All-Star Announcements
What's Happening at Venable, January 2020
Happy New Year!
Welcome back to the second half of the school year! Our second quarter ends on January 17. Students will dismiss at 12pm noon on Friday, January 17, and we have no school on January 20-21. The official second half of the school year, the start of 3rd quarter, begins on Wednesday, January 22. Report cards will go home on January 30.
Movement Sculptures
During 3rd quarter, 4th graders sketched people in motion and then turned those sketches into aluminum foil sculptures. These four students presented their projects at our December school-wide morning meeting.
The Bear Snored On
Staff members performed a repeat of their popular readers theater from Reading Night at the SWMM on Dec. 20. Pictured, Ms. Shelton, narrator; Mr. Nussbaum, bear; Ms. Tatel, rabbit; Mr. French, mouse.
Strength in Numbers
Calvin Earl (third from right) performed for our staff on Dec. 19 and demonstrated the power of locking arms while singing and protesting racial injustice during the Civil Rights Movement.
Centering Breaths & Movement
The leadership club had a guest yoga instructor for a Saturday session. The students enjoyed learning new breathing techniques and exercises, as well as doing some team building.
Hour of Code
We've been observing Hour of Code with Ms. Amasia this week in each class. Students have been designing, building, and programming. Lots of fun!
iSTEM/Math Night January 16
Ready to put your engineering thinking caps on? Join us for a variety of problem-solving activities and good family fun on Thursday, January 16 for iSTEM/Math night. Learn about the kinds of inquiries students are making in the lab and different games you can play at home to reinforce foundational math concepts. As a follow-up to our October PTO meeting about our math curriculum, we hope you'll come out to learn about the ways students are engaging with mathematical studies. Stations and activities will begin at 5:30, with dinner afterwards. Please remember to bring your reusable water bottles to help keep cups out of the landfills!
Golden Apple Nominations
Please consider nominating an awesome All-Star teacher for the annual Golden Apple award. This is a wonderful way to show the community how amazing our staff is and to express appreciation for specific things that teachers are doing to engage and empower our students. Nominations are due to Dr. Kershner by January 23.
Criteria for the nominations include:
- Creates a love of learning in students of all abilities and backgrounds
- Stimulates thought and promotes student dialogue
- Challenges students to reach high standards and expectations
- Understands the needs of students individually and collectively, and meets those needs with determination, imagination, and enthusiasm
- Involves families in the education process
Midyear Assessments
January 17 marks the end of our 2nd grading period, and the weeks on either side of that date are reserved for mid-year assessments. End of term tests will be given in reading and math to students in grades 2-4. All students will have spelling/phonemic awareness assessments and will complete an end-of-unit on-demand writing sample. We are trying to avoid disrupting our reading support schedules, but a few reading groups may be disrupted temporarily as the reading team helps with some of the assessments that need to be given 1:1.We will administer the MAP assessments in both reading and math to grades 2-4 during the last week of January.
After-School Activities in January
EBL, Yearbook, and Leadership clubs have an extended break until January 27. No after-school activities (except for CLASS) until the week of January 27.
Super Star Crew Application Round 2
Students who missed last summer's deadline to apply for Super Star Crew will have a chance to apply for 2nd semester. Dr. Dias will hand out applications to interested students and they are due back to her on January 17. Interviews will be scheduled for the week of January 20. All Super Star Crew members will have a chance to indicate their preference for new jobs second semester.
Ms. Redden's Newsletter
January Events
Monday, January 13
- PTO Meeting, 6pm in the library. Special guest, Denise Johnson, division Equity Coordinator.
- PTO Chipotle Night (Barrack's Road shopping center), 6-9pm. Spread the word! Mention Venable when you order.
Wednesday, January 15
- 1st and 2nd grades to Paramount, 11:30am-1:45pm
- iSTEM/Math Night, 5:30-7pm
- End of 2nd Quarter. Early dismissal, 12pm noon
- Applications for new Super Star Crew members due to Dr. Dias
- School closed for MLK Holiday and teacher workday
- 4th grade field trip to Paramount, 12-2pm
- EBL resumes
- MAP testing in grades 2-4 this week
- Report cards sent home in Thursday folders (return envelope signed)
- School-wide Morning Meeting, 8:05am in the gym
- PTO Bingo Night, 5:30-7:00pm in the gym