21st Century Lion's Roar
January 2023..... Parent Letter
Welcome to January
Happy New Year...
I would like to welcome everyone to 2023. It is my expectation that our students will continue to demonstrate confidence, self regulation and endurance as we resume our daily pursuit of excellence in education. My staff and I have rested and are ready to lead our students to higher levels of academic success. Through the use of best practices, guided reading, differentiation and small group intervention, we expect our students to soar.
Our return to school will begin with two early dismissal days, Thursday, January 5th and Friday, January 6th. Please be reminded that the doors of 21st Century open at 7:50 AM and students will be dismissed both days at 12:30 PM. If I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at (708)-668-9490. Your presence, voice and support are welcomed here at 21st Century School, " Where We Come to Learn".
Quote of the Month
Alexandra K. Trenfor
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 5th
Thursday, Early Dismissal 12:30 PM
January 6th
Friday, Early Dismissal 12:30 PM
January 9th - January 13th
Monday - Friday, (Middle of the Year IReady Testing)
January 16th
Monday, No School, Martin Luther King Day
January 19th
Thursday, Early Dismissal 12:30 PM
January 20th
Friday, End of Quarter 2
January 23rd
Monday, Board of Education Meeting 7:00 PM
January 27th
Friday, Student of the Month Celebration 8:30 AM
January 30th
Monday, PTO Meeting 6:30 PM
Holiday Gift Giveaway...
December Students of the Month
Jane Leech Book Giveaway
Read deeper, like a detective, write like an investigative reporter
Parents can expect to hear the word “evidence” a lot under the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) — beginning in the earliest grades. Even very young children are expected to provide evidence to demonstrate how they know what they know. In kindergarten, for example, students may “show evidence” by pointing to pictures in a book they’re reading. In math, they may stack blocks to show that three plus three equals six. By the third grade, kids are asked to write argument papers with multiple reasons for their opinion, each with concrete pieces of evidence. Here's a simple explanation of evidence under the learning standards: “It means asking children two questions: ‘What is your evidence?’ and, ‘How did you figure that out?’ The point is to ask students to answer not just based on their thoughts or opinions, but on evidence in the text.”
WE WANT YOU...
You make a difference! Parent involvement is positive for everyone; there's even research to prove it.
Parent Confidence Parents who are more highly involved with their children’s education are more confident about supporting their children academically.
Dads Involvement by dads at school is associated with positive outcomes for children’s math and reading skills.
Behavior More parent involvement at school was linked to an increase in social skills and decrease in misbehavior among students.
Join us January 30th 6:30 pm Via Zoom your input is needed....
If you are dropping your child off at 21st Century please do not drop them off before 7:50 am. Our doors open to at 7:50 AM and breakfast is served between 7:50-8:15 AM. Our teachers begin teaching at 8:20 AM daily.
Math tips for every grade
Kindergarten: Munchy manipulatives
Do this: Place a variety of small food items — raisons, nuts, dried beans, crackers, grapes, berries, or whatever you have on hand — and ask your child to separate them into small bowls. Now have your child count three of each of the food items onto a clean surface. How many total items are there? How many will there be if he adds two more of each item? What if he eats two? Make the game low-key and playful. (Allow plenty of snacking!) Follow your child’s lead; maybe he wants to shape the items into faces, or divide them according to preference, or stack them into towers. Encourage him to count out the items as he plays, ask simple addition and subtraction questions, and point out number sequences. The goal of the game is simple: hands-on, and tasty, number fun.
First grade: Shape sensations
Do this: Make play dough with your child (there are easy recipes online). Have your child measure out the ingredients and point out the difference between a teaspoon and a tablespoon, a half cup and a cup. When the play dough is ready, help your child cut it into basic geometric shapes: squares, triangles, rectangles, and circles. Have your child identify the different shapes and ask questions about what makes them different: How many sides does a triangle have? How do you know that’s a square, not a rectangle? How is a circle different from the other shapes? Then let her squish all the shapes together into a blob and make her own creations. (For a delicious variation, make shapes out of cookie dough, instead).
Second grade: Money madness
Do this: Create a store by gathering canned items, toys, books and other household objects — or whatever your child wants to include. Then get some play money (or raid the Monopoly box) and write up simple price tags. (For easy addition and subtraction, make the prices round numbers like $1, $5, $20.) Then let your second grader start wheeling and dealing. Tip: Price items on the high side so your child will have to do more difficult addition and subtraction). How much will it cost to buy a $2 can of soup and a $15 stuffy? How much change will he get back if he gives you a $20 bill? What if he only has a $50? Take turns being the cashier and customer, and invite a friend over to double the fun. Extra fun: When it’s snack-time, open a café and "sell" apples, cheese sticks, lemonade, and a treat or two.
Third grade: Math wars
Do this: Play "Multiplication War" — a variation of the card game favorite — to help your child learn her math facts. Start by removing the face cards from the deck. The Ace represents 1. Deal the cards evenly between yourself and your child. Both players then place one card face up. In regular "War," the player with the highest numbered card wins the hand and keeps the two cards. The player who has the most cards at the end wins the game. In this version, the player who calls out the product of the two numbers multiplied together gets the cards. So if you put down a three and your child a six, the player who calls out "18" wins the hand. Start out slowly and give your child time to come up with the answer before you call it out. As she begins to learn higher math facts, you can add the face cards back into the deck. With time and practice, your child’s calculations will pick up speed. Watch out: she may even leave you in the dust!
Vision Statement
At 21st Century Primary School WE Believe...
- All of our students will learn at high levels.
- Educators are the key contributors to student learning.
- Education is critical to the future of our students.
- We will make a difference in the lives of our students.
Ms. Angela Starks, Principal
21st Century Primary Center
School District 163
1-708-668-9490
Serving others and changing lives daily..