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Lower School

Back To School Night

2022-2023

Welcome!

PORTLEDGE SCHOOL

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Our Teachers...

Seek to be your partners for the year
Aim to create the most creative, innovative, academically rigorous experience for each child
Are responsive and communicative
Care deeply for the social-emotional well being of each child

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7:00 - 7:25 p.m. - All Lower School Presentation - LS Gym

Mr. Simon Owen-Williams

Mrs. Saralyn Lawn

7:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Kindergarten - Ally Schiller - Room 205

Fifth Grade - Michelle Indrieri & Sandra Schwartz - LS Gym

8:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Third Grade - Nancy Aranda - Room 208

Third Grade - Andrea Scarcella - Room 211

Fourth Grade - Pep Stein - Room 201

8:30 - 9:00 p.m.

First Grade - Sam Losco - Room 209

Second Grade - Lindsey Caplin - Room 212

Specialist teachers will be available throughout the evening in �the Lower School Library.

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Early Childhood Team

Kim Rowe Pre-Nursery Teacher	Felicia Biscardi Nursery Teaching Assistant	Josephine Earley Nursery Teacher

Karen Ann DeVito Pre-Kindergarten Teacher	Jennifer Berntsson Pre-Nursery Teaching Assistant	Melissa Worth Early Childhood T.A. Early Childhood Admissions After School Programs

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Lower School Homeroom Teachers

Ally Schiller Kindergarten	Sam Losco Janella Blackmon 1st Grade K & 1 TA	Lindsey Caplin 2nd Grade

Nancy Aranda 3rd Grade		Andrea Scarcella 3rd Grade

Pep Stein 4th Grade	Michelle Indrieri 5th Grade	Sandra Schwartz 5th Grade

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Lower School Specialist Teachers

Colleen Burke Science	Dianna Baritot French/Spanish	Doris Benter Art	Deni Cavrell Drama	Robert Beaton Computer Science

Kim Maguire Media Librarian	Michael Schwartz Music	Jason Reese Band	Rebekah Yahoves Orchestra	Lauren Williams Physical Education

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Lower School Administration & Roles

Saralyn Lawn

Director of Lower School

Leigh DeMaria

Director of Early Childhood

Lauren Domaradzki

Dean of Students for Lower School

LS Administrative Assistant

Franziska Cohen

Front Desk, LS Administration

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Lower School Support Faculty

Portledge

Laura Morizio, Ph.D - School Psychologist
Stephanie Heins - School Psychologist
Andrea O’Sullivan - Literacy Support

Hanna Daempfle - Leave Replacement

Luisa Wu - ESL Support

BOCES

Melissa Gold - Psychologist
Stacy Daniels - Nurse, PN-5th Grades
Kayla Bomani - Nurse, 6-12th Grades

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Communication

General Guidelines

Don’t wait, communicate! :) If you have questions/concerns, we want to hear from you sooner, rather than later
You child’s teacher is your go-to person (academic, social and emotional)
Email is the preferred method to communicate for a quick response

Friday emails from Homeroom Teacher
Sunday All School and Divisional Updates
All emails are first initial and last name: slawn@portledge.org
Room Parents
Parents Association (PA) Meetings

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Who to Contact

Homeroom Teacher �(Advisor) 1st Point of Contact
Lauren Domaradzki �(Student concerns related to dean role, appointments with Saralyn, general inquiries, student support)
Leigh DeMaria�(Early Childhood PN-PK, Assists with LS as well)
Saralyn Lawn�(Lower School K-5th)
Franziska Cohen - fcohen@portledge.org�(Attendance, Arrivals, Dismissals, Messages to Students, Transportation Changes)
Stacy Daniels - sdaniels@portledge.org

(Absence due to Illness - copy Franziska)

School Communication regarding illnesses in a grade

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Medical Information

Magnus Uploads

Vaccinations - Upload

NYS Physicals within one year - Upload

Magnus Forms:

Permission to Treat

Conditional Questions

Vital Health Record

Medication Authorization

Vaccination non-compliance after 14 calendar days can result in the school being fined and/or the student not being permitted on campus. Required NYS vaccines must be up-to-date and the verification must be on record with the school.

Call Stacy Daniels with any questions at 516-750-3248

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Traditions New and Renewed

Pillar Ceremony - 1st Day of School
Portledge Pillar Panther
Grandparents’ & Special Friends Day - November 10th, 9:00-11:30
Book Fair - November 8th-10th
Thanksgiving Assembly
Weekly Assemblies
Grade Level Plays
World Day - Storytelling Around the World
Blue and White Day
LS Picnic (Fun and Games for the children - June)
Family Nights (Fall and Spring)
Time Capsule (K and 5th)
Moving Up Day
5th Grade Spring Spectacular - Alice in Wonderland
5th Grade Leadership

Weekly Assembly Leadership
Halloween Spooktacular

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Wednesday Assemblies

5th Grade Leadership with Mrs. Cavrell
Announcements
Recognition of special events, holidays and celebrations

Student guest speakers share their family traditions, culture and holidays

Virtual or in-person

Virtual Assemblies presented broadcast style

All plays and events are open to parents and take place in the gymnasium
Getting to Know You Assembly - September 30, 8:45 a.m.

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Events

STEAM Events

3rd Grade - Nov.
4th Grade - Dec.

Special Events

Grandparents Day
World Day
Sneak Peek Week
Moving Up Day
Poetry Assembly

Plays

Kindergarten - June
1st Grade - March
2nd Grade - November
3rd Grade - April (French Play)
4th Grade - February & April
5th Grade - May - Spring Spectacular

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Happenings in 2022-2023

Field Trips

Kindergarten - North Shore Animal League
1st Grade - Nassau County Museum of Art
2nd Grade - Oyster Bay Waterfront Center
3rd Grade - Cradle of Aviation Center
4th Grade - Riverhead Aquarium or Bronx Zoo, Walt Whitman Birthplace, Sagamore Hill
5th Grade - Philadelphia, Broadway Show, Escape Room, Project Adventure (team building)

Tilles Center
Playground Updates
Curriculum work

Exploring PYP (Primary Years Programme) - An International Baccalaureate Program)
Reviewing Math Curriculum (Program) Choices

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Report Cards and Assessment

1st Quarter

Hopes and Dreams invitation
Brief Progress Report - November 10th

2nd Quarter (end of first semester)

Parent Conference - November 2nd, 3rd
Narrative & Traditional Report Card - January 13th

3rd Quarter

Parent Conference - March 2nd, 3rd
Brief Progress Report - March 17th

4th Quarter (end of second semester)

Narrative & Traditional Report Card - June 14th

Narrative Reports

One paragraph describing the class content for each of major subjects
Individualized comments regarding the students strength and goals for each subject area.
Advisory/HR Comment - The student as a learner

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Lunch and Snacks

Lunch Offerings

Fresh Salad Bar Daily
Fresh made Sandwich Bar
Hot bar

Snacks

Apple Slices
String Cheese
Yogurt
Peaches
Animal Crackers
Celery/carrots with sunbutter
Fresh fruit is always available in cafeteria

Lunch Times

Kindergarten and 1st Grade - 11:00-11:30
2nd Grade - 11:30-12:00
3rd Grade - 12:00-12:30
Nursery and PK - 12:15-12:45
4th Grade - 12:30-1:00
5th Grade - 1:00-1:30

Allergy Accommodations

Peanut (*Nut Aware), Gluten, Sesame, Dairy
Gluten Free bread and lunch meats daily

Questions?

Kevin Heenan

Director of Food Service at Portledge

kheenan@culinart.com

516.750.3227

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Arrival and Dismissal

Arrival: 7:45-8:15

Traffic in LS circle is one way
Pull up to curb
Faculty will greet your child(ren)
Do not exit vehicle

Dismissal: 3:15-3:45

Cars form three lines using cones
Staff/faculty will direct you to pull forward
Teachers/Staff will bring students to cars
Do not exit vehicle
Car Dismissal begins at 3:15 and ends at 3:45
Bus Dismissal begins at 3:30 and typically ends by 4:00
Please Pull Forward to the Cone :)

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Dress Code

Clothing should be neat, clean and in good repair.

STUDENTS MAY WEAR:

Short or long-sleeved collared, button-down or polo shirt
Sweater vests, cardigans, sweaters, and ¼ zip pullovers with a collared shirt underneath (with our w/o Portledge logo)
Skirts with approved shirts (mid-thigh or longer)
Solid-colored dress pants, khakis or casual pants
Solid-colored shorts - May, June, September, October
Belts must be worn, 5th grade and up

Friday Dress Down Days:

Portledge athletic gear and other more casual attire permitted

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Care for Self, Others, Surroundings

S.O.S.

#PortledgeCares

September & October - Mindfulness and Yoga�
October - National Anti-Bullying Month �- Special Guest, Traci Gates - A Few Kind Words �
November & December - Focus on Gratitude and the gift of giving to others

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Thank You!

PORTLEDGE SCHOOL