Thetoast timesmayjune10 _2_

Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science & Technology
http://toast.albany.k12.ny.us/
Principal: Mr. Timothy Fowler
Co-Editors: Mrs. Reynolds-Hoffman & Ms. Whipple
Theme Team: Mr. Fowler, Mrs. Florance, Mr. Flynn, Mrs. Ingleston, Mr. Olmstead, Ms. Whipple
From the Desk of Mr. Fowler:
Wow, it’s the last newsletter of the year! It h as been another year of pleasure as the principal of TOAST. Time really flew this year, but we real ly had to hustle every step of the way. I know I’m not alone when I say that the pace has been exhausting. Is that a robust vocabulary word? Anyway, I’m looking forward to the Memorial Day Weekend. This time will allow us to pay our respect to those who served our country and catch our breath as we finish out the year strong. Hopefully, June will bring in warmer weather so that we can enjoy all the end of the year festivities, our playground, and bikes for the new bike racks that were installed. I wonder what next year will be like with no sw ing space and no middle of the year move. Could we possibly have a normal year of school ahead of us? Wouldn’t that be great for everyone? Don’t forget to order your 2009-2010 TOAST Yearbook. The pre-order cost is $10.00, please see the attached flyer for more information. Lastly, remember to get out and vote. The school budget vote will be Tuesday, May 18th. H Mr. Fowler
From the Desk of the Home School Coordinator:
The school year is winding down and summer is almost
here. We have field trips and a lot of fun activities coming up so please remember that displaying positive, respectful behavior is a must. Please students-make sure you dress appropriately for school and for field t rips. Wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers for days when the weather might still be unpredictable. T here are plenty of summer camps and programming around the Capital Region that student’s can get involv ed in, so make sure you get signed up early to ensure a fun-filled summer! Congratulations to our Graduates and for those who will be returning next year….See you in September! Have a safe and healthy summer! Ms. Cascone
Upcoming TOAST Events:
Please check our website for updates
• Thursday, May 13th: Jr. Science Fair Expo (PreK-3rd Grade). Bring in your favorite science collection; 5:30-7:00 pm in the Cafeteria • Monday, May 17th: Dress Rehearsal: Spring Concert; 9:00 am in the Auditorium • Tuesday, May 18th: Spring Concert; 6:00 pm in the Auditorium • Friday, May 21st: TOAST T-shirt Day; wear your favorite TOAST t-shirt • Tuesday, May 25th: 4th Grade NYS Science Performance Test • Wednesday, May 26th: 4th Grade NYS Science Performance Test • Thursday and Friday, May 27th and 28th: NO SCHOOL due to unused snow days • Monday, May 31st: NO SCHOOL; Memorial Day June 2010
• Thursday, June 3rd: International Cultural Event at TOAST; 5:00-7:30 pm • Friday, June 4th: Awards Day: Grades 1-3; 8:30 am, Grades 4-5; 12:40 pm • Saturday, June 5th: TOAST NYS Museum Sleepover--See Mrs. Ingleston for more information • Sunday, June 6th: Kidney Walk at UAlbany; 9:00 am check in, 11:00 am walk. For more information: [email protected] or register at www.KidneyWalk.org • Monday, June 7th: 4th Grade Science Test; written • Tuesday, June 8th: TOAST PTA Meeting; 6:30 pm • Scholastic Book Fair: Preview Day: June 9th, sales: June 10-11th http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/toast • Saturday, June 12th: Soap Box Derby Race; Madison Ave near the NYS Museum • Monday, June 14th: Everyone please wear Red, White and Blue. Today is Flag Day! • Wednesday, June 16th: PreK Moving Up Day/Awards Day; 9:00 am • Thursday, June 17th: Kindergarten Graduation/Awards Day; 9:00 am in the Auditorium • Friday, June 18th: TOAST T-shirt Day; wear your favorite TOAST t-shirt • Monday, June 21st: 5th Grade Moving Up Celebration; 6:30 pm in the Auditorium • Tuesday, June 22nd: TOAST McDonald’s Fundraiser to support the TOAST playground (Holland Ave) 4:00-7:00 pm. 15% of all proceeds during these hours will go to TOAST! Websites For You To Check Out:
Read For The World
The Science Explorer: http://www.exploratorium.edu/sci ence_explorer/ Infrared Zoo: http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/image_galleries/ir_zoo/ http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/games/actiongames/ Little Critter’s Website: http://www.littlecritter.com/ Sea World Shamu Webcam: http://www.seaworld.com/sitepage.aspx?PageID=375 San Diego Zoo: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/kids/index.html Register today at:
National History Museum Fun & Games: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/kids-only/fun- Spelling City: http://www.spellingcity.com Mrs. Ingleston
Ms. Whipple

Kindergarten News:
Wow, this year is really flying by! The warm weather i s here and we are looking forward to walking to Albany
Medical Center to deliver flower pots to cancer patien ts. We hand painted the pots and planted marigold seeds to brighten their day. We are learning about our community and how to help others, near or far, so we are also collecting crayons and scissors to send to a sc hool in Ethiopia. We are collecting until May 7th, so if you think you can help please send in your donation. W e had a great time seeing Seussical the Musical at the Palace on Thursday, April 29th. Thanks for your conti nued support! It will be graduation before we know it. Keep reading, doing the nightly homework, and preparing for 1st grade! News from the First Grade:
Fourth Grade Facts:
It is testing time in 4th grade! Our students Wow! The year has gone by so fast! In first grade have worked hard to prepare for these important e have done so much learning and exploring. We have exams. We are using our agendas to keep us learned to read and are becoming really good writers. organized. Keep track of all of the big events coming up. Make sure you are well rested and ready to do your best! Every student is working towards the goal of reading 100 books for the Readers to Leaders Program. Students should be reading at least 45 minutes each night. Make Mrs. Sands and Mrs. Sokaris
sure you are keeping track of the titles you read! Second Grade News:
We will be collecting them soon! We are planning many educational field trips The second grade has been very busy. We just for the end of the year. Remember that admission finished participating in the Health Fair. Our classes wrote factual books and recipes books, handed out to field trips is based on work performance (class work/ homework) and behavior. Do your best at all healthy snacks and shared a student video. We also times so you can go on these learning adventures! just finished our RIGBY testing. We are looking forward to our Alphabet Countdown for the last 26 Fifth Grade Updates:
days of school. Families please follow the letter we To infinity and beyond! In Science, the 5th sent home. We will also be participating in numerous graders are learning about the Solar system and field trips. Don’t forget to return the field trip forms its many parts. We have been comparing the promptly, so everyone is able to attend. The end of features on Earth to those on the Moon. We even made craters out of flour, water and a marble. It was kind of goopy but fun. We all did much better Greetings from the Third Grade!
on our last science test, thanks to our families for It has been a busy and exciting school year! We the help! Fifth graders finished taking the New worked very hard on the New York State ELA and York State math test. It was administered on Math exams, and now they are behind us- Yippee!!! We May 5th and 6th. We thank Mrs. Chesley for her h ope to see everybody at the International Fair coming help and guidance in assisting us with test soon in June. Third graders are learning interesting preparation. We are now working with fractions. We should continue to review our basic math As summer soon approaches, it is important that facts frequently! Our students have been third graders continue to practice their multiplication immersed in one of the greatest American stories and division facts for fourth grade. Keep up the of all time, the Civil War. We have looked at it reading this summer! Be sure to visit the library and from the Industrial Revolution to the 15th book stores to participate in fun and enjoyable reading Amendment. We are excited about our end of the activities/programs!! Perhaps even do some book year trip to Boston where we will walk the Black reports for your fourth grade teacher. Have a heritage trail and do our usual visit to Faneuil wonderful, safe, and healthy summer vacation!!! What's Going On In Art?
News from the Museum Room
Lots! Our school art has just been showcased at the TOAST Health Fair in April and at It’s been a very busy few months and we’re not Al bany's 1st Fridays in May at the Cathedral of slowing down yet. Classes have been visiting the New All Saints. The work looked great! Check out more York State Museum every Wednesday and Friday for TOAST artwork in The Sunshine Building during Early Bird Programs. Trumaster, one of the NYS museum educators, brought in the “feathers & fur” * 5th graders are in the middle of their program. He’ll be back in May & June. Carol Ann intensive, plaster-paris mask-making project. We Margolis from the Albany Visitors Center continued are seeing some really interesting characters with working with the 3rd grade on the Heritage Garden horns and ears developing! * The 4th grades are Program and the history of different plants. busy working on straight weaving their very own Professor Hopkins from St. Rose came in and wall-hanging using a loom. * The 3rd grades have discussed the science of seeds and we planted several just completed their big project of Van Gogh's different kinds. Both of them will be back for Flower paintings in the Impressionist style. They Programs in May & June. The museum grow table is up look beautiful! Now they are on to clay food and running. We are growing the Three Sisters (corn, sculptures. * Ms. Haggerty's class is just finishing bean and squash). We have several herbs growing aper, and (b asil, par sley and chiv e) an d se veral different kinds plaster. * The 2nd grades are just finishing their flowers (zinnia, echinacea and petunias). It’s almost big project of Monet's Bridge learning to work on a long-term project in the Impressionist way. Now Mrs. Ingleston
they are moving on to Andy Warhol and Pop Art.* 1st graders & Mrs. Steven's classes are now eginning colored tissue paper, flower collages for Computer Lab Updates:
Spring. * Kindergarteners just completed their 4th and 5th graders have finished their surveys and sponge painted bunnies with eggs and are now on graphs in Excel; if you need to know about spreadsheets, ask one of our students, I’m sure they’ll be able to help! 5th graders will be using their new Mrs. Wright :)
email accounts to learn all of the proper terms, the correct way to write an email along with more safety tips and about cyber bullying. We will be sending Library Lowdown:
emails to community members and maybe even We’re getting cozy in our new Library Media President Obama! Their technology test will be Center and we’re getting reacquainted with lots of coming up in June; be on the lookout for the study “old friends.” So many of the books and authors packet that will help them remember all that they that we knew before the big move have recently re-entered our reading lives! Unfortunately (?), Primary grades have been learning more about the weather has become quite summer-y and animals in switchzoo.com. It’s a great website that is th ere are many excuses to go outside to stretch fun and educational! They have also been using and play. Remember, that the nice weather is also an excuse to bring a book outside to read under a spellingcity.com (to name a few). PreK students have tree. And when it rains, reading goes right up to also been immersed in sesamestreet.org, learning the top of my list of fun things to do! With RIF math, reading, thinking skills, science, etc. and summer Library programs coming up, there Our weekly school podcasts will be uploaded to our should be many opportunities to enjoy a good website soon, we hope you like them! More vodcasts story or to find out about something new! Your will be uploaded too! The students have been working local branch of the Albany Public Library is a good hard planning, preparing and practicing! Have a great place to start your exploration. Happy reading!! Mrs. Florance
Ms. Whipple ☺
News from the Science Lab,
-S everal of my classes celebrated Earth Day by picking up trash, filling the bird feeders and playing fun
outdoor science games.
-Our TOAST Science Fair was a big success and nine of our finalists went on to the Joseph Henry Science Fair
at the College of Saint Rose. Our young scientists made me so proud!
-Soap Box Derby Up-Date-Our Drivers name is Patrick Bringas (he was chosen by a drawing) and the car is
named “THE TOASTER” (chosen by our students)
-Finally…Our Car wash was successful and fun. Thanks to everyone who helped out and brought their cars
down. We will use the money for race registration and some really ‘cool’ detailing work!
Mark your calendar.
May 13, 2010- 5:30 -7: 00 pm in the Cafeteria --The Jr. Science Expo-Open to Pre-K through Grade 3
May 25 and 26, 2010- 4th Grade Performance Test
June 4, 2010 Our Last MORNING BIRD WATCH, 7:00 am near the front office
Ju ne 7 , 20 10- 4th Grade - Written Science Test
June 11 and 12, 2010-Albany Soap Box Derby, Fifth Grade Project - Madison Ave Near the NY State Museum;
9:00 am-4:00 pm - Actual race times to follow NEWS FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
HEALTH AND WELLNESS NEWS:
It’s time to remind everyone that the students in Our Health Fair was a great success! Thanks to all PreK, K-garten, 2nd and 4th grade will need to the families that attended. Thanks to Ms. Franke and have a physical on file for next September. Those the Ballroom Dancers who put on a great show and to forms were sent home along with a Dental the 2nd graders and their teachers who worked hard Certificate that is to be signed by your child’s and had a great presentation on healthy snacks with a (children’s) dentist. If you need additional forms, please call the Health Office at 475-6882. Allergy season is upon us!! For the students with Foundation 2010 Kidney Walk on Sunday, June 6th at asthma it is important that they have their inhaler SUNY ALBANY; we would like to participate as a school on hand in the Health Office if their asthma is group. Let’s put that day aside and show everyone that triggered by environmental allergies. If your child the TOAST Family is an involved community!! Sign up is one who suffers from severe allergy symptoms, sheets will be sent home the last week of May by the ple ase have them seen by their pediatrician for e tings from your friendly TOAST music teacher,
News From the Playground Committee
Spring is finally here! You know what that means; Spring co ncert season. The students have been diligently preparing their mu sic to impress all that come to watch. There will be 3 part ha rmonies, dancing, an orchestra/ recorder mash-up, and much mo re. You will laugh a little; maybe even shed a tear, and all are hoping everyone will come out again, be cause of your immensely talented children. **Important note** NEW Spring Concert time:
Tu esday, May 18th @ 6 pm in the TOAST Auditorium
4th and 5th grade recording projects: The 4th grade will be re cording commercials, complete with an eco-friendly product, ript, staging, props, and a catchy jingle. The 5th grade will be co nducting interviews with famous musicians ranging from Bu xtehude to Lady Gaga. These interviews will be in the form of a lat e night special news report. The most entertaining recordings will be showcased in the TOAST foyer for all to enjoy. Musically yours, Mr. O.
If you send in this form and your money (cash only ____ Yes, I’d like to pre-order a TOAST yearbook. I’m enclosing $10.00 (cash) for each book ordered. Deadl Student’s Name: __________________________________________________ Teacher’s Name: ____________________________ Grade Level: ________ Number of Yearbooks Ordered: ____ Cash Enclosed: $________________ Received By: __________________ Order Number: __________________

Source: http://toast.albany.k12.ny.us/TheTOAST%20TimesMayJune10.pdf