Weekly Saliva Testing Program Is Underway;
Sign Up Now to Voluntarily Participate
|
|
A letter from Superintendent Jonathan Raymond:
We just completed the first two weeks of the District Saliva Testing Program and are pleased to report that test kits have been distributed to approximately 850 voluntary participants. By comparison, based on the numbers we tested last year, it would have taken the school district approximately two months to test that number of participants!
If you haven’t yet signed up for this voluntary testing program, now is the time to do so. In preparation for Cycle 2 of our testing program, which begins on Nov. 30, we will continue to collect consent forms (via online registration and paper consent forms) until Nov. 10. Program registration beyond Cycle 2 testing will continue to be open enrollment and conducted on a rolling basis.
To register online, please check your email inbox for an invitation from “C-19 Safety First” with the subject “Mount Sinai Health Systems COVID Testing – Invitation.” It was sent on Oct. 12 or Oct. 13. If you are unable to locate this email invitation, which contains your login credentials, please email our vendor: [email protected] or [email protected].
Paper consent forms will continue to be available at each building as well. If you prefer to register via paper, please contact your child’s building, and a form can be sent home with your child. Again, participation in the program is completely voluntary and enrollment will remain open indefinitely. An important reminder: If you wish to participate, consent must be registered either through digital or paper registration. Once your child is registered, he or she will be tested monthly to assess COVID status. Regular saliva testing is free, easy, and non-invasive. Most importantly, saliva testing adds an important layer of protection to students and staff in school.
Thank you for your assistance and support.
|
Jonathan Raymond
Superintendent of Schools
|
|
Need a COVID
Vaccination?
Montefiore Can Help
|
The City School District of New
Rochelle advocates vaccinations as
the most effective way to end the
pandemic and keep children and the
community safe. Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital offers walk-in vaccinations for the public weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. For the second dose, bring your vaccine card. Students should be accompanied by a parent. Visit montefiorehealthsystem.org/New
being tested for COVID-19, visit this
Westchester County Department of Health website.
Learn more about COVID-19 safety protocols enacted by the City School District of New Rochelle on its website, nred.org. Click on COVID Resource Center at the top right.
|
|
|
New Rochelle High School is Back!
Isaac E. Young Spaces Reopen as Well!
|
|
Monday was an eagerly anticipated day at New Rochelle High School and Isaac E. Young Middle School!
New Rochelle High School reopened for classes. Instead of 3,300 students learning remotely while flood damage from Hurricane Ida in September was repaired, classrooms, such as the biology class in the photo, were brimming with activity. Hallways were busy. And it felt good. “It’s really exciting, it is!” Principal Dr. Dagoberto Artiles said. “I’ve been all around visiting classrooms. Everyone’s learning. It’s hectic and exciting – a beautiful environment!” Check out a special-edition newsletter to learn more, see photos, and share in the excitement! Details: https://conta.cc/3nQpjFF
Ida’s flood damage at Isaac E. Young Middle School was not nearly as severe, but the cafeteria and some classrooms needed extensive repairs. An all-out cleanup effort resulted in the school building opening in September only one day late for the school year, though the cafeteria and some classrooms remained closed for repairs. Now, though, that work is done. The top photo shows the repaired cafeteria, where pipes had broken underneath and buckled the floor, creating flooding. The second photo shows a music room, which was relocated away from its previous location on a lower level. The areas in both photos are available for student use.
A huge thank you goes to school district facilities, maintenance, and custodial crews, as well as outside contractors, who worked hard for months to return these safe, clean educational areas to students, faculty, and staff.
|
|
Snapshots from a Busy Week in Our Schools! |
|
Halloween Means Many Lessons at Albert Leonard Middle School
English as a New Language (ENL) students at Albert Leonard Middle School participated in a Halloween celebration last week. The students celebrated by dressing up in costumes and learning about the history of Halloween, vocabulary, and how it is enjoyed by many. Teacher Renée Wendling enjoys opening doors for students to enjoy positive and fun experiences such as Halloween. “So many things are new for them besides the language. They are being exposed to a new culture, new holidays, new behaviors, and as they say in Aladdin, ‘a whole new world’," Wendling said. They also decorated pumpkins that were generously donated to the class by Ellen Lever.
|
|
Vocabulary and Students on Parade at Columbus
Words were buzzing all around Columbus Elementary School last week during the school's Vocabulary Parade! Teacher Carolyn Paradiso organized the Vocabulary Parade to encourage students to love words. As a nod to Halloween and to celebrate fall, students dressed up as their favorite words and took turns parading around the soccer field. Younger students were assigned themes such as seeds and adjectives, and some older students dressed as homophones (words that are pronounced the same, but have different meanings, such as dear and deer). A class even dressed as words that describe carrots! Principal Michael Galland got into the spirit and dressed as one of his favorite words: principal/principle!
|
|
Readathon Kicks Off at William Ward Elementary
Readathon, underway at William B. Ward Elementary School throughout November, is more than a celebration of reading; it’s an opportunity to learn, explore, experience, and enjoy. Students are encouraged to read each night and log their minutes. Students also seek supporters who make donations based on the amount read. That fundraiser, the school’s biggest, raised $50,000 two years ago, when more than 2 million minutes were spent reading! The goal this year is also $50,000. The money enables teachers to enhance their classrooms with enrichment materials for math, art, science, and music for all students, and funds unique projects such as the outdoor classroom. Readathon kicked off recently with a special Olympic-style ceremony. Among those in attendance were Superintendent Jonathan Raymond, Principal Franco Miele, the school's mascot, and Assistant Principal Kim Peluso. Help support education at Ward by sponsoring readers! Learn more at www.wardpta.com.
|
|
Ofrenda a Multicultural Experience at Jefferson
A beautiful and vibrant Mexican tradition dating back 3,000 years has been brought to life in Jefferson Elementary School for Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead).
Traditionally on Nov. 1 and 2, families welcome back the souls of loved ones who have passed. The annual reunions include food, decorations, and celebration. Usually, families create an Ofrenda (an offering) in the form of an altar decorated with photographs of loved ones, and food offerings such as Pan de Muerto, fruit, and other foods that the deceased person enjoyed. The presentation also is usually adorned with cempasúchiles (marigolds), papel picado (Mexican perforated paper), velitas (candles), calaveras (skulls), and calacas (skeletons).
Jefferson’s Ofrenda included each of those components, and the cempasúchiles came from the school garden. For several weeks, many classes have been learning about this time of celebration from Spanish teacher Hilaire Escaladas. The Ofrenda came to life through the efforts of parent Angelica Guel, Principal Kimmerly Nieves (with Superintendent Jonathan Raymond in the photo), and other teachers.
Students and teachers contributed photos of deceased loved ones to honor them and allow their souls to visit. The Ofrenda not only is a wonderful educational experience for students, but also for community visitors because it opens up the door for conversations about a cultural tradition not familiar to all. “It is cool to see something I usually do with my grandma in my school,” said Danna, a fourth-grader.
These threads of celebration, from the classroom to its translation beyond the school walls, are about ownership and expression. “When families feel they belong to something that honors who they are, they embrace what their children are learning and weave it into their family’s life,” said ENL teacher Monica Argentina.
Guel said of Día de Los Muertos, “We die three deaths. First when our bodies die, second when our bodies go in the ground and are out of sight, and third when our loved ones forget us.”
The Jefferson community learned that Día de los Muertos is a beautiful tradition as well as a remembrance of those who have passed on – making it a joyful celebration.
|
|
India's Festival of Lights Inspires Ward Kindergarteners
This week, kindergarten students in Elizabeth Tatarka’s and Maria Bulfamante's classes at William B. Ward Elementary School learned about the holiday of Diwali. One student was celebrating the holiday, so students read a book explaining that Diwali is the five-day festival of lights in India. Students also read about the holiday’s history and traditions. Additionally, students learned some Hindi words, including diya, or clay lamp, and then painted their own diyas. Students were excited to share their diyas and newfound knowledge with their families!
|
|
Swimmers Star at Sectionals, Advance to State Competition |
|
The New Rochelle High School girls’ swim team had a great showing at the Section 1 Championships – and some swimmers are moving on to the state championships.
The 200-yard Freestyle Relay Team of Ella Harshman, Izzy Balachandran, Jaelynn Taylor, and Daniella Condon finished in third place with a state-qualifying time of 1:41.32. They currently are ranked in the top 10 of the state. This time qualifies them for the state championship next week at Ithaca College. Taylor also finished in third place in the 50-yard Freestyle with a time of 24.88. She will head to the state championships at Ithaca College in a few weeks. Condon's time again qualified for the State Championships in the 100 Backstroke.
The girls endured a great deal this season. They swam without a home pool due to New Rochelle High School’s pool being closed after Hurricane Ida brought torrential flooding to the school. Still, the team persevered to have an outstanding season. Congratulations to the team, Head Coach Kip Fierro and Assistant Coach Bianca Grasso for their efforts.
|
|
Register for Winter Sports!
|
|
City School District of New Rochelle | nred.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
