The mission of Warring Magnet Academy is to prepare every child to be a well-rounded, respectful, lifelong learner. The Warring community consisting of parents/guardians, students, administration, Board of Education and staff will provide a challenging curriculum in an enjoyable, safe and orderly learning environment.

The Warring Magnet Academy provides a multicultural comprehensive program for children in grades K-5 with team teaching and teaching assistants. Every classroom is equipped with computers that have access to the Internet. The "You & Me" after school program sponsored by the Dutchess County Girl Scouts is offered.

Some of the features at Warring include:

Science

Children in all grades are actively involved in the excitement of studying science in a fully equipped Science Laboratory. Their ideas about science are encouraged and developed in a spirit of inquiry and investigation. Motivation for learning and development of curiosity about the world in which they live is facilitated through direct observation, hands-on participation, extension of experiments and verbalization of the physical and thought processes. Interactive computer software and educational videos are used to build background knowledge and enhance students' understanding of science concepts.

Computer Lab

While utilizing the variety of resources available in the computer lab, students engage in activities that integrate technology with knowledge and skills learned in the classroom. Students are able to conduct research using the internet, which can be accessed from all twenty-four computers in the lab. In addition, a large collection of educational software and other materials, such as digital cameras and projection devices, are available for teachers to use in the classroom. A Computer Lab Teaching Assistant provides support to the classroom teachers and students who use the lab.

Foreign Language

Instruction in a foreign language is provided by a World Language. Specialist to all students through authentic stories, games and songs.

Integrated Class

The magnet option at Warring provides a team teaching classroom for kindergarten students in special education and regular education.

Full-Day Kindergarten

A full-day kindergarten program is offered at Warring Magnet Academy.

Reading First

Warring is one of three schools in Poughkeepsie to have the National Reading First Grant. It was stated by Rod Paige, U.S. Secretary of Education, "Reading First is the largest - and yet most focused-early reading initiative this country has ever undertaken. This dramatic shift from the fads of the past, which have sacrificed too many hopeful young reader, will ensure that all kids, not just some kids, can read well by the end of the third grade."

We at Warring are clearly working effectively in reading instruction in the five critical areas:

• Phonemic awareness
• Phonics
• Fluency
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension

The teachers and children work in a 90 minute block each day. You are invited to come and join us during our block. Just give us a call at (845) 451-4750.

Warring Academy's Compensatory Education Department

The Compensatory Education Staff (Title 1) at Warring Academy is comprised of three teachers with Masters Degrees as Reading Specialists: Tracy Magarelli, Sherene Sokol, and Doug Usher. Together they bring experience with Reading Recovery, Special Education, "hands-on" and cooperative learning models.

Their aim is to work in cooperation with classroom teachers and parents to identify and mitigate or eliminate specific obstacles to learning that struggling students encounter.

Compensatory Education Staff members participated in collecting and presenting information used in drafting the grant to secure funds for the "Reading First Initiative." They continue to be an integral part of this multi-million dollar initiative that has been awarded to Warring Academy . This initiative is designed to systematically minimize the possibility that any child entering the intermediate grades will read below grade level.

We, at Warring Academy, are proud of the cooperative spirit that is shared by our entire staff. Our focus is clear...the children benefit.

Warring Academy After School Basketball Program

Students who are permitted to participate in the Warring Academy After School Basketball Program are selected on the basis of actions that demonstrate their reverence for education and character development. The program is designed to be an incentive for students to complete all academic assignments, and to consistently show respect for themselves, the school, school employees, and their peer

The focus of the program will center on teamwork and basic skills development. There will be intramural game play every day.

The coaches are Mike Buckley, Justin Taylor, and Doug Usher.

Project Smart Snack

Fourth and fifth grade students at Warring Magnet Academy learn about nutrition by operating a snack food stand and selling healthy treats. This activity provides a real-life experience that teaches students about math, health, business, technology, and more.

After School program

• Girl Scouts of Dutchess County, Inc.
• You and Me After School Program
  The Girl Scouts of Dutchess County's YOU & ME AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM has its home at the Warring Magnet Academy. Presently, the program serves 80 children in grades 1-5, ages 6-11, and runs five days a week, Monday through Friday from 2:40pm 6:00 pm.

  Program children begin each day with a snack, followed by Homework Help and/or tutoring. Program children then engage in different activities on a rotating basis including computer training; art activities, games, both indoor and outdoor; health and life skills including activities on general health, nutrition, drug education, safety, and conflict resolution. The You & Me After School Program also offers African drumming instruction for girls grades 2 through 5 and guitar instruction for boys, grades 3 through 5. The program day ends with an evening meal. All services offered are at no charge to parents.

  Support for the program is provided by the New York State Office of Children and Family Service Advantage Program, the After School Corporation and the Dyson Foundation.

  For more information, please contact the Girl Scouts of Dutchess County, Inc., 845-452-1820, x12

Warring Magnet Academy School Library Media Center

Library Media Center Mission Statement

Believing that the Library Media Center is a fundamental part of the educational program of the school, the Library Media Center is to encourage, promote and assist students and teachers to be effective users of ideas and information and to foster reading and the use of a library for lifelong learning.

• Library Media and Information Skills, Grades K to 2
  In the primary grades, children are offered an introduction to the Library Media Center . The goal of the program at this level is:
  • To acquaint children with the library
  • To encourage them to begin life-long library use
  • To teach students appropriate library behavior
  • To teach students responsibility in borrowing and caring for library media materials
  • To help children learn to work together in groups
• Library Media and Information Skills, Grades 3 to 5
  The school experience of students in the intermediate grades differs dramatically from that of children in the primary grades for a number of reasons:
  • Most students are now independent readers who have developed strong personal reading preferences.
  • Developmentally, children are entering the formal operational stage, i.e., they are able to put theory into practice.
  • In contrast to the primary grades, schoolwork assigned to intermediate-grade students is more often based on individualized projects.

• In general, intermediate-grade students are increasingly expected to work independently; each grade level has appropriate expectations for projects. By the end of Grade 5, students demonstrate ability to complete most library media related research tasks on their own.

Throughout the primary grades, the ongoing cycle of introduction and reinforcement continues at all grade levels. A library skill introduced in kindergarten will be reinforced many times in grades K, 1 and 2. While students are too young, generally, for independent work or library use, the foundation is being laid for later autonomy.

Students locate information through print, Internet, and software resources. An automated catalog and circulation system is available to find and check-out material. A recent grant has afforded us the opportunity to update the library collection and provide access to the library after school.

• Special Observances
• Award Winning Books Announced - January
• Children's Poetry Week - April
• National Children's Book Week - November
• National Library Week - April
• New York Read Aloud - April
• School Library Media Month - April
• Warring Academy's Kids' Choice for Books -- April

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