Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School
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As we remember September 11th, families may wonder how to talk about this important day with young children.
For our youngest learners, September 11th can be a difficult topic to understand. Children in kindergarten through second grade do not need to know every detail of what happened to begin understanding why this day is important. Instead, conversations can focus on remembrance, kindness, courage, community, and the many people who helped others.
If your child asks questions about September 11th, consider following their lead. Answer what they ask simply and honestly, using language that feels appropriate for their age. It is okay to acknowledge that something very sad happened while also reassuring children that many brave people stepped forward to help one another.
One meaningful way to introduce the day is through children's literature. A few books families may wish to explore include:
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Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree by Ann Magee — a gentle story of remembrance, resilience, and hope.
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Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman — the true story of a retired fireboat that returned to service to help on September 11th.
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The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein — a story about the Twin Towers before September 11th that can provide younger children with historical context.
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The Man in the Red Bandanna by Honor Crowther Fagan — the true story of Welles Crowther and his extraordinary courage in helping others. Because this story includes loss, families may find it most appropriate for older elementary children or may wish to preview it first.
Perhaps the most important lesson we can share with young children is one that extends far beyond September 11th: when others need help, we can choose to be helpers.
At FJC, that message connects closely to what we teach our students every day. We can honor those we remember through the kindness we show, the people we help, and the way we care for one another.
We remember the past by helping our children build a kinder future.
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We are excited to invite all FJC second graders to participate in our Fall/Winter Second Grade Chorus! Chorus is a wonderful opportunity for students who enjoy music and singing to have fun with friends, build their musical skills, and experience the excitement of performing together.
The chorus, led by Ms. Macedonio, FJC Music Teacher and Choral Director, will rehearse before school in preparation for the FJC Winter Concert on Monday, December 7th at 6:00 PM.
Families interested in having their child participate should review the Chorus Information Letter for rehearsal, attendance, and concert details and complete the Chorus Interest Form by Tuesday, September 15th.
We hope to see many of our second graders singing, learning, and performing together this year!
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What an incredible Open School Night at FJC!
A huge thank you to all of our families who joined us! There was such great energy throughout the building as our hallways and classrooms filled with families excited to meet their child’s teacher, see their learning space, and hear about all that is ahead this school year.
We also want to give a very special thank you to our incredible FJC teachers! The time, thought, and care that went into preparing for the evening was evident in every classroom. More importantly, our teachers made families feel welcomed, excited, and confident about the year ahead. Those first connections between home and school are so important, and we are incredibly fortunate to have a faculty that cares so deeply about our students and families.
Throughout the evening, we had the opportunity to greet families as they arrived and again as they headed home. The smiles, compliments, and kind words we heard said it all!
Thank you, FJC families, for showing up, supporting our teachers, and partnering with us. We couldn't ask for a better way to kick off another great year together.
There’s nothing quite like the FJC community, and those that ensure the place to be is always FJC!Â
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This week, we’re excited to introduce Mr. Alexander Ruffini, FJC’s new Library Media Specialist!
Mr. Ruffini comes to FJC with experience working in school libraries at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. What drew him to Rocky Point was our close-knit community and the opportunity to build strong connections between our school, students, families, and community.
As he begins his time at FJC, Mr. Ruffini is especially excited to get to know our students—their personalities, interests, and, of course, the kinds of books they love! Most importantly, he hopes to help our youngest learners become excited about reading, discovering new things, and visiting the library.
A Few Fun Facts About Mr. Ruffini
- He plays the saxophone.
- He has two dogs.
- He is an avid pickleball player.
- He 3D-printed a giant chessboard with 32 functional pieces!
- Favorite food: Burritos
- Favorite book:Â A History of the World in 6 Glasses
Mr. Ruffini was inspired to become an educator by the teachers who made a difference in his own life, and he hopes to have that same impact on his students.
When asked what he hopes FJC students know about him, Mr. Ruffini shared that he cares deeply about them and strives to be a welcoming face who puts a smile on their faces every day.
We are excited to welcome Mr. Ruffini to the FJC family and can’t wait to see all the ways he helps our students SOAR through reading, learning, and discovery!Â
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Each day at FJC, our students have opportunities to show what it means to SOAR through Safety, Ownership, Acceptance, and Respect! When a student is recognized for demonstrating one of these SOAR attributes, they receive an Eagle Ticket, which is entered into our weekly SOAR raffle.
Congratulations to this week’s SOAR raffle winners!  We also want to celebrate every student who earned an Eagle Ticket this week. Each ticket represents a moment when one of our students made a positive choice, showed kindness, helped someone else, or demonstrated what it means to SOAR at FJC.
- Lorenzo Fernandez
- Sierra Reilly
- Valerie Escobar
We are proud of all our Eagles—keep collecting those tickets and keep SOARing!Â
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9/14 - Board of Education Mtg, HS Aud 7pm
9/21 - Yom Kippur (School Closed)
9/22-23 - PTA FJC Photo Days
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