Hydock Happenings
Principal Newsletter June 2017
What a Fantastic Year!
Dear Partners in Learning,
Another school year is coming to an end. What a truly amazing year it has been! I feel so fortunate to work in an environment where I get to witness the growth and success of children. Our students have made incredible progress this year. This could not have been done without the support of you; our families, and our dedicated and passionate teaching staff. Thank you all for a wonderful year!
At this time of year, I like to think back to the very first few days of school back in September. Watching our incoming kindergartners come into the building to meet their teachers for the first time, I could see the nervousness in some of their faces. Not knowing what to expect. Being away from mom and dad for a full day of school! These are the same students I now watch confidently walk into the building with a smile on their faces and a warm, “Good morning, Mrs. Cullari!” Many of our first graders have gone from beginning readers to reading chapter books. They are developing a true love for reading! They have not only grown in size, but they have learned so much this year. I am excited for what’s to come.
There are so many wonderful things I can say about this group of second graders. They are a magnificent group of students who have brought so much personality and fun to our school. I truly enjoyed seeing them each day and the conversations that we’ve had throughout the year. I am really going to miss them and I wish our second graders nothing but more success as they begin their journey at MTES. Please have them come back to visit!
Reflecting back on the entire school year, I am very proud of all of the terrific events we had that emphasized the celebration of individuals as well as the acceptance of all. Our Veterans Day celebration is always a highlight for me. During this celebration, we had many of our local heroes attend to be celebrated by our staff and students. I also particularly enjoyed our Autism Awareness month activities. Our culminating event had students and staff parading outside with pinwheels and banners that proudly displayed messages of acceptance. These are important life skills and character traits that I believe are so important to instill within our young children.
“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents. “ –Jane D. Hull
Last but not least, I would like to thank each of you. A school can be great but not without the support and involvement of the parents and families of the children. It has been a pleasure to partner with all of you this year and I am looking forward to our continued partnership in the future. I have been blown away by your involvement in your child’s education. Whether it was coming in to be a secret reader, being sure your child completed their homework, serving as class parents, getting your children to school on time, or attending events such as the school plays; you have been involved and supported our school and our students. Thank you for helping to make this another successful year.
I hope you all have a terrific summer! As you all are spending those lazy, hazy days of summer in various ways, we will be busy preparing for the upcoming school year. Therefore, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call us at the school. We will be here Monday-Thursday 7:30-3:30pm.
Be sure to keep your child reading this summer! I will see most of you back for the first day of school on September 7th (which will be a half day of school)!
Best wishes and good luck to those moving on to new endeavors.
Best regards,
Stacy Cullari
Principal JHES
Update of School Goals
As a result of small flexible reading groups, students will receive instruction designed to meet their literacy needs and result in fluent, "on-level" readers. This will be measured using the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark assessment.
UPDATE: 73% of JHES students are reading on or above grade level, according to the Fountas and Pinnell Instructional Level Expectations for Reading.
Students in grades K-2 will show growth by 15% in 21st century math skills as measured by the new 21st century My Math assessments.
UPDATE: 99.5% of students showed a growth of 15% in 21st century math skills as measured by the new 21st century My Math assessments.
Based on an increase in student writing time this school year, students will be able to increase their writing score by 10% between Fall 2016 and Spring 2017. Teachers will administer a pre- and post assessment and utilize the same rubric to score the writing samples.
UPDATE: 100% of students at JHES increased their writing score by 10% between Fall 2016 and Spring 2017.
Standards Based Report Cards
Responsive Classroom at JHES
Next year, we plan to focus on the importance of Positive Teacher Language and continue to incorporate the other practices of Responsive Classroom.
What is Responsive Classroom?
Shared Practices
Interactive Modeling—An explicit practice for teaching procedures and routines (such as those for entering and exiting the room) as well as academic and social skills (such as engaging with the text or giving and accepting feedback).
Teacher Language—The intentional use of language to enable students to engage in their learning and develop the academic, social, and emotional skills they need to be successful in and out of school.
Logical Consequences—A non-punitive response to misbehavior that allows teachers to set clear limits and students to fix and learn from their mistakes while maintaining their dignity.
Interactive Learning Structures— Purposeful activities that give students opportunities to engage with content in active (hands-on) and interactive (social) ways.
Elementary Practices:
Morning Meeting—Everyone in the classroom gathers in a circle for twenty to thirty minutes at the beginning of each school day and proceeds through four sequential components: greeting, sharing, group activity, and morning message.
Establishing Rules—Teacher and students work together to name individual goals for the year and establish rules that will help everyone reach those goals.
Energizers—Short, playful, whole-group activities that are used as breaks in lessons.
Quiet Time—A brief, purposeful and relaxed time of transition that takes place after lunch and recess, before the rest of the school day continues.
Closing Circle—A five- to ten-minute gathering at the end of the day that promotes reflection and celebration through participation in a brief activity or two.
Summer Reading
Keep reading over the summer!
Click on the link above for information about our summer reading program!
"Numerous studies indicate that students who don’t read or read infrequently during their summer vacation see their reading abilities stagnate or decline. "
Supply Lists for 2017-2018
Kindergarten List
o 8 pocket folders without prongs – any colors
o 1 1” 3 ring binder
o 1 pencil bag with 3 rings (for inside of binder)
o 8 large glue sticks
o 3 boxes of 16 or 24 crayons
o 2 4-pack dry erase markers
o 1 dry erase eraser
o 1 dozen pre-sharpened #2 pencils
o 1 box of 8 thick Crayola markers
o 1 pencil box – Sterilite – 8 5/8 x 5 ¾ x 2 ½ - any color
o 2 boxes tissues
o 1 Wet Ones Wipes
o 2 boxes of Zipper sandwich sized bags
o 2 boxes of Zipper gallon sized bags
o 2 composition notebooks – WIDE RULED
First Grade List
· 1 sturdy pencil box that snaps or closes shut
· 4 LARGE glue sticks to be replenished as necessary
· 5 colored folders – 1 each of yellow, green, red, blue and black
· 1 art smock – can be Dad’s old shirt (print child’s name on inside)
· Two LARGE boxes of tissues
· 1 hardcover composition notebook
· 2 boxes of crayons (no more than 24 count). No markers please!
· 2 box of 10-12 #2 yellow pencils (sharpened)
· 1 large eraser
· 1 old, clean sock to be used to erase dry-erase boards
· 1 box of black dry-erase markers
· 1 1” 3-ring binder
· Please no backpacks with wheels due to size and safety issues.
Second Grade List
· 3 hard cover composition books with lined pages
· 5 durable folders
· 1 single subject spiral notebook
· 3-4 glue sticks (to be replaced throughout the year as needed)
· 1 box of crayons (no markers or colored pencils please)
· 1 sturdy pencil box that snaps shut (8x5; standard size so it fits in their desk)
· 1 1inch binder with a clear front pocket
· 1 pack of black Expo markers
· 2 packs of 3x3 post its
· 1 pair of scissors
· 1 pack of pencils (to be shared)
· 1 pair of ear buds to keep at school; for use with Google Chrome Books
· 2 large boxes of tissues
· 2 containers of wet ones
· A backpack that fits in lockers (9 ½” x 11” x 26”) –no wheels
Celebrating Another Fantastic Year at JHES!
LLI/Reading Recovery
1st Grade Teacher