Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary
January Newsletter Volume 1 ; Issue 3
From the Principal's Desk
Dear Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School Family,
Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday and a restful winter break. A new year is upon us and it often brings new opportunities, celebrations and goals. As we continue our dedication to BELIEVE.BUILD.BLOOM, I would like for us to remember we are one family with one goal: Developing students into SCHOLARS!
With a fresh new year on hand, Bethune Elementary has some fresh new initiatives for all and increased learning expectations for students.
As we embrace a new year, I encourage you to reflect upon the following quote. "Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending".
Wishing you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2016!
Katrina W. Granger
Principal
Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday and a restful winter break. A new year is upon us and it often brings new opportunities, celebrations and goals. As we continue our dedication to BELIEVE.BUILD.BLOOM, I would like for us to remember we are one family with one goal: Developing students into SCHOLARS!
With a fresh new year on hand, Bethune Elementary has some fresh new initiatives for all and increased learning expectations for students.
- The school will receive a fresh coat of paint in all common areas. This is a month long project and will take place when students are not on campus.
- School wide goals will be posted throughout the building and will be available on our school website.
- Our reading expectations have increased. We expect for our scholars to be reading MORE and MORE every night. Kindergarten, First and Second graders are encouraged to read up to 25 minutes every night. Whereas, Third, Fourth, and Fifth grade students are expected to read up to 45 minutes every night AND practice math skills on the computer for 30 minutes using TenMarks.
- All of our students, K-5, should be enhancing their reading skills on the computer at home using iReady for 30 minutes. This is in addition to the reading expectations listed above!
- Parents we didn't forget about you! There will be multiple parent engagement opportunities to help you help your child succeed as well as a new updated website.
As we embrace a new year, I encourage you to reflect upon the following quote. "Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending".
Wishing you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2016!
Katrina W. Granger
Principal
Starting The Year OFF Right With READING!
As we begin a new year, it is the perfect time to make reading an every day routine in your home. Here are some tips that will help make reading a part of your every day life.
Unplug and Read
Set a time each day when the whole family can read. Unplug all video games, radios, televisions, phones, electronics, etc. and READ. The Unplug and Read Log was included in the holiday homework packet. Please complete the log each day in January that your family unplugs and reads and return the logs to school on February 1st.
Make a Cozy Reading Area
Make a cozy area where each family member has a space to sit or lay while reading. This can be inside or outside under a tree.
Read Just Right Books
Help your child choose books at his/her independent reading level. These are books that are just right. There are no more than two words on each page that your child needs help reading.
Read Everywhere
Read everywhere you go. Read greeting cards when shopping. Read signs as you are traveling. Read menus at restaurants while you are waiting for your food. Look up directions on how to arrive at your destination and have your child read them to you.
Create Books
Create books as a family to remember your trips, celebrations, or holidays. These books will be read again and again.
Embrace New Vocabulary
Discuss new vocabulary you learn while reading. Try to use the new vocabulary as a family when speaking. Celebrate when a family member uses a new vocabulary word.
Remember to enjoy reading, discussing what you read, and spending time together as a family.
STEM
Our STEM Lab engages students in inquiry based learning activities that will prepare them for both college and career. Our STEM Scholars have just completed their Robotics Engineering Unit using Cubelets (Modular Robots). Their design challenge was to create a robot that would perform basic functions as it solved a real world problem.
Looking forward, our scholars are ready for their next design challenge! Students in K-2 will design plant packages and students in 3-5 will design knee braces. Each unit will take about 6 weeks to complete and students will use the Engineering Design Process to ask questions, imagine their solutions, plan a design, and test their model.
Looking forward, our scholars are ready for their next design challenge! Students in K-2 will design plant packages and students in 3-5 will design knee braces. Each unit will take about 6 weeks to complete and students will use the Engineering Design Process to ask questions, imagine their solutions, plan a design, and test their model.
IB Learner Profile and Attitude Spotlight
January 5 - 16
Students show empathy, compassion, and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a difference in the lives of others and the environment.
January 19 - 30
Students are creative and imaginative in their thinking and in their approach to problems and dilemmas.
January Challenge
This month we challenge you to test your math skills using a deck of playing cards. If you do not have playing cards, you can make your own using index cards or sheets of paper.
The rules of the game are simple:
* 2-3 players
* Each player receives 16 cards
* At the same time, each player places a card on the table (face up)
* The first person to add the value of all the cards correctly keeps the cards
* The game continues until one player is left holding cards
The value of cards:
*Each face card (Jack, Queen, King) is worth 10 points
*Number cards are worth their value (ex: a 3 is worth 3 points, 7 is worth 7 points, etc)
*Ace is worth 1 point
The rules of the game are simple:
* 2-3 players
* Each player receives 16 cards
* At the same time, each player places a card on the table (face up)
* The first person to add the value of all the cards correctly keeps the cards
* The game continues until one player is left holding cards
The value of cards:
*Each face card (Jack, Queen, King) is worth 10 points
*Number cards are worth their value (ex: a 3 is worth 3 points, 7 is worth 7 points, etc)
*Ace is worth 1 point
January Dates to Remember
4th: Teacher In-service
5th: Students Return
6th: Bridges 9:30 am (Room 214) / Holiday Packets due
13th: Kennedy Space Center Field Trip (6:00am-7:00pm)
14th: Bridges 5:30 pm (Media Center)
18th: Holiday/No School
20th: SAC Meeting 5:45 pm (Media Center)
21st: Bridges 5:30 pm (Media Center)
28th: Bridges 5:30 pm (Media Center)
5th: Students Return
6th: Bridges 9:30 am (Room 214) / Holiday Packets due
13th: Kennedy Space Center Field Trip (6:00am-7:00pm)
14th: Bridges 5:30 pm (Media Center)
18th: Holiday/No School
20th: SAC Meeting 5:45 pm (Media Center)
21st: Bridges 5:30 pm (Media Center)
28th: Bridges 5:30 pm (Media Center)
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary
We are a World Class International Baccalaureate School and Green School of Quality dedicated to our belief that all students will learn at their highest potential in order to bloom into International Baccalaureate Scholars.
Email: katrina.granger@palmbeachschools.org
Website: http://www.edline.net/pages/Dr__M__M__Bethune_ES
Location: 1501 Avenue U, West Palm Beach, FL, United States
Phone: 561-882-7600
Twitter: @pringranger