Kahley's Kutz Cougar Chronicles
Kutz Elem. ~ where kids care to learn and kids learn to care
FEBRUARY Newsletter ~ 2015
Karma is a funny thing!
Any suggestions out there for a kid who loses three jackets in two weeks? Yes, I have tried the name written inside. Yes, I have had him write a full account of all of his jackets and keep an inventory. Yes, I have had him pay for the price of a jacket. The funny thing is - I was the same way as a kid! Always getting in trouble for leaving my coat or forgetting my sweater! Don't even get me started on how many umbrellas just disappeared out of my little hands! I can tell my Mom is just laughing inside when I tell her about yet another missing in action item!
So we all forget! But when Devon came home the Friday, after his School Holiday Concert, without his Violin, the violin we purchased for him to use and care for, I about hit the roof! How could you be so irresponsible? Don't you respect the things we purchase for you?
His defense??? "But, Mom, I went back to the Music Room and it was not in the place I left it. There was another violin, a Rental Violin, exactly where I had left my violin."
A memory resurged for me.................I am picturing Devon, age 3, in preschool. His cute little chubby cheeks and his spunky (way too spunky!) love of life! It was "Bicycle Day" and all the toddlers could bring in a bike. The lovely people at Goddard Childcare, allowed the kids to ride their bike outside at playtime. So I took Devon and his old, junky Hot Wheels Bicycle that was taped on the handle bars. My previous Secretary, Claire, had purchased it for a dollar at a Garage Sale. I was happy to have it as was Devon!
Later that day, in the afternoon, I received a call from Goddard. Devon had Pink Eye! So what's a little pink in the eye? Well, you know the drill, you must pick them up immediately and there is that whole 24 hour thing! I had several meetings at school that day and so I called a friend, who happened to have a truck, and asked him to pick Devon and the bike up from school. He did and later told me that Devon kept looking at the bike and even rode it around his kitchen. He really likes that bike, my friend said! Later that evening, when I could finally pick up Devon, I went to get the bike from my friend's garage and it was this Fancy, Shmancy, Superman Bike with all the bells and whistles..........buttons to make noises, a horn that beeped in 7 different tones, stripes and stars on it, a muffler type engine sound, etc. I learned that my friend asked Devon to show him his bike so he could place it in in his truck and Devon looked around and picked out the nicest bike there. My friend assumed it was his! Imagine the face on the little kid who went to get the last bike left.................Devon's old Hot Wheel! Of course, we returned the new-fangled bike and Devon wrote apology notes to all - teacher, friend, owner of the real bike!
Yes, karma is a funny thing! It has a way of sneaking up on you, when you least expect it! Anyone seen a violin? How about a jacket?
Devon in the Principal's Office
Dr. Kahley gets a visit from Santa!
PLEASE TAKE NOTE! PSSA INFO
PSSA Elementary Language Arts (Grades 3-6)
Monday, April 13, 2015 - April 16, 2015
PSSA Math (Grades 3-6)
Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - Thursday, April 23, 2015
PSSA Science (Grade 4)
Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - Wednesday, April 29, 2015
For more Information go to CBSD.org - Curriculum - Assessment
Please refrain from taking your children out of school during these times.
Winner of the 2015 Kutz Geography Bee
The Kutz Geography Bee was held on January 7th and the winner is..................Sean Kostic!
Kutz Elementary recently held its 10th annual Geography Bee. Congratulations to our champion, Sean Kostic! He survived a tense tiebreaker round to take home the coveted National Geographic Bee Medal. Sean is Kutz’s first repeat winner. Congratulations to all our finalists!
-Fourth Grade: Jack Sawyer, Jason Wu, Jenna Christie, Ryan Fasti
-Fifth Grade: Paige Sokolis, Julian Rosenfeld, Reese Dalzell, Sean Kostic
-Sixth Grade: Jordyn Klementovich, Morgan Salmon, Lauren Molenari
MLK Day of Service
Our group from Kutz was one of 5 groups packing meals for Aids for Friends! The Kutz 6th graders packed 160 meals!!!
A good time was had by all!
The gentleman in the picture is David Bishop from Doylestown Presbyterian Church who coordinated our group for the morning and kept the kids laughing the whole time and I might add scooping and packing the trays of food at quite a pace!
Thanks for all who contributed and the parents who volunteered. The total for the Aid for Friends packing day was over 700 meals.
4th Grade Students in Mrs. Corcoran's Class
LOVE AND LOGIC
What Will She Become?
I bet you can predict what kind of parent this little girl will become. John Major sends this wonderful example.
Little Grace was feeling quite grown up while experiencing the wonderful feelings of being an important, contributing member of the family. She was responsible for setting the dinner table.
Coming to her daddy she asked, “Daddy, what would you like to drink with dinner? Water or milk?”
“Daddy will have a Dr. Pepper, please,” was his reply.
“Oh, Daddy! That isn’t one of your choices. Water or milk?”
Daddy reports that he was speechless at this point, realizing that his 4-year-old was using one of the Love and Logic techniques on him!
After about five seconds of Daddy just looking at his little girl, she said, “Daddy, if you don’t choose, I’ll have to choose for you.”
Daddy was surprised that what came out of his mouth was, “Water!”
Isn’t it great to know that Daddy’s grandchildren, and probably his great-grandchildren, will benefit from his modeling?
Refine your skills with this technique of providing choices within limits.
By Jim Fay
Questions in the Classroom
We continue working on questioning skills in the classroom. Teachers are working to ask high level questions that involve application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Students are learning to frame their thinking around a question. They are also learning the skills of discussion and how you engage another person by asking them questions.
How can you help with this? Try asking some of these questions in place of "How was school today?'
What was the most difficult thing you did in school today?
What was the easiest?
If you had to pick one thing you learned from your day, that you want to remember for the rest of your life - what would it be?
What did you play at Recess? Why did you play that?
What skill did you improve today?
What are you still working on?
Homework in the HOME - from parents! Oh my!
I often feel sorry for Devon because he has a Mom who is a teacher and principal. I set up "centers" for him on days off and on the weekends! The centers include math practice, play the violin, empty the dishwasher, write the 12 times tables, type a letter to Grandma, etc. He has grown up with this so he really doesn't mind - and you know what? It makes his free time seem that more special.
I often get samples of PSSA Prep Booklets and we have some outdated ones that I would love to go to a good home. These booklets can be used for Center Time at home. If you would like me to send home a booklet - so that your child can continue the learning at home - please email me at jkahley@cbsd.org - I can send it in an envelope - if you think your child may not want to take home, yet more work! It's good to keep kids busy and thinking with things that improve their minds and their contribution to the family.
YOUNG ENGINEERS' NIGHT
A GREAT BIG THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!
Snow Days and Delays
Please note that should the school district call a snow day - students are off on that day. When school is delayed - students may not be dropped off until the appropriate time e.g. -
1 hour delay school starts at 9:50 AM (students CAN NOT be dropped off before 9:35 AM)
2 hour delay school starts at 10:50 AM (students CAN NOT be dropped off before 10:35 AM)
Unless your child is signed up for the Before School Program - he/she may not come to school earlier.
Important information for Kindergarten and new 1st grade students for the 2014-2015 school year
Don't forget to register your incoming Kindergarten student or your new to Kutz 1st grader for the 2015-2015 school year. Please contact 267-893-2111 to make an appointment ASAP.
If you don't have an incoming Kindergarten child or a new 1st Grader - spread the word to register early. Early registration helps all of us plan for the next year.
Orientation for these new students is scheduled for June 11th, 9:15 - 10:15.
LOOKING FOR IDEAS
About a month ago, a past retired Teacher who taught at Kutz, came to visit me. He found an insurance statement from about 20 years ago, that said a collection of toy cars we had at Kutz was worth almost $1,000. These cars were donated by a teacher who died many years ago, before I was principal here. My visitor felt that we should do something with the toy cars that would further honor the passing of this man sometime ago. Some of the cars are still on display in the Library but many are gathering dust in a box.
As you can imagine, although this is of importance, I try very hard to focus my priorities on your children - their safety, their academic achievement, teachers knowing and using the latest and best methods, etc. Toy cars are not high on my priority list, although, I believe that was such a nice thing for that teacher to do. I do want to do the right thing!
Here is where I need your help? What would you do with the cars? Sell them on EBay and use the money to for Kutz? Sell them and use the money to help others? Auction them off? Display them? How and Where? I would really like to do something with the cars.
If you have an idea, better yet, if you have an idea and you are willing to do the ground work for it - please send your idea to kpirrone@cbsd.org We will look over any and all ideas and see what we can come up with. There is no rush and you will have as much time as you need to complete whatever your idea may be. It is a way of volunteering for the school on your own time and at your own pace. Please let us know your ideas. Thanks!
Update on New Reporting Progress System
As we begin to make our way towards the close of the second marking period, it is important to realize that we will be assessing your child on several standards within each content area. This is a good time to refocus on the fact that the use of the indicators (Exceeding, Meeting, Approaching, and Limited Progress) in reporting student progress is a monumental shift in thinking.
Please keep in the forefront of your mind that indicators and letter grades report learning differently. Letter grades give global information while indicators give more specific information regarding student achievement. For example an M does not at all indicate “average” or equate to a letter “C”. Meeting means that the learning goal was met. Central Bucks sets incredibly high goals and expectations for students. Meeting these goals takes hard work and is an accomplishment! At the same time, please keep in mind that an Approaching or Limited Progress means that a student has YET to meet the established goal. Students all learn at different rates. We will continue to provide the very best instruction and support in the classroom so that each student can reach his/her highest potential.
We're still "Muling it over!"
Boomerang Award
This year, Kutz will continue to accept nominations for the Boomerang Award, which is our way of honoring students who best demonstrate their own developmental assets. What are Developmental Assets? Students possessing a combination of “40 Assets” are typically most successful in school and in life. These assets have the power to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults. For a complete listing of the 40 Developmental Assets visit: www. Search-institute.org.
January: #9 Service to Others. Young person values service to others, in their family, school, or community. He/she commits to meaningful and caring actions.
February: #36 Peaceful Conflict Resolution. Young person seeks to resolve conflicts peacefully. Young person understands the benefit of peaceful conflict resolution. They are considered to be a ‘resource” to others, one who helps to solve problems, e.g. peer mediation or just a good friend who is known to help others with difficult situations.
A LOOK AHEAD
JANUARY
23 Kutz Spirit Day-Blue/White or Kutz Gear
26 Parent Forum on Cyberbullying sponsored by NOVA, Lenape Middle School 7:00 PM
27 Early Dismissal 12:10 PM, NO PM-K, End of 2nd MP
27 American Red Cross Blood Drive, Kutz Cafeteria 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
FEBRUARY
6 Kutz Spirit Day-Blue/White or Kutz Gear
11 H&S Meeting, 7:00 PM
13 Professional Development, NO SCHOOL
16 President’s Day, SCHOOL HOLIDAY
17-20 Art Goes to School
20 Historical Facts and Figure Day! (dress as your favorite historical figure and bring facts!)
MARCH
5 Kutz Presents Aladdin Jr. The Musical, 7:30 PM
6 Kutz Presents Aladdin Jr. The Musical, 7:30 PM
7 Kutz Presents Aladdin Jr. The Musical, 7:30 PM
6 Kutz Spirit Day-Blue/White or Kutz Gear
13 Bus Driver Appreciation Day
16-19 Scholastic Book Fair
20 Early Dismissal 12:10 PM, NO AM-K, PM attends in AM
20 Kutz Spirit Day-Blue/White or Kutz Gear
Central Bucks School District Twitter
Upcoming Events are always scrolling on the Kutz Website
Paul w. Kutz Elementary School
Website: cbsd.org/Domain/17
Location: 1950 Turk Road, Doylestown, PA, United States
Phone: 267-893-3900