Bulldog Bulletin
September 29, 2017
Important Movie Night Info
Dear Bulldog Families,
New Britton has been a BUSY place regarding teaching and learning! Hopefully you are hearing about and seeing learning evidence from your student. Our readers are digging into the reading life: building stamina, talking about books/text with classmates, responding to reading through writing, and engaging in deeper thinking through comparing story and text elements. I enjoyed hearing 4th graders discuss how characters change over time when I visited a class this week. Our mathematicians are also deep into mathematical thinking as we immerse ourselves in our new Everyday Math resource. I am impressed with some of the math vocabulary and concepts that students are learning in all grade levels. I stepped into a kindergarten classroom in which students were comparing two different shapes. They determined that both shapes were rectangles based on different attributes. Mathematicians were not only able to describe the shapes but also use explicit vocabulary like vertices! One benefit of this research-based resource is that it introduces concepts earlier than we typically might, but then the concepts continue to spiral throughout the year and among grade levels.
Official 2016 ISTEP scores were recently released. New Britton only has two grade levels taking this statewide assessment, 3rd and 4th grades.
The following were our scores:
3rd Grade: 86.0% Pass Language Arts and 78.7% Pass Math
4th Grade: 86.5% Pass Language Arts and 84.5% Pass Math
These scores are in the top half of the elementary score in our district; I am proud of our teachers and students for their achievement. We have targeted math problem solving as one of our goal areas. Our grade level Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are implementing math quarterly assessments this year and using the results to inform their teaching so we can assist students in persevering with multiple step, challenging math problems. We are also using our new Lucy Calkins’ Reading Units of Study to better differentiate for and meet students’ reading needs.
At this point you should have received information from your student’s teacher regarding Parent-Teacher Conferences. The majority of our conferences will be held the weeks of October 23rd and October 30th. Please contact your student’s teacher with any scheduling questions you may have. Our first 9-week grading period ends October 6th. Grades will be available to parents through Skyward Family Access as of October 13th.
New Britton is next on the Hamilton Southeastern Schools docket for renovation. Our goal is to create an environment that functions as the third teacher and promotes 21st Century learning. We have already started the planning process with Fanning and Howey, the original architectural company of our school. All interested staff members have been invited to attend renovation planning sessions – we completed our third session last week. We will address the following:
- Redesigning of our current classroom space to promote collaboration, inquiry, and risk taking
- Replacing of our HVAC system
- Addressing our limited parking and small student drop-off area
We will continue to have meetings throughout first semester, with the final design to be completed by the beginning of January. I will give updates as plans start to take shape. We are excited about the possibilities!
Have a wonderful fall weekend. As always, thank you for partnering with us in education.
Sincerely,
Lori Mankin
October Dates to Remember
Monday 10/2
- 1st grade field trip to Ritchey Woods (Risinger, Cooper)
- 20 minute Early Dismissal
Tuesday 10/3
- 1st grade field trip to Ritchey Woods (Brandt, Hensley, Franklin)
Wednesday 10/4
- 7:45 a.m. Dance Club with Mrs. Jackson
- 1st grade field trip to Ritchey Woods (Myers, Hower, Shelton)
- Chaucie's Place Parent Meeting 6:00-7:00 NBE Café'
Thursday 10/5
- 2nd grade field trip to Conner Prairie
Friday 10/6
- Bulldog Blast 6:00-8:30
Monday 10/9
- 20 minute Early Dismissal
Wednesday 10/11
- 7:45 a.m. Dance Club with Mrs. Jackson
- Chaucie's Place Body Safety programs (K, 2nd, 4th)
Friday 10/13
- 7:45 a.m. Dance Club with Mrs. Jackson
- Author Visit - 3rd grade
Monday 10/16-10/20
- FALL BREAK - NO SCHOOL
Monday 10/23-Friday 10/3
- Parent Teacher Conferences - Classroom teachers will send out scheduling information
- 20 minute Early Dismissal
Tuesday 10/24
- Kindergarten field trip to Russell Farms
- PTO meeting 7:00pm at NBE Media Center
Wednesday 10/25
- 7:45 a.m. Dance Club with Mrs. Jackson
Friday 10/27
- 7:45 a.m. Dance Club with Mrs. Jackson
Monday 10/30
- 20 minute Early Dismissal
From the Counselor
NEW Click HERE to read Mrs. Leiner's Counselor Cove.
Remember to mark your calendars for 10/4 6:00 p.m. at the NBE Café for Chaucie's Place Parent Night!
From the Cafeteria
Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals
Cafeteria Birthday Day Information
E-Funds Online School Payments
Due to the capacity of our cafeteria, the number of parent lunch guests is limited to 2 per grade level. Please call the office at 594-4130 to reserve your seat. Spots are available first come first serve and may be reserved up to a week before the date.
When sending lunch money in with your student, please remember to include the Student ID number on all checks and envelopes.
From the Music Teacher
From the Art Teacher
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
--- Handbook Highlights ---
Each Bulldog Bulletin will highlight a portion of the New Britton Student Handbook. This month's focus is Attendance.
It is important that your child is at school each day. good attendance is on of the keys to achieving your child's full potential in the learning process.
Excused absences at the elementary school level means the student is counted as absent but if falls under on of the legal reasons for an absence. All other absences are considered unexcused. And excused absence, unexcused absence, tardy, or early departure will count against perfect attendance.
A maximum of 8 days per semester and a maximum of 16 days per school year will be excused. Further undocumented absences will be unexcused. Students must have a written explanation from their doctor for every absence above and beyond the maximum of 8 days per semester or 16 days per year.
Click HERE to read more from the NBE Student Handbook.
PTO Executive Board
Co-President: Leslie Zeisig
Co-President: Lisa Cheney
Vice President: Sarah Fleming
Secretary: Gretchen Gonso
Treasurer: Amy Mason
Email the NBE PTO at mailto:NewBrittonPTO@gmail.com
Click HERE for PTO contact Information, important dates and volunteer opportunities.
Join us for the PTO meeting on October 24th at 7:00pm in the Media Center@ NBE!
Check out the HSE Community Bulletin Board!
Hamilton Southeastern Schools has now consolidated all the great activities offered in Fishers into one easy to access location - the CBB! Check out the CBB for library programs, S.P.O.R.T.S. news and other programs you would normally see in our Bulldog Bulletin. Use this link to check it out now!
*If you would like to have your event advertised to this link, please complete the submission form on the CBB.
*Permitted use of school newsletters as required by the Equal Access Act is not an endorsement of this group or this group’s beliefs by Hamilton Southeastern Schools or the Board of School Trustees.
- Click HERE to learn more about HSE Preschool.
- 5 Signs of Emotional Suffering from ChangeDirection.org
- NEW Child Find Information
- NEW All Treats, No Tricks 10/25
Contact Us
8660 E 131st St, Fishers, IN 46038
Fax: 594-4139
New Britton website: http://www.hse.k12.in.us/NBE/home.aspx
HSE website: http://www.hse.k12.in.us/ADM/home.aspx
Twitter: @NBEbulldogs