The first day of school is a full day. Children are picked up and dropped off by bus; walkers are dismissed through their specific doors. All children who walk home are dismissed through the school yard: Kindergarten and some First Graders are dismissed from their classroom doors, all others are dismissed through the doors leading to the play yard. Your child will be told through which door he/she will be dismissed. You may choose to meet him/her there at 2:45.
Class Parents: During the first few days of school, look for a flyer in your child's backpack requesting volunteers to be a Class Parent or Assistant Class Parent. What do we mean by this? In each class from Kindergarten through Sixth Grade, one parent is designated as the liaison between the Classroom Teacher and the parents. It is her/his job to contact the Assistant Class Parents, who will in turn contact their several parents, to run the Phone Chain. This is a telephone chain which insures that every parent may be reached in case of an emergency, school closing due to weather, or school issue. Frequently in the course of the year, the Teacher will deal with the Class Parent to arrange class parties for holidays, special events, or following class plays. It is also the traditional responsibility of the Class Parent to supply a bouquet of flowers for the teacher at the play performance, the funds for which are supplied by the parents in each class. From time to time collections may be organized for special occasions. These will be taken care of by the Class Parent who will contact all parents at the time of the collection.
October
Harvest Fair:Our big family event, usually on the second Saturday is our Harvest Fair. It is an important fundraiser and community event which includes, games, crafts, food and prizes.
Gift Wrap Sale:Our largest fundraiser starts at Curriculum Night and products are delivered in November.
Class Photosare all scheduled for this month. Each student is photographed individually and with their class.
Halloween Parade: On October 31st (or the school day closest to 10/31) all classes K-6 join in a parade through the neighboring blocks to show off their Halloween finest. EVERYONE in the school is in costume from the secretaries to the teachers to our principal!! The parade is led by our own marching band (grades 4-6) and guarded by the Floral Park Police. You are invited to line the parade route and cheer all the ghosts and goblins and experience the real spirit of Halloween!
November
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences: Our school district sets aside one and a half days to allow parents to come to school and discuss their child's progress during the Fall term. Conferences are always held on Election Day and on the Monday afternoon preceding it. You will be given a specific time during which you come and sit down with your child's teacher. If you are a working parent, special consideration can be afforded to you; just let the classroom teacher know that you need a special time. All conferences are held during school hours. At this conference, you will also receive your child's report card.
December
Holiday Fair: Early in the month of December, the PTA sponsors a Holiday Fair for children which enables even the smallest ones to do some Holiday Shopping for Mom, Dad and everyone else on their lists. Each class comes to the fair at a specific time where volunteer parents help them find those perfect gifts. All gifts are very reasonably priced, some of which are handmade by our parents throughout the year. Even with a tight budget, all the children are able to find presents for their family and friends. Here again, we need many volunteers to help the children throughout the day, so look for flyers to sign up to be one of Santa's Elves. (Flyers should come home in mid-November.)
January
Report Cards: Although there are no conferences at this time, your child will receive another report card about the third week of January showing his/her grades for the second marking period. Certainly if you have any specific questions or concerns you may call the teacher at school, or arrange for an individual conference.
Class Plays: At some point during the school year, each class, grades K-3, will perform a play. For the Kindergarten classes, these plays are performed in their classrooms; the older children perform on the auditorium stage. Sometimes two classes work together on a play; sometimes one class provides the entertainment. The teachers work very hard with all of the children to help them memorize their lines, etc. You may be asked to supply your child's costume and help with some hand-made scenery prior to the performance date. Class parents are usually the organizers of scenery work-details, so watch for notices in your child's backpack about meetings.
February
Founder’s Day Celebration in conjunction with FloralPark-BelleroseSchool and Floral ParkMemorialHigh School.
Book Fair: With the beginning of Spring comes our Book Fair, held over 2 1/2 days. Scholastic Book Fair Co. is the sponsor and offers a wide range of selections to appeal to everyone from the youngest to the oldest reader. Each class is brought to the Book Fair during the school day, and there is a Book Fair Night for families to attend. This is another day when we need many parents to help the children choose their books. Flyers with some of the titles of the books in the Book Fair will be sent home prior to the starting date.
PARP: Parents As Reading Partners: What a strange name for an event! Well, this event, which will be held during February, is one sponsored by the New YorkState and National PTA organizations to highlight the importance of parents as partners in their child's education. Although there is a committee which organizes some of the school-based activities centered on reading, the most important thing you as a parent can do, is spend time each night reading together with your child. You may be the sole reader of the stories; you may alternate reading with your child; you may read together. However you decide, take the time, and make the time! It will be one of the best ways you can help your child with reading. More detailed information will be coming home at the beginning of our PARP program, giving suggestions, ideas and a schedule.
April
Spring Conferences: Usually held in early April, Spring Conference is your opportunity to talk over your child's progress in the last months. Again, the school district sets aside one and a half days for conferences and a schedule will be sent home giving you a specific date and time. Remember to tell the teacher if you need a special time to come in.
Staff Appreciation Day: This is a day when we as parents show our appreciation for our teachers, administrators and all the behind-the-scenes people that help make the JohnLewisChildsSchool such a special place. We, the parents, provide a sumptuous lunch for all our staff, usually according to a theme (i.e. Chinese, French, Tailgate Party, etc.) You will receive notices asking for donations of a favorite appetizer or dessert you may wish to contribute. Everything is always welcome and very much appreciated by everyone.
Cultural Arts Festival: This event is one of our newer ones, but one which has received overwhelming response in the years we've sponsored it. On an evening in April you will be invited to come to see the artwork of all types created by our children and displayed in our Gym. Children who play an instrument, dance, sing, act, perform gymnastics or any other entertainment may do so for our audience of parents and students. Refreshments of punch and cookies are served. This has truly become a highlight of the year, so be sure to put it on your calendar!
May
Plant Sale: Usually held on the second Friday in May (Mother's Day Weekend), the PTA sponsors a Plant Sale. Orders may be placed beforehand for the purchase of flats of bedding plants (impatiens, begonias, marigolds, snapdragons). Each class K-6 visits the Plant Sale and the children are given time to buy individual plants of varying sizes as well as hanging baskets. This is another event where we need as much help as we can muster, so watch for volunteer sign-up sheets and price lists to come home in April.
Special Persons Day: One Friday in May the children are encouraged to invite someone special to his/her classroom to visit a while. Frequently this is a grandparent, but it need not be limited to them – aunts, uncles, neighbors, friends are all included in the "guest" list. Since our school has a large student population, different grades will have different visitation times. The festivities begin in the auditorium with refreshments supplied by our PTA committee and helpers. From there the visitors are guided to the individual classrooms where the teachers have prepared a special activity in keeping with the day.
Memorial Day Parade: Our marching band participates in the annual Memorial Day Parade sponsored by the Floral Park American Legion Post. The parade begins in front of the school on Elizabeth Street. (The American Legion Post is directly across the street from JLCS) and continues up to Jericho Turnpike, down South Tyson and Tulip Avenues to Memorial Park in front of Our Lady of Victory Church. As all of our youth organizations are invited to march (Girl and Boy Scouts, Little League, etc.), many of the children are in the parade as well.
June
Field Days: Usually held on the first Monday and Wednesday of June, Field Days provide an opportunity for all the children to compete by class in a series of outdoor races and games. The Monday event is scheduled for grades 1-3; Wednesday for grades 4-6. Parents are invited to watch the events and cheer on their favorite class. These events are held outside in the backyard of the school, weather permitting. In case of rain, everything is moved inside to the Hunt gym or moved to a rain date. The PTA provides pizza and drinks to the participants on each day, as well as a commemorative gift. Field Day is always an exciting time, so plan to come and cheer on the children!
Winter and Spring Concerts: Twice during the school year, usually in early December and early May, members of the Choruses, Grades 3 & 4 and Grades 5 & 6, as well as the orchestra and band, showcase their musical talents for family and friends. Children in these groups practice either before or after school during the year and always succeed in providing terrific entertainment. Plan to attend when the dates are set.
Drama Club: Children in grades 4-6 are invited to participate in our Drama Club. This group of would-be thespians always succeeds in entertaining the school community in a special production given during the early Spring. The club is directed by two of our teachers.
JLCS Parent-Teacher Association: We are a group of committed parents and teachers who work together for the benefit of all the children. Our meetings are generally held once a month at school. The success of our programs and our organization depends upon our membership. We encourage you to take an active part in your child's life. What better way than by joining the JLCS PTA! Our membership drive starts in September and continues all year.Proceeds from membership fund the programs put on for the children.
The School Calendar will be coming home in your child's backpack during the first week of school. Please note our PTA meeting dates and we encourage you to refer frequently to all the events scheduled.
Welcome to our school community. We're glad you're here!
Welcome! John Lewis Childs School PTA 10 Elizabeth Street Floral Park, NY 11001 516-327-9317
