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Vesta l Centra l School Distr ict MAY 2015

UPCOMING SCHOOL CLOSINGS AND HOLIDAYS

Friday, May 8-STUDENT EARLY RELEASE @ 11:50AM

Friday, May 22—NO SCHOOL (Student Holiday)

Monday, May 25—NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)

Dear Tioga Hills Families:

May has brought—so far—the sunshine and warmth we have hoped for after the long, frigid winter

months! It also brings with it a host of fun events during and after school.

An assembly with a visiting author Julie Cook (5th)

Kindergarten orientation (6th)

A tour of VMS by our 5th graders (7th)

The amazing annual Talent Show at ARE auditorium (8th)

The 4th and 5th grade chorus and 5th grade band evening con-

cert (11th)

A family video night with “Rio 2” (15th)

The School Budget vote—ice cream social and Special Interest

Fair (19th)

Continued improvement of our butterfly garden, the Flutter Inn, -

bench unveiled (19th)

Student artwork at the annual dVinci Festival Exhibit (see pg. 9)

Evening parent/student night at VMS for our 5th graders (27th)

Sincerely,

Jane Hashey, Principal

Table of Contents

1000 Book Club……………………….....10

Actions Count Form…….………….…..6

Butterfly Garden………………………..11

Counselors’ Corner…..………….….…..5

Food for Thought……………………….14

Ice Cream Social………………………..15

Incoming Kindergarteners………..13

Meet the Candidates………………….10

Morning Program Calendar……....16

Music Notes………………………............7

News from the Health Office ..11

Parking Lot Procedures……………..10

PTA News……………..….……..…..13—14

School District Vote………………...10

Spotlight on 5th Grade…………….10

Spotlight on Art…………………………..9

Student Leadership Jobs…...…6-9

Teacher & Staff Appreciation..10

T.H. Picture Corner………………...….12

T.H.E. Academic Corner….2, 3 & 4

T.H.E. Safety………………………………..9

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~Vestal’s Math Support Team~

TAKE OFF WITH MATH!

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Rhonda Ruhm

School Counselor

The counseling office continues to be a center of activity……….

The Banana Splits program is very busy and looking forward to our end-of-the-year “Splits” party on June 9th.

FIFTH GRADE PARENTS AND STUDENTS We continue steps in the transition process to the middle school. We are excited to be go-ing on our tour on May 7th. I have also been in homerooms doing more work on helping 5th graders understand the change and transition to middle school. This is an opportunity for them to get answers to all of their questions in their familiar classroom environment. Below is a save the date...this evening is another opportunity to learn about VMS in fun way along with your 5th grader learning success tips and information in a fun format that will help in yet another way to make a smooth transition! Be ready for a fun time with the scavenger hunt!

Fifth Grade Parents & Students Save This Date:

Wednesday, May 27, 2015 @ 6:00 p.m.

Vestal Middle School, S. Benita Blvd.

Please continue to contact me if you have any questions or concerns I always welcome part-

nering to help our students succeed! I can be reached at 757-2366.

Rhonda Ruhm, M.S.Ed, C.A.S.

School Counselor

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TIOGA HILLS ELEMENTARY

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Is your child demonstrating leadership outside of school?

Tioga Hills would like to recognize students for their involvement in positive activities that

improve the quality of life within our community. This information will be shared with all stu-

dents within our Tioga Hills community through our school announcements.

We want students to know that their ACTIONS COUNT! (“ACTIONS COUNT” is our Charac-

ter Ed theme for the school year.)

Examples:

Visiting a nursing facility

Community beautification (picking up litter)

Volunteering at an animal shelter

Donating to a food pantry

Donating to Locks of Love

Please complete the information below with your child. Return to your child’s classroom

teacher.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student

Name:_________________________________________________________________

My ACTIONS COUNT because I

______________________________________________________________________

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Music Education

Quote of the Month

“Music expresses that which cannot be

said and on which it is impossible to be

silent.”

Victor Hugo

Upcoming Music Events

Please join us for our upcoming perfor-

mance!

May 11th

4th and 5th Grade Chorus

5th Grade Band

7pm, Tioga Hills Cafetorium

Grade Level Spotlight: 3rd Grade

Our 3rd grade students will be learning a

new instrument this month – the record-

er! Learning the recorder lets our stu-

dents apply what they’ve learned in music

class from Kindergarten through third

grade in a performance situation. Stu-

dents have the opportunity to join or-

chestra in fourth grade and band in fifth

grade. The recorder experience intro-

duces them to the process of learning

the physical, technical, and musical skills

necessary to master an instrument.

MUSIC NOTES

2nd Grade Families: Thank You!

A special “thank you” goes out to the

families of our second graders. We had

so many helpers and volunteers this year,

that I was unfortunately not able to

thank all of you individually. Without

you, the 2nd grade musical would not have

been a success! We’re lucky here at Tio-

ga Hills to have such involved and sup-

portive families!

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THANK YOU’S

The following students wrote thank you’s for

the wonderful Pinocchio Tri Cities Opera

performance at Tioga Hills on March 20:

Logan Avery Katie Kristek

Logan Bennett Tess Labosky

Katelyn Blachowiak Aleeyah Lippman

Maryka Bleir Vincent Lucenti

Colin Brubaker Owen Majka

Chloe Burkhard Raymond Mattice

Autumn Carter Megan McLaughlin

Charlotte Coker Jonah Mercia

Frank Consolazio Sam Mercia

Lauren Cropp Gracie Mones

Bella Daino Colin Mott

Marcus Fairfield Gemma Nelli

Isabella Fairfield Hannah Nemecek

Arianna Ford Morgan Radicchi

Calista Ford Roman Reilly

Billy Gorman Trent Robbins

Johnny Gorman Julia Sage

Jenna Holleran Alyssa Seddon

Amelia Howell Joey Seddon

Megan Howell Alana Shear

Liam Hughston Addie Stockwin

Luke Hughston Leo Stockwin

Mackenzi Ingersoll Christine Tran

Ashley Kristek Lucan Tran

THANK YOU’S

The following students also wrote thank you’s

to Target for the “Take Charge of Educa-

tion” gift cards but were omitted in the pre-

vious month:

Katelyn Blachowiak and

Jamaryanna Sihalathavong

THANK YOU’S

The following students also wrote thank you’s

to Mrs. Jones (Cody Jones’ mother) for the

generous donation of office supplies:

Eve Andreasen Lauren Mitchell

Kenzy Benjamin Lauren Myers

Alex Bernstein Corrina Paler-Large

Chloe Burkhard Zoe Pilarchik

Lauren Cropp Katana Rivenburg

Ariana Ford Aidan Ruhm

Mackenzie I. Julia Sage

Milly Jemmott Jessica Secord

Jozlyn Korsak Alana Shear

Morgan Lown Madison Shear

Keegan Lynch Jamaryanna S.

Kayleigh Marsh Olivia Slocum

Alison Meissner Keira Teed

Jonah Mercia Lilly Tripp

Norah Milligan

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The awesome artwork in the T.H.E. office

gallery this month has been Linsey Milligan

and Delilah Brown. Congratulations!

The following students have their artwork

on display in the Broome County Library

for the annual daVinci Festival:

Jenna Subulski Parker Dzuba

Andrew LaClair Matthew Polhamus

Aza Delovich Joaquin Paler-Large

Billy Gorman Ava Meza

Diana Kalashnik Milly Jemmott

Gregory Quick Keira Teed

Sean Reinartz

The exhibit continues until May 26th. Con-

gratulations to those students!

Wow…Thank you for all of the egg cartons

sent into the art room! We are all set for

awhile now.

STUDENT FLAG RAISERS

The following students helped Mr.

Doolittle raise the flag during the

month of April:

Ryan Bahr Chelsea Lord-Markiewicz

Ethan Davis Lee Mazzeo

Beth Egan Nick Poulton

Marcus Fairfield Elijah Ramia

Victor Fairfield Jordyn Schake

Billy Gorman Lucas Tran

John Holleran JJ Williams

Nick Labosky Ben Wilson

Jessica LaClair Michael Wilson

Madison Lis

STUDENT ANNOUNCERS

A GREAT job was done by the

following students who helped

us out in April with morning announcements: Maryka Bleir Megan Howell

James Broderick Nick Labosky

Nathan Brookhart Jessica LaClair

Frank Consolazio Corrina Paler-Large

Garrett Dodge Julia Sage

Mason Dodge Jordyn Schake

Vanessa Hoke Alana Shear

Anna Howell Lucas Tran

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Let’s congratulate

Lucy Kamper

for reading 250

books!

TEACHER & STAFF APPRE-

CIATION WEEK

MAY 4-8, 2015

Tioga Hills Elementary has an extraordinar-

ily talented and dedicated teaching staff.

Thank you, teachers & staff, for the im-

portant work you do each day on behalf of

our students. For them, you and your work

make all the difference in the world!

SCHOOL DISTRICT VOTE-MAY 19

Please remember to come out

and vote on our Vestal School

District budget and board

members.

There will be an ice cream social here from

5:30-7:30pm.

Also, the annual Special Interest Fair will

be in the gym that evening.

5th GRADE MOVING UP CERE-

MONY

Coming in June—The 5th Grade

“Moving Up Ceremony” will be held

on the last day of school, June

23rd in the Tioga Hills Cafetorium for par-

ents/guardians, students and teach-

ers. Light refreshments to

follow in the gym.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

There is a Meet the School Board Candi-

dates on May 14th at Vestal Middle

School. All are invited to attend!

PARKING LOT PROCEDURES

Please continue to respect the parking pro-

cedures, especially at AM drop-off and PM

pick-up times. There have been some com-

plaints about parents not parking in desig-

nated parking spots at

both times of the day and

causing congestion for

others, parking at the

drop-off zone in the AM

and walking their children

inside the building, and still picking up chil-

dren in parking lots. Please make sure park-

ing is safe and a smooth experience for all.

Thank you for your cooperation!

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News from the Health Off ice

To the Parents/Guardians at Tioga

Hills:

Thank you for all the attendance

calls and messages.

Thank you for all the clothing dona-

tions to restock the “Health Office

Wardrobe.”

We still need jogging/sweat pants:

Sizes S, M, L

A friendly reminder...it’s not

too early to schedule next

year’s mandated physical exams

for your child who will be in 2nd

or 4th grade!

If your child has medication in the Health

Office, it has to be picked up by the par-

ent by the last day of school.

Volunteer Opportunities for Our School Butterfly Garden

It’s that time of year again when we are beginning to plan for the school’s butterfly garden.

We need your help for the garden to be successful. Donations of any of the following would

be greatly appreciated:

perennials that you are thinning from your home garden

seed packets for annuals such as marigolds, zinnias, nasturtiums, mammoth

sunflowers

watering cans

gardening gloves for children and adults

trowels (the small “shovels” for the garden)

hand cultivators (a 3-pronged mini rake)

Please note that supplies do not need to be new. If you are cleaning out the garage and find

some tools that you just don’t use, we would love to have them.

Our school garden depends on volunteers to water over the summer. Watch for information

regarding the watering schedule. A sign-up sheet will be available in the main office in June.

This is open to families, scout troops, individuals…anyone who could take a week to help out.

Do you know of a scout troop looking for a project? Ideas include: Making a sign with the

garden's name (Flutter Inn), or starting a worm or compost bin. Please contact Mrs. Nunes

or Mrs. Kunzman with any ideas.

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Having lots of fun...

in our new play-

room!

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Kindergarten screening will be held at Tioga Hills June 2, 3, and 4. This screening will

allow us to begin to know your child as an individual learner. Among the areas to be

screened are fine and gross motor skills, speech and language skills, vision, hearing and

cognitive development.

A brief letter will be mailed to you soon after screening, summarizing what we learned

about your child.

Please contact the main office at 757-2366 if you need to reschedule your child’s

screening date and time.

ATTENTION PARENTS OF INCOMING

KINDERGARTNERS!

Kindergarten Parent-only Orientation

will be held on Wednesday, May 6 at

9:30 a.m. in the Cafetorium.

Dates to Remember:

May 4th- May 8th…Teacher Appreciation Week

May 6th- PTA Meeting at 7pm in the cafeteria

May 8th- Early dismissal at 11:50am and the Talent Show in the evening (more info to follow!)

May 11th- Grade 4 and 5 chorus and 5th grade band concert at 7pm at Tioga Hills.

May 19th- District Vote Night, Ice Cream Social and Special Interest Fair at Tioga Hills from

6-8pm.

May 22nd and 25th - No School….Happy Memorial Day!

The Cub Scouts of Pack

43 continue to have fun

while learning valuable

lessons ranging from citizenship, health &

fitness, faith, family, sports and academics.

This past month the boys explored a sense

of community while giving back as they par-

ticipated in the Officer “D.W.” Smith 5K

Run in Johnson City to honor the fallen

police officer. All of the boys that joined

the 5K finished the race strong. In the kids

division of the race we had two boys place;

Owen Majka (2nd Grade) came in 2nd place

(175 overall) and Johnny Gorman (1st Grade)

came in 3rd place (183

overall), there were

550 runners in total.

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The fun continued with a col-

lection of race cars coming to

visit the pack where the boys

learned what it takes to be a

race car driver. You may have

heard the car’s loud engine as the driver

showed off the power of the car. All the

boys had a chance to sit in the driver’s seat

and feel what it would be like to take a spin

around the track. They even got to see a

race car designed for 5 year olds!

Our annual YMCA” Camp-In” highlighted the

events of the last month. The entire pack,

scouts, siblings and parents, did a sleep over

at the YMCA where the boys got to have the

run of the gym and the pool late into the

night. Everyone that attended worked hard

and played hard, learning various sports

awards including the Basketball Belt Loop

and Swimming Belt Loop. If there was an

award for dodge ball they would have earned

that too as the scouts enjoyed a dozen

games of dodge ball late into the night.

Nothing like throwing your parent ‘out’ to

make a boy smile.

May will eventually see the end of our Thurs-

day night meetings but the summer is host to

a bunch of fun events to come like Picnics,

Camping, Touring the Guthrie One Helicop-

ter, and Camping at the Herkimer Diamond

Mines! Come visit our pack for yourself on

Thursday May 14th, 6:30pm for a ‘looksee’

visit before the year is out. More infor-

mation on this date to come home in Friday

Folders as the date comes closer.

The Tioga Hills

PTA will be hosting

an ice cream social on Tuesday, May

19th, 6:00-8:00 pm at the annual Vote Night.

Come vote on the school budget, go to the

Special Interest Fair, and enjoy some

ice cream in the cafeteria!

Trish Lilley-Committee Chair

C o m e

a n d

see “Rio 2” on Friday,

May 15th at 7pm in the Tioga

Hills Cafeteria. Bring a blanket

or beach towel to sit on. Popcorn and drinks

will be provided. No drop-offs, please!

Thanks,

Mark & Karen Waldmiller-Committee Chairs

A huge THANK YOU to our very generous

families who donated an overwhelming

amount of food over the last few weeks…..

your generosity is truly amazing. I’d also like

to thank our volunteers and Tioga Hills staff

for their support this year. Without your

help, this program wouldn’t be possible.

Food donations can be left throughout the end of May in the flower basket in the main office. Items in highest demand are: Canned

pastas (ex – Chef Boyardee, Spagettios, etc. ), canned soups, canned vegetables, and

individual fruit cups or squeeze pouches.

Thank You!

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ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Tuesday, May 19

6:00-8:00 pm hosted by the Tioga Hills PTA

Please vote on the school budget,

then have some ice cream

in the cafeteria!

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Don’t forget to vote on May 19th

MAY MORNING PROGRAM CALENDAR