Columbus Elementary School

Family Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Night

On Thursday evening, nearly one hundred 2nd grade students and parents gathered in the Columbus School cafeteria to learn about STEM and problem-solve together as a family STEM team!  Antoinette Koehler, Kelly Kalinowski, Rana Rabadi, Vanessa Guzman-Cruz, and Fran DelFico, part of the Columbus’ 2nd Grade Team, prepared an overview of STEM and three separate challenges for all to grapple with.  Ms. Koehler addressed the families and kids by reminding them that STEM investigations are at the heart of every Columbus STR2EAMing into Learning Convention (Science, Technology, Reading/Research, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics).  Ms. Koehler introduced the work this way: “STEM is hands-on problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity and innovation; this is about working collaboratively and building resilience and persistence in the face of frustration or failure.”  She added that most important, “STEM is just ton of fun!”

The teachers challenged students and their parents to build paper airplanes that were quickly submitted to grueling flight tests.  Teams were then asked to build the tallest structure possible with a limited number of index cards. Last, using marshmallows and toothpicks, parents and kids designed stable, solid structures.   

Dr. Parvey and Mr. Galland were present, and Dr. Parvey rolled up her sleeves and assisted many families and kids in their constructions.  The Columbus STR2EAMing into Learning Convention will take place this year over three days and two evenings, from January 22 to 24th.  The Columbus PTA will also hold a STEM-oriented book sale throughout the convention days.

Hello Columbus Families!  This has been a busy start to a new school year, and I am pleased to report that we are working very hard with your children every day.  Teachers are finishing the first round of reading assessments with all students in grades 1 to 5.  We assess all our young readers formally three times a year in order to learn many details about who they are as readers and what we can do next to nudge them to read text purposefully and text that is more complex bit by bit.  Similarly, in math, students completed very brief tests to show what strategies they use in adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing; in writing, kids wrote short narratives (stories) that teachers use as well to learn about kids’ strengths and needs.  This information about the kids will allow our teachers to understand their students individually; it also lets teachers make specific plans for teaching their classes and small groups of kids within their classes!  Here are a few updates and reminders for the end of the month of October.  ENJOY the changing of our beautiful seasons here in New Rochelle!

• TOMORROW 10-18: PLEASE come to Columbus at 9:00 a.m. to meet our NEW SUPERINTENDENT, Dr. Magda Parvey.  Parvey will join the weekly Columbus Parents’ meeting in the cafeteria and food will be served!  Come, ask questions, and hear Dr. Parvey’s vision for our work in our schools!
• AFTER SCHOOL Clubs and Academic Tutorials (homework help) will begin on October 29^th! Our after school programs are available to students in 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grades only.  We will accept the first 60 students that apply for the programs as we have a limit of around 180 kids that we can serve after school.  Students will receive registrations notices on Monday!  Make sure to return the forms RIGHT AWAY if you are interested.
• NEXT TUESDAY (October 23^rd) here at Columbus, New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson is coming to meet all interested members of the community for an open community meeting. Please come to Columbus at 6:30 p.m. to speak with Mayor Bramson!
• We continue to work closely with medical staff from the Westchester County Department of Health to make sure that all students and staff who may have been exposed to Tuberculosis early in September are safe and carefully monitored. Staff from the WCDH have completed blood tests already and will return in November for a final round of testing.  We are comforted to say that all tests still confirm that there was and is a low possibility of any exposure. 
• CONSTRUCTION is going well! Workers will complete the new field-turf soccer field and track just after Thanksgiving.  This field will be a shared space for school and neighborhood use!

 Respectfully,

Mr. Galland

¡Hola familias de Columbus! Este ha sido un comienzo ocupado para un nuevo año escolar, y me complace informarles que estamos trabajando muy duro con sus hijos todos los días.  Los maestros están terminando la primera ronda de evaluaciones de lectura con todos los estudiantes en los grados 1 a 5.  Evaluamos a todos nuestros lectores jóvenes formalmente tres veces al año para aprender muchos detalles sobre quiénes son como lectores y qué podemos hacer al lado de empujarlos para leer texto a propósito y texto que es más complejo poco a poco.  De manera similar, en matemáticas, los estudiantes completaron pruebas muy breves para mostrar cuales estrategias utilizan al sumar, restar, multiplicar y dividir; al escribir, los niños escribieron narraciones cortas que los maestros también usan para aprender sobre las fortalezas y necesidades de los niños.  Esta información sobre los niños les permitirá a nuestros maestros entender a sus estudiantes individualmente; ¡También les permite a los maestros hacer planes específicos para enseñar sus clases y pequeños grupos de niños dentro de sus clases!  Aquí hay algunas recordatorios para el final del mes de octubre. ¡DISFRUTE del cambio de nuestras hermosas estaciones!

• MAÑANA: POR FAVOR, venga a Columbus a las 9:00 a.m. para reunirse con nuestra NUEVA SUPERINTENDENTE, la Dra. Magda Parvey. ¡El Dr. Parvey se unirá a la reunión semanal de padres de familia de Columbus en la cafetería y se servirá comida! ¡Venga, haga preguntas y escuche la visión del Dr. Parvey para nuestro trabajo en nuestras escuelas!
• ¡DESPUÉS DE LA ESCUELA los clubes y tutoriales académicos (ayuda con las tareas) comenzarán el 29 de octubre! Nuestros programas después de la escuela están disponibles para estudiantes de 3º, 4º y 5º grados solamente. Aceptaremos los primeros 60 estudiantes que soliciten el programa ya que tenemos un límite de alrededor de 180 niños a los que podemos atender después de la escuela. Los estudiantes recibirán avisos de inscripción el lunes.  Asegúrese de devolver los formularios de inmediato si está interesado.
• EL PRÓXIMO MARTES, el 23 de octubre, aquí en Columbus, el alcalde de New Rochelle, Noam Bramson, se reunirá con todos los miembros interesados ​​de la comunidad para celebrar reuniones comunitarias abiertas. Por favor ven a Columbus a las 6:30 p.m. ¡Hablar con el alcalde Bramson!
• Continuamos trabajando de cerca con el personal médico del Departamento de Salud del Condado de Westchester para asegurarnos de que todos los estudiantes y el personal que puedan haber estado expuestos a la tuberculosis a principios de septiembre estén seguros y sean monitoreados cuidadosamente. El personal de la WCDH ya ha completado los análisis de sangre y regresará en noviembre para una ronda final de pruebas. Nos reconforta decir que todas las pruebas confirman que hubo y hay una baja posibilidad de exposición.
• ¡LA CONSTRUCCIÓN va bien! Los trabajadores completarán la nueva cancha de fútbol de campo y la pista justo después del Día de Acción de Gracias. ¡Este campo será un espacio compartido para la escuela y el uso del vecindario!

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Grades 4 and 5

"We promote interdisciplinary studies and encourage authentic, problem-based learning by doing.
We recognize that High Expectations result in High Achievement.
We believe that teaching and learning is fostered by creating optimum conditions to ensure success for students and their teachers.
We are committed to create a positive school climate, which respects and values diversity and nurtures everyone's self-esteem, in partnership with our parents and our community."