IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR SCHOOL? TIPS AND STRATEGIES FOR PARENTS

As the calendar pages flip toward September, you might be asking if your child is ready for school.

Whatever age your child is when they start school, you can help them enter the classroom with confidence by being your child’s first and most important teacher. To ensure the best possible school experience, there are skills and tasks that all children should be comfortable with before entering the classroom.

“RESILIENCE”: FREE SCREENING, DISCUSSION ON CHILDHOOD STRESS AND HEALTH, APRIL 30

It’s been over 20 years since the country’s largest investigation into the lifelong impacts of adverse childhood experiences, namely childhood abuse and neglect. More recently, scientific research has conclusively linked toxic levels of stress during childhood with specific health and social impacts that can last a lifespan. Now, creative and concerned pediatricians, educators and communities are seizing on this knowledge to help break the cycle of adversity and related diseases. To learn more, and help make Minisink Valley a stronger community, the Orange County Parenting Coalition invites you to a free screening and facilitated discussion of "Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope," Tuesday, April 30, 7 p.m., Minisink Valley Middle School auditorium.

MVPTO BOOK FAIR ENCOURAGES READING AND CONVERSATION

You never know what learned skills might come in handy when you're out in the world. At the annual Scholastic Book Fair organized by Minisink Valley’s PTO, the conversation among students was as much about math as it was about reading: How many books can I buy with the money I have? How much money will I have left if I buy this book instead of the other?

“There are so many good books, I have no idea what to choose,” said fifth grader Ava Downing with her cash in hand. She finally settled on two horror stories.

MINISINK VALLEY PTO PRESENTS SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR, APRIL 9-11, GRADES K-5

The Minisink Valley Parent-Teacher Organization will host the annual Scholastic Book Fair for MV Elementary and Intermediate School students, April 9-11, in Gym C.

Schedule of events:

• Tuesday, April 9: Grades K-2 shop during school hours
• Tuesday, April 9: FAMILY NIGHT, 6-9 p.m. All are welcome! Book signing with Mary Hossann, author of “If a cow laughs, does milk come out of her nose?”
• Wednesday, April 10: Grades 3-5 shop during school hours
• Thursday, April 11: Last chance shopping for all students, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Please make checks payable to MVPTO. Sales tax will be applied to total purchase. Online purchases/link available through Sunday, April 17. Contact: Gloria Tatum, Book Fair Chairperson, minisinkvalleypto@gmail.com / EVENT FLYER

MINISINK VALLEY ELEMENTARY FIRST-GRADE STUDENTS GET A TASTE OF ALBANIAN MUSIC, DANCE AND CULTURE IN MUSIC CLASS

Ongoing collaborative teacher-parent efforts are one of many keys to student success at Minisink Valley schools and take place in many ways.

Recently, Lisa Junçaj, mother of John Junçaj --- a student in Maureen Cardinale’s Minisink Valley’s first-grade class, visited music teacher Cliff Loretto’s music class to teach students about Albanian folk music, dance and culture.

It was a great opportunity to support the district's rich and varied music curriculum offered to students.

PUBLIC BUDGET DEVELOPMENT MEETING: THURSDAY, APRIL 11

Officials of the Minisink Valley School District will hold a 2019-20 budget development session on Thursday, April 11, at 7 p.m., in the middle school auditorium.

At the meeting, district officials will update the community on the latest state aid projections, budget development and factors contributing to budget challenges for 2019-20.

As always, the budget development process is open to the public and the community is encouraged to attend. Time permitting, community members wishing to comment on the budget process will have up to four minutes each for their remarks.

MVHS CHEERLEADERS PRESENT FREE "CHEER SOCIAL" FOR GIRLS K-8, ON APRIL 11

Minisink Valley High School Cheerleaders invite girls in grades K-8 to a FREE "Cheer Social" on Thursday, April 11, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., in the HS cafeteria.

Enjoy ice-cream, games, baked-goods, and learn about the cheerleading program.

Register now online. Pre-registration is required and ends April 10, or at 70 registrants, whichever comes first. 

We hope to see you there! 

MVES SECOND GRADERS GET GEOTECHNICAL

A STEM project in Sally Mankoo’s classroom turned her second graders into geotechnical engineers studying soil types and erosion factors.

Working collaboratively, three groups of students built three different land models on 2-liter bottles: soil only; sticks and rocks; and planted soil. Following the scientific method they tested how water moved across each model and recorded their observations. In the next step, with their engineer caps on, they used toothpicks, cotton balls, aluminum and play-doh to design drainage devices or filtration systems that hold the land in place, and control erosion.

A MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT BRIAN MONAHAN REGARDING UNUSED SNOW DAYS

As a result of unused snow days, the Minisink Valley Central School District has declared Tuesday, April 23, and Thursday, May 23 as "give back" days.

School will now be closed for students on these two additional days.

MV KINDERGARTENERS REMEMBER ORANGE COUNTY ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL WITH HAND-WRITTEN NOTES AND DECOUPAGE HEARTS

Here's another example of the Minisink Valley school community giving back and thinking of others. Students in Sharon McConnell's elementary school kindergarten class recently created hand-written notes and decoupage hearts for local Orange County military members currently deployed overseas. The hearts and notes are being sent along with other supplies collected by Daisy Girl Scout Troop 776 during March.