FOX MEADOW PTA UPDATE
May 2011
Issue #9
In This Issue
May 2011 Calendar
PTA President's
Message
From the Principal's
Desk
May 2011 Calendar
This Week:
Monday, May 2 -- "E" Day
Tuesday, May 3 -- "F" Day
Wednesday, May 4 -- "A" Day
Japanese Children's
Day Celebration
Fox Meadow Fair
Student Directory
Addition
School Supplies
Fox Meadow
Community Bus
Nutrition & Food
Safety Committee's
Tip of the Month
Attention 5th Grade
Parents
Scarsdale
Thursday, May 5 -- "B" Day
Friday, May 6 -- "C" Day
May:
5/3
Lice Check;
Scarsdale C.H.I.L.D. and Building Communities CoSponsored Lecture, 7-9 p.m., Bet Am Shalom Synagogue,
White Plains
5/5
4th Grade Orchestra Practice, 8 a.m.;
Japanese Children's Day Celebration;
Last Day to submit Japan Relief donations in main office
5/6
Band Practice, 5th Grade Orchestra Practice, 8 a.m.
5/7
Fox Meadow Fair, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., FM Field
5/9
Classical Cafe for 2nd Grade Audience, 12 p.m., NMPR
5/13 4th Grade Orchestra Practice, 8 a.m.
5/16 Band Practice, 5th Grade Orchestra Practice, 8 a.m.
5/17 Kindergarten Show: "Everything Grows", 9:15 a.m., Gym
School Budget Vote and Election, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., SMS Gym;
SMS PTA Presents: Welcome to the Adolescent Brain,
7:15 p.m., SMS Auditorium
5/19 3rd Grade Native American Pow Wow, 7 p.m., Gym
5/20 SCHOOL CLOSES AT NOON, K-5 (Superintendent
Conference Day),
5/23 4th Grade Orchestra Practice, 8 a.m.
C.H.I.L.D. Meeting
School Budget Vote
5/24
5/25
5/27
Monthly Updates and
Weekly E-Blasts
PTA E-mail System
Need to Know more?
Visit the
Scarsdale School
District website,
the
Fox Meadow
Elementary School
homepage,
and the
Fox Meadow PTA
homepage
5/30
5/31
Band Practice, 5th Grade Orchestra Practice, 8 a.m.;
Spring Band/Orchestra Concert, 7:30 p.m., Gym
3rd Grade Book Club with Ms. Schorr, "Number the Stars",
noon in Library
SCHOOL CLOSES AT NOON, K-5;
Environmental Field Day
SCHOOL CLOSED (Memorial Day)
5th Grade American Games
Looking ahead:
6/1
5th Grade American Games
6/2
5th Grade American Games;
PTA Meeting, 9:15 a.m., OMPR
6/4
Art Show, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Front Circle (rain date 6/5)
6/7
Kindergarten half day, 12 p.m. dismissal;
Spring Chorus Concert, 7:30 p.m., Gym
6/8
Kindergarten Dismissal at 12 p.m.
6/9
Kindergarten Dismissal at 12 p.m.
6/10 Kindergarten Dismissal at 12 p.m.
6/13
Classical Cafe for 3rd Grade Audience, 12 p.m., NMPR
6/21
5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony, 9:15 a.m., Gym
6/24 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, 10 a.m. DISMISSAL
Lunch Programs: (no lunches on 1/2 days)
Monday - Pizza
Tuesday - Pasta
Wednesday - Obento
Thursday - Chicken Tenders
Thursday & Friday - Superstar Lunches www.superstarlunches.com
PTA President's Message
Dear Fox Meadow Families,
We've all felt a bit water-logged lately with the deluge of April
showers, but I feel like we're finally getting our reward: May
flowers-- everything's in bloom! Although April was wet, it was
very busy with many great events-- none of which would have been
possible without our amazing parent and teacher volunteers.
First I'd like to thank our Fifth Grade Activities chairs, Suzanne
Glaser, Jenn Love, Margarita Meyer, Amy Song and Beth Zadek and
all the 5th grade parents who helped with the fantastic Scavenger
Hunt/Mystery Night earlier in the month and the exciting annual
trip to Ellis Island and pizza party just a few days ago. We
certainly will be sending our soon-to-be-graduates off with some
wonderful experiences and memories!
Thank you to our Japanese Liaison parents, Tomoko Okusawa,
Sakiko Takamatsu and Miki Arima and our Community Service cochairs Suzanne Lipton and Amy Rompala and Coach SW, Coach
Blake, Sara Faranda, Barbara Laman, Sidney Lipez, Peter McKenna,
Dr. Schultz, Duncan Wilson, Colleen Mangan, the Spirit Committee
and the other teachers and parents who have volunteered their
time and hard work for our Japan Relief efforts. All this work will
culminate in a celebration of Japanese culture for the whole school
on Children's Day, May 5th. Look for more information below.
I would also like to thank the Colonial Fair co-chairs, Christine
Bensche, Eve Finger, Margot Milberg and Aileen Burke and all the
parents who baked, cooked, dressed up and otherwise worked to
make the event such a success. The Fourth Graders learned a lot
about our country's colonial roots and had a great time doing it.
Huzzah for all of you!
A big thank-you to all of our garden volunteers who have helped
make that little plot of earth in front of the school into a
beautiful, productive living classroom. Thank you also to our Whiz
Kids co-chairs, Sloan Greenspan, Anita Mann, Liz Margolin and
Allison Spitalny, who organized those great recess crafts sessions
for the younger grades during the coldest months, and to all the
parents who volunteered and made Whiz Kids possible.
Finally, thank you to the co-chairs of this year's Oscar -themed
Staff Appreciation Luncheon, Lee Maude, Diane Plaut and Sidney
Witter and their amazing committee members, Sarah Baigent,
Natalia Duque, Mara Felder, Claudine Gecel and Lori Guastefeste,
and to all the parents who helped and attended this fabulous
event. Thank you also to Lisa Han, Andi Goldstein, Karen Bock,
Lorraine Hansen, Rebecca Shen, Deb Cherki, Zobe Graff and
Seema Jaggi who gave up the opportunity to attend the luncheon to
make sure our kids got their Chicken Fingers lunches-- that's
commitment!
And in less than a week we'll bask in the glow of the spotlights
again at our Hollywood-inspired 2011 Fox Meadow Fair "A Star Is
Born". There will be lots of great things to do and terrific raffle
prizes to win. Make plans to be there and keep your fingers
crossed for sun!
Sincerely,
Deb Morel
From the Principal's Desk
Principal Duncan Wilson's previous messages can be found in the
"Principal's Corner" under "School Information" on the Fox
Meadow Elementary School homepage.
Japanese Children's Day Celebration
Thursday, May, 5, 2011 is Children's Day in Japan. An ad
hoc committee of teachers, students, and parents has come
together to organize a wonderful day of activities for the while
school to highlight Japanese culture and foster empathy and
support for our friends in Japan who are still dealing with the
devastating effects of the recent earthquake and tsunami. The
Children's Day Celebration will also cap our efforts to raise
money for Japan Relief.
Some of the activities will include performances by Japanese
Taiko Drummers, Japanese crafts and a "Jump for Japan" jumprope-a-thon. In addition to all the great crafts and
performances, each FM student will receive a commemorative
jump rope.
"Jump For Japan" will take place from 12-12:30pm and parents
are invited to watch. The suggested donation is $10 for one
child or $20 for families with more than one child at Fox
Meadow, but any amount is greatly appreciated. Please drop your
donations off at the school office by Thursday, May 5, 2011.
Thank you for your support!
FOX MEADOW FAIR 2011
Make an appointment with your stylist and buff up
the limo-- we're going to make you a STAR at the
2011 Fox Meadow Fair! DON'T MISS IT!
Saturday, May 7, 2011, 11 am - 3 p.m., FM
Field
We still need parents and alumni (SHS and SMS former Foxes)
to help with the Food Stand, Raffles, Cotton Candy, Raffle
Ticket Sales, and more. Please donate an hour of your time next
Saturday. Contact Karen Metviner or Aileen Burke to sign up.
2011 FAIR "A STAR IS BORN" PEP RALLY
"Twinkle Town" has nothing on Fox Meadow! And to show
where the stars really shine, the school will be having a Pep
Rally to get the children excited for their Saturday stroll
down the Hollywood Walk of Fame!
The Pep Rally will be held on Friday, May 6th during school.
Remember to have your child wear a red shirt or Fair t-shirt
to show school spirit!
Student Directory Addition
Please welcome a new family and update your Directory with the
following information:
Hannah Sasai -- 5T
mother: Junko; father: Toru
1144 Post Road
e-mail: junkosasai@gmail.com
home: 914-574-6179; cell: 347-925-0063
"Common Sense" Help for Parents re
Internet Safety
At the PTA meeting on April 27, our own Peter McKenna and Jan
Schorr, and Jerry Crisci, Director of Technology for the District,
gave a very interesting and informative presentation on Internet
Safety. Here's an excerpt from the presentation and link to a
great website recommended by these experts:
Today's media and entertainment pose many challenges for
parents and schools. Kids are bombarded with questionable and
often confusing messages in movies, TV shows, and video games
as well as issues like cyberbullying and sexting. It can be
overwhelming!
I found a great resource-- www.commonsensemedia.org -that helps families stay on top of the issues affecting kids in
today's digital media world. Common Sense Media offers
expert advice on media-related issues as well as ratings and
reviews of the latest movies, TV shows, video games, books,
websites and more. All of their resources are designed to help
you find great, age-appropriate media for your kids and raise
kids that use media and technology responsibly.
I urge you to visit Common Sense Media to personalize the site
for your own kids and sign up for their weekly newsletter. You
can also find our school's profile page where you can see what
media education we're conducting and access media reviews
from teachers and other parents in our community.
~ Peter McKenna
School Supplies Delivered to Your Door
Order your school supplies on-line this year for delivery to your
own home and save yourself from the hassles of shopping in
person!
Look for additional information and a link on the PTA website
soon . . . .
Fox Meadow Community Bus Association
If you are interested in the Private Bus for the 2011-12 school
year, please contact Vanessa Mandel at 722-2415 or
vmandel@optonline.net.
Nutrition & Food Safety Committee's Tip of
the Month: BBQ Sides
Now that May has arrived, the time has come to pull out our
beloved barbeques again. Last season we wrote about healthy
marinades. This time, we thought we would focus on some
delicious yet healthy sides to serve at your Spring/Summer
barbeques.
Traditional BBQ sides are known for being highly caloric and fat
laden. Your average store bought potato salad has about 20
grams of fat and over 300 calories per cup. Store-bought pasta
salad is not much better at over 300 calories and 25 grams of fat
per cup. Coleslaw seems a bit better at 150 calories and 10 gm of
fat for 3/4 of a cup . . . but then you usually eat it in addition to
some potato or pasta salad.
But the news is not all bad: you can have your sides and eat them
too. The key is that you make them yourself so you can control
how much fat goes into them. Think broccoli slaws and cucumber
salads that even the kids will like. Try quinoa salad for a new
take on the traditional pasta salad. Click on the links below to
see some yummy recipe alternatives to the traditional BBQ sides.
5 Ingredients: Cucumber Salad
Cucumber and Bell Pepper Quinoa Salad
Garden Pasta Salad
Healthy Potato Salad
Three Cool and Crunchy Healthy Coleslaws: Summer Slaw,
Broccoli Slaw, Southwestern Corn and Black Bean Slaw
We hope you enjoy them and Happy Grilling!
Please send comments, suggestions, or recipes to the Nutrition
and Food Safety Committee Co-Chairs:
Kira Almeida MS, RD/CDN, CDE (kiraalmeida@gmail.com)
Toby Amidor MS, RD/CDN (toby@namsko.com)
Attention 5th Grade Parents: Please Join the
SMS PTA Presentation of "Welcome to the
Adolescent Brain"
Welcome to the Adolescent Brain
Presented by Michael Nerney
Tuesday, May 17, 2011, 7:15 p.m.
SMS Auditorium
Michael Nerney is a consultant in Substance Abuse Prevention and
Education, with over thirty years' experience in the field. As the
former Director of the Training Institute of Narcotic and Drug
Research, Inc. (NDRI), his responsibilities included the
management of a statewide training system which delivered more
than 450 training programs to substance abuse treatment and
prevention professionals annually. Mr. Nerney's particular areas of
expertise include Psycho-pharmacology, Adolescent Chemical
Dependency, Relapse Prevention, Gender Differences in
Communication, and Managing Violent Incidents.
Mr. Nerney's understanding of adolescent issues is drawn from
twelve years' experience as a teacher and coach at the junior high
and high school levels, including three years with the Adirondack
Mountain School, a residential school for boys. He went on to add
four years of experience in the chemical dependency field as a
substance abuse counselor and Director of the Drug Abuse
Prevention Council in Hamilton County, NY, before joining the staff
of NDRI in 1984. He is a certified instructor in violence
prevention and management with the Crisis Prevention Institute
(CPI). He is the father of four children.
** Prior to the presentation, there will be a brief business meeting,
which will include the election of next year's SMS PTA board
members and the SMS Compact Committee.
Scarsdale C.H.I.L.D. and Building Communities
Co-Sponsored Lecture on Psychiatric
Medications for Children
Ritalin, Prosac and Company:
Too Much? Too Little? For YOUR Child? How to Decide
Presented by Dr. Kevin Kalikow, Child Psychiatrist
Tuesday, May 3, 2011, 7-9 p.m.
Bet Am Shalom Synagogue
295 Soundview Avenue, White Plains
Dr. Kalikow teaches at New York Presbyterian Hospital and is
Assistant Professor of Child Psychiatry at New York Medical
College. He has been in private practice for over 25 years and has
lectured widely. Dr. Kalikow is the author of Your Child in the
Balance: An Insider's Guide for Parents to the Psychiatric
Medicine Dilemma and Kids on Meds: Up-to-Date Information
About the Most Commonly Prescribed Psychiatric Medications, to
be published this Spring. He will address whether psychiatric
medications are over- or under-prescribed to children and how to
decide if medication is right for your child.
To RSVP, please e-mail: buildingcommunitylectures@gmail.com or
call 914-946-8851.
Warm regards,
Sue Adams, Chair, and Marian Green, Vice Chair
Please visit the new Scarsdale C.H.I.L.D. Website for additional
information and to join our mailing list.
Note: C.H.I.L.D. is a parent-based committee of the Scarsdale PT Council.
C.H.I.L.D. is a network of resources, information and support for educators and
families with children who have learning, emotional and/or mental health
differences, from pre-school through high school. C.H.I.L.D. does not endorse or
recommend the views, beliefs or practices of any invited speakers. Theses sessions
are held for informational purposes only. Any reliance that one places on such
information is therefore strictly at your own risk. C.H.I.L.D. will not be liable for
any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with this presentation.
School Budget Vote
BE SURE THAT YOU ARE REGISTERED NOW SO THAT YOU
MAY VOTE ON THE SCHOOL BUDGET ON MAY 17, 2011
Westchester County registration-by-mail forms are available in
the general office of every school. Anyone who delivers or mails
one of these registration forms to the County Board of Elections
will be registered with Westchester County and also considered to
be registered with the school district. The mailed registration
form has to be received by the County Board of Elections in time
for it to be processed by May 17, 2011, the date of the vote. You
may access the form at
www.citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com/register-to-vote.
Download form from the middle of the page.
In addition, anyone may register for school district voting with the
School District's Board of Registration at the offices of the
Board of Education located in the High School (Brewster Road side
of the school) as follows:
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 from 4-9 p.m.
Thursday, May 12, 2011 from 1-5 p.m.
The deadline for registration at the Board of Education office is
May 12, 2011.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Anyone who is registered and will not be in Westchester County
for the vote on May 17, 2010, may apply for an absentee ballot by
mail or in person. Application forms are immediately available from
Lois Rehm, the District Clerk, in the Board of Education offices in
the High School (721-2410 or lrehm@scarsdaleschools.org).
Monthly Updates and Weekly E-Blasts
The Fox Meadow PTA welcomes your input! Please help us publicize
upcoming events by sending your news to Diane Baylor at
foxmeadowupdate@gmail.com for the monthly Update or to Pam
Rubin at pamrubin1@gmail.com for the weekly e-blast (or to both
of us if you're not sure). See the Update and Weekly Deadlines on
the PTA homepage for additional information.
Fox Meadow E-Mail System
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© 2011 Fox Meadow PTA