Monday, March 19, 2012

PLAYGROUND CONSTRUCTION/NEW DISMISSAL SITES FOR FIRST AND FOURTH GRADES

March 19, 2012

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Further to our September 2011 PTA meeting and our ongoing conversations about the upcoming playground renovation, we are pleased to inform you that the small raised playground (where the monkey bars are) will begin deconstruction later this week (Wednesday through Friday).

During this period, we will revise our first grade and fourth grade dismissal locations as follows:

-first grade students will be dismissed adjacent to the lower playground (currently, second and third grade students dismiss at this location). This dismissal site is right outside of the cafeteria.
-fourth grade students will dismiss at the Avon Road exit on Avon Road (currently, fifth graders dismiss at this location).

These dismissal sites will remain in effect beginning this Wednesday, March 21, 2012 until further notice.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Principal's Update From PTA Meeting

Academic Update
• For the 2011-2012 school year, we have focused on strengthening students’ abilities in mathematical reasoning and constructing viable arguments, and in literacy, the focus is on improving students’ written analysis to informational texts. All of our professional development has focused on the Common Core Learning Standards and making our curriculum more rigorous. Please continue to reinforce skills at home. Mrs. Corley will hold monthly workshops focused on academic topics. Please also ask your child’s teacher about specific information that is pertinent to your child’s grade. For additional support, please do not hesitate to contact our school’s literacy coach, Julia Kucharski and our math coach, Janet Marmo.
• Every two months, you have been receiving a copy of our school’s curriculum calendar. In your child’s classroom, you should also receive notes and updates from your child’s teacher. Please do not wait until Parent Teacher Conferences to initiate contact with your child’s teachers. Thank you.

After School Programs Update
• In lieu of a Saturday ELA Program, after school math and ELA programs have been offered to grades 3-8 for five weeks, ending prior to the ELA and Math exams in April. Students who did not meet standards last year or who are in danger of not meeting standards for this year have been invited to the program.

Events Update
• Parent Teacher Conferences take place March 13th from 1-3 PM and 5:30-8 PM. That date is scheduled as a half day of school. Dismissal will be at 11:30 AM for grades 1-8 and 11:15 AM for PK and K.
• Middle School Career Day has been scheduled for the morning of March 21st. If any parent is interested in coming in as a presenter, please contact Ms. Peters.
• Our Arts Benefit Concert will take place on March 22nd at 6 PM
• The PreK program does not take place on Friday, March 23rd.
• Family volleyball night takes place on March 28th at 6 PM.

Testing Update
• Acuity exams will take place on March 5,6,and 8,9 for grades 3-8. These formative, periodic assessments are used to inform educators of the skills necessary to teach each student. The school reviews the item analysis reports to see students’ strengths and areas in need of improvement in ELA and math.
• The dates for the New York State ELA and Math assessment have changed. The grades 3–8 ELA exams will be administered April 17–19 and the math exams will take place April 25–27.

About Parent Coordinator Phyllis Corley

My name is Phyllis Louise Lattimer-Corley. I am married and have one son.

I was the educational director of a day care center in Nassau County for sixteen years prior to the birth of my son. I planned to be a stay-at- home mom for five years until my son went to kindergarten. Well, that didn’t happen! I got involved in his elementary school, PS 178, first as a class parent, then in the library, and later became PTA president for three years.

When my son moved on to middle school at MS 74, I again took on the role of PTA president for two years. Gee, I guess I wasn’t really staying at home. My son, James is now a freshman at Binghamton University. I am fortunate to be writing this blog, as I enter my sixth year as parent coordinator of my son’s wonderful alma mater.

Welcome to our school family. I am looking forward to an exciting school year. There are so many fantastic activities that have been planned for both you and your child. I encourage all parents to be partners in your child’s school.
Ø Attend Parent Teacher Conferences
Ø Go to PTA Meetings
Ø Participate in Parent Workshops
Ø Volunteer to help at school events.

I am here to assist you in any way that I can. Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or just stop by for a cup of coffee.

Phyllis Corley,
Parent Coordinator

Corley's Corner

Corley's Corner
Parents and Staff turn out for Corley's Ladies' Night at Strike Long Island (November 2008)

Mrs. Corley gets ready to read at the Barnes and Noble Fundraiser Event

Parents and Staff participate in Corley's Cupcake Creations Parent Workshop


Our Student Council Gives Back!

Our Student Council Gives Back!
2009 Student Council President Chrysalis Terrado and her cabinet pose in front of dozens of toys donated by Holliswood families for our annual toy drive (December 2008)

Upcoming School Closings and Half Days


To view the official NYC Dept. of Education 2013-2014 School Calendar, visit


http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D45BBFC5-BB4E-4C6B-ACE7-F7E15D8AA1BE/0/20132014SchoolYearCalendar.pdf

It is also anticipated that we will add half days for professional development for our faculty during the 2013-2014 school year (subject to UFT and PTA approval). An announcement will be made.



In the event of an emergency closing or delayed opening due to weather, please call 311 or watch your local news channels. When NYC public schools are closed, our school will be closed.















Monthly Events

Every month, you will receive a calendar of our monthly events.