Gayhead Elementary School 15 Entry Road

Hopewell Junction, NY 12533

Tel.: 845-227-1756

Fax.: 845-227-1764

JUNE 2012

From Mr. Olavarría

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Here we are in the month of June already!! This year

has certainly whizzed by!! It has been an extremely

enjoyable year working with all of you.

At Gayhead, we are very fortunate to have two

parent/teacher organizations that do a magnificent

job, accomplish so much and demonstrate sincere

commitment to the students. I’d like to sincerely

thank Mrs. Rebecca O’Mara, President of Gayhead’s

PTA, and members of the PTA Board, Mrs. Gilmore,

Mrs. Gisolfi, Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Cavaretta, Mrs. Ko,

Mrs. Stefano, Mrs. Angyal. In addition, we would like

to acknowledge the efforts of Mrs. Bukofsky who was

our arts in education chairperson. Without her

passion and dedication to our students, the terrific

programs she helped to arrange for would not have

been possible for our children. In addition, Mrs.

LaVerde and Mrs. DeLuca did a wonderful job working

on school pictures and the yearbook. Special thanks

to Mrs. Mauro for all she did for our families. Thank

you too to Mrs. Sweeney for her hard work on the

book fairs and to Mrs. Staudohar for all her efforts.

Thanks also to Mrs. Whelan, Mrs. Conti, Mrs. Dinan,

Mrs. Lyon, Mrs. Froehlich.

Special thanks also to our School Leadership Team,

composed of parents and teachers, especially Mrs.

McHenry for her leadership of the SLT. Some

highlights this year were – Citizen the Month

Program, Twenty-Five Book Campaign and the

purchase of hundreds of books for all our grade

levels--the main goal was for teachers to have

additional resources to reinforce their lessons. Our

Bully Prevention Committee, led by Kelly Hanna, was

very active this year and presented lively, but

important, programs and events to underscore our

efforts in Bully Prevention. Thanks also to the

members of the Math Problem of the Month

Committee, keeping math a fun and exciting activity

for our students.

Our PTA and SLT work very hard to bring the best

possible educational experiences to the children at

Gayhead. The energy, enthusiasm, dedication and

creativity of these two groups have benefited our

school immensely.

As we look forward to the warm, summer months, I

encourage you to help your children keep learning

during the vacation. Our district-wide Summer

Reading Program offers an exciting way to build and

strengthen your child’s reading skills. Look for that

coming home in the next few weeks. In addition, our

area is full of fascinating cultural opportunities.

Experiencing these rich sites can be fun and enjoyable

as well. Please try to visit the beautiful Mount Gulian

Historic Site, Madam Brett Homestead, Vanderbilt

Mansion, FDR Homesite, Locust Grove—the former

home of Samuel Morse. Another wonderful day trip

might be to Muscoot Farm off 684 in Katonah. These

are all wonderful landmarks close by. The grounds

are beautiful for picnicking and hiking.

I extend to you my sincere thanks for another

exciting, productive and happy school year. I am

looking forward to an even better 2012-13 school

year. As always, if you have any questions concerning

your child’s progress, please call your child’s teacher

at school (227-1756).

In the meantime, you have my best wishes for

wonderful summer!!

Sincerely,

José Olavarría

Principal

If you would like to receive weekly bulletins, latest information

about special events at our building, and notification about school

delays & cancellations via e-mail, please subscribe to Gayhead School News by visiting

http://groups.google.com/group/gayhead-school-news.

You may also access the registration screen for Gayhead School News by clicking on the link found on our school website.

Our and Mrs. Seipp’s class did a STEM (Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Math) activity on

June 1, as part of our math enrichment program.

We started the activity with our two classes together and explained the

Marshmallow and Spaghetti Challenge. The challenge was to make a tower

made only of marshmallows and spaghetti. We divided the children into teams

of two. They were given five minutes to design their tower. The students

were asked to think about what kind of structures (cubes, triangles ) would be

the strongest. After they were finished designing, the students built their

structures.

It was incredible to see how well they worked together and how focused they

were on making their tower. They did not want to stop, but we had to for

lunch. As soon as we got back, the children wanted to fix their towers as some

of them had started to collapse. The children reflected on their towers: Was

it how they designed it? Did their design work? What would they do

differently next time?. Mr Seipp, our Assistant Principal, came down and

measured to see who the winners were for the tallest structure and the most

creative.

GAYHEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL June 2012 PAGE 2

Have a Healthy Summer! From Gayhead’s Health Office Staff

Summer Sun

Here are some tips for

managing the summer sun:

UV Rays are strongest in the middle of the day.

Plan indoor activities at that time or look for

shade to prevent sunburn.

Cover the skin with a shirt AND sunscreen to

avoid sunburn!

Wear a hat – preferably one that covers the neck

and ears. When wearing a baseball style hat,

remember to apply sunscreen to the neck and

ears.

Sunglasses protect eyes from UV rays. Look for

sunglasses that wrap around and block nearly

100% of UV rays. Use sunscreen! Use a

sunscreen with at least a SPF of 15 and UVA/UVB

protection. This information and more is available

at http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/

chooseyourcover/guide.htm.

Vaccine Information

Summer is a good time to be sure

that your child’s immunizations

are up to date! Students entering

Kindergarten – Grade 12 in New

York State requires the following vaccinations:

DTaP 3 doses (4 doses for NYC

students)

Tdap

(booster)

1 dose if born on or after 1/1/94

& entering grades 6-10

Polio (IPV or

OPV)

3 doses

MMR 2 doses of measles, 1 dose

mumps, rubella

Hepatitis B 3 doses

Varicella 1 dose if born on or after 1/1/98

or born on or after 1/1/94 and

entering 6th grade

Tdap 1 dose if born on or after 1/1/94

and entering grades 6-10

Summer Water Safety

When protecting kids while swimming, most

parents think about life jackets, swimming lessons

and childproofing their pool. However, swimming

in pools, lakes or waterparks that are

contaminated with germs can cause recreational

water illnesses (RWIs) such as: Giardia, Pink

Eye, Swimmer’s Ear and Molluscum

Contagiosum. Some simple steps can keep

everyone safe while swimming. In addition to

teaching your child to not swallow water when

swimming or playing in the water, you can help

keep your child and everyone else healthy in the

water if you: * Keep your child out of the water when he has an open

wound, diarrhea, pink eye, hepatitis A or other

contagious diseases;

* Don’t share pool or beach towels;

* Take younger children to the bathroom frequently so

that they are less likely to have accidents in the water;

keep in mind that swim diapers and swim pants are not

leakproof-check--change them frequently for infants

and toddlers who aren’t yet potty trained.

* Don’t change diapers by the pool. Instead, take your

child to the bathroom to change his diaper--then wash

your child’s bottom well and wash your hands too.

Head Lice Alert

Head lice reach a peak time for infestation during

the summer because of overnight camps, slumber

parties and vacations.

Consider checking your child’s head for the

presence of lice regularly during the summer and

several times the week before school reopens.

Information about identifying lice can be found at: http://healthgate.partners.org/browsing/LearningCenter

.asp?fileName=11818.xml&title=Head%20Lice

GAYHEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL June 2012 PAGE 3

News from the PE Department:

All of us in the Phys Ed Department are thrilled to announce that Emma McCabe, Thomas DiRusso and Daniel

Mansfield and Haley Karst received awards from the Southeastern Zone New York State Association for Health,

Physical Education and Recreation for their outstanding and above average physical fitness, good citizenship and

emotional and social maturity. Congratulations boys and girls!!!

Summer Safety

During the month of June we will cover our Stranger Danger

curriculum in all physical education classes. Below are some areas

that we covered; we recommend that you review them with your child.

We also reviewed fire safety, and encouraged the children to discuss

their individual plan at home. In grades 3- 5 we discuss Internet

safety, so please remind your child of your family rules.

We all need to work together to teach children how to protect themselves. Have a safe summer!

1. Keep them safe indoors: Make sure children know their complete home address, telephone

number and parents’ first and last names. Children should know how to call 911.

2. Keep them safe outdoors: Parents should know their child’s route to and from school or

activities, and insist that a child never take shortcuts. Teach children never to go anywhere

with anyone without parental permission. Parents should teach children to run away from

someone who is bothering them, and while doing so, yell to attract as much attention as

possible. If followed by a car, or if a stranger gets out of a vehicle and asks for directions,

children should be taught to run away and yell.

3. Teach your child about predators’ tricks: Predators use tricks. Teach your child to recognize

the common methods of luring, including bribes (such as money, toys or the promise of something

the child would want), requests for help (“My puppy ran away! Will you help me look for it?”) or threats.

4. Develop a code word: Teach your child a “code word”, if someone other than a parent needs to

pick up the child unexpectedly, this person needs to know the “code word” before the child

agrees to leave with him or her.

5. Know the risks: Statistically, your child is most likely to be harmed by an adult they know, rather

than a stranger. A child should know what the family safety rules are and what the proper roles

are for adults in his or her life.

6. Teach kids how to say ‘no!’ Kids have the right to say “no!” — and loudly — if anyone touches them

in a way that is uncomfortable.

Taken from http://www.parentmap.com/content/view/1244/110/

GAYHEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL June 2012 PAGE 4

It’s safer with two,

your buddy and you!

JUNE 2012 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

4th Grade Math Carnival

9:30-2:30 in the gym

3

4

K Scrng –Prim Lib

4th grade science

written

5

K Scrng –Prim Lib

Marc Molinaro

assembly 4th grades-

large caft.

9:00-10am

NYS Math – 4th & 5th

Gr

4th Gr Science make-up

6

K Scrng –Prim Lib

4th Gr Science made-up

7

K Scrng –Prim Lib

Science Scoring

8

K Scrng –Prim Lib

Science Scoring

Violin Instruction 2:45-

3:25 all 5th grade orch.

9

10

11

K Scrng –Prim Lib

1st Grade Picnic-

lower playground

3rd Grade Field Day-

upper playground

Science Scoring

12

K Scrng –Prim Lib

2nd Gr Picnic –

Garden of Life

4th Grade Field Day-

upper playground

Possible Science

Scoring

13

K Scrng –Prim Lib

2nd Grade Portable

Earth in the

Sm Cafeteria

5th Grade Field Day–

upper playground

4th Grade trip to

Albany

7:30-5:30

Mrs. Muñoz, Mrs.

Valentino, Mrs. Paglia

14

K Scrng –Prim Lib

K Picnic AM & PM

Possible Raindate 1st or

2nd Picnics-Garden

Raindate 3rd & 5th Field

Day

4th Grade trip to Albany

7:30-5:30

Mrs. Misch, Mrs.

Johnson, Mrs. Ryan,

Mrs. Messina, Mrs. Cox

15

K Scrng –Prim Lib

5th Grade Picnic-upper

playground

Possible raindate K Picnic

AM/PM

16

17

18

Raindate for 4th Grade

Picnic-upper playground

Possible additional rain

date as needed

19

No AM Kindergarten

PM Kdg students

attend in the AM

11:30 dismissal

20

No AM Kindergarten

PM Kdg students

attend in the AM

11:30 dismissal

5th Grade Moving Up @

John Jay 9:45am-11 am

21

No AM Kindergarten

PM Kdg students attend

in the AM

11:30 dismissal

Last day for Students

Report Cards Go Home

22

Superintendent’s

Conference Day

(no school for students)

23

GAYHEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL June 2012 PAGE 6

Upcoming Field Trips

Our 4th Grade Classes will be going to Albany,

State Capital, Empire State Plaza and the

New YorkState Senate and New York State

Museum on June 13 and 14. The classes will

be leaving from school at 7:15 a.m. and

arriving back at school at 5:30 a.m.

6/13 Mrs. Muñoz/Ms. Tarantino,

Mrs. Paglia, Mrs. Johnson’s

4th Grade Classes

6/14 Mrs. Ryan, Mrs. Valentino,

Mrs. Misch/Mrs. Ruppert,

Mrs. Messina, & Mrs. Cox’s

The New York State Capitol Building in

Albany, NY.

Here are some bike safety rules to

review: Stop at all stop signs and signal when turning.

Bicyclists should respect pedestrians in crosswalks.

Bicycles go with the traffic flow, not against it.

Helmets are required by state law for those under

age 14, but should be worn by everyone.

Bicycles need to stay as far to the right on the road

as they can get

The use of headphones and music players should be

discouraged while riding bicycles – it doesn’t make

good common sense - if it’s that important to listen

to, then stop