Shark Tales
Southbury Elementary
APRIL 2022
Administration Letter
Dear Shark Families,
It’s hard to believe that the 2021-22 school year is already coming to an end! It truly has been an amazing year --- despite numerous challenges we have faced, lots of learning has taken place, friendships have developed and strengthened, and parent involvement in the building is starting again! We have one month left, so we want to make sure that we continue to work hard and make good choices right up to the last bell!
What’s Going on in the Month of May??
2nd-6th Staff Appreciation Week
5th HSO Meeting 6-7 pm
7th Fun Run Rain Date
12th Culver’s Night
20th AVID Grad Walk
25th Field Day
25th HSO Chalk the Sidewalk for Fifth Grade – starting @ 4:30
26th– 5th Grade Celebration @ Urban Air –6-8pm
27th –End of Third Trimester/Last Day of School for Students SIP Day – 12:30 dismissal
Samantha Sinovich Jon Szychlinski
Principal Assistant Principal
From the Front Office
Spring is a busy time for the Front Office wrapping up our current school year and preparing for the next!
SPRING REGISTRATION DEADLINE – MAY 1, 2022!!
It is very important to review your child’s profile on Tyler SIS to ensure that your child’s information is correct and updated. Please remember that if you still need to provide us with proofs of residency and/or any other paperwork, your student will not be registered for the 2022/23 school year. Also, if your lease expired during the current school year, you will need to provide us with a copy of a current one. If you have any questions, please contact the front office. If you are not returning next year, please call the front office 630-551-9800 to let us know!
Parents who have not yet registered incoming kindergarten students may do so at the District Registration office in the District Administration Center, Room 51/Door 1. Students must be five years old by September 1, 2022 in order to begin kindergarten in August. Packets are available on the district website at www.sd308.org, and at every elementary school and the district office. When coming to registration the child’s parent or legal guardian must provide the student’s original birth certificate, the parent/guardian photo ID, and three proofs of residency from the past 60 days (examples: utility bills, a lease, property tax bill, mortgage statement, deed). Medical requirements for kindergarten, not needed at the time of registration, include; a physical due by the first day of school, a vision screening due by October 15, and a dental exam due by May 15, 2023.
We are looking forward to a fun and exciting spring!
Mrs. Hathaway and Mrs. Quick
Home and School Organization Happenings
Well April sure was a busy month again for the HSO!
We had many days of celebrations for our staff and students as we surpassed our fundraising goals. We think the students enjoyed the staff dress up day the most.
Thank you to Lynda Luckman and the many volunteers who helped to run a successful Daddy Daughter Dance for our sharks! We had a great turnout and a fabulous night of dancing.
The Fun Run Team is anticipating an exciting day for our Fun Run Color Edition on April 30th! Final fundraising numbers will be shared after our run. Our HSO would like to thank over 400 runners who registered to run and all of our families and corporate sponsors who are taking part in this first time event!! We can’t wait to see the rainbow of smiles at our event!
Staff Appreciation week is May2nd- May6th. Please see the HSO communications or our Facebook page to find out ways we are honoring our amazing staff members. A token of any kind is welcome all week for all of our WONDERFUL staff members…a note, a drawing, a flower, something from the favorites list…..Let’s make them all feel extra appreciated next week! See the favorites list linked here…..
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kjilpDEQCG_UBpklRsi1meDs3Psy8ugCgyCCG_r8INw/edit?usp=sharing
5th grade parents only….If your 5th grade student would like to participate in the 5th grade event at Urban Air, please register and pay for your student on MTK. Go to soubthburyparents.membershiptoolkit.com before May 13th!
Also, we are looking for a couple of volunteers to help man the chalk and sidewalks at our Chalk the Walk 5th grade event on Wednesday, May 25th. We would need someone to be there from 4:30-6:30. If you are available and interested, please reach out to us at sbhomenschool@gmail.com. You can even decorate your student’s square at that time!!!
Finally, our HSO needs your help next year or many of our events won’t happen. Most of the exec board is moving on but would happily walk a newcomer through next year. Most of the head chairpersons for events are also moving on and these events cannot happen without volunteers. Please look for communication to come home soon about ways to step up and make Southbury amazing for our kiddos!!! The HSO depends on volunteers and we need you!
Thanks!
Kristy Stith and Sarah Brown
HSO Co-presidents
Kindergarten
April 2022 Newsletter
from the Kindergarten Team
April learning showers are growing our Kindergarten May flowers!
ELA: As readers we have been focusing on nonfiction texts and learning real facts about the rain forest. We focused on text features, diagrams and real photographs to learn more about the words on the page. We made connections between the animals and what they need to survive. We also started our last unit of ReadyGen (unit 6), which focuses on community while reading a realistic fiction text and a nonfiction text. We made connections to our communities to connections between texts. As writers we shared information in many different forms of writing (sentences, lists, riddles, flip books and word webs). We also wrote informational books to share what we learned.
Math: Calendar and counting routines are being consistently practiced, along with number patterns, place value and counting patterns. We started and wrapped up our unit on addition and subtraction. We focused on math vocabulary, clues in questions or number sentences that lead us to choosing whether we needed to add or subtract. We also started our measurement unit which focuses on height, length, weight and a little capacity.
Science: We wrapped up Unit 3 (our last unit), What living things need to survive. Along with plant parts we focused on what plants and living things need to survive. Our plants, especially the grass, are growing well. We were able to observe all the roots through the bottom of the cups!
SEL: We focused on ways to show kindness at school - sharing, offering a hug, giving a compliment and helping out.
AVID: We have practiced using focused bookmarks while small group and independently reading to record some of the vocabulary words we have found.
Tips for at home:
Look for math around your house. Which item is taller? Which is longer?
HFW- All A and B list words have been introduced, please practice at home!
Thanks for all the continued support at home!
1st Grade
FIRST GRADE NEWS
First graders have been working very hard this month! Here is a look at what we did in April:
Reading:
Explored different cultures
Focused on retelling stories
Described characters and events in a story
Determined the author’s message
Writing:
Opinion Writing, which included an Opinion Statement, Reason 1 and Reason 2, and a Closing Statement
Planning and editing our writing
Math:
Explored time and measurement
Compared and contrasted 2 dimensional shapes
Science:
Spinning Earth (Why does the sky look different at different times?)
Explored seasons
2nd Grade
Happy Spring!!
The second grade classes have been busy during the month of April! We have been working hard on Social Emotional Learning using problem solving strategies, calming techniques, positive self talk through read alouds and other media.
In ELA we have worked on narrative writing focusing on sequence of events, details, and conclusions in our stories. We have also focused on how different types of texts can be used to learn about similar topics. The PBA for this unit allowed the children to create a narrative about a pioneer child and their experiences during a journey west.
In Math we finished our units on money and time. We will continue to reinforce the previously taught concepts throughout the remainder of the school year. These concepts include; number sense, adding and subtracting multiple digit numbers, problem solving, money, data analysis, graphing, and telling time to the 5 minutes. Our last two units will include measurement and shapes.
In Science, we have continued to work on our final unit, “Properties of Materials.” Students have enjoyed exploring ingredients that they will be using to create their new glue, which is the final objective of this unit.
Thank you for your continued support, we are looking forward to finishing off this amazing school year strong!
3rd Grade
Hello 3rd Grade Families!
Does anyone else feel like April flew by!? They say time flies when you’re having fun, so that must be it. We’ve done SO much in April and can’t believe we only have five more weeks left of school.
We continued our research on natural disasters in English Language Arts and created a project that highlighted a natural disaster and the impact it had on the community. The students LOVED learning about severe weather. I think we have some future meteorologists on our hands. During the last week of April, we shifted our focus to the civil rights movement and Rosa Parks. Because this was also taught in second grade, our learners are so excited to continue this subject.
Data analysis was our focus in math this month. We learned how to create scaled pictographs, bar graphs, and line plots. Measuring to the quarter (¼) inch proved to be a challenge, but we’re so proud of how hard they worked to master this skill. After our assessment, we started our unit on Geometry and will continue with this until the end of the year.
Our focus in science was animal traits and inheritance. We explored this subject multiple ways, using science mysteries and our hands-on lessons. The students really enjoyed learning all about why animals look the way they do and the effect the environment has on the animals appearance and traits.
We’re looking forward to a wonderful May with our soon-to-be fourth graders! We hope you all have a great month and if you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher. Thank you for all your support always–it is SO appreciated :)
4th Grade
The month of April not only brought us April showers, but lots of other learning and growing activities. To begin, in math we primarily focused on measuring. Diving into the metric system as well as the customary system, we practiced measuring length, capacity, and mass (weight). Taking what they learned about measurement and multiplication/division, the students learned how to convert units of measurements to apply their knowledge to real-world situations. Toward the end of the month, we began our units on geometry. If you notice your children identifying various types of triangles and quadrilaterals around your house, that’s why!
We wrapped up our narrative module in ELA by reading several short stories with themes focused on the importance of family and perseverance. Based on these readings, the students drafted a fictional story using descriptive detail to show, not tell, how their created characters solved various problems. As we begin our final month, we will read nonfiction texts to reinforce the concept of using money wisely. In addition to being a valuable real-world skill, this concept is linked to our 3rd trimester Social Studies learning standards.
Finally, science was brought to a close with our Conserving Energy Unit. We researched and discussed the many nonrenewable and renewable energy sources. Compiling all our understandings of what could lead to blackouts, we drafted a proposal to a hypothetical town about how best to conserve energy and prevent blackouts in the future. It was great to see how our amateur engineers worked together to solve problems throughout this unit!
As the school year nears its end, we would like to thank you for your continued support at home. We realize that as the weather gets nicer, it becomes more and more difficult to get your children to focus on schoolwork, so we greatly appreciate all of the help you are providing on the home front. As always, please reach out to us if you have any questions!
5th Grade
In ELA we have been working through the first module of our 4th unit in the
ReadyGen Curriculum. We read texts about explorers called Triumphs and Troubles
and Pedro’s Journal. We spent time on opinion writing where we developed our
opinions about children having cell phones. We used reasons to support our opinions
and wrote an extended response. We also took our final Fastbridge assessment for the
year.
In math, the students have been exploring polygons and learning characteristics
of triangles and quadrilaterals. We also started our unit on 3 dimensional shapes and
measurements. We had lots of hands-on practice of building shapes and measuring
with rulers.
In science, along with completing the ISA standardized test, we completed our
unit called Modeling Matter. This unit focuses on the building blocks of matter like
atoms, molecules, and mixtures. We used various models to make observations and
inferences, just like real scientists!
Our students continue to utilize the AVID components of the writing, inquiry,
collaboration, organization and reading strategies that we have been using in our
classroom each day. Students have continued to master using different tools to aid in
their knowledge of vocabulary including frayer models and vocabulary bookmarks.
Stars
Hi, STARS families!
We had a wonderfully busy April! Many of us were able to enjoy those nice weather days with some extra recess time on the playground. Students continued to work hard on their IEP goals and were able to practice some new social skills from Teachtown. The end of the year is approaching fast and everyone continues to push hard! The alphabet countdown is so much fun and has so many fun activities to keep us focused. If you need an additional copy, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher.
In May:
Therapy Dogs: We may have 1 more visit from Bella and Chance due to one of our days being canceled in the past. This will be on the first Monday in May.
Additionally, if your child uses a communication device, please be sure to have it charged up and ready to use at school. This is a big part of your child’s educational success at school and we would like to use it as much as possible. This can be difficult if we are having to pause in order to charge it.
Thank you!
Your STARS teachers
ESL
Parent Notification Letters
2021 ACCESS scores and Parent Notification Letters were sent home at the end of March and in the beginning of April. If you have not received your child’s information or you have questions about their scores or program placement please contact Mrs. Serio.
RAZ Plus
If your child has received login information for RAZ Plus please have them login and listen to books, read and take quizzes at least 2 -3 days each week. If your child has not received login information and you would like your child to have access to RAZ Plus please reach out to Mrs. Serio.
Blue Folders
Please remember to sign or initial your child’s folder daily. Any papers in the ‘Left Home’ side should be emptied.
Kristen Serio
630.551.9858
GE Math
In April 4th grade GE mathematicians extended measurement into the third dimension. We made space in our math minds for learning to calculate the volume of rectangular prisms. We explored multiple methods, including counting cubes, slicing layers, and eventually applying formulas. The numbers were not the tricky part. Conceptualizing, visualizing, and rationalizing were the complex aspects. We take three dimensions for granted, so packing rectangular shapes inside of another space is more challenging than you might think. Visualizing the difference between 1 cubic cm versus 1 cubic inch versus 1 cubic foot was a mind bender! Then we explored the world of 2D polygons. First we applied our knowledge of length and angle measures to name and classify triangles. Once we understood how to view geometric attributes, we applied that knowledge and used flow charts and Venn diagrams as hierarchies to organize triangle relationships, similar to a family tree. Classifying quadrilaterals used the same type of reasoning and methods, but since there are more kinds of quadrilaterals, the names and hierarchies were more complex. But then, family relationships are rather complex. ;)
Fifth grade studied 3D geometry for most of the month. Beginning with the volume of rectangular prisms, just like fourth grade but with fractional side-lengths this year. Sounds simple, but lengths less than one were a game-changer! Instead of assuming each block is one cubic unit, we had to first consider the side lengths of the single cubic unit. The anchor example we often used to help us understand a cubic unit less than one was a block with side lengths ½ unit by ½ unit by ½ unit, so the volume was ⅛ cubic unit. From rectangular prisms it was an easy jump to find the volume of triangular prisms, since we already knew how triangles and rectangles were related. The end of the month was spent studying statistics. We now know the difference between a statistical question and a non-statistical one. We learned to calculate measures of center, like mean, median, and mode. We described, compared, and justified observations about data sets ranging from sports to geography to weather and more. Then we learned to calculate measures of variation, like range and IQR. Wow! We calculated with data until the cows came home! ;)
Speech and Language
April is Autism Acceptance Month and World Autism Month. May is Better Hearing and Speech Month. As a Speech and Language Department, we work closely with students in the area of building better, stronger communication skills to build and grow relationships. Our students have a wide range of abilities and strengths they use day to day to communicate with everyone around them. We help students use alternative communication systems such as talking computers (Voice Output Devices), as well as help grow simple 1-2 word sentences to longer more complex sentences to retell stories, give directions, and answer questions. Some of our students work on the correct pronunciation of the sounds in our language, making it easier for everyone to understand what they are saying. While others work on using the correct grammar and word order in sentences. We work with each child on their individual needs.
Kelly Okel, Deb Convey, and Lauren Paver
LRC
April LRC News - Check it Out!
Welcome, Spring!
Southbury’s March Madness Book Tournament
We are SO CLOSE to finding out our winner! We’ve had some close races and some blow outs! Find out next week who the big winner is.
Next year’s Monarch (grades K-3) and Bluestem (grades 3-6) nominees are out! Get a head start by checking out the lists.
Happy Reading! Mrs. Rossi and Mrs. Dietz
From the Reading Department
Lunch Box Notes Legacy
Kids love to open up their lunch box to find a special note written just to them. It brings a smile to their face and can brighten up their entire day. And, as a bonus, it reinforces reading skills along with modeling the power behind a written note.
For years I kept a small plastic case containing a stack of post it notes, a few small stickers and some fun glitter pens. I tucked it away where my kids could not find it. Once they were in bed, I took it out, wrote a small note on a post-it, attached some fun stickers to it and snuck it into their lunch boxes. Even now, years later, my son still has some of those notes.
These lunch box love notes created special memories for my children and I but they also showed my children the meaning behind a small written gesture. Now I find my children using the same phrases and sentiment when they write notes in birthday cards or thank you notes to others. They understand the feeling they are passing on to another person through their words and they have the vocabulary to do so.
If you do not have a stack of post it notes, Reading Rockets has some fun lunch box note printables for you to use so you can create your own lunch box notes legacy.
Mrs. Landers
Reading Department
Art
Interactive Chalk-Art Challange
Get outside and get creative with the interactive chalk-art challenge! Rally your family and/or friends and brainstorm ideas for a drive-way chalk drawing in which you could be photographed interacting with. Think of your drawing as an illustration in a book. What is the narrative behind your scene? Who are the characters? See the include photographs for inspiration. Share your pictures with Mrs. Ayoung Chee to be featured in next month’s art newsletter! Have fun using your imagination and drawing skills! I can’t wait to see your submissions.
Send all submissions to Mrs. Chee at rayoungchee@sd308.org.
Music
Our Southbury musicians are rocking and rolling this spring!
In Kindergarten, we are finishing our unit on high and low sounds. In May we will begin working on our “Carnival of the Animals” book. With this book we listen to different songs and learn about an animal and instrument that matches up with the song.
In 1st grade, we are continuing to work on the music staff. Students are learning about line and space notes, as well as “skips, steps, and repeats”.
In 2nd and 3rd grade, we are learning about notes on the music staff and playing xylophones to practice this skill. Students are introduced to new notes every year, until they can read all of the notes on the lies and spaces of the staff!
In 4th grade, students are playing xylophones in place of recorders this trimester. Students are doing a great job reading and playing music. Soon, students will write their own pieces of music and perform them!
In 5th grade, students are preparing for their performance showcase on Thursday, May 5th at 7pm. The 5th graders have been working extremely hard on their projects and we are so excited to share them with an audience!
If you ever have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me at mmcwethy@sd308.org.
Physical Education
What a wonderful March it has been down in the gym here at Southbury Elementary! We have had a great time bringing back some of our favorite games from the year such as floor hockey, battleship, and various other fitness focused activities. Volleyball was the highlight of April though! Volleyball for elementary students is…how do we say it…a work in progress. Getting a good rally going is not the easiest thing in the world, but we are able to modify the game in order to help each grade level to be able to work on the important things which are spatial awareness, hand eye coordination, and teamwork. We are looking forward to the weather clearing up so that we can have an awesome Field Day in May!!!
News from Nurse Sara
Hello Shark families,
We will be welcoming Miles of Smiles to Southbury on Thursday, May 19, 2022. The dental team will provide a dental exam, cleaning, and possibly sealants if needed. If you would like to have the dentist see your child or children, please let me so a consent form can be sent home.
Hearing and Vision: Our vision and hearing screenings on March 21-22 and have re-screenings scheduled for April 22, 2022. These are completed each school year. Students in kindergarten and 2nd grade have both hearing and vision screenings completed. Students who are in 1st and 3rd grade have a hearing screening completed. Any students who either are new to our school, have IEPS, or are in Special Education will have both screenings completed every school year. If your student does not pass a screening, a letter will be sent home to inform you after the second screening attempt has been completed.
Health forms may still be needed, please see below for specifics.
Kindergarten students: a physical with updated immunization records, a dental and a vision exam. These were due by October 15, 2021. Dental forms are due on May 15, 2022.
2nd graders: an up to date dental exam is due by May 15, 2022.
For any Sharks starting Jr. High in 2022, these are the requirements to be completed prior to the first day of school:
- A physical with updated immunizations including: One dose of Tdap Vaccine, One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine (meningitis) after the 11th Birthday, Two doses of Varicella Vaccine (chicken pox), Three doses of Hepatitis B at the required intervals.
**A complete 6th grade Dental Examination - Must be turned in prior
to May 15, 2023**.
Thank you for your help in keeping our students well!
Nurse Sara & Miss Paige Brawdy
P: 630.551.9802
Social Work
Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
April is Autism Awareness Month! Throughout the month, you will be receiving lots of information about Autism Spectrum Disorders.
What is autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or autism is a developmental disorder that affects a person’s social communication and interaction. Individuals with ASD also have restricted and repetitive behavior, interests and activities. These characteristics fall across a “spectrum” ranging from mild to severe. While one person may have symptoms that impair his or her ability to perform daily activities, another may have only mildly noticeable differences and have few, if any, functional impairments.
Difficulty with social interactions
Some individuals with autism do not spontaneously reach out to others to share information or feelings. Some may not seem to notice other people at all, while others strongly desire to interact with others but become overwhelmed in social situations due to deficits in social skills. With effective treatment, many people with autism learn social skills and come to enjoy spending time with others.
Difficulty with communication
Many individuals with autism have delays in or do not develop spoken language. Some may only communicate using single-word utterances or simple sentences. Other speech abnormalities include echolalia (immediate or delayed repeating of information), unconventional word use, and unusual tone, pitch and inflection. Others have complex vocabularies and can speak at length about topics that interest them, but they may have poor conversational skills. They may also have difficulty understanding nonverbal cues such as body language, facial expressions and eye contact.
Individuals with autism who do not develop functional speech can use augmentative means of communication, such as sign language, picture boards and technological devices. Autism-specific apps can help them communicate their needs and feelings and gain independence in their daily activities.
Restrictive and Repetitive Behaviors
People with autism have restrictive, repetitive behavior, interests and activities. For example, a child with autism may play with only one toy or watch the same video repeatedly. They may engage in peculiar, sustained play activities such as spinning the wheels of a toy car instead of pretending to drive it, or dangling an object in front of their eyes for long periods of time. Others may focus intensely on a particular topic, such as dinosaurs or vacuum cleaners, to the exclusion of any other interests. Individuals with autism can be very reliant on specific routines and resistant to changes. Even a minor change in their routine or environment could be a great upset to a child or adult with autism.
All information on this handout is from the Autism New Jersey Website.
This website is a great resource for both parents and professionals!
Southbury Elementary School
Website: https://www.sd308.org/southbury
Location: 820 Preston Lane, Oswego, IL, USA
Phone: (630) 551-9800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southbury308