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May 19: PRE Principal's Message

 

Care For Yourself, Care For Others
We Belong Together!

Dear  Preston Families,

Happy Tuesday! There’s much to share with you this week.  The character parades were brilliant and the selections of characters were clever.  You can view each grade level’s parade: Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade

Hopefully, your children were able to view Preston’s teacher’s interdependence video.  They shared strategies for addressing negative emotions and feelings we experience. We hope the video is helpful to you and your children. These strategies are useful for learning at home and in every aspect of students’ lives.  A video of your children’s strategies will be shared. 

This week, we will practice the habit of wonderment and awe.  Students might be in awe of mathematical solutions, lines in a poem, nature, or pieces of art.  To practice this habit, students will share the artwork they have done since Learning From Home began. They will take pictures and post on Seesaw.  The collection of art will be shared on Friday.   

At this time, there are typically end-of-year celebrations and culminating activities for students.  While their absence is significant, they do not encompass the totality of a child’s school experience.  The school year will end differently than it began, but we can still remember and hold onto the memories that we’ve made, especially those that matter to you and your family.

In collaboration with the superintendent, each school is working to reimagine how to honor our fifth graders as they leave elementary school. Options for live and virtual commencement are underway and plans for each are in process.  We soon will begin screening incoming kindergartners. We cannot conduct these screenings in-person. However, we will send parent questionnaires to gain insight into your child and send a separate questionnaire to preschools seeking further insights. 

A process is being developed to allow children to collect belongings left at school. The elementary principals and District administration will establish protocols and schedules to ensure the safety of children, parents, and staff. The process will occur in early June; a schedule will be shared as soon as it is finalized. Congregating among students, families,and teachers will be prohibited.  Refunds for field trips that could not be taken are being processed for reimbursement.

As we prepare for the end of the school year, we also are planning for summer programs and the start of the 2020-2021 school year.  We will share information about summer programs and next year as soon as possible.   We continue to formulate live, in-person experiences for students as well as update the K-5 Family University on the Learning From Home page, which offers additional learning activities for your children. 

Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day, a school holiday.  Therefore, live sessions will not occur and assignments will not be posted.  Due to Memorial Day next week food distribution will take place on Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th.  Regular distribution will resume the following week. 

I hope you all enjoy the long weekend. 

I wish you joy, compassion, and resilience.  

Dennis Kortright
Principal, Samuel J. Preston School 


Ongoing Items to Note;

  • The District provides free breakfast and lunch for eligible students. If you are currently eligible but have not yet applied, please complete the request form.  If your circumstances have changed and you are in need of food assistance contact your principal. All inquiries are confidential.
  • If your child needs a device, if there is a problem with your equipment, or if your family does not have internet access, the District will provide a device and/or a mobile hotspot to deliver internet access. If you require technology support please complete this form. If you have questions contact Brian Seligman (914-630-3389) or (seligmanb@harrisoncsd.org).