Welcome to Marvin Schools Open House September 12

Welcome to Marvin School’s Open House September 12, 2019

Meet the Staff

Office Staff Mrs. Di. Scala School Secretary Mrs. Mc. Lean Nurse Mrs. Negroni Curriculum and Instruction and Site Director Mrs. O’Shea Principal Mrs. Pagan Office Assistant

Kindergarten Teachers Mrs. Gilman Mrs. Randazzo Mrs. Colarossi Mrs. Falcone

First Grade Teachers Mrs. Lewin Mrs. Murawski Mrs. Palmer Mrs. Lamb

Second Grade Teachers Mrs. Dunlavey Mrs. Suda Mrs. Chase Mrs. Nguyen

Third Grade Teachers Mrs. Mumbach Ms. Johnson Mrs. Deeb

Fourth Grade Teachers Mrs. Ekstrom Mrs. Castellana – on Maternity leave Ms. Murray Ms. Stockage Long term sub

Fifth Grade Teachers Ms. Kangas Ms. Hughes Ms. Dean Ms. Renwick

Special Education Staff Ms. Connolly Speech and Language Therapist Mrs. Navone, Ms. Sanders, Ms. Lamb Special Education Resource Teachers Ms. Penick Social Worker Mr. Velez School Psychologist

ELL teachers (English Language Teachers) Mrs. Morales Mrs. Perrone

Specials Teachers Mr. Magnano Math Coach Mr. G. Physical Education Mrs. Skloot Music Mrs. Tolboe Art

Additional Staff Members Mrs. Burr Librarian Mr. Dunbar Security Mr. Guzman Building sub Mr. Hohl School Intern

Special Education Mrs. Benn Mr. Calderon Ms. Cotroneo Ms. Mokunburg Ms. Newsome Mrs. Opdahl Mrs. Pankey Ms. Reid Ms. Turner Paraprofessionals Reading Interventionist Mrs. Rebecca Sweeney Kindergarten Mrs. Perry Interventionists Mrs. Bosworth Mrs. Collins Mrs. Doyle Mrs. Eaton Mrs. Kelly Mrs. Surace

Custodians Mr. Brayboy Mr. Cowan Ms. Pellegrino

Important Phone Numbers Main Number – (203) 899 -2890 • Office Staff (Mrs. Di. Scala and Mrs. Pagan- Spanish speaking) • Call the main number then press 0 • Nurse (Mrs. Mc. Lean) – call the main number then press 2 • Social Worker (Ms. Penick) – call the main number then press 4 • Psychologist (Mr. Velez) – call the main number then press 5 • He is at Marvin Mondays and Thursdays. • Speech and Language Therapist (Ms. Connolly) – call the main number then press 8 • Absence Line – call the main number then press 1 • Please call EVERYTIME your child is absent. • Bus Company number – (203) – 855 -1870 – Please call when you have an issue.

Important Information School information • Doors Open at 8: 00 • No one is available prior to this time to monitor your children • Late Bell rings at 8: 15 • Children will be marked tardy if they are not in the classroom by 8: 20. • K students are dismissed at 2: 45. • All other students are dismissed at 2: 50. • Attendance is very important. • Letters for tardiness and absences are sent home 3 -4 times a year. • You may be asked to come to school and meet with the Social Worker and the Principal if attendance is a problem. Any vacations that are taken during the school year are considered unexcused absences. • However if your child is sick – please keep him/her home. A child must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.

What’s New for 2019 -2020 School Year? • Band instruction for students in grade 4 and 5. • Our students have the option of taking band or in the case of 3 rd, 4 th, and 5 th grade students they may take either band or strings. • Attendance • Perfect attendance will be rewarded on a monthly basis. • Math Training • Our teachers will be receiving a variety of opportunities for training in math. • Our student growth on standardized testing was phenomenal!!

Have you heard about our Marvin Star Cards?

Students earn Star Cards by Showing Respect Being Responsible Acting Safely

• Star Cards are product of our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) Team • The idea behind the Star Cards is to reward students who demonstrate proper school behavior. • Star cards are collected in the classrooms and rewards occur in homerooms or by grade levels and lead to a school-wide celebration!

2019 - 2020 Marvin School Governance Council Co-Chairs Sue O’Shea - Prinicpal Mark Lilliedahl – Community Member – grandparent Community Members Open Position Teachers Katie Chase - 2 nd grade Kathi Hughes - 5 th grade Aly Johnson – 3 rd grade Caren Kangas – 5 th grade Christine Murray – 4 th grade

2019 - 2020 Marvin School Governance Council (continued) Parents Mimi Chang - parent of a 4 th grade student Darnelly D'Erario - parent of 3 rd grade student Kari Guiterrez – parent of a 1 st grade student Nishaie Pittman – parent of a Kindergarten student Amanda Seroff – parent of a 4 th grade student

2019 – 2020 Marvin School Governance Council (continued) What is the job of the SGC? School Governance Councils serve in an advisory capacity and are charged with assisting the school administration in making programmatic and operational changes to improve the school’s achievement.

2019 – 2020 Marvin School Governance Council (continued) What are the tasks of the SGC? Analyze achieve data and school needs. Advise the principal regarding the budget. Participate in hiring a new principal. – (not needed… yet) Assist the principal on programmatic and operational changes. Develop a School Accountability Plan. Help develop and approve a school compact - (completed – year 1 of SGC) Assist in promoting the school. Develop a parent involvement policy. Review and approve school partnerships and after school programs. - (After School program implemented – year 1 of SGC) • Prepare an annual report regarding goals of the SAP. • • •

2019 – 2020 Marvin School Governance Council (continued) We are looking for two additional parents and one community member to join the council Please contact Mrs. O’Shea osheas@norwalkps. org or Mark Lilliedahl – MLilliedahl@unum. com to become involved in this decision making group.

• The Marvin Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is committed to improving the educational, social-emotional, and developmental experiences of our children and strives to help make Marvin the best it can be. • A primary contribution that the Marvin PTA makes to the school, its teachers, and students is fundraising. Fundraising helps to generate additional revenues to support school-wide and in-classroom enrichment activities, educational field trips, and needed supplies that are often not included in the school budget. • In addition, the Marvin PTA also provides a forum for communication between parents, teachers, and administrators, and connects families to resources and supports within our school and

• Marvin Elementary School is lucky to have such a dedicated group of people who work to build strong working relationships among parents, teachers, and the school, in support of students. • The Marvin PTA recognizes that we all have different abilities and desires in the manner in which we contribute. Some of us donate our time and talents, some contribute financially, and some focus on raising our treasured student members of the Marvin community. • Each way of contributing is as valuable as the next. ALL are genuinely appreciated.

Interested in becoming involved! Our PTA needs YOUR unique talents! Some ways you can help: • Join the PTA. $10 person. The PTA has a goal of doubling their membership this year. • Volunteer your time (a few hours a month or a few hours a year). There are various activities planned for the year and volunteers are always needed. • Help with fundraising and events/activities that our Marvin children and families look forward to each year! • Join us at PTA meetings (held one Thursday evening a the month). • Sign up and read the Marvin Newsletter that is published and sent to families via email every Sunday!

For the past several years the PTA spent a lot of energy organizing very successful Walk-A-Thons that raised thousands of dollars for your children. The funds raised go directly to benefit our children and make Marvin a more enjoyable place to learn. • Some of this money provides a variety of enrichment programs and school-wide assemblies that are held throughout the year. A big thank you to Vega’s Masonry, Garden & Lawn Company. While the PTA purchased the mulch for the courtyard garden, Vega’s donated the labor!!! Currently the PTA is running a fundraiser. Items such as wrapping paper, cookie dough and many additional items are available. I encourage you to

How to get involved? Your participation is welcomed and needed! And PTAs are not just for moms. Many dads play an active role as volunteers. ALL are welcome and encouraged to take on leadership roles within the organization. PTA officers will be in the hallway outside of the library following your classroom presentation to answer any additional questions.

Every Friday is “Show Your Marvin Spirit” Day. Students are asked to wear Marvin t-shirts or the colors blue and white! M Marvin School spirit wear is available for purchase this evening.

Research shows the most important factor in a child’s success in school is having involved parents!! Thank you for joining us for Open House!!

Please stop by and: • Chat with our Art, Math, Music, and PE, Special Education and ELL teachers! • Join the PTA – Registration forms available. • Provide the PTA with your email address so you are sure to receive the weekly newsletters. • They will be located just outside the library.

Thank you for coming this evening Enjoy the classroom presentations Stop by and see me with any questions – Mrs. O’Shea