Helendale Road School

Weekly Update

January 10,2025
Hello January
Mark Your Calendar

Upcoming Events

January 17 -Dance for a Cause (See flier below)

January 20 -Martin Luther King Jr Day; No School

January 23 -PTA Meeting 7:00 in HR Library

January 29 -Lunar New Year; No School

Staff Spotlight

Spotlight
Amanda Johnson

This week our staff spotlight is on Amanda Johnson. Amanda is joining our Helendale family this week and we are so excited to have her! Read below to learn about Amanda:

My name is Amanda Johnson and I am the new nurse at Helendale Road Primary School! I’m so excited to meet everyone and looking forward to creating a healthy environment for all the student’s at Helendale Road Primary School. I live in Victor with my husband and three children, Will (16), Luke (14), and Madelynn (11) and two dogs, Ginger and Snickers. Outside of school I’m usually at one of my kids sporting events. We also like to ski, fish, golf, and hike and are big Buffalo Bills fan.

Helendale Heroes

Helendale Heroes

This week's Helendale Heroes are Moudi, Mari, Khloe and Birdie! These students were nominated by their teachers for always be respectful, responsible and ready to learn! Way to go!

A Look At Our Learning

Turtle

UPK: Pre-K had a great week back from our long break! We reviewed our rules and expectations, talked about our resolutions and fun things we want to do in the upcoming year, and did some great Pre-k work! We are hoping for some warmer weather soon so we can get back outside and play in the snow!

Student counting pom poms on carpet
Students writing their name
Students working together at a counting center

Kindergarten: Happy New Year! This week in Kindergarten teachers are taking some time to review routines & expectations. Some classes greeted new students and we are excited to be back together learning after the holiday break! Students shared their goals for 2025 and talked about how best to achieve them. All classes will visit the JCC next week to see the Tykes production of Press Here! In math we are reviewing teen numbers and beginning a new unit on Addition!  We are learning to hear individual sounds in CVC (consonant vowel consonant) words and will be starting our next module in Wit & Wisdom called Once Upon a Farm which focuses on story elements!

Student work
Student work
Student work

First Grade: This week, second graders started a new unit in math about Money. They are learning how to identify and count coins. In ELA, second graders have been listening to and reading The Story of Johnny Appleseed. We have been discussing what life lesson we can learn from The Story of Johnny Appleseed. The students have been excited sharing and writing their 2025 New Year wishes! Some of our second graders' wishes are helping others, making new friends, being better listeners, eating healthy, becoming stronger readers, and more! Looking forward to an abundance of growth and learning in 2025! 

Class picture
Student smiling
Student work

Second: This week, second graders started a new unit in math about Money. They are learning how to identify and count coins. In ELA, second graders have been listening to and reading The Story of Johnny Appleseed. We have been discussing what life lesson we can learn from The Story of Johnny Appleseed. The students have been excited sharing and writing their 2025 New Year wishes! Some of our second graders' wishes are helping others, making new friends, being better listeners, eating healthy, becoming stronger readers, and more! Looking forward to an abundance of growth and learning in 2025! 

Students reading on carpet
Students sharing work
Students counting money

Library: Students have enjoyed being back in the library and Makerspace room with Mrs. Woolaver.

Student reading
Makerspace activity
Student looking at books

Art Shout Out: Shout out to Arabella C for expressing her love for Cubism!

In Art class with Mr. Green, second grade students are studying the style of Cubism for a recent project.

Arabella took her learning to the next level by creating her own Cubism painting over Winter Break! Great job Arabella!

Student with Mr. Green
Student artwork
PTA News

Our next PTA meeting is January 23 at 7:00 -hope to see you there! If you'd like to attend via Zoom, please click https://zoom.us/j/98254375720

PTA Dance Flier
Let's Donate: Personal Items, Household Items, Food Items, Clothing Items
We Are Hiring. Postitions: Teacher aides, building substitutes, teacher Assitants, Per Diem Substitutes, Building & grounds staff, bus drivers. Apply Now!

Join our team!

East Irondequoit is hiring, and we need YOU! Join our school district team and make a difference in the lives of our students!! We are hiring for various positions, apply now! https://www.eastiron.org/page/employment-opportunities

Drop Off and Pick Up Concerns -Please take time to review

Left Turn

When picking up PreK students at the end of the day, please remember you must turn left out of the parking lot onto Westchester Ave. We have many cars turning right and passing buses with lights on, that are loading students. The new county bus patrol cameras can now take pictures of cars passing busses and issue citations. Please make sure you are turning left so you do not receive a citation. They can be avoided!

Also, please note that when the small parking lot by the playground is full, you may not create spots next to the sidewalk and on the grass. It blocks our small bus from dropping off students. Please follow the line of cars on Westchester to pull into the drop off zone, or park on a side street if you would like to walk your child to the front door! Thank you for helping us keep all students safe!

Please remain in your car for the entirety of drop-off. If you would like to park your cart and walk your student up to the front doors, you may do so on Harwick Rd or any other side street besides Westchester Ave.
1. Pre-Dismissal: Cars will line up in the back parking lot next to the sidewalk (Loading Zone). Cars will continue to line up on Laurelton Road, being sure to stay to the right as buses will also be arriving. 2. Dismissal Start: At 3:20pm, a Helendale Road staff member will come to your car to ask the name of the student you are picking up and check your ID. An ID must be presented daily to pick up your student as per East Irondequoit CSD policy. 3. Loading Zone: Adults stay in cars; students will be escorted down the sidewalk to your car and a Helendale Road Staff Member will help them get into the car. 4. Buckle Zone: After your student is in your vehicle, you will pull up into the Buckle Zone if you need to help them with their seatbelt. 5. Exiting: All cars must turn LEFT onto Laurelton Road when exiting.
1. Pre-Dismissal: Please park your car on a side street or in an open parking spot. Cars may not be parked on either side of Helendale Road or next to the school on Westchester Ave as this is where buses load. 2. Line Up: Adults will line up on the sidewalk under our entryway. Students are split for dismissal by last name, so there will be two lines – • Last names beginning with A-L will be to the left. • Last names beginning with M-Z will be to the right. 3. Dismissal Start: At 3:20pm, a Helendale Road staff member will ask for the name of the student(s) you are picking up and check your ID. An ID must be presented daily to pick up your student as per East Irondequoit CSD policy. 4. Exiting: Students will exit through the front doors of Helendale Road Primary School once dismissed. We understand emergencies happen. Please call the school as soon as you can if you are going to be late picking up your student. Students not picked up by 3:30pm will be taken to the Main Office. You will have to park, and enter with ID, to pick them up; or they will be put on their assigned bus if we have not received communication from you.