Smith Intermediate Newsletter
December 31, 2019
January 2020 Events

1/02 Classes Resume
1/02 Yearbook Sale Begins
1/02 Boys Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/06 Chess Club 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
1/06 Girls Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/07 Math Club 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
1/07 Boys Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/08 Girls Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/08 AIMS Web Testing
1/09 PTO Meeting 7:00 p.m.
1/09 Student Council Meeting 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
1/09 Boys Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/09 AIMS Web Testing
1/10 AIMS Web Testing
1/13 Chess Club 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
1/13 Girls Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/14 Math Club 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
1/14 Boys Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/15 Girls Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/16 Boys Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/16 Select Orchestra 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
1/17 Yearbook Sale Ends
1/20 NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
1/21 Math Club 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
1/21 Boys Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/22 Girls Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/23 Boys Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/23 Student Council Meeting 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
1/23 Select Orchestra 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
1/27 NO SCHOOL - Staff Work Day
1/28 Math Club 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
1/28 Boys Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/28 Book Fair Browsing Day
1/29 Book Fair Browsing Day
1/29 Girls Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/30 Boys Basketball 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/30 Select Orchestra 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
1/30 Book Fair 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
1/31 P2 Celebration - Morning Program
1/31 Book Fair Final Buying Day
Happy New Year 2020
January is here and with it comes talk of New Year’s resolutions. Sticking with a resolution is easier if there is a specific goal and plan in mind. Some examples are instead of “I will read more”, try “I will read for 20 minutes each night before I go to bed”. Instead of “I will try to arrive at school on time”, try “I will organize my school supplies before I go to bed and get up 10 minutes earlier on school days so that I can arrive on time.”

What will you and your child’s goals be this year? Perhaps your child wants to increase his reading level. What steps will he need to take to do that? Perhaps you plan to be more involved with his education. How will you do that? Share your goals and plans – then help one another stick to them! Not sure where to start? Talk to your child’s teacher about goals he/she would like to see your child achieve and how you can work together to make it happen.
Yearbook Sale
The yearbook will be on sale for $9.00 (cash or on-line payment) from January 2-17, 2019. We will need all orders and payments no later than January 17 th .

You may also pay for your yearbook on-line at: www.ybpay.lifetouch.com using Yearbook ID code #5103920.

Please note the yearbooks will be handed out the last week of school.
Winter Weather
Closings & Delays
 
We are in full swing of winter. School closings and delays will soon be upon us.
We depend on our automated phone
system to contact our families.

The system was used in December to notify you of the snow day. If you did not receive this phone call, please contact the main office at 758-4180 to make sure we have the correct phone number on file. We also use this system to call when children are absent from school so it is imperative to keep phone numbers up to date.

Winter Weather Safety
It is very tempting for children to want to climb on, around and/or slide down snow banks. But, when those snow banks are located near roadways or parking lots, it becomes a serious safety issue.

Please take time to discuss this with your child. Additionally, it is important for students to know that in winter weather visibility can be limited for drivers, making it difficult to see children. It is best to remain on the sidewalk, walk slowly and be alert to traffic. As for parents dropping off students at school, please adhere to the speed limit in the parking lot and bus loop for the same reason, limited visibility.

For students who ride a bus, it is important to remain on the sidewalk until the bus comes to a full stop. Use the handrail when boarding/exiting the bus, as the steps might become slippery. If an emergency occurs, remain seated and wait for directions from the driver.
Holidays Around
the World
Mrs. Morse, Mrs. Elloitt-Birdsall

We studied Holidays Around the World! Our class took a trip to the Netherlands to learn about SinterKlaas. We made wooden clogs, which are similar to stockings in America. When we came to school after a weekend, our wooden clogs were filled with candies. We also visited Israel to learn about Hanukkah. We played dreidel and listened to the story Hanukkah in Alaska . Next, we took our suitcase and landed in India to learn about Diwali. We made lanterns to celebrate the Festival of Lights. Poinsettias are well known in Mexico for the holidays, so we made shaving cream & paint poinsettias. We studied Kwanzaa by reading an article and listening to a story. Then, we took a trip to Germany. We celebrated the German holiday by making Gingerbread Houses out of milk cartons.
Congratulations

Kudos to the Smith School students who participated in the holiday concert last month, the Ringing of the Bells for the Salvation Army and for spreading holiday cheer at Tops! Also, thank you to our families who attended our events.
Reading Made Fun

Fourth Grade Students read Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. The story is about a boy who got flattened by a bulletin board and was then able to go on all sorts of adventures. Students then created a flat person in their own like-ness. These flat people will be mailed to families around the United States. The host families will take the flat people on adventures and then send us back photos of all of the fun things they did. We cannot wait to see everything our flat people did on their worldwide adventures.
Kindness Matters

Over the last month, Smith students and staff have been on the lookout for random acts of kindness. When someone is caught, their photo is taken under the KIND poster and put up in the main hallway for all to admire. It has been great watching all of the students go above and beyond spreading happiness and kindness through the holiday season.
Music News with Mrs. Shelley

Some of our 3rd and 4th grade classes were treated to a special music class on December 18th, when Sulley Imoro came to visit for the day. Mr. Sulley is from Ghana and has performed around the world with his drumming and dancing troupe. He is also the person who made the beautiful set of djembes that your children get to play on in music classes. He spent the Wednesday before break teaching our students about music and life in Western African. All of the classes that day learned to sing a song from Ghana, did some drumming and dancing, and had a chance to ask him questions. It was a busy but fun day and all left the music room with smiles on their faces.
News From The Nurse
We would like to remind you of the following:
  • Please wash and return any clothing that your child has borrowed from the nurse.

  • Please call the school nurse at 758-4184 when your child is absent and send in a written note with your child when he/she returns.

  • If your child is sick, vomits, has diarrhea, or a fever, please keep him/her home for 24-hours free of symptoms.

  • If your child has pink eye, strep or anything contagious, please inform the nurse so she can document it and send letters home to classmates.

  • Please check your child's hair regularly for lice, treat and comb daily with a nit comb.

  • Please update all phone number for parents, guardians, emergency contacts, & work to the main office so the school can call you in case of illness, accident or emergency.

  • Reminder : NYS mandates a health exam / physical for grade 3 and anyone new to our school district. School physicals are provided by Kelly Hirsch, NP every Tuesday 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at Smith School.

  • Please pack a spare outfit in your child's backpack for unexpected incidents at school.

Thank you
Jody Prezioso, School Nurse
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