OPEN SCHOOL WEEK, Report Cards & Other Reminders

• Open School week will take place between 11/17 - 11/21
• Due to the ITA exams in ELA and Math on 11/17 and 11/18, we ask that you do not visit grades 3-8 classes on Monday and Tuesday. Our recommended schedule for open school week is as follows:

Grades PK & K - 11/17 between 10-11 AM; Grades 1 & 2 - 11/18 between 10-11 AM

Grades 3-5 - 11/19 between 10-11 AM; Grades 6-8 - 11/21 between 10-11 AM

• November 20th is a half day. Therefore, we do not recommend a visit on this day. If the above-mentioned times are not convenient for you, please arrange a class visit with the teacher at an alternate time. As a reminder, open school week is not an opportunity for an individual conference. Individual conferences take place at Parent-Teacher conferences. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 AM. All After-School Programs will be cancelled. Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled 1-3 PM and 5:30-8 PM. Elementary parents should have received an appointment notice from the classroom teacher.
• The PTA has sponsored a book fair, which will be open all week, including during parent-teacher conferences.
• The Big Apple Fundraiser Company will deliver all purchased goods to the school on November 20th. Ms. Stoll will contact the students to arrange for pick up.
• Our Student Council nominations have launched and currently, middle school students are campaigning for various seats. Students will vote beginning November 20th.

REPORT CARDS

• Report cards were distributed today to all students in grades 1-8.
• In the middle school, there was an important change regarding the physical education grade. A parent letter has been issued and will be distributed tomorrow regarding this topic.
• For class 702, the Spanish grade appeared twice on the report card. This was an error in the system. We are aware of the error and will issue revised report cards as soon as it can be resolved. Thank you for your patience on this matter.
• In middle school, student averages will be rounded to the nearest whole in order to be considered for academic or principal's honor roll.
• Principal's Honor Roll, Academic Honor Roll & Attendance Honor Roll will be announced shortly

OTHER EXCITING NEWS

• Last week, Young People's Chorus began. Students in grades 3-8 may still audition during any given Friday when the conductor is at 178. Students must audition with a signed permission slip. Permission slips are available in the office. Band members are also eligible to participate in chorus [they meet on different days].
• Our Ballroom Dance Residency with Dancing Classrooms of American Ballroom Theatre begins on Wednesday, November 26th. We are very excited to launch this program for our fifth grade.
• Our ThinkQuest After School Technology Program begins next week (selected participants).

ENJOY THE WEEKEND!

Winter Concert - SAVE THE DATE!

SAVE THE DATE

Winter Concert

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 6:00 PM

Featuring:

The Holliswood Middle School Band, led by Band Instructor, Michael Castillo

Holliswood School students from the Young People's Chorus (YPC):
Grades 3-5 Chorus & Grades 6-8 Chorus, led by YPC Conductor, Amy Kotsonis

Details will follow

Blue Ribbon Award Celebration

[Above: The Blue Ribbon plaque awarded by Secretary of Education Spellings]

To the Holliswood School Community:

On Friday, November 7th, we celebrated as a community on winning the Blue Ribbon Award from the United States Department of Education. Superintendent Anita Saunders was our guest speaker, who stated, "Schools succeed because of the effective use of data." Superintendent Saunders thanked the entire school community for being present to celebrate the award. Of the other distinguished guests, CEO of the Integrated Curriculum and Instruction Learning Support Organization (ICILSO) and former Region 3 Superintendent, Judith Chin, was also in attendance. Ms. Chin was grateful for being invited to celebrate with the community and was very proud of the school's efforts. Parent Coordinator Corley coordinated the entire event, which included performances by Ms. Passarella's class, third, fifth and eighth graders, as well as a remarkable performance by the new Holliswood 8th Grade Band, led by our new band instructor, Michael Castillo. Students were touched by the greeting made by former Principal Diane Hobbs, who was unable to join us, as she is currently in China. Assistant Principal Patrick Klocek was our Master of Ceremonies, who remarked on our mission to educate the "whole child."

We would like to once again congratulate all the students, parents, teachers, staff members and community members who contribute to moving our school forward.

Principal for a Day

[From left: Jessica Kemper from Pencil, Principal Ambert, Parent Coordinator Corley and Director Bill Martin of Verizon]

On October 23rd, Director of Community and External Affairs of Verizon, Mr. Bill Martin, was designated 'Principal for a Day.' Mr. Martin visited a variety of classes, read stories, answered questions and spoke at an assembly for Middle School students regarding focusing on school work and achieving one's aspirations. Thank you for visiting us, Mr. Martin, and thank you to Verizon for all of their efforts.

Blue Ribbon Award and Upcoming Events

Dear Families:

As you may know, I attended the Blue Ribbon Award Ceremony in Washington DC on Monday and Tuesday to receive the school's award from the US Department of Education for the school's outstanding progress and performance. Former Principal Diane Hobbs was also in attendance, along with our SETSS Teacher, Ms. Abramowitz-Imperatore. During my visit, I met principals from all over the country, who received their awards as well. Only 20 schools from New York won the prestigious award. There were 350 schools that won and 750 principals and administrators from the United States present at the ceremony. In honor of this event, we would like to celebrate on November 7, 2008 with the entire community (details will follow). We will display our Blue Ribbon Flag proudly, as you enter through Radnor Road in the coming days. Thank you for all your support for our students and teachers.

The Acuity ELA predictive exam was administered this week to students in grades 3-8. This exam (a practice test) measures the students' reading comprehension and mirrors the NYS ELA exam. You will receive your child's results within the next two-three weeks. These results are analyzed by myself, Mr. Klocek, as well as your child's teacher, to inform what next steps are needed in order to prepare your child for the actual New York State ELA, which takes place in January. The data also informs what school-wide goals and initiatives are needed to move all students forward.

The CHAMPS Afterschool Program began on Monday, October 20th. We are pleased to have flag football, badminton and soccer available to our MS students.

Our Principal for a Day, Mr. Bill Martin, Director of Community Affairs for Verizon, will be in our building tomorrow morning. Thank you to Verizon for their efforts in supporting our school.

Tomorrow night is Family vs. Faculty Volleyball Night. The game starts at 6 PM. We hope to see you there.

Specialized High School Admission Tests are this weekend - Good luck to all the 8th grade students taking the exam! You will perform magnificently!

A parent letter was distributed last week regarding our upcoming auditions for Young People's Chorus. This audition is open to students in grades 3-8. Thus far, 55 students have submitted permission slips. Auditions will take place on Monday, 10/27 at 9:30 AM. Students will be accompanied by a teacher in the auditorium and do not have to prepare a special song to sing. Three representatives from the Young People's Chorus will assess the students' ability. We will accept permission slips until Friday morning (10/24). If your child does not have a permission slip, he/she cannot audition for the chorus. If you need another slip, please request one from the office or through your child's teacher.

Next week, the PTA will be sponsoring the Halloween Masquerade on October 30th. Please contact co-Presidents Ms. Ellerby or Ms. Kelly regarding this event.

October 31st is Halloween, please do not send the students to school in costumes and take all precautions when assisting your child during any trick-or-treat activities.

As you know, school will be closed on Election Day (November 4th). However, we will have professional development for our staff. On November 11th, school will be closed in observance of Veteran's Day.

Information regarding the November Parent-Teacher Conferences will be distributed shortly. This year, both the afternoon and evening conferences will be scheduled on November 20th.

Thank you for your continued support as our partners in education.

Jennifer Ambert

School Fundraiser & Upcoming Picture Day

Dear Families,

The deadline for our school fundraiser (BIG APPLE) is October 14th. Please submit your order forms on that day. The funds raised will be used to purchase guided reading books and materials to support teaching and learning at our school.

Thank you for all your support!

*******************October 14th is also Picture Day********************

Message from Mrs. Guglietta regarding an online Art Exhibition & Contest

Don't forget to submit your child's artwork in the Crayola Annual Juried Children's Art Exhibition.

Have your child (grades K-6) use the theme "Green--Earth's Favorite Color" and turn it into creative artwork inspired by an eco-friendly learning experience.

Deadline for submission is November 1, 2008.

Register today at
https://mail.nycboe.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://pull.xmr3.com/p/7125-718C/41608761/http-www.crayola.com-artexpo.html

Please email MGuglietta@schools.nyc.gov if you have questions regarding the submission process or any concerns.