What's Happening

In Chappaqua's Schools

November 21, 2018

Dear Chappaqua School Community,

In our elementary schools, the "Tools for Life's Challenges" word for November is Gratitude, such an appropriate lesson for this time of year.

I, for one, am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your Superintendent. We are here for the children, and when I visit our classrooms, talk with our instructional and support staff, and meet with our parents and community members, I am constantly reminded what a talented, caring, and hard-working community we are.

Whether you are traveling near or far, or gathering here at home, I sincerely hope that time spent with family and friends brings you great joy this holiday weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Christine Ackerman
Superintendent of Schools

Upcoming Events

• November 21:  DG/RB/WO/BS/SB/HG Early Dismissal
• November 22-23:  Thanksgiving Recess - Schools are Closed
• November 24:  Class of 2018 Reunion Brunch, 12pm - 2pm (HG Cafeteria)
• November 30:  HG Puritans Show, 7pm (Aud)
• November 30:  HGSF Parent Game Night, 7pm (Chappaqua Crossing)
• December 3-7:  National Inclusive Schools Week
• December 3:  Bell Winter Band Concert, 7pm (SBPAC)
• December 4:  SB Winter Band Concert, 7pm (SB)
• December 5:  Board of Education Meeting, 7:30pm (HG)
• December 6: HG String/Symphony Orchestra Winter Concert, 7pm (Aud)
• December 7:  Chappaqua PTA STEM Committee "Hour Of Code", 7:00pm (SB)

Full Calendar

Bell students have ideas worth spreading

To add another layer to the writing workshop experience, Bell 5th grade English teachers Eileen Kenna and Ann Marie Scalici challenged students to produce their very own TedTalks as part of an informational writing unit of study. The production of TEDTalks created a meaningful literacy experience that not only engaged a broader audience but also helped students develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

As part of this unit of study, our fifth-graders learned to write leads that would capture the audience’s attention and then used evidence and elaboration to support their ideas, topics, and claims.

Read More 

"Critical Friends" to focus on our Special Education philosophies and practice

The Tri-State Consortium is a dynamic learning organization of public school districts that values systems thinking as the foundation for continuous improvement.

With a total of 42 participating districts in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the Consortium is devoted to assisting its member school districts in developing a framework for systemic planning, assessment, reflection, and continuous improvement that will lead to sustained accreditation and will enhance the learning for educators and students.

The District will host the Tri-State Consortium for a consultancy visit on December 5th, 6th, and 7th where their focus will be on our Special Education programming.

Read More

SeeSaw, DreamBox, and Padlet, Oh My!

The Chappaqua Central School District is in the second year of a 5-year Digital Learning Initiative (DLI) to provide every student with immediate access to a personal computing device.

Thanks to support from the Chappaqua School Foundation, all students in grades 3 and 4 now have access to a magnitude of software, digital resources, and other online learning applications right at their fingertips. These resources are being integrated into daily learning experiences to help amplify and accelerate student learning while also supporting differentiated and personalized learning.

Future years of the DLI include expansion of district purchased devices for all students in grades K-2. Students in grades 7-12 will follow a "Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to School" model to enhance their daily learning experiences.

Read More

Miles Chair speaker empowers students to take action

On November 13, renowned educator and speaker in the area of social justice, Jim Keady, addressed 10th-graders as part of their unit on Industrialization--Past and Present.

Jim spent a month in an Indonesian factory workers' slum living on $1.25 a day, a typical wage paid to Nike's subcontracted workers. Using Nike as a case study, Jim shared his first-hand knowledge of the widespread oppressive and exploitative labor practices in the developing world.

The students are now preparing for an "upstander" project-based learning experience to bring awareness to an important social issue and/or take action regarding worker's rights.

Read More

CSF bestows "Faculty Innovator of the Year Award"

Celebrating 25 years of funding innovation in Chappaqua's schools, on November 1st the Chappaqua School Foundation honored DIANE MADAIO and JUSTIN OLIVE with this year's "Janet L. Wells CSF Faculty Innovator of the Year Award."

Also recognized at the ceremony were the teachers, parents, and students who received CSF Traditional Grants, those requests of more than $2,500 or which require significant district support to implement, and InstaGrants, which are requests for less than $2,500 and approved throughout the year.

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Professional learning with an SEL focus

With students not in attendance on November 6th, District staff gathered together for another day of professional learning. This time, the focus was on the District priority of Social-Emotional Learning.

We were privileged to have Marc A. Brackett, Ph.D., the Founding Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University, spent the day with us and helped frame the learning. He delivered two 90-minute keynote addresses and then met with different cohorts of teachers to extend the conversation and consider meaningful ways to build vertical SEL alignment in our District.

There also were a series of professional learning activities focused on this important topic that were facilitated by both district staff and community members who were willing to share their expertise, passion, and experience.

Read More

November 24th: First Annual Herodes Alumni Funball Cup

The Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund invites alumni to relive their Funball Glory!

Saturday, November 24th from 2pm - 6pm
HGHS Gym
Entry fee is $10 per player (all proceeds to benefit HGSF)

Teams will consist of up to 6 alumni. For teams that cannot field 6 players, a current "free agent" alumni or HGHS senior will be randomly assigned.

Click HERE to get back on the court and claim your cup.

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