monitor€¦ · monitor . from the principal… dear mathewson families, what a winter we have had!...
TRANSCRIPT
MONITOR
From the Principal… Dear Mathewson Families, What a winter we have had! Luckily our students have been able to get outside and enjoy some fresh air on these warm, no snow days in January and early February. It is not very often that we are able to say that! February is a busy month both academically and socially. Teachers and students are digging into the curriculum now based on their new performance levels from the January testing. We continue to work on our building wide focus of helping students build their accountable talk with each other. Which is really a way of saying we are helping them learn to talk and discuss their learning with peers which will help them to lead their own learning. This month students look forward to the Mother/Son Dance on Feb 19th (re-scheduled date) and our Top Dog Assembly at the end of the month. We will celebrate our December and January Be Kind Ambassadors this month and Jump Rope for Heart Begins on Feb. 23rd for Grades 3-5. Below is our data comparing our fall to winter reading performance. As the year progresses keep in mind the benchmarks and expectations for each level continue to get more difficult. We are feeling pretty good overall and look forward to even more growth in the spring!
• Kindergarten went from 64% of students reading at or above grade level in the fall to 79% of students reading at or above grade level in winter! This is 15% growth.
• Grade one students went from 76% of students reading at or above grade level in the fall to 85% of students reading at or above grade level in the winter. This is 9% growth.
• Grade two students went from 74% of students reading at or above grade level in the fall to 73% of students reading at or above grade level in the winter. This is a 1% decrease.
Mathewson Monitor February 2016
February 12 to 15 – Winter Recess
February 18 – PTA Council @ Live Oaks
February 19 -Mother/Son Carnival (Re-scheduled) February 22 – BOE Meeting @ Parsons @ 7 pm February 26 – Spirit Day: Crazy Hair Day
March 2- Read Across Mathewson Day
• Grade three students went from 77% of students reading at or above grade level in the fall to 76% of students reading at or above grade level in the winter. This is a 1% decrease.
• Grade four students went from 88% of students reading at or above grade
level in the fall to 87% of students reading at or above grade level in the winter. This is a 1% decrease.
• Grade three students went from 78% of students reading at or above grade level in the fall to 77% of students reading at or above grade level in the winter. This is a 1% decrease.
As always we thank you for your continued support! Live, Learn and Be PAWsitive, Melissa Currier, Principal
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________________________________________ President’s Message Well, we finally had our first official snow day! I hope everyone enjoyed that extra day off. It did unfortunately cause us to postpone the Mother/Son night. The re-scheduled date is February 19 and fingers crossed that it doesn’t snow again! These next few months are going to be very busy for the PTA at Mathewson. I encourage everyone to attend a meeting to find out more. I know it seems early but we will be starting the process of filling the PTA board for the 2016-2017 school year. If you are interested or know of someone that is interested in a position please let us know. Anyone can be a board member. This is a great way to drive change and be involved in your child’s school. Please join us at our next PTA meeting on Tuesday March 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the media center. I hope to see you soon! Sincerely, Malinda Childs ________________________________________ Become a Mathewson PTA Member! The Mathewson PTA is a collaboration between Parents, Teachers and Administrators who come together to better our students learning environment. By the joining the PTA, you help improve the school experience for our children. Our PTA provides valuable programs, helps fund field trips, and fun family events for our Mathewson community. We can always use volunteers but you can choose how involved you want to be. You can join and your membership fee helps pay for these programs. You can view our list of events and committees and choose to donate your time to help with a specific even or program. Or, you can donate products that help improve events. How much you want to do is up to you! The membership form is on the PTA website at http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=8593. Please complete the form and send your membership fee of $8.00 in to school directed to PTA membership. If
you have any questions, please contact Nicole Croce at [email protected]. ________________________________________
Who is the PTA? YOU! You are the PTA!
Any parent, grandparent, friend, or teacher of the Mathewson Community can
join the PTA! The PTA is lead this year by your Executive
Committee:
Malinda Childs, President [email protected]
Sandra Rodriguez, President Elect
Alecia Coffin, Vice President [email protected]
Renee Kugit, Treasurer 1 [email protected]
Christine Fisher, Treasurer 2 [email protected]
Michelle Merchant, Corresponding Secretary
Stefanie Becker, Recording Secretary [email protected]
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________________________________________ We are on Facebook! "LIKE" the Mathewson School PTA on Facebook today! This is a great way to keep up quickly with things going on in and around the school! We will remind you of upcoming events, sign up deadlines, etc. Find "Mathewson PTA" and click "LIKE".
______________________________________ Mathewson PTA Meetings for
2015-2016 PTA MEETINGS ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 7PM IN THE MEDIA CENTER. THE DATES ARE AS FOLLOWED: March 8 April 12 May 10 June TBD ________________________________________
Afterschool Academy The following is a schedule of afterschool programs which should begin in February. A flyer with more info on these programs was sent home with children. Tuesday –Bricks for Kidz/Computer Coding Wednesday—Karate/Audubon Society Thursday—Art with the Giggling Pig Friday—Drama/Cartooning All classes have a maximum size and enrollment is on a first come, first served basis. ________________________________________
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Below is a list of Be Kind Ambassadors for January 2016:
Kindergarten Mrs. Buckholz Ava D Ms. Murphy Connor R Ms. Rodrigues Danielle K Ms. Wocl Peyton K First Grade Mrs. Canevari Matthew M Mrs. Fitzsimons Sophie L Ms. Jaggers Nikhil M Ms. Wayne Lily S Second Grade Ms. Blomberg Madison B Ms. Buggé Nate S Mrs. Tuozzola Maya F Third Grade Mrs. Camperlengo Shannon R Mr. Magazine Madison R Mrs. Munroe Lucca V, Victoria D Ms. Torreso Caitlyn M Fourth Grade Mrs. Aronin Emily L Mrs. Barile Brandon U Mrs. Seward Danielle M Fifth Grade Mrs. DiFederico Ben R Mr. LaPierre Kimoi J Ms. Markovics Franco M * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** **
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Mother/Son Night Carnival Please join us for an evening of fun with games, prizes, photo booth, food, and more on February 19! This is event is for all Mathewson Boys and their Mothers. The cost is $12/Family. We are looking for some Dads, grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, etc to help us run the games. If you are able to assist please contact Mandy Viatale at [email protected]. Please be on the lookout for more information. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** **
Mathewson Spirits Day 2015-2016
Friday, February 26: Crazy Hair Day
Get those up-dos and hair gel ready!
Thursday, March 24: Rainbow Day Each grade level will be given a specific color to
wear on this day to help make our school a colorful place.
(This event will also have an optional donation to support Halle’s Hope Org. More information to
come.)
Friday, April 29: Mismatch Day Wear a silly uncoordinated outfit to school.
Friday, May 27: Mathewson Spirit Day
Wear any clothing with our Mathewson logo or Bulldog on it.
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** ** Our next Box Top contest is under way. Please send in your box tops in a sealed baggie or on a collection sheet. Make sure to include your child's name and teacher so that credit can be applied. The top earning student will receive a $10 gift card to Barnes and Noble and the top collecting collecting class with get to play the human version of Hungry Hippos. All Box Tops must be turned in by Monday February 22nd. Expired Box Tops or Labels for Education will not count! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *** *
Mathewson helps Halle’s Hope to Spread the Warmth Over the Past
Month Mathewson has collected and donated over 520 new hats, mittens, gloves and scarves to local organizations as part of Halle’s Hope: Spread the Warmth Challenge. We were able to exceed our goal of 500 items thanks to the support of the Mathewson community. It was amazing to see students bring in bags full of donations that will help people right here in the Milford community. These donations have been distributed to the Boys and Girls Village, Beth El Shelter, and the Milford Family Resource Center. Thank you to all of the families that donated items as part of the challenge. Halle’s Hope has done many incredible things for the Mathewson community and we are so happy that we could show our support in their mission. -Andrew Magazine & Christy Musante _______________________________________
100th Day of School
This is what 100 days of school can do to you! :-) Pictured above: Ms. Murphy, Ms. Rodriguez, and Ms. Wocl (left to right)
Above: Room 12 showing off the 100 books they love to read! Below: Room 12 celebrated the 100th day counting, reading, and learning different ways to make 100.
Twins/Triplets Day Pictures
All Pictures: Twins & Triplets of Grade 5. Below Middle: Grade 5 Teachers Ms. Markovics, Ms. DiFederico & Mr. LaPierre.
Top Left: Ms. Gonski & Ms. Enders. Top Right: Students Naveah & Janiyah Surel. Bottom Left: Ms. Munroe & Ms. Torreso. Bottom Right: Ms. Soula & Ms. Barkas.
Room 10 Room 10 Room 10
Room 12
The Twins are Twinning on Twin Day! There were quadruplets, students who dressed like siblings in other classes, and even some students who dressed like twins of their dolls!
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Room 32 News First grade students have been working hard mastering their math facts within 10. In order to do this we've been playing a math game called Tens Go Fish. We decided to switch up our partners and play with the children in Ms. Jaggers' class. It was a blast as you can see from the attached pictures!
- Ms. Nicole Wayne Room 32 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * Room 9 News The staff from Eli Whitney Museum visited Room 9. We observed and identified the three types of rocks! It was ROCK-tacular!
-Ms. Kristine Torreso Room 9 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * Greetings from the Music Room! Please note: Due to a conflict with a district-wide activity, the date for the Spring Concert for the 4th-Grade Chorus and Band and Strings has changed. It is now scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 6:30p.m. The students have been working hard on improving their music literacy skills and songs. Grades K and 1 are currently learning different ways to use their voices as well as how to keep their voices healthy. Grade 1 has been also introduced to reading rhythm and pitch cards. Grades 2-5 have been working on more complex pitch and rhythm cards. They have been doing very well with them! All levels continue to expand their repertoire with various songs and activities. The 4th-Grade has been working hard on their chorus songs for the Spring Concert. All grade levels will be working on the song: Dr. Seuss We Love You for Read Across Mathewson Day which coming up during the first week of March. Have a great February! -Michelle B. D’Aiuto Music Teacher * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * *
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Literacy Coach
Having stamina means being able to stick with something for a period of time. This stamina, or endurance, builds strength. Teachers work to increase their students’ reading stamina. Reading stamina is a child's ability to read independently for periods of time without being distracted or without distracting others. Reading stamina is something that parents can help students develop. Here's how:
1. Vary the way the reading is done. Parents can think about this in terms of having their child "read to himself, read to someone, and listen to reading." A combination of the three should make up the time spent reading.
2. Choose "just right" books. If your child is at a stage of being able to read alone, help him/her choose books that he/she is able to read independently. This means he/she should be able to read the words and understand the book. In this situation, avoid using books that are too difficult to read alone.
3. Set reasonable goals. When
starting out, read for a few minutes and work up from there. For elementary aged readers, consider starting with 10-15 minutes of reading, and then increase the time. Add a few minutes to your reading time every week.
4. Celebrate progress. Without
getting too caught up on the number of minutes spent reading, celebrate the time that is spent reading. Share your favorite parts of books, plan the next visit to the library, and share progress with other family members.
Spending longer periods of time reading without interruptions means more time spent reading what you love. As your child moves into higher grades, having reading stamina will help him/her navigate longer texts and assignments and ultimately, become a stronger reader! Adapted from www.readingrockets.org
Read, read, read! -Mrs. Schumann Literacy Coach
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From The Nurse’s Desk
This year, we never know what winter is bringing, but whether it’s a blizzard, a dusting or some cold temperatures, it’s always a
good thing to be prepared.
There is the obvious need to dress children and babies warmly if they are participating in outdoor activities. Several thin layers keep them warm and dry.
Remember warm boots, mittens or gloves and a hat. The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to put one extra layer of clothing on them over what an adult would wear in the same weather. Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play, too, in order to avoid the serious concerns (see below) that can occur in the cold.
In the last “Monitor,” hypothermia was addressed. Just a reminder that if you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911 right away and take your child
indoors, remove any wet clothes and, if at all possible, wrap your son or daughter in blankets or warm clothing.
Frostbite happens when the outer tissues and skin become frozen. It tends to occur on the ears, nose, fingers and toes. The skin may get
blistered, turn grayish or pale, may feel as if it’s
burning, or become numb. Do not rub these areas to warm up! Bring your child inside and put the frostbitten parts in warm (not hot) water. Warm washcloths can be put on the frozen ears, nose or lips. Cover your child with a warm blanket or clothing and give them a warm drink after a few minutes. If the symptoms still continue, call the doctor.
We often see winter nosebleeds now. If this is happening, try putting a cold air humidifier in your child’s room at night. Vaseline or saline nose drops may help
keep that delicate nasal tissue moist. If nosebleeds are severe or happen often, consult the doctor.
Cold weather does not cause colds, but we know the viruses that cause colds and flu are more prevalent in the winter. We are mostly indoors and in frequent
close contact and that’s what it takes. Frequent handwashing and teaching your child to cough or sneeze in the bend of the elbow may help reduce illness. As far as the flu vaccine goes, it’s still not too late for your child to get it! February and March are still “big” flu months.
Winter sports Now that we have had a bit of real winter weather – are what make winter a fun season! Here’s some tips about activities:
When a child ice skates, he or she should never skate alone. Consider having your child wear a helmet, knee pads and or
elbow pads, particularly when he or she is first learning. Never allow them to dart across the ice or skate in the opposite direction of the crowd and they must skate ONLY on “officially” approved services!
Sledding is a great thing to do and let’s keep that safe! Children should always be supervised when sledding. Sled feet first or sitting up, NOT lying down head-first.
Use steerable sleds, rather than snow disks or inner tubes. Keep the younger children separated from the older children and avoid sledding if that slope is crowded. Sled on a slope that is not icy but snowy, with no trees or fences in the way, not more steep than a 30 degree angle, and that ends with a flat surface.
To finish up, we’ll briefly address skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling. A child should be taught to ski or snowboard only by a qualified instructor in a program
designed for children. Young children should always be supervised by an adult and as far as older children go, that would depend on their skill and maturity. The latter should at least be accompanied by a friend. In regard to snowmobiling, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that NO children under 16 years of age should ever operate a snowmobile. For more safety recommendations for any winter sport, please see the AAP website or call me any time with your questions, #203-301-5617. Enjoy winter! -Laura Trinkoff, RN (203)-301-5617 [email protected] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * *
The Math in Mathewson… Math Investigations supports students to make sense of mathematics and learn that they can be mathematical thinkers. A major goal is computational fluency with whole numbers. Students come to school with ideas about numbers, shapes, measurements, patterns and data. When we give them the opportunity to learn in an environment that stresses making sense of mathematics, students are able to build on the ideas they already have and then learn about new mathematics they have not encountered. We want students to be able to apply what they know to new situations and think and reason about unfamiliar problems. This may seem very different than the way most of us have learned mathematics in the past.
Please continue to support your child’s mathematics education by helping your child master his/her addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division combinations (facts).
How do I help my child learn
multiplication facts? Learning all 100 multiplication and 90 division facts can seem like a huge task, and sometimes children feel as if learning the facts is all about being able to memorize. But that is not the case! It is a matter of knowing and using a good strategy! The most important idea is that students can use a KNOWN fact to help them with an UNKNOWN fact. Let’s see how that might look. Suppose a student does not know the product of 4 x 6. At Mathewson, we encourage our students to think of 4 x 6 as 4 GROUPS of 6 because they can visualize that! Since students have already learned 2 x 6 = 12 or 2 groups of 6 items = 12 items in all, a student can apply that knowledge to 4 x 6. The product is 24 or twice as much as 12. It is twice as much because there are twice as many groups: 4 instead of 2. All of the 4’s facts can be related to the 2’s facts in this way. Once learned, the 4’s facts can be used to help students learn the 8’s facts and understand WHY those products make sense! They are double the 4’s! What about the 3’s? Let’s consider 3 x 8. A student can again use his or her knowledge of the 2’s facts to help! 3 x 8 or 3 groups of 8 are equal to 2 groups of 8 plus another group of 8. Mathematically, it would look like this: 3 x 8 = (2 x 8) + (1 x 8) =16 + 8 = 24 Once students know the 3’s they can easily learn the 6’s. They are double the 3’s! Isn’t 6 x 8 twice as many as 3 x 8?
How about 9 x 7? That seems difficult and hard to memorize, but it is actually very simple. How many items are in 10 groups of 7? 70. But since we only have 9 groups instead of 10 we just need to take away one group of 7. Mathematically it looks like this: 9 x 7 = (10 x 7) – (1 x 7) = 70 – 7 = 63!! With enough practice, students will know all the facts by heart. Until then we encourage and expect students to use known facts to help find the products of unknown facts. The best way to help your child at home is to support the work we are doing here at school. Thank you for your continued support!! -Ms. Michelle Marini MathCoach _______________________________________ Statement of Compliance In compliance with Title VI, Title IX and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Milford Public School system does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability in establishing and implementing hiring and employment practices and establishing and providing school activities and educational programs. The Title VI and Title IX Coordinator and Compliance Officer is Wendy Kopazna. The Section 504 Compliance Officer is Susan Kelleher. They may be contacted by mail at the Milford Public Schools, 70 West River Street, Milford, CT 06460 or by phone at (203) 783-3400. Questions, concerns or comments regarding possible discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should be made in person or in writing to the following: Regarding Facilities: James L. Richetelli, Jr. /Chief Operations Officer Regarding Employment: Wendy Kopazna/Director of Human Resources Regarding Programs: Susan Kelleher/Director of Pupil Personnel Services ________________________________________
Note from the Monitor Crew… Thank you for your timely submissions. We look forward to seeing you in the fall! The deadline for the March edition of the Monitor will be March 4, 2016. Submissions received after this date will be published in the March Monitor. Submissions can be sent to Susmitha Bhatnagar at [email protected].