principal’s notes
TRANSCRIPT
8259 S. Lavergne
Burbank, IL 60459
Dear Parents,
In February, the teachers have been working hard to prepare the students for the upcoming
PARCC and MAP assessments that take place in March and April. All of the teachers have prac-
ticed and studied how to administer the PARCC assessment. Classes have taken part in the prac-
tice sessions with their students, and teachers have been using PARCC games to help get the stu-
dents more comfortable with navigating the new computer-based assessment. I am very proud of
the teachers at Byrd School and their efforts to prepare your children for this new assessment.
On February 11th, the parent/teacher involvement group met. During this time, the parents, staff
and teachers discussed an all school assembly that will be taking place in the spring. This as-
sembly will be made possible by the Market Day fundraiser and the sales of the Smencils. Mrs.
Munoz chairs the Market Day fundraiser and Mrs. Johnson has been running the sales of the
Smencils, among many other fundraisers. Mrs. Johnson ordered spirit wear for the students at
Byrd and prepared the spirit wear to be sold at the District #111 Fitness Fair. Mrs. Montes, Mrs.
Jimenez and Mrs. Lunar volunteered to man the booth at the Fitness Fair. In addition, many par-
ents, in communication with the classroom teachers, volunteered to be room parents for the Val-
entine’s Day parties. The all school field trip to see the Disney movie, Monkey Kingdom was
discussed. This will take place on April 28th, the day before the second round of PARCC testing
begins. We also discussed the Young Author’s Contest. We hope to finalize the end of year
events at the next meeting which will take place on March 11th at 6:00 pm. The parents and
teachers think that by having the meeting at 6:00 pm that more parents will be able to come to
the meeting. Please make your best effort to attend.
On February 12th, Mrs. Hammad, Mr. Fialek and Mrs. McCormick sponsored a sixth grade field
trip to the Shedd Aquarium. The students said they loved the dolphin show the most; however,
many different exhibits were enjoyed by many of the students. The teachers incorporated the
field trip into their lessons and discussed what they learned upon their return from the field trip.
March 2015
Principal’s Notes
Ms. Muniz held her second parent ELL workshop on February 20th. The parents were given a tu-
torial on navigating the Wonder’s Program and other computer resources that are provided by the
district. The kindergarten room was used to watch the parents' children during the workshop.
In addition to the many activities that took place in February, Byrd School was not in session dur-
ing a snow day on the 19th. This means that school will be in session until June 5th, which will be
a half-day of school.
There will be many important activities during the month of March. First, there is no school on
March 2nd in honor of Casmir Pulaski Day. Casmir Pulaski was an American Revolutionary war
hero. He was a general in the Continental Army and started the Pulaski Cavalry Legion. General
Pulaski was most noted for saving the life of George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
On Tuesday, March 3rd, the students will take part in an all school Tornado Drill at 10:00 am. On
March 5th, the Reavis Drama Group will be here to perform “Snow…Sort of…White” for the kin-
dergarten, first and second grade students.
On Monday, March 9th, the 3rd - 6th grade students will start the PARCC assessment. The home-
room teachers will start on the 11th and test their students in five different sessions of three ELA
tests and two Math sessions. That is a total of five sessions. The tests will be given consecutively,
that is one test will be given each day for five days. I have scheduled it so that the students won’t
be tested Monday through Friday, but will be tested Wednesday through Friday and on Monday
and Tuesday of the following week. The tests will be given at the same time every day. The hom-
eroom test sessions will end on the 24th; however, individual and small group testing may continue
through March 27th.
The testing session will last for approximately two weeks. It is important that our students are
punctual, well rested and well-nourished during this time. I know that parents already do this for
your children and will continue to do this during this important time. Thank you in advance for
your cooperation and support during the testing session.
After-school academic support programs will be cancelled during PARCC assessment weeks. The
rest of the after-school activities will continue to take place during this time. Also, spring pictures
will take place on the 26th and the kindergarteners will have their Make & Take on March 27th.
Finally, if you haven’t already noticed, Byrd School’s webpage is up and running. Mrs. Johnson
and Mrs. Skoda are doing a wonderful job maintaining an up to date calendar of events. Please
click on Byrd School to see upcoming dates and events.
Sincerely,
Mr. Martin
Principal
Students of the
Month The following students
worked hard during the
month of February and were
chosen as Students of the
Month. They have proven to
be role models for all
students at Byrd School.
FEBRUARY
K-Ms. Valentino - Leo Diaz
K-Mrs. Motola - Nathan Tapirdau
1st-Mrs. Erbs - Andrew Chaidez
1st-Mrs. Vallianatos - Skylar O’Neill
2nd-Mrs. Sevedge - Erica Divizio
2nd-Mrs. Amin - Aliyah Pichardo-Aich
3rd-Mrs. Turner - Stefani Pena 3rd-Mrs. O’Riordan - Miranda Marquez
3rd-Mrs. Paulson - Emily Castillo 4th-Miss Russell - Steven Solis
4th-Mrs. Abeja - Isaiah White
5th-Ms. Kijak - Ava Divizio
5th-Ms. Shannon - Natalia Castillo
5th/6th-Mrs. McCormick - Victor Anaya
6th-Mrs. Hammad - Alexander Spyrka
6th-Mr. Fialek - Paula Adu Brafo
Mrs. Catizone - Isaias Martinez
Ms. Hernandez - Gian Failia
St. Baldrick’s Foundation/ Locks of Love
Conquer Childhood Cancer
When: Wednesday March 18 at 6:00-8:00 PM
Where: Liberty Junior High
All Are Welcome
We started fundraising for St. Baldrick’s event which will be March 18 at Liberty from 6:00- 8:00 PM. All
are welcome. A detailed note went home in February. We are looking for participants for the head
shaving/ donating hair ceremony. If you are interested, please fill out a participant form and register
online at www.stbaldsricks.org/events/bsd111. Cash donations can be made online also. Thank you
for your support.
We are also selling merchandise during Lunch:
Lucky Charm sticker $1.00 - these stickers will be posted in our school hall-
way.
Green Wristband $2.00
Button $ 2.00
Be sure to buy one today!
Lastly, our St. Baldrick’s t- shirt sale has been extended to March 8. Thank
you for your support. Any questions see Mr. Walsh.
News from the Social Worker
During the month of February, Byrd school participated in the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pasta for Pennies Fund-
raiser to raise money for blood cancer research. We are pleased
to announce that Byrd school raised a grand total of
$1,767.63!!! This money will be donated in the hopes that one day childhood blood cancers can be cured. The
third grade classrooms (Mrs. Paulson, Mrs. O’Riordan, and Mrs. Turner) were the winners of the Olive Garden
pasta party; however, all Byrd students are Champions for a Cause! Byrd students we are so very proud of your
compassion, caring, and dedication to ending Leukemia and Lymphoma.
Stay Warm!
Ms. Hernandez
V. I. P.
V E R Y I M P O R T A N T P E O P L E
Mr. Duffy, our daytime custodian, has worked for District 111 for eleven
years. He arrives early and unlocks the school doors, salts the parking
lot, shovels the snow, checks the heat or air conditioning and gets things
rolling so that early arrivers can receive breakfast and he does it all again
for lunch. He even puts a pot of coffee on for the teachers. What ser-
vice!
Mr. Steeves, our nighttime custodian, has worked for District 111
for 31 years. He sweeps, vacuums, cleans and disinfects the rooms
and washroom areas so that children can return to a safe and clean
environment. He helps to maintain the heating system and helps to
set up for nighttime meetings and assemblies. What a man!
He-man Duffy and He-man Steeves load and unload all shipments of
heavy materials at Byrd School. They each could be renamed Mr.
Clean as well for they work every day to cleanse, disinfect and make
our home away from home safe and healthy.
These two men keep our school running well. They are Mr. Fix-its for they repair the common and uncommon
broken items which may include the heating system or even a pencil sharpener. Did we mention that they are as-
semblymen? Anything needing to be put together is done by them.
Mr. Wozniak, has worked for District 111 for 1 ½ years and is applying
all that the other more experienced custodians have taught him. What’s
difficult about cleaning you might ask. Well, first he must learn what
chemicals are allowed for cleaning and then how to use them properly. In
addition to this, he must follow a set routine so that he can finish in the
two hours allotted him. In other words, he must put the pedal to the metal.
These three employees are most definitely V.I.P. Next time you see one of our custodians, don’t hesitate to thank
him for all the seen and unseen things done each day to keep our school running like a well-oiled machine.
Estimadas Familias de la escuela Byrd,
En el mes de marzo el departamento de ELL tendrá un taller para las familias de inglés como segunda lengua. El ta-ller les proveerá información del programa de lectura Wonders. La clase se llevará a cabo el 27 de marzo de 2:45-3:30 pm. Si usted está interesado en asistir, favor de enviar una nota antes del 03/18 con su hijo/a. La nota debe incluir: Su nombre, nombre del estudiante, y número de teléfono. Favor de mandarlo al Departamento de ELL. El día del taller la escuela pro-veerá un salón aparte para que los estudiantes se queden ahí mientras sus padres están en el taller.
Mi estudiante del mes de febrero es Leo Díaz. Leo cursa el kindergarten este año escolar. Él es el estudiante del mes porque siempre tiene algo positivo que aportar en las actividades de colaboración. Leo no solo contesta preguntas de comprensión sino que también genera las propias, para comprender lo que se está discutiendo, leyendo, o escribiendo en clase. Leo también es persistente. No se da por vencido en el primer error que enfrenta, sino que continua trabajando hasta lograr su mejor esfuerzo. ¡Felicidades Leo!
La entrevista con Leo:
¿Cuál es tu libro favorito? Mi libro de ABCs
¿Qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre? Ir a fiestas
¿Cuál es tu comida favorita? Pizza de pepperonni
¿Qué quieres ser cuando seas grande? Dentista
¡Que pasen un muy Feliz de San Patricio!
Ms. Muñiz y el equipo de ELL
Dear Byrd Families,
In March the ELL department will host a parent workshop for the ELL families. The workshop will provide you with information of the Wonders reading program. It will take place on March 27th from 2:45-3:30 pm. If you would like to par-ticipate, please send a note with the ELL student by 03/18. The note should include: Your name, name of the student, phone number, and should be addressed to the ELL Department. We will provide a separate room for students to stay in while the parents attend the workshop.
My student of the month for February is Leo Diaz. Leo is currently attending kindergarten. He is the student of the month because he always participates in our collaboration activities. Leo does not only answer the comprehension ques-tions, he also generates his own questions in order to understand what we are discussing. Leo is also very persistent. He does not give up after making a mistake or if he is having difficulty with something. Instead, he continues to work and al-ways puts his best effort forward. Congratulations Leo!
Interview with Leo:
What is your favorite book? My ABCs book
What do you like to do in your free time? Go to parties
What is your favorite food? Pepperoni Pizza
What do you want to be when you grow up? Dentist
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Ms. Muñiz and the ELL team.
ELL NEWS!
Kindergarten News Hip Hip Hooray! Our 100th Day of school was a BLAST! The children were able to complete a
variety of exciting centers on our special day, such as:
Coloring numbers on a 100 grid to reveal the hidden number….100!
Sorting objects into piles of 10’s for a total of 100 objects…and much, much, more!
We also read 100th Day stories and sang 100th Day counting songs. The children’s 100th Day
posters were incredibly creative and look amazing in our hallway!
Please continue to practice all introduced Popcorn/sight words, blending letters to read and write
words, letters, letter sounds, identifying numbers to 15, and counting to 75.
Continue to periodically review your addition flashcards. Subtraction is just around the corner!
These are important skills that we will continue to build on as the year progresses. Remember to
make time for reading every day!
Please mark your calendars for our Make & Take/ Bring Your Special Person to School Day! On Friday, March
27th, from 1:00-2:30p.m., parents can come to Byrd School to spend the afternoon with your Kindergarten student
while learning about and making activities that you can use at home to help assist your child’s mastery of Kinder-
garten skills. Please plan to attend this special day with your child.
Congratulations to our February Students of the Month – Leo Diaz for Ms. Valentino and Nathan Tapirdau for
Mrs. Motola
Library News
It’s hard to believe with this extreme cold weather that spring is just around the corner. Daylight saving time be-
gins March 8th and the first day of spring is 3 weeks away on March 20th. I hope the students will spring into
reading.
Some of the most popular books among new arrivals have been “The Popularity Papers.” Some students have be-
come so engrossed in them that they have read and returned them in one day. They are over 200 pages long. “Fly
guy” and the “Dino” sports series are very popular with the primary readers. I strongly encourage students of all
ages to find an author or series that they really enjoy and they will be on the way to some great reading adventures.
I am available to offer reading suggestions to students when they come in the library for book checkout. Happy
Spring!
Ms. Durrant
Byrd Library
First Grade News!
Despite what the groundhog predicted, we are trekking our way to spring as it is officially just a few weeks
away! We have done many cute winter activities such as making groundhogs and their shadows in order to write
about why we thought six more weeks of winter was a good or a bad thing.
We also celebrated our 100th day by counting items brought in, sharing a story or two about it, and then
many taking the opportunity to dress like a 100 year old! They were about the cutest 100 year-olds we have ever
seen, equipped with gray hair, suspenders, curlers, and even mustaches and glasses! Please enjoy the picture be-
low.
We are trying something a little different. Since we have Guided Reading on Wednesdays and Thursdays,
we are starting to have them take their Guided Reading baggies home on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays. This
way when they come back on Thursdays to their Guided Reading groups, they will be practiced and more fluent at
that story. Please make sure that your child places this baggie full of books in his/her backpack on Wednesday
evening so that they do not forget it for Thursday’s group. Also, please encourage them to take great care of these
books that will need to be passed down from year to year.
Continue to monitor the reading assignments daily with your child,
as well as homework completion. We are going to be emphasizing more
and more that students are turning in “high-quality” work, as this is a cate-
gory on our report card, and helps student take more responsibility. We
hope that this will make them proud as they begin to take more ownership
of their work.
Students of the Month:
Room 6: Skylar O’Neill
Room 7: Andrew Chaidez
2nd Grade News
We are very excited to announce the birth of Mrs. Amin’s beautiful daughter, Neela Anne, on February 20th. Con-
gratulations to her and her family! Mrs. Amin will be greatly missed as she is at home taking on her role as being a
new mother.
The second graders will be keeping very busy the next few months. In reading we have begun unit 4 which focus-
es on the world and what makes it an interesting place. In math we will continue to work with double digit subtrac-
tion and then will move into our money unit. We are excited that some of our students have mastered all of their
addition and subtraction facts and are now being tested on their multiplication facts. Great work!
On April 16th we will be taking a field trip with the first graders to Brookfield Zoo. Information regarding the field
trip will be coming soon.
As always, thank you for your continued support at home.
Mrs. Sevedge
Congratulations to the February Students of the Month:
Room 2A: Aliyah Pichardo-Aich
Room 2B: Erica Divizio
Truly,
Mrs. Erbs & Mrs. Vallianatos
We can’t believe that March has arrived!
Third Grade News!
3rd Quarter Progress Reports went home on Tuesday, February 24th. If you have not already, please sign and
return your child’s Midterm Envelope.
The students did a great job during Training Tuesdays! We played friendly educational games so the stu-
dents could show off what they know and sharpen their reading, grammar, and math skills.
We will begin our first round of PARCC Testing the week of March 9th. Please make sure your child is get-
ting to school on time, eating a good breakfast, and getting enough sleep. The PARCC test will be taken on the
computer and the students will take one test per day. For additional PARCC parent information, please visit:
http://www.parcconline.org/for-parents
As always, please continue to encourage your child to read for 20 minutes and study math facts daily. A
great math app is: Splash Math-3rd grade.
Please make sure to ask your child if they need to replenish any supplies. We are running very low on tissue,
any tissue box donations would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Mrs. Paulson
&
Mrs. O’Riordan
Room 8 March News
Dear Parents,
Hopefully everyone is staying warm! Thank you for consistently sending the students to school dressed and
prepared for the cold weather. I am sure you are all anxiously awaiting Spring just like we are! Although we have
missed a few days due to the weather, all of the student are making gains in one way or another.
The students have been working very hard on reading fluency, decoding skills, and reading strategies. They
have also been graphic organizers and manipulatives to organize and solve real-world math problems. We are so
excited to be starting a Science Unit studying the Solar System. In this unit, students will explore the sizes, colors,
and other different features of each planet in our solar system.
Although PARCC preparation has been accompanied with a slight adjustment to our schedule, the students
are staying positive and working hard during “Training Tuesdays”. Please encourage this positive attitude at home
and let them know you believe in their success as well. Ample rest, good nutrition, and positive support are essen-
tials components for the students’ success. Thank you for your constant support and efforts towards the successes
of all of your children.
If at any time you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call me at (708)499-3049 or e-mail me at
Sincerely,
Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Barrett, and Mrs. Perkins
**Congratulations to our Student of the Month: Stefani Pena**
Student of the Month:
Mrs. Paulson - Emily Castillo
Mrs. O’Riordan - Miranda Marquez
4th Grade News!
Marching into PARCC testing…
We have been preparing daily for the past few months on basic test taking tips and skills. Here are a few remind-
ers to refresh your thoughts before you start the test:
Read all directions carefully and thoroughly
Take a deep breath if you feel nervous during the test
Try to answer ALL of the questions to the best of your ability
Above all, it is essential to get a good night’s rest, eat a good breakfast, take your time, and do your best.
In Reading, we have been practicing predictions, comprehension skills, identifying context clues, and story ele-
ments in preparation for the PARCC test. We have also been focusing on text evidence, which is how a reader can
show “proof” from the passage. It is very important to be able to draw inferences from a text and to show evi-
dence.
In Math, we have been focusing on multiplication, division, use of calculators, probability, fractions, solids,
shapes ,charts, graphs, and place value (just to name a few). Please keep reviewing basic multiplication facts, as
many questions will focus on this basic skill.
In Language Arts, we are continuing our Spelling units weekly and understanding the different spellings and pro-
nunciations of particular vowel sounds. We are also trying to incorporate the use of cursive writing into all of our
lessons. Practice makes perfect!
In Science, we are studying the phases of the moon. It is so exciting because our reading story for this week in our
WONDERS program is “Why Does the Moon Change Shape?” It is so fun when we cross the curriculum.
In Social Studies, we are continuing to study the Midwest region which consists of twelve states. We are also dis-
cussing automobile production in the Midwest region and the economy.
We would like to wish all of the students the very best of luck when taking the PARCC test. Please remember to
take your time and follow the steps listed above in order to be successful. We all are new to this method of test-
ing, therefore the best we can do is give our best effort and be patient.
Best of luck,
Mrs. Abeja & Miss Russell
Student of the Month
Room 11- Isaiah White
Room 13- Steven Solis
March Memory Book Sales
If you have not yet ordered a Memory Book for the 2014-15 school year, please do so as soon as possible. We
will be submitting our final count at the end of March. Books will be distributed the last week of school. You can
send an envelope with your name and room number, along with $20.00 cash or check made payable to R. E. Byrd
School. Order yours now to make sure there is a copy reserved for you!
Mrs. Abeja & The Memory Builders Club
NEWS FROM FIFTH GRADE
The fifth graders have been very busy practicing and polishing off their math and reading skills for the PARCC
assessment that we will begin to take on March 9th. Please remember to get enough rest the night before the test,
have a good breakfast the day of the test, pack a healthy lunch, and remember to try your best! Now is your time
to show off all the skills you’ve learned in 5th grade!
In Math, we have finished our unit on decimals. We learned how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals.
We are excited to move on to our next unit, which will be exploring measurement.
We are continuing to read fiction and nonfiction texts in Reading. The students will begin to examine author’s
purpose and will practice using text evidence. We have been learning about how to write to persuade, and will
soon begin producing a persuasive letter.
A big congratulations to the students who made their Six Flags Read to succeed goal. They read over 360
minutes, and will be rewarded with a free Six Flags admission ticket. Be sure you are still reading at least 20
minutes every night!
We are looking forward to our DARE graduation on April 2nd. The students have worked so hard learning about
drug prevention, and now is their time to celebrate all of their accomplishments!
Thank you for your support!
Ms. Kijak and Ms. Shannon
News from Room 17:
Congratulations to our February Student of the Month: Victor
Training Tuesdays were held throughout February. We have one more training day left. It is the first Tuesday
in March. It is a great way to review important concepts and skills in all subject areas in preparation for the
PARCC Exam.
PARCC Exams Begin the week of March 9th. Please make sure your child comes to school every day on time,
and is well rested. Please be aware that our schedule during the weeks of testing will be somewhat different
than usual.
In spelling this month, we will be working on Lessons 22- 25. Remember that students take a spelling test
every Friday. In grammar, we are continuing to study adverbs. The students are also continuing to write spon-
taneous essays on the laptops.
Thank you to Mr. Fialek for planning the sixth grade field trip to the Shedd Aquarium. The students had a
great time and learned a lot.
D.A.R.E. is continuing for the fifth graders.
As always, please remember to check your child’s Take Home Folder and assignment books daily. Corrected pa-
pers should be left at home. Also, it is important that your child is reading, studying spelling words, and practic-
ing multiplication facts every day.
Think Spring!
Mrs. McCormick and Ms. Affaneh
Student of the Month
5A Natalia Castillo
5B Ava Divizio
News from Sixth Grade
BUZZZZ Do you hear that? It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane….. It’s PARCC. Yes! we have been practicing
PARCC test questions in Reading, ELA, and in Math. We are carefully analyzing the text, questions, and evidence
to successfully score well on the test in March.
In Science, we are in the process of finishing off our Science and Technology book and moving into Environmen-
tal Sciences. We did an in-class project of standard measurements. We discovered the importance of having a
standard measurement unit. A student was selected and walked 4 normal steps and then I walked the 4 steps. Even
though we both walked four steps; my distance was obviously further. The students are now working on a project
of following measurements and designing a house.
In Social Studies, we are starting on the exciting Roman Empire. The first thing we are doing is learning Latin.
The students are learning that some of the basic Latin words are familiar words in the English language. Ask your
student if they can tell you some of the Latin words they are learning. Should be an exciting unit.
In Math, we have concluded with the Expression and Equation unit by taking a unit test. We will continue to work
on Inequalities and Functions. We will also be utilizing the St. Jude Math*a*thon practice worksheets as a re-
view of the major 6th grade math concepts. In addition, to the math practice, I will be emphasizing and encourag-
ing donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. (This is a great way to earn extra credit in math.) This hospital
treats children with cancer at no cost to the patient. All patients’ bills are taken care of from caring donators like
you and I. Please consider and give as much as you are able. It goes to a great cause! We will be collecting the
donations the week of March 16, 2015. Thank you for your support.
Our Student of the Month for March is Paula Adu Brafo from Mr. Fialek’s classroom and Alexander Spyrka from
Mrs. Hammad’s classroom.
Sincerely,
Mr. Fialek and Mrs. Hammad
MARKET DAY NEWS!
Our Market Day goal is to raise $1,000 to fund a K-6 presentation by Jim Nesci's
Cold Blooded Creatures. Thank you to everyone who purchased groceries in Feb-
ruary! We earned $56.81 for the students at Byrd School.
Receive a FREE 4-pack of ChicNSteakes when you spend $90 online and enter
MARBONUS at check out. Orders are due to school or online at marketday.com by 11pm on Friday, March 6th.
Pick-up is Wednesday, March 11th from 1:45pm-2:15pm.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Beginning with March's order, Market Day will no longer accept EBT/Food Assis-
tance cards as a payment option for purchases. However, Gordon Food Service (GFS) carries a variety of Market
Day products and will continue to accept EBT/Food Assistance cards on purchases made in GFS stores. Don't
forget to mention Byrd School at check-out. We receive 5% of Market Day purchases made in GFS stores.
The Speech Therapy Department
We’re all hoping that March does not live up to its reputation – “Comes in like a lion and
out like a lamb”. We survived enough “lion-like” weather in February to last us for a while –
freezing cold, 20+ inches of snow, and black ice to make driving challenging. Here are some
ideas of fun things to do while we continue to hibernate indoors. Board games, such as
“Monopoly”, “Candyland”, “Chutes and Ladders”, and “Life” are fun to play and provide an opportunity to teach many
skills. These games develop counting skills, turn taking, reading of clue cards, and vocabulary. Card games, such as “Go
Fish”, “Uno”, and “War”, increase our children’s math skills, turn taking, and sportsmanship. Lastly, having our children
cook and bake with us, provide them with opportunities to read and follow recipes, measure the amount of ingredients need-
ed, and increase understanding of number and time skills – setting the degree of an oven for baking, quantity concepts – make
two dozen cookies, the cookie jar is full/empty, and setting the timer for 10 minutes for baking cookies or brownies.
~Donna Dalton - Speech/Language Pathologist
Mr. Gamino’s P.E. Classes
With the winter season still upon us and the weather being cold, I understand why students are wearing boots to school; how-
ever, on days they have P.E. they do need gym shoes in order to participate in class. Days they wear boots to school, they
can bring gym shoes in a bag and they are allowed to change into them before class. Thank you.
The 4th-6th grade students have finished up hockey skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. Now we have begun our
hockey tournament which we will soon find out who will play in the Toilet Bowl this year!
K-3rd have been doing different activities in class. One activity has been Stations, where we practice different sport skills and
fitness activities at each station. Recently, we also participated in the Pacer Test. Our volleyball unit will be coming soon.
Literacy
February was a great start to learning about informational text. All grades learned about informational
text features and read non-fiction books. This will continue until the end of the year. In addition, all
grade levels spent a lot of time in the computer lab, when the weather permitted. With PARCC fast
approaching, grades 3rd-6th practiced their math and language arts skills on http://parccgames.com/
and http://parcc.pearson.com/. Your children visit these websites at home for more practice. The first week of March will
begin with all grades in the computer lab. The 3rd through 6th grade students will have one last week to practice their
PARCC skills. Kindergarten through 2nd grade will be practicing their keyboarding and Microsoft Word skills. Then the stu-
dents will begin working on their research projects. Here are the following grade levels and the subjects for their research
projects: Kindergarten-Animals That Grow Up, 1st grade-Community Workers, 2nd grade-Dogs, 3rd grade-Presidents, 4th
grade-Cultural Holidays, 5t grade-Mythology, and 6th grade-Decades /National Monuments. These projects will/may contin-
ue into the months of April and May. Good luck to all the students who are taking the PARCC test!
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Mrs. Catizone
Literacy Teacher-Byrd/Kennedy Schools
With increased physical activity inside and out doors be aware of the signs and symptom of a concussion. According to the CDC a concussion is a type
of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Concussions can also
occur from a fall or a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. Remember concussion symptoms do not always
show up immediately.
Symptoms usually fall into four categories:
Seek immediate medical attention when:
For more information visit the following websites:
nationalnutritionmonth.org, choosemyplate.gov, CDC.gov/concussion
Thinking/
Remembering
Physical Emotional/
Mood
Sleep
Difficulty thinking clearly Headache
Fuzzy or blurry vision
Irritability Sleeping more than usual
Feeling slowed down Nausea or vomiting (early on)
Dizziness
Sadness Sleep less than usual
Difficulty concentrating Sensitivity to noise or light
Balance problems
More emotional Trouble falling asleep
Difficulty remembering new
information
Feeling tired, having no energy Nervousness or anxiety
From the Health Department
Patrice Williams RN District Nurse
I know it’s hard to imagine, but spring is on the way! And with the warmer weather, budding flowers and changes in temperature we want to encourage
you to adopt healthy eating and daily physical activity habits in celebration of National Nutrition Month. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, this year’s theme “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle” focuses on consuming fewer calories, making in-
formed food choices and getting daily exercise in order to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of chronic disease, and promote overall
health.
When making food choices remember the USDA’s choose my plate recommendations:
Make at least half your grains whole grains Vary your veggies
Focus on fruit Get your calcium-rich foods
Go lean with protein
Headache gets worse
and does not go away
There is weakness, numbness
or decreased coordination
There is repeated vomit-
ing or nausea
Speech slurred
One pupil (the black part
in the middle of the eye)
larger than the other
Person looks very drowsy or
cannot be awakened
Having convulsions or
seizures
Cannot recognize people or
places
Person getting more and
more confused, restless,
or agitated
There is unusual behavior There is loss of consciousness (even a brief loss of con-
sciousness should be taken seriously and the person
should be carefully monitored)
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2
NO SCHOOL
Casimir
Pulaski Day
3
Cadet Band Lunch
Rehearsal
After School
Academic Support
3-4 Club Enrichment
School Tornado
Drill 10 am
4
Faculty Meeting
2:45-3:30 pm
No After-School
Activities
5 Concert Band
Lunch Rehearsal
After School
Academic Support
5-6 Club Enrichment
“Snow...sort
of...White” Reavis
Drama play
6 Byrd Spirit Wear
Beginner Band
Lunch Rehearsal
Seeds of Knowledge
3rd Grade Typing
7
8
Daylight
Savings
Begins
9 Cadet & Intermediate
Band Lunch Rehearsal
Recycling Club
Writer’s Workshop
1st/2nd/4-6th
1st Grade Technology
10
Cadet Band Lunch
Rehearsal
11 Band Lunch Rehearsal
Memory Book Club
Parent-Teacher
Involvement meet-
ing 6 pm
12 Concert Band Lunch
Rehearsal
13 March Mad-
ness Basketball
Dress Down Day
Beginner Band
Lunch Rehearsal
Seeds of Knowledge
3rd Grade Typing
14
15
16 Cadet & Intermediate
Band Lunch Rehearsal
Recycling Club
Writer’s Workshop
1st/2nd/4-6th
1st Grade Technology
17
St. Patrick’s
Day
(Wear Green)
Cadet Band Lunch
Rehearsal
18
Faculty Meeting
2:45-3:30 pm
No After-School
Activities
St. Baldrick’s @
LJH 6-8 pm
19 Concert Band Lunch
Rehearsal
20 Wear
Spring Colors
First day of Spring
Beginner Band Lunch
Rehearsal
Seeds of Knowledge
3rd Grade Typing
21
22
23 Cadet & Intermediate
Band Lunch Rehearsal
Recycling Club
Writer’s Workshop
1st/2nd/4-6th
1st Grade Technology
24
Cadet Band Lunch
Rehearsal
After School
Academic Support
3-4 Club Enrichment
25 Board Meeting 7PM
Band Lunch Rehearsal
Memory Book Club
26 Spring Pictures
Concert Band Lunch
Rehearsal
After School
Academic Support
5-6 Club Enrichment
27 Spirit Wear
Beginner Band Lunch
Rehearsal
Seeds of Knowledge
3rd Grade Typing
KDG Make &
Take 1-2:30 pm
28
29 Palm
Sunday
30 Cadet & Intermediate Band
Lunch Rehearsal
Recycling Club
Writer’s Workshop
1st/2nd/4-6th
1st Grade Technology
31 Cadet Band Lunch
Rehearsal
After School
Academic Support
3-4 Club Enrichment
MARCH 2015
PARCC testing begins March 9th and ends on March 27th
PARCC testing continues until March 27th
PARCC testing continues until March 27th