Charlestown School Updates
For members of our learning community - Dec. 22nd, 2017
We've had a fun and exciting week!
Crazy Hair Day!
Kindergarten Holiday Projects
1st Grade Polar Express and Bells delivered from the North Pole
Gr. 4 Chorus Concert!
Gr. 4 Floral Arrangements with help from the High School Floral Design Students
Gr. 4 The Best Gift of all Writing...this is what this season is all about!!!
Happy Holidays from our family to all of our Charlestown Families
Students of the Trimester
Front row: Chase Bonang, Payton Weremay, Kaia Prescott, Braiden Duchesneau, Cailin Sefranek and Olivia Gray.
Back Row: Landree Anderson, Chase Truax, Ceilia Davis, Kurtis Pierce, Ben Fritz, Dustin Wiitala, Rose Christensen, and Anita Brown.
We will nominate different students at the end of each trimester for celebrations to be held in March and June.
Highly Capable Program - Accepting Parent Nominations in January
Highly capable students are often able to perform at remarkably elevated levels. However, for some highly capable students, there is lack of alignment between school performance and ability. All of these students exhibit high performance capability in intellectual, creative, and/or academic areas. The needs of many highly capable students can be met in the regular classroom. Yet, a differentiated program of instruction that occurs out of the regular classroom is required to meet the unique needs of some of these students. The curriculum will be compacted in at least one of their core content classes. Curriculum Compacting is an instructional technique that is designed to make appropriate curricular adjustments. It is the goal of the Chariho K-8 Highly Capable Program to challenge all highly capable students to perform at high levels.
In Grades K-4, students engage in individual or group, research-based learning. Students must commit to rigorous and long-term guided research that aligns with their grade level curriculum. Students will be able to choose a topic of high interest to them and go deeper into it and become an expert on that topic.
The Highly Capable Program seeks to identify students who:
• Have high intellectual, academic and creative thinking capability,
• Require out-of-the-classroom differentiated instruction,
• Need an intellectual peer group for inspired learning.
Students will be selected for the Chariho K-8 Highly Capable Program based upon the following criteria:
• Parent referral,
• Teacher referral,
• Academic performance,
• State assessment performance,
• Need for an out-of-the-classroom differentiated program.
Click this link to learn more and to get a referral packet.
https://www.chariho.k12.ri.us/elementaryhighcap
You can also email our librarian, Mrs. Jackson to request a referral packet
Executive Functioning Skills
Executive Function and Self-Regulation Skills are mental processes that we use to plan, focus our attention, remember instructions and juggle multiple tasks successfully.
Some of the skills include areas such as Organization, Working Memory, Mental Flexibility (sustaining or shifting our focus as needed) and Self-Control.
Here is a list of Executive Functioning Skills that students should have at various ages from Executive Functional Skills in Children and Adolescents by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
Kindergarten - Grade 2
- Run errants (two or three step directions)
- Tidy bedroom or playroom
- Perform simple chores, self-help tasks; may need reminders (eg: make bed)
- Bring papers to and from school
- Complete homework assignments (20 minute maximum)
- Decide how to spend money (allowance)
- Inhibit behaviors; follow safety rules, don't swear, raise hand before speaking in class, keep hands to self.
Grades 3-5
- Run errands (may involve time delay or greater distance, such as going to a nearby store or remembering to do something after school)
- Tidy bedroom or playroom (may include vacuuming, dusting etc).
- Perform chores that take 15-30 minutes (eg: clean up after dinner, rake leaves)
- Bring books, papers, assignments to and from school
- Keep track of belongings when away from home
- Complete homework assignments (1 hour maximum)
We also learned that students of this generation may struggle more with Working Memory because they play fewer games that require memory. Games, such as Cards, Old Maid, Uno, and Gin Rummy, help students to increase their working memory skills. Strengthening working memory helps students academically.
If you child is not able to perform many of the age appropriate tasks above independently, you may want to support your child with guided practice at home.
Attached are some games that we encourage our students to play at home (and we may be playing more of these as part of our learning at school)
Activities for Ages 5-7
Activities for Ages 7-12
Snow Reminders
Please send your child with the following items for active play at outdoor recess:
- Waterproof boots
- Snow Pants
- Warm Coat
- Gloves or Mittens (waterproof are best)
These are great items to request for holiday gifts. We also try to keep a few extras in the clinic for students to borrow. We appreciated donations of gently used coats, snow pants and boots. Thanks for your assistance!
Stop and Shop Rewards
Our school code is: #05917
http://www.stopandshop.com/aplus
Once you sign up, you don't need to sign up again.
We also encourage you to have family members and friends sign up. They just have to stop at any Stop and Shop. There are stores in RI, MA, CT, NY and NJ.
WE'RE RIDE COMMENDED !!!
Only 28 public schools in RI are Commended, and only 18 elementary schools.
Commended Schools are the schools that are the highest performing in the state. We have worked hard as a learning community to achieve Commended Status again and we are proud of this accomplishment!
# 4 Elementary School in RI for NECAP Science Scores
Additionally, the Chariho District scored as the #3 district in the state.
Lice Prevention Reminders
- Ask your child to keep their coat/sweatshirt in their backpack at school
- Remind your child not to share hats, clothing, hairbrushes etc. with classmates
- Ask your child if their head is itchy
- Check your child for lice at home using a bright light on various parts of their head.
December Character Trait - Gratitude
REMIND
Click this private link (you can't search for this group on Remind) to sign up to receive short text message reminders about school events, cancellations etc.
Signing up is free, easy and private.
Upcoming Events:
Tues. Jan. 2nd - First Day of School for 2018
Thurs. Jan. 11th - Early Release Day
Mon. Jan. 15th - No School - Martin Luther King Day