Boght Hills Colt News (October 2018)

Table of Contents

Message from the Principal – Calendar of Events – Notes from the Nurse – Reminders – Halloween Harvest Parties – Cross-Country Meet – Library News – School Hours and Visitor Information – Student’s Personal Property and Cell Phones – Lost and Found – Picture Day – Parent Programs

Message from the Principal

Dear Boght Hills Families,

The school year is in full swing! I wanted to send a brief message recapping some noteworthy items from our first month, and previewing upcoming points of interest.

This month we introduced overall school expectations to our students. We spoke with everyone about being safe, being respectful, and being responsible. Each student brought home a 2018-19 compact defining the expectations on the bus, on the playground, and in the cafeteria. We have integrated student reflections on being safe, respectful & responsible into morning announcements; will make these expectations a cornerstone of upcoming assemblies; and will further define what it means to be safe, respectful & responsible in different areas of our school.

At Open House, I shared information about school policies. Three policies I want to remind everyone about are: Arrival, Dismissal, and the one-one-one policy for the BIG3 parties.

• Arrival: Please do not bring cars into the large bus loop. Remember that doors do not open until 8:05am.
• Dismissal: All pickups must be signed out in the lobby each day. Remember that doors do not open until 2:30pm. Adults may not visit classrooms without an appointment. Please call by 1:00pm to update the main office if your student’s dismissal plans have changed.
• BIG3: Last year to maintain a safe and orderly environment, the school implemented a policy limiting the number of attendees to the BIG3 classroom parties: Fall/Harvest Party, Winter/Holiday Party, and the Valentine’s Day Party. The One-One-One policy supports a safe and orderly school environment by:
  • Allowing each family to choose one party to celebrate with their student’s class
  • Allowing one adult to attend the chosen party
  • Ensuring the focus is on your Boght Hills student by not allowing any siblings to attend the party

We realize that not everyone was able to attend open house and sign up for a party. A note will be coming home in the next week if you are still interested in signing up. All attendees must be listed on the RSVP list in the main office; individuals not on the RSVP list will not be admitted to party.

I want to thank out PTA for their tremendous efforts kicking off the year. The PTA is a great opportunity for families to connect with the school, and is instrumental in many of the exciting events throughout the school year. I want to thank President Cannistraci and the Executive Committee for all their work planning for this year; Ms. Arcuri and Ms. Clay for welcoming staff back with a wonderful breakfast, Ms. Chapman for coordinating our recent ice cream social, and to all the other volunteers who are helping behind the scenes. Next up is our Walk for FUNds – thanks to all who have been fundraising!

Recently, families received an email through School Messenger about the backpack program at Boght Hills. This year we are continuing a weekend backpack program for students in need. Our school will partner with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, and begin distributing backpacks with food for weekends in early October. Our goal is to support twenty-five students in need. The cost per student is $183 for the year. As a school, we must fundraise approximately $4,600. We are asking our greater school community to consider helping fund this meaningful program. Individuals or businesses can send in donations of any amount, or consider sponsoring a student for the full annual amount of $183. All donations should be sent in to the main office at Boght Hills. Checks should be made out to the Regional Food Bank with a notation in the memo line of the “Boght Hills Backpack Program.” Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Thank you for your consideration and support of the program, and our students. If you have any questions or know of other funding sources, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Lastly, I sincerely thank all or our faculty and staff for their preparation and hard work to begin the year. Everyone has been motivated and focused to do the best for our students.

Looking forward to a great October,

Mr. Puccioni

Calendar of Events

Please see the Boght Hills Elementary webpage for the calendar of events.

Notes from the Nurse

My name is Ingrid Davis and I am the school nurse at Boght Hills. I am happy to announce that Tracy Delmerico, RN, will also be working with me in the health office.

We can be reached by email at ingriddavis@ncolonie.org, tracydelmerico@ncolonie.org or by phone at 518-785-0222, ext. 4310.

To keep our children safe and healthy, Boght Hills and the North Colonie Central School District have established these guidelines:

• Please do not send your child to school with a temperature of 100 degrees of higher in the past 24 hours. They need to be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine (for example: Tylenol or Ibuprofen).
• Please do not send your child to school if he/she has experienced diarrhea or has been vomiting during the night or early morning. They must be symptom-free for 24 hours. 
• Please do not send your child to school if they experience any of the following:
  • Body rash with or without itching and with or without fever
  • Active head lice
  • Red, itchy and/or crusty eyes or complaint of a sore throat longer than 24 hours
  • A bad cold with a very runny nose and/or a bad cough

If your child has been diagnosed with a communicable diseases, for example: strep throat, pink eye, pneumonia, head lice, etc., please notify the school. Students are not allowed to return to school for 24 hours for diseases that require antibiotic treatment.

New Students

All new students must submit a copy of a recent physical done by a New York State healthcare provider. There is a change in the required grades levels. Annual physicals are required for all new, kindergarten, 1st, 3rd and 5th graders. A copy of a dental certificate is also recommended.

Medication

Any medication, including over the counter medication, must have an order written by a licensed provider, delivered to the school by the parent in the original container and must have a parent note granting permission for the school nurse to administer the medication. Please have your student drop off cough drops to the health office with a parent note. 

Thank you for your cooperation in the health and safety of the students!

Ingrid G. Davis, RN
Tracy Delmerico, RN

Reminders

• Please consider sending in an extra set of clothing for the younger students, for the occasional accident or playground mishap.  (Rain, snow and mud season is coming fast. No one likes to sit in wet pants or socks!) Thank you.
• Early Dismissal/Go Home Drill on October 5.  We will dismiss 15 minutes early.
• Half day on October 26.  We will dismiss at 11:45 a.m. for parent-teacher conferences.

Halloween Harvest Parties

Grade 6-Monday, Oct. 29, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Grade 5-Tuesday, Oct. 30, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Grade 4-Wednesday, Oct. 31, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Grade 1-Wednesday, Oct. 31, 10:00-11:00 a.m.

3H-Wednesday, Oct. 31, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

3C-Wednesday, Oct. 31, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

3P-Wednesday, Oct. 31, 12:00-1:30 p.m.

Grade 2-Wednesday, Oct. 31, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

KS-Wednesday, Oct. 31, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

KCh-Wednesday, Oct. 31, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

KC-Wednesday, Oct. 31, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

KG-Wednesday, Oct. 31, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Cross-Country Meet

The district wide elementary cross-country meet is taking place on Wednesday, October 10 at the Town of Colonie Mohawk River Park beginning at 4:00 p.m.  The rain date is scheduled for Thursday, October 11. Coach Ahl and Williams have talked about this exciting school event with all of the 4th, 5th and 6th grade classes as well as handed out the information/permission slip to everyone interested. The students that are planning on taking part in the race must hand their permission slips back to the office by Friday, October 5. Students will go home on their regular bus at dismissal.

Parents should have children at the park by 3:45 p.m., wearing his/her shirt and racer’s tag.

Library News

Happy Fall Reading,

Welcome to the library! It’s been wonderful to welcome students back to the library and to meet our new students. We have many new books for students to browse, check out and enjoy!

During October, students in K-3 will share stories together and complete activities related to our reading. Kindergarten students will meet a character named Chu in a series of books by Neil Gaiman. Students in first grade will enjoy learning more about author/illustrator Mark Teague as we read a variety of his books together. 2nd graders will compare several books by author Oliver Jeffers. Caldecott winner Chris VanAllsburg will be the focus of our reading in 3rd grade. Students in grades 4-6 will focus on all of the materials that are available through the library home page, as well as explore digital options on OverDrive.  All students may access the library page at home. From the library page, check out the catalog and the databases! (Some of the databases require user names/passwords. Soon, students will be bringing a bookmark home with that information). 

The first PTA Scholastic Book Fair of the school year is scheduled for October. During the book fair, students will have the opportunity to purchase books and discover new favorite titles, authors, and illustrators.  Please  consider volunteering at the book fair. Volunteers are critical to running the book fair. Watch for more information about this exciting event. 

Nearly 60 students volunteered to be in the Sixth Grade Library Helper Club. Throughout the year, these students will assist with a variety of projects in the library. It is terrific to have such great helpers volunteer their time.

By now, you have received a note providing some general information about the library. Please contact the library if you have questions or concerns. We are off to a great start and I look forward to a wonderful year at the Boght Hills Library!

Happy Fall Reading,

Lori Wallace, Librarian

School Hours and Visitor Information

School Hours

Our doors open at 8:05 a.m. for students who arrive by bus. At that time, students may go to the cafeteria for breakfast or report to their classrooms to begin the day’s work. There is no supervision in school before 8:05 a.m. for those who are not directly part of the Colonie Youth Center’s Before/After School Program. Therefore, it is important that those who arrive by car plan to arrive no earlier than 8:05 a.m. as they will not be able to enter the building. Our daily schedule begins at 8:30.  They are marked tardy at 8:25.

Cars are never permitted in the big circle closest to the building as it is a fire lane. Please note the visitor parking spaces adjacent to the athletic field.  Your cooperation and understanding are much appreciated.

Visitors

Family adults and other visitors are always welcome; however, all visitors must report to the main office to sign in before proceeding to the area of the building for which they are signing in.  This is for the safety and security of everyone in the building. “Visitor” stickers are located on the desk in the office by the sign-in sheets.  Visitors will be announced to the person you are here to see.  We expect that you will limit your travels to the destination you indicated upon sign in to protect the safety and confidentiality of our students and staff.  Be sure to sign out when you leave so that we don’t look for you during an emergency.

Pick-ups

We understand that situations arise requiring a change in your child’s dismissal plans. Please help us by sending a note with your child that morning or a fax (518-785-0222) no later than 1:00 that day. Calls during dismissal (2:15-3:00) inhibit the smooth and safe dismissal process. Sending an email to your child’s teacher might not get the information to the office in a timely manner and your dismissal request may not be followed. Thank you.

Student’s Personal Property and Cell Phones

The North Colonie Central School District has taken reasonable steps to prevent the theft of student property. However, the district is not responsible for theft, loss or damage to students’ personal property on the premises. Additionally, families are encouraged to list valuable items, such as musical instruments, on their homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy. Elementary students do not need cell phones. Students may use the phone in the main office to contact you or you may contact the office if you need them. If you require your child to carry a cell phone, it must be stored in their backpack in the off-position during the day.  It may never be used to take pictures of other students or staff in school or on the bus. Please check your child’s mobile device regularly and teach them to use it responsibly. Additionally, any “Smart technology” (especially watches) should be turned off during the school day to avoid distractions.

Lost and Found

Each year our “Lost and Found” overflows with items, i.e. sweaters, boots, eyeglasses, winter jackets, gloves, etc. Labeling personal belongings will help us to return lost articles to the proper owner. Therefore, we are requesting that you please label your child’s personal items.

After two days, lunch boxes will be discarded. It becomes unhealthy to keep lunch boxes (frequently with partially eaten lunches) in the building.

Remember, if children can count on having lost items replaced, they do not have any reason to develop personal responsibility.

Picture Day

Picture Day will be Oct. 15 and 16. Mark your calendar! (A notice about which day has been set aside for your child’s class will be stapled to the order form. Thank you.)

Parent Programs

Oct. 25, 2018
Substance Abuse: From Vaping to Heroin, Information and Resources for Parents and Families
stephenhallock@ncolonie.org, 518.785.5511 ext. 3402

Nov. 13, 2018
Social Media and Our Children: What you need to know (in conjunction with the Colonie Police Department)
staceyangell@ncolonie.org, 518.7851341 ext. 4521

March 14, 2019
Suicide Prevention: Schools and Families Working Together
sarasalitan-thiell@ncolonie.org, 518.764.9187

April 4, 2019
Community Wellness Fair: Supporting Parents Supporting Kids
staceygalarneau@ncolonie.org, 518.785.3331

Category: Archive, Boght Hills