October 28, 2011
Conference Sign Up
Conferences are approaching very fast. Please be sure to sign up by going to our team webpage and following the links for our classroom conference sign up.
Plans for 10/31
Hey everyone! I bet you are gearing up for a very busy Halloween weekend. I wanted to send you a note to let you know that the kids should not bring costumes or Halloween candy to school on Monday. I am planning a very fun day that will include a fun, nutritious snack for Monday afternoon. I know they will be getting a lot of extra treats over the weekend and that evening. I will be making the day fun, special, and educational! Please be sure to keep the candy in the upcoming day out of their morning snack. Thanks for the help!
October 20, 2011
Popcorn Words
Yesterday I introduced the concept of "Popcorn Words" to the kids. There are 25 of these Kindergarten sight words. These words "pop" up often in books. The kids need to read them by the end of the year. I am sending home the list today. Please keep them in a safe spot and begin practicing them. Knowing how to spell these words is not a requirement but will help with early writing as well.
October 17, 2011
Calling all Doctors and Nurses
I would like to begin changing out our Dramatic play area from dress up/housekeeping to a Doctor's Office theme. I need some help with this. If you have any items that you think they would love to play with and you can spare, please send them in. I am looking for notepads, lab coats, ace bandages, stethoscopes, crutches, etc. They will love it!
Extra Change of Warm Clothing
Please be sure to send the kids to school with a new change of extra clothing. With the colder weather approaching very fast, I was finding that many kids still had summer clothing as their spare set. They should put their labeled, zip-lock bags in the bottom compartment of their cubby area. Thanks for your help.
October 14, 2011
Trees
The Hands On Nature topic today was about trees. The children listened to an informative puppet show, dressed me up like a tree, and enjoyed some activities outside between the raindrops.
Little Boy Blue
The children were busy working with their rhyming skills using the nursery rhyme Little Boy Blue today. After listening to the song, practicing the words using an overhead, and then making the book, the kids felt like readers and read to friends. We also made haystacks to eat out of chow mein noodles and butterscotch chips.
October 13, 2011
Note about Monday's Field Trip
On Monday we will be going to the Flynn Center to see Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. The bus will leave at 11:15 and return around 2:00. We are eating lunch in the classroom at 10:30. Please be sure to send in a snack as usual as well as a lunch/drink for Monday. We will not be going to the cafeteria for lunch.
Our Friendly Community
Today the students combined their creative minds with our theme work and writing. After reading, On the Town: A Community Adventure by Judith Caseley, I invited the kids to help create a bulletin board that included people, places,and things that make a community a pleasant place to live in. Here is what they did! FANTASTIC! Be sure to come in to see it.
October 12, 2011
Notes from October PTO Meeting
PTO NOTES & NEWS OCTOBER 2011
We voted on the 2011/2012 BUDGET and our BYLAWS and both were approved.
We have received $725 in DIRECT DONATIONS - thank you!
The INNISBROOK FUNDRAISER brought in $23,6000. Approximately half of that will go directly back to teams.
We were able to get approximately 50 businesses to buy ads in our SCHOOL DIRECTORY. This pays for the printing. Please remember to solicit these businesses who are listed in the back of the directory. The directory will be distributed by the end of this month
The HANNAFORD HELPS SCHOOLS program runs until December 3. If you shop at Hannaford please check for the Hannaford Helps Schools labels on foods which earn our school dollars. The coupons for the dollars you earn can be turned into the kiosk at the store or a box in the school office.
The GRANT COMMITTEE will be meeting on November 9 to give out our fall grants.
INSPIRATION PLAYGROUND was enjoyed by K-3rd graders this past month. Thanks to Joplin James for bringing it to our school. Many people asked if there was a way for our school to buy it.
All K-8 classes enjoyed making homemade salsa during the SCS FEED organized SALSA WEEK.
On September 28 every classroom participated in FIRE PREVENTION DAY. Thank you to the Shelburne Fire Dept. for their support on this.
All students 3-8 took NECAPS last week and this week. Students took exams in reading and math and 4th & 8th graders also took a writing exam. Science NECAPS for 4th & 8th grade will be held in April.
8th GRADE COMMUNITY SERVICE has begun with every 8th grader involved. Opportunities include working at The Arbors, at New Village Farm, at the Town Clerk's office and in the elementary school classrooms. Also during this time groups of students travel to the Shelburne Art Center for lessons in metals, woods or stained glass.
Teachers have been working with Colchester science teacher Heather Barron on DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION. This work will be going on through January. There was some discussion about having Heather do a workshop for parents sometime this year.
A group of teachers, Allegra and Allan will be spending 8 days this year observing and discussing MATH INSTRUCTION with the goal of moving every math class to a deeper level of learning and instruction. This work will eventually involve all math teachers.
A group of teachers, Allan and Allegra are working on our transition to the new COMMON CORE STANDARDS.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Friday, October 14 - Middle school dance to benefit victims of Irene.
Tuesday, October 25, 6:30-8p - UA Curriculum Night
Tuesday, October 25, 2p-8p - Innisbrook pick-up
Walking Wednesdays - Every Wednesday in October.
FREE Webinar on INTERNET SAFETY BASICS FOR PARENTS. Sponsored by e-Vermont it will be held on 10/19, 6p-6:30 OR 10/26, 6p-6:30.
HELP WANTED:
Holiday Fair Coordinator - someone to work with current coordinators to train for next year.
Do you have any great ideas for stories about things going on at SCS? Please contact Lin Stone (lin@windridgepublishing.com) at the Shelburne News. She would like to write weekly pieces on what's going on at our school but needs ideas.
We voted on the 2011/2012 BUDGET and our BYLAWS and both were approved.
We have received $725 in DIRECT DONATIONS - thank you!
The INNISBROOK FUNDRAISER brought in $23,6000. Approximately half of that will go directly back to teams.
We were able to get approximately 50 businesses to buy ads in our SCHOOL DIRECTORY. This pays for the printing. Please remember to solicit these businesses who are listed in the back of the directory. The directory will be distributed by the end of this month
The HANNAFORD HELPS SCHOOLS program runs until December 3. If you shop at Hannaford please check for the Hannaford Helps Schools labels on foods which earn our school dollars. The coupons for the dollars you earn can be turned into the kiosk at the store or a box in the school office.
The GRANT COMMITTEE will be meeting on November 9 to give out our fall grants.
INSPIRATION PLAYGROUND was enjoyed by K-3rd graders this past month. Thanks to Joplin James for bringing it to our school. Many people asked if there was a way for our school to buy it.
All K-8 classes enjoyed making homemade salsa during the SCS FEED organized SALSA WEEK.
On September 28 every classroom participated in FIRE PREVENTION DAY. Thank you to the Shelburne Fire Dept. for their support on this.
All students 3-8 took NECAPS last week and this week. Students took exams in reading and math and 4th & 8th graders also took a writing exam. Science NECAPS for 4th & 8th grade will be held in April.
8th GRADE COMMUNITY SERVICE has begun with every 8th grader involved. Opportunities include working at The Arbors, at New Village Farm, at the Town Clerk's office and in the elementary school classrooms. Also during this time groups of students travel to the Shelburne Art Center for lessons in metals, woods or stained glass.
Teachers have been working with Colchester science teacher Heather Barron on DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION. This work will be going on through January. There was some discussion about having Heather do a workshop for parents sometime this year.
A group of teachers, Allegra and Allan will be spending 8 days this year observing and discussing MATH INSTRUCTION with the goal of moving every math class to a deeper level of learning and instruction. This work will eventually involve all math teachers.
A group of teachers, Allan and Allegra are working on our transition to the new COMMON CORE STANDARDS.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Friday, October 14 - Middle school dance to benefit victims of Irene.
Tuesday, October 25, 6:30-8p - UA Curriculum Night
Tuesday, October 25, 2p-8p - Innisbrook pick-up
Walking Wednesdays - Every Wednesday in October.
FREE Webinar on INTERNET SAFETY BASICS FOR PARENTS. Sponsored by e-Vermont it will be held on 10/19, 6p-6:30 OR 10/26, 6p-6:30.
HELP WANTED:
Holiday Fair Coordinator - someone to work with current coordinators to train for next year.
Do you have any great ideas for stories about things going on at SCS? Please contact Lin Stone (lin@windridgepublishing.com) at the Shelburne News. She would like to write weekly pieces on what's going on at our school but needs ideas.
Special Visitor
Today our class had a special visit from Jen Bostwick who works for the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She spoke to the kids about what it is like to have trouble hearing. The children learned about the parts of their ears, various reasons why people might have trouble hearing, and how to be sure that everyone in our classroom can hear when they talk/share.
October 7, 2011
Kindergarten Writing and Reading
The past few weeks the children have been making lots of books to put in their book boxes that they can read on their own. The letter books that have been made so far are for t,f,b,m,and n. When we practice letters and sounds in Kindergarten, we also incorporate handwriting skills as well as phonics. There is a wide variety of ability levels within a Kindergarten classroom. Putting the pieces together so that everyone is learning is a tricky puzzle, but it is all coming together now as I know the kids' academic levels from baseline assessments completed in September.
Other song or nursery rhyme books that have been made for their book boxes are The Five Little Pumpkins, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, and next week they will work on Little Miss Muffet. Not only are the children practicing reading and writing rhymes with these books, but they are also learning how to track the words with a 1-1 match. They will begin identifying Kindergarten Sight Words within these poems starting next week. I also use these poems/songs to practice beginning reading comprehension and fluency. The children get to act these poems out-an activity that is a hit with my group of performers this year.
This week we began our formal Reading and Writing Workshops. Be sure to ask your child what a workshop looks like, sounds like, and feels like in our classroom.
Other song or nursery rhyme books that have been made for their book boxes are The Five Little Pumpkins, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, and next week they will work on Little Miss Muffet. Not only are the children practicing reading and writing rhymes with these books, but they are also learning how to track the words with a 1-1 match. They will begin identifying Kindergarten Sight Words within these poems starting next week. I also use these poems/songs to practice beginning reading comprehension and fluency. The children get to act these poems out-an activity that is a hit with my group of performers this year.
This week we began our formal Reading and Writing Workshops. Be sure to ask your child what a workshop looks like, sounds like, and feels like in our classroom.
September 27, 2011
What's Happening in Our Classroom
Our class has been hard at work with getting to know each other. The last Totally Terrific Children will have a chance to be honored someday in the next 5 days. We have loved looking at the photos and hearing about what each child enjoys. This activity is enhanced with the name study celebrations and the connections to phonological awareness activities.
Here is a breakdown of our studies for the month of September:
Social Studies Theme Work: All About Us, Totally Terrific Child
Literacy:Totally Terrific Child, establishing a reading and writing community, beginning phonological skills, baseline literacy assessments,
Math: Establishing math workplaces and math workshops, math assessments, naming/sorting/graphing 2-D shapes, counting and comparing sets using 10-Frames, numeral recognition and writing, reading a calendar, sorting
Here is a breakdown of our studies for the month of September:
Social Studies Theme Work: All About Us, Totally Terrific Child
Literacy:Totally Terrific Child, establishing a reading and writing community, beginning phonological skills, baseline literacy assessments,
Math: Establishing math workplaces and math workshops, math assessments, naming/sorting/graphing 2-D shapes, counting and comparing sets using 10-Frames, numeral recognition and writing, reading a calendar, sorting
Ready Readers
Today half of the class worked with me on this phonological awareness activity while the other half went to the Imagination Playground. The groups will switch tomorrow so your child may take this activity home then. After reading lots of books about what it looks like to be a BEST SELF learner in Kindergarten, the entire class brainstormed some simple sentences on what Kindergarten students do at school. We wrote them on sentence strips and then counted the number of words and cut the sentences apart. The kids put the sentences back together based on their word memory. In the small group, they are given various sentences to cut apart, mix up, and put back together. They glued the sentences in proper word order then illustrated.
Froggy Friend
This little lady was hopping down our hallway. Lucy, the bus driver and Pre-School Para-educator, showed us that her white neck marks her as a girl. I learned something new yesterday!
September 16, 2011
Notes From September PTO Meeting
PTO NOTES & NEWS SEPTEMBER 2011
We have received $575 in direct donations - thank you!
We will be funding new sand for the volleyball court which was upgraded this summer.
The PTO will be discussing a capital improvement plan for the year and how to spend our money. Anyone interested in this please contact Randy Sweeney or Alice Brown.
HANNAFORD HELPS SCHOOLS program goes from 9/4 - 12/3. If you shop at Hannaford check out the tags in the store indicating which brands are included in the program. Buy 4 of any product and earn dollars for our school. This is a huge fundraiser for us every year!
PRICE CHOPPER TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS: If you have a Price Chopper card and shop there you can register for our school. Each time you shop there and scan your card, our school earns dollars. If you enrolled in the program prior to August 2010 you need to re-enroll. go to www2.pricechopper.com/toolsforschools. Our school code is 15260.
Highlights of Principals Report:
• Lots of work and improvements were done in the school over the summer including replacement of boilers, asbestos removal, carpet replacement and computer replacements.
• The SCS administration was recognized by the VT Dept. of Ed for outstanding leadership in support of a culture of wellness in our school.
• New Staff: Emily Vigneault - 3rd grade, Katie McGrain - 4th grade, Caril Lilly - 7th grade art, Margo Austin - CY Connecting Youth SAP
• A new Skills4Life period has been created for middle school students. This time will be dedicated to teaching health and wellness and will be taught by Jocelyn Bouyea, Rachel Petraska, Margo Austin, Alan Mihan, Georgene Grover, Allan Miller and core teachers.
• Middle school sports - 45 students on cross-country, 44 in boys soccer, 22 in girls soccer and 35 in girls field hockey.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Innisbrook Gift Wrap Fundraiser begins 9/14 and ends on 9/28
Walking Wednesdays - Every Wednesday in October. Meet at the town green starting at 7:30 and walk to school!
Newberry Cup Bake Sale - October 15
Innisbrook Distribution - October 25
UA Curriculum Night - October 25
Help Wanted
Newberry Bake Sale - Bakers and helpers
Innisbrook distribution - on 10/25
Everybody Wins Mentoring Program - This program connects you with a child that you will read with each Tuesday during their lunch. Interested? Contact Kathy Twombly at 985-1189 or ktwombly@cssu.org.
Pierson Library Booksale - Helpers need to set-up on 10/6 and 10/7, help with sale on 10/8 and 10/9 and packing up on 10/9. Interested? Contact Cathy Townsend at 985-5094 or CJOVT@yahoo.com.
Thank Yous to:
• Rita Daley and Teresa Shuptrine for our PTO bulletin board
• Sarah Vincent and all the Teacher's Breakfast chefs
• First Day Greeters
• Ginger Williamson and Zynnia Seidita for coordinating Innisbrook
• Leslie Borrok, Betty Winget and Lisa Merrill for the SCS Directory
• Directory Ad helpers
• Everyone who filled out a volunteer form!
Questions? Want to get involved?
Contact: Randy Sweeney or Alice Brown
985-8190 985-4918
sweeneyrs@gmail.com aliceandy@myfairpoint.net
We have received $575 in direct donations - thank you!
We will be funding new sand for the volleyball court which was upgraded this summer.
The PTO will be discussing a capital improvement plan for the year and how to spend our money. Anyone interested in this please contact Randy Sweeney or Alice Brown.
HANNAFORD HELPS SCHOOLS program goes from 9/4 - 12/3. If you shop at Hannaford check out the tags in the store indicating which brands are included in the program. Buy 4 of any product and earn dollars for our school. This is a huge fundraiser for us every year!
PRICE CHOPPER TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS: If you have a Price Chopper card and shop there you can register for our school. Each time you shop there and scan your card, our school earns dollars. If you enrolled in the program prior to August 2010 you need to re-enroll. go to www2.pricechopper.com/toolsforschools. Our school code is 15260.
Highlights of Principals Report:
• Lots of work and improvements were done in the school over the summer including replacement of boilers, asbestos removal, carpet replacement and computer replacements.
• The SCS administration was recognized by the VT Dept. of Ed for outstanding leadership in support of a culture of wellness in our school.
• New Staff: Emily Vigneault - 3rd grade, Katie McGrain - 4th grade, Caril Lilly - 7th grade art, Margo Austin - CY Connecting Youth SAP
• A new Skills4Life period has been created for middle school students. This time will be dedicated to teaching health and wellness and will be taught by Jocelyn Bouyea, Rachel Petraska, Margo Austin, Alan Mihan, Georgene Grover, Allan Miller and core teachers.
• Middle school sports - 45 students on cross-country, 44 in boys soccer, 22 in girls soccer and 35 in girls field hockey.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Innisbrook Gift Wrap Fundraiser begins 9/14 and ends on 9/28
Walking Wednesdays - Every Wednesday in October. Meet at the town green starting at 7:30 and walk to school!
Newberry Cup Bake Sale - October 15
Innisbrook Distribution - October 25
UA Curriculum Night - October 25
Help Wanted
Newberry Bake Sale - Bakers and helpers
Innisbrook distribution - on 10/25
Everybody Wins Mentoring Program - This program connects you with a child that you will read with each Tuesday during their lunch. Interested? Contact Kathy Twombly at 985-1189 or ktwombly@cssu.org.
Pierson Library Booksale - Helpers need to set-up on 10/6 and 10/7, help with sale on 10/8 and 10/9 and packing up on 10/9. Interested? Contact Cathy Townsend at 985-5094 or CJOVT@yahoo.com.
Thank Yous to:
• Rita Daley and Teresa Shuptrine for our PTO bulletin board
• Sarah Vincent and all the Teacher's Breakfast chefs
• First Day Greeters
• Ginger Williamson and Zynnia Seidita for coordinating Innisbrook
• Leslie Borrok, Betty Winget and Lisa Merrill for the SCS Directory
• Directory Ad helpers
• Everyone who filled out a volunteer form!
Questions? Want to get involved?
Contact: Randy Sweeney or Alice Brown
985-8190 985-4918
sweeneyrs@gmail.com aliceandy@myfairpoint.net
September 13, 2011
SALSA!
Cooperation, teamwork, patience! They were all "Best Selves" making salsa with our volunteers today.
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