December 2008

Dear Cottage Lane Parents/Guardians,

As the holiday season descends upon us, I would like to share a few thoughts with you.

First, we are entering the time of the year where early dismissal, due to weather conditions, is always a possibility. I recommend you have the following in place in case your child is dismissed early from school:

• A specific contingency plan.
• Review this plan with your child more than once.
• Make sure you have a backup plan.
• You may want to write both plans on an index card for your child.
• This information should include all necessary phone numbers.
• Have your child place this card in his/her backpack.
• Please make sure your child always has a key to the house.
• Share your plans with any adult who is part of your contingency or backup plan.

Don’t forget – Cottage Lane will be dismissing at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23^rd. If you plan on picking up your child that day, please do so by 11:45 a.m. This will enable you to exit the grounds before the buses arrive.

Second, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the winter season. We will continue to have children participate in outdoor recess unless it is below freezing. We will not allow a child outside unless they are suitably dressed for the weather.

Third, I continue to be impressed with the generosity your children exhibit in supporting charitable causes. For example, the funds raised to help fight cancer on CAPS FOR KIDS DAY, bringing in pajamas to help support the needy children of Rockland County, the support of Ms. Early’s students original bookmark sale to help a Cottage Lane family in need, bringing in Halloween costumes to support a Girl Scout troop’s bronze project – all these costumes will help children in need have a Happy Halloween next year and TOYS FOR TOTS for those children in need..

Fourth, one of my proudest moments as principal was the involvement of a group of our students in a Socratic panel discussion, at a board meeting, on how students learn best and twenty-first century skills. Congratulations to Leo Ko, Belinda Bell, Marisa Cooke, Selena Quintana, Alec Goldman, Tara Coyne, Cordelia Mutter, Ean Waetjen and Jack Shannon for their outstanding participation. The opening part of the presentation was an impressive movie clip, composed of learning activities at Cottage Lane, representing the integration of twenty-first century skills. In addition, Selena and Ean provided the board with a smartboard demonstration on how they communicated with Mr. Tanenbaum while he was at sea and Alec impressed the board with his smartboard demo on the West Point Bridge Design. Special thanks to the staff members who were part of the presentation team: Kerri McBride (also moderated the panel), Kottie Christie-Blick, Kristine Wagner, Karen Sperduto and Jacob Tanenbaum and all staff members who contributed to the movie clip. Special kudos to Mr. Tanenbaum for piecing together all the “movie clips” into a very professional presentation.

On a final note, please spend as much time as you can with your child especially over the holiday vacation. They are only this age once. Wishing you an enjoyable and healthy holiday season.

Peace and Happiness,

Michael Fiorentino