The Clayville Chronicle
April 2018 Edition
From the Desk of Mrs. Francis
Beginning next week, all students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will take an on-line test of mathematics and English Language Arts proficiency called The Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS). While this is a new assessment, the state standards have not changed and RICAS assessments are aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Students in grade 5 will also take the Rhode Island Next Generation Science Assessment (NGSA). The NGSA will be administered for the first time as a census field test. Teachers and students have been working hard and are prepared!
Visit www.ride.ri.gov for more information.
Warm Regards,
Courtney Francis
Announcements & Reminders
- Please send in a note to notify the office of changes to your child's dismissal procedures. Please make every effort to limit calling the office after 2:30 to notify us of any changes.
- District Policy requires all parents and school volunteers to maintain a current BCI check and to RENEW all BCI checks yearly prior to volunteering in classrooms/school or field trip activities. Please contact the school office if you are in need of a form.
What is STEAM? A Quick Guide for Parents!
You may have heard the term STEM or STEAM recently as part of your child's education. We're finding that many parents are feeling lost about what STEAM is and how they can help as education moves quickly in a new direction of maker-spaces, coding, and electronics in the classroom. This is a quick intro on what STEAM is for parents who want to stay up to date.
WHAT IS STEM OR STEAM?
Kind of like the subject area language arts, STEM is a mix of interrelated subjects that are taught together in an integrated way. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math. KitHub and some other STEM initiatives are pioneering the term STEAM, which adds an 'A' to the acronym for art.
There is a lot of research suggesting that integrating these subjects, especially adding a creative component with art, is beneficial for students and makes sense for the way kids learn. STEAM lessons are usually hands-on and exploratory (your might hear your child's teacher using the term inquiry-based). STEAM education prepares students for the real world, where professionals often use multiple disciplines (an engineer might also use a lot of math or a programmer might find creative approaches helpful to solving a problem.)
You might be hearing a lot more about STEAM because it's becoming increasingly important that schools and communities catch up to educating modern students. Most school districts in the US don't have a set curriculum for coding. Many schools don't have enough technology resources to fully integrate technology into education. For what some schools may lack, you might be able to find other resources in you community to help your child practice STEAM learning.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN MY KID'S SCHOOL?
Ask your child's teacher about hands-on STEAM lessons or school activities. Some schools integrate STEAM in the classroom and other schools have clubs or fairs to encourage school-wide excitement. Make sure you find out about any after school or summer school programs that your school has partnerships with as well. The school librarian is usually a great resource to find out about school maker-spaces or technology initiatives.
WHAT RESOURCES CAN I FIND IN MY COMMUNITY?
Community maker-spaces have been popping up in cities all over the world. A maker-space is an area that holds events or sometimes rents out space or equipment to make all kinds of projects. Lots of maker-spaces have things like 3D printers, laser cutting machines, and woodworking tools. They might charge a membership fee or one-time fee, and sometimes they are free! Maker-spaces are a great resource for STEAM learning.
There are lots of government, business, and community sponsored STEM initiatives as well. You can find online inspiration and resources for school and home.
HOW CAN I HELP AT HOME?
The best way to prepare students for STEAM learning is to start young and make it interesting to them. Provide a variety of experiences that your child enjoys, like going to science museums, making STEAM kits, reading STEAM books, and going to maker-spaces.
(Source: https://kithub.cc/2016/03/steam-quick-guide-parents/)
PAWsitive Office Referrals!
Tootles!
Don't forget to take a peek at all Tootle Tickets and pictures of our PAWsitive Office Referral recipients displayed in our cafeteria.
Pennies for Patients
Thank you to Ms. Colvin for organizing this important fundraiser and to our school community for your generosity.
Thank you, Mr. Spicer!
Scituate Art Festival Grant!
Special thanks to our proactive teachers for applying for these grants: Mrs. Bergeron, Mrs. Boutiette, and Ms. Groves!
STEAM Clubs
Active Student Engagement
Grade 2 & 3 Research Reports
FlipGrid!
Reading Buddies: Grades K and 4
Grade 5 Reward!
Talent Show!
Fun in the Snow!
A Sweet Surprise
Scituate Kindergarten Registration for the 2018-2019 School Year
Scituate will continue running full day kindergarten during the 2018-2019 school year in all schools. Half-day kindergarten is not available.
- All children born on or before September 1, 2013 (children who will be five years old by September 1, 2018) are eligible to attend kindergarten in September 2018.
- The Scituate School Department requires registration for Kindergarten in Scituate. Registration day for all 3 of Scituate’s elementary schools will be Thursday, April 5, 2018.
- Parents/guardians of students whose last name begins with the letters A-L are asked to register between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM.
- Parents/guardians of students whose last name begins with the letters M-Z are asked to register between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM.
- Parents of children scheduled to attend kindergarten this fall are asked to contact the school their child will attend so that a registration packet can be sent prior to the registration date.
- If you have a question regarding which school your child will attend based on your address, please contact the Scituate School Department at 647-4100.
- Be advised that the Scituate School Department reserves the right to selectively redistrict your child to another Scituate elementary school based on class size issues. In most years, this involves a relatively small number of students.
NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST’S CORNER
Promoting Student’s Mental Health: Suggestions for Parents and Teachers
A recent article from the National Association of School Psychologists (National Association of School Psychologists. (2017). Supporting children’s mental health: Tips for parents and educators [Handout]. Bethesda, MD: Author. ) listed the following guidelines that schools and parents can take to support their children’s Mental Health.
- Create a sense of belonging.
- Promote resilience.
- Develop competencies.
- Ensure a positive, safe school environment.
- Teach and reinforce positive behaviors and decision making.
- Encourage helping others.
- Encourage good physical health.
- Educate staff, staff, parents and students on symptoms of and help for mental health problems.
- Ensure access to school-based mental health supports.
- Provide a continuum of mental health services.
- Establish a crisis response team.
Visit the link below to learn more!
Bill Rapp, MA
Clayville Elementary School Psychologist
PTO Update
News From the Scituate School Committee
District Newsletter
News From The Local Advisory Committee
NORTHWEST SPECIAL EDUCATION REGION
LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (LAC)
(Serving Foster, Foster/Glocester, Glocester and Scituate School Districts)
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
at the
Northwest Special Education Region
23A Theodore Foster Drive
No. Scituate, RI 02857
IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND CALL 647-4106
Dates to Remember:
- 4/3: School Committee Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. (Town Financial Meeting)
- 4/4: Clayville PTO Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. in the Clayville Library
- 4/5: STEAM Showcase Event @ Scituate High School
- 4/6: PTO Ladies' Choice Event! 6-9 p.m.
- 4/8: PTO Gentlemen's Choice Event!
- 4/9: School Improvement Team Meeting @ 3:30 p.m.
- 4/10: Spring Pictures
- 4/10-4/11: RICAS ELA Testing Grade 5
- 4/12: PTO Restaurant Night @ Famous Pizza
- 4/13: PBIS Reward- Magician Scott Jameson visits Clayville School
- 4/16-4/20: Spring Recess
- 4/23: Technology Team Meeting @ 3:15 p.m.
- 4/25-4/26: RICAS ELA Testing Grades 3 & 4
- 4/25: School Secretary Day
- 5/1-5/2: RICAS Math Testing Grade 5
- 5/7-5/11: Teacher Appreciation Week!
- 5/8-5/9: RICAS Math Testing Grades 3 & 4
Stay in Touch!
Email: courtney.francis@scituateschoolsri.net
Website: http://www.scituateri3.net/Clayville/
Location: 3 George Washington Highway, Clayville, RI, USA
Phone: 401-647-4115
Twitter: @Mrs_Francis7