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Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 1 of 23
Walker Wildcat News February 2016 Edition
Hilda Walker Intermediate School
19900 S. 80th Avenue
Tinley Park, IL 60487
www.summithill.org PHONE (815)464.2285 // FAX (815) 464.2160
PRINCIPAL’S PAGE – Ms. Goebel
Dear Parents & Students:
Where did the first month of the year go? If this is any indication of
how fast the rest of our school year will go, then hold tight! We
have second quarter report cards behind us and with those you
should have also reviewed winter STAR benchmark results for
reading and math. If you have questions or concerns, please feel
free to contact your child’s teacher or me.
In other assessment news, our sixth graders will be completing In-
View testing during the week of February 8th and our PARCC test
will be scheduled to begin April 5th for both our 5th and 6th graders.
The PARCC test will assess reading and math and will look a bit
different than last year. This year PARCC will only be conducted
once, combining last year’s two rounds into one. There will be
three ELA sessions/four math sessions for 5th grade and three ELA
sessions/three math sessions for 6th grade. Testing sessions will
range in length from about sixty-110 minutes. As you may recall,
PARCC testing has replaced ISAT and is a state-mandated test. If
you have any questions about PARCC, please let us know.
If you are able, please support SHEF’s new Battle Ball fundraising
event that will be held on Sunday, March 20th. This will be a fun
time for all age levels, and buying a ticket will help raise funds for
our education foundation. SHEF has been responsible for giving
back hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants that enrich the
academic environment of all our 161 schools. They are a
wonderful group of people who volunteer their time to benefit our
students- please consider joining SHEF and supporting their
outstanding efforts!
Upcoming Events
February 8-11
In-View Testing
February 11
PAWmart (during Lunch)
February 12
LW Area School Institute
Day/No School
February 13
IGSMA Solo/Ensemble
Contest @Walker
February 14
Happy Valentine’s Day
February 15
No School/Presidents’ Day
February 18
HWSCO Open Gym 4-6pm
February 22-26
HWSCO Book Fair (during
your student’s library time)
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 2 of 23
We want to continue to foster a positive and productive learning
environment for our students. If you have any questions or
concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Kindly,
Ms. Laura C. Goebel, Principal
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S PAGE – Mr. Hantson
Dear Parents & Students,
Time continues to fly as we have entered the second half of the
year here at Walker. It is amazing to think of all that has been
accomplished by our students and staff thus far and know that
there is so much more to come! We have already had great
success in our athletic programs, outstanding turn outs for our
activities, and solid representation in the District Spelling Bee. Our
accolades don’t seem to end!
Last month the district held a Social Media presentation and it was
full of valuable information to keep your child(ren) safe when
utilizing Social Media. A couple of key things that can be done to
protect your child are creating ground rules and expectations for
use, adjusting their privacy settings to the strictest level, and most
importantly monitoring their posts and pictures. These are just a few
things that can be done but if questions or concerns ever arise do
not hesitate to contact me.
As we move forward into the second half we will have a grand
production put on by our Drama Club of the play the Lion King. The
coordinators and students have put in an enormous amount of time
and effort already so this is sure to be a hit. We will also celebrate
the graduation of our 5th grade students from the D.A.R.E. program.
Officer Adamski has been working with our students all year and it
will be a wonderful experience to celebrate their success in the
program.
It’s going to be a great second half of the year! Thanks for all you
do.
Mr. Don Hantson, Assistant Principal
Progress Reports/
Report Cards
Quarter Three: 2/19, 4/8
Quarter Four: 5/2, Last
day of school
*Check PowerSchool
weekly for updated
student grades as well as
teacher websites at
www.summithill.org
A Good Idea…….
Some students need to call
home from time to time: A
good idea would be to jot
down parent’s cell phone
numbers and work numbers
on a note card. The card
can be placed in a small
zipper area of your student’s
back pack and will be
readily available to them
when needed.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 3 of 23
IMPORTANT NEWS…
Remember if you need to contact any of our staff, please email
them using the first letter in their first name and full last name
lgoebel@summithill.org
PBIS
Our kick off assembly definitely started our Walker Wildcats on the
right foot this year. We were also lucky enough to have Katie Quick
visit our school on January 15th. We sang along to some hits and were
able to hear her story. We learned a lot about following your dreams
and achieving goals.
PBIS Popcorn day was on the 18th of January, and in February Nacho
Day will be on the 25th. The next PawMart will be on Feburary 11th.
Video Club
The 5th and 6th grade video club is hard at work recording footage.
The students have started the voice over process of their videos.
Recently video club was able to record a variety of assemblies such
as the Walker Way Game Show and guest speaker Katie Quick.
Computer Club
With only a few more meeting dates set, Computer Club has been
busy tacking the Code of Honor. These programs have been great
introduction to the world of Computer Science. The tasks have
challenged the students to create and see their creation come to
life.
Track
The Walker Track Team will soon be starting!! Be on the lookout for
permission forms in the month of February. Track is a great
opportunity for athletes of any sport or anyone that has never
participated in an organized sport. Challenge yourself and join the
Hilda Walker Track Team!
Ms. Goebel hopes to join in on a few practices! Be there to
challenge her!
Important
Announcement
SCO Treat Day, Febraury 4
(McDonald’s Vanilla Ice
Cream)
PBIS Nacho Day February 25
SCO Hot Lunch, February
26th (McDonald’s Pancakes -
three pancakes, optional
sausage patty, apple slices,
Oreo cookie)
In the Community Board of Education Meeting
@AC February 10 and
February 24
SHEF
Congratulations to the
following students for winning
the PBIS raffle: 5th Grade Pizza
and Bowling winner - Hamza
Shukair, winners for the free
Subway sandwich coupon are-
Christina Martino, Connor
Bird,Jack Roberts, Fatera
Hammad and Makenzie
Ramos. 6th Grade winner for
the Pizza and Bowling - Zoey
Arroyo and the winners for the
free Subway sandwich coupon
- Bri Meehan, Brianna Glecier,
Ryan Martin,Cara McLaughin
and Anthony Dugandzic.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 4 of 23
From the Nurse’s Desk…
CAFFEINE AND YOUTH
There is no nutritional need for caffeine, and yet it is the most popular drug in the world. People consume
caffeine daily in mochas, coffee, tea, soda and chocolate, and more and more youth are picking up the
bad habit, earlier.
Caffeine can work as an appetite suppressant for youths or replace nutrient-dense foods when consumed
instead of beverages like milk. The effects of the caffeine stay with us for at least six hours, and caffeine is
addictive. If a person's body gets used to large amounts of caffeine, then a reduction in caffeine intake
can cause headaches, fatigue, and even muscle pain.
Excess caffeine also increases acid in the stomach, which can lead to reflux/heartburn, gastritis and even
ulcers, if paired with a poor diet. Caffeine is also a diuretic -- it can cause someone to become
dehydrated -- which is why a person might feel tired, have muscle soreness, etc. In the long run, caffeine
does the opposite of what people want it to do. Drinking plenty of water or non-caffeinated liquids (such
as milk or juice) can help you feel less fatigued and help you maintain your energy throughout the day.
Caffeine can also contribute to anxiety, dizziness and insomnia.
Be aware of the caffeine content in some popular drinks and food:
Cup of coffee = 115 mg
Mountain Dew = 55 mg
Iced tea = 70 mg
One ounce of dark chocolate = 20 mg
Instead of caffeinated drinks, choose healthier alternatives, such as juice or smoothies. Even flavored
waters, which have no real nutritional value beyond being water, are better alternatives to caffeinated
drinks.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
To: All of you
From: Hilda Walker Intermediate
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 5 of 23
Safety Patrol
Many people prefer to remain indoors in the winter, especially when there is bad weather.
Remaining indoors is no guarantee that you are safe. We explored suggestions from the internet
to put together a list of suggestions on How to Make Your House Safe in the Winter!
By Patrick Irace and Jake Krstulovich
Here are some suggestions families should do for being warmer and safer in the winter.
Install weather stripping, insulation, and storm windows.
Insulate water lines that run along exterior walls, and if you can’t insulate in extremely cold
weather let water slowly drip all night.
Clean out gutters and repair roof leaks.
Stock food that needs no cooking or refrigeration and water in clean containers.
Always make sure your cell phone is fully charged.
Keep an up-to-date emergency kit which includes extra batteries.
Keep a first–aid kit and extra medicine, if possible.
Keep cat litter or sand for icy walkways. Don’t forget a shovel or snow or regular.
Protect your family from carbon monoxide by installing a detector. Leave your home
immediately if the detector sounds, and call 911.
Keep grills, camp stoves, and generators out of the house, basement, and garage.
Purchase a good generator, but locate the generator at least 20 feet from the house.
This winter has been nice, but if we have a bad winter like we have had the last two years these
suggestions will help you stay warmer and safer, especially during bad storms. Next month the
safety awareness team will write about what clothes to wear in the winter, especially if you are
going sledding or ice skating. Stay Warm and Be Safe!
Happy
Valentine’s
Day!
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 6 of 23
Team Ohio State University Mrs. Amy Bednarz, Mr. Michael Doody, Mrs. Colleen Maranto, & Mrs. Nicole Rafa
TEAM OHIO STATE CELEBRATES STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WELCOME 2016
Our students enjoyed their winter break and are looking forward to the second half of the school
year. In math we are learning to multiply and divide with decimals. Each class is working with
problem solving activities that apply these skills. The students have completed shopping projects,
graphing activities, and science investigation in an effort to be involved with real life application of
these skills. Students in Mrs. Maranto’s class surveyed their friends about what they did over their
winter break. Then used charts and graphs to interpret and share their data.
Jack Vlamakis and Kayan Finzel share their graphs with their class.
OSU STUDENTS ARE BUSY AS BEES LEARNING ABOUT FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE!!
Team OSU students are learning about figurative language in their Language Arts classes. The
students are working with similes, metaphors, and idioms with a focus on identifying and interpreting
figurative language when reading. To accomplish this, students in Mrs. Maranto’s homeroom
performed plays that used figurative language to add a funny twist to the plot. Pictured below are
students from Mrs. Maranto’s homeroom performing their skits.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 7 of 23
Pictured are: Tamryn Smart & Olivia Nightingale performing for their class.
Pictured are: Amanda Martineck & Emily Ashmus posing after their performance.
FUN WITH FORCE
In January each homeroom studied Force. The children learned about the types of force, how to
measure force, and the scientific definition of work. The children learned that simple machines
make work easier. To develop an understanding of how we use simple and compound machines
in our daily life, the children explore the Simple Machines Tool Shed and House on Edheads.com.
Pictured below are Preston Wallace, Teddy Boundas, and Shayan Attallah from Mrs. Maranto’s
homeroom as they work on this assignment.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 8 of 23
Spelling Bee Homeroom Representative
We are proud of our Spelling Bee homeroom winners for representing our team in the Walker 5th
grade Spelling Bee. Pictured above: Kayan Finzel, Martin Thompson, Brain Rascop, and L’Ree
Wilson.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 9 of 23
News from Team Alabama
Mrs. Chikerotis, Mrs. Gallagher, Mr. Klosak,
Mrs. Milazzo, and Mrs. Pelkowski
Science
Team Alabama is starting to wrap up “Motion.” Students learned about what factors affect motion
and what the laws of motion are. Students worked on a project where they viewed a few clips from
“Toy Story 2” and had to identify one of Newton’s Laws and explain how it related. Students did a
fantastic job on this!
(Students from Mrs. Milazzo’s Class)
Upcoming in Science: We will now be moving into body systems, focusing how the body systems
work together to make living things function. We will begin with learning how all living things are
made up of cells. We will identify the parts of a plant and animal cell and learn about their job
functions. Students will also be able to compare and contrast the two cells and distinguish the basic
structure and functions of the cells. Students will get to participate in creating a hands on model of
the two cells with materials from home that represent each organelle.
Social Studies
What are the key causes of the American Revolution? This will be the question that students should
be able to answer once we have completed chapter 8. Some students on Team Alabama will have
the opportunity to work in small groups, watch video clips, and use technology to dive deep into
the American Revolution. We are focusing on topics like The Stamp Act, The Sugar Act, The
Townshend Acts, The Boston Massacre, The Boston Tea Party, The Intolerable Acts and the First
Continental Congress, along with the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 10 of 23
TEAM ISU Mrs. Boudreau, Mrs. Cramer, Mrs. Davault, Mrs. Schaefer, Mrs. Stokoski, Mrs. Zitkus
Team ISU is excited to be back to school after our break! We started our time together with a PBIS
assembly to remind us how we should behave in school. The students had fun playing various
Minute-to-Win-It games and answering PBIS questions in a game show format. Unfortunately our
team didn’t earn the most points, but we sure did try our best and we are proud of our efforts!
We were also excited to have the opportunity to hear from Katie Quick for our 2nd Quarter
Celebration. Katie is a singer and songwriter who had more to share with us than just her songs. She
encouraged us to live life to the fullest, chase our dreams and never give up on our goals. The
students and staff enjoyed singing along with her when the opportunity arose.
Follow Katie on Instagram and Facebook.
Team ISU teachers are shocked that another quarter is gone already! Where is the time going? We
would like to encourage you to please continue to check your child’s classwork and homework on
a daily basis, sign their assignment notebooks, and check their grades online as they are updated
frequently. We are going to be preparing them for sixth grade more and more as we journey
through the year, so all your continued support is greatly appreciated.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 11 of 23
Notre Dame Team
Mrs. Sajewich’s/Mrs. Mc Farland Reading/Language Arts Classes
In ELA, students are reading the novel, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. We will be connecting
this novel to the non-fiction texts, “The Hero’s Journey” and “The Elements of Mythology”. We are
also finding connections with the Greek myths. Students will be collaborating with each other to
work on finding the gist of text, annotating, and citing text evidence to support their responses.
Students will continue to work on Greek and Latin roots to help develop a higher level of vocabulary.
In Summit ELA, students are reading the novel, The Giver. We have been discussing utopian and
dystopian societies in relationship to the novel and making connections to other novels and movies.
We will be writing a persuasive paper based on the novel.
Ms. Mittelstadt’s Math
In Summit Math, the students have been working on writing and solving algebraic equations. They
have also been working on writing and solving inequalities. Along with the inequalities, the students
will be working on models with algebra tiles and graphing on a number line.
In math, the students have been working on ratios. They have learned how to solve ratio problems
using tape diagrams, equivalent ratios, ratio tables, and double number lines. Next, we will be
starting Module 7 which focuses on proportions. The students have also started multiplication time
tests in order to practice their math facts. The students will receive a grade each month for their
progress.
Mrs. Dermody’s Social Studies
Students have started learning about Ancient Greece. They studied how geography influenced
where people settled and what they did. The students also learned about Greece’s different
governments and compared the two best known city-states, Sparta and Athens. They learned that
Sparta focused on military skills to control people they conquered, while Athens was more interested
in building a democracy.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 12 of 23
Mrs. Dempsey’s Science Class
In Science, the students are currently working on the rock cycle and how scientists classify rock as
either sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic. We will be completing some activities that go along
with this topic prior to moving on to the geologic time periods and fossil records. Once we have
finished those topics, the students will learn about plate tectonics and how movement under the
Earth’s crust causes natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanoes. Continue to review
vocabulary and material with students throughout the chapter as they prepare for assessments.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 13 of 23
Team University of Michigan
Mrs. Anita Becker, Mrs. Tracy Decesare, Ms. Marianne Hourihan, Mrs. Dawn Krueger,
Mrs. Jen Medendorp & Mrs. Tucker
Mrs. Becker and Ms. Hourihan’s Reading and Language Arts Classes
In Reading students are reading the novel Lightning Thief. Students continued to practice how to
align two texts and explain the relationship between the texts. Triad groups have been making
connections between the key elements of mythology and the current novel. Students also took the
STAR Winter Assessment Test in the month of January. Students should be reading independently
each night. Mrs. Becker’s students have a nonfiction book report packet due at the end of January.
This assignment was assigned before winter break.
In Language Arts, the classes finished a unit on verbs. Students will be transitioning to Pronouns and
Argumentative writing. Students will continue to study Greek and Latin prefixes and work on Daily
Oral Language skills.
Mrs. DeCesare’s Math Classes
This month students are continuing to work on ratios and rates by applying them to graphs and
proportions. They have already learned how to find rates by using tape diagrams, ratio tables, and
now proportions will be introduced. The students will then use the proportions to convert within and
between the measurement systems.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 14 of 23
Mrs. Medendorp’s Science Classes
Students in science are continuing to explore topics in Earth Science. Students are currently
investigating plate tectonics and how the constant movement of these plates continue to impact
our planet. Students will be learning about a scientist that first proposed the theory of Continental
Drift – Alfred Wegener. This scientist’s controversial theory did not gain acceptance until decades
after his death, but his research and theories were a crucial first step towards understanding the
complex geologic processes that shape our planet. Students will take a closer look at the different
motions of tectonic plates and learn how plates move to form mountain ranges and deep ocean
trenches. Students will also explore the different geologic forces at work to provide some possible
explanations for how these enormous tectonic plates move.
Mrs. Krueger’s Social Studies Classes
We recently started our unit study on Ancient Greece. The first section covered the importance of
geography and how the people of Greece relied on the seas. In Section 2, we discussed the two
city-states of Athens and Sparta. We will continue to analyze how the two city-states are very
different from each other. After learning about the two, students will debate which city-state is the
best! From there, we will focus on Athens and how it blossomed under the Athenian general named
Pericles. We will close our unit study with the culture of Ancient Greece including poetry, fables, art,
and architecture.
Team Michigan Student of the Month: January
Emma Valleyfield, Isabella Miranda, Evan Willingham, Zoey Arroyo, and Jamie Eggert.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 15 of 23
Team University of Illinois
Mrs. Lauren Driscoll, Mrs. Leah Fischer, Mrs. Kelly Higgins, Mrs. Tammy Johnson, & Mrs. Julie Nance
Mrs. Driscoll—Social Studies
We recently began our study of Ancient Greece. Students have learned about Greece’s
geography and the earliest people to inhabit Greece. Students have also learned about Greek
city-states, known as polis, and what makes a Greek citizen. They will be learning a lot about two of
the most well-known Greek city-states, Athens and Sparta, as well as Troy, the site of the Trojan War.
Students will go on an archaeological dig and uncover information about these ancient cities
through the artifacts that they discover. Students will also create a flag and motto for Athens or
Sparta. In the end, they will have to choose; would they rather be an Athenian or a Spartan?
Mrs. Nance—Math
This month, students on Team U of I are wrapping up Module 6: Ratios and Rates. They have learned
how to represent ratios and rates using a variety of tools, including tape diagrams, rate tables, and
double number lines. In our next module, students will be using ratios and rates to make tables and
graphs that represent real-world situations. They will also be setting up proportions to solve problems.
The module concludes with students converting within measurement systems. Students are sharing
different methods on how to solve for unit rate.
Mrs. Johnson—ELA
Students are reading the novel, The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan. While reading The Lightning
Thief, students will build upon the close reading practices and skills that students have developed
and practiced in chapters 1-8. We will apply and refine their ability to synthesize text based details
to make inferences about themes, characters, and author’s craft as they explore the Greek myths
that are alluded to throughout the novel.
In English, we will start working on verbs after we complete our texting and driving essay. Students
will: identify action verbs, tell whether an action is visible or invisible, identify verb phrases, distinguish
between main verbs and helping verbs, identify objects in sentences and identify being and linking
verbs.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 16 of 23
Mrs. Fischer—Science
This month in Science, the students will be learning about fossils. Fossils have allowed us to calculate
how old Earth really is! Can you believe our Earth is 4.6 BILLION years old?! We will also begin learning
about plate tectonics. In learning about plate tectonics, we will study inside the Earth. Our Earth is
constantly changing. It never stays the same.
Mrs. Higgins—ELA
Students are continuing to read the exciting novel Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief by Rick
Riordan. We are currently analyzing the informational text “The Hero’s Journey” as to how it aligns
with the experiences of our main character Percy Jackson. Students have been working together
to find evidence from both texts to identify and explain the connection Percy Jackson has with the
archetype of a hero.
Students will research the 12 Olympians and create a movie poster to display their information.
Students will become an expert on one Olympian while learning about the sphere of control and
symbol of all other Olympians. Posters will be shown to their peers during group presentations.
Students will be reading a non-fiction book of their choice. This can include an informational book
including a biography, autobiography, or other informational text. After independently reading
their book, students will choose from projects such as a PowerPoint presentation, ABC book, or
informational brochure. Students will then be presenting their reports to the class.
Picture: Students Breanna Pechota, Nina Maduzia, and Dana Hakim working together in their triad
to write a short response analyzing two texts.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 17 of 23
Mrs. Johnson’s class is getting in the Valentine’s spirit! Left to right: Ryan Zych, Emma Werner, Adithya Arjun,
Kemi Omoniyi, Brigid Costello, Jake Grimm, Warren Gelushia
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 18 of 23
P.E. Team
This past month in Walker PE our students have learned the fundamental skills of Badminton.
Badminton is a great game for people of all ages and skill levels. Badminton can be played
competitively or just for fun at a home cookout with friends or family. We have taught the students
the importance of a good serve and how it can set your team up to score quickly. After mastering
the serve we then extended upon the unit by introducing the clear shot, the drop shot, and the
smash. All of these shots, when used correctly, can be a great way to keep your opponents guessing
and moving back and forth on the court. We ended our badminton unit with a badminton
extravaganza. The students started with a partner of their choice and compete all class period long
against random opponents. While that was going on inside of the gym, just down the hall were
students working hard on all units in the fitness room. The focus of the fitness room this week was a
stability ball core workout. Students got to exercise utilizing a stability ball in a variety of ways. They
were able to do so with great concentration and some good music. Lastly this month our students
learned what it is to be Hilda Walker F.I.T.T. We taught our students how to customize workout plans
for themselves using the FITT principle - Frequency, Intensity, Time, & Type. Ask your student how this
exercise concept works, and they can help set you up a program. In the upcoming month we will
be teaching your student a variety of dances and volleyball skills.
Stay FITT!
-Hilda Walker PE Staff
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 19 of 23
November Art News
Mrs. McCarthy-Weglewski
Art to Remember
Our school, in conjunction with Art to Remember, is offering a program that reproduces your
child’s personal artwork onto a variety of colorful products. Some include: magnets, key chains,
quilt blocks, beverage insulators, matted prints, wall calendars, bookmarks, ceramic mugs, sports
towels, mouse pads, heart ceramic ornaments, journals, art sketchbooks, placemats, CD cases,
stainless steel travel mugs, pillows, teddy bears with T-shirts, tote bags, ceramic tiles, aprons, and T-
shirts.
Your child will create artwork following the art class curriculum. Order forms will go out in March.
You will have the opportunity to purchase a variety of products featuring your child’s artwork. You
are under no obligation to purchase. However, we believe you will be excited by these unique
personal keepsakes and a portion of the proceeds is donated to the Hilda Walker Art Program.
They make great gifts for family and friends. We are excited to share this unique art program to
promote your child’s art!
Walker Art Club
Art Club will meets on Thursdays for 5th Grade or on Tuesdays for 6th in either the Science Lab or the
Art Room. Please listen to announcements at school on the day of art club for the materials that
you will need to bring to class that day. We will be experimenting with different materials and
techniques each time we meet so that you can experience the various aspects that the art has to
offer.
Art Club is after school until 3:55 PM. Students can arrange for a ride with parents in the front of
the school. Thank you in advance for your help in this matter.
5th Grade Art Club will meet on Thursdays this year from December 3rd-February 8th.
6th Grade Art Club will meet on Tuesdays this year from December 1st- February 16th.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 20 of 23
Technology Times
Word(s) of the Week- tab, crop, format, accuracy, browser, graphic, link, URL
and resources
5th Grade Technology
In technology class,
the 5th grade students
are learning all about
Power Point. Some
classes are working on
slides related to the
planets, others are
creating presentations
about the American
Revolution, and other
groups are working on
body systems. Lessons
involve learning such
tasks as, transitions,
slide layout,
animations, and more!
We will also be having
Mrs. Linke and Ms. Pall
into the lab to discuss
bullying and
cyberbullying.
6th Grade Technology
6th graders have been
learning about the
dangers of
cyberbullying! During
class, Mrs. Linke and Ms.
Pall came into the lab
to talk to the students
about cyberbullying
and how to stay safe
online. Coming up next,
the students will be
working on formatting
papers and citing
sources for
bibliographies, as well
as discussing how to tell
if a website is a credible
source!
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 21 of 23
Reading Strategy of the Month
Ms. O’Dell and Mrs. Stupay, Reading Specialists
Rereading
There are many things which will help your reader develop fluency. Encourage your child to reread
several pieces of text that he or she feels comfortable with. Each time he or she rereads the piece,
the reading will become more comfortable and make your reader more sure of himself or herself.
These “warm-up” pieces of text will make your reader feel good and confident about his reading.
Math Strategy of the Month
Jennifer Matos, Math Interventionist
“We said goodbye to Mr. Cronin as he began a new path teaching in Rio de Janeiro.” We
welcome Mrs. Matos.
Remembering the order in which to solve a math problem can hinder some students when they are
doing their work. Many students can recall the lyrics to a song if you ask them, but if you were to
ask them the order of operations they may or may not be able to tell you the order. One way
teachers make remembering important things is by using memory devices called mnemonics. The
most famous one is used for order of operations which is PEMDAS or Please (parentheses) Excuse
(exponents) My (multiply) Dear (divide) Aunt (add) Sally (subtract). Another memory device that is
used when using long division is Does (divide) McDonald's (multiply) Sell (Subtract) Burgers (bring
down). These simple, yet witty and easy to remember, mnemonics really help students remember
the order in which they need to solve a problem. problem.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 22 of 23
PPS Team – Mrs. Linke, Mrs. Rybczynski and Ms. Collins
EXPECT RESPECT … Be respectful, Be Responsible, & Be Safe, The Walker Way!
Anti-Bullying Program
This month, our counselor, social workers and tech teacher teamed up to teach students about
cyberbullying and how to be safe when using the internet and social media.
Cyberbullying is the use of digital communication tools to intimidate, threaten and damage
reputations. Some examples include:
Sending mean emails or texts to others to intimidate or threaten.
Posting mean things, or making rude comments about someone on media: i.e Instagram,
Facebook, etc.
Repeatedly texting someone to the point of harassment
Starting rumors or gossiping about someone online, ruining their character or reputation.
Stealing someone’s password and logging into someone else’s account
Taking a photo or video of someone else and posting it online without their permission
(knowing it may be embarrassing).
Cyberbullying differs from regular bullying in a number of ways. It:
Often spreads faster than in-person bullying because of instant online communication.
Has a wider audience because it can easily be sent to a potentially unlimited amount of
people.
Follows children home from school so they can’t get away from it. All of this can undermine
your child’s sense of security. They don’t feel safe at school – because cyberbullies are
frequently classmates and other peers – and they don’t feel safe at home because the
bullying is happening 24/7 online.
Here are some specific ways you can help if your child is a victim of cyberbullying:
Consider saving the evidence –Take screenshots and print out any messages. If there is an
investigation, the investigators may want to see proof of what was posted.
Block cyberbullies – Tell your child not to respond to the messages and take advantage of
website features that allow you to block any user who is bothering you.
Wildcat News- February 2016 Page 23 of 23
Set up new accounts - This includes email, social media sites and cell phone numbers. Make
sure they only give the new information to friends they trust.
Report it to the website or app where the cyberbullying is taking place - You might also be
able to report unwanted text messages to your cell phone provider and block certain
numbers.
Here’s what you can do to help prevent your child from posting inappropriate information online:
Establish expectations for online behavior –
Let them know exactly what you think is unacceptable and what websites and apps they can
use, how long they can use them, who they talk to, what they post, and more.
Set consequences for inappropriate posts - Remind them that they can also face
consequences at school and with the law.
Talk about appropriate usernames - This is especially true for younger children who play in
virtual worlds or any children who play games online. Usernames shouldn’t contain offensive
language or violate the game’s rules.
Review comments and pictures - Check out what they’re posting and ask them to take down
anything inappropriate.
Talk about what their friends are posting - Sometimes what your children’s friends post can
reflect poorly on them, too, so look at their friends’ posts and discuss them if needed.
Here’s how you can help your child stay safe online:
Talk to them about personal information that they should not share online. This includes their
passwords, home address, home/cell phone number and e-mail address.
Check privacy settings - You should help kids set up their accounts and check their privacy
settings often to make sure they’re using the settings that offer the most protection.
Help them create strong passwords and tell them not to share them with anyone but you -
Passwords should be at least 8 characters long. Try using silly words or phrases that are easy to
remember. Never use personal information in a password and change them often.
Talk about friend’s lists - NetSmartz recommends that children only add friends they know
offline, but this may change as they get older. Talk to them about the types of friends you’re
OK with them adding.
*Sources taken from NetSmartz.org and the Attorney’s General Office Task Force
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