Volume 1, Issue 4

December 2007 Fillmore Connections “Making A Better World One Student At A Time”

Millard Fillmore Elementary 315-497-2670 www.moraviaschool.org

Kindergartners Make Candy Houses!

Mrs. Ranke's Kindergarten class house deep in the woods. We canes, and various other can- Important Upcoming Dates had a wonderful time making thought it would be fun to make dies. They looked and • January 8th—APT Meeting candy houses with their parents a candy house and then eat it! smelled delicious! Thanks to on Friday, December 14th. Ear- Lots of creative houses were all the adults that came in to • January 9th—BOE Meeting lier in the week we read the book made that day out of graham help! We had a great time! • January 11th—Student Council called "Hansel And Gretel," where crackers, marshmallows, M & Skating Party these 2 children found a candy M's, Hershey kisses, candy

• January 11th—End of Marking Period

• January 18th—Report Cards Go Home

• January 21st—Martin Luther King Jr. Day—NO SCHOOL

• January 23rd—BOE Meeting

Inside this issue:

Principal’s Corner 2

FYI—Free Books! 2 Brandan Jaquith shows his candy house.

APT News 3

Holiday Spirit 3

4th Grade Iroquois Projects 4

Christmas Around the World 5

Happenings 6 Page 2 Fillmore Connections

Principal’s Corner

Dear families, of the following information is We are presently preparing repeated elsewhere in this children for the NYS ELA newsletter it bears repeating: Assessment and, of course, Happy Holidays from the Millard Please make sure to listen your support is important. Fillmore Elementary carefully to radio stations and Research has shown that Community! First a “Thank you” TV regarding inclement weather children who are familiar with to Ms. Abbattista, Mr. Little, and and possible school closings. In the meanings of words such as: Ms. Kinney for their hard work the same vein try to limit calling “evaluate, describe, support, with the Chorus, Band, and art the school as the phone traffic summarize, predict, infer” tend complicates the process. to do better on tests. Children Principal Howard Seamans displays this Holiday season. Job well done! Folks enjoyed Please, please, please make should be encouraged to do the fruits of their hard work sure to update emergency their best on these when they were treated to a information, address and assessments – that may mean wonderful performance at the contact information, including diminishing over anxious Senior Luncheon and again at the alternate, plan “B” feelings in some children while the, standing-room-only addresses. Much of the reminding others how important presentation on Concert Night confusion can be avoided if this is. Let’s start telling them (Tuesday the 18 th .) The kids there are clear contingency now that they will do great if sounded great and had a great plans for early dismissals. they continue to work hard, ask time performing. Thank you for questions, and see the whole

your support. thing as a challenging puzzle As stated in a previous (Like a video game.) newsletter be sure your child is

The early dismissal on adequately dressed for outside Thursday, December 13 th went recess – hats, boots, and Have a joyful Holiday! relatively smoothly considering gloves. Children who are not

the many considerations (and adequately dressed will not be hands!) necessary to able to participate in their Howard Seamans successfully and safely see (much needed) outside play. children home. Although some

FREE BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOLERS!

The Imagination Library, county offices by the enrollment founded by date of February 4, 2008. To singer Dolly Parton is donating enroll your child, please send in “all children will books to preschoolers residing their name, birth date and ad- in Cayuga County. Each month, dress to: have a library of the Imagination Library will

60 books...” send an age appropriate book to children (under 5), regardless John Gavras Center of income, living in a county 182 North Street registered with the foundation. The foundation mission is that Auburn, NY 13021 all children will have a library of 60 books by the time he or she (315) 255—2746 enters kindergarten. ENROLLMENT Taken from the Auburn Citizen, Pamphlets on Cayuga County Cayuga’s Preschoolers Will Re- Imagination Library will be avail- ceive Free Books by Diana able at schools, libraries and LaMattina, Staff Writer Volume 1, Issue 4 Page 3

APT News

Happy Holidays! We had a very 2008. We will once again be information will be coming. successful cookie kit sale this providing breakfast for all year. Thanks to all who bought, students in grades 3 – 8 and Come to our next meeting! We donated and/or helped make would love to have some parent meet in the Elementary School Library on the second Tuesday and distribute the kits. volunteers to help serve the HAVE A SAFE breakfast. We start serving at of every month at 7:00 p.m. Keep bringing in the Box Tops. about 7:45 a.m. and end about AND We will announce a new contest 8:15 a.m. so it is quick and it is when we come back from the so rewarding to see the HAPPY HOLIDAY Christmas break. students and wish them luck. Our State ELA tests Look for a family fun night SEASON! th begin the week of January 7 , sometime in February. More

YMCA Before and After School Program

The Auburn YMCA-WEIU offers a safe, affordable quality child and much more. This program quality program for school-aged care during the hours when is NYS licensed and pre- children ages 5-12. We offer a there may be no adult supervi- registration is required. Before and After school pro- sion at home. The program Please contact the Auburn gram in Millard Fillmore Ele- includes games, crafts, home- YMCA for registration informa- mentary School that provides work time, free time, snacks tion, 253-5304.

First Grade Holiday Spirit

First grade has been bustling with holiday First grade families enjoyed a special treat with spirit! Take a walk down the first grade/ the YUMMY candy houses they made too. They kindergarten hallway and you might hear had fun decorating (and nibbling) with their a first grade chorus of "Jingle Bell Rock" family members, school staff, and other stu- coming from Ms. Glover's and Mrs. dents. Sobotka's room... you would be greeted by mini Santa's "hanging around" Mrs.Flick's room... you will feel like you are on the First graders are always busy... learning and magical Polar Express when you walk past having fun! Mrs. Cook's room... and you'll enjoy de- lightful Christmas stories at Mrs. Shields’ room!

In addition to all of this fun, first graders are showing how much we care during this season... we have collected food for our local food pantry and taken up dona- tions for the SPCA! Page 4 Fillmore Connections

The Wheels on the Bus...

Ms. Clancy's Junior Kindergarten In Art class, with Mrs.Kinney, they Here, they are shown with Mrs. students are learning about our painted a HUGE box and made Englemann, one of our school's “they painted a HUGE school buses. They've learned their very own school bus that they bus drivers and a member of box and made their very that song we all know, "The could climb in and sit. They could the safety committee. Wheels on the Bus go Round and even turn the wheels, which they Thank you, Mrs. Englemann, for own school bus...” Round..." and made bus name also painted! Students took turns all you do to help us stay safe! tags. sitting in the driver's seat in the front of the bus.

4th Grade Iroquois Projects

Bernie Lavender & Stephen Nemec Hannah Bennink & Riley Martin Kassia Barrington & Cassondra Miller

Mrs. Johnson’s and Miss Sabin’s 4 th grade class are studying the Iroquois culture as part of the 4 th grade New York State curriculum. As part of that unit the students chose an area to study, do research on, write about and make a replica of. There were longhouses, spears, garden tools, jewelry, food, bows and arrows, corn husk dolls, canoes and Iro- quois villages. The students did a fabulous job, they learned a lot and we had LOTS OF FUN WHILE LEARNING!

Madison Hares-Ryan Hunter Talbot, Ryan Schenck, Travis Swayze Volume 1, Issue 4 Page 5

Christmas Around the World Third Graders Collect As part a social studies unit, Ms. Santa Claus has several other names in for the SPCA Kneer’s third grade class partici- other countries. Did you know that on pated in a project titled, “Christmas New Year’s Eve in Spain, it is customary Around the World.” We wrote letters to eat twelve grapes at midnight, one Third Graders Collect for the SPCA and drew pictures about our holiday for each chime of the clock? Some of Continuing with an annual tradition, traditions and mailed them to other the other countries that we received third graders collected a variety of participating schools around the letters from include, Romania, Austra- items for the SPCA. The winter sea- world. In exchange, we also received lia, United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, and a son is especially hard for the animal numerous letters, cards, and reci- few from other states within our own shelters. We are very pleased that pes from other countries around the country. our students have shown generous world explaining their traditions as support and caring for our furry well. We all learned some really friends. We would also like to thank fascinating things about how other all of the families for helping their cultures celebrate the holiday! child support this There were definitely many similari- caring endeavor as ties with how our class celebrates well! the holidays, but there were also many interesting differences too. The students were quite envious to read that in Spain, kids not only receive gifts from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, but that they also receive gifts from “Three Wise Men” on January 5 th . The class was also very interested in learning that

Elementary Music

The Elementary Music Department Christmas to All) , an up tempo arrange- the Elementary Concert Band with would like to thank everyone who ment of Jingle Bells set to the tune of Hanukkah is Here . Thanks again to all attended our holiday concert on Y.M.C.A. Concert Choir performed the who were able to attend and congratu- December18th. The MCS High immortal Sleigh Ride by Leroy Ander- lations to these wonderful musicians. School Auditorium was filled with son. Stage Band brought warm We certainly hope you are as proud of the sounds of the holidays as the thoughts in from the cold with Carib- them as we are. elementary students demonstrated bean Fever . One Candle , sang by the their musical accomplishments. Beginners’ Chorus, reminded us all of The Select Choir performed the the fondest holiday wishes for peace on ~ MFE Music Department soon-to-be holiday classic, earth. The audience was also intro- J.B.M.C.A. (Jingle Bells, Merry duced to the Klezmer style of music by Page 6 Fillmore Connections

Happenings at Millard Fillmore Elementary Volume 1, Issue 4 Page 7

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING PROCEDURES

In the event that it is necessary to close school because of inclement weather or other emergencies, the following radio and television stations will carry announcements:

WSTM TV 33————SyracuseSyracuse WQNY FM 103.7103.7————IthacaIthaca WSYR TV 99————SyracuseSyracuse WSYR AM 570570————SyracuseSyracuse WTVH5WTVH5————SyracuseSyracuse WSYR FM Y94.5Y94.5————SyracuseSyracuse WKRT AM 920920————CortlandCortland WSYR FM 104.7104.7————SyracuseSyracuse WHCU AM 870870————IthacaIthaca WNTQ FM 93.193.1————SyracuseSyracuse WYXL FM 97.397.3————IthacaIthaca THE WALL 99.3 FMFM————AuburnAuburn WCNY FM 91.391.3————SyracuseSyracuse WHEN AM 620620————SyracuseSyracuse WNYR FM 98.598.5————WaterlooWaterloo WHEN FM 107.9107.9————SyracuseSyracuse WIII FM 99.9 / 100.3100.3————CortlandCortland WNSS AM 12601260————SyracuseSyracuse WTKO AMAM————147014701470————IthacaIthaca

Parents of elementary children are asked to make sure their child’s teacher has instructions (if you have not filled out an application, please use the application on the back of this newsletter) as to what the child should do if a school is closed early and the parent is not at home. Your child’s teacher should have written instructions detailing where your child should be sent, if you have not done this, please do so now. The school phones are extremely busy at these timestimes,, and it may not be possible for you to get through in time. Even if you are normally home, it is a good idea to make arrangements for an emergency situation when you might be away.

During inclement weather, many of you pick up your children at school. Those parents who pick up elementary students should do so in the driveway at the north end of the building.

PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE SCHOOL DRIVEWAYS WHEN BUSES ARE DROPPING OFF OR LOADING STUDENTS.

Students Create Art in the Computer Lab Students in Mrs. Cook’s 1 st grade, 28 th . The students learned a students to explore their natural Mrs. Speck’s 2 nd grade, and Mrs. great deal about raptors. The creativity through technology. Steger’s 2 nd grade created mixed students practiced their com- The students added color and media artwork about the Cornell puter skills by designing art more designs with colored pen- Raptor Program. The Cornell pieces using the computer pro- cils and crayons. Congratula- Raptor Program visited Millard gram Kid Pix. Kid Pix is a multi- tions to all the artists! Fillmore Elementary on November media art studio that allows Millard Fillmore Elementary The mission of the educational community of Moravia is to provide all students with a high level of academic skills and to prepare them for lives of 24 South Main Street vision and consequence in the 21st century. We will provide a positive Moravia, NY 13118 learning environment, challenging each individual to cultivate the highest Phone: 315-497-2670 traits which are distinctly human: reason, creativity, curiosity, and compas- Fax: 315-497-2260 website: www.moraviaschool.org sion. This community is committed to:

Enhancing the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well being of each student.

Providing each student with a solid base of knowledge and the skills needed for further inquiry and participation in a global society. We’re on the web! Preparing each student to confidently address inevitable change. www.moraviaschool.org Teaching the methods of maintaining peaceful and humane relationships with the world's inhabitants.

Fostering responsible, effective and creative communication.

Maintaining a program and environment that draws out the artist, musi- cian, and poet in each student.

The School staff, Board of Education, students, parents and community share the responsibility for this mission.