Elm Street School
January/February 2018
Elm Street Eagles S.O.A.R
S - Safe O - On Task A - Always Respectful R - Responsible
Principal's Message
We all want our children to succeed. Family involvement in a child’s school experience promotes academic success, decreases behavioral challenges, and increases commitment to learning. Raising children to be positive contributors to our community is a true partnership... we all must be involved in teaching and supporting our children's appropriate behaviors at school and in the community. School-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (often referred to as school-wide PBIS) is a model for creating a predictable and positive environment in which students can learn and grow. By implementing a program of consistent teaching of behavioral expectations, reinforcement, and appropriate consequences, our school can create a climate of success for all students.
Family communication and partnership are a source of strength and information where families are valued for their knowledge and understanding about their child.
Together we can aid our children to understand and display expected behaviors by identifying appropriate behavioral expectations, teaching those behaviors, and reinforcing them across all environments. Research shows that having positive behavior supports reduces suspensions, expulsions, and drop-out rates. Fewer students may be referred to special education for their behavior needs because they receive support early on to help manage their behaviors. Engaging families in this process is important because it helps to maintain consistency across all environments. When families are involved with their children's school in identifying appropriate behavior and are given the opportunity to participate in teaching and sustaining that behavior through the use of positive reinforcement, the outcomes are more likely to be positive.
As part of Elm's PBIS framework, we have established several clear expectations for the behavior we expect across all areas of the school (S.O.A.R.: Safe, On task, Always Respectful, Responsible). At Elm Street School, we provide student models of appropriate behavior, provide lessons in class, and demonstrate the school-wide acknowledgment system. Most of the time, students will get a thank you or thumbs up for demonstrating expected SOARing behavior. Sometimes, students will receive an eagle buck- please be sure to congratulate your child when you see these! Ask your child how s/he earned the eagle buck and be sure to send it back to school the next day. One class each month is elected as the Eagle Classroom of the Month for demonstrating safe, on task, respectful, and responsible behavior across all school settings. In addition, each month, one student from each grade is recognized as an Eagle of the Month for being a model eagle by going above and beyond on a consistent basis.
By teaching the expected behavior to students in a positive way, we provide common language for everyone in our school including students, teachers, office staff, support staff, custodians, teaching assistants, and you, our families. We believe that by helping our students practice expected positive behavior, we will build a school community where each individual will succeed and grow.
In the weeks, months, and years ahead, we will regularly share how we are learning expected behaviors across settings at Elm Street School. Your partnership is a key element to help all students S.O.A.R.!
Most Sincerely,
Principal
- Thursday, February 8: 2nd & 3rd Grade Science Night; 6:30pm-7:30pm
- Friday, February 16: Early Release at 11:55am; Staff Professional Development
- Sunday, February 11: Providence Bruins Day
Friday, February 16: Early Release at 11:55am; PD Afternoon
Monday, February 19-Friday, February 23: Winter Vacation; No School
Tuesday, February 27, PAC Meeting, 7:00pm
Thursday, March 1: Family Math Night at Elm Cafeteria; 6:30pm
Wednesday, March 14: International Family Potluck at Elm Cafeteria; 6:30pm-8:00pm (see attached flyer)
Friday, March 16: Early Release at 11:55am; Parent/Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, March 20: PAC Meeting; 7:00pm
Wednesday, March 21: Parent/Teacher Conferences; 6:00pm-8:00pm
Saturday, March 24: Elm Street School Parents Night Out at Walpole Country Club; 7:00pm
Wednesday, March 28: 4th & 5th Grade Science Night; 6:30pm-8:00pm
Friday, March 30: No School; Good Friday
MCAS for Grades 3-5
Nurse's Notes
This winter has proven to be a difficult one in regards to the Flu virus. Please refer to the CDC website click here for overall information about the flu.
Please remember, that if your child has a viral illness such as the “stomach bug,” they must be home for an additional 24 hours after ALL symptoms have resolved. This also applies to fevers, children must be fever free WITHOUT the use of analgesics (Tylenol/Motrin) in order to return to school. By following the school protocol regarding illnesses, we can prevent the spread of germs.
When you call your child in absent due to illness, please be sure to leave a message with specifics (fever, stomach bug, etc.) so that we can track trends and prevent the unnecessary spread of illnesses.
Vision and hearing screenings have been completed and letters were sent home to parents whose children did not pass the Health Screenings. Please update the Health Office as soon as possible regarding the follow up results with the doctor.
The weather is unpredictable this time of year. It could be snowy and cold one day and warm and sunny the next. Due to these weather changes our playground conditions can be messy. Please remember to pack a change of clothing in your child’s backpack including socks and underwear. It is amazing how wet and dirty the students can get out at recess.
Ellen Newman
Elm Street Nurse
School Attendance
It is imperative that the scheduled times for school are maintained, as missing even 5 minutes can be disruptive to a child's schedule. Our school start time is 8:15am which ensures a smooth start to the academic school day which begins promptly at 8:25am. Regular attendance and prompt arrival at school are essential for a child to make progress in school. If a child is absent or tardy, it is necessary that you send a note of explanation upon his/her return to school. Please call the Elm Street School attendance line to leave a message whenever a student is absent. If the school is not notified, the parent will be contacted.
Research indicates that consistent attendance has a strong correlation to a student’s educational progress. Families should plan vacations during school vacation periods to insure the continuity of teaching. It is impossible to replace classroom instruction with worksheets or other materials. Children miss valuable teaching time each day they are not in school. Teachers are not responsible for providing work if students take vacations during school time. If there are unusual circumstances and your child must be absent, make-up work may be given ahead of time. It is the responsibility of the child, with parents' help, to make up the work as quickly as possible.
Reminders:
- If your child is absent due to illness, please call our office 508-660-7374 on the morning of the illness to report your child's name, teacher, absence and reason for the absence.
- If your child is expected to be absent due to travel, please send an e-mail to Principal, Rebecca Brogadir, at rbrogadir@walpole.k12.ma.us stating your child's name, teacher, date(s) of absence and reason. Walpole Public Schools policy requires that travel is an unexcused absence; school work cannot be advanced before travel; and missed school work must be made up upon the student's return. Walpole discourages travel during school times.
Proper Dress at Recess
Each year at this time, we have students who resist the suggestion to dress for the cold. I have seen an increase of students wearing shorts during the winter months and coming to school without coats. This clothing choice is not warm enough for a 20 minute period of exposure to the cold. Students wearing sweatshirts only, or light fleece, or even shorts sometimes seem anxious for the recess period to end, and teachers are often conflicted about whether or not it is safe to send them out.
Therefore, I ask each of you to have your students dress in layers that allow for comfort in a warm classroom as well as outside on a cold, winter day. Unless medically excused, all students play outside for at least two 20 minute periods per day when the temperature is 20 degrees or above (with windchill). It is essential that students be prepared with proper layers and coats! When there is snow on the ground, students who are dressed appropriately will be permitted to enjoy the snow, so please send your child to school with boots, snow pants, winter coats, mittens/gloves and a hat for those occasions. As a school community, we value the unstructured free play time that recess enables, so we will go outside whenever it is safe to do so.
Welcome to our newest eaglet!
Please join me in congratulating Mrs. Pina and her wife who welcomed a new baby boy this December. Finn Pina is the newest member of our Elm Street family.
Elm Street Eagles SOAR
Eagles of the Month
Eagle Classroom of the Month- Ms. Spiniello's Class
Excellence at Elm Street School
Eagle Class of the Month Reward
Mrs. Farley’s fifth-grade class was selected as the S.O.A.R.ing Class of the Month for the month of December. They were chosen for consistently demonstrating expected behavior throughout all parts of their school day. The class chose time in the gym as their reward and selected to play “Jailbreak.” Congratulations!
Art News
Winter Landscape
Kindergarten Art News
Grade K students here are sharing their work with their classmates in a critique fashion. Classroom Students are first sharing positive feedback along with suggestions for improvement ideas. This is a good learning technique for students to see where they can take their art to the next level. It also, gives students a chance to talk in front of the class building confidence in expressing themselves. They truly do like to share as I have been observing. This is the first exposure for many of the students in weaving.
Grade 2 Show off Their Art Talent
Students in grade two are sharing work in progress of their organic and geometric paper collages, with inspiration from the French Painter Henri Matisse. We watched a video on Matisse in a cartoon version that the students really enjoyed. Matisse became a painter at age 22 and created mural size paintings. Later in life, due to an illness ,he was confined to a wheelchair but that did not stop him from creating. During this time period he did cut paper collages using both geometric and organic shapes. The colors and shapes he used were magnificent. He is truly an inspiration of someone who persevered in creating his art. When the chips were down he kept going and created some amazing art!
Music News
It has been a busy few weeks in the music room! In kindergarten we are learning about the difference between noise and music and what fast and slow looks, sounds and feels like! First graders are learning about the difference between a steady beat and a rhythm! In second grade we are getting ready to compose our first piece of music! We have spent a lot of time talking about what a composer is, and how to express ideas in our compositions. We have also been learning about Hawaiian culture, including a hula dance! Most recently we talked about two prominent instruments in Hawaiian culture, the Ukulele and the Ipu Heke. For more information on these instruments, check out the music website! In third grade students are working on earning their first belt on the recorder! Students have to master playing the notes B, A and G with proper playing position and quality tone (no easy feat). We are also working on learning about the lines and spaces on the treble staff. Students can find games in our google classroom! For practice and help check out the musicians corner on our website! Fourth grade students are also reviewing B, A, and G and working on our first class ensemble piece "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". There are lots of chances for students to choose their challenge in this piece! Fifth grade is getting ready to learn about the F and G major chords on the Ukulele. These chords use 2 and 3 fingers, so they can be tricky! These past few weeks we have mastered the strumming pattern and chord progression for Adele's song, "Send My Love". There are also plenty of Ukulele tutorials and resources on our music website!
For photos and updates on the music room, follow me @eschorrmusic on twitter, or check out the website for a live twitter feed!
To check out our website, go to this link: https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/elmstreetmusic
Hope to see you all there!
Ms. Schorr
Connecting Art and Technology
Grade 5 Geography Bee
Grade 2 Animal Projects
Cultural Art Presentations
Rick Goldin - Musician
Wingmasters
Discovery Museum - Earth Science
Upcoming Cultural Art Presentations for February
Grades 4 &5 - February 15th - Techsploration
Elm Street School Parent Advisory Council (PAC)
info@elmstreetpac.org
www.elmstreetpac.org
The next PAC meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 27th at 7:00pm in the Media Center.
Save the date for these special events
International Family Potluck
Wednesday, Mar 14, 2018, 06:30 PM
Elm Street School, 415 Elm Street, Walpole, MA, United States
Elm Street School
Email: rbrogadir@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: http://walpoleess.ss5.sharpschool.com/
Location: 415 Elm Street, Walpole, MA, United States
Phone: (508) 660-7374
Twitter: @elmwalpole