Words from Walsh November, 2022
Staying connected with Walsh School
Greetings from Principal Martin
Hello Walsh Families,
Welcome to Fall! I think the season finally changed for good, which is great news for me, as I love the autumn. I also love sharing some of the exciting things we've been doing in school. Look for some of the memories we captured on our field trips and around the building as you continue to read. Also in this month's newsletter, you will find information about the Child Lures Program, Parent/Teacher Conferences, and Walsh spirit wear, among other things.
Please watch for information coming home about the D92 Giving Tree, and help someone in need this holiday season.
I hope you have time to reflect on your blessings, and celebrate in some way with your family this November.
Happy Thanksgiving ~ Teresa Martin
SEL focus: from Self-Awareness to Self-Management
Important Dates in November
Mark Your Calendars
3 - Picture Re-Takes
4 - First Trimester Ends (Walsh, Reed, Ludwig)
4 - Spirit Day - Camo Day
6 - Daylight Savings Time Ends (Fall Back 1 Hour)
8 - Election Day - No School
11 - Veterans' Day - Regular School Attendance
11 - Report Cards Go Home
15 - Board of Education Meeting 7:00 pm
16 - First Grade Musical:
9:15 - Gauthier and Frankowski
10:15 - Manietta and Wise
12:45 - Dennis and Budds
1:45 - Polson-Buck and Carter
18 - Spirit Day - 80's Day
18 - School Improvement Day - Early Dismissal at 11:55am
21-22 - Parent Teacher Conferences - No School
Monday November 21st Conferences- 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday November 22nd Conferences - 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
23-25 - Thanksgiving Break - No School
Remember to call the office by 9:00 a.m. if your child will be absent or tardy.
Please be prompt for pick-up at 3:25 p.m. (2:45 p.m. on Wednesdays)
Office hours are 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. ~ 815-838-7858 www.d92.org
Please note: AM Early Childhood Hours are 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (11:00 Wednesday)
PM Early Childhood Hours are 12:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. (2:45 on Wednesday)
Walsh Spirit Wear
From Firetrucks to Daylight Savings Time ~ Safety First!
As we 'fall back' one hour this month, our attention turns once again on the safety of our students outside. Please take care when moving in our parking lots, at our bus stops, and at the street crossings by the school. Remember that the speed limit in the school zone is 20mph, and the use of cell phones is prohibited. The neighborhood speed limit is 25mph and it would not surprise us if the police department watches a little closer as the season gets a bit darker in order to keep our children safe. I would be remiss if I didn't remind you to watch out for those school buses on the roads, too. NEVER pass a stopped school bus with its stop arm out; it's for everyone's safety.
Thank you to the Lockport Fire Department and our fire fighter friends Ashley and Jimmy for teaching us all about fire safety!
A word about the Child Lures Program...
A word about the Child Lures Program…presented by our Social Worker, Dr. Duffy-Hook
Have you heard about ERIN’S LAW? On January 24, 2012, Erin’s Law was passed in Illinois, mandating age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education in grades pre-K through 12th grade. At Walsh School, we use the Child Lures Prevention Program which was designed by Kenneth Wooden to teach various ways to keep children as safe as possible from predators. This is a highly acclaimed, statewide, and research-based program. District 92 has been providing this program to our Walsh students even prior to the state mandate. It will be taught to our kindergarteners, and our first graders will get a refresher class from last year. At Walsh, only the introductory lessons are taught. Dr. Jackie Duffy-Hook, our school social worker, will be facilitating the Child Lures Prevention Program in every class. An in-person parent orientation will be offered the Monday evening of Parent Teacher Conferences. More details will follow. If you are a new 1st grade family to Walsh, you will be receiving a parent guide with your Parent-Teacher Conference materials.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
At the end of this month, we will be conducting our Parent/Teacher Conferences; you have the choice to be in person or virtual for your conference this year.
Please use this link to set up your Parent Teacher Conference: https://d92.meettheteacher.com/
If you need help making your appointment, please give us a call. Before your conference, write down any questions that you may want to cover with your teacher and present those during your conference. Please keep in mind we are on a tight schedule, and would like to have every parent meet with the teacher. We also ask you to be cautious in bringing your child with you to conference, as we will be discussing your child's strengths and areas for growth, and are sensitive to having these conversations in front of the child.
Please call the office if you have any questions.
Media Center News by Mrs. Rusick
The students have been working on internet safety and being a good “Digital Citizen”. We discussed privacy and making good choices when working on digital devices, along with always showing an adult if students have any concerns about their device or content.
Our Book Fair is returning this year! Parents have the opportunity to shop the fair during conference hours. The fair will be open to parents on November 21st from 1-8PM and on Tuesday November, 22nd from 8AM -12PM.
Prior to conferences, students will have the opportunity to preview and shop during school hours. We will be creating wish lists during Media times using the camera app on our iPads. This will be available to students only the week of November 14th through November 18th. Parents can send in money or set up a “Digital Wallet” for students through our Scholastic web link. This digital wallet can even be shared with family and friends if they would like to help students purchase a book.
The proceeds from this book fair will go directly towards Walsh school. This is a great opportunity to raise money for our school while providing great books for children and checking off some of those people on your shopping list.
Below is a link to our Walsh Book Fair, we also have a link on the LMC web site.
P.E. News by Mr. Wallace
Kindergarten News
We have been very busy in kindergarten. We have been doing a variety of math activities. The children have been very engaged while learning the following math skills:
· compose and decompose numbers to 5 and 10
· subitize numbers to 10
· count by 1’s and 10’s to 100- keep practicing to become a member of the 100 Club.
· identify missing numbers in a sequence
We have been reading some great books. After we read a story, we practice retelling the story. (What happened in the beginning, middle, and end of the story?) We will answer questions about the story and discuss the meaning of the following vocabulary words: author, illustrator, illustrations, character, setting, fiction, and non-fiction.
We are also learning how to write. We are learning how to write simple sentences. We have been learning the following punctuation marks: . , ? ! We are starting sentences with a capital letter, leaving spaces between words, and ending with a punctuation mark. We have also been learning how to use inventive spelling. Students are using what they know about letters and sounds to spell words. For example, students might write snez to represent the word sneeze.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be on November 21st and November 22nd. Please make sure you are signed up for either In-Person or a Virtual conference. We will be discussing your child's progress at that time.
Just a reminder, please have your child practice zipping/buttoning his/her coats and tying shoes. Now that we are using our coats more often to go outside for gym or recess, it is taking longer to get ready.
First Grade News
It is already the month of November, and we are well on our way with the first grade curriculum. Our first graders are really working hard! November is a month to be thankful, and we are so thankful for your support at home!
In our Schoolwide Reading Nonfiction Unit of study, we continue to learn the elements of nonfiction and how nonfiction is different from other genres. We will also explore various types of nonfiction texts. Students will learn all about the text features of nonfiction books. By reading and studying three types of nonfiction (reference, literary and biography), students will develop an understanding of various forms, features, and purposes of nonfiction. In addition, the first graders will continue to develop their own narrative and opinion writing pieces.
In math, we will continue with Unit 3~Adding, Subtracting, Counting and Comparing. Students are encouraged to master math facts and fact strategies for single-digit addition and subtraction facts. We will use various strategies to help students recognize number combinations, find the sum of two numbers, and compare two numbers to find the difference between them. We will also focus on developing place value, solve addition combinations to 20 and develop an understanding of the difference model of subtraction.
Don't forget to sign up for conferences on November 21st and 22nd. We look forward to discussing your child's progress in school!
Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends!
Early Childhood and Community Preschool News
The Early Childhood and Community Preschool students enjoyed a fabulous October and are excited about our new month. In November, we will work on the letters G and H, and new Bridges math concepts, including counting to 10 and beyond, as well as extending patterns. We will make several Thanksgiving projects and celebrate all those things for which we are thankful. As parent-teacher conferences approach, we are looking forward to sharing all the progress our students are making. Thank you for your continued support at home!
Our preschool friends had so much fun on their trip to the Children's Farm!
Music News by Mrs. Joanne Moan
What a month of music-making in the Walsh music room!
Early Childhood: The preschool students gathered nuts and acorns for the squirrels in a fun game. The students enjoyed moving in floating bubbles as a bird, turtle and a rabbit. The students sang some songs about spiders, including “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Spider on the Floor”. It was so much fun playing the drums too! This month, the preschool students will practice using our movement scarves. We will also be using our high and low voices with voice maps. Also looking forward to learning some new dances.
Kindergarten: We are finishing up our study of the farm and farm animals in music. We had to go “Hunt for the Cows” even when we were so hot and tired. Ask your Kindergartener to demonstrate the dramatic movement for you. We danced a great “Milk Bucket Boogie” and learned how to slide down the alley. The students met several horses this month, including “My Pony, Macaroni”. We listened for the change from high to low in music, and were able to identify the sound AND change our movements to match the music. We have started some pumpkin songs, like “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater” and “Pass the Pumpkin”. We also added ingredients to our “Pumpkin Stew”, a spooky (and kind of gross!) Halloween song. Who wants rotten eggs, stinky socks and shark teeth in their stew??? The students will be practicing some songs about Fall and leaves during November.
1st Grade: The first graders are busy learning about rhythm! We have been practicing quarter notes, eighth notes and rests, using the song “The Muffin Man” and making rhythms out of paper squares. The students enjoyed using the music room puppets, and helping them sing to each other. We practiced moving as a spider, and playing and singing several spider songs, including: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Legs and All”. We also played the song, “Big Black Cats” with our wood blocks and glockenspiel. The students are also learning about Veterans Day, and the service that Veterans have performed for our country. We are excited to share some wonderful music with you at our 1st Grade Musical performances on Wednesday, November 16.
Art News by Mrs. Deckinga
The first grade classes are also working on another seasonal project. They'll be creating leaves in relief. We'll be drawing different leaf shapes and then outlining them with glue. After the glue has dried, we'll add color and practice blending techniques with chalk pastels.
THE READING CORNER BY MRS. SENDERS, FIRST GRADE READING SPECIALIST
-- Motivating Kids to Read --
Studies show that the more children read, the better readers and writers they become.
But what can you do to motivate your children to read more regularly?
As a parent, you know that reading is important, and you probably feel frustrated if your child does not like to read. Many forces in children’s lives pull them away from reading – television, video games and after-school activities – but finding a way to incorporate reading and writing activities into your child’s daily routine may not be as difficult as it seems.
Try the following:
Learn more about your child’s interest and suggest books, magazines, and articles that relate to those topics.
Sometimes good movies are a starting point for pleasure reading – after seeing a movie based on a book, children will be motivated to read the book.
Sometimes travel sparks reading, and finding books that relate to a place you visit on a family vacation can get a child hooked.
Keep books and other reading materials in your home.
Read books with your children! Children of any age can appreciate being read to.
Be a good role model – let your children see you reading.
Making Math Count with Mrs. Romeo, Math Specialist
Spirit Sticks
Walsh School had fun filled October...... take a look!
Below you will find some sweet memories from the wonderful month we had...