NEWS: Building Belonging in our Schools

A Message from Superintendent Selesnick

Dear KLSD Community,

Once again, my thanks to all in our community who came out to vote on our Capital Improvement Project on October 18. The official tally was 893 yes votes and 595 no. We are grateful to the community and excited for the future learning opportunities these new facilities will create for our students. We anticipate that the next phase of planning and State approvals will take approximately one year. Once those approvals are received, construction is projected to last approximately two years. If all goes smoothly, all aspects of the project will be complete by the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.

Additionally, my thanks to all those community and staff members who joined us this past Wednesday night at our Learning Café. The topic of conversation was Belonging in our Schools, which as you will see, is also the focus of this edition of our newsletter. To learn even more about this topic, I encourage you to watch our October 20, 2022 Board of Education meeting, at which our school principals and staff developers presented. It was a lively, engaging and informative evening.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Halloween.

Sincerely,

Andrew Selesnick

Superintendent

October Snapshots

Top left, clockwise: Goldens Bridge Fire Department visits Increase Miller Elementary during Fire Prevention Week. Walk & Roll to School Day at Katonah Elementary. Katonah Fire Department visits Katonah Elementary. Harvest Day at Meadow Pond Elementary. Seventh grader s view single-celled organisms. AP Environmental Science students learn at Lake Waccabuc.

Morning Meetings Support Social & Academic Success

Walk through the hallways of any of the elementary schools at approximately 9:20 a.m. and you’ll see children greeting each other and sitting in circles with their teachers. You’ll overhear snippets of thoughtful conversation and shared laughter. It’s Morning Meeting, an important foundation of the day.

The practice is part of the district’s focus on belonging—purposefully building feelings of connection and affirmation that support student success. MORE

Students Connect Through Clubs

Outside, students are powerthrowing a frisbee across the field to teammates, looking to score. In room 004, string musicians listen closely to each other as they play "America the Beautiful." Up in room 267, students create videos of the changes they’ll advocate for as school leaders.

These are just three of the thirty after-school clubs and activities offered at John Jay Middle School. Not only do they offer students a way to explore their interests, but the extracurricular activities also help to build students’ connections to each other and the larger school community. MORE

Creating a Culture of Care

When students arrive at a class and see the desks in a circle, they know what to expect—the arrangement represents something fun and off-topic! Circles are happening throughout John Jay High School, taking approximately five minutes once a week in each class. “They build a caring environment, which supports a healthy community,” said Candy Wilmot, the staff developer who brought the practice to the school.

Building belonging is not the only goal of the circles. They are also used to resolve conflicts and address problems. MORE

Upcoming District Events

MPES PTO Book Fair: November 2, 3, 4, 7
IMES PTO meeting / Principal's Coffee: November 2
KES PTO Holiday Share Food Drive begins: November 3
Board of Education meeting: November 3
Elementary Schools' early dismissal / parent-teacher conferences: November 3. 7, 9
IMES PTO Book Fair: November 3, 4, 5, 7, 9
KES PTO Book Fair: November 3, 4, 7
JJMS Fall Drama "A Midsummer Night's Dream": November 3 - 5
JJHS SAT test: November 5
IMES PTO Fifth Grade Bingo: November 7
Election Day / Schools Closed / Superintendent's Conference Day: November 8
JJHS National Letter of Intent Signing Ceremony: November10
MPES PTO Meeting / Principal's Coffee: November 10
JJHS Field of Honor: November 10
Veteran's Day / Schools Closed: November 11
JJHS Winter Varsity and JV sports begin: November 14
PreK Panel at MPES: November 16
Superintendent's Coffee: November 16
KES PTO Meeting / Principal's Update: November 16
Board of Education meeting: November 17
JJHS Art Show opening: November 17
JJHS Fall Drama: November 17 - 19
JJMS Winter Modified sports begin: November 22
JJHS National Honor Society Induction: November 22
Thanksgiving Recess / Schools Closed: November 24, 25

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Katonah-Lewisboro School District | PO Box 387, Katonah, NY 10536 | 914-763-7001

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