McNamara Update - March 14, 2025

Posted Date: 3/14/25 (3:06 PM)

McNamara Elementary School

March 14, 2025

Dear McNamara Families,

We were very lucky to welcome Irish dancers from Rince Na Sonas this morning to kick off St. Patrick's Day celebrations! The students loved listening to the Irish music and watching the dancers perform.

We are looking forward to the McNamara Community Café on Wednesday. The focus for this event will be on the Science of Reading. Please scroll down for more information.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mindy Howard

Principal, McNamara Elementary School

Attendance/Dismissal Change Form

Student Spotlight

Each week we will celebrate students who exemplify the Positivity Project character strength of the week. Congratulations to our students who are on student spotlight for Perspective!

Community Connection - Shamrocks

This week, our 3rd and 5th grade students made shamrock decoration for the residents at Syracuse Home and recipients of Meals on Wheels. We were so impressed by their creativity!

McNamara Community Café

Date: March 19, 2025

Time: 6:00-7:00 pm

Location: McNamara Library

Topic: Supporting Readers at Home - An Overview of the Science of Reading

This Community Café will focus on the components of reading instruction that make up our students' literacy program. We will collaborate to share ideas for how to support developing readers at home.

We are able to to support families by having staff members supervise McNamara students during this event (unfortunately we cannot supervise younger siblings). Please include student information in the registration if you would like to use this supervision!

This event is open to all McNamara families. We ask that those interested in attending register using the form linked below:

McNamara Community Café

McNamara Vocabulary Word of the Week - Strive

McNamara students and staff are focusing on one new vocabulary word each week as a school community. How can you incorporate this word at home?

Students Not Returning to McNamara

If you know that your child will be moving to another school or district for the 2025-2026 school year, please let us know by completing the form linked below:

Students Not Returning Form

SUNY Cortland - Free Summer Literacy Tutoring

See the information below about a free tutoring opportunity offered by SUNY Cortland!

FREE VIRTUAL literacy tutoring for students entering Grades 1-5
The program runs from Monday June 30, 2025 - Friday August 1, 2025 (Note: Holidays will be observed on Friday July 4, 2025).
Your child will work with a tutor for one hour per day, Monday through Friday, at one of the times that you provide below. Times are listed in Eastern Time.
Your child will be assessed and tutored in foundational skills (e.g., phonics, spelling, fluency, vocabulary), comprehension, and writing at their point of need.
All tutors are New York State Certified Teachers pursuing a graduate degree in literacy education at SUNY Cortland
PLEASE NOTE: If you are applying on or after Monday May 5th, 2025, your child will be put on a waitlist.

Click the link below to view a flyer with information about signing up for this program!