Message from the Principal
School Day:
Beginning in September 2009, the school day will begin at 8:15am for teachers and at 8:25am for all students. School dismissal will be at 3:04pm.
There will be NO DISMISSALS in the last 45 minutes of the school day (2:19pm).
Our Goals
Mayfair School is a great place to get an education. Our goal is successful academic, emotional, and physical growth for all of our students. Identifying the needs of each student is at the core of all we do.
A Positive Environment
Our relatively small size for a kindergarten through eighth grade school in Philadelphia enables us to develop a personalized, caring attitude with close interaction between staff, students, and parents. We are proud to have a high standard of respect, courtesy, care and concern, involvement, acceptance of others, and cooperation at Mayfair School. Our positive environment supports the growth of our students by decreasing negative behavior and increasing learning. As Mayfair students make choices each day, they act and respond in ways that demonstrate sensitivity toward each other.
A Focus on Technology
Mayfair students and staff are proficient users of technology. We use computers in all aspects of the educational process. Our instructional program is based on the School District, State, and National Standards.
Working together is the key to success at Mayfair School.
Principal Roberta Besden
Mustang Moments
MUSTANG MOMENTS
FEBRUARY 2010
From the Principal....
Mrs. Roberta Besden
February promises to be a busy and exciting month at school.
Our Home and School meeting will be held on February 23rd in the student cafeteria. Please mark this date on your calendar.
Our next Mayfair Council Meeting will be held on February 16th, 2010 at 7:45pm in the IMC.
Have a wonderful month!
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2009 NCBL Report Card
Our No Child Left Behind School Report Cards are available over the Internet (www.paayp.com). This report card can also be reviewed in the Mayfair School Office. Report cards are also available at the main branch of the Philadelphia Library and at the regional branches.
When you go to the website, type in Mayfair School and the information will be downloaded onto your computer's desktop. The report card will open in Adobe Acrobat; if you do not have Adobe Acrobat, go to the following website to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/ readstep2.html
Thank you.
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Attendance Information
How are We Doing?
As you may be aware we are closely monitored for our attendance of students.
Look for your children's classrooms. The number following the classroom is the percentage of students present for December.
Thank you for working hard to send your children to school each day.
Room Percentage Present
113 91.33
114 89.43
115 92.33
109 91.58
110 88.54
111 93.93
112 90.74
103 93.09
104 94.31
105 94.02
106 88.58
107 93.26
108 97.34
98T 91-50
99T 95.67
208 95.43
210 92.43
100T 92.70
203 95.19
204 93.08
205 96.53
209 94.21
216 96.25
217 93.70
218 94.86
213A 93.75
202 94.40
212 88.80
213 92.92
200 94.35
201 92.26
214 90.34
A pizza party is awarded to the classroom with the highest daily attendance for the month.
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Who Likes ice Cream?
Our Home and School Association in an effort to reward students whose parents attend Home and School Meetings will provide an ice cream party for all children whose parents attend the Home and School meeting on February 23, 2010.
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Homework Help
The Tacony Library as well as the Northeast Library has after school homework help on Monday and Wednesday from 3:00-6:00pm and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 3:00-5:00. There is no need to make an appointment; just stop by.
What the library offers is its after school program, LEAP which provides enrichment activities and homework help. I stress the homework help because it is not and is not meant to be tutoring. The Torresdale Branch has LEAP. Every branch in the Free Library has LEAP, but not tutoring. A lot of people think it is a tutoring program but it isn't.
LEAP is free. No registration is required. Children come in after school. Ms. Bucci, the head of the Children's Department of the Northeast Regional Library indicated she would be delighted to have Mayfair School students participate! Help for homework, technology games using the computers, arts and crafts, and other programs are provided.
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Help for Students
To the parents of children in grades K-5: To use at home on the computer:
harcourtschool.com
Password: Beck or Farr or Strickland.
This website has activities and games that correlate with skills learned in reading using the Harcourt Trophies Series
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Web Site for Testing Strategies
brainchild.com is a great website for testing strategies for your children. Check it out!!!
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Addresses/Phone Numbers for Inclement Weather Dismissal
Continue to keep the office updated of new phone numbers and emergency contact information as they occur.
It is critical that new phone numbers are given to school in a timely manner. Thank you so much.
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Children arriving at School Too Early
Our school day begins at 8:25am. We have children in our school yard and trying to get inside of the building as early as 7:00am.
The staff at Mayfair is required to be at school at 8:15am.
There is no one at school prior to 8:15am to watch your children. If you have to go to work early, you must make arrangements for someone to watch your children.
We are concerned about the safety of your children. Please help us by not sending your children to school prior to 8:20am unless special arrangements have been made with a special teacher (some teachers have clubs before school starts). All children attending a club should have a note indicating his/her participation.
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Double Parking Continues to Be a Problem
Parents, please do not double park in the front of our building in the morning or afternoon. It is a serious safety issue for our children.
How can you help? If you would like to become a safe corridor support for Mayfair, please send in a note to the principal with your phone number and it will be forwarded to our Safe Corridor personnel.
Thank you
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Volunteer Rules have Changed
Any volunteer in the building must now possess :
1. Child Abuse Clearance
2. Criminal Police Check
3. FBI clearance
Please know the School District of Philadelphia's main concern is for the continued, safety of your children.
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Important Dates
9- Career Day - Grades 6-8
10-12:04 Dismissal; Professional Development for staff
10- Bake Sale to support Mustangs
10- Mustang Candy Sale begins
15- No School -Presidents' Day
23- Home and School Meeting -8:25am - All parents and caregivers are welcome!!!!
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Nurses Notes
Important Health Information Vision: I can see clearly now
Vision Screening is being provided by Castor Eye Center for any student who has failed his/her vision screening at school. Please call 215-533-4700 to arrange for an appointment and advise them that your child has failed their vision test and you have a referral from the school nurse. If your family currently doesn't have vision insurance and your child needs glasses, both the screening and the glasses will be provided. If your child does have health insurance, Castor Eye Center will bill your insurance company. Either way, your child wins. If you have any questions, please call me at 215-335-5941.
Health Insurance
The State of Pennsylvania is now providing health insurance to all uninsured school age students regardless of family income. If your child does not currently have health insurance, please contact me at 215-335-5941. This process of applying for health insurance has been made easier. One application can now be completed for the entire family. You can also apply on line at www.chipcoverspakids.com
Immunizations
State mandate: All students enrolled in Philadelphia Public Schools must be completely immunized. Exclusion notices have been sent home to any student who has not completed their immunizations according to the Health Department's immunization schedule. Effective immediately, kindergarten and first grade students will not be admitted without two varicella shots and a DAPT given after the 4th birthday. No student will be given a provisional status that has past the date when the next vaccine is due.
Flu Season
Flu season is upon us, but it is not too late to get your child a flu shot that will help prevent or decrease the severity of the flu. The flu is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is characterized by high fever, body aches, sore throat, cough, headache and often diarrhea and vomiting. Anyone who has the flu should not attend school. Please keep you child home for 24 hours following fever or vomiting. The best prevention is a flu vaccine, but frequent hand washing and covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Remember It Is never too late to get your flu shot. Free at Health Center #10.
Physicals
State Mandate: All students who are attending Philadelphia Public Schools for the first time and students in grades kindergarten, first and 6th must have a complete physical by their private doctor. Forms were sent home several times and there are still many students who have not returned these completed forms. Please make an appointment as soon as possible to prevent being reported to the PA Department of Health as a non-compliant parent.
Dental
State Mandate: All students who are attending Philadelphia Public Schools for the first time and students in grades kindergarten, first, third and seventh must have a complete dental examination. These forms were sent home several times and there are still many students . who have not returned these completed forms. Please make an appointment as soon as possible to prevent being reported to the PA Department of Health as a non-compliant parent.
The Mobile Dentist will be at Mayfair School in March. Any student in the mandated grades for dental examinations - Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, and 7th - who have not completed this requirement, may have their dental exam at school, with a completed consent form. PLEASE CALL Nurse Judith at 215-335-5941.
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February Fundraiser:
Show your LOVE for Mayfair Elementary by participating in this quick, easy fundraiser!
Earn up to $3000 for Mayfair Elementary!!!
The Jared Taylor Agency of Allstate will donate $5 for each Mayfair Elementary parent or staff who gets a quote for homeowners or auto insurance in the month of February,
It is this easy...
-Call 215-288-2400 between the hours of 9am and 7pm, Monday through Friday, mention that you are a Mayfair Elementary parent. Talk to Faithe Jaskel or anyone in the office-compare your current auto or home insurance with their rates and they will donate $5 to Mayfair Elementary.
-Stop into the office at 6301 Mershon Street, Philadelphia, PA 19149
-Or Email FaitheJaskel4@allstate.com or JaredTaylor@allstate.com with your name, address and contact information and we can quote you at your convenience through email.
*Current Allstate customers who have both home and auto insurance not eligible. All others must provide proof of prior insurance or car ownership.
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Lines from the Cybrary:
by Elaine Rehm, Cybrarian
Six Flags 6-Hour Reading Club for Grades K - 6
If your student is participating in the Six Flags Six-Hour Reading Club, please remember that all tally sheets are due back to me in the cybrary by Thursday, February 18.
If you run out of room on the tally sheet, please attach your own sheet of loose leaf paper to it.
If you inadvertantly tossed out the tally sheet and you wish to participate, have your child come and ask me for a new copy immediately so you will have time to complete the six hours of required reading by February 18.
The Book Fair is Coming!
The Scholastic Book Fair will be at our school from March 15 through March 22. Our evening event will be held on Thursday, March 18. Mark your calendars now. You won't want to miss it. Plan to volunteer to help if you are available.
Accelerated Reader
Independent reading is an important part of the literacy program. AR is a program we use in grades 4, 5, and 6 to motivate and track independent reading.
Students receive a pencil for reaching 10 points with an 80% average on quizzes, an invitation to a pizza party for 25 points with an 85% average on quizzes, and a Swim Party in June for achievement of the annual point goal with an 85% average.
