Castle News

Dear IEYMS Families,

As the beautiful diverse school that we are, we have students and staff from all parts of the world who add their uniqueness and identity to who we are as a school. As a learning community, we strive to emphasize a message of respect and appreciation for others. We celebrate the diversity of our students and families and we are fortunate to be part of an amazing community. The holiday season is a season of peace, celebration, and gratitude. We would like to express our most sincere appreciation for the support we receive each and every day from our families and community. As you travel to visit friends and family or if you plan to stay at home, we wish you a Holly, Jolly, Happy, Healthy, Holiday Season! If you are holiday neutral, enjoy the time while schools are closed for winter break.

From our Castle Family to Yours!

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas

Feliz Navidad

¡Felices Fiestas!

Hanukkah Sameach

Joyous Kwanzaa

Happy New Year

December 12: Dance and Theater Show IEY Auditorium 5:30

December 13-16: PTA Holiday Boutique

December 14: Girls Mentoring Field Trip Rockettes

December 15: NRSEPTA Zoom Meeting 7:30

December 16: 6th Grade Dance Field Trip Nutcracker

December 18-26: Hanukkah

December 19-23: Castle Winter Fest Spirt Week

December 20: Strings Festival New Rochelle High School

December 23: Rapid Dismissal

December 25: Christmas

December 26-January 2: Winter Recess Schools Closed

December 26-January 1: Kwanzaa

January 1: New Years' Day

It’s hard to believe that our 1st marking period has come to an end. Each new marking period brings fresh opportunities for our scholars to grow, improve, and set goals. For your convenience, report cards are available on Home Access and will be mailed home soon. We hope you will set aside time to review your child’s report card with them and have a discussion on ways to set goals and improve. We always encourage our students to celebrate their achievements as well. Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have a specific question about their performance in a particular class.

School Counselors have been meeting individually with students in grades 6, 7, & 8 to review their overall academic performance. Over the next few weeks, the counselors will be visiting 6, 7, & 8th-grade classrooms to introduce students to Naviance and reflect on their report cards. Their reflections and feelings will guide them through the Naviance program and help them to discover ways to improve and set goals for the remainder of the school year.

December 19-December 23 is Winter Fest Spirit Week at IEYMS. During this time, students and staff will participate in a variety of activities, assemblies, and competitions designed to build community and celebrate the close of 2022. Winter Fest was planned by the IEYMS Student Government Association. The sprit days are designed so that all of our students can take part in the theme days. We look forward to all students participating in our last 2022 spirit week.

Students in Mr. Flemings Technology classes are using 3-D MakerBot Replicator's to create 3-D model magnetic cars. Cars were designed using TinkerCad. Students used a variety of skills including mathematics, engineering, and the principles of design. The students attached magnets to the wheels of the cars and competed in races to determine which car was the fastest based on the design, aerodynamics, and proportion. In the past, students used wood materials to carve, sand, and paint their model cars. The 6 MakerBot Replicator's printed the cars for students based on their computer designs. Students in technology will continue to use 3-D printers to create projects and turn their ideas into products. 3-D printers allow students to create models, prototypes, mechanical fittings, art and more. Pictured above are examples of last years wood products alongside this years 3-D printed cars. Thank you, Mr. Fleming!

Our 7th grade students were treated to a Luau dance party. Thank you to our PTA partners for organizing and chaperoning a successful school community event. Your dedication and service to the students of IEYMS are appreciated. The students raved about the Luau and look forward to the next event. Up next is the 8th Grade Sneaker Ball in January!.

Art on display in the Principal's Gallery reflect the best examples from students who achieved excellent studio habits of mind. There are 3 pictures represented from grades 7 and 8. These students exhibited outstanding work ethics and developed new techniques which propelled their growth as artist. They explored with critical thinking and expressed their original ideas through their art. These students persisted in their goals, attained new skills and created the art work they envisioned. Congratulations Mia Mendoza (red umbrella), Alex Alvarado (sundae), Giselle Hernandez (queen), Adriana Valencia (photo collage), Citali Arenas (rainbow), and Elizabeth Hernandez (lady with curls). Thank you to Mr. Fry, Mrs. Maldanado, and Mrs. Reader, the IEYMS art teachers for showcasing our students work.

All parents and guardians must digitally sign a new AUP and Device Loaner form each year in order to use the district's Chromebook and access the internet. Click here for step by step directions. Spanish speaking parents click here. Please contact lmartinelli at lmartinelli@nredlearn.org for support.

At the heartbeat of the school district’s vision and mission, is the charge to prepare our students to engage in a diverse world. This includes a commitment to provide a high-quality education that is authentic, inclusive, and collaborative. The school district is currently working to develop a graduate profile that describes and defines a set of college and career-ready outcomes which encompass academic, cultural, social, and employability skills and competencies.

Through the rest of December until February 12,2023 the district will host a ThoughtExchange survey, conduct interviews and focus groups, to determine "When envisioning our graduating class, what are some key characteristics, areas of knowledge, skills, and/or dispositions that come to mind?" It is the expectation that the graduate profile will be seen as a student success tool to be used from the first day of pre-K through graduation day by teachers, as well as site and central office administrators to speak with one voice regarding the preparation of our students.

The Graduate Profile is sponsored by the CSDNR Office of Curriculum and Instruction. This question will be asked of students, teachers, administrators, parents, community partners, post-secondary institutions, and the business community. We would like to hear from you. Click here for the ThoughtExchange survey. Once in the survey, you can change the language. Click the flyer to enlarge the picture below.