Memorial Buzz
News from Manchester Memorial Elementary School!
October 30, 2015
Principals Note...
Many parents I speak to are not aware that social media apps/sites have a minimum age requirement. This is easily sidestepped by children simply through clicking a button to say that they are above the minimum age. Most popular social media sites require users to be at least 13 years old. This includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, etc. It is not recommended that children under the age of 13 have access to these sites/apps.
To make things even more challenging for us as parents, it is near impossible to keep up with all of the social media sites out there. They are growing as fast as we can learn about them. Each one, unique in its own way, seems to be more and more concerning for children. The list above does not include sites such as "Yik Yak" or "Periscope" which are newer to the market and popular with adolescents.
Here is a link to some tips to help you navigate this ever-changing cyber world:
Social Media Safety Tips for Parents
Have a great weekend!
Best,
John
Upcoming Dates...
28 - Noon Dismissal - Parent-Teacher Conferences
November
3- No School - Parent-Teacher Conferences
11 - Veteran's Day - No School
16 - School Photo Re-takes
25 - Early Release - TIme TBA - (Thanksgiving Recess)
26/27 - Thanksgiving Recess
December
18 - All-school Winter Concert @ MMES - Time TBA
22- Chorus/Band Winter Concert @ MERMHS - 7pm
23 - Noon dismissal for Winter Recess
January
5 - Students return from Winter Recess
29 - Grade 4 to Cape Ann Symphony at MERMHS Auditorium
Help Wanted
VEGETABLE GARDEN: We are looking for some parent volunteers to help out with the MMES Vegetable Garden and Greenhouse. Contact Mrs. Morgese (morgesek@mersd.org) if you are willing to help out!
BEAUTIFICATION: We are looking for some parent volunteers to help beautify the school entrance with decorations, plants, flowers, etc. Contact Mr. Willis (willisj@mersd.org) if you are able to help take a lead on this. Thanks!
Homework Club...
Homework Club
HOMEWORK CLUB - MONDAYS from 3-3:30 started this week! It's not too late to sign up! Go to Ms. Silag's website for more information and to print out sign up sheet: http://www.schoollibrarybythesea.yolasite.com/homework-club.php
Mathematics Corner
Everyday Mathematics – The NEW Edition!
What is the Same?
Everyday Mathematics and the Common Core State Standards remain closely aligned. Both aim at developing all students’ mathematical power –their ability to reason, communicate, and solve problems. Both also aim at fostering productive dispositions in students – a belief that mathematics is worthwhile, an inclination to use the mathematics they know to solve problems they face, and confidence in their own mathematical abilities.
Everyday Mathematics continues to bring rigor to school mathematics by building procedural skill, conceptual understanding, and application. Knowing efficient procedures affords mathematical power, making it possible to solve a whole class of problems with a single method. Fluency with a procedure makes it possible to execute it automatically, which frees up cognitive capacity for higher-level thinking. And knowing procedures well makes it possible to connect that procedure with other procedures and with related concepts in robust networks of interconnected knowledge the supports depth of learning.
Conceptual understanding is equally important. Students need to not only understand how but why. Procedural skill without understanding is inflexible and unreliable. The mutual dependence of conceptual understanding and procedural skill has been widely recognized for many decades. What has not been so widely recognized is that applying mathematics is equally important. Among the many reasons for teaching mathematics, perhaps the most important is its utility, its effectiveness for modeling the world and solving problems. Knowing concepts and procedures is of little value if that knowledge cannot be put to use. The balance of these three aspects of rigor –procedural skill, conceptual understanding, and application –has always been fundamental to Everyday Mathematics.
The spiral curriculum, another key feature of Everyday Mathematics, remains strong. Students K-5 develop depth of knowledge by repeatedly returning to topics over time, making connections and going deeper with each return.
What is Different?
A key feature of the Common Core is its call for a more focused curriculum that is narrower so that is can be deeper. This edition of Everyday Mathematics has been rebuilt from the ground up so that it achieves focus by adhering closely to the Common Core’s Content Standard as well as the Standards for Mathematical Practice. The finely grained tracking of the standards has made it easier for teachers to accurately assess and follow students’ learning trajectories in order to provide effective instruction and differentiation.
The new edition of Everyday Mathematics also now includes open response lessons. Open response problems are tasks that have multiple solution paths and often have more than one solution. They offer students rich opportunities to solve engaging problems using their own strategies and reasoning. These two-day lessons include a day for students to solve a challenging problem, followed by a day for students to analyze and learn from the solution of others and then revise their own work from the first day. Kindergarten students are introduced to the process of analyzing and learning from others’ work, but they are not expected to revise their initial responses.
Except for the first section of Kindergarten, there is one Open Response and Reengagement lesson in each unit of K-5 Everyday Mathematics. Every other unit also includes a formal open response assessment.
Parent Link
Would you like quick, easy access to home links and family letters? Would you like to understand Everyday Mathematics better? Below is a link for just for parents. When you navigate to this page, click on your child’s grade in the left menu bar. Then be sure to click EM4 at home, so you are using the correct edition. Also be sure to check out “Understanding Everyday Mathematics.” There are some great resources here.
Announcements from our Friends
PTO: Tapes for Education
Do you ever shop at Crosby's? We sure do! Please join us, as Manchester Memorial once again participates in the "Tapes for Education" program with Crosby's Market! Simply bring or send your Crosby's register receipts in to school. There is a red Crosby's bin by the office. The PTO will collect and submit them for FREE equipment, such as computers, printers, AV and athletic equipment, for Memorial School. Thank you for participating in this great, easy program!
In Case You Missed It...
Poetry Contest!
2015-16 GCFM
POETRY AND ESSAY CONTEST
Scientists say that frogs are the most visible (and vocal) indicators of the health of the environment. In a healthy woodland or pond, they're all around you. When their ecology is upset, the frogs disappear.
The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts and the National Garden Clubs, Inc. are sponsoring two frog-themed competitions to develop and creatively express environmental awareness. The competitions are open to all area students, and prizes range from the opportunity to see the winner's work published, to scholarships.
"Don't Let the Frogs Croak"
The theme of the 2015-2016 NGC High School Essay Contest
The High School Essay Contest is open to ninth through twelfth grade students. The essay must be 600-700 words, typed and titled and should explain the environmental concerns implicit in the theme and add personal ideas or solutions. A single garden club, group of member clubs, councils or districts, or a State Garden Club must sponsor the contest. Entries must include the following: name, address, phone number, high school, grade list of activities, and sponsoring garden club.
State prizes: 1st Place - $200.00; 2nd Place - $100.00, 3rd Place - $75.00
National prize: A $1,000.00 National Garden Club Scholarship will be awarded to the National winner.
Entries must be submitted to the sponsoring garden clubs no later than November 24, 2015, and the Poetry and Essay Committee must receive all entries for judging by December 1, 2015. Please send entries to GCFM Essay Contest Chair Jeannie McIntyre, c/o Manchester Garden Club, P.O Box 531, Manchester-by-the Sea, MA 01944.
Questions? Contact Jeannie McIntyre at Jeannie.d.mcintyre@gmail.comor 978-526-1156.
Complete rules and National prize information are available at the National Garden Clubs website: www.gardenclub.org and check under Youth Programs.
"Croaking Leaping Frogs"
The theme of the 2015-16 NGC Poetry Contest
The Poetry Contest is open to all students in kindergarten through ninth grade. The poem can be in traditional verse or any poetic form. What is important is the poem explores the theme. The winners will have their poems published in a book to be sponsored by National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Entries must be typed and titled. On the back of the entry please include: name, address, age, grade, participant's school, and sponsoring garden club. The sponsoring garden club may be that of a grandparent.
Entries must be submitted to the sponsoring garden clubs no later thanNovember 24, 2015, and the Poetry and Essay Committee must receive all entries for judging by December 1, 2015. Please send entries to the GCFM Youth Poetry Contest Chair Jeannie McIntyre, Manchester Garden Club, P.O. Box 531, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944.
Questions? Contact Jeannie McIntyre at Jeannie.d.mcintyre@gmail.comor 978-526-1156.
Complete rules are available at the National Garden Clubs website:www.gardenclub.org and check under Youth Programs.
Spaulding Night of Stars
Mark your calendars! Spaulding Education Fund's Annual NIGHT OF STARS will be on Sunday, November 15, 2015!
Audition dates are Tuesday, October 20 from 4:30-7pm and Saturday, October 24 from 9-11am so sign up TODAY at www.spauldingeducationfund.org!
We are looking for all talent of all ages! So start practicing that dancing, singing, juggling, instruments, magic acts, dramatic dialog, the spoons, jamming with your band, … whatever your talent we want to see it! Students from Manchester and Essex, who are Kindergarteners through High School Seniors are invited to audition. And new this year – parents and teachers from Manchester and Essex are invited to Audition too! Adults can perform with their children/students or alone.
The “Night of Stars Talent Show” is Spaulding Education Fund's largest fundraising initiative of the year, raising the vital funds needed to support their mission of advancing educational excellence in the Manchester Essex regional schools.
From the Art Room
PTO Fund Raiser
The PTO Original Art works fund raiser art work has been completed in every class. Students made a painting or drawing that will be summited to the Original art works company and printed onto items you will be able to purchase for the holidays. Please look in your child’s back pack for more information and how this program raises money for the PTO.
For more art room news go to:
Health Room Headlines
1. If your child is going to be absent or arriving late, please call either 526-1909 or 526-1908 to let us know.
2. If your child has a temperature of 100. F or over, they need to be temperature free for 24 hours (without relying on Tylenol or Motrin) before re-entering the school.
3. If your child is experiencing diarrhea or vomiting, we recommend that they are symptom free for 24 hours and are able to tolerate solid food before they return
4. If your child has a contagious illness such as conjunctivitis or strep throat, it is the school policy that they are on medicine for 24 hours before re-entering the building.
5. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL CLASSROOMS ARE PEANUT/NUT FREE
Physicals:
Updated physicals and immunization records are due for grades one, four and for all new students in grades 1-5. An updated physical is one that is not older than one year. Any physical completed or to be completed on your child since June 2015 and June 2016 is acceptable. Please do not go and make a new appointment. Just send me a copy of the physical when it is completed
Extra Clothing: ALL GRADE LEVELS
Occasionally a spilled drink, a fall in a puddle or even a ride down a wet slide occurs, if each child could have a change of clothing (head to toe) that would be great.
Thank you for your co-operation and continuing support.
Joanne Seaman, R.N.