Milne Grove Messenger
November 2017
Highlighted Dates to Remember (see linked calendar for full schedule of events)
1st Trimester Ends: November 10
Report Cards Go Home: November 17
Parent Teacher Conferences: November 20 & 21 (PTO Candle Pick Up at MG for All)
Students Not in Session - November 20 - 24
Thank Your School Board Members on November 15th!
Principal's Page
This fall, our Board of Education will begin the strategic planning process to develop long and short range goals for the school district. The first step in the process is to have stakeholders provide input through a survey that will be released in early to mid November. If you are interested in being a member of the strategic plan committee in February, please contact cknize@d91.net. Committed members are needed to help the board develop the best possible plan.
Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on November 20 & 21; both evening and morning hours are available. This is a wonderful opportunity to ask any questions that you have and hear first-hand how your child is progressing.
Once again, we will offer online sign up; however, instead of using SignUp Genius - we will use PTC Wizard. Please see the link below and contact our office with ANY questions or problems. We are happy to schedule a time for you if technology is not your thing.
This is the only formal conference that we will offer throughout the year, though I encourage you to contact your child’s teacher whenever you have questions or concerns.
If you would like to conference with me, I have plenty of times available – please call or email to set up a conference time!
Mrs. Jaime Koziol, Principal
815-838-0542 x2104
Mrs. Cindy Dragosh, Secretary
815-838-0542x2100
Having Trouble? See the Parent Teacher Conference Wizard Guide Below (or call the office at 815-838-0542 x2100)
Stay tuned for our 2017 Strategic Plan Survey to be released November 6th.
D91 Parent University
Monday, Nov 6, 2017, 06:30 PM
Kelvin Grove Elementary School, Adams Street, Lockport, IL, United States
Notes From the Nurse
I would like to remind everyone that it is cold and flu season. Please keep your child home if they are complaining of a sore throat, cough, have a fever, headache, or any other flu like symptom. Not all children with the flu will have a fever, so listen to your child’s complaints and keep them home when they do not feel well.
Preventing the spread of germs is important and keeping sick children separated from well children is a great way to prevent the spread of illness. Remind your child to wash their hands, not to share food or drinks and to keep from touching their face if at all possible. Coughing and sneezing into a tissue or the bend of their arm is also important. The staff at Milne Grove is working hard each day to keep the environment a healthy and safe place for your children. We all need to work together for prevention to be effective.
Mrs. Gilkerson, RN
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 815-838-0542 ex. 2106 or at sgilkerson@d91.net.
PTO News
November 6th--New Box Top Contest Begins
November 8th--PTO Meeting in MG LRC at 6:00pm
November 20th--Yankee Candle Pick Up at MIlne Grove 12:30-4:05 & 5:30-8:05
November 21st--Yankee Candle Pick Up at Milne Grove 8:30-11:25 & 12:30-3:05
November 28th & 29th--Papa Johns Fundraiser
Email d91.pto.info@gmail.com with questions!
Like the D91 PTO on Facebook!
The Latest from the LRC
Book Notes
In November we will begin reading this year’s state Monarch Award nominated books. Students will vote for their favorite Monarch book in March. After Winter Break we will be offering the Bluestem Bunch, a book club for third graders based on the state award program for grades 3-5.
Scholastic Book Fair
Our recent Scholastic Book Fair was a great success! We were able to get hundreds of books for the school libraries at no cost with the proceeds from your purchases! Many thanks also to the students who supported our change drive and helped us get even more books - Scholastic matched their donations with books for children in need.
Pumpkinpalooza / Food Drive
Pumkinpalooza had many great entries - check my webpage or Twitter for winners. Our FOOD DRIVE RUNS THRU NOV 13. Please continue to send in food items for Bags of Hope and the Lockport FISH pantry.
Reading Programs
Watch for info coming home soon for a NEW Chicago Wolves reading program, followed by Six Flags Read to Succeed in December. We have Guinness, a certified therapy dog, coming to school to read with students. We have started with first grade and hope to work our way through all students. The kids are loving it - as you can see in the pictures!
Volunteer Corner
Thank you to Linda Hozjan, Jaime Dixon, Peter Klauser, Katie Schuldt and Roxane Potacki for help with library tasks this month!
Mrs. Tumino
ltumino@d91.net ~ 815-838-0542, x2122Physical Education Feats
In PE during the month of October students finished up their football and bowling units. In the month of November they will begin a soccer unit where they will focus on many different skills and lead up games.
Students will continue to get their exercise in on Work Out Wednesdays and enjoy themselves on Fun Fridays!
Our students have been showing great sportsmanship during their PE classes. Many classes have gotten to Superstar in PE for following all directions, working hard, having fun and showing good sportsmanship!
Just a reminder that all students in 1st-3rd should have gym shoes everyday. With the changing weather, it is important that each child has the proper gym shoes for class. Students with sandals, flip flops or boots are not allowed to participate in PE. Kindergarteners and Early Learners should have shoes on their scheduled PE days.
Please contact Mrs. Draper at kdraper@d91.net with questions about what your child is learning in gym!
Annual FISH Pantry Food Drive
Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Drive
Bags of Hope Weekly Food Donation Pledge
3rd Grade
Third Grade November Newsletter
ELA:
Please continue to read with your child each night for 20 minutes.
Math:
Please be working with your student on fact fluency for addition, subtraction, and multiplication each night. If you would like additional resources for fact practice, please visit the math page of the third grade website.
You can use the Go Math link to review lessons at home and assist with concept questions during homework. Go Math Website
Science:
We are currently working on our force and motion unit. Please continue to work with your child on his/her vocabulary words throughout the week.
Social Studies:
We are currently working on our civics unit. Please continue to work with your child on his/her vocabulary words throughout the week.
We look forward to seeing you at parent teacher conferences!
Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
The Third Grade Team
Miss Johnson, 3rd grade teacher, jjohnson@d91.net
Mrs. McGreevy, 3rd grade teacher, hmcgreevy@d91.net
Mrs. Steed, 3rd grade teacher, csteed@d91.net
Mrs. Visser, Reading Specialist, avisser@d91.net
Mrs. Fiday, Special Education Teacher, lfiday@d91.net
Mrs. Phillips, Reading Aide, bphillips@d91.net
Mrs. Heintz, Math Aide, mheintz@d91.net
Check Out the Guardians of the Green Recycling Club (created by Mrs. McGreevy's Class)!
2nd Grade
Reading
Discuss characters, setting, problem and solution
Discuss the sequence of events in a story
Practice spelling and vocabulary words nightly
Science
- In science they will learn how landforms can change over time
Social Studies
Chapter 2, Working to Meet our Needs
Students will learn: how make choices about needs and wants, how people can trade goods and services within their communities, and how you can save money and use banks
Math
Continue to practice math facts
Chapter 3 skills: equal groups and repeated addition
Chapter 4 skills: break apart tens and ones to add, regrouping with 2 digit addition, and problem solving
The Second Grade Team
Mrs. Bolte, 2nd grade teacher, mbolte@d91.net
Mrs. Georgopulos, 2nd grade teacher, rgeorgopulos@d91.net
Miss Podwika, 2nd grade teacher, kpodwika@d91.net
Mrs. Visser, Reading Specialist, avisser@d91.net
Mrs. Fiday, Special Education Teacher, lfiday@d91.net
Mrs. Phillips, Reading Aide, bphillips@d91.net
Mrs. Heintz, Math Aide, mheintz@d91.net
1st Grade
Superkids Reading Program:
Spelling and reading words ending with -- “le” “er” “ed” and “ing”
Read and spell new memory words
Understand and identify antonyms
Understand literary and informational text
Read and understand new vocabulary
Language and Writing:
Focus on writing complete sentences
Idenitfy what an opinion is
Writing an opinion paragraph
GO Math:
Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction
Add and subtract within 20
Work with addition and subtraction equations
Understand and apply properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction
Continuing to practice addition and subtraction flashcards within 10
Counting backwards to subtract
Using a ten frame to add and subtract
Social Studies
Leaders in our community, state and nation
Goods and services provided in our communities
Celebrate and learn about Veteran’s Day
Learn about the First Thanksgiving and how we celebrate today
Science
Learning about the Moon and discovering patterns of change through its phases
The First Grade Team
Mrs. O'Halloran, 1st grade teacher, mohalloran@d91.net
Mrs. Preboy, 1st grade teacher, cpreboy@d91.net
Mrs. Stanly, 1st grade teacher, lstanly@d91.net
Mrs. Visser, Reading Specialist, avisser@d91.net
Mrs. Fiday, Special Education Teacher, lfiday@d91.net
Mrs. Phillips, Reading Aide, bphillips@d91.net
Mrs. Heintz, Math Aide, mheintz@d91.net
Kindergarten
We are practicing working independently, with a partner and within a small group. The students are being very respectful and responsible during these times.
Throughout November we will investigate the falling leaves by comparing their shapes, sizes, and colors. We will learn the life cycle of plants and trees and what they need to grow.
We are so thankful to all the families that have worked hard at home to enrich what we’ve done in school. Continue to read every day, practice sounds, letters, and sight words.
Mrs. Adams - sadams@d91.net
Mrs. Visser, Reading Specialist, avisser@d91.net
Mrs. Fiday, Special Education Teacher, lfiday@d91.net
Mrs. Phillips, Reading Aide, bphillips@d91.net
Mrs. Heintz, Math Aide, mheintz@d91.net
Early Learners Preschool
Upcoming Events:
Week of November 6 – The Early Learners will be introduced to the letter “N” and the theme will be Native Americans. They will be making Native American headdresses and necklaces for our fall program. The Early Learners will also be introduced to the color brown and the number 5.
Week of November 13 – The Early Learners will be reviewing the letter “T” and the theme will be Thanksgiving. They will be decorating Thanksgiving placemats. The Early Learners will also be introduced to the number 6.
Week of November 20 – NO SCHOOL but scheduled HOME VISITS Monday & Tuesday, November 20th and 21st.
Week of November 27 – The Early Learners will be introduced to the letter “X”. They will also be introduced to the square shape and the number 7.
Dates to Remember:
Thursday, November 9th, Field Trip To White Oaks Library in Lockport.
Friday, November 15th, Fall Program at 2:40p.m. to 3:00p.m. in the art room
Monday & Tuesday, November 20th & 21st, NO SCHOOL, Scheduled Home Visits
Wednesday - Friday, November 22nd-24th, NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Break
Please check your Early Learners folder for information on the reading family fun night which will be on Friday, November 17th at Kelvin Grove.
The PK Team
Mrs. Torkelson, PK Teacher, rtorkelson@d91.net
Mrs. Pederson, Bilingual Liaison, spederson@d91.net
Mrs. Rishmawi, PK aide, drishmawi@d91.net
The Speech Spot with Mrs. Barker
Open Ended Questions
Looking for a way to keep the conversation going or to encourage higher level thinking skills? Try using open ended questions. Open ended questions are are those which can be answered in many ways. Closed ended questions require a “yes”, a “no”, or single word response and often restrict conversation. Asking open ended questions provides parents with the opportunity to see what their child is thinking or feeling. Open ended questions encourage children to take risks, since there is no right or wrong answer, and enables children to analyze and explain their own thought process or actions. Try using some of the following questions the next time you have a conversation with your child.
Sample Questions
What do you think?
What does it remind you of?
I wonder why……
How would you feel if…?
How are you going to do that?
What would happen if ….?
What can you do the next time?
What could you do to …..?
I wonder how you figured that out?
What connects these things?
What could you do instead?
How are they alike, different?
Why do you think the character…?
How did you know that?
Tell me about what you made.
Tell me how you solved the problem.
Contact Mrs. Barker at jbarker@d91.net for more tips and tricks to aid in your child's speech and language development!
Savvy Solutions with Mrs. DeSandre
This Month’s Topic: Promoting Good Sportsmanship
Promote that having fun is the most important part of playing the game.
Teach the rules of the game or activity and continue to remind and reinforce them as the game or activity continues.
Have a discussion of why cheating and/or not playing by the rules is not a fair nor fun way to play a game. Emphasize that we cannot ALWAYS win, and it is OK to lose.
Control your own emotions during the game or activity. Be a good role model, your child will imitate your actions. A few good ways to do this is to remain calm during the game, laugh even when losing, shake hands or give high fives at the end of the game, etc.
Always be respectful to everyone involved in the game or activity. Explain that arguing often makes the situation worse. Encourage children to talk nicely and come to an agreement. Not everything is a “big deal”.
Use particular events that happened in the game or activity to teach about being a good sport. For example, “I know you hoped to get the winning basket for your team and then another team member bumped into you. I’m really proud that you controlled your feelings and showed him respect when he helped you up.”)
Point out specific examples (whether on TV or at sporting events) of how good sportsmanship was shown during or after the game or activity.
Let there be appropriate consequences when he/she shows poor sportsmanship. Explain that the natural consequence could be that others may not want to play with them if they are cheating, arguing, yelling, always quitting, etc.
(Resource: A Guide for Parents and Guardians: Teaching your child to be a good sport. Boulden Publishing, 2007)
Questions? Comments? Ideas for topics? Contact Mrs. DeSandre at tdesandre@d91.net
Art
During the fall months, Milne Grove artists are currently working on the following projects:
All Milne Grove art students will progress into painting and the color wheel - with a focus on primary and secondary colors. Kindergarten’s first official painting will focus on the color, line, and shape found within a rainbow. Students will also learn to mix and blend the secondary colors and add white to their colors to create tints. First grade students will be working on a printmaking lesson which focused on positive and negative space and the fall color scheme - inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy, Nature Art, and the Fall season. Second grade will be starting a portrait landscape showing depth in inspiration of Sir Joshua Reynolds and his royal portraiture. Students will learn how to draw their face in correct size, shape, proportion and spacing. Third grade students have recently completed an outrageous dream bedroom design; students pushed their creativity by mapping the ultimate room with interesting layout, simple symbols, and much personal detail.
All students will also be completing artwork critiques - verbal, written, with peers, and using stickers/tokens that will motivate conversation about their artwork and the work of others.
If you have any questions regarding your child’s art class, please feel free to check the “Art Pages” on the school website, or do not hesitate to contact me directly anytime. Thank you in advance for your support of the Art Department at Milne Grove. Please let me know if I can be of assistance in any way and have a great year!
Mrs. Cravens
Music Notes
To Contact Mrs. Randolph K-8 Music & KG Chorus Director
Email: srandolph@d91.net PHONE: 815-838-0737 ext. 1140
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM (Grades K-5 & KG Chorus): T. Dec. 19 (10am Change & 1:15 pm)
Parent/ Teacher Conferences: Please sign up through the web
“Jingle Bell Jukebox” (a musical featuring songs of the season in a 1950’s era soda shop) will be presented Tuesday, December 19 at 10 am & 1:15 pm in the Kelvin Grove Gym (enter Door # 1) by all students in grades K-5 and the Kelvin Grove Chorus. The Kindergarten and First Grade will perform two songs on the stage to open the musical. Second through Fifth Graders and KG Chorus will present the entire musical in the gym on the floor in front of the stage. Auditioned Chorus members will be the cast. Morning Kindergarten will perform during the 10 am show and the afternoon kindergarten will perform during the 1:15 pm show. Students are to wear nice clothes for this performance.
Check the music web page: click on tabs for each grade for homework, music, class pictures and other information. Grades 2-3 will receive worksheets for homework, and will be using Quizlet, other web sites and youtube videos for students and families to learn, sing, and share music together. Students are to put graded worksheets in their music portfolio (3-ring binder) behind Chapter 2 Theory or Chapter 2 History and have homework completed by class time each week ready to be graded. Their portfolio should have five tab dividers labeled: 1- Notes; 2 – Theory; 3 – History; 4 – Classical Is Cool; 5 – Music; and save the portfolio (binder) through 8th grade.
3rd Grade Extra Recognition: Play and pass into advanced recorder status and/or through Joy tunes web program and register under Mrs. Randolph’s class. To have accomplishments posted on class recorder chart and/or web page. Advanced students will earn recorder award at the end of the year.
Recorder Club is FREE: Fridays when we have school 8:05-8:30 at Milne Grove. Buzz in the office to come to the music room and earn stickers for music passed. Advanced students earn the opportunity to use music computers and pianos.
MUSIC CALENDAR:
Parents are needed to help decorate and set-up for the Christmas Program. Please return the form to Mrs. Randolph if you can help! This year we are decorating the stage starting in November.
F. Dec.15 3pm (Old Gym closed to 10pm Dec.17)(Parents & Friends help decorate program)
M.Dec. 18 During school morning Christmas Program practice
T. Dec. 19 10am & 1:15pm Christmas Program (Grades K-5 & Chorus) KG old gym
MUSIC FUNDRAISERS:VALUCARDS $10 each good at area businesses. Contact Mrs. Randolph to purchase a discount card good EVERY Day until the end of May!
SAVE TABS FOR MUSIC! Please bring metal tabs from soda and other cans to school in a ziplock bag or large mouthed container and have students put in large white buckets in the hallway.
Want to Volunteer for the Holiday Program? Return this Form!
Citgo STEM Day on November 8th
Substitutes Needed!!
Order Your Yearbook Today!
See Link Below & Enter Yearbook ID Code 13213818
For More Information on Milne Grove School:
Email: jkoziol@d91.net
Website: www.d91.net
Location: 565 East 7th Street, Lockport, IL, United States
Phone: 815-838-0542
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milnegrove/
Twitter: @milnegrove