Chestnut Street Parent Newsletter

The West Hempstead Union Free School District recognizes the unique value of each student. It is dedicated to the success of each student based on the highest standards of excellence in education. Each student will be challenged to achieve mastery in all subject areas in an educational atmosphere that strives to build positive self-esteem, mutual respect for others, and a life-long quest for learning.

#RamPride #RamFam

Please be sure to revisit this newsletter throughout the month for updates!

School Budget Re-Vote, Tuesday June 21st 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM in the Middle School gym!

• School is CLOSED Monday, May 30th
• We are continuing to work on the Habit of Mind- Listening with Empathy and Understanding! See below for details and examples. Please note that we will continue to build students' understanding and development of Persistence and Managing Impulsivity as the year goes on. Continue to support your child as he or she develops the habit of persistence!
• If your child will be absent, please call Nurse Angela before 8:30 AM at 516-390-3155
• If there will be a change in your child's afternoon transportation, please write a note or email to the teacher. For last-minute changes, please call the main office before 2:00 PM. 516-390-3150.
• PTA/SEPTA/PTSA Installation Dinner Wednesday, June 1st 7:00 Verdi's Westbury
• SEPTA meeting Wednesday, June 8th at 6:30 in the Chestnut Street gym.
• Friday, June 17th- Moving-Up Day! Two invitations per family will be mailed home.
• Juneteenth- Monday, June 20th- Schools Closed
• Field Day- Wednesday, June 22nd (rain Date June 23rd). Students only, no spectators. Please ensure your child wears sneakers and sunblock that day!
• 1/2 Day Thursday, June 23rd 11:40 dismissal for Chestnut
• Last day of school- Friday, June 24th. 9:30 dismissal for Chestnut

Have a WONDERFUL summer! We will miss you!

Getting Ready for 1st Grade:

• Incoming 1st Grade Parent Orientation Tuesday, June 7th 6:00 PM at Cornwell Avenue hosted by Mrs. Sinito
• Chestnut Street students visit Cornwell Avenue Tuesday, June 14th 9:45 AM (school organized event- we will transport the students to and from Cornwell during the day via school bus)

Please see the letters below. If you have not yet completed the Digital Equity Survey on the West Hempstead School District website, please do! You will need your child's 9 digit student ID number for the survey.

As you talk to your child about their day, consider asking him or her to explain more about what they learned, why it is important for them to know, and how they know they have mastered it. These questions are part of our Visible Learning work.

Thank you to those who were able to join us in-person or virtually for the meeting where we discussed Erin's Law. A packet of information was sent home via your child's yellow folder on Friday, April 29th that contained all the resources we discussed at the meeting. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Tripp or Mrs. Birnbaum.

See the links below for resources such as the videos that will be shared during the lessons.

Please be sure to read at home with your child every night in whatever language you are comfortable with.

We are digging into Reader's Workshop as we prepare for 1st grade! Work on building stamina for independent reading at home!

Students will be benchmarked to determine their instructional reading level as they prepare to enter first grade! In order for students to maintain their reading level and stamina, please be sure they continue to ready EVERY DAY this summer! Please participate in the summer reading program! See below for more information..

Our final writing unit of the year is a Narrative piece. See the rubric below for the expectations at the end of the unit! The Narrative piece will become part of your child's portfolio that is sent to Cornwell Avenue so that their 1st grade teacher can get to know them over the summer!

The 'Non-Negotiables' that you can expect from your child's writing include:

Quarter 1:

• Use more than one color when drawing

• Use real-life, appropriate colors

• Figures have shapes for body

• Sketch matches the “label” (word, letter, etc.)

Quarter 2:

• Realistic visuals (facial expressions, setting, etc.)

• High frequency (sight words in your classroom

• First name

Quarter 3:

• Spacing

• Awareness of capitals at the beginning of sentences

• Awareness of end mark (periods)

Quarter 4:

• Last name

In June, we are working on sorting and classifying, and modeling with data!

Students will answer the essential questions below. Be sure to ask your child these questions!

• How do we sort object’s attributes?
• How do we interpret data?
  

Students will work on the following skills:

• Sorting and classifying
• Collecting, representing, describing, and interpreting data
• Comparing and ordering quantities
• Counting and representing quantities
  

We are also using ST Math to support deep conceptual understanding via personalized learning. You must use ClassLink to access ST Math. The link is below.

We are pleased to offer our families and staff the "Parents as Partners" webinar series with Educational Consultant and Trainer Dr. Jennifer Bashant. Dr. Bashant is a founding member of Building Better Futures, L.L.C. The focus of Dr. Bashant's work is to provide different opportunities for parents and staff to support their child's/students' success in school as well as one's own well-being through self-care.

Please note in order to access the webinar series, you must register via email at kristen@buildingbetterfuturesllc.com . Upon registration, you will receive the virtual link and password to the workshop session. Even if you are unable to attend a live session, by registering you will automatically receive the link to the recorded session. See detailed information below and on the district website here: https://www.whufsd.com/page/parents-as-partners-webinar-series