District News: Week of 2/13/17

​BULLDOG BRILLIANCE
Dows Lane, MSS Students Play Games with Peers During International Event

Dows Lane Elementary School and Main Street School students, along with more than 283,000 students from schools around the world, participated in Global School Play Day on Feb. 1. Students had the opportunity to engage in a variety of self-directed play activities with their peers. The only requirement to play was that toys not have batteries or screens.

Some of the games the students played included basketball, jump rope, Twister, Dominoes, Life, Trouble, Apples-to-Apples, Monopoly, Play-Doh, playing cards, blocks, board games and more. Other games and toys the children were allowed to bring to school and play with included dolls, trucks, cars, racetracks, empty cardboard boxes, markers, jigsaw puzzles and other social games.
 
“At Dows Lane, we value the power of play and the impact free play can have on brain development and social-emotional learning,” Principal Deb Mariniello said. “Free play fosters creativity, inquiry and collaboration, and we continuously strive to build a balance between free play and rigorous learning experiences. When a balance is fostered, research shows that productivity and achievement are optimized.”
 
Main Street School Principal Joyce Chapnick said the value of unstructured play has been extensively researched. “In an interview, Peter Gray, a research professor at Boston College, said that in unstructured play, children discover their passions, learn how to get along with one another, solve problems and control their emotions,” Chapnick said. “These are all crucial lessons that can only be learned through free, self-directed experience.”
 
​For more information about the day and to see a map of participants worldwide, visit www.globalschoolplayday.com.

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WINTER BREAK

​February 20th – February 24th

Enjoy the break!

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BRICK DRIVE
Thanks & Raffle Winner

Many thanks to those of you that bought bricks in time to be entered in our raffle for a 4” x 8” brick with small paw print logo!!

​CONGRATULATIONS to Patricia Graubart, the raffle winner!

​There’s still time to buy a brick that will installed in the Campus Quad Patio by graduation and the moving up ceremonies: http://www.irvingtonnyptsa.org/brick-drive.html

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RIVERTOWN PARENTS PRESENTATIONS

Transgender Issues & Questions
Monday, February 13th

An Information Session for Parents with Representatives from Callen-Lorder Community Heath Center

D’hana Perry, Transgender Health Care Coordinator

Melanie Martinez, Health Outreach to Teens Program, Mental Health Provider

Today, most of our children will encounter transgender issues, either through the media, at school, in the community or at home.

We invite you to learn more about this important topic from representatives of Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, metropolitan New York’s leading resource for transgender teens, adults and families.

Monday, February 13, 2017
7:00-9:00 p.m.
Hastings High School
1 Mount Hope Boulevard

All Rivertown Parents events are free and open to the public.

Click here for Transgender Flyer.

Screenagers
**RESCHEDULED: Wednesday, February 15**

Screenagers: ​Growing Up in the Digital Age

Targeted to both parents and their children, this documentary explores how technology impacts children's development and the challenges of parenting in the digital world.

Through poignant and unexpectedly funny stories, along with surprising insights from authors, psychologists, and brain scientists, SCREENAGERS offers solutions on how adults can empower children to best navigate the digital world and find balance.

Panel Discussion Immediately Following the Screening with:

Amber da Silva-Barron, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Jean O'Brien, Technology Specialist - Tarrytown Union Free School District

Amy Walsh, Social Worker for Tarrytown Union Free School District

***Wednesday, February 15 at 7:00pm***
Sleepy Hollow High School Auditorium
210 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow

The movie will have Spanish subtitles - panel discussion after the screening will be translated.

Open to all parents, and students grades four and higher. ​Free admission and parking.

Click here for Screenagers Flyer.

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USED BOOK SALE BOOK COLLECTION BEGINS IN ALL SCHOOLS ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH

​Please donate your used books!  Books for all ages are welcome!

Book collection boxes can be found in the Dows Lane lobby; outside the office at Main Street School; in the upper lobby at Irvington Middle School; and in the main office at Irvington High School.

Please tell your friends and neighbors.

We will happily accept empty cardboard boxes (book moving size/Fresh Direct size/Wine size) and shopping bags, which are always needed for the sale. Please deliver to the Dows Lane lobby.

​If you wish to volunteer your time or learn more about the sale, please contact Alice Villa (amw1124@yahoo.com).

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IRVINGTON SCIENCE FAIR
Saturday, March 25

​Mark your calendars for the Irvington Science Fair, 3/25/17, 12-3pm at the Gina Maher Gym.

Our guests include, Digital Arts Experience, WeCanCenters, Curious on Hudson and many more!

Click Here to check out the science fair page, and let’s get started!
 
Registration deadline is March 1st.

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DECICCO’S PTA REBATE PROGRAM

​The DeCicco’s PTA Rebate Program has gone digital!
 
If you have a DeCicco’s card, please link your card to Irvington PTSA here: http://www.deciccoandsons.com/ardsley-pta-program/ or in-store at a register or the customer service desk in the Ardsley store.
 
If you don’t have a DeCicco’s card, please e-mail our DeCicco's fundraiser committee chair, Eileen Fanfarillo (efanfarillo1@gmail.com), and she will help you apply for one and deliver it to you!
 
DeCicco’s generously donates 1% of your purchases to the Irvington PTSA.

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