Elm Street School
March/April 2018
Elm Street Eagles S.O.A.R
S - Safe O - On Task A - Always Respectful R - Responsible
Principal's Message
Despite the snow today, spring is here! We are all eager to get outside and play. This month, we celebrate Fitness Month and encourage all of us to get out and be active. Whether it's an organized sport like baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, or golf, or free play like biking around the neighborhood, shooting hoops, playing hide and seek, a friendly game of tag, or just hanging outside with friends; play and being outside are such critical parts of childhood.
However, hand in hand with childhood and play comes conflict. And nobody likes conflict! Undoubtedly, disagreements arise about teams, fairness, ability, rules of play... the list goes on and on. As adults, we are often called upon by our children or feel compelled to resolve these conflicts. Oftentimes, ending a game, separating children, or requiring "I'm sorry" are quick fixes. While we can be helpful in finding a resolution, there is also great opportunity and positivity in giving our children the tools and the time to resolve these differences on their own. As parents, we can often be most helpful by listening attentively to our upset children and helping them to discover how they can fix problems, make compromises, own mistakes, and move on in a positive way. As parents and educators, our greatest charge and challenge is to empower our children to be positive problem solvers.
Most Sincerely,
Principal
Parent Input-- Classroom Placement for 2018-19
The process we use at Elm Street School is both thoughtful and thorough. Classroom teachers, along with other professional staff collaborate to build the class lists. As principal, I approve the final placement decisions. Classroom placements will be e-mailed out to parents and guardians in August. Due to legal requirements for student confidentiality, only the teacher assignment will be e-mailed this summer; not the class lists. The staff and I appreciate your cooperation and support as we begin this process.
Tuesday, April 3: Grade 5 MCAS- ELA Session 1
School Council; 3:30pm
Wednesday, April 4: Grade 5 MCAS- ELA Session 2
Thursday, April 5: Grade 3 MCAS- ELA Session 1
5th Grade Dodgeball; 5:30pm-7:30pm (see attached flyer)
Friday, April 6: Grade 3 MCAS- ELA Session 2
Tuesday, April 10: Grade 4 MCAS- ELA Session 1
Wednesday, April 11: Grade 4 MCAS- ELA Session 2
Thursday, April 12: 5th Grade Variety Show; 6:30pm
Friday, April 13: Spring Picture Day
Monday, April 16-Friday, April 20- No School; April Vacation
Tuesday, April 17- Vacation Fun Day at Rock On Adventure; 4:00pm-6:00pm
Monday, April 23- School resumes
Tuesday, April 24- Raising Resilient Kids in the Age of Social Media; 6:30pm at Walpole High School
Wednesday, April 25- PAC Meeting; 7:00pm
Tuesday, May 1- District Art Show at Walpole Public Library; 6:30pm
Red Sox Order Form Deadline
Wednesday, May 2: All Town Music Concert; 7:00pm
Tuesday, May 8: Grade 5 MCAS- Math Session 1
Wednesday, May 9- Grade 5 MCAS- Math Session 2
Thursday, May 10- Grade 3 MCAS- Math Session 1
Friday, May 11- Grade 3 MCAS- Math Session 2
Tuesday, May 15- Grade 4 MCAS- Math Session 1
PAC Meeting; 7:00pm
Wednesday, May 16- Grade 4 MCAS- Math Session 2
Incoming Kindergarten Parent Orientation; 7:00pm
Thursday, May 17- Grade 5 MCAS- STE Session 1
Friday, May 18- Early Release at 11:55am; Professional Development
Tuesday, May 22- Grade 5 MCAS- STE Session 2
- Monday, May 28- No School; Memorial Day
MCAS for Grades 3-5
Nurse's Notes
Spring is here at last….I hope! With the warmer weather starting, seasonal allergies will be in full “bloom” as well! Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between a cold, and seasonal allergies, and whether or not it is appropriate to send your child to school. Children with allergies will often exhibit runny noses with clear drainage, watery eyes, and a cough. If a child has thick green or yellow colored discharge from their nose, it would be appropriate for them to stay home. If one eye has discharge, not both, this is more typical of a viral or bacterial conjunctivitis and a follow-up with your child’s PCP would be needed. Sometimes, even if a child’s symptoms are consistent with seasonal allergies it is best to let them rest at home for a day until their allergy medication begins to work effectively. And, remember to be effective, allergy medication should be given consistently as directed by your pediatrician.
Reminder:
If you received notification that your child failed the vision or hearing screenings; please update the Health Office ASAP regarding the results.
Ellen Newman
Elm Street Nurse
Read Across America Mystery Readers
Thank you to all our Community Mystery Readers who participated in Read Across America Week here at Elm Street School. It made us feel special that so many people from our community would take the time out of their busy days to come to our school to share their love of reading. Our guests included Superintendent Dr. Lynch, School Committee Member, Nancy Gallivan, Representative John Rogers and William Buckley, Principals, Mr. Hahn, Dr. Gough and Ms. Liner, Police Officers, Hart and Dolan and of course Rebel! Other special guests included Mrs. Grinavic, Mrs. Nathan and Mrs. Mortali.
Elm Street Eagles S.O.A.R
What is PBIS?
Many parents may have heard their child talk about getting Eagle Cash, sitting in the “Eagle’s Nest” golden chairs at an assembly, visits from our Elm eagle, or taking part in activities such as a dance party, mannequin challenge, or class spirit day when their class is recognized for positive behavior throughout the school. All of those things are part of our School Wide PBIS System.
PBIS Stands for Positive Behavior Intervention and Support. It is a program designed to teach respect, responsibility and best effort at school. At Elm, part of our job is to encourage students to continuously make good behavior choices through this program and to ensure that they clearly understand our school wide expectations.
PBIS provides teachers and other school staff with information to help prevent behavior problems and make school a safe learning environment. Research shows that the use of PBIS in school has resulted in increased time for instruction. It also increases positive behaviors school wide and decreases disruptive behaviors.
How Does It Work?
A PBIS school teaches the expectations to all students and provides frequent opportunities to practice. A PBIS school provides a consistent, predictable and fair use of consequences for all students. At Elm, we teach students what Safe, On task, Always Respectful, and Responsible look like in all school settings through our school’s PBIS Matrix.
When we see students meeting those expectations, we give them a specific thank you and sometimes Eagle Cash as a form of positive recognition, which also give them a chance to participate in school wide incentives mentioned at the beginning of this news article.
What Can Parents Do?
Read and discuss the Behavior Expectations Matrix that we will post and update on our school website.
Ask your child if they have earned any Eagle Bucks and ask them why they have earned them.
Review the behavior expectations matrix with your child if he or she experiences behavior problems at school.
Work on a plan to help students with strategies for appropriate behaviors.
Support teacher and administrative behavioral consequence decisions.
Discuss problems privately with staff.
Eagles of the Month
Eagle Classroom of the Month - Mrs. Fisher's Class
Excellence at Elm Street School
Art News
Grade one students did a remarkable job creating these awesome shape collages. Students spent a great deal of time learning to cut out a variety of shapes in different colors. They were challenged to fill their black papers with as many shapes as possible and getting them to fit nicely together. Many students worked very hard in making well crafted complex designs that took a lot of patience. They look magnificent!
Grade 5 Tile Project
Barnes and Noble Art Show
Student Council News
Wacky Wednesday
Dress as your Favorite Book Character Day
Throwback Thursday
Pennies for Patients Fundraiser
Kindergarten Family Heritage Projects
Grade 2 Living Wax Museum
Grade 5 Lettuce Planting with the Aggie
Music News
Did you know!?
March is Music in Our Schools Month! Research reveals that every human being possesses the potential to be musical. Children, therefore, can and should learn to make music with confidence, competence, and enjoyment at their own aptitude level. Because of this, Ms. Schorr views every child at Elm Street as a musician-in-the-making!
Why music is so important:
Music is embedded in the human experience in a multitude of physical, mental, emotional, cultural and spiritual ways. Music enhances our lives as individuals and as part of a community. And last, but DEFINITELY not least...music is fun!
This month to celebrate music we...
- Brought our Elm Street Singers to add to the amazing musical talents from our Elm Street families at the international family potluck!
- Invited our staff to join music and share in the fun.
- Were joined by so many of our incredible family members during music classes last week to share what we're learning and make some wonderful musical memories together.
- As a school reflected on who our favorite musicians are, and why music is important to us.
THANK YOU!
It was so wonderful to see so many families join music classes. Ms. Schorr and our students loved having guests in music this month. If you weren't able to attend this year, we hope to see you next year!
Ms. Schorr
Cultural Art Presentations
Grades 5 Lab Experiments with Techsploration
Upcoming Cultural Art Presentations for April
Grade 5 - Abigail Adams - April 11
Grade 1 - Explore the Ocean - April 25
Elm Street School Parent Advisory Council (PAC)
info@elmstreetpac.org
www.elmstreetpac.org
The next PAC meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 25th at 7:00pm in the Media Center.
International Potluck Dinner
Science Night for 4th and 5th grade
Parents Night Out
Save the date for these special events
Vacation Week Fun at Rock On
Tuesday, Apr 17, 2018, 04:00 PM
Rock On Adventure, Pleasant Street, Norwood, MA, USA
Elm Street School Fundraiser
Join the Elm Street School for some fun at Fenway Park! We have secured a block of tickets for the June 5th game so get your seats now and cheer on the Red Sox alongside the Walpole community and support our fundraising efforts - a portion of the proceeds will go the Elm Street School. Order Here!
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