P.S. 39 Wednesday Bulletin for January 30 2008

Read the MS file by clicking below:
/Wed.%20Bulletin%20Jan%2030.doc

Newsletter February 2008 Cluster News

SCIENCE NEWS **************************** from Mrs. Crane

Liquids are flowing, balance scales are balancing, forces are pushing and pulling, thermometers are falling below zero, crickets are chirping, bulbs are blooming and catapults are flipping in the Science Laboratory.

In the following months 1^st grade will be exploring weather and seasons, temperature, and the sun, moon and stars. 2^nd grade will be exploring earth materials, soil composition and properties of rocks and minerals. 3^rd grade will be observing, describing and identifying various forms of energy such as sound, heat, electrical and chemical energy. 4^th grade will be reviewing electricity and magnetism and exploring properties of water such as evaporation as it applies to the water cycle. 5^th grade will begin a unit on earth science looking at the processes that help shape the land such as erosion, volcanoes, and earthquakes. They will identify minerals and classify rocks as sedimentary, igneous or metamorphic.

******

On Tuesday, February 26^th the Computer Lab will be open before the P.T.A. from 6:00 to 7:00 PM to enable parents to explore and investigate The Renzulli Learning System that their children have been using in the computer lab. Please don’t miss this opportunity as we encourage the feedback and commentary from parents.

ART NEWS

Congratulations to Finn Kleckner of Miss Polverino’s class for winning the Thirteenth Annual Interagency Early Childhood Professional Development Institute contest! Finn’s work has been selected to appear on all folders and program booklets for the agency. Finn, we are so proud of you!

Along with our white glittery snowflakes, we’ve expanded our winter theme in the cafeteria with our amazing colorful mittens! We designed our mittens on one side using holiday and winter themes. On the back, we wrote a short piece about winter. The mittens add so much cheerfulness to our winter display.

What an exciting month we have had at PS 39! Our kindergarten learned all about overlapping shapes that create new shapes. They created beautiful abstract layout designs and used three colors to differentiate between the various shapes. Our first graders have become true Chinese artists! They designed beautiful Chinese lanterns by using Chinese brushes and black ink. They wrote “Happy new year” by painting with the brush in a straight vertical alignment. The second graders learned all about radial art and created wonderful kaleidoscope circle art using balance and symmetry with cray pas! The third graders worked vigorously to create masterpieces of scratch art! What wonderful and creative patterns and textures we came up with to fill in our shapes with. We loved the surprise of having different colors come out in different areas in our pieces of work. The fourth grade created balanced circle art by tracing circle templates. They devised amazing balanced layouts using a color scheme to differentiate between the circle shapes. They will also be creating an unbalanced layout using the circle templates. No balance and no symmetry! Our fifth graders incorporated the shading techniques they learned such as gradient, stippling, hatching, cross-hatching and contour line in their self-portraits. What fabulous pieces they turned out to be! We cannot wait to apply these techniques to our still life set up! Come see our magnificent pieces of work on display in room 103 and around the school!

Looking ahead…we will be studying watercolor portraiture, Chinese art, sculpture, stained glass, shading and line art. We cannot wait to begin working on these new projects and techniques! We are continuing to expand our knowledge of the arts by exploring different media and techniques. Please feel free to contact me or make an appointment to see me whenever the need arises. My prep schedule is as follows: Monday through Friday, first period- 8:20-9:20 a.m.

MUSIC NEWS ************************** from Mr. Kahn

Many thanks to all the children in the chorus and recorder club as well as the parent band which made the Holiday Show a great success. Again, thanks to all who participated and attended the performance.

We have been busy singing and playing songs celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. Some of the songs that have been popular with the students are

“Blowin in the Wind” by Bob Dylan and “ You’ll Sing a Song” by Ella Jenkins.

Lyrics to “ You’ll Sing a Song”

You’ll sing a song and I’ll sing a song and we’ll sing a song together.

You’ll sing a song and I’ll sing a song in warm or win-try weather.

You’ll play a tune and I’ll play a tune…

You’ll hum a line and I’ll hum a line…

You’ll whistle a while and I’ll whistle a while…

Special kudos to recent P.S. 39 graduate Rajon Herbert whose musical composition, written last year in the New York Philharmonic’s Very Young Composers Program at 39 was selected to be performed at Lincoln Center in the Young Peoples Concert. Rajon was one of four students selected in all of New York City. Congratulations to Rajon and his family. We are all very proud.

GYM NEWS ********************************from Mr. Esposito

Going into the month of February, the physical education program at P.S. 39 is in high gear. We have finished our New York City Fitnessgram, and the results have been sent to the Department of Education. I am happy to report that our fourth and fifth grade students completed the fitness gram at 100% attendance.

The Fitnessgram is a personal evaluation of each student that includes five components. These are: Pacer Run, Sit and Reach, Trunklift, Push Ups, and Curl Ups. Each parent and student will receive a letter that will explain the results. These results will not be shared with anyone else. Height and weight is also taken for each student from K through 5.

For January and February, our program is in the midst of our crosstraining phase. From K through 5 we have been doing a variety of different exercises during each class. We have also been playing volleyball games in the fourth and fifth grade.

All in all, we are looking forward to an exciting spring at 39 and we are pleased with the enthusiasm of our wonderful students.

Newsletter February 2008 Second Grade

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT 2^ND GRADE!

FEBRUARY EDITION

CLASS 2-206- MRS. CALHOUN

CLASS 2-204- MS. BERKOWITZ

CLASS 2-201- MRS. HANNAN

What’s new in Reading?

For the month of February, your children will be working on reading- building word power and building their vocabulary; Readers have strategies for monitoring for meaning, problem solving words, and maintaining fluency.

What’s new in Writing?

For the month of February, students will be utilizing non-fiction features/strategies from their previous reading unit to write their very own non-fiction books.

Ways to help your child at home:

Encourage your child to talk specifically about writing their nonfiction ideas. You can help your child stretch their thoughts in writing by encouraging them to:

• Read non-fiction books
• Talk about how one page connects to the next
• Noticing specific non-fiction text features such as captions, table of contents, blurbs, index, pictures/diagrams.

What’s new in Math?

For this month, in the context of number stories, children will review earlier work with addition and subtraction and begin formal work with multiplication and division. This unit has three main areas of focus: introduce and practice array models, to review strategies for solving addition and subtraction problems, and to develop procedures for multiplication/division problems.

Ways to help your child at home:

Please participate in math games with your child at home. Assist with homework when necessary, and have conversations around math thinking.

What’s new in Social Studies?

For the month of February, we will be beginning our research around Dutch life. Students will explore the everyday activities of Dutch families. We will be taking a trip to the Old Stone House, in order to experience daily Dutch life.

February Birthdays

Tori James

Mia Gates

Maya Brady

Kayla Leong

Rachel Duke

Amelan Parsons

Jonathan Guzman

Newsletter February 2008 First Grade (PDF File)

Click here for the first grade February newsletter
/First%20grade%20news%20Feb.pdf

Newsletter February 2008 Kindergarden

SPECIAL THANKS

Thank you to our parents who chaperoned our trip to Puppetworks. Thank you to those who joined us for our writing celebration last month.

LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE LEARNING THIS MONTH

Reading Workshop – Readers recognize when books have patterns and use these patterns to read with fluency and comprehension. The children will be learning the following strategies:

1. How to recognize patterns in books

2. How to use the patterns to help figure out tricky words (print work)

3. How to use the pattern to help figure out what the book is about (comprehension)

4. How to use the pattern to help read with smooth voices (fluency)

Writing Workshop – The children will be learning that writers write to teach people how-to do something. They will be writing how-to books. The children will be learning to use the following strategies:

1. Writers use very specific language

2. Using words like ‘first,’ ‘then.’ ‘next,’ ‘afterwards,’ ‘before,’ ‘finally,’ and ‘last’

3. Continue to use what they know about letters, sounds and sight words to increase the number of words they write

4. Use words wall to edit high frequency words in their writing

Below is a list of sight words the children should be able to recognize:

The, I, to, a, is mom, cat, dad, my, go, me, like, on, in, am, we, it, and, up, at, see, he, can, she and you.

Math – The children will be taught the following concepts: introduce addition and subtraction symbols and terminology through number stories, introduce calculators, introduce attribute blocks, continue to explore 2 dimensional shapes and symmetry, reinforce and extend counting, numeral recognition and number writing skills and reinforce number sequencing and number comparison skills.

Social Studies – we will continue our discussion of families. Please send in a family photo. Family photos are due on January 31, 2008.

School is closed February 18^th – 22^nd.

TRIPS

February 6^th – Kingsborough Community College Theater. The cost is $6.00. You have already paid for this trip.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Please send your child to school with a healthy snack every day.

Folders should be brought to school daily as it is a means of communication between school and home.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU

First Friday is February 1^st. The children have been reading their Just Right Books. Come and listen to your child read to you.

On Friday, February 1^st, Mr. Siege (Mia and Jakob’s dad) will be visiting the Kindergarten classes for some storytelling fun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

K-102

Jared – February 2^nd

Lorissa – February 8^th

Ralph – February 14^th

K-106

Katina – February 24^th

Olivia – February 27^th

Making Books Sing

We have been working closely with teaching artist Kallie Macrides. We have been exploring the setting and characters in a text. The children have been using their bodies to act out the emotions of characters. We are deepening our understanding of friendship and the qualities of good friends.

Newsletter February 2008 PreK Royal

News

ROYAL BALL

_December 20, 2007, the “Heirs to the Throne” threw a magnificent ball.

Kings and Queens attended and witnessed the Royal Procession and creative movement that followed.

Some of the “Heirs” felt shy and did not join in during the procession and movement, but did engage in all other activities.

When asked if he had fun at the Royal Ball, Milo nodded yes. When asked what he liked about it? He responded, “Because my mom was here”.

Josie reported that Jeremy was the song person at the ball, “I was skipping, and I was marching. I felt shy, but I had fun!”

Gyasel chimed in, “I felt shy”.

Aniella said, “I liked eating the food”.

Liam said, “I liked it when my mommy came”.

“I liked that my mommy and daddy stayed”, said Isabel.

Artie said, “I hate it because my mom left. But when my mom was there, I liked the sugar!”

Artie really loved decorating and eating the cookies that the “Heirs” had baked for the Ball.

BABY OBSERVATIONS

_The “Heirs to the Throne” had the opportunity to observe, Claire (Elsie’s little sister) and Farrah (Gabby’s little sister). They noticed how they communicated, moved… A chart was made with all of their observations. The “Heirs” look forward to observing other class siblings.

WALKING TRIP

_The hospital and doctor’s office in the dramatic play area, and the baby study inspired our trip to the maternity ward at Methodist Hospital on January 23^rd, at 9:30 am where the “Heirs” observed newborns and asked the head nurse questions.

At the request of the princesses and princes, she even took some time to give their bears a check-up!

BIG OR LITTLE?

_As the “Heirs” are studying babies, they are also thinking about themselves.

They are realizing all the things they can do presently, but were unable to do when they were babies. At the same time, they are looking forward to all the things they will be able to do in the future as they get bigger, while realizing that it is okay to be little when you need to!

THE “HEIRS” SAY GOODBYE TO MS. ANNE

_The “Heirs to the Throne” said “Goodbye” to Ms. Anne on January 14th. They baked “goodbye” cupcakes and made cupcake toasts to see her off.

Ms. Anne was very thankful and said that she learned a great deal about being a teacher from the “Heirs to the Throne”. In response to her gratitude, she made a book for the “Heirs” entitled, Thank You, Heirs to the Throne!

HAPPY

BIRTHDAY!

Jeremy 2/20

Sebastian 2/24

Eric 2/28

DOCTORS ON CALL AND IN FLIGHT

Along with the hospital and doctor’s office in the dramatic play area, an airplane has emerged. The “Heirs” have been using the listening center’s head phones and chairs to create an airplane.

Interestingly enough, on their list of things and people they needed on board their plane - was included a doctor!

They are still accepting band-aid donations. Anyone interested in donating band-aids, please contact the castle infirmary.

ME-MUSEUMS HAVE BEGUN

_All the “Heirs” are finding out many things about each other as they look at the artifacts in the Me-Museums and ask questions to the highlighted “Heirs”.

ART

_The “Heirs” have been continuing to work on bumpy collages, and work with clay during small group time. They have also been working with the paint medium at the easel using brown and black colored paper.

NEW STUDENT TEACHER

The “Heirs to the Throne” welcomed Adam, the new student teacher from Bank Street College, to their castle.

Newsletter February 2008 PreK Piglet News

PIGLET NEWS

February 2008

ME MUSEUM

We want to know more about your child and your family. How would you like to come into the classroom and participate in our “Me Museum”?

Our “Me Museum” will begin next week it is an important part of our “All About Me” curriculum.

Some suggested ideas are coming in to share a family photo album with the class, reading your child’s favorite book in for a read aloud, or doing an art project/cooking project, or activity. Be creative!

If you want some more clarification or would like to ask questions, feel free to talk to me about it.

DANCE

We now have dance class every Tuesday afternoon. Our program started January 22^nd and will continue until the end of the school year. We will get to show off our moves at an end-of-the-year dance performance.

Please remember that on Tuesdays to dress the children appropriately and make sure that they are wearing rubber soled shoes.

NEW MATERIALS

On January 23^rd, we received new materials for our classroom. We are most excited about the Magna Tiles; we have been making amazing structures with them. An order for more magna tiles has already been made.

OUR PETS

Sadly, Rose, our red shelled hermit crab, fell sick soon after the winter break. She is currently back at the pet shop trying to get better- we want to take a trip to the pet shop to see of we can get another friend for Snappy. If there are any parents that would like to go on the neighborhood walk with us, please talk to Ms. Imperiale about possible dates.

DISCUSSION TOPICS

The children have recently been noticing and talking about “what’s big” and what’s little”. We will be working on the topic, exploring our thoughts about it, and discovering the changes that occur with getting bigger. Don’t be surprised if your little one comes home asking you questions about what they did or couldn’t do when they were younger.

UPCOMING EVENTS

On Thursday February 14^th- we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a friendship feast. Sign up will be posted on the door.

(also, please dress your child in either red or pink that day!)

Reminder: February Winter Break is:

Monday Feb 18^th to Friday Feb 22^nd. We hope everyone has a wonderful winter break.

BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUTS!

Happy Birthday to Natascha and Ryan, they will both be turning 5 yrs old on February 19^th.

P.S. 39 Wednesday Bulletin for January 16 2008

SCHOOL CLOSINGS Mon. Jan. 21^st Martin Luther King Jr.

NEWS

• The Middle School Directory was distributed to the 5^th grade students today. Parents please make your selections, along with your child, for your middle school choice. Also, the DOE has scheduled a middle school fair for parents.

Ours will be on Jan. 24^th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at JHS 88, Peter Rouget, located at 544 7^th Ave. and 18^th Street.

• We want to alert you that there have been frequent muggings in the area. Please be careful, and tell your children about it. Women walking alone have been particularly targeted.
• There was an article in the Monday's New York Times about the performance at the Avery Fisher Hall on Saturday. One of the performers was our former student Rajon Herbert, of whom we are very proud. The New York Philharmonic Young People's Concert was a total success. The orchestra played five brief, vibrantly imaginative works created by fifth and sixth graders in the Young Composers Program that the Philharmonic facilitates in the city. Rajon's jittery "Fairy Mount" elaborated on a melody originally composed on a humble recorder. Congratulations!
• Correction-Anyone interested in assisting Peg Galella with our school bathroom renovation project should contact her at peg.galella@gmail.com There was a misspelling in last week's Wednesday weekly.

Reminders

PLEASE RETURN

• Blue Emergency Contact Cards (2)
• Lunch Forms (even if your child doesn't eat lunch)
• Signed Parent Handbook Receipts
• Signed Discipline Code Receipts

PLEASE STAND OUTSIDE THE GATE AT DISMISSAL FOR OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY.

.

From the PTA

• P.S. 39 Theatre Club

The next show is "A Tooth Fairy Tale" on February 10^th.

We are missing information from one family. We've ordered all of the tickets, but the paperwork from one family has been misplaced. We are looking for you!

We currently have paperwork from the following families:

Hereford, Walden, Gates, Galesi, Spiegler, Shraer.

If your name is not listed above, and you ordered theatre tickets, please contact me via e-mail or phone ASAP. Thanks very much! Jennifer Jacobs
jjacobsnyc@gmail.com

• Skate Night at Wollman Rink – Thursday, January 24^th – Please join us as PS 39 takes over the ice skating rink in Prospect Park. This is a fun event for every member of your family! The cost is $6.00 per person. Space is limited, so get your money & forms in ASAP. Reservations are available on a first-come/first served basis.

This Week

Wednesday, Jan. 16th	Making Books Sing Gr. K & 1 Inquiry Team after-school for selected students 3:15-4:15 p.m. Jewish Museum after-school program for selected students 3:15-4:15 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 17th	Parent Tour 9:00 a.m. PK trip Paperbag Players Gr. 1 trip to Puppetworks Young Composers after-school for selected students Chess Club after-school
Friday, Jan. 18th	Early Bird 7:45-8:20 a.m. "Everyday Math" Parent Workshop 9:00 a.m. NY Philharmonic Gr. 3 & 5 Making Books Sing Gr. 1 & 2 Kdg trip Puppetworks Class Rep Meeting Read-A-Thon ends for 5th Gr.
Monday, Jan. 21st	School Closed
Tuesday, Jan. 22nd	Chinese - Grade 1 NY Philharmonic Gr. 4 Jewish Museum trip 10:30-12:00 a.m. for selected students in Grades 1 & 2 Math Test Prep after-school program for selected students PK Dance Movement class

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, Jan. 23rd	Math – 1st Predictive – Grades 3-5 Making Books Sing Gr.1 Inquiry Team after-school 3:15-4:15 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 24th	Math – 1st Predictive – Grades 3-5 Math Test Prep after-school program 3:15-4:15 p.m. Chess Club after-school program Young Composers after-school program SKATING PARTY 7 – 9:30 p.m. Middle School Fair at JHS 88 – 6 – 8 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 25th	Early Bird 7:45-8:20 a.m. NY Philharmonic Gr. 3 & 5 Making Books Sing Gr. 1 & 2 All monies due from Read-A-Thon
Monday, Jan, 28th	Ballet Tech for selected students PK NO School for students Inquiry Team after-school program 3:15-4:15 p.m. Being Peace Gr. 3-5 Middle School information night at P.S. 39 – 6 – 7 p.m.
Tuesday. Jan 29th	Middle School information at P.S. 39 – 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Chinese Gr. 1 Math Test Program after-school program 3:15-4:15 p.m. CEC mtg at JHS 51 (5th Ave/5th St) 7:00 p.m. PK Movement Class

Reminders...

Please clip those coupons (Box Top). Remember, it is worth a dime each time!

012408 Thursday 7p-930p Skating Night

4^th Annual PS39 Family Skating Night THURSDAY--JANUARY 24, 2008—7 to 9:30PM

Once again the PTA has rented the Wollman Skating Rink**, located in Prospect Park, for the PS39 Family to enjoy. Reservations will be taken on a "first-come, first-serve" basis. Each family member cost is $6.00.

Rental skates are included in the price but you can bring your own skates if you wish. There are lockers, at no cost, to put your belongings in so you can skate freely but you need to bring your own lock. The snack bar will be open but will cost extra. We are so happy to offer this night of family skating again and are looking forward to a wonderful evening.

There is a cap of how many people are allowed in so please complete and return the bottom portion with payment, to the school office,

Att: PTA, Kathy Tiru, As Soon As Possible.

**PS 39 and the City Parks Dept/PP Alliances cannot be held responsible for any claim/judgment arising from use of the rink.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHILD'S NAME _________________CLASS_________________

FAMILY MEMBERS ATTENDING: ______________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TOTAL ENCLOSED: $6 x per person_____________ PHONE# _____________

I shall indemnify and hold harmless PS 39/City of NY/Parks Dept and Rec/PTA against any claims, judgment or action arising from use of the rink initial________________

Signature____________________________________________________________

P.S. 39 Wednesday Bulletin for January 2, 2008

News

SCHOOL CLOSINGS Monday, Jan. 21 Martin Luther King Jr.

• NYS ELA testing for Gr. 3-5 will take place onTues. Jan. 8^th (gr. 3-5), Wed. Jan. 9^th (gr. 3-5), and Thurs. Jan. 10^th (gr. 4 only). It is extremely important that your child arrive to school on time on all testing days. If your child arrives late he/she will have to take the exam during the make-up period.
• We want to thank everyone who participated in the Food Drive. We were able to collect over 100 pounds of food which was delivered to

C.H.I.P.S. on Dec. 21^st. Thanks to the Student Council and the families of P.S. 39 for the wonderful job that they did working so hard for such a good cause.

Looking Ahead Reminders

PLEASE RETURN

• Blue Emergency Contact Cards (2)
• Lunch Forms (even if your child doesn't eat lunch)
• Signed Parent Handbook Receipts
• Signed Discipline Code Receipts

PLEASE STAND OUTSIDE THE GATE AT DISMISSAL FOR OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY.

.

From the PTA

If you did not have the chance to get a new P.S. 39 T- shirt…

We will be selling them the first Friday of every month –

including this Friday, Jan. 4^th. Short-sleeved T-shirts are $10,

long sleeved and ¾ sleeve are $15, and sweatshirts are $20.

Show your spirit!

This Week

Thursday, Jan. 3rd	Chess Club after-school Test Prep after-school 3:15-4:15 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 4th	Family Friday 8:20-8:50 a.m. Early Bird 7:45 a.m. Class Rep mtg.
Monday, Jan. 7th	Ballet Tech – selected students Inquiry Team after-school for selected students 3:15-4:15 p.m. Alphabet Soup parent workshop 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 8th	NY State ELA exam Gr. 3-5 Chinese Gr. 1 PTA Exec. Bd. mtg. 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 9th	NY State ELA exam Gr. 3-5 Making Books Sing Gr. K-1 Inquiry Team after-school for selected students 3:15-4:15 p.m. Jewish Museum after-school for selected students 3:15-4:15 p.m.

Looking Ahead…

Thursday, Jan. 10th	NY State ELA exam Gr. 4 only Chess Club after-school
Friday, Jan. 11th	Early Bird 7:45-8:20 Making Books Sing Gr. 1-2 NY Philharmonic Gr. 3 & 5 Alphabet Soup parent workshop 9:00 a.m.
Monday, Jan. 14th	Inquiry Team after-school for selected students 3:15-4:15 p.m. Being Peace Gr. 3-5
Tuesday, Jan. 15th	SLT mtg. 7:20 a.m. Chinese Gr. 1 NY Philharmonic Gr. 4 General PTA mtg. 7:00 p.m.

Reminders...

• Due date for the Gifted and Talented program application is Jan. 3^rd. If you are interested in your child taking the test please submit the application by tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 3^rd.