JOHN MANDRACCHIA-SAWMILL INTERMEDIATE
SCHOOL - NOVEMBER 2014 NEWSLETTER
READING CHALLENGE
To kick off our school-wide reading initiative this year,
we are challenging our students and staff to collectively
read 5000 books in four weeks! Our initiative will
begin on Tuesday, November 12 and
conclude on Wednesday, December 4. The goal of this
challenge is to help build your child’s reading skills and
encourage a love for reading. During this challenge, we
will be asking for your assistance as well. We ask that
you encourage your child to participate in this initiative
and read. Reading at home can be an enjoyable experience for you and your child. Here are some helpful
hints for creating a fun reading environment for your
child:
 Create a comfortable place in your home for your
child to read. Perhaps a special corner of a room,
special chair or beanbag.
 Have reading materials readily available for your
child. Take turns reading a page each; as your
child reads silently, pick up something interesting
to read. When your child sees you read, they will
know that it is important.
The following is a list of popular book selections suggested by our school librarians. These titles can be
found in our school library.
Grade 3: Fiction: Pain and the Great One series by Judy
Blume; Puppy Place series by Ellen Miles; Geronimo
Stilton series; Jake Maddox sports series for boys and
girls; My Weird School series by Dan Gutman; Cam
Jansen mystery series by David A. Adler; Ivy and Bean
series by Annie Barrows; Clementine series by Sara
Pennypacker.
Nonfiction: True Books published by Scholastic, Inc.
Grade 4: Fiction: Humphrey the Hamster series by
Betty Burney; Fudge series by Judy Blume (including
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing); Hank Zipzer series
by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver; 39 Clues series by
various authors - Dan Gutman, Kate DiCamillo, Roald
Dahl.; The I Survived Series by Lauren Tarshis.
Nonfiction: Who Was biography series published by
Scholastic, Inc.; DK Eyewitness Books series;True
Books published by Scholastic, Inc.
Grade 5: Fiction: Rick Riordan fantasy series: Percy
Jackson and the Olympians, Kane Chronicles, Heroes
of Olympus; The Last Dragon Chronicles series by
Chris D’Lacey; The Missing series and The Shadow
Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix; Wonder
by R.J. Palacio.
Non-Fiction: Who Was by Scholastic, Inc., DK Eyewitness Books series, True Books published by
Scholastic, Inc.
Scholastic Book Fair is Coming
Invitation for Parents to the Book Fair
Parents and family members are invited to join their children at
this year’s Scholastic Book Fair which is being held in the library during regularly scheduled library class periods from
Thursday, November 13th through Wednesday, November 19th.
The Fair will start off on Wednesday evening, November 12th
from 6:30pm – 8:00pm. Parents who are unable to attend the
fair during the school day are welcome to visit with their children on Wednesday evening. The MSIS Library Staff, Library
Media Specialists Susanne Lercher and Joan Hanley, Library
Aides Kathy Soria and Patty Bucki, look forward to meeting
you at that time.
MSIS Destiny Library Catalog
Library Catalog Links to Online Encyclopedias, Kid-Friendly
Databases, Search Engines and Websites. From the homepage
of the MSIS Library Catalog, also known as the Destiny OPAC
(Online Public Access Catalog), you will find links to online
encyclopedias including World Book Online and GO (Grolier’s
Online). These databases were purchased by the district for
school and home use by our students. These resources are password-protected and students will receive login information (user
name/password) from their library teachers. The Catalog
homepage also includes links to prescreened, kid-friendly
search engines, author websites, science fair project websites,
the Commack and Smithtown Public Library websites, and
other websites of interest. To access the MSIS Library Catalog
homepage, go to either the “Parent Resources” or “Student Site”
tabs in the left margin of the Commack District Website homepage. Select “Destiny from Home” and you will link to the Commack School District Library Catalog Homepage. Click on
“Mandracchia-Sawmill Intermediate School” and you will link
to the MSIS Library Catalog homepage.
TrueFlix eBooks Database
Scholastic True Books now available as eBooks to read online
at school or at home. One of the links on the MSIS Library
Catalog homepage takes you to the TrueFlix ebooks Database.
This database contains informational texts (nonfiction) and has
been purchased by the district for school and home use by our
faculty and students. Many of the True Book Nonfiction Series
titles can be found on this resource. This database is passwordprotected and students will receive login information (user
name/password) from their library teachers. For further assistance with any of the resources listed above, including the Library Catalog, please contact the library staff at 858-3664.
Joan Hanley, Susanne Lercher
Library Media Specialists
This year, Sawmill’s Student Council is already
showing some dazzling school spirit! Under the advisor
ship of Tara O’Grady, Kathi Woolley, and Beth Considine, the representatives from each class have been
meeting and planning activities to benefit families locally
and around the country, as well as around the world!
Our first school-wide event was in support of
Caps for Kids. On Friday, October 17th, students and
staff generously donated their dollars to help spread some
cheer to those in need. All of the money collected went
to the Caps for Kids organization, a group that provides
special autographed hats to sick children. Our hats off to
all of those who helped raise money and spirits for this
worthy cause!
Also in October, our fifth grade representatives
teamed up with those representatives from Burr to say a
special thank you to our Board of Education. The representatives read inspirational quotes about the importance
of education, to the board at their October 23rd meeting.
In addition, they presented the board with a list of those
quotes in a reusable cup with the Sawmill and Burr logo.
On October 25th, Sawmill Student Council
represented our school in the Commack High School
Homecoming Parade. The parade started at Burr Intermediate School and ended with a march around the track at
Commack High School! Go Cougars!
We didn’t stop there! Student Council also
held its first guessing jar of the year. Our Halloween
Guessing Jar gave students a chance to donate to charity,
work on their estimation skills, and win some candy all at
the same time! The guessing jar profits will be donated
to an organization decided by the Student Council representatives later in the year.
November will be Sawmill’s month of giving!
We will again be participating in Commack’s Support
Our Troops Week. To show our appreciation for our
troops overseas, the students will be sorting through their
Halloween candy and donating all of their hard candy.
We will be holding this collection from November 3rd 7th.
To kick off our Long Island Cares Food Drive
the third and fourth grade representatives attended a concert, presented by Tom Chapin, at Westbury Theater on
October 7th. This year, we’ll be collecting food from
November 10th - November 21st. What a great opportunity for our whole school community to help support
those around us and provide a fruitful Thanksgiving to so
many families!
To close the calendar year, we’ll also be hosting our annual Toys for Tots drive. It’s no surprise that
it’s always a huge success. Sawmill students love to
spread smiles throughout the community. This year’s
drive will take place from December 1st through December 12th. We are sure that this year we’ll make the holidays happy and bright!
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Throughout the year we will continue to reach out
to families throughout the nation. Again, a very special
thank you goes out to all of our representatives, who repeatedly give up their time to show us just how much of a difference we can make. They encourage their classmates to get
involved, and truly are the role models that our community
appreciates. Thank you to all of the MSIS families who support our Student Council.
Tara O’Grady, Kathi Woolley, Laura Keen
Student Council Advisors
A special time of the week is
reserved for Lunch with the
Principal. I have the privilege
of eating my lunch or snack
with the children in the cafeteria during their lunch periods.
It is a wonderful opportunity
for me to get acquainted with
the children and catch up on what is new with them. This is
a great experience for us to enjoy each others’ company out
of the classroom setting and a fun time is had by all.
Our 2014-15 School Based Management Team is
comprised of parents, teachers, support staff and administration. The members of this team are:
Janet Schoenemann– Chairperson
Roberta Harris – Special Education Teacher Rep.
Jennifer Murphy – Teacher Representative
Stephanie Ierano - Teacher Representative
Elizabeth Protosow —Special Area Teacher Rep.
Robert Ciani – Chief Building Representative
Jacqueline Rizzuto – Support Staff Representative
Maggie McGuigan - Parent
Jennifer Morizio - Parent
Joanne Sklar - Parent
Evelyn Cárdenas -Smith – Assistant Principal
Michelle Tancredi-Zott – Principal
Once again, MSIS students had the opportunity to participate in
the American Heart Association’s “Jump Rope for Heart” program. Jump Rope for Heart is a fun event which encourages
healthy heart activities and community service.
This year, over 450 students participated before school and
raised donations in the amount of $20,000. Last year, MSIS was
the top fundraising school in Suffolk County and second highest
on Long Island.
A special thanks to all the parents who encouraged and supported
their child to participate in this worthwhile program and to all the
parents and teachers who assisted the physical education staff on
the days of the event. We couldn’t have done it without you!!!
Craig Gorton, Stephen Iannone, Paul Slackman
MSIS Physical Education Staff
November 4
November 5
November 7
November 10 - 21
November 11
November 12-19
November 12
November 12
November 26
November 27/28
LOST & FOUND
The M.S.I.S. Lost and Found is located in the Nurses’ Office.
There are many articles of clothing and lunch boxes that belong
to students at our school.
Children can check this area during their lunch periods. Please
remind your child to check this
room for any lost or misplaced
items.
Items not picked up by
November 26 will be donated
to charity.
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December 1-3
December 1-12
December 4
December 5
December 10
December 11
December 15
Dec. 22-Jan. 2
January 5
SCHOOL CLOSED
PTA Meeting—7:00pm
Student Fall Social—3:15-5:30pm
Student Council Food Drive
SCHOOL CLOSED
Book Fair during library hours
MSIS Evening Book Fair
6:30pm-8pm
Grade 4 Sports Night - 6:45p.m.
District Emergency
Management Drill.
Dismissal is at 2:50p.m.
SCHOOL CLOSED
Thanksgiving Holiday
PTA Holiday Boutique
Student Council Toys for Tots
Half-Day K-5 students only
Parent/Teacher Conferences
(day and evening conferences)
SCHOOL CLOSED K-5 students
Winter Concert Grade 4 - 7pm
Picture Re-take Day
Winter Concert Grade 5 - 7pm
SCHOOL CLOSED
SCHOOL REOPENS
STANDARDIZED TESTING
Parents are asked to note the following test
administration dates for standardized tests administered during the 2014-2015 school year.
Grade 3
NYS ELA
April 14, 15 & 16
NYS Math Assessment April 22, 23 & 24
Grade 4
NYS ELA
April 14, 15 & 16
NYS Math Assessment April 22, 23 & 24
Written Science Exam June 1
Grade 5
NYS ELA
April 14, 15 & 16
NYS Math Assessment April 22, 23 & 24
REMINDER TO PARENTS…..
When parents sign students out of school for
doctor appointments, etc., parents must return to the building with the student to sign
them back in the office. Thank you.
WINTER WEATHER IS IN THE AIR
With winter approaching, it is important for
parents to once again become familiar with the
various schedules that could be implemented
due to inclement weather conditions. These
schedules are early dismissal, delayed school
openings and school closings. You will receive a School Messenger telephone call recording advising you if the district has an early
dismissal, delayed opening or school closing.
This is an automatic phone message system
informing you of the district’s plan for that
day. You can also view information on our
website at www.commack.k12.ny.us.
DISTRICT-WIDE EARLY DISMISSAL
The Commack School District has scheduled its annual test of the early dismissal plan for
Wednesday, November 26, 2014. On that day, all
students of Mandracchia-Sawmill will be released at
2:50p.m., 15 minutes earlier than their normally
scheduled time, in order to test the early response of
the District’s Emergency Management Plan.
Please make appropriate arrangements for the early
dismissal of your child.
UNEXPECTED EARLY DISMISSAL
(Decision usually made by 10:30a.m.)
Please plan for and familiarize your children with
specific actions they are to take when they arrive
home if school is dismissed early due to bad weather
conditions. Please do not include instructions to
call you since school telephone lines are few in
number and must be kept open for incoming calls.
Children should know they are to go directly home or
go to a neighbor’s house on the same block.
Please make sure the early dismissal card indicates
a home on the bus route or your child has access to
enter the house.
Delayed School Opening – School Messenger, a
district implemented telephone call recording, will be
made to all households regarding school closings,
delayed openings or early dismissals. We will again
this year use a delayed school opening procedure on
inclement weather days when it appears that we can
open safely at a later time. We will delay opening for
one (1) or two (2) hours later than the normal schedule. Children will be transported back home on the
normal transportation schedule. You are urged to
listen to these radio stations for information on school
closings and delayed school openings: WLIX,
WABC, WALK, WGSM.WCTO, WHLI, WOR,
WGLI, WBLI, WBAB & TV Channel 12 and can
also view information on the website at
www.commack.k12.ny.us.
School Closings – Please refer to district website at
www.commack.k12.ny.us to learn about school
closings or delays.
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BUS SAFETY
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place on:
The importance of appropriate behavior on the school bus cannot be
overemphasized. In every classroom, teachers discuss bus safety.
In addition, a bus drill allowed us to
review all the safety rules with the
children. Please discuss the importance of these rules: children
must stay in their seats at all
times, speak in an appropriate tone and not fool
around or fight on the bus. Parents of children who
do not follow these rules will continue to be contacted.
Repeated reports will result in bus suspension. Your
full cooperation is necessary so that we can insure the
safety of all children.
Reminder to Parents…
The safety of each and every child is our greatest priority.
To ensure the safety of all children, no cars are permitted
in the circle after 8:00a.m., due to the arrival of buses.
When bringing your students to early morning activities such
as morning sports, chorus, band, orchestra or extra help sessions, please remember to observe our safety rules:

Cars should enter the circle in single file using only the
inner lane of the driveway next to the curb;

Children should exit the car using the passenger side
only;

Cars should leave the circle in single file. Please do not
pass another car.
Please do not drop off your children on New Highway. We
have had a number of incidences where cars have been double parked on the road. This creates an unsafe condition for
our children. When allowing your children to exit your vehicle, please use the appropriate drop-off points.
It is no longer necessary to sign-in your child for morning
programs such as Intramurals, Extra Help, Band,
Orchestra, etc.
I know the safety of our children is important to all of us. I
thank you for your cooperation.
Thursday, December 4 - 1/2 day conferences 12:30p.m.
-3:10p.m.
Thursday , December 4 - evening conferences
Friday, December 5- all day conferences
On Thursday, December 4, students will be dismissed at 11:35a.m. On Friday, December 5, there
will be no school for students in grades K-5 only.
Parents have been scheduled to attend a conference on
these dates. The conferences are essential in forming a
link between home and school. Working as partners,
parents and teachers will help make this a very successful school year for the children.
A parent knows their child best. During the conference,
please share pertinent information regarding your
child’s interests, medical/health needs as well as any
situation occurring outside of school that may affect
your child’s schoolwork.
Please use this time to ask questions relating to any
concerns relevant to your child’s progress in both academic and social areas. Let’s continue to be a team and
help your child to have a successful year!
__________________________________
THE MSIS MISSION STATEMENT
The Mandracchia-Sawmill Intermediate School
community is dedicated to providing a caring,
supportive, and respectful environment empowering us to be lifelong learners and contributing
members of society. Therefore, our mission
statement is:
We believe that through a caring community we
help one another achieve our personal best.
We believe that through a supportive environment we encourage each other to meet new challenges with confidence.
We believe that through respectful interaction
and appreciating diversity we enhance the quality
of our lives.
WISHING YOU ALL A VERY
HAPPY AND HEALTHY
HOLIDAY AND A
HAPPY NEW YEAR!