February 2017 Blog

Sometimes winter is really fun, but sometimes the winter seems to go on and on and on.  We found lots of ways to stay productive and positive here at OR throughout the winter.  Here are a few snapshots for you...

We had our first ever BINGO and Ice Cream Social in the middle of the winter!  Oh what fun to create sundaes on a cold, cold day!  Thanks for coming to share the fun, and thanks to the many parents who volunteered.

We experienced a variety of activities on Enrichment Day.  What a range of activities:   Zoo to You, bird feeder building, scuba diving, Irish step dancing, karate, coin collecting, hip hop dancing, baseball card trading, cartooning…and the list went on from there.  Thanks to the many parent and community volunteers who made this fun February day possible.

Each month we have a school-wide assembly which highlights the character traits of the month.  Students learn about positive character traits, and then one grade level performs the assembly.  This month’s show will be run by many of our first graders; they will teach us about honesty and trust.  Last month our second graders taught us about perseverance.

Soon we’ll host our fourth annual Onondaga Road Science Fair.  Students from grades 3, 4, 5 are invited to participate in the Science Fair on March 16^th at 6:00.  Students from all grades are welcome to come to the Fair.  On February 15^th we will host a library research night for anyone interested in participating in the Science Fair.  The library will be open 4:00-6:30 on February 15^th, but if you plan to come, you can come any time within those two and a half hours.  At that time, students will get specific information about the Science Fair and a poster display board for their projects.  Students must be accompanied by an adult at both the research night on February 15^th and the Science Fair on March 16^th.  

Onondaga Road Ice Cream Social

Onondaga Road School’s
First Ever
Mid-Winter Bingo & Ice Cream  Social! 

Tonight
Thursday, 1/19/17
6:00 – 7:30

This event is for OR students, and you must be accompanied by an adult.

Hope to see you there!

Happy New Year! 

Welcome back to Onondaga Road as we begin the year 2017. On behalf of our staff and students, I would like to extend heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the many varied gifts, food, clothing, and monetary donations that you all contributed to help make the holidays brighter for so many friends and families in our community.  Your generosity is truly overwhelming and very much appreciated.  We are very fortunate to live in this caring community, so thank you once again.

The beginning of a new year is a great time to revisit some routines and procedures that we have established to keep everyone safe and happy.  Please make it a point to discuss these topics with your children and family:

🗹 School Bus Safety – We have a responsibility to get your children to and from school safely every day.  You can imagine how this can become increasingly difficult during times of inclement weather.  Each child also has responsibilities to behave and be safe on the bus.  Take time to talk to your child about his/her responsibilities of staying in assigned seats until they reach their stop, speaking in a respectful voice using respectful language, and keeping their hands and feet to themselves.  Expect them to follow safety rules on the bus.  I have frequent conversations with students, parents and bus drivers regarding bus safety.  These are ongoing teachable moments, and we should communicate our expectations to our children consistently.  Thank you for your continued support from home.

🗹 Arrival and Dismissal Procedures – The school day begins at 9:00.  There is limited supervision out front until that time, so students should not be dropped off earlier.  Students arriving after 9:10 a.m. are considered tardy and will need to be signed into school by a parent.  Dismissal time is 3:15 p.m. for walkers (students being picked up) and 3:20 p.m. for buses.  Remember to sign students out at the main office if you are picking them up, but please wait until their 3:15 dismissal as opposed to having students called from class.  If you know ahead of time that you will be picking your child up on any given day, please send a note with your child.  Finally, be cognizant of parking lot safety; refrain from parking in “no parking” zones, do not block the cars on Onondaga Road that are trying to enter the school lot, and do not pass school buses with flashing red lights in the bus loop.  It really does take effort from all of us to keep our children safe!

🗹 Guests Visiting Our School – If you are a guest reader or volunteer in the building at any time, you must enter the school through the main door entrance.  Please stop at the main office to sign in as a visitor, and wear a visible visitor’s badge during your stay.

Here’s what’s happening this month:

• Monday, January 9 – Monthly R2D2 Assembly
• Wednesday, January 11 – OR PTA meeting takes place at 6:30 at WGHS. Dialogue with the Superintendent follows at 7:00.
• Thursday, January 12 – CODE Assemblies
• Monday, January 16 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (School is closed.)
• Wednesday, January 18 – Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 at WGH
• Thursday, January 19 – Bingo and Ice Cream Social, 6:00-7:30 at OR (Details coming soon!)
• Friday, January 27 – School Store
• Monday, January 30 – Staff Development Day (No school for students.)

Onondaga Road - Happy Holiday Season!

Home and School Connections
As you recall, we experienced our first snow day of the season on Monday, November 21, which would have been a conference day for elementary school teachers and parents.  Luckily, with some flexibility and a lot of cooperation between home and school, we were able to reschedule most conferences.  If you need any further information about your child’s day to day school progress, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.  Thank you for your continued support from home.

Jump, Jump… Jump Around!

Last Wednesday we were wowed by our fifth grade Jump Rope Club.  Fifth graders who chose to participate attended early morning practices for eight weeks.  They mastered many skills and tricks, and the audience was amazed at their talents. Thank you, parents, for providing morning transportation for your children to be able to attend practices, and thank you, students, for your hard work!  Click on this link if you would like to check out our jump ropers:

OnondagaRoad Jump Rope Assembly

Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County
Do you know of a child between the ages of newborn and five years old that would love the gifts of books and reading?  Well, we’re in luck.  The Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County, in conjunction with a program called Imagination Library, has free books for our little ones.  Imagination Library is a free, early literacy program that delivers to children age birth to five a new, age-appropriate book in the mail each month.  This promotes love of reading and learning.  To find out more information on how you can access free books for young children, just click one of these links:

                     http://onliteracy.org/frequently-asked-questions/ or http://onliteracy.org/

A Time for Giving

I am always amazed at how generously our community comes together to help one another at this time of year.  Our students are involved in several community service donation drives, and your generosity does not go unnoticed.  Thank you to all who have donated gifts and food to help make someone else’s holidays a little brighter.  Every bit helps, and Onondaga Road families and staff have, once again, gone above and beyond to embrace our local community.

For Your Calendar

• Wednesday, 12/7 – Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 at WGHS
• Thursday, 12/8 – Merry Go Round Theater visits grade 4 at school
• Friday, 12/9 – Merry Go Round Theater visits grade 3 at school
• Friday, 12/16 – Kindergarten builds gingerbread houses
• Monday, 12/19 – Grades 4 & 5 concert, 7:00 at WGHS
• Wednesday, 12/21 – Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 at WGHS
• Friday, 12/23 – Classroom holiday celebrations (Last day of school)
• Monday, 12/26 through Monday, 1/2/17 – Holiday Break – Schools are closed
• Tuesday, 1/3/17 – Back to school!  Happy New Year!