Chatter S'more
February 12, 2015
Important Dates
Februrary
26th - Math Bowl Competition @ 6:00 p.m.
26th - Drama Club Presentation @ 4:00 p.m.
March
2nd - 20th - ISTEP/Applied Skills Portion
11th - Art Show/Spaghetti Dinner
12th - PTA Meeting
16th - 18th - IREAD
20th - End of 3rd Grading Period
23rd - 27th - Spring Break/No School
Getting Ready for ISTEP
Students in grades 3-5 will be taking ISTEP practice tests next week. New this year, the English/Language Arts and Social Studies (Grade 5 only) portion of ISTEP will be completed online, so it is VERY important that students practice typing. Students have been learning and practicing keyboarding skills with the program Typing Instructor. This program is available for students to use at home. You can access it by using the following web address: http://valpo.typinginstructorkids.com/. The math and science portions of ISTEP will still be paper/pencil this year.
The applied skills portion of ISTEP will take place March 2 through March 20. Please be sure your child eats a GOOD breakfast every morning and gets plenty of sleep at night. Although the students receive ample breaks, it is a lot of work for them. Please reassure your child that no one is expected to know all of the answers. Just encourage him/her to their best.
Along with Typing Instructor, Study Island and Acuity are wonderful tools correlated with the Indiana standards that are assessed in the ISTEP. Please try and set aside some time every day to practice. There is a link to Study Island and Acuity on our website and your child knows his/her ID and password. See the link below to experience the online ISTEP assessment tool.
All of our 3rd-5th grade teachers are helping the students prepare for the ISTEP test. They are doing fun writing activities and some are drawing pictures of the ‘ISTEP Lady’. Please be sure to ask your child about the fun activities they are doing at school to prepare for ISTEP!
Kids and Sleep
Sleep and a bedtime routine are an important aspect to children’s health. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2012) 64% of children age 6-12 go to bed later than 9:00 p.m. According to The National Sleep Foundation, children age 3-5 years require 11-13 hours of sleep each night and children age 6-13 require 9-11 hours of sleep each night.
Ideally, your child’s bedtime routine should not take longer than 30 minutes. Setting a time limit on the routine and following the routine consistently helps your child know what to expect each night, therefore alleviating some of the anxiety that bedtime can cause. Research has shown that consistent bedtimes lead to children experiencing better sleep and experiencing better and calmer mood states throughout the following day. Consistent bed times also result in attention and ability to focus at school.
The bedtime routine should be a positive experience for both yourself and your child. Get necessary tasks like putting on pajamas and brushing their teeth done first so that you can then enjoy some time together reading a short story or listening to relaxing music. This is the perfect time to give your child an opportunity to talk to you about the things that are on their mind!
Some helpful tips:
Stick to a regular schedule.
Avoid caffeine and large meals before bed.
TV and video games should be avoided for 2 hours before bedtime.
Do not allow your child to nap after 3:00 p.m.
Encourage relaxation before bed.
Sleep aids such as a sound machine, chamomile tea, and lavender essential oil rubbed behind the ears may encourage sleep. The use of any supplement, such as Melatonin, should not be used without first consulting your child’s doctor. Sweet dreams!
BINGO
Operation Troop Treats
What is more relaxing than sitting down with a cup of coffee and a couple of cookies at the end of a long, hard day? The comforting taste of coffee and cookies helps our troops feel a little less homesick when they are overseas or away from home. Student Council is once again sponsoring a Cookies and Coffee Donation Drive for our American troops. Please donate boxes of packaged cookies and 1-pound bags of ground coffee starting Friday, February 20 and ending Friday, March 20. We are hoping to have 150 items donated to our troops for this drive! The military support group in Indianapolis will be boxing and sending our gifts to troops. Please leave them on the table downstairs as you enter the cafeteria area. Your generosity is GREATLY appreciated!!! Thank you for brightening a soldier's day!
Family Fun Night
Kindergarten Roundup April 16th
For Parents of Kindergartners of 2015-16
Each elementary will offer two identical meetings for roundup. Please choose the one that best fits your schedule. Children, who are entering kindergarten in the fall of 2015, and their parents, must make arrangements to attend. During the meeting, all students will be given an assessment.
The schedule is as follows:
Thursday, April 16, 2015 ● 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. or 1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Prior to Roundup
Complete Registration information online at www.valpo.k12.in.us. Select:
PARENTS tab, followed by;
Kindergarten Registration Information (under Welcome to the Parents Section)
Select Central
Complete all information and submit
Items to bring to registration
Copy of Child’s Official Birth Certificate
Copy of Child’s Current Immunization Record
Proof of Residency (Four documents are required)
Home Owner:
Mortgage papers or tax receipt, driver’s license, utility bill, and water bill
Lease Home or Apartment:
Lease agreement, driver’s license, mail (bill mailed to the home), utility bill or pay stub with current address
Important Information
Children must be five years old on or before August 1, 2015 to be eligible for the fall kindergarten class.
You must live within the Valparaiso Community Schools boundaries to register.
If you are unable to attend Kindergarten Roundup or for more information, please contact Central at 531-3030.
A Look Back
School Delay Information
SCHOOL-School normally starts at 8:45 a.m. When there is a delay, schools starts two hours later at 10:45 a.m. Students do NOT stay two hours later when there is a delay. If a delay occurs on a Wednesday, we go with a normal schedule and start at 10:45.
BUSES-Your child’s bus will come two hours after it would normally come. Example: Your child’s bus comes at 8:10 a.m. When there is a two hour delay, it would come at 10:10 a.m. If a delay occurs on a Wednesday, we go with a normal schedule so it would still come at 10:10 a.m.
WALKERS & CAR RIDERS: If your child is a walker, he or she should walk to school two hours later than they normally would. If you drive your child to school, just leave exactly two hours later than you would normally leave. When there is a delay, supervision is provided on the school porch for walkers and riders starting at 10:20 a.m.
LUNCH-Lunch is served at the normal time. The lovely lunch ladies estimate what they need and start making it before your child even arrives! Gosh, they’re good!
ACTIVITIES-All BEFORE school activities are CANCELLED for that day when there is a delay. After school activities will take place as usual.