J.V. Forrestal Elementary School was one of only four schools in the county selected this year by Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County (CCEDC) to take part in the Eat Well Play Hard (EWPH) “Seed” Incentive program. Eat Well Play Hard is a New York State funded program focusing on educating children ages 2-12 and their families on the benefits of proper nutrition (fruits and vegetables, low fat and non-fat milk) as well as age appropriate exercise. Participating in this program encourages schools to establish a sustainable wellness committee by completing a School Health Index (SHI) and developing a plan to improve physical activity and nutrition in the school.

To promote health and wellness, every JV Forrestal student in kindergarten through fifth grade now walks a ½-mile during recess on Wednesdays in a program that’s become known as “Walking Wednesdays”.  Physical Education teacher Brian Antalek put together a series of indoor and outdoor walking paths to help promote health, wellness, and physical activity for students, staff, and parents.  Our goal is to have all students walk a distance equivalent to a marathon (26.2 miles) before the end of the school year.  There’s even a course within the building so students can walk a ½-mile indoors on days when the weather is not good enough to go outside.   It’s important to drink water and stay well-hydrated when exercising, especially when it’s hot and humid, so the EWPH Program also provides a water bottle for every student.

This program also offers parents the opportunity to walk with their child any Wednesday that we’re outdoors.  Space is limited indoors so parents are not able to join us during indoor walks but they’re always welcome to join their child during recess any Wednesday that we’re outdoors.  We are grateful and excited to have this program at our school and it’s our hope that increased physical activity combined with healthier eating habits will lead to children who are healthier, happier, and better performing students.

Thank you to all of the many PTSO and JVF Faculty members who helped make the recent Holiday Craft Fair a great success.   It was another very successful Family Fun Night as children and families were able to make holiday ornaments and decorations that can hopefully become family keepsakes and lead to memories that will last a lifetime.  

Enjoy the holiday break and have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR but please keep reading and remember that school reopens on Monday, January 4, 2010!  On behalf the entire JVF school community, may you and your family enjoy this holiday season and have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

PTSO CHILDRENS HOLIDAY SHOPPE OPEN DURING THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 14-18
By popular demand, the JVF PTSO will once again be offering a Holiday Shoppe for students from 8:30am-4:00pm each day so children can shop for their loved ones in a safe and friendly environment. An introductory letter and a bank went home last week to help children plan and save for special gifts. There will be gifts available that start as low as 25 cents and the majority of gifts are under $10 with just a few that are under $16.

PTSO FAMILY FUN NIGHT – HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18
Looking for a fun way to spend some holiday time with the kids? Bring them out to our annual Holiday Craft Fair on Friday, December 18th from 6:30-8:00 pm. Where else could you go to make 10-12 crafts for $5.00? Craft tickets will be $.50 each or 12 for $5.00. Have the kids make some homemade gifts for relatives that they will cherish for a lifetime.
While you’re there, take a chance at a raffle. We’ll be raffling a basket at each grade level with gifts that were donated by each class. If you would like to donate a gift, please submit the donation to your child’s classroom teacher by December 11th to allow enough time for the baskets to be assembled.

Basket themes for each grade level are as follows:
Pre-K – Winter Fun
Kindergarten – Rainy Day
1st Grade – Brunch
2nd Grade – Girls slumber party
3rd Grade – Boys Slumber Party
4th Grade – Sports
5th Grade – Mexican Fiesta

Happy Holidays & We Hope To See You At The Craft Fair!

Please Continue to Donate Non-Perishable Foods

to the Beacon Food Pantry Box at JVF.

DECEMBER 4 is JVF Day at the Barnes & Noble Book Store on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie.  JVF will receive credit for 20% of any purchase made on Friday, December 4th but you MUST shop with a JVF VOUCHER or mention at the register that you’re shopping on behalf of JVF.  Special store events are scheduled that evening beginning at 5:00 pm.

JVF Reading Teacher Matthew Coumbes will coordinate a Spelling Bee at each grade level for students in grades 1-5.  We’d like to encourage as many students as possible to be part of this event so each student who enters will receive a certificate of participation and the winner at each grade level will receive a $10.00 gift certificate to Barnes  & Noble.   It is anticipated that the Spelling Bee should take approximately 12 minutes at each grade level according to the following schedule:

Grade 1 from 5:00-5:12

Grade 2 from 5:12-5:24

Grade 3 from 5:24-5:36

Grade 4 from 5:36-5:48

Grade 5 from 5:48-6:00                 

The Book Fair will include many other opportunities for student participation.  Art Teacher Cathy Pezzo will provide samples of JVF student art-work that will be on display throughout the day in the upstairs childrens’ section.  Downstairs in the café area, Music Teacher Susan Wright will lead student musical performances at each at each grade level according to the following schedule:

Kindergarten 6:00-6:05

Grade 1  from 6:05-6:10

Grade 2  from 6:10-6:15

Grade 3  from 6:15-6:20

Grade 4 from 6:20-6:25

Grade 5 from 6:25-6:30

JVF Chorus from 6:30-6:45

Holiday Sing-Along (with audience participation) from 6:45-7:00

The highlight of the evening will take place at 7:00 pm with the GUESS THE JVF CELEBRITY contest as a special mystery guest known and loved by all JVF students will appear incognito and their identity will soon be revealed.  All students in attendance that night will be eligible to enter one guess and one winner will receive a $10.00 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble.  

There’s more as individual student musical performances and poetry readings will take place at the conclusion of the GUESS THE JVF CELEBRITY contest (around 7:15 pm).  Student performers will include Jethro Banks and Molly Robinson and we’d like to have more students participate in what promises to be a fun Friday night out for the family that also supports our school. 

Please remember that our school will receive 20% of ALL sales that day (that includes, food, beverages, CD’s, DVD’s and everything else in the store except gift cards) but you MUST either PRESENT A JVF VOUCHER FORM or TELL THE CASHIER THAT YOU’RE FROM JVF when you pay for your purchase.  ALL proceeds from this Book Fair will be used to purchase books for JVF students so your support goes right back to the children.

There’s still more as the JVF PTSO will conduct a FREE raffle that evening for a $25.00 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble.  It’s a FREE raffle but you must be in attendance that night in order to enter the raffle.  The store is located in Poughkeepsie on Route 9 at 2518 South Road (next to Michaels & Toys R Us).  We hope you can join us at the store on Friday, December 4^th.

NOVEMBER 25 – The annual Beacon City School District Early Release/Go Home Drill will be conducted on Wednesday, November 25^th.  Please note that lunch will be served that day and ALL elementary students will be dismissed at 1:00 pm.  Students must be picked up promptly at 1:00 pm as the entire district will close at that time for Thanksgiving Recess.

NOVEMBER 26-29 – School Closed for Thanksgiving Recess. Classes resume Monday, November 30^th. 

Please Continue to Donate Non-Perishable Foods

to the Beacon Food Pantry Box at JVF.

Have a Happy, Healthy, & Safe Thanksgiving Holiday!

DECEMBER 2 – Remember that there are no classes Wednesday, December 2^nd as Parent/Teacher Report Card Conferences will be held that day and that evening.  Please schedule an appointment time to meet with your child’s teacher to review your child’s report card if you have not already done so.

DECEMBER 4 – JVF Day at Barnes & Noble Book Store on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie. JVF will again be holding a Book Fair at Barnes & Noble and we will receive credit for 20% of your purchase that day if you shop with a JVF voucher form OR if you mention at the register that you’re shopping on behalf of JVF.

Come out and join the fun with or without a costume when Radio Disney returns to JVF to host a fun-filled PTSO Family Fun Night Halloween Party on Friday, October 30^th from 7:00-9:00 pm.  The first 125 children who enter will receive a free pumpkin to decorate and take home and free cupcakes will be available that evening for all children to decorate (and eat).  Please remember that Family Fun Nights are FREE for every member of your family for the entire school year when you join the PTSO for a one-time fee of $10.00.  It’s the best deal in town and a great way to enjoy time together as a family and get to know your child’s school.

The JVF PTSO is sponsoring a Vendor Fair at the school on Friday, October 16 from 6:00-9:00 pm.  Various vendors will be present including handmade crafts. Vendors include Creative Memories, Avon, Bath & Bubbles, Pampered Chef, Partylite, and many more.  Bellizzi Jewelers will also be on hand and individuals are invited to bring in silver, gold, platinum, flatware, and precious metals that they may think are of value and trade them in for cash.  Child care will be available so come enjoy an adult night out and do some early holiday shopping while also helping the school.

Thank you to everyone who came out to march with us at the Spirit of Beacon Day Parade.  It was a fun day and a great event for our school and our community.  We even  came away with the third place trophy for the best float. 

Thank you also to all who stayed for the community sing-along with Pete Seeger and the children of Beacon.  It was a very uplifting and unifying event and demonstrated once again what a great community we share right here in Beacon.  Special thanks to Jeff Haynes, Peter Valentine, Bill Vanaver, Livia Vanaver, and our own Susan Wright for their participation and support of the community sing-a-long.

Today’s rain has caused the Spirit of Beacon Day Parade to be postponed and the parade as well as all of the events originally scheduled for today will be held next Sunday, October 4, 2009 (same time-same place).  Please wear red and join us next week at 12:15pm as we’ll meet and line up for the parade on the closed off portion of Route 9D between the Municipal Building and Tompkins Hose Fire House.  Join us also at 2:15 pm after the parade for a sing-a-long with Pete Seeger.

J.V FORRESTAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

6:45 – 7:00  Introduction and welcome by Mr. Borrello in the auditorium.

7:10 – 7:40  Meet with your child’s teacher to hear about the curriculum as well as the policies, requirements, and expectations for classwork, homework, and grading.

                                              OR

Visit with special area teachers, learn more about (and join) The Parents’ Organization (PTSO), and visit the Book Fair.

7:45 – 8:15  A second presentation by the classroom teacher (if you have more than one child in the school).

                                              OR

Visit with special area teachers, learn more about (and join) The Parents’ Organization (PTSO), and visit the Book Fair.