The Race to the Finish

Last week some of our students participated in the Special Olympics. We brought several classes along to cheer on their teammates. Our District was commended for the amount of support we bring to this event every year.

This month's character education trait is Kindness and Courtesy. Our kindergarten students performed a wonderful assembly on Wednesday. They taught us different ways we can fill each other's "buckets" by saying and doing nice things for each other.

It's hard to believe that there are only four and a half weeks left in this school year. We have a lot going on in that short amount of time. Here are just a few of those events:

May 24: 5th graders visit CMS in the morning
May 24: 5th Grade Parent Information Night, CMS LGI, 6:30 -7:30
May 27 & 30: No school
June 1 & 2: 4th Grade Science Performance Assessment
June 2: Lemonade Serenade/PTA Meeting, 11:00 am
June 6: 4th Grade Science Written Assessment
June 14: Flag Day Parade
June 15: Field Days (rain date June 16)
June 20: 5th Graders Ultimate Goal Field Trip
June 21 & 22: 1/2 Days, 11:30 Dismissal
June 22: 5th Grade Recognition Ceremony, 9:30

This week's words of the day are decimal (M), publish (T), audience (W), and friction (Th). Have a wonderful week!

- Lisa

The Playground is Open! The Playground is Open!

What an exciting week we had at East Hill last week. The eagerly-awaited playground opened on Wednesday. As you can see, both students and teachers alike love playing on it!

We had a super turnout for Open House on Thursday. We had 100% attendance in the majority of the classrooms which is just amazing. The teachers and I really appreciate the support, as do the students! We also had a wonderful turnout for last Monday's 4th and 5th grade concert. Under the direction of Mrs. Mercer, Mrs. McConnell, and Mrs. Causer, the students played and sang beautifully. As a special treat, several members of the SU Marching Band played along with the East Hill band!

Tomorrow is the day to vote on the school budget. The polls will be open from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm at the high school.

Yearbooks have arrived! There are 17 additional copies for sale which will be sold on a first come, first served basis. The yearbooks are $15.00 each. Checks should be written to the East Hill PTA.

A parent shared with me a wonderful NYS Parks program for which all current 4th graders are eligible.  Kids or educators just have to visit the site and follow easy steps to obtain a pass that allows the child (and up to three accompanying adults and any additional children under age 16) free entry into any state parks through August 31. Starting September 1, current 3rd graders can get a pass for their 4th grade year.  Here is the link.

This week's words of the day are capacity (M), frigid (T), culture (W), export (Th) and calm (F). Please remember that there is no school on Friday, May 27th and Monday, May 30th.

Have a great week!

- Lisa

Open House this Week!

I look forward to seeing you at our Open House this Thursday night from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. As I indicated in the letter that was sent home, shuttle buses will be provided from the high school parking lot on the Applebees side beginning at 6:45 with the last shuttle leaving East Hill at 8:00 pm. It is highly advisable to take a shuttle as parking is extremely limited at East Hill.

It's a busy week at East Hill. In addition to Open House on Thursday, we have the 4th and 5th grade concert tonight at 7:00 pm at the high school and our May PTA meeting on Wednesday at 6:15 pm in the library.

The PTA will be holding their annual BOGO Family Book Fair night on Thursday as well, from 5:30 - 7:30. You will also be able to get a look at our new playground and all of the exciting construction that is happening. We are hoping to open the playground by Friday or next Monday. We can't officially open it until it is inspected. So far the reviews from the students who have seen it up close and personal have been great!

The words of the week are commutative (M), sequence (T), evidence (W), import (Th), and grouchy (F).

Have a great week!

- Lisa

Happy May!

I hope everyone enjoyed their spring break. It seems like May arrived rather quickly, but I think I say that every year. There were a lot of changes in store for us when we returned from break. Each classroom was equipped with new sinks and counters. A lot of work was done on what will be the new library and classroom. Today the students got to see a crane lifting steel which will form the surrounding structure of the library and classroom. The most exciting change is that the playground is almost done! The swings should be delivered this week and we should be able to start using it next week!

There are a few important dates to keep in mind in May:
5/9      4th and 5th Grade Concert, WGHS, 7:00 p.m.
5/11    PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m., East Hill Library
5/12    Open House, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
5/12    Family Night BOGO Book Fair, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
5/17    Budget Vote, 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., WGHS
5/27    No School
5/30    No School - Memorial Day

This week's words of the day are multiplication (M), decade (T), eliminate (W), government (Th), and courtesy (F).

Thank you to the PTA for funding a field trip for all of our students. As you can see in the picture below, our kindergarteners are getting ready for their trip to Fesko Farm.

Have a great week. I hope to see you at Open House next week!

- Lisa

Citizenship

April's character education trait is citizenship. On Wednesday, our student council will be in charge of our monthly assembly and will talk to the rest of the school about what it means to be a good citizen. They will be explaining a community service project that they will be conducting during the month of May so look for a letter to come home in your child's backpack about the project Wednesday afternoon.

Dr. Jeanette Epps, one of NASA's elite female astronauts, will be visiting West Genesee this week. Her appearance is open to the public and will be held from 7:00 - 8:30 in the high school auditorium. Click here for more information.

There are several important dates coming up to keep in mind:

• The April PTA meeting will be held tonight at 6:15 in the WGHS LGI room. Dr. Brown's budget presentation will follow at 7:00.
• Spring Break takes place next Monday through Friday, April 25 to April 29
• May's PTA meeting will be held Monday, May 2 at 6:30 in the East Hill Library
• The 4th and 5th Grade Concert will be held Monday, May 9 at 7:00
• The spring book fair will take place May 11 and 12
• East Hill's Spring Open House will be held Thursday, May 12 from 7:00 - 8:00

Construction is progressing at East Hill! We are anxiously awaiting the installation of our playground which will likely happen the second week in May. We will probably have a "soft" opening of the playground prior to an official opening ceremony. Our student council is continuing work on the contents of the time capsule that will be buried.

This week's words of the day are face (M), immigrant (T), migration (W), constitution (Th), and grumpy (F). As a reminder, please do not drop your children off prior to 9:00 in the morning as there is no supervision for them at that time. Thank you.

Enjoy the spring break and the warmer weather!

- Lisa

March Madness

This Friday will be SU day at East Hill so please encourage your children to wear orange to show their SU spirit and support the Orange men’s and women’s basketball teams! Last week many students showed their spirit on each of the themed school spirit days. Shown below are some of the pictures that were taken from Future Career Day and Red Carpet Day.

Haylie - Future Hair Stylist

Molly - Future Chef

Alex - Future SU Basketball Player

Paige - Future Police Officer

Cara and Kayla - Future Doctors

Anna - Future Nurse

Grace and Mrs. Craig, Future and Present Principal

Shea and Mrs. Hendrickson, Future Chefs

Zayvion and Zyaire - Future Video Game Designers

A big thank you goes out to Mrs. Causer and the third grade students for putting on a great afternoon concert assembly and an awesome evening performance last Wednesday! The students really enjoyed showcasing their talents and the parents were entertained and impressed.

As a reminder, the New York State ELA assessments will be given next Tuesday – Thursday, April 5 – 7, and the New York State math assessments will be given the following Wednesday – Friday, April 13 – 15, for students in grades 3-5. If you could make sure your children are well-rested, well-fed, and on time to school we would appreciate it. They are more than prepared to take these assessments which are shorter than previous assessments, untimed, written with NYS teacher involvement, and generated by a new vendor.

Our fifth grade student council will be meeting today to discuss the contents of the time capsule that will be buried under the new playground. Items we have decided to include so far include a current newspaper, a yearbook (it will need to be last year’s yearbook), and a letter from student council to future students. If you have any suggestions for what we should include in the time capsule, please let me know. We don’t yet have a date for installation of the new playground but I will let you know as soon as we do.

This week’s words of the day are elapsed (M), cause (T), effect (W), introduction (Th), and citizenship (F).

Have a great rest of the week. Go SU!

-          Lisa

Happy Spring!

Thank you to everyone who was able to come out to last Thursday night's Education Fair! Thank you, also, for helping the students to complete their projects. We had a nice variety of science and reading projects. Students enjoyed teaching their parents how to play math games in the classrooms. Shown below are just a few pictures from the evening.

On St. Patrick's Day we were treated to another wonderful assembly by the talented Irish dancers from the Johnston School of Irish Dance. The students are always captivated by their performance.

This week's words of the day are area (M), unique (T), octave (W), and recreation (Th). Please remember that there is no school on Friday because of Good Friday.

Have a great week!

- Lisa