From the
Parent Council Excecutive Committee
SA families Bensonhurst
December 2015/January 2016 Newsletter
What’s Inside 1 Opening Letter 2 Celebrate!
Using Evidence
Winter is Coming
3 Gon’ Give It to You
Desert Island
Faculty Purchases
4 Calendar of Upcoming Events at School and Around Town
sa-bh PCEC Polina Bulman President
Madeline Vega Vice President
Lana Dziouba Secretary
sabh.pcec@gmail.com Thank you Illona Brobitsky and Elena Gorohovsky! Send pictures or calendar events anytime to contribute_sabh@yahoo.com
scholars hug ms. robertson at the multicultural potluck, reminding us to hold on tight to all the magic we get to experience through sa-bh. photo by Kathy Freytor
We Love our school The other day I received an email requesting a graphic I made to help drivers understand how morning drop-off can run more smoothly. Another school is trying to emulate the SA-BH routine. I sent the graphic, but it’s not enough. We have a secret ingredient—and they can’t have her. Last year, Ms. Robertson had to be there to greet my scholar; her presence set the tone for the whole event. Parents simply feel better handing off their children to someone who exudes so much joy for each scholar’s arrival. At the beginning of this year, as parents of returning scholars stopped to catch up with each other during drop-off and watched Ms. Robertson scoop up inconsolable scholars, magically turns tears into laughter, the parents would ask each other, “What would we do without her?” New parents felt “it,” too. While it is unimaginable that we could lose staff members we love, special interest groups threaten the entire future of Success Academies. Our cozy community grows stronger as we stand together to fight for our children. A handful of last year’s teachers and staff left SA-BH to take on new challenges, but their absence is felt. What would we do with any of SA-BH’s familiar faces? If you love SA-BH, tell all your representatives in city, state, and U.S. government, but be sure to start with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan @arneduncan.
first grader elizabeth dresses as skelita calaveras, a monster high character that honors Día de los Muertos. Thank you Fatima!
Celebrate! Help us showcase our community’s diversity We plan to share the following parts of the world on these dates: Jan 28
- Middle East
March 17 - Carnival/Caribbean cultures April 21 - African cultures May 19 - Russian/Georgian/ Ukrainian Asian Lunar New Year will be celebrated in early February and Black History Month will be celebrated February 25. If you are interested in joining any of the groups of parents helping with these five events, please contact Dalia, our Cultural Events chair, at sabh.pcec@gmail.com.
“
Dance is the hidden language of the soul —Martha Graham
Using Evidence Funny thing my 2nd grader said... While attempting to read Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Catepillar, I was interrupted to be told that the book is about a life cycle and a complete metamorphosis. But as I began to read the end of the book, I received an entire lecture on why this book is inaccurate. Apparently, for those who don’t know, a hungry little catepillar would not build a ‘cocoon’ around himself. He builds a chrysalis, and she knows this because he became a butterfly. If he had built a cocoon around himself, he would have metaphorphed into a moth! Mike drop. —Illona Bobritsky
2 SA-BH PCEC Newsletter December 2015/January 2016
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Winter is Coming Scholars do not have to wear their uniform shoes in the snow. Be sure to talk to your scholar’s teacher about leaving shoes in the classroom so your scholar doesn’t have to carry them every day. Also, please label all hats, gloves, and scarves.
Gon’ Give It To You QU rehearses “Uptown Funk” for Winter Performance December 15, all SA-BH scholars will perform dance routines on the auditorium stage—quite an accomplishment considering how many other skills these little scholars are learning to master at the same time. If you would like to volunteer to assist with the performance, email Ms. Hayes at heresia.hayes@saschools.org.
From the staff survey
What was the first thing you bought with your own money? Computer Mr. Dant
Trampoline Ms. Inglut
Star Wars action figure Mr. Tarbell
Adidas shell sneakers Ms. Carey
Clothing Ms. Rodriguez Ms. Crouch
iPod Ms. Calish
Boombox Ms. Foster
CDs Scholars strike poses at the end of the song, keeping in mind that they should make different shapes with their bodies (left). Ms. Hayes demonstrates (center). scholars run through the song again (right). photos by Madeline Vega
How to Dress Your Scholar for the Winter Performance Kindergarten White T-shirt and blue jeans or a white or blue dress First Grade Orange T-shirt and blue jeans or a orange or blue dress Second Grade Yellow T-shirt and blue jeans or a yellow or blue dress
Ms. VanSickle Ms. Vanszl Ms. Robertson
Bubble Tape Mr. Graves
Crazy Bones Mr. Poirier I don’t remember...
Probably gas Ms. Phillips
Desert Island
It was probably a
Barbie doll Ms. Andersen
Inspired by homework, we asked Facebook parents to share what three things their scholars would pack.
Hershey’s Cookies’n’Creme Bar
Milk, shelter, and clothes (so she doesn’t have to wear leaves). -Anjali
Mr. Abernathy
Phone to call Mom to come look for her, clothes, and baby wipes. -Gabby
Have an idea for a dessert island? Send us your pictures, stories and creations!
My parents, my brother, and my grandma. “Also, they are the loves of my life and I would never ever leave them for one year or 12 months!!!” -Andrea
Did Layla think she was going to a dessert island? “She requested Santa to bring apples, blueberries and carrots a while back. So she’s straight on what she wrote there!” says her dad Heeday.
Homework, clothes, and food. “I can’t not do homework for one year—I need to be smart.” -Nathan G Toys, Mom, and Dad.
-Lizzy
Oranges, vegetables, and meats. -Layla
Tell us about food! Use Winter Break to write a story or make a meal and take a picture. Let’s make a special issue full of scholars’ contributions.
Warheads and Ring Pops Ms. Yadoo
Candy Ms. Lieberman Mr. Okotieuro Mr. Puckett
Animal keychain for my backpack Ms. Levine
Baseball bat Mr. Hansen
December 2015/January 2016 SA-BH PCEC Newsletter 3
Calendar of Upcoming Events sun 29
mon 30
tues 1
wed 2
thurs
fri
3
4
7
8
9
10
11
The Good Dinosaur School Play-date*
Hanukkah begins
13
16
17
Winter Performance 3 p.m. MUST R.S.V.P. Winter Social 4 p.m.
Worl’ds Largest Menorah 20
15
Santa Claus’ Pajama Story Time 12 A Closer Look for Kids @ MoMA
Human Rights Day
14
5
Teacher Gifts collection ends
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting 6
sat
18
19
Color Wars Spirit Day
Family Art Days
26
21
22
23
24
25
No School
No School
No School
No School
No School
Winter Solstice
Mawlid Un Nabi
28
29
30
No School
No School
No School
Kwanzaa begins
27
Christmas
Boxing Day
31
1
2
No School
No School
New Year’s Day
Fun Things to Add to Your Calendar A selection of events in and around Brooklyn to check out with your scholar Rock Center Christmas Tree Lighting Dec. 2 - 7 to 9 p.m. Brave the crowds and winter weather for live entertainment. Tree stays lit until 8 p.m. on Jan. 6. Free. Family Art Days Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Dec. 19 Dec. 5 - Pop Art Cards, Dec. 12 Seaport Scavenger Hunt, Dec. 19 Snow Globed. South Street Seaport (Pier 17) 11 Fulton Street, 10038. 212-732-8257 All Ages. Free. RSVP at http://www.art-start.org/events/
School-wide Movie Outing Dec. 6 - 10 a.m. See The Good Dinosaur for a reduced price. 1168 Coney Island Ave., 11230. Reserve tickets ($6 includes concessions) http://tinyurl.com/sabhflix World’s Largest Menorah Dec. 6 - 13 Every night of Hanukah is celebrated with live music, hot latkes and gifts for the children. Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn. Dec. 6 - 10 at 6p.m., Dec. 11 at 3:30 p.m., Dec. 12 at 7 p.m., Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. Free.
4 SA-BH PCEC Newsletter December 2015/January 2016
New Year’s Eve in Coney Island Dec. 31 - 9 p.m. Featuring a fireworks spectacular, an 8,000 LED light show and Coney Island sideshow performers. Steeplechase Pavilion, W 16th Street and the Boardwalk, 11224 Color Wars Spirit Day The grade with the most creative representations will win a party with cookies and Imagination Playground. Kindergarten: White First Grade: Orange Second Grade: Blue