Dolphin Parent Connection
November & December 2017 Volume 3, Issue 3
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
· Wednesday, November 1st: Leadership Meeting (SCA & A4L Team Leaders) @ 2:45-4:15 PM
· Wednesday, November 1st: Coldstone Thanksgiving Pie Sale Begins
· Thursday, November 2nd: Girls on the Run @ 2:45-4:00 PM
· Thursday, November 2nd: Grade 2 Field Trip to Zoo
· Monday, November 6th: 1st Marking Period ends
· Tuesday, November 7th: Election Day--No School
· Wednesday, November 8th: Start of 2nd Marking Period
· Wednesday, November 8th: Anchored4Life Activity Groups for Select Students
· Thursday, November 9th: R.E.D. Day (Wear red to Remember Everyone Deployed)
· Thursday, November 9th: Red Mill Students Rock (school-wide behavior assembly)
· Thursday, November 9th: Girls on the Run @ 2:45-4:00 PM
· Friday, November 10th: Veteran's Day--No School
· Monday, November 13th--Friday, November 17th: SCA Going Bananas for United Way Coin War Campaign
· Tuesday, November 14th: School Planning Council Meeting @ 12:30-1:30 PM
· Tuesday, November 14th: PTA Board Meeting @ 1:30-2:30 PM
· Tuesday, November 14th: Girls on the Run @ 2:45-4:00 PM
· Tuesday, November 14th: STEM/Robotics Club @ 2:45-4:10 PM
· Tuesday, November 14th: Art Club @ 2:45-3:50 PM
· Tuesday, November 14th: Red Mill Spirit Night at McDonald's @ 5:00-8:00 PM
· Wednesday, November 15th: Anchored4Life Activity Groups for Select Students
· Wednesday, November 15th: Report Cards Issued
· Wednesday, November 15th: Helping Hands Club @ 3:00-4:00 PM
· Thursday, November 16th: Girls on the Run @ 2:45-4:00 PM
· Thursday, November 16th: 2nd Annual STEM Paper Airplane Challenge for Select 5th Graders at Aviation Museum
· Friday, November 17th: PTA Turkey Bingo (6:00 Pizza Pre-orders) @ 6:30-8:00 PM
· Tuesday, November 21st: STEM/Robotics Club @ 2:45-4:10 PM
· Tuesday, November 21st: Girls on the Run @ 2:45-4:00 PM
· Tuesday, November 21st: SCA School Spirit Day: Switch Day (Teachers dress like students; students dress like teachers)
· Wednesday, November 22nd: Dolphin Flag Football Game @ 9:30 AM (Select 5th Graders vs. Red Mill Staff)
· Wednesday, November 22nd: Early Release @ 12:10 PM
· Thursday, November 23rd & Friday, November 24th: Thanksgiving Break
· Tuesday, November 28th: Girls on the Run @ 2:45-4:00 PM
· Tuesday, November 28th: STEM/Robotics Club @ 2:45-4:10 PM
· Tuesday, November 28th: Art Club @ 2:45-3:50 PM
· Wednesday, November 30th: Anchored4Life Activity Groups for Select Students
· Thursday, November 30th: Lifetouch Fall Make-up Pictures
· Thursday, November 30th: Girls on the Run @ 2:45-4:00 PM
· Tuesday, December 5th: Girls on the Run @ 2:45-4:00 PM
· Tuesday, December 5th: STEM/Robotics Club @ 2:45-4:10 PM
· Tuesday, December 5th: Vision & Hearing Screening for Kindergarten and 3rd Grade
· Tuesday, December 5th: PTA Board Meeting @ 5:30 PM
· Tuesday, December 5th: Cashola Day at Lago Mar Pizza
· Wednesday, December 6th: Leadership Meeting (SCA & A4L Team Leaders) @ 2:45-4:15 PM
· Wednesday, December 6th: Scholastic Book Fair Preview Day
· Thursday, December 7th--Wednesday, December 13th: Scholastic Book Fair Open
· Thursday, December 7th: Girls on the Run @ 2:45-4:00 PM
· Saturday, December 9th: PTA Winter Wonderland & Community Craft Fair @ 8:00 AM-1:00 PM (Book Fair will be open from 8:00-12:00)
· Sunday, December 10th: Girls on the Run 5K Run
· Tuesday, December 12th: Art Club @ 2:45-3:50 PM
· Tuesday, December 12th: STEM/Robotics Club @ 2:45-4:10 PM
· Tuesday, December 12th: Red Mill Spirit Night at Skinny Dip @ 4:00-9:00 PM
· Wednesday, December 13th: Rising 6th Grader Open House at Princess Anne Middle @ 6:30-7:30 PM
· Thursday, December 14th: Winter Concert & PTA General Meeting @ 7:00 PM
· Friday, December 15th: Progress Reports Issued to students as needed
· Monday, December 18th: Kindergarten Christmas Program during school day
· Tuesday, December 19th: STEM/Robotics Club @ 2:45-4:10 PM
· Wednesday, December 20th: Adjusted Dismissal @ 12:10 PM
· Thursday, December 21st--Monday, January 1st: Winter Break
Thank You, Red Mill Families
Secondly, the PTA and school cannot thank you enough for your support of the Boosterthon Fun Run. The students and teachers had a blast last Friday. We surpassed our goal. If all pledges are turned in, the PTA and school will split the $30,000 plus in profits. All profits go directly back to the Red Mill students in the form of resources, materials, classroom furniture, technology, enrichment opportunities and programs, rewards/incentives, etc. As the year progresses, we will keep you up-to-date on how we are using the funds for your students.
Gifted News
GIFTED PROGRAM Application deadlines
- Mon., Nov. 13, 2017 @ 4 p.m. Application for Gifted Identification, students grades 2 – 12
- Thurs., Feb. 1, 2018 @ 4 p.m. Application for all Old Donation School Programs, students currently in grades 2-7
- Thurs, March 1, 2018 @ 4 p.m. Application for Gifted Identification, students grade 1
- Thurs., March 1, 2018 @ 4 p.m. Application for all Old Donation School Programs, students currently in grade 1
Gifted Application Link (use student's log in and password)
https://giftedapplication.vbcps.com/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f
School Counseling Program Notes
Guidance classroom lesson topics for November will include team work and collaboration. December guidance lesson topics will include the “Power of Kindness” and including others. Also Small Group Counseling opportunities have begun and more groups will follow. During the month of October, we discussed in Classroom Guidance lessons the difference between peer conflicts and “bullying.” Conflicts are normal in relationships with other people and usually we can work these concerns out. With help, guidance and time, students can become good problem solvers and build social skills that will last a life time. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Draughon, our School Counselor at 648-3572 or by email at Marilyn.Draughon@vbschools.com.
Coldstone Thanksgiving Pie Sale
Anchored4Life Update
In addition, all students will be hearing and learning about the following quotes in November in Morning Meetings and on the morning announcements.
- Life has no remote. Get up and change it yourself. –Mark A. Cooper
- To achieve greatness, start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. –Arthur Ashe
- Fall seven times, stand up eight. –Japanese proverb
PTA Silent Auction Donation Items Needed
Congratulations, Mrs. Peterson, Red Mill Reading Teacher of the Year
5th Grade Battle of the Books
Our Red Mill 5th graders will once again participate in Battle of the Books this winter. Battle of the Books is a citywide reading program for 5th grade students sponsored by the Virginia Beach City Public Library (VBCPL). In January, each 5th grade homeroom will select a group of students to represent it in the school-wide battle. Once the homeroom groups have been selected, the groups will face off for the school-wide Battle of the Books. The top two groups of the school-wide battle will then go on to represent Red Mill in the city’s regional Battle of the Books. The VBCPL has selected ten books; the books are listed below. We have purchased copies of these books, and all 5th grade students are encouraged to read as many of these books as they can. We are excited about this year’s contests. Last year our 5th graders had a remarkable showing. Mrs. Neal’s group won the regional contest and came in third in the citywide competition. That will be hard to match, but we know our students are up to the challenge!
2017 – 2018 Battle of the Books
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Dystopian Fiction)
A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen (Historical Fiction)
Calico Girl by Jerdine Nolen (Historical Fiction)
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan (Realistic Fiction)
Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton (Historical Fiction)
Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet (Biography Picture Book)
Full of Beans by Jennifer Holm (Historical Fiction)
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (Fantasy)
Ghosts by Raina Telegemeier (Fantasy Graphic Novel)
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (Fantasy)
SCA November Events
Red Mill Spirit Night at McDonald's
Writing Contest Opportunity for Students in Grades 4th and 5th
The Virginia Center for the Book, a program of Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH), announces the official launch of the 2018 Letters About Literature contest for students throughout the state of Virginia. Now in its 25th year, the contest encourages students in grades 4-12 to read a book, poem, or speech and write to that author (living or dead) about how a book affected them. Letters About Literature is sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and provides a creative way for students to engage with writing and authors. Letters About Literature entries are judged on state and national levels, based on criteria of originality, grammatical conventions, purpose, and audience. For 2018, entries will be accepted through December 9, 2017, the statewide deadline for all grade levels.
http://virginiahumanities.org/2017/10/virginia-center-for-the-book-announces-2018-letters-about-literature-contest/?utm_source=TD+October+11%2C+2017&utm_campaign=TD+October+11%2C++2017&utm_medium=emailAccessing School-Provided Digital Resources from Home
Marking Period Awards
Distinguished Dolphin will be awarded to students in Grades 1 through 5 who display good behavior, work habits, and teamwork. To earn Distinguished Dolphin, students must earn “Proficient” marks for each objective under Productivity, Collaboration & Participation, and Citizenship. Students must also earn an “Advanced Proficient” mark on at least one objective under each of those three categories.
“Goal-Getter” Award is available to students in Grades 3-5. Each marking period, students will set an individualized academic goal for both language arts and math and work to reach their goal during the marking period. Students who accomplish their goal will receive the “Goal-Getter Award.”
Attendance Award will be awarded to students in grades 1 through 5 displaying excellent attendance. Recognizing that sicknesses are unavoidable, students are able to miss one day of school each marking period and still receive the attendance award. Also, recognizing the importance of students being in school on time and for the entire school day, tardies and early releases will be taken into consideration for this award. A combination of 3 tardies and/or early releases in one marking period is equivalent to one day absent. Once a student has reached 2 days absent in a marking period, they will not be eligible for the award during that marking period.
Students receiving these awards will receive a brag tag or bead to add to their brag tag chain. Additionally, the award will be indicated on their printed report card.