Tomek Eastern May Newsletter
Tiger Trait of the Month: Knowledgeable
Tomek Eastern Elementary School
Full Day - 8:35am - 3:35pm
Half Day - 8:35am - 11:55am
Email: byoung@fentonschools.org
Website: http://www.edline.net/pages/Tomek-Eastern_ES
Location: 600 4th St, Fenton, MI, United States
Phone: 8105916800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tomek-Eastern-Elementary-PTO-171236933012648/timeline/
Twitter: @teprincipal
Spring Assessments
We are well underway with state testing (M-Step) and things have gone smoothly! Our grade 5 students have completed their assessments. They were assessed in reading, math and soical studies. Our grade 3 and 4 students begin their testing window. Grade 3 will test in reading and math and grade 4 students will be assessed in science, ELA and math. District NWEA assessments are also being conducted this month. These assessments help communicate the learning and growth each student has made during a full year of instruction.
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Tiger Traits
Looking ahead and planning for the 2017-2018 school year
Over the last few years, our district has been in a budget reduction mode due to flat or declining enrollment. As a result, elementary staffing was impacted. Specifically, classrooms were completely filled and a grade level split was created at each of our elementary buildings. As we begin to take a preliminary look into next year, we will again be planning on similar class sizes and in having one split classroom (grade 4 and 5 split for 2017-2018) as was the case for this school year.
With that said, teachers and I will spend countless hours in the coming weeks to develop well-balanced classrooms in which students will have the opportunity to learn and grow in their academic and social skills. When classrooms are developed, many factors are considered in order to create deliberate heterogeneous groups. Factors include:
A full-range of learning aptitudes and behaviors within each class
An even proportion of abilities and learning styles
An equal number of students in each class at each grade level
Gender Balance
Once these factors have been considered, teachers begin to form classrooms of students who show promise of working well together. At this point, attempts are made to match student/teacher teaching style as well as personality. Quite understandably, these decisions are based on observations made by teachers during the course of the current school year. While we welcome your input about your child’s individual learning needs, we trust that you understand that your comments constitute just one of the many factors that we consider when forming classrooms. The final decision resides with the principal. We are currently accepting Program request forms. You may pick one up from the school office from now through the end of May. All requests must be submitted to the office no later than May 31st. Thank You!
Memorial Day
Monday, May 29, 2017, 06:00 AM
Tomek-Eastern Elementary School, 4th Street, Fenton, MI, United States
TE Field Day
Tuesday, Jun 13, 2017, 09:00 AM
600 4th Street, Fenton, MI, United States
Last Day of School (This is a half day)
Wednesday, Jun 14, 2017, 08:30 AM
Tomek-Eastern Elementary School, 4th Street, Fenton, MI, United States
Transitions
As the school year begins to wind down, parents and teachers begin to think of “transitions”. Transitions can bring on many feelings… excitement, fear, and anxiety for both students and parents. For students, there will be many activities here at school and outside of school to help them cope with the transitions and help them feel more comfortable with change.
Also, a large part of your upper elementary child transitioning in their own lives is their growing want and need for independence. Students will often seek this. The middle to late school age years is a time of great change in your child. In addition to starting puberty, their mind will also grow to understand logical and abstract thinking and they will develop the moral standards by which they will live their own lives.
You can also expect your child to begin to move away from the family as they develop their own identity and also become more influenced by their friends. This is a time of growing independence and children at this age want to be considered more responsible. To help foster this sense of responsibility, now is a good time to begin giving your child an allowance, if you haven’t already done so.
Also, positive reinforcement is important for completed chores and failure to complete chores can be punished by loss of a privilege (TV, videogames, etc.). Allowing your child to have a choice of which chores to do sometimes helps with compliance and you should rotate the assignment of undesirable chores among your children.
Encourage self-esteem and positive self-image in your child by using positive reinforcement and frequent praise for things that they have accomplished. Encourage your child to be curious, explore and take on new challenges such as joining a club and/or sport this summer or next year at school.
Involvement in an outside activity has been proven through research to be highly effective in the transition process, growing their need for independence, and increasing their self-esteem while they figure out their own place in this world (i.e. Identity).The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.
Warmest regards,
Mr. Young
Hungry Howie Nights
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Classroom Dojo
Tiger Trait of the month: Knowledgeable
Dear Tomek-Eastern Families,
As we continue our journey in preparing students for the 21st century, we are helping our students to learn and live the attributes of the Learner Profile. This month focuses on the attribute of being KNOWLEDGEABLE. Throughout the month, students will gain an even deeper understanding of the importance of learning about ideas and issues at both a local and global level. Through a variety of resources, students will learn about the world around them and become appreciative of other people and places.
Our goal is to help students see connections that can be made beyond school and that can occur at home and in their communities. Throughout the month, please ask your child to share the lessons, class discussions, and literature that they have experienced that focused on helping them to become more knowledgeable.
If you observe your child becoming more “knowledgeable” (trying to learn about issues in the world around them), please mention this to your child. Help them to realize the connections they are making.
“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.” Anton Chekhov
Mr. Young