January 2012 Newsletter
A Message From Our Founder and CEO
John Bliss
Loss and Celebration
In December I lost a friend and the school lost one of its biggest cheerleaders. Volunteer Molly Boehlert left us after battling cancer. She was with us up until the end. I saw her just a few days before she died. She was passing out holiday gifts in the kindergarten rooms.
Year after year Molly returned to spend hundreds of hours volunteering. She read with students and did other typical things that volunteers do but her value went way beyond the norm. Molly spoke to children. She communicated with them. The nurse and grandmother in her came across and as a result, bonds were formed. These are the same emotional bonds that Urban Choice was founded on. Kids who believe in themselves do better.
Molly made financial donations, provided ice cream for 400 hundred students at our school picnics and purchased brand new bikes for our students, but I will remember her for something else. Molly used to volunteer in my class at school #14 long before Urban Choice opened. I counted on Molly and her efforts made my job easier. She also made life a little better for every one of my students.
When I got fed up with the district and quit after ten years, the Superintendent requested that I gather some of my supporters to speak to him. Needless to say, Molly was there and gave him an earful. She fought for me and that passion stayed with her right to the end. Molly Boehlert’s spirit was inspiring and we are lucky to have known her so well. She will be missed.
Principal’s Corner
Mr Schmidt
January is a great time to reflect on the areas in our lives where we felt successful during the past year. It is also a time to consider how to make changes in areas where we would like to improve. Here are some tips to help students start the New Year off on a positive note.
- Get plenty of sleep. Scientists have found that students who do not get enough sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and do not do as well in school.
- Recommended amounts of sleep range from about 8½ to 11 hours a night for elementary students.
- Eat healthy. Eat more fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Drink at least 8 (8 oz) glasses of water every day. Limit the amount of sodas and snack foods you eat.
- Exercise your body and your mind daily.
- Follow the Golden Rule—Treat others (children and adults) the way you would like to be treated.
- Time + Effort = Achievement—Take the time to carefully complete all assignments at school and home; ask questions when you do not understand a task; demonstrate perseverance (that means keep trying – even when the work is difficult), and eliminate the word “can’t” from your vocabulary. Make it a goal to do your personal best at school every day.
- Read, read, and read—Success in school depends, in large part, on a student’s ability to read and understand what they have read. Students should read a variety of books, including folk tales, poetry, biographies, fiction, and more.
- Read to get information, read for fun, read to someone in your family…just read!
- Attend school regularly and on time.
- Write out your Plan for Success. The plan may include getting better grades, making new friends, studying harder, staying out of trouble, etc.
- Share your Plan with someone who can help you to reach your goal.
Have a fantastic year!
Specialist Station
Mrs. Blankenberg, Mrs. Griffith
In the past month we have continued to see gains made in our students’ academic knowledge. While working in small groups students have been able to participate in hands on activities that have helped further their understanding of core academic concepts. In order to help maintain the skills learned in school, it would benefit students to continue practice through fun, educational games online. For the month of January encourage your child(ren) to use the following sites:
Volunteer and Community News
Miriam Steinberg
The 6th grade is getting ready to begin their program with RBTL (Rochester Broadway Theater League). This year’s program centers on the play Shrek, The Musical. RBTL put together a program involving workshops based on the themes of the play and a field trip to the theater to see it before the stage gets set up. The final culmination of the program will be an evening field trip to the theater to see the play. This is an exciting opportunity for our 6th graders and the fourth year that we’ve done this program with RBTL.
E-mail me or give me a call at 288-5702, Ext. 254.
Community Service Monthly Update
Jackie Adams (Instructional Support for Ms. Catlin and Mr. Haak)
The fifth graders in Miss Catlin’s and Mr. Haak’s class are writing letters to the residents at Blossom South Nursing home. The students are so exited especially when they found out they will be visiting them sometime this year. In November a few students wrote letters and mailed them off, also the majority of the students made Christmas cards which we also mailed off. We look forward to continuing our friendship with the residents at the Blossom South Nursing home.
Danielle Fagnan & Anne Marie Morgiewicz
The students in second grade are collecting food items, non-food items, and money for the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, New York. In addition, they have been writing “thinking of you cards” monthly to the families that are staying at the Ronald McDonald House. The students have spent time counting and sorting coins that have been collected. Furthermore, they have been graphing food items.
The Ronald McDonald House is located on 333 Westmoreland Drive (near Strong Hospital). It can hold up to 20 families whose children are being treated at medical facilities. Laundry, kitchen facilities, and van transportation are provided for the guests.
The first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia in 1974 thanks to Dr. Audrey Evans, Philadelphia Eagles’ player Fred Hill (whose daughter, Kim, had leukemia), Leonard Tose, owner of the Eagles, Jim Murray, the Eagles’ general manager and Ed Rensi, the McDonald’s regional manager. The McDonald’s owner/operators in Philadelphia made the House possible, donating proceeds from the sale of Shamrock Shakes.
Attention Eighth Grade Families:
Important High School Information
Rochester City School District high school selection applications are due to Ms. Ashline by Friday, January 27. She will add your child’s current Middle School transcript, make copies, and mail the entire application to the city placement office.
If you have any questions about the high school selection process, please don’t hesitate to contact Ms. Ashline, 585-324-0264.
Library News
Mrs. Story
Darien Lake Read to Ride!
Exciting news! Urban Choice Charter School is participating in Darien Lake’s 2012 Read to Ride Program! Students in Grades K-5 that complete 7 hours of recreational reading from January 2 – March 30, will receive a free ticket for a day at Darien Lake. Detailed information on this program will be sent home with students on January 2.
UCCS Website: TumbleBook Library!
TumbleBookLibrary is an online collection of animated; talking picture books which teach young children the joys of reading in a format they’ll love. Families may access the TumbleBookLibrary from home online at any time by clicking the icon on the UCCS Webpage. We are sure that you will love your experience with TumbleBookLibrary. New books, puzzles and games will constantly be added. Enjoy!
Book Reports
Students in grades 1–5 are required to submit 2 Book Reports (on books read at home or at school) per marking period. Two Book Reports will be due by January 20th. The purpose is to encourage reading, appreciate literature and demonstrate the understanding of literary elements and comprehension skills. Students submitting their 2 Book Reports, for this marking period, by January 9th will be entered into a drawing for prizes. Book Report forms are always available in the library.
Golden Book Award
The Golden Book Award is given out to one classroom each month. The class earning the most point for participation/behavior during the month receives the award & a special library privilege. Congratulations to the winner for the month of December: Mrs. Flowers 2nd Grad e
Art News
Mrs Conrow
This month has been an exciting one for me due to some wonderful changes in my schedule. Instead of working with K-3 Enrichment students, I am now teaching full group art classes to these grade levels. This means that every student at UCCS will have a weekly art class.
Yay! I have truly enjoyed meeting the students that I have not yet worked with and look forward to working with all students for the remainder of the year.
Our first project for the New Year is to begin Square 1 Art projects at every grade level. For those of you unfamiliar with Square 1 Art, it is a company that takes children’s original artwork and makes it into high quality merchandise. Every student in the school is currently working on a drawing that I will mail in to Square 1.
The company scans the work into their computers, and then sends back a sheet of stickers to every child with their drawing on it. They will also send an order form for those interested in purchasing merchandise such as water bottles, key chains, pendants, and more. There is no obligation to buy anything, and the stickers are free to every child. If you do decide to purchase something, all profits will benefit the UCCS art program.
I will be mailing in the drawings in the beginning of February. The order forms and stickers should arrive in early April and the merchandise will be returned by the end of April. These items make fabulous gifts for Mother’s Day, birthdays, Grandparents gifts, and more. Please make sure to look for your order forms soon.
Health Office
Maureen Flanigan
At the First Sign of a Cold
Sometimes you actually can nip a cold in the bud—or at least lessen its strength and duration—if you take action right away
Try these at-home natural remedies:
- ½ teaspoon of echinacea tincture or 1 echinacea capsule approximately every 30 minutes until symptoms subside. Children over the age or four can be given ⅛ teaspoon echinacea every hour
- Vitamin/mineral and zinc lozenges or fizz drinks like AirBorne, taken right away and used according to directions
- Boost your immune system with lemon juice drinks, vitamin C, elderberry, and a brisk walk.
If the above preventatives don't help, or if you didn't have time to take action before the virus took hold, some of the following home remedies can help ease uncomfortable symptoms for you and your family. Remember that any child with a fever over 101°F or having a low-grade fever for more than a few days requires professional medical attention.
Sore throats
- Make a strong sage tea infusion and sip it throughout the day
- Gargle with 2 cups warm water in which 2–3 teaspoons of sale has been dissolved.
- A warm woolen scarf around the neck might be an old wives tale, but it is comforting
- Try slippery elm bark tea. It’s available at many grocery stores.
- Make a throat syrup
- 2 parts fennel seeds or licorice root
- 1 part slippery elm bark
- ¼ orange peel
- 1 cup honey or maple syrup
- Simmer all ingredients in 2 cups water down to 1 pint. Take by the tablespoon as needed. This syrup will keep in an airtight jar in the fridge for several weeks.
Chest congestion
- Wrap a hot water bottle in soft flannel and place on the back between shoulder blades
- Use Vicks or eucalyptus vapor rub on the chest. (Do not let children rub in on themselves as the may accidentally get the salve in their eyes, nose or mouth.)
- Room vaporizer or steam from a shower is helpful
- Try teas or tinctures of licorice root, elecampane root or ginger
