Dear MJT Families,

It’s hard to believe we are already at our mid winter break! Today our students enjoyed an exciting concert performance by our high school Jazz Band! 

Yesterday, many students were recognized at our PBIS ceremony for achieving either their typical growth, or stretch growth on our most recent iReady Diagnostic assessment.

Procedural Changes for the Main Office at MJT

*Please read thoroughly

Beginning Monday, 2/23/26, the following procedural changes will take effect:

There will be a waiting area for visitors in the vestibule between the double doors.  If you are coming in for a meeting, there will be chairs there for you to wait comfortably in.  

If you are dropping off your student or picking them up, there will be a sign in/sign out sheet in the vestibule, and you’ll be asked to remain there.  Your student will be buzzed in, or let out to you.

If you are dropping off an item such as a lunch box, snow bag, etc, you will be asked to leave the item in the vestibule.

If you are coming in for a special event in a classroom, you will be asked to sign in at the main office by scanning your license and will be given a visitor pass.

Our main office is a very busy place, and often the staff need to speak freely about a situation that may be occurring. 

Above all, we value the safety and privacy of our students and feel that this new procedure will help us to ensure that our daily operations run as safely and smoothly as possible.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Lee Road Arrival

As a friendly reminder, the staff need to enter the building at 8:00 on the dot for duties within the building.  Please be sure to give yourselves enough time to drop your students off and have them walk to the doors by then.  If cars are still pulling in at 8:00, the staff cannot get to their duties on time. 

Wishing you all a wonderful break!

Mrs. Taylor
Principal, Mary J. Tanner School
518-642-1051 Ext. 4201

btaylor@granvillecsd.org

February 

2/13 - Community Resource: Youth Basketball Deadline for March Twice Per Week Camps for K-2

2/14 - 2/22 - PTO Sponsored Bowling at Slate Valley Lanes - $5 for two games and shoe rental, PTO pays the rest. 

2/16 - 2/20 - NO SCHOOL: Mid-Winter Recess

2/23 - New MJT Main Office Procedures Begin (Review in Mrs. Taylor's message above)

2/24 - Community Resource: Free Parenting Class from the Comfort of Your Own Home

2/27 - Free PTO Sponsored Magic Show for All Students and Families. Pre-registration required as seats are limited. 6 PM, Jr/Sr High Auditorium. Doors open 5:45 PM. Here is the link to let us know you're attending.

2/28 - Community Resource: Youth League Equipment Giveaway - Free gear for youth softball and baseball from local community group. Exchange what you have or pick up gear if you're new to Youth League. Here is the link for more info.

March

3/1 - Community Resource: Deadline to register for Granville Youth League Softball and Baseball. Here is the link to register.

3/2 - Deadline to Register for PTO Sponsored Science, Technology and Art Fair - The fair is March 25th, 2026 at the JSHS. Any student can submit a project. Any class can submit an art, science or technology project. Join the fun! Class and student prizes! Here is the link to learn more and register your student for the free fair. 

Here is the link to all event details in the district calendar.

The Jazz Band visited MJT on Friday and the students loved it. Here is the link to a snippet of the performance.

Every month, one bus will win a Free School Snack Coupon for every student on board!

Bus 136, the Granville CSD BOCES bus won for January. Watch a short video celebrating bus 136 here.

Here’s how to win for February:

Be respectful, be kind, and be a good role model to other students.

Which bus will win next? 

Good luck!

To learn more about the Bus of the Month contest, visit this blog post.

Kindergarten students will be able to purchase snacks on Thursdays, and Ice Cream on Fridays. 

We've had to adjust this because recently due to the fact that we are finding out that a large number of students are throwing their entire/most lunch away and then going to purchase snacks. 

We are working with them to encourage healthy habits to eat more of their lunch rather than rushing for snacks. 

Thank you to the PTO for hosting a fun Pre-K and Kindergarten event! Here is the link to more pictures on the PTO Facebook page.

Thank you to PTO parent volunteer, Ashley Aubrey for the fun balloon decor!

Little students all decked out! Some dressed up, some dressed casual, fun and comfortable and all was welcome. 

Lots of photo taking opportunities were had!

Here is the link to the February PTO Newsletter.

PTO sponsored bowling will be available during the February school break for students and their families. $5 for two games and shoes, and the PTO pays the rest. 

Winter Gear Reminder:

Please be sure to send your student with boots, warm jacket, hat, and mittens daily, as most classes go outside to play in the snow at recess and label all items with their name. 

If you need help obtaining any of these items, please contact Nurse Blais: jblais@granvillecsd.org as we have many donations to share. 

Here is the link to all event details in the district calendar.

MJT and GES P.E. Teachers are leading a healthy heart challenge for the month of February. Be on the lookout for a letter with details, how to get involved and fun activities aheads. 

Sign Up Here and download the free “AHA Schools” app.

Raise funds to help kids with special hearts and start earning thank-you gifts. (Optional)

Complete Finn’s Mission: Learn Hands-Only CPR, earn your lifesavers cape and be entered to win two Super Bowl tickets!

Let’s work together to build heart-healthy habits and help kids with special hearts!

Go Horde!

Screen Time Alternatives

The winter months can be challenging to find engaging activities for children to do at home. 

Often, students fall into the "screen time routine" when they can't get outside to play as much. 

Too much screen time can affect their sleep and behavior patterns in many ways. 

Screens provide instant gratification, which children then expect in all aspects of their lives. 

As a result, this can create challenges at both home and school. 

Here are some alternative ideas to consider that can increase your family time while helping them to practice how to share and take turns.

- Board games: Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Trouble, etc

- I spy: Try playing it different ways such as "I spy something that starts with the letter__"

- Card games: Go fish, War

- Sight word or letter hunt: write students trick/sight words on post-it notes and put them all around the house for students to find and practice.  This can also be done with individual letters.

- Reading books: Bedtime stories are a calm, soothing way for children to unwind before going to sleep.

Visit this page and look for the "Better Screen Time" tips to learn about low-stimulation vs high-stimulation screen time ideas.

First Grade Tips

Below are two links to help teach your student how to tie their shoes.  This is a skill for students to begin working on in first grade:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/A3P4aM3MlT0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2KcPbhSfBo

Please pack a healthy, filling snack each day!

Here are some great ideas. 

Reading with your child helps them understand new words, improves speech and helps children feel calm and confident about learning new things. 

Start with 10 minutes per day.

Consider visiting your local library on winter break and sign up for a free library card. 

Here is a link to winter book ideas to read with your child. 

Here is the link to the Pember Library and Museum - they are open from 10am - 1pm on Saturdays and Tuesday - Friday as well (hours differ). 

Thank you for showing up on time, every day! We love seeing your students in school and appreciate your efforts.

Here are tips for deciding when to keep your student home and when to send them to school. 

You can now subscribe to all of the Board of Education updates and they will arrive in your email inbox. 

The Board of Education has a new, online platform (formerly called Board Docs) for sharing meeting agendas, policies, upcoming meetings and more in an easy-to-access manner.

This will ensure the school community - parents, community members, staff, and more can keep up to date with the Board of Education happenings. 

This is a direct result of listening to the community's request.

Here is the direct link to the subscribe with an email address.

And here is the link to the general overview of the Granville CSD Board of Education website.

Run for Board of Education - April 20th, 2026 Deadline

Please note, three Board members terms end 2026.

Here is more information about how to run for BOE including dates, deadlines and more.

Meet our volunteer Board members here.

Community News

The first issue of Community News from GCSD is posted. This is a great newsletter to share with alumni and local residents, businesses and those who do not have children in the district. Here is the link to view it and subscribe for free.

Meet a 2024 Granville CSD Grad, Tristen Teer, and learn all about how he found his way to studying mechatronics, a 2-year degree available at SUNY ADK. 

Here is the link to learn more about Tristen and where he is now.

Get the App! Search "Granville CSD" on any App store and download today.

All Family Resources - Visit the A-Z communications page here.

Who to contact? Try our District Contact Guide.

eSchool Parent Portal - Check your child's grades, attendance, and tardies.

Snacks! Please pack a healthy, filling snack everyday for your student to help them focus and feel good. Twice per week, students are introduced to new fresh fruit or vegetable.

Parent Rooms - Family-Teacher chat and classroom updates all in the mobile Granville CSD App. Learn more about Parent Rooms at this link.

Free Breakfast and Lunch Each Day - Arrive 15 minutes early to school and come enjoy breakfast before school starts. No registration needed.

Come Cheer On Our Teams - Attend a Jr/Sr High Home Game with your family for a fun, free outing. Here is the link to the game schedule.

Educational Resources - Try our community school page here.

PTO Newsletter - Here is the link to the current newsletter.

Cub Scouts - Looking for new parent-leaders for Cub Scouts. Contact Ashlee Zinn: azinn@granvillecsd.org

Discover Granville NY.com

Youth Programs - This Granville CSD Athletics webpage includes local Youth Program Information for grades K - 6.

The Pember Library in Granville - Get a free library card, free books, movies, free wi-fi and computer use and more. Here is a link to the library to learn more. Here is the link to the Libby app (free with a library card).

Volunteer - Here are Granville organizations looking for volunteers. To add additional details to this list, please contact krozell@granvillecsd.org

Clothing and More - Kid's Korner Consignment Shop, Granville NY, 67 Church St, Granville

Mary J. Tanner Primary School

9593 State Route 22

Granville, NY 12832

Phone: 518-642-1051

Fax: 518-642-9594

District Contact Guide

School Nurse: Jennifer Blais 518-642-1051 Ext. 4204

School Social Worker: Andrea Smith 518-642-1051Ext. 4205

School Psychologist: Renee Forbes 518-642-1051 Ext. 4147

Here is the link to the District Calendar on our website.

Here is the link to the District App.

A-Z Everything Granville CSD