Colonial Announcements

Colonial Webmaster

January 24, 2021

Dear Colonial Community,

Hard to believe that in one week's time it will be February. As Dr. Champ mentioned in her email this past week, starting February 1st, school will begin at 9:10 am and end at 2:50 pm. While there are some logistics to work out, this change in time will allow for 40 more minutes that can be devoted to core instruction as well as offer us the potential to bring back Town Meetings, integrated projects focused on issues important to our community. As you have undoubtedly noticed, we have not needed the full half your for dismissal, and have been able to accommodate you when you arrived. Wednesday dismissal will continue to be 11:40-12:00.

Thank you for your continued support and patience as we cover classes when teachers have to be out. The great news is that little by little, we have been able to get our first vaccination. At the same time, Covid-19 has come knocking at our door, requiring quarantining according to guidelines. I am grateful that we have been able to remain open in what has been a most challenging year. Your support and partnership with us is critical for your child's education, and I so appreciate the strong ties that are evident in the Colonial Community.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. Have a wonderful week.

Sincerely,

Susan

School News…

Change in the Length of the School Day- In an email that Dr. Champ sent out to families on January 22nd, it was outlined that the school day will be extended beginning February 1st. The purpose of this change is to allow for 40 additional minutes of core academic instructional time on each full day of school and should still allow adequate time for arrival and dismissal. We believe that the morning virtual office hours will be sufficient to continue to meet the needs of our remote learners. Starting February 1, the elementary schedule has been adjusted as follows:

  • Doors will be open for student arrival from 9:00-9:10 am. Classes will begin at 9:10am.
  • Afternoon virtual office hours will be discontinued and the regular school day will be extended to 2:50pm.

Kindergarten Registration- Any child who will be 5 years old on or before December 31, 2021 is eligible to attend kindergarten this fall! We will be hosting our kindergarten registration on Thursday, January 28th from 9:00 am- 2:00 pm and on Friday, January 29th from 9:00-11:00 am. During these times, families may drop off completed registration packets in a sealed envelope in the drop box at the main entrance to our school. Forms can be found at: https://www.pelhamschools.org/parents-and-community/registration-of-new-students or by calling the main office at 914-738-2680. Also, for more information, please read the following letter from the district that was sent out to area preschools: 2021-22 K reg letter to parents.pdf

Grade 5 Parent Orientation to PMS- Parents of current 5th grade students should have received an invitation from the Pelham Middle School regarding their parent orientation on January 27th at 7:00 pm. This is a virtual event.

Valentine’s Day- After much discussion with colleagues and staff, at Colonial we will continue to follow our guidelines of safety and equity in all we do. Your children's teachers will let you know their plans for Valentine's Day celebrations. The best advice, is use this day and every day to promote kindness, empathy, and giving.

Quarantine Guidance Change- Over the winter break, the New York State Department of Health updated its quarantine guidance to allow individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 to be released from quarantine after 10 days rather than 14, provided they do not develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. Moving forward, the District will use the 10-day guidance when instructing staff and students to quarantine.

                                                        UPCOMING DATES

  • 1/27- Early Release Day- Cohort A In Person- Dismissal Begins at 11:40 am
  • 1/27- 9:15am Virtual Forum with Dr. Champ: Colonial Principal Search1
  • 1/27-6:00p Virtual Forum with Dr. Champ: Colonial Principal Search
  • 1/27-Incoming 6th Grade Orientation at 7:00 pm
  • 2/1- New School Times In Effect (arrival by 9:10 am and dismissal 2:50-3:05 pm)
  • 2/3- Early Release Day Cohort B In Person- Dismissal Begins at 11:40 am
  • 2/10- Early Release Day Cohort A In Person- Dismissal Begins at 11:40 am
  • 2/15-2/19- Schools Closed for Winter Break
  • 2/22- Schools Re-Open with Cohort A for In-Person Learning
  • 2/24- Early Release Day Cohort B In Person- Dismissal Begins at 11:40 am

                                                       Retirement News!

We have three retirements to announce, all three long-time Colonial School staff members and all three with deep ties to Pelham and its schools.

Virginia Manganiello, Colonial Secretary to the Principal, 1996-2020, secretary in the business office, 1988-1996, (31 years)

Joanne Lombardi, 3 years computer teaching assistant, 1 year 4th grade, and 20 years 3rd grade teacher,1997-2021 (24 years)

Kim Norman, Library Teaching Assistant, 2000-2021

Mrs. Virginia Manganiello has been a lifelong resident of Pelham, attending kindergarten at Siwanoy, and becoming a graduate of the first graduating class of OLPH. Her two sons attended Colonial School—little did she know then as a Colonial parent and PTA president, that she would be integral to the lives of so many families and staff for the past twenty-five years. Mrs. Manganiello’s sons live close by in Connecticut and she plans on spending more time with her nine-year-old twin grandsons and two-year-old granddaughter. For the first time in thirty-two years, she is planning her first summer off!

Mrs. Joanne Lombardi lived in Pelham for thirty-two years with her husband and two children. Her husband, who sadly passed away in 2013, was a Pelham resident as a child, starting in third grade at Colonial and determined to raise their family here. After a business career at Microsoft and IBM, Mrs. Lombardi felt the calling to become an elementary school teacher, spending twenty of the past twenty-four as a third-grade teacher.

Mrs. Kim Norman raised her family in Pelham as well, her children attended Siwanoy where she was active in PTA and Site Based Council. Before becoming the full-time library teaching assistant at Colonial, she was a substitute teacher in the district, and a part time library assistant at Hutchinson School. For the past eighteen years she has facilitated Colonial’s Student Government, raising money and awareness for children sick and in need.

As we move toward the last half year of their Colonial School careers, we will find time to celebrate their accomplishments and the many ways they have added to the fabric of the school community. We wish them well, as they contemplate the next chapter of their lives.