about the important details! are examples of the ways in which our Home and When the book/chapter is finished, put the notes School provides “extra” things for the children in our in order and retell the story or write a summary using school along with travel stipends for increased class those details. trips, playground equipment, assemblies and other special treats. Home and School officers meet on the first not be able to participate that week of class. This is a Monday of each month at 7:00 PM in the library. safety issue for all students involved. We thank you All members of Home and School are invited to join in advance for your cooperation. us for those meetings to help plan future events and to hear about the school and District news. eAlerts School Counselor Information The Centennial School District is pleased to provide an enhanced Character Counts Program capability for communicating district and The pillar of the month is “Responsibility”. building information to parents via email and text •Do what you are supposed to do messages. Previously, people were able to subscribe •Persevere: keep on trying! to eAlert announcement lists at the district and school •Always do your best building levels. You now have the capability to •Use self-control •Be self-disciplined register for these eAlert messages and also receive •Think before you act-consider the notifications when individual website and calendar consequences pages are updated. •Be accountable for your choices To receive these email notifications you simply Please have a discussion with your family about how need to register on the district website. In order to each family member demonstrates responsibility. register, please visit www.centennialsd.org and click Reinforcing the Responsibility Pillar at Home on the Register link on the top right corner of the site. Giving your child chores at home is a great way to help Follow the steps on the page to complete the them develop a sense of responsibility. You can: registration. Once you are logged in, you will be able  Make sure they have the supplies and to access your information to indicate any knowledge of what they need to complete the notifications that you would like to receive. chore.  Schedule chores to match your child’s energy Please keep your password safe as registration level. will provide you access to additional pages on the o If he is busy and tired on school website as well as the ability to receive eAlerts. days, assign weekend chores. EAlerts are automatically generated email or text messages sent when areas of community interest are o Allow your child to pick the chore that they plan to complete. updated on the site. For example, if school is closed because of adverse weather conditions, an eAlert will o Find ways to motivate your child to be automatically generated and sent to interested complete the chore. registered users. . Ex. Positive reinforcement or incentives Character Counts Winners (The Parent Institute, 2013) Congratulations to the following students for Helping your child address peer pressure showing good character in school. We appreciate your efforts and would like to encourage you to keep  Be compassionate and listen when they tell making good choices. Thank you! you about something about their peers. Awarded on December 20: Lency Guzman-  Encourage them to stand up for themselves. Altamirano, Leia Haines, Nicole Irwin, Ricky  Praise your child when they make the right Lorenzon, Joshua Meltzer, Sebastian Quintero choice. Dominick Spadaro, Jack Steilen, Mina Tomlinson,  Show your child you value their opinion. Sindy Yanes Sneakers Awarded on January 10: Hannah Auslander, Please remind the students that they must have Jackson Barlow, Kiarra Go, Michael Hermann, Evelyn Kimbrough, Jaxon Marion, Nicholas Morales, sneakers that are tied properly when they come to Landon Plaza-Velazquez, Logan Sullivan, Tony physical education class each week. Students with Tsokalo boots, dress shoes, any shoes other than sneakers or Awarded on January 17: Emma Castellano, Caden sneakers that are not secured to the foot properly will Chickanosky, Larissa DaSilva, Julie Garro, Gabrielle (Gigi) DeMito, Anthony Masella, Nicholas Rich, Paige Sabara, Kirsten Scott, Abigail Simonson

C.E.F. Info.

The Centennial Education Foundation is a non- profit organization dedicated to providing the best opportunities for our children, which helps to fund grants throughout the district. Our commitment is that all funds go directly to the students. By investing in our children, we enhance the enrichment of our community’s future. If you are interested in making a donation, please contact Bob Schrader at 215-441-6000 ext. 11008. CEF “A Night with NFL Hall of Famer-Ray Didinger” The CEF is proud to sponsor, “A Night with Ray Didinger”. Ray will share his sports expertise and answer questions along with signing copies of his books. The event will take place on Tuesday, March 18th at WTHS from 6:30 PM until 9:00 PM. Ray is an award-winning sportswriter, author, film writer, radio host, TV commentator and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Writer’s Honor Roll.) The ticket price is $20 a person which includes dinner. There will be raffle prizes and silent auction items. Seating is limited, so we recommend purchasing your tickets in advance. If you are interested in joining us for a fun evening, please contact Bob Schrader at 215-441-6000 ext. 11008. Staff News  Congratulations to Mrs. Erin Landy who welcomed a new baby boy to their family, Brayden Michael (7 lbs, 9 oz, 21 in.) on Jan. 6th. JANUARY 2014 STUDENT OF THE MONTH ESTUDIANTES DEL MES DE ENERO 2014 Abigail Kurian - room Kindergarten C1 Caden Chickanosky - Christopher (CJ) room A2 EDK Mazzarella - room C1 Colin Gabor - room A2 Gregory Lindsay - room EDK C2 Makyyah Dunlap - room Paige Leach – room C2 A3 AM Christian Buckreis - Carla Puente - room A3 room C3 AM Lydia Pope - room C3 Brianna Rodriguez - Jasmine Amadeo - room room A3 PM C4 Jessica Selisker - room Javier Solis - room C4 A3 PM Leia Haines - room C5 Jessica Romero-Macedo - Miguel Gonzalez room A4 AM Salamanca - room C5 Rinesa Shurdhiqi - room Savannah Zeaman - A4 AM room C6 Brock Rudy - room A4 Joseph Damanti - room PM C6 Grace Walsh - room A4 PM 3rd Grade Stephanie Ruiz-Yanes - Gianna Burkey - room room A5 AM A21 Brendan Fauty - room Carolina Lopez - room A5 AM A21 Tara Ricco - room A22 1st Grade Jeffrey Hernandez - James Sanchez - room B1 room A22 Danielle Zysk - room B1 Matthew Diaz-Lang - Michael Panno - room B2 room A23 Amaya Gries - room B2 Rylee Lynch - room A23 Naomi Alicea - room B3 Liam Ricker - room A24 Julian Goebbel - room Addie DiPaolo - room B3 A24 Julissa Perez Ortiz - Endy Ascencio Miranda - room B4 room A25 Riley O’Toole - room B4 Kelly Donnelly - room Anna Smirnov - room B6 A25 Carlos Palestino- Hunter Morris - room Aparicio - room B6 A26 Angelyna Pisano - room 2nd Grade A26 4th Grade Dylan Drulis – room B21 Brianna Stewart - room B21 Shaun Hughes - room B22 Jamya Freeman - room B22 Sarah Walker - room B23 Patrick McKinney - room B23 Charley Vargas - room B24 Jacob Becker - room B24 Brian McGuigan - room B25 Kirsten Scott - room B25 Santiago Dominguez Arellano - room B26 Alivia Jenkins - room B26 5th Grade Fernando Delgado - room C21 Kayla Mathes - room C21 Morgan Lucero - room C22 William Wagner - room C22 Megan Trotter - room C23 Collin DiRenzi - room C23 Alan (AJ) Cameron – room C24 Veronica Wheatley – room C24 Makena Ricciardi – room C25 Ethan Lynch – room C25