Onondaga Road Updates

Tuesday, April 17
The following will take place at the LGI room at WGHS:
6:00 p.m. - Grade 5 parents' planning meeting (end of year activities)
6:30 p.m. - PTA
7:00 p.m. - Superintendent's budget presentation

Wednesday, April 18
Employee Recognition Day!
7:00 p.m. - Grade 3 chorus concert at the OR gym

Friday, April 20 
11:30 a.m. dismissal - half-day for students

Week of April 23-27
Schools closed for Spring Break week 

Wednesday, May 2 and Thursday, May 3
NYS Math Assessments for grades 3, 4, 5

Positivity Project
During the month of March, we learned about many different Positivity Project character strengths: social intelligence, zest/enthusiasm, forgiveness, and humor.  You can see from these pictures just how many students at Onondaga Road demonstrate these strengths in their every day interactions with others.  I often think of how our kids are learning to appreciate and understand their own strengths as they grow, and I wonder how they will use those strengths to make amazing contributions to their communities and our world!

Now that we are into April, we will be learning about integrity, the love of learning, appreciation of beauty, and connection/purpose.  We hope you find the character cards that come home each week helpful as you talk to your own child about their own strengths. 

NYS Assessments
Just a reminder, students in grades 3, 4, 5 will be engaging in the NY State English Language Arts Assessment on Wednesday, April 11 and Thursday, April 12.  All grades will be taking these assessments on the computer this year, and our students are pretty good at all of this technology integration!  You can help at home by making sure your child is rested and ready to show what they know, having a good breakfast, and arriving to school on time.  Thank you for your continued support from home!

Go Blue for Kids
April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. As the leading agency in Onondaga County for the prevention of child abuse, McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center is planning a number of activities and events to recognize the importance of community education on child abuse prevention. The West Genesee PTA/PTO District Council is asking for your support during the April awareness campaign Go Blue 4 Kids. By donating $1 between now and April 12th, you can help our community go BLUE. For each dollar donation, our school will receive a blue pinwheel. On April 19, all pinwheels will be placed outside of each of the schools in the district.

Why Blue? Why Pinwheels? The blue pinwheel serves as the national symbol for child abuse prevention representing a happy and healthy childhood. Thank you for your consideration. 

  

Welcome to the Class of 2031
Can you believe that 2031 is the high school graduation year for the students who will enter kindergarten this fall of 2018?  This year we are embarking on a slightly new Get Ready for Kindergarten program.  This is intended to make the transition to kindergarten exciting for children and informative for parents and families.  By attending various sessions,  parents and children will have opportunities to meet our kindergarten teachers and many other staff members, and participate in fun activities focusing on kindergarten readiness skills. We are asking families of up-and-coming kindergarteners to RSVP. The first session is scheduled for Thursday, April 12, 6:00 -7:00 p.m. If you have neighbors, family, or friends who have children coming to school in the fall, please let them know to contact us!

Calendar of Events

• April 9-20 - OR students' work on display at Maxwell Library
• April 11-12 - NYS ELA Assessment
• April 12, 6:00 p.m. - Get Ready for Kindergarten, session 1
• April 17, 6:00 p.m. - Grade 5 parent meeting (planning end of year) at WGHS
• April 17, 6:30 p.m. - PTA meeting at WGHS
• April 17, 7:00 p.m. - Budget presentation at WGHS
• April 18, 7:00 p.m. - Grade 3 chorus concert at OR gym
• April 19 - Poem in your pocket day
• April 20 - Half-day 11:30 dismissal for students (Professional development - safety drills for staff)
• April 23-27 - Spring break week - no school

New York State Testing Program

 

We are approaching the New York State English Language Arts Assessment on April 11 and April 12 and the New York State Math Assessment on May 2 and May 3 for all students in grades 3, 4, and 5. All students will take the ELA assessment on the computer unless they have an IEP that requires different accommodations. The math assessment will be completed with a traditional test booklet and pencil.  Students in grade 4 will also take the NYS Science Assessment on May 23 (performance) and June 4 (written).

For this year, the testing sessions have been reduced to two days for ELA and then two days for math. In the past, the assessments were administered over a three day testing period for each subject.  

For the third year in a row, these tests are not timed, and students are given the time they need to prove what they know. Furthermore, each of the test questions was written and reviewed by a committee of New York State teachers.

Since our district is now two years into our new reading program, we are interested in seeing the growth that our students have made over previous years. In math, our teachers and students have been working hard with our math program over the last several years, and we are confident that our students will demonstrate growth. 

The NYS Assessments are an opportunity for our students to rise to a challenge and to show how much they have grown as learners. We encourage them to participate and do their best, and we celebrate their efforts.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding the New York State Assessments.  Thank you for your continued support.

March...Roared in Like a Lion!

Positivity Project

At our last assembly we celebrated students who demonstrate the character strengths of love and fairness:

This week we are learning about zest/enthusiasm.  According to the Positivity Project, zest/enthusiasm is the ability to bring life and excitement to different situations.  I find this to be a natural trait for children, which is why I chose a career in elementary school!  Kids tend to be enthusiastic about a wide range of activities, and that can be refreshing.  We'll be on the lookout this week for displays of zest, and we'll see how it carries across each day's activities!

Safety First

A big thank you is extended to you, parents and guardians, for helping to follow our revised safety protocols here at school.  Thank you for adhering to our dismissal procedures, our sign out procedures, and for sending notes if your child's dismissal procedure needs to change on any given day.  As we continue to revise and upgrade our safety practices, please be aware that you will be asked for identification when you visit school or come to pick up a child.  Please don't hesitate to call if you have questions or suggestions for added safety measures.

Half-Day Dismissal
Due to a half-day professional development day for staff, Wednesday, March 14 is a half-day for students.  Dismissal is at 11:20 for walkers or students being picked up, and buses leave school at 11:30.  Please be sure to send a note if your child is being picked up on Wednesday.

The Annual Science Fair
Our Science Fair is near!  On Thursday, March 15, 6:00-8:00 p.m. in our school gym, students from grades 3, 4, 5 will show their knowledge of science and the scientific process with amazing demonstrations.  Participants may arrive at 5:45 to set up their displays.  All other visitors can come any time between 6:00 and 8:00 to check it all out!

Other Dates to Remember

NOTE:  Grade 3 Chorus Concert has been rescheduled to April 18, 7:00 p.m. at the OR gym.  There is no concert on March 20th as was originally scheduled.

• Wed, 3/14 - Half-day dismissal, 11:30
• Thurs, 3/15 - Science Fair, 6:00-8:00
• Fri, 3/16 - Irish Dancers Visit Onondaga Road
• Wed, 3/21 - Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 at WGHS
• Fri, 3/23 - Report Cards are Distributed
• Fri, 3/30 - No School (Good Friday)