THEY WENT WALKING AND WHAT DID THEY SEE?

Minisink Valley Elementary School students in Shawne Demberg’s transitional kindergarten class enjoyed their very first StoryWalk on Thursday, Oct. 11. In addition to some exercise and reading, the activity engaged them in a guessing game.

Organizer Mia McLean, School Librarian, read to students from “I Went Walking,” as they followed page by page, and illustration by illustration.

The story is narrated by a boy out on a walk who is followed by a variety of animals he meets along the way. At each stop he asks, “I went walking and what did I see?” He drops a clue about the next animal and his question invites readers to take a guess at the next animal, before they see it illustrated on the next page.

FIREFIGHTERS VISIT MINISINK AND OTISVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO MARK FIRE PREVENTION WEEK AND MONTH

Area firefighters visited Minisink and Otisville elementary schools this week as part of activities highlighting October as Fire Prevention Month.

Fire Prevention Month (and week) raises awareness about fire safety and home safety to help ensure your home and family are prepared in the case of an emergency.

ACTS OF KINDNESS FOR ACTS OF SERVICE

In the spirit of our school’s 2018-19 theme —"Be Kind"— students in Mrs. DiSimone’s first-grade class have been practicing kindness while developing their creative and writing skills.

“Each week during ‘centers,’ we do a writing activity that is also an act of kindness,” Mrs. DiSimone said.

Thus far, their focus has been on individuals in the U.S. service. Last week they made cards and wrote letters to Connor Greiner, a Class of 2018 Minisink graduate who is completing basic training for the U.S. Coast Guard in Cape May, N.J. 

PARENT PORTAL: CHANGES TO CONTACT INFORMATION MADE SIMPLER

Parents/guardians, you can now request changes to contact information (phone/email) and contact rights directly through the SchoolTool Parent Portal. Find out how to submit a request online and learn about the approval process. You can also access this information from the Parent Portal page. Find the question, "Do you need to change your contact information," and select it. 

FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT 'COOKING UP' NEW OFFERINGS IN ALL BUILDING CAFETERIAS

It’s all about the food!

How many times have parents heard their children tell them this as meals are planned and parties are organized?

Minisink Valley’s Food Service Department knows how important it is to prepare not only a nutritionally balanced meal, but one that’s appealing and enjoyable to eat.

EVERY STUDENT PRESENT: IF THEY’RE NOT HERE, THEY CAN’T LEARN

September is National Attendance Awareness Month.

"Every Student Present" is a public awareness campaign developed by the New York State Council on Children and Families. It is intended to help families, school leaders and communities understand the importance of consistent school attendance and the impact of absences on children's learning, especially young students.

Parents/guardians, you can go to everystudentpresent.org for helpful resources, including short videos on these important topics: boosting your child's confidence; keeping your child on track with school work; keeping your child healthy; and protecting your child from bullies. Go to the full article for resource links.

A SPECIAL VISIT FROM "UNCLE JOE"

Minisink Elementary School kindergartener Jaxon Alvarado was a happy young man on Friday afternoon, Sept. 14, because Joseph Ferramosca, his uncle, a member of the Minisink Class of 1998 and an Army reservist, stopped by to visit his class.

BUS SAFETY DRILLS WED., SEPT. 12; INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS

School is on and school buses are back on our roadways, with our most precious cargo on board. On Wednesday, Sept. 12, students in all grades will participate in a School Bus Safety Drill, as required by the State Education Department.

To help parents/guardians reinforce these safety procedures and integrate them in our students’ daily bus routines, the MVCSD Transportation Department is offering a review of the drill and helpful safety tips for each school.

We encourage all school families to review and discuss safe bus riding to help us maximize the safety of our students and community.

OPEN HOUSE: WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12, 6-7PM

What is your child's daily learning experience like? Our Open House event on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 6-7 p.m., is your first opportunity to share in that experience and to begin the all important home-school communication this academic year.  

Research has consistently shown that family engagement is one of the strongest predictors of student academic success. Students who know that parents and teachers communicate are also more likely to communicate with their educators.  

We look forward to meeting our students' parents/guardians and forging strong partnerships on which to build our children's education.

2018-19 OPENING DAY: WELCOME BACK, FACULTY AND STAFF!

They are back and ready to welcome your children to our buildings, classrooms and fields tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 5!

Early today, Tuesday, Sept. 4, Minisink Valley’s faculty and staff filed into the middle school cafeteria amid hugs and cheers for the Opening Day of the 2018-19 school year. They enjoyed their reunion over breakfast, before gathering in the school auditorium for the Superintendent’s Conference.

Superintendent Brian C. Monahan offered thanks to the district’s workforce, with a special mention for buildings and grounds, transportation and technology teams, administrative staff, and everyone who gave part of their summer to engage in curriculum work and professional development.