Dear Sapphire Families,
I hope you are all doing well. While this time of year is often considered a quieter stretch in the school calendar, our days at school have been full and exciting!
In this newsletter, you’ll find photos from our PTA Sweet Heart Dance, Go Red for Heart Health Day, Valentine’s Day and 100th Day celebrations. We also marked Black History Month with meaningful activities and projects, and had a fun-filled visit from JJ Moore or Jumping Jake, a player on the Harlem Wizards basketball team.
With warmer temperatures on the way, we are eagerly anticipating the return of outdoor recess. The opportunity to run, play, and enjoy fresh air is something our students truly benefit from, and we’re looking forward to brighter, longer days ahead.
Early this month, we will celebrate Read Across America Week with themed activities and special events, including Family Story Night on Thursday, March 5th, in the library. We hope to see many of you there!
Please remember to sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Our teachers value this time to connect with families and discuss student progress.
Best,
Allison Borriello
Principal
Sapphire Elementary School
During the month of February, our students celebrated Black History Month by learning about influential Black leaders, artists, innovators, and changemakers who have made a difference in our world.
As part of our celebration, students helped create a special bulletin board in our foyer honoring Black individuals who inspire them. Families were invited to choose a Black person who is meaningful to them — whether a famous figure, a community member, or a beloved family member. Students shared pictures or drawings and wrote about why their chosen person is special.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Thursday, March 12th
Wednesday, March 18th
Thursday, March 26th
Sunday, March 8th
Friday, March 20th
Saturday, March 21st
March 30th - April 3rd
We are currently seeking parents and guardians who are interested in serving on our PTA Cabinet for the 2026-2027 school year. Getting involved is a wonderful way to support our students, connect with other families, and partner closely with school staff.
Available Positions:
President
Vice President
Co-Vice President
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
The PTA Board:
Establishes the school-year calendar of activities
Communicates bi-weekly with board and committee members
Hosts monthly membership meetings
Attends and volunteers at school events
Serves as the parent representative to school administration
Receives building access with a staff ID badge
A full description of board roles and responsibilities can be found in our PTA Bylaws.
If you are interested, please submit a brief letter of interest via email to: ptasapphire@gmailcom
We would love to have you consider joining our team and making a difference in our school community!
Happy Spring, finally!!
Link: When to keep your child home
Even though we’re starting to see warmer weather, it’s still unpredictable so make sure you dress your children for cold weather and in layers for changing indoor & outdoor temperatures. Continue to encourage hand-washing, coughing & sneezing into elbows, a good night’s sleep, exercise and balanced diet with plenty of water!
The New York State Department of Education requires that all Kindergarten & 1st grade students have a physical exam. A valid physical for this school year is one performed on or after September 1st, 2024 or new entrants within 1 year prior to start date.
Additionally, per NYS law, we will be screening all Kindergarten & 1st grade students' vision and hearing if not done and documented on their current physical exam.
Link for Forms and more info from the Nurse’s Office
If you have any questions regarding this information, please don't hesitate to contact us at
(845) 460-6500 ext. 14809
Fax: (845) 460-6035
Email: clucanie@mw.k12.ny.us
Sincerely,
Camille Lucanie, SNT
Has your child lost a jacket? Sweatshirt? T-shirt?
It could be in our Lost and Found area!
Please come in and check in the Main Lobby to see if any of your lost items are here.
All students enrolled at Monroe-Woodbury Central School District are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch in school at no charge to your household each day of the 2025-2026 school year.
All students will be able to participate in these meal programs on the first day of school without having to pay a fee or submit an application. All schools provide a breakfast program for students upon entry into school and a lunch program for students in the cafeteria.
School meal programs offer breakfast and lunch meals that meet strict federal nutrition standards, aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and are planned with student preferences in mind. If packing food from home, students can add to their home brought lunch at no cost by choosing at least three of the five items offered, (e.g., low fat milk, proteins, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits), one of which must be a vegetable or fruit. We invite students to show their support for their school food service program through participation.
View message for families regarding 2024-25 school year
View message for families regarding 2024-25 school year (en español)
100th Day Celebration
On February 26, Sapphire celebrated the 100th Day of School. This is a big deal at the elementary level and the children spend time counting items to 100 and displaying them in the hallways. Enjoy the pictures of the day!
PTA Sweetheart Dance
The PTA Sweetheart Dance was held on Friday, February 6th, and it was a wonderful evening filled with music, laughter, and special memories. Families enjoyed dancing together, taking photos, and celebrating the sweet connections that make our school community so special.
A heartfelt thank you to Pine Tree Elementary for generously allowing us to use their cafeteria and helping make this event possible. We also want to extend a special thank you to our amazing vendors — our DJ, who generously volunteered his time to keep the dance floor full all night, and the Photo Booth, which was a huge hit with students and families alike. Your support helped make the evening truly unforgettable!
Go Red for Heart Health & Valentine's Day Celebrations
Harlem Wizards Assembly
Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
(845) 460-6500
Arrival:
Gr. K & 1 @ 8:15 AM
UPK @ 8:50 AM
Dismissal:
Gr. K & 1 @ 2:35 for drop-offs, followed by students taking the bus
UPK @ 2:10 PM
March is Women's History Month!
March 2: PTA virtual meeting 7 PM
March 8: Daylight Savings Begin
March 12: Half-day for Parent Teacher Conferences
March 18: Half- day for Parent Teacher Conferences
March 19: K-5 End of Second Trimester
March 20: NO SCHOOL- Superintendent's Conference Day
March 26: Evening Parent Teacher Conferences
March 27: Report Cards go home
March 30 - April 3: NO SCHOOL - Spring Recess