Last Friday was full of excitement here at East Hill. Friday marked the opening of East Hill's brand new cafeteria! We are having a "soft" opening to make sure we have all of our ducks in a row. Our fifth graders were to the first to be able to eat in there, followed closely by our fourth graders. We should have everyone in by the end of the week. Our Shared Decision Making Committee has spent a good deal of time doing research and figuring out all of the logistics. There's a lot more to having a smoothly-running cafeteria than one would think!
 |
| 4th & 5th Graders Enjoy Lunch in the Cafeteria |
Equally exciting on Friday, I believe, was the culmination of our two-week PARP (Pick a Reading Partner) Reading Celebration. At the closing ceremony we had several special guests on hand: the Camillus Middle School Band (Directed by Mr. Dimmel, with Mr. Stachnik and Mrs. McConnell playing their instruments), Grace Craig, my daughter, who sang the National Anthem, the Fiction and Nonfiction candidates (played by Mr. Meaney and Mrs. Wolbert, respectfully), and, of course, the Secret Service (Mrs. Catalino, Mrs. Trivison, and Mrs. Klaben) were present to ensure the safety of our candidates.
 |
| Mr. Dimmel conducts the CMS Band |
 |
| Grace Craig sings the National Anthem |
 |
| The candidates, with Secret Service protection, eagerly await the results |
The results of the election, which was held on Thursday, were revealed. Fiction took roughly 68% of the votes, while nonfiction took the remaining 32%. The candidates each gave their speeches where Fiction revealed that nonfiction is really his favorite, and Nonfiction did the same. They vowed to work together as we all need a balance of fiction and nonfiction in our lives to make us well-rounded readers. The day was capped off with the PTA providing "Parp-sicles" for the students in the new cafeteria. Many of us felt it was the best-themed reading celebration to date. Thank you again to the PTA for all of your help, to the many guest readers that came in to read, to the CMS band for playing at the ceremony, and to everyone else involved.
 |
| Kindergarteners cast their votes on Thursday |
 |
| An excited kindergartener after casting his vote |
 |
| Fiction giving his acceptance speech |
 |
| Results of daily polls shown in tens frames |
 |
| Bulletin board indicating staff preferences |
The Halloween parade will be held today out in the front circle at 2:00 as long as the weather permits. We will not have a parade if the weather doesn't allow for it. Please remember that only those parents who have been contacted by the room parents are to come into the building and into the classrooms. Everyone coming into the building needs to sign in at the main office as always.
This week's words of the day are
fragile (M),
perilous (T),
plot (W),
miraculously (Th), and
immense (F).
Family BINGO night, which was tentatively scheduled for this Friday, has been postponed until the spring. Next Tuesday, 11/8, is a half-day with an 11:30 dismissal (11:20 parent pick-up.) Next Friday, 11/11, there is no school in honor of Veterans Day.
Our PTA, in conjunction with our Student Council, will again be providing Thanksgiving meals for families in need of some additional help at the holidays. Please let me know if we can help your family at this time.
Have a safe and happy Halloween and a great week!
- Lisa
