Week of  September 23^rd – 27^th:

Dear Members of the MHA PS 65x Community:

            Congratulations:  Our first, of the many, Spirit Day was a success.  Majority of the students wore their favorite hat and others wore custom made headdresses (thank you Teachers!)  The students that participated in the parade marched with pride.  Thank you MHA members for your participation.

            New this week is the Morning Drop-off and Afternoon Dismissal procedure to maintain student safety. 

·         Morning:  School Yard gates will be closed at 8:00 a.m.  Late arrivals will have to enter through the main entrance.

·         Afternoon:  All student pick up are to enter through the school yard, Cypress Avenue gate.  Students that are not picked up by 2:25 p.m. and 3:20 p.m. will be taken to the assigned tables in the cafeteria. All adults are to exit through the school yard.

This week many of our teachers will be attending workshops located outside of the building.  Teachers are to email the grade facilitator, Ms. Gonzalez and Me their lesson plan for the substitute teacher.  Please continue to discuss the PBIS matrix in all of the classes (including Enrichment classes) to ensure the safety of all MHA members.  Wednesday, Ms. Gonzalez and Ms. Presto will be hosting a Parent’s Math Workshop.  Kindly remind students to invite their family members to this event.  Friday is our Spirit day for all to “Wear White Shirts.”  Kindly reach out to our parents to remind them of the Spirit Day event.

The Bronx Ensemble Arts Theater Auditions will be held on Monday and Friday at 2:30 p.m.  Teachers, kindly collect the permission slips in the morning and send them to Ms. Hunt in the main office.

Lastly, a reminder:

·         Technology Prep periods will be conducted in the classrooms (Push-In) with Ms. Banks for the month of September 2013. 

·         Administrative class walk-throughs will commence this month; as to not interrupt the lesson, please have your lesson plan available for our review.  Please refer to the Teacher Resource Page at the MHA website for Lesson Plan Template created with the Common Core and Danielson Framework components/expectations.

Enjoy the last full week of September 2013. 

Monday, September 23, 2013: 

·         Classroom Teachers, please be sure to review the PBIS Matrix prior to taking you students to all of the enrichment programs.

·         Common Planning with Coaches:

o   Pre-K:  will commence at 9:00 a.m. in room 212 with Ms. Presto

o   Fourth Grade:  will commence at 9:00 a.m. in room 508 with Ms. DeMichele.

• Bronx Ensemble Theater Arts Program – Auditions for 3^rd and 4^th Graders at 2:30 p.m.

·         Staff PD will be conducted in the Powers’ Side gymnasium at 2:25 p.m. prompt.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013: 

·         Ms. Brooks & Ms. DalPiaz and Ms. Maltby & Ms. Cruz at ICT meeting.

·         Classroom Teachers, please be sure to review the PBIS Matrix prior to taking you students to all of the enrichment programs.

·         Common Planning Sessions:

o   Enrichment Teachers:  8:00 a.m. in room 502.

o   First Grade Teachers:  12:20 p.m. in room 312 with Ms. DeMichele.

o   Third Grade Teachers: 8:55 a.m. in room 410 with Ms. DeMichele.

o   Special Ed Articulation:  9:45 a.m. in room 508.

·         2:20 p.m. prompt dismissal for students in PreK-2 grades.

o   Extended Day for students in grades 3-5:

• PreK, Kindergarten, 1^st Grade, 2^nd Grade and Enrichment Teachers please be prompt to your class – 2:25 p.m. if there is an unforeseen delay, please contact Ms. Gonzalez, Ms. Hunt or Mr. Adler immediately.
• All Teachers are to dismiss the third, fourth and fifth grade students in the school yard at 3:15 p.m.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013:

• Ms. Slater of the CFN will be in the building meeting with ICT teams and SpED classes.
• Parents’ Math Workshop at 9:00 a.m. in the Cafeteria, by Ms. Gonzalez and Ms. Presto.
• All Music Preps with Mr. Chen will be conducted in the Auditorium.  Classroom Teachers, please be sure to review the PBIS Matrix for the Auditorium prior to taking you students to the Auditorium.

·         Classroom Teachers, please be sure to review the PBIS Matrix prior to taking you students to all of the enrichment programs.

• Common Planning:
• Kindergarten Teachers: 12:20 p.m. in room 211 with Ms. DeMichele
• Fifth Grade Teachers:  9:50 a.m. in room 507 with Ms. DeMichele.

·         2:20 p.m. prompt dismissal for students in PreK-2 grades.

o   Extended Day for students in grades 3-5:

• PreK, Kindergarten, 1^st Grade, 2^nd Grade and Enrichment Teachers please be prompt to your class – 2:25 p.m.  if there is an unforeseen delay, please contact Ms. Gonzalez, Ms. Hunt or Mr. Adler immediately.
• All Teachers are to dismiss the third, fourth and fifth grade students in the school yard at 3:15 p.m.

• SLT Meeting (Members Only)  3:30 p.m. Room 207

Thursday, September 26, 2013:

·         All Music Preps with Mr. Chen will be conducted in the classroom. 

·         Classroom Teachers, please be sure to review the PBIS Matrix prior to taking you students to all of the enrichment programs.

·         Grade Facilitators Common Planning:  1:05 p.m. with Ms. DeMichele, room 410.

·         2:20 p.m. prompt dismissal for all students.

Friday, September 27, 2013:

• Wear White Shirt Day

·         Classroom Teachers, please be sure to review the PBIS Matrix prior to taking you students to all of the enrichment programs.

·         Common Planning:

o   Second Grade Teachers:  9:00 a.m. room 413 with Ms. DeMichele.

o   PPT/SBST Members:  8:50 a.m. in the Library

·         2:20 p.m. prompt dismissal for all students.

·         Bronx Ensemble Theater Arts Program – Auditions for 5^th Graders at 2:30 p.m.

Looking Ahead:

• Monday, September 30^th:
• Bronx Ensemble Student Decision Letter to be distributed to students.
• Attendance Committee Meeting: 2:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 3^rd: Ms. Maida and Ms. Ross at CFN’s  Counselor’s Meeting
• Friday October 4^th:
• Wear your Black T-Shirt Day
• Ms. Gonzalez’ “Sit, Sip & Chat” Parent Meeting: 8:30 a.m. in Cafeteria
• Bronx Ensemble Theater Arts Program Afterschool Commences: 2:45 -4:45 p.m. Auditorium

• Monday, October 7^th:
• Staff PD & Faculty Conference: 2:25 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
• Bronx Ensemble Theater Arts Program Afterschool: 2:45 – 4:45 p.m. Auditorium
• Friday, October 11^th:
• Wear your Crazy Hat day

• Monday, October 14^th:  School Closed in Observance of Columbus Day
• Wednesday, October 16^th:  Ms. Gonzalez’ Parent Math Workshop
• Wednesday, October 23^rd:  SLT Meeting at 3:30 pm
• Thursday, October 24^th:  Pre-K Non-Attendance Day
• Friday, October 25^th: Safety Meeting at 2:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 31^st:  Halloween Festivities in Auditorium.  See Schedule/Prep Changes.
• Monday, November 4^th:  Staff PD & Faculty Conference 2:20-3:40 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 5^th: Election Day – no school for students, PD for all Staff Members
• Monday, November 11^th:  Veteran’s Day – School  Closed
• Thursday, November 14^th:  Parent  Teacher Conferences: Afternoon and Evening Sessions
• November 18^th:   Open School Week for Parents
• November 28^th & 29^th:  School Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving
• Monday, December 2^nd:  Staff PD and Faculty Conference 2:20 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
• Thursday, December 12^th:  Pre-K Non-Attendance Day
• Thursday, December 19^th:
• Bronx Ensemble Student Holiday Show:  See Schedule/Prep Changes
• CEC Meeting at 6 p.m. hosted by MHA 65x – Student Show

• December 23^rd – January 1^st:  School Closed – Winter Holiday
• Thursday, January 2, 2014:  School Commences