Gravely Connection
November 1, 2017
This past month we celebrated Bully Prevention Month, kicked off our WATCHDOGS program, after school clubs, held a strings concert, Field Day, Book Fair, PTO Bingo Night, completed numerous authentic learning experiences throughout the school, jumped into our Project Based Learning units, and continue to focus on creating engaging and rich learning experiences schoolwide. As always we are so grateful for the dedication and innovation of the Gravely ES staff and thankful to our school community and volunteers for all of their support. In November we will be staring our second quarter and holding parent teacher conferences to highlight our students success and areas for growth. Be sure to pay close attention to our schedule as November is a month with numerous days off for students. We look forward to continuing to partner with you "Anchored into Authentic Learning" to make this year amazing for our students.
Michael Kelchlin - Principal
Alyse Zeffiro - Assistant Principal
Upcoming Dates
- November 3 - End of Grading Period
- November 6- No School / Teacher Workday
- November 7- No School / Parent Teacher Conferences
- November 8 - 3rd Grade Field Trip - Windy Knoll Farm
- November 9 - 5th Grade Field Trip - Marine Corp Museum
- November 9 - PTO Paint Night
- Novmeber 10 - No School Veterans Day
- November 13- Advisory Council (5pm) PTO Meeting (7pm)
- November 14 - PTO Spirit Night Chick-Fil-A
- November 15 - Picture Makeups
- November 16 - 2nd Grade Field Trip - Skate and Fun Zone
- November 16 - PTO Family Night @Skate and Fun Zone (6:30pm)
- November 22-24 Thanksgiving Break
- November 30 - 5th Grade Field Trip - Luray Caverns
- December 1 - 4th Grade Field Trip - Jamestown
Bully Prevention Month
At gravely this month we've been focusing on bullying prevention through school contests, activities, and class meetings. The seadogs and staff participated in a bully prevention spirit week in the middle of the month. Throughout this week they were able to team up against bullying in their team jerseys, brighten someone's day with bright clothes, and more! Ending the week with dressing as your favorite super hero to fight for a bully free school.
Students have been participating in classroom meetings with engaging activities. The crumbled paper activity showed the importance of how even saying sorry never makes it 100% better. The tooth paste activity showed the students that once we say or do something, we can't always take it back. The present activity showed that it's more important about what is on the inside!
Students and classes have been joining in on spreading bullying prevention and positive sayings in poster and door decorating contests! Classes worked together to decorate their doors to show they understand the importance of bullying prevention. Students designed shields and capes to show how they have the power to stop bullying. Congratulations to the following students for winning the shield and cape poster contest for their grade level: Kindergarten winner is Savannah Mangold in Mrs. Sablan's class. Second grade winner is Addy Reed in Mrs. Corsini's class. Third grade winner is Noah Bolum in Mrs. Emerson's class. Fourth grade winner is Sofia Cadmus in Mrs. Taylor's class. Fifth grade winner is Skyler Tennant in Mrs. Browngold's class.
Gravely ended the month with a whole school activity of painting rocks. Mrs. Moose read "Only One You" to each grade level and then each student painted a rock. This activity sent the message to the students that they are each unique and there is only one of them in this great big world so, make it a better place. The students placed their rocks in the path that is displayed in the front of the school. This will remind each student daily of the activities we completed during bullying prevention month!
A big thanks to our encore staff and parents for volunteering and supporting the classes during the rock painting activity day. A huge thanks to PTO for supplying materials for the class meetings and the rock painting activity!
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students continue to grow and become productive learners. We kicked off the month of October with Field Day. Students enjoyed extending their team building skills by working together in a variety of activities We had a wonderful visit from the firefighters of Prince William County. They discussed fire safety and important things to do in case of a fire. This month in reading, students have learned how to visualize and analyze the stories that they hear. Students are learning how to make connections and describe their favorite part of a story. Within their writing, our kinders are learning how to label pictures with beginning sounds. They are extending their learning by being able to sound out and stretch out words that they hear. In science, our friends are learning about fall weather and are making observations by using their 5 senses to describe leaves and pumpkins. Computer lab has been very productive as students have had the opportunity to visit the lab and have learned how to log on all by themselves. They are very excited about all of the fun computer programs that they’ve been introduced to!
1st Grade
Our first grade busy bugs worked hard creating their Leafman pictures. We read the book by Lois Elhert about where the leaves go when the wind blows. Filled with wonderful illustrations we invited all first graders to then create their own pictures using leaves they found in their yards. We then wrote about the season and studied further this time of year. Changing with the seasons is fun in first grade!
2nd Grade
October was such a great month! We had an awesome time participating in the various activities to support our Anti-Bullying initiative. We had a chance to discuss how our words have power, not to judge others by their appearances, and to participate in showing how Gravely ROCKS!
Another powerful experience for our second graders was the National Day of Writing. Students had the opportunity to write about their favorite seasons, why it is important to go to bed on time, and fall. We also created famous american booklets to show what we've learned in Social Studies.
We are continuing this writing stamina through the end of the month by creating a monster and writing all about our monsters. Our writing skills are totally "falling" into place!
3rd Grade
This past month Third grade created and presented pumpkin book reports. The students selected a book of choice and read it at home. They then made the main character out of a pumpkin. The students enjoyed presenting their book report with their class.
We also began our Project Based Learning unit on economics with a panel of guest speakers who were business owners and a professor of business. They shared information about creating a business and product, advertising the product, and selling the product.
4th Grade
Fourth grade is currently working on a Project Based Learning Project revolving around Ecosystems. We started our project off by taking a field trip to Long Park and walking through the trails to see animals, habitats, and nature. Then our students used technology to research an animal found in Virginia and have learned about the animal's habitat, it's adaptations, and it's food chain. Now our kids are currently working on creating their animal and it's habitat using materials found around our classroom We are also writing a research based informational magazine spread to showcase each animal that was researched! We are excited to share our magazine spreads and animals once we are done!
5th Grade
It's been a busy month for our 5th graders. We have been exploring the difference between non-vascular and vascular plants in science by completing an investigation with colored water and celery plants. In social studies, students went on a "virtual field trip" to Ellis Island where they learned about the different inspections immigrants went through before arriving in the United States. We have discussed the importance of the Statue of Liberty to these immigrants as a symbol of hope and freedom. During reading students have been working on sequencing and using stories of immigration to practice this skill. Finally, we are looking forward to going on three student-planned field trips this year - the Marine Corps Museum, Luray Caverns, and Skate N' Fun Zone for a STEM lesson
Ms. Cook's Class
Library
Many thanks to all our book fair volunteers who helped make it such a successful event. We could not have done it without you. In library we have been working on digital citizenship. All students have been introduced or reminded of the following resources that are available to them. www.worldbookonline is provided by the county. Worlbookonline is a web site that offers an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, homework help, study aids, and curriculum guides. The username is pwcschools/ password: research Pebblego.com is a PreK-3 database for reading and research funded by the school (username - gravely password - school). The students were shown how to access ebooks using Finditva.com. Find it Virginia is supported by federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Find It Virginia provides many resources to encourage life long learning.
Our younger Seadogs have been learning the differences between fiction and non-fiction and learning to identify the parts of a book. Grades 2-5 have been working on STEM challenge creating wings that will allow a paper bat to fly the furthest distance. We have just begun the flight trials. This activity has allowed students to learn to work cooperatively and to use critical thinking skills.
Art
Art class has been filled with fall paintings. Kindergarten is finishing up a colorful watercolor leaf painting. They learned about tracing, drawing, and painting techniques. First grade learned about types of texture in a fall corn painting and a low relief hand sculpture. 2nd grade has been learning about perceptive by drawing pumpkins in a landscape painting. They mixed colors for the pumpkins. 3rd grade has been mixing intermediate colors in a color wheel. They have also been learning about proportion by creating gestures drawings. 4th grade is mixing tints and shades in a leaf painting. They chose a complementary color set to use for this painting. 5th grade has been creating leaf prints and using color pencils to blend colors over the leaf prints. Please check the Gravely Art website for weekly updates on what each grade level is working on along with any important art news. Contact me with any questions or concerns at bonnersl@pwcs.edu
-Miss Bonner (Art Teacher)
Reading Department
We have a fun week of literacy events the week of November 13! We always look forward to National Young Reader’s Day! This November 14, National Young Reader’s Day, a group of volunteers, headed up by the Campus and Community Relations Office from the Manasas Northern Virginia Community Campus, will come and share books with students in kindergarten through fifth grade at Gravely Elementary. The goal of this event is to share the joy of reading. November 15 and 16 will be our second rotation of the year when Mr. Ward comes around to visit classrooms with the bookcart. Please help your child remember to bring a book to trade on his or her bookcart day.
During the year, if you are looking for a home to donate children’s books, we would greatly appreciate your help in keeping our bookcarts full.
Thank you for the times you spend reading and talking about stories with your child as this helps grow their confidence and encourages their desire to learn and wonder.
COUNSELORS’ CONNECTION
THIS MONTH IN CLASSROOM GUIDANCE – NOVEMBER
Kindergarten: Students will demonstrate positive work habits and will identify the responsibilities of student workers in a school.
Grade 1: Students will explain the importance of goal-setting. Students will identify a personal goal and develop a plan to achieve it.
Grade 2: Students will identify positive test-taking skills to utilize during classwork and tests.
Grade 3: Students will identify study and organizational skills needing improvement, and will develop a plan for effective study and organizational skills.
Grade 4: Students will develop a plan for keeping their materials organized. Students will develop a schedule for organizing their time after school.
Grade 5: Students will identify conflict resolution strategies in given scenarios. Students will apply conflict resolution skills to a group paper tower building activity.
SMALL GROUP COUNSELING
In the next few weeks, we will be sending information home to families requesting parent referrals for social/emotional counseling groups that will be facilitated during the second and third quarters. The topics we plan to offer this school year include, positive self-concept, separation/divorce, anxiety, managing emotions, and friendship. Please contact one of the school counselors if you would like your child to participate.
SCHOOL-TO-HOME LINK FOR SUCCESS
Don’t Let Failures Sidetrack Your Child
No child succeeds at everything all the time. When failures or setbacks occur, help your child deal with them in positive ways. Here are some strategies:
· Let your child know you will always love him/her for who he/she is.
· View mistakes as learning experiences. Help him/her think of what he/she can do differently. If he/she “forgot” to do a homework assignment, talk about ways to problem-solve and remember the next time.
· Help him/her see the plus side. “Your soccer team lost, but you made a great assist on that goal in the second half.”
· Be a role model. Handle your own mistakes in positive ways.
· Don’t ask teachers or coaches to change a grade or call. Your child must learn to respect their decisions.
Adapted from Helping Children Learn, October 2017 from the Parent Institute, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.
SIGNET NEWSLETTER
Tech News
PWCS students have free access to powerful learning and creative software to use at home and on the go. Microsoft’s Student Advantage Program permits downloading and use of the entire Office 365 suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher, Lync, Outlook, and Access) on up to five compatible PCs or Macs at no charge.
The free program is open to students in grades 3-12. Downloaded software can be used by family members too. It includes free automatic updates, and is good for as long as students remain in Prince William County Public Schools. Access to the OneDrive makes it easy to synch data between personal computers.
Login: office365.pwcs.edu
Prince William County Schools Acceptable Use Policy 295-1
Instructional Philosophy:
Technology is a valuable tool that supports and enhances our instructional program by promoting problem solving, critical thinking, analytical, and decision making skills. Students and staff will access, process, and communicate information in a dynamic, integrated, and technological environment.
Acceptable Uses of Gravely/PWCS Computer and Network Services:
Computer systems and network services are provided for school related purposes, including educational, communication and research. Acceptable uses include activities that support teaching and learning.
Gravely/PWCS cannot provide technical support for personal computers and mobile devices
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our ITCoach, Gail Bowman at bowman@pwcs.edu or by calling Gravely.
PTO Newsletter
Un-Trim a Tree
The holiday season is fast approaching and soon the Prince William area Un-Trim-a-Tree program will be in full swing! For those of you who are not familiar with this amazing program, it provides gifts to the thousands of underprivileged children here in our community who otherwise would go without.
If you would like to help bring a little bit of joy to a child this holiday season, please consider donating a gift for one of these children. The wishes will be available by about mid November and will be due back by December 8th. All donations can be left in the office at Gravely. Please contact Lisa Young at aandgmom@msn.com if you are interested in helping out. Thank you so very much for your generous support again this year!
Advisory Council / PTO Meeting Schedule
November 13 @ 5:00pm / PTO 7:00pm
December 4 @5:00pm / PTO 7:00pm
January 8 @ 5:00pm / PTO 7:00p
February 5 @ 5:00pm/ PTO 7:00pm
March 12 @ 5:00pm / PTO 7:00pm
April 9 @ 5:00pm / PTO 7:00pm
May 14 @5:00pm / PTO 7:00pm
Samuel L. Gravely Jr. Elementary
Website: https://gravelyes.pwcs.edu/
Location: 4670 Waverly Farm Drive, Haymarket, VA, United States
Phone: 571-248-4930
Facebook: facebook.com/SamuelLGravelyJr