Bear Tracks
March 8, 2019
Note from the Principal:
Dear Staff,
This week's message is a simple one:
Thank you!
I appreciate the way that you conduct yourselves professionally in district communications, meetings, and workshops. I appreciate that you are flexible in 'going with the flow' to allow for special presentations [having our own students share information about the Sikh religion with their peers was awesome today by the way!]. I appreciate that so many people were willing to grab knives, cut bagels and scramble to help distribute unexpected breakfast treats in the second session. I appreciate that you problem solve when we run into snags or issues. I appreciate that you make our kids feel great about reading learning. I appreciate that you work with parents when things are going great and when students need support. And I really appreciate the sense of family to which each of you contributes each day at Bear Tavern.
Thank you for making our school special. It's not easy!
Keep it up.
Happy Friday.
Sincerely,
Chris
Coming Up:
Friday 3/8 - Story Book Pirates Assembly (PM Schedule)
Saturday 3/9 - St. Baldricks!
Sunday 3/10 - Daylight Savings
Week of 3/11/19:
Kids Heart Challenge (formerly Jump Rope for Heart) introduced in PE
Monday 3/11 - Elementary Focus Group Meetings
Tuesday 3/12 - GrandPals
Wednesday 3/13 - 3rd Grade to Public Library
Thursday 3/14 - Hupp St. Patrick's Day Party (10:30 & 1:30)
Thursday 3/14 - Round 2 voting (16 books to 8)
Friday 3/15 - WEAR GREEN (St. Patrick's Day) & PreK Collab Day
Friday 3/15 - End of 2nd Trimester
Week of 3/18/19:
3/18 - 3/22 - Circus Yoga Week for 5th Grade.
Monday 3/18 - Early Dismissal (PD)
Tuesday 3/19 - College Shirt/Sweatshirt Day
Tuesday 3/19 - GrandPals
Thursday 3/21 - Lots of Socks Day (Down Syndrome Awareness)
Thursday 3/21 - Round 3 voting (8 books to 4)
Friday 3/22 - 1st Grade Read In (9:30 am)
* Friday 3/22 - School-Wide Circus Yoga Performance 2:15 pm (PM Special Schedule)
Saturday 3/23 - PTO Spring Color Run
Week of 3/25/19:
Monday 3/25 - Dan Kassel Assembly
Tuesday 3/26 - GrandPals
Thursday 3/28 - I&RS
Thursday 3/28 - Voting (4 books to 2)
Friday 3/29 - LIVE read aloud and championship vote
Friday 3/29 - K Spring Celebration 1:30
SPRING BREAK!
Key Information:
- Road to the Reading Final Four - We start voting today. The shortened link is: https://goo.gl/gdaq1j (remember to remind students: 1 vote each). Here are the Brackets, Here is a list of Twitter handles of authors, and Here is the record sheet. Remember that even once books are 'out' the read aloud are still great resources and the books have tons of potential as mentor texts. THANK YOU everyone for making this exciting and awesome! Who knew?.. Kids have been excited to read and talk about books - that is because of your commitment! When you tweet about books/reading don't forget to include the author's twitter handle when possible and the hashtag #BearTavernReads and #BearTavernPride when you can.
- Tables - there are 10 wheeled tables in the 'server room' next to the library. There is a work order to have them disposed of. If you could use one or some, take a look and let me know asap. Once they are gone, they are gone!
- Kids Heart Challenge - Formerly 'Jump Rope for Heart' will take place in the PE periods. It will be introduced Monday 3/11. Reach out if you have any questions.
- Students in the hallway/clusters - We've mentioned this one before, but it is a good time for a reminder - if a student is working one to one with a staff member and is in the hallway or a cluster, and is exhibiting a 'behavior' (talking/yelling, laying down, crawling, etc.) do your best to not engage that student. By engaging, even in a helpful manner, we may be giving attention to negative behaviors. If you want to help, just ask the staff member if she/he needs help and go from there. Thank you!
- For Your Reading Pleasure - Blueprint of New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) [formerly PARCC] CLICK HERE to read. Dates this year: Science [5th grade only] May 8 & 9. ELA - May 15, 16 & 17, Math - May 20 & 21. (May 15 is a correction from what was stated at this week's fac meeting)