Happy Halloween from East Hill!

Happy Halloween!
Here are a few pictures from today's festivities!

Have a nice, safe evening and a great rest of the week!

- Lisa

Who Let The Dogs Out?

Paws for Reading
Students are really enjoying our PARP Reading Celebration. Thank you to everyone that volunteered their time to guest read in their child's classroom. Thank you also for sending in pictures of students reading to their animals - please keep them coming!

A guest reader in Mrs. Barry's class

Taryn reads to her puppy

Wacky Hair Day - Note the cherry on top of the cupcake!

Teachers love to join in on the fun!

The photo booth is still a big hit!

Students prepared for DEAR time during music

District Halloween Carnival
Next Monday is the District Halloween Carnival in the high school's upper gym. It runs from 4:30 to 7:00. Here is a flyer with more details.

Positivity Project

This week's character strength focus is perspective. Perspective helps an individual make sense of the world. It provides clarity on what matters and what does not. Being able to see things from multiple angles helps individuals remain calm and learn from mistakes. Perspective is usually gained over time, as one accumulates more knowledge and experiences. However, developing perspective is not only a matter of time. It comes from truly listening to others. For more on perspective from the Positivity Project, click here to see the character card.

Upcoming Dates
Halloween Classroom Parties, 10/31, 2:15
District Spelling Bee, CMS, 11/8, 9:45
PTA Meeting, 11/14, 6:30, East Hill Library

Enjoy the rest of the week!
- Lisa

PARP Has Begun!

PARP Begins!
Yesterday was the kick-off for our two-week PARP (Pick a Reading Partner) celebration. This year's theme is "Paws for Reading". Your child(ren) should have brought home information about this celebration yesterday. During these two weeks we encourage students to turn off the electronics and instead spend time reading books and participating in reading-related activities. A calendar of ideas was included in the information that you received.

Mrs. Ciciarelli reads to her dog, Henry, and other "cats and dogs"

We have a lot of fun things planned for students related to the theme here at school including a photo both, fun facts about cats and dogs, guest readers, special spirit days, teacher switch and read day,  daily DEAR time (students drop everything and read when they hear the song, "Who Let the Dogs Out?" on the PA system), a Book Fair, and a closing ceremony, complete with "Pup"sicles from the PTA. It should be a lot of fun.

Filling out their Book Fair Wish Lists

Mr. Coleman Guest-Reading in Mrs. Tynan's Class

Mrs. Tuttle Guest-Reading in Mrs. Kirk's Class

Students Posing at the Photo Booth

Halloween

Keeping school safety at the forefront of our decision-making, thank you for understanding that West Genesee elementary schools will no longer hold outdoor Halloween costume parades.  We will, however, continue to have classroom parties where student Halloween costumes are encouraged but optional. Halloween parties will be on Halloween Day, October 31 at 2:15.  ONLY parent volunteers who are working at the parties will be permitted into the building.  We will have a list of the approved volunteers and will begin letting people into the building at 2:00 to set up for the parties. We invite all interested families to attend the district-sponsored Halloween Carnival being held on Monday, October 29, 2018, from 4:00-7:30 p.m. at West Genesee High School.  All are welcome!  You will receive additional information about the carnival soon.

We do know that Halloween is not celebrated by all of our students. This year we will have an alternate activity planned for those students who would prefer not to attend the classroom celebration.

PTA Information
At last night's PTA meeting it was reported that we are 40 members shy of our membership goal. You can still join the PTA online at this link.  The next PTA meeting is Wednesday, 11/14 at 6:30.   This Friday is the deadline for Spirit Wear. Here is the link. 

Positivity Project
Integrity is this week's character strength focus. People with integrity are honest and do the right thing when nobody is watching. Here is the Integrity Character Card from the Positivity Project. 

Upcoming Dates
10/16 Book Fair
10/17 Wacky Wednesday Hair Day
10/17 Book Fair and Book Fair Family Night, 5:30 - 7:30
10/19 Spirit Day! Wear your blue and gold!
10/29 Halloween Carnival, 4:00 - 7:30, WGHS
10/31 Classroom Parties, 2:15

Have a great rest of the week!

- Lisa

Smile!

Smile!
As a reminder, picture day is tomorrow, 10/10/18. You can order online at this link. The picture day ID for East Hill is WL628062Y0. You can also fill out the order form that was sent home with your child and send payment in by cash or check. Please makes sure you send in the exact amount. Thank you to the PTA volunteers who are helping out throughout the day to make sure everyone is looking their best! Students began practicing their smiles today!

Custodian Recognition
Last Tuesday was National Custodial Workers' Recognition Day. Members of our PTA worked with students to create the display that you see in the picture below. They also provided our awesome custodians - Tim Groat, Matt Micho, Nadia Burun, and Mary Kay Cross - with gift bags. Thank you to our PTA for doing this, and a huge thank you to our custodians who work hard each and every day to keep our building looking beautiful and our students safe.

Spirit Wear

The last day to order spirit wear is October 19. Here is the link. Once at the site click on the black customer login tab. The username is easthill and the password is spirit1. Just choose the East Hill clothing option.  

Positivity Project

This week during our P2 time we take a break from learning about a new character strength and instead focus on the first element of the Other People Matter Mindset - Identifying and Appreciating the Good in Others. According to Positivity Project co-founder Jeff Bryan, identifying and appreciating the good in others isn't always what comes naturally. Often, it's easier to blame others for our problems or find flaws in others to use as excuses for our own jealousy, bitterness, or resentment. To see the good in others, we must first slow down and take the time to pay attention. Look for the intentions behind people's words and actions. If you feel slighted, you can use perspective and ask, "Did that person intend to hurt me or did he/she just come across in an awkward manner?"  Identifying and seeing the good in others helps you see the world through a more positive lens. Definitely food for thought!

Upcoming October Dates

10/10  Picture Day!

10/15  PARP (Pick a Reading Partner) Kick-Off
10/15  PTA Meeting, Library, 6:30
10/16  Book Fair
10/17  Book Fair and Book Fair Family Night, 5:30 - 7:30
10/29  Halloween Carnival, 4:00 - 7:30, West Genesee High School
10/31  Halloween Classroom Parties, 2:15

Have a great rest of the week!

- Lisa

Happy October!

Jogathon
What a perfect day we had for the jogathon last Friday! Thank you to all of you that were able to come out and cheer your children on as they ran laps around the front circle, and thank you to all of the adults that volunteered their time in one way or another. The PTA reports that they are half-way to their fundraising goal for the jogathon and will continue collecting through this weekend. Donations can also be accepted online at this link. Thank you!

On your mark . . .

Get set . . . (walk until you get to Mrs. Craig)

Go!

Open-Mindedness
The character strength on which we will focus this week is open-mindedness. If you are open-minded you like to consider new ideas and try out new things. You examine things from all sides and don't jump to conclusions. Why is open-mindedness important? Individuals with the character strength of open-mindedness are more likely to make accurate decisions, and decisions they won't regret. For more about this character strength, click here to see the Character Card from the Positivity Project.

CODE Assemblies
Today are our first assemblies of the year. Officer Diane Brand does a nice job working with students on grade level appropriate topics. A letter will come home today with your child outlining the focus at each grade level. Please continue these conversations at home with your child.

Upcoming October Dates
10/8    No School, Columbus Day
10/10  Picture Day!
10/15  PARP (Pick a Reading Partner) Kick-Off
10/15  PTA Meeting, Library, 6:30
10/16  Book Fair
10/17  Book Fair and Book Fair Family Night, 5:30 - 7:30
10/29  Halloween Carnival, 4:00 - 7:30, West Genesee High School
10/31  Halloween Classroom Parties, 2:15

Have a great rest of the week!

- Lisa