Message from the Principal

 

 

Dear Austin Road Families,

   It’s hard to believe that it is already late October!  The weeks are flying by and everyone at our school is busy working very hard to get the most out of each and every day.  Before we know it, the snow flurries will be flying. 

    The entire school is eagerly awaiting Halloween, and our Trunk or Treat is scheduled for this Friday, October 26th at 6:00 pm.  As always, this event is sponsored by our very generous PTO.  We hope to see you there!  Weather permitting, our kindergarten classes are also preparing for our own “Pumpkin Patch” celebration on October 29th .  Additionally, many of our older students have been preparing for the Lakeview XC races, and the 5K at FDR Park on 10/24/18.  Their willingness to commit to such a demanding race is very commendable.  Good luck to them all!  We also just wrapped up one of my favorite weeks of the year…our fall Book Fair, again sponsored by our PTO.  I was so pleased to see so many students get excited about the wide variety of books on display.  Reading truly is the basis of a sound and successful education. 

     Lastly, and most importantly, or classrooms continue to be filled with very positive learning and growing opportunities each and every day.  Reading buddies have begun for many classes, and the technology skills of all of our students continue to advance at a truly unbelievable rate.  Our teachers are working hard to enhance and creatively explore our ELA and math programs.  Hopefully, your children are coming home each day eager to share some of the new information that they have learned while at school.

    In closing, I would like to wish you all a happy and healthy autumn.  Although we are in a very busy time of year, the many changes that accompany the colder weather always seem especially enjoyable.  Be well!

 Jim Gardineer, Austin Road Principal

 

 

 

 

Austin Road News & Headlines

  • Buddy Bench

    The Buddy Bench, a dedicated place at elementary school playgrounds where a student can sit if feeling lonely or bullied, has generated national attention in recent years and has even been the subject of a TED Talk.

    About five years ago, the Buddy Bench concept originated with a boy named Christian Bucks who was reviewing brochures about potential new schools in Germany with his mother. They were preparing to move there for his father’s new job. He would be the new kid. He was just in first grade, but he understood what feeling lonely on a playground looks like. He’d seen it at his own elementary school in York, Pa.

    However, one German school he and his mom looked at had a solution for this. It was called the Buddy Bench, and if a child was sitting on it alone, it was a signal to the other kids to ask him or her to play. Although Christian’s family did not end up moving to Germany, the boy is credited with introducing Buddy Benches to the United States. He brought the idea to his principal, Matthew Miller, and the two immediately set out to install a Buddy Bench in his school, Roundtown Elementary. Their project was covered by the local newspaper and went viral.

    Eighth-grader Becca Lomas decided to extend the Buddy Bench ideology as part of her bat mitzah by raising funds so benches can be in the Middle School – and Austin Road too!  Becca is an inspiring example of the values we uphold at Austin Road and our community.

     

    AR News & Headlines

  • Alphabet Couture!

    Each year, Mahopac’s Kindergarten students participate in ABC Bootcamp by studying a letter a day for 26 days! To celebrate completion of ABC Bootcamp, the kindergartners created a fashion show donning their handmade, custom letter design

    AR News & Headlines

  • Austin Road RUNNING Tradition & Top Finishers

    Fostering student athletes beginning, the #MahopacWay tradition lives on with the annual Mahopac Elementary Schools Cross Country and 5K races held in October. Students begin to develop the basic running fundamentals and learn the health benefits training for these running events.  “Our aim is to create not just life-long learners but life-long runners, as well,” said Lauren Kittredge, Austin Road Physical Education teacher and 5K organizer.  In fact, high school students from the cross country and track teams return to their roots and help with the races.

    The Cross Country race includes all students who run by age on the Lakeview grounds.  The 5K is made up of 4th and 5th graders who’ve committed to train before school before race day at FDR Park. This year’s 5K race was a record setting finish with all participants finishing under 41 minutes.  

    Austin Road finished big with top finishers:

     

    Boys

    1st Aidan Paris-Devane (Austin Road) 21:21

    2nd  Vince Cataldo (Austin Road) 21:49

    Girls

    2nd  Niamh Kelleher  (Austin Road)  24:14

    3rd Fiona Kelleher (Austin Road) 24:30

    We are so proud of all Austin Road student athletes!

    AR News & Headlines

  • Take a Stand. Lend a Hand.

    Along with schools across the country, the Mahopac Schools participated in a week-long celebration of making healthy choices and community connections with Red Ribbon Week.  By helping students build a foundation of mindfulness to themselves and their community, the risk of substance abuse is lessened.
    “Substance abuse prevention starts with the promotion of good mental health in kids and teens,” said Valarie Nierman, MCSD Health Coordinator.  The District is committed to helping each individual student.  Read more.

    AR News & Headlines

  • Dirty Hands are Good!

    Austin Road students had fun getting their hands dirty in the school garden this week! Not only did they learn how to harvest the garden’s vegetation, they also received a lesson in teamwork as well.

    AR News & Headlines

  • Pumpkin Picking in Our Own Backyard

    Austin Road’s back field area was transformed into a Pumpkin Patch.  Diane Binns, along with her husband and the kindergarten teacher team, created their annual whimsical pumpkin patch.  Students were able to select their own pumpkin generously donated by Stop & Shop in Somers Commons. 

    AR News & Headlines

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