1. family and parenting
2. children

Volume 1, Issue 1I
West Irondequoit Central School District
November 2014
Briarwood School
Newsletter
Dear Briarwood Families,
In the fall our teachers take the time to get
to know each child and establish classroom
routines-the structures and schedules that
help frame learning and nurture curiosity.
During the spring kindergarten orientation,
we shared “How we meet children where
they are in their learning.” This belief continues throughout each grade. In order to
determine children’s instructional needs,
teachers assess each child. Assessing
learning is part of the curriculum cycle.
The curriculum includes what is taught,
how the curriculum is taught and why the
curriculum is taught. Our teachers determine instructional goals for each lesson
based on the curriculum, assessments and
children’s needs.
In our West Irondequoit Central Schools,
the curriculum is developed from kindergarten through 12th grade in English Language Arts, mathematics, science, social
studies, counseling and health, as well as
in all specials areas: art, music, library
and physical education. Our teachers are
part of Ad Hoc teams and help to plan and
create our curriculum aligned to researched best practices. In the classrooms, teachers plan with an end in mindan instructional goal for the mini-lesson
based on the curriculum. Teachers select
materials specifically for children to be able
to apply a lesson at their level. After the
mini-lesson, children construct meaning in
either small guided groups with the teacher
or independently. Throughout instruction,
teachers provide guidance and feedback to
move all children to the highest level of
independence.
Based on the K-12 Literacy curriculum for
comprehension when reading, children will
infer characters’ actions, thoughts and feelings. This is an example of an instructional
goal for a mini-lesson. Differentiated reading materials are selected by the teacher in
order for children to read accurately, understand the text and reach the goal of the
lesson. The Reading Street Resources include a variety of text selections to challenge children. When responding and inter-
vening to students learning through differentiated instruction, 85-90% of chilInside this
dren will meet or exceed the instructional
goals. If children need additional support
to meet the instructional goals, support is Principal’s Letter
provided. By planning with the curriculum outcomes and matching differentiatCurriculum Corner
ed resources, teachers respond and interLunch News
vene to meet children’s needs approaching, at, or exceeding standards/outcomes.
I want to thank you for attending your fall
parent/teacher conference in grades first
through third. Our kindergarten families
will have the opportunity in late January
or early February to attend a parent conference. By attending these conferences,
you have an opportunity to work with our
teachers and see how instruction is
planned for each child based on student
performance including assessments and
student work. In November, the first
quarter report card will be going home to
families. Our kindergarten children will
receive their first report card at their
parent/teacher conference. The report
card includes the curricular areas and
how a child is progressing or exceeding
the standards for learning. In addition,
classroom teachers include a personal
narrative on children’s progress. If at any
time you have a question, please contact
us.
I am looking forward to celebrating our
children’s continued learning throughout
this year. I wish each of you a Happy
Thanksgiving, and thank you for preparing your children each and every day to
learn.
issue:
1
2, 3
4
SBPT News
5
P.E. News/PTSA News
6
Counselor’s Corner
7
Music Notes/Library News
8
WICSD News
9
Health Office News
10,11
Frog and Toad
12
Briarwood Calendar
13
UPCOMING EVENTS:
NO SCHOOL-11/11
(Veterans Day)
PTSA Family Breakfast11/14
Report Cards Go Home11/20
Thanksgiving Lunch-11/25
Kathleen M. Bush, Principal
Briarwood Elementary School
NO SCHOOL-11/26, 27, 28
In order to ensure a safe and healthy lunch and recess time, students follow the expectations below:
School-Wide Lunch and Recess
Expectations:
STRIVE FOR FIVE:
Lunch and Activity Time at
Briarwood School is off to a great start!
Walk: safely in and around the school and grounds
Kathleen Bush
Principal
The lunch and activity time for students is organized to ensure that
students have the opportunity to enjoy their lunch and to socialize. In
addition, the school district has continued to provide the opportunity
for children to buy breakfast and school lunch.
Each lunch period is structured so that one to two grade levels are in
the All Purpose Room for lunch and outside for recess.
Use quiet voices: your voice level is at a whisper in and
around school and grounds
Keep all belongings to self: be aware and alert of others
Stay in self space: keep a foot distance away from others
Show respect: be kind, listen, and be cooperative to all students and staff
The lunch schedule for 2013-2014 is as follows:
Grade 1
11:45-12:10 (Recess )
12:35-45 (Relax & Learn)
12:10-12:35 Lunch (APR)
Grade 2
11:45-11:55 (Relax & Learn) 11:55-12:20 (Recess)
12:20-12:45 Lunch (APR)
Grade 3
12::45-1:10 Lunch (APR) 1:10-1:35 (Recess )
1:35-1:45 (Relax & Learn )
Lunch Program Update
There are many opportunities for students to have recess outside.
They may play on the playground equipment or engage in various
outside activities.
If the weather is inclement, the students have inside recess in their
classroom where they have the opportunity to play a variety of
games with their classmates.
We thought you might be interested in seeing how
many lunches are sold/served each month. Here
is the total for Briarwood ONLY:
October - lunches sold:
864
School Based Planning Team News:
Julie Bisciotti, First Grade Teacher
From our third grade teachers Mrs. Barlette and
Mrs. Reece shared: After reading the text selection,
Kumak’s Fish, think about sequencing and write a
The Briarwood School Based Planning Team met on short paragraph that tells the story’s important
October 8, 2014. Our School-Based Planning Team events in the order they happen. The student wrote,
includes: Kathleen Bush, principal; teachers: Veroni“I think that in Kumak’s Fish, Kumak encouraged
ca Guzzetta, kindergarten; Julie Bisciotti, first grade;
everyone to go fishing in the first place (valid inferNancy Reece, third grade; Kim Barlette third grade
ence). First, they dug holes to make the fishing
and team leader; Megan Lentner, school counselor
space. Then, they patiently waited to feel a tug. But
and Tabatha Cleckner, parent representative.
then everyone caught a fish except Kumak. Kumak
Learning and Achievement:
was confident. The second event Kumak caught a
fish and felt a tug. The third event was that villagers
The team looked at student work, K-3, in the area of
heard Kumak’s cry and came to help. The fourth
ELA and the implementation of the Reading Street
resource. The teachers shared short constructed re- event was that once Kumak caught all the fish, he
gave the whole village a feast.” This example shows
sponses from the students where the students were
the progression of thinking and development of inferworking towards making inferences and supporting
their written work with text details.
encing through analyzing character’s actions. This
is one way to infer for meaning.
In kindergarten, Mrs. Guzzetta shared children that
are learning about writing through listening stories,
Climate and Culture:
showing their understanding through illustration,
adding color and labels to drawings and then from
In addition to Learning and Achievement, the team
the drawings beginning to write about what they are
reviewed the Climate and Culture goals and our kick
listening to and learning. For example, recently chiloff assembly that was held in September. The paintdren wrote about friendships and friends’ actions.
ed tree in the All-Purpose Room was shared, and it
The teacher may frame learning to start the writing
was explained how it will be utilized with the stuand use a sentence starter such as, “My friend is…”
dents and staff. Our first CARE classroom lessons
then add details from the illustration. This is the
will take place on October 17. We will start out with
beginning of inferencing. Children take their
a school-wide assembly, and then break into our
knowledge and knowledge from their learning, specifsmaller, multi-grade CARE groups. If possible, the
ically how characters act to show meaning.
children and staff should wear their “Briarwood’s
Brightest” t-shirts.
Mrs. Bisciotti, shared from first grade: Children are
learning how to respond to a variety text in Reading.
The assemblies and character education lessons for
First graders recently read a text selection titled,
2014-2015 are as follows:
“School Day.” Children reread the text and determined specifically what happened in the text in the
November 13: Goal-setting Habit 2-Begin with the
beginning and in the end. A student example shared
End in Mind
was, “At the beginning, Sam is late. At the end
December 12: Decision-making Habit 3-Put First
Fred’s friend Sam fixes Fred.” Children read the text
Things First
selection to determine beginning, middle and end of
January 13: Problem solving Habit 4-Think Win-Win
the story, to understand the story.
February 9: Empathy Habit 5-Seek First to Understand Then to be Understood
In second grade Mrs. Marshall shared: A second
March 12: Cooperation Habit 6-Synergize
child responded to the teacher task, “Look back at
April 30: Self-awareness Habit 7-Sharpen the Saw
pages 92 and 93. Who knew all about camping?
(Balance feels better)
What did that person do to help with the camping
May 27: Celebrating assembly for character educatrip? “Henry’s mom knew all about camping. She
tion
knew how to set-up a tent, build a campfire, and
camp food. Last she was a camp girl. That’s how I
The School Based Planning Team and staff at Briarknow Henry’s Mom knows about camping.” In this
wood continue to be excited for our work together!
response, the child identified specific actions in the
The next meeting will be held in November 12th.
text that supported how the character knew all
about camping. She identified explicit actions that
supported camping.
Physical Education News
PTSA November News
Happy Fall to all! Our first family event was held
on Friday, October 24th. The children got to
show their creative side by painting pumpkins. A
Your children have been focused on movement
big thank you to EVERYONE who helped in makthrough the following themes: self-space, general ing this a fun and successful event!
space, levels and pathways.
We love to keep photos of the kids in the school’s
Over the past couple of weeks, we have practiced display cases updated. If you have photos to
moving safely around the gymnasium in selfshare, please send them in. The children love to
space and general space while utilizing different see themselves and their friends from various
locomotor movements. Most recently we have
classroom activities and school events when they
been applying our understanding of movement
walk down the halls.
and space to levels (low, medium and high).
Thank you to Heather Falcone for organizing Red
Your children have been engaged in a variety of
Ribbon Week. Thank you, also, to everyone who
station group work with the purpose of complet- purchased red ribbons and hung them up to
ing a movement task at a certain level. As we
show your support in creating good character
move forward, we will continue to explore move- traits and on making healthy choices.
ment through different pathways and direction.
It’s not too late to get your PTSA Membership!
As always, please contact me with any questions The cost is $10 which also includes the popular
that you might have.
district-wide calendar that has all events from all
ten of our schools! Contact Tina Scacchitti
Sincerely,
[email protected] to make arrangements to
get yours.
Dear Families,
Brian Maginn
Physical Education Teacher
[email protected]
_____________________________________
2014-2015 Standardized Testing
TerraNova Grade 2
June 1-5
NYS ELA Grade 3
April 14, 15, and 16
Make Up
April 17-21
NYS Math Grade 3
April 22, 23, 24
Make Up
April 27-29
Box Tops For Education is a quick and easy
way to help raise money for Briarwood.
The only thing it involves is clipping the coupons
from some of the products you have
already purchased, and sending them to school
in a plastic baggie with your child. By doing this,
you are supporting many of the events and programs year after year. For a complete list of
these products, visit
www.boxtops4education.com. November 1st is
the deadline to submit the Box Tops we’ve collected so far this year. Thank you to Sarah
McDonell for coordinating all that is involved in
this program.
Our annual Fall Family Breakfast, Donuts with
Someone Delightful will be held on
Friday, November 14th at 8:30 a.m. Keep an eye
out for details.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact one of
Please note: NYS tests must be given on the us with any questions, concerns or ideas.
above dates. Please consider these dates
Tina Scacchitti
[email protected]
when scheduling appointments for your
Teresa
Hayes
[email protected]
child.
Brigid McClenathan [email protected]
COUNSELOR’S CORNER
Hello Families!
This time of year goes by so fast! We are settling into new classrooms and taking on the role
as learners. I have been in the classrooms a few times now to teach lessons and it always
makes me proud to see our students applying the tools and skills they are learning to their
academics and to their relationships.
We spent time in September talking about the importance of respecting each other’s differences. We have a group of very empathetic and caring students, and I have seen this numerous times throughout the beginning of the year. We are going to keep up the caring
community we have built by learning from one another and understanding that respecting
differences creates a strong and caring community.
This year we are continuing on with our 7 Habits of Happy Kids through our Climate and
Culture Character building program. In October we kicked-off with Habit 1: Being Proactive.
We are focusing on being proactive in the sense that you take control of things in your life
rather than letting things in your life take control of you. It is important for children to understand that we don’t always have control over what other’s do or say, or what we are expected to do throughout our day, however we DO have control over the choices we make
and how we choose to prepare and respond to the people and circumstances around us.
This month we are focusing on Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind. We will be focusing on
the power of our mind in reaching our goals. We have the power to visualize the end state
we want and understand that the little steps we take every day will lead to achieving our
goals.
This month I will be visiting your child’s classroom to teach about important learning readiness skills that help us to work on those little steps to reaching our goals. We will focus on
manners, listening, teamwork and career planning in each of the respective grades.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at any time. Thank you for your continued support in helping our children learn and grow!
Warmly,
Meghan Lentner, MSEd, NCC
School Counselor
Briarwood/Colebrook Schools
585.336.1617/585.336.1607
[email protected]
Music Notes
Marc Falco
Music Teacher
One of the best things about music is that it
reflects the way we experience life; especially
times of celebration. As the month of November is upon us, we are able to make and appreciate music that celebrates autumn,
Thanksgiving, and the beginning of the winter
holiday season.
In music class we are making music that
helps us understand some of the building
blocks of music. In the first grade it’s about
high and low, loud and soft, and fast and
slow. We are even taking our first steps into
notating rhythms! Second grades are beginning to use terms like pitch, tempo, and dynamics, as well as reading and playing
rhythms with ease. In third grade we are using all these concepts while we work on more
and more complex instrumental and vocal
songs. We’ve even been improvising on different instruments and working to create different moods in our music.
I truly look forward to coming to work every
day and making music. Although the seasons
and the songs may change, it is a constant
delight to give your children an opportunity to
experience music.
Library Media News
Mrs. Forties
First graders have been enjoying fiction stories
about a character named Epossumondas.
These stories are about a baby opossum who
gets into trouble because he doesn’t always use
his brain to think things through. The setting is
in Louisiana in the Southern United States. The
stories we read about Epossumondas included
two noodlehead tales, a porquois tale, and a retelling of the Southern folktale, Sody Sallyraytus.
Second graders have been learning about Fables. The students have listened to fables from
Greece, India and France. They have identified
the personality traits of the characters, problems
and solutions presented, and the moral in each
fable. Students have taken turns narrating and
reenacting each fable using puppets and other
props.
Third graders have been studying Jack Tales.
These are folktales which have a main character
named Jack. The students listened to two
folktales, Jack and the Bean Tree and Jack
and the Fire Dragon written and illustrated by
Gail E. Haley. These stories are set in the in the
Appalachian Mountain region of the Southern
United States. The students worked in large and
small groups to identify the story elements found
in these tales.
Students have also been learning to search for
books by author, title or subject using our Follett
Destiny library catalog.
The Rochester Children’s Book Festival will be
held on Saturday, November 15, 2014 from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Flynn Campus Center at
Monroe Community College. More than 40 authors and illustrators will be present. Book sales
and signings, presentations, workshops, storytelling, and arts & crafts will be available for
children of all ages. For more information, go to
www.rochesterchildrensbookfestival.com.
The library is open daily. All students are encouraged to visit the library frequently to
check out books and magazines or to use the
computers or other reference materials for
research.
Join us for a cup of coffee and share your
ideas
for the future of our schools.
Please join Jeff Crane & Chuck Perreaud
for our second
Listening Hour
Monday, November 3
7:00—8:00 p.m.
District Office / 321 List Avenue
This is the second Listening Hour.
We hope there will be more to come.
We’ll continue to hold these coffees
at District Office,
Pet Owners
Residents are reminded that for the safety of
all of our students and visitors, pets are not
allowed on any of our campuses when students are present, including during athletic
competitions.
At other times, pets must be leashed and
under control. Please comply with requests
from school district security and athletic supervisory personnel regarding pets on our
grounds.
And - thank you for cleaning up after your
animal, keeping our walkways and fields
more pleasant for everyone!
unless you would like us to visit you.
Call 336-2983 to set it up.
Always an open agenda.
We need to hear from you.
Important Information
Briarwood School………………336-1610
Miss Bush - Principal
Mrs. Stout - Secretary
Mrs. Sementelli - Nurse
Superintendent’s Office….336-2983
Transportation Office…….336-2992
Web Site: www.westirondequoit.org
The 7 Habits of Happy Kids is part of our Character
Education Program. Each month the students come
together as a school in either an assembly or small group
instruction about a character trait and they participate in
activities. On these specified days we would like the
students to wear their Briarwood T-Shirts.
Upcoming C.A.R.E. dates are: November 13,
December 12, January 13, February 9, March 12, April 30,
May 27.
THANKS from all of us at Briarwood School!