Anderson Angle
Volume V Issue 1
A MESSAGE FROM MR. HEWITT
Hello Anderson Families,
The year is well underway. Next week we will host families for our first parent/teacher conference of the 2018-2019 school year. This is an opportunity for teachers to share your child’s progress and a time for them to answer any questions you may have about the classroom and curriculum. We want to thank you in advance for attending. For the past five years, we have had 97% (and higher) of families attend conferences in the Fall and Spring. That is amazing attendance! Thank you!
This month we celebrate a couple of events. The first is National School Lunch Week, October 15-19. Here at Anderson, we have a dedicated group of cooks who provide breakfast and lunch daily to 550 hungry students. Many thanks to our kitchen staff, Lola Close, Roberta Faiferlick, Becky Gabriel, Dot Lampe, Karen Schroer, and David Walker.
The second event I would like to recognize is School Bus Safety Week, October 22-26. Each year, our students practice bus safety drills under the watchful eye of our Director of Transportation, teachers and bus drivers in the Fall and Spring. This is an excellent opportunity for our students to practice and experience bus evacuation drills in a safe location. Our transportation department transports hundreds of students safely each day. Please join me in sending a thank-you to our dedicated drivers.
I look forward to visiting with some of you at conferences next week, and as always, the staff and I are available to discuss questions or concerns you have about your child’s education. Thank you for being a partner in education!
Sincerely,
Mel Hewitt, Principal
Please Follow Anderson Elementary on Twitter: @MelHewitt1, #AndersonJays
October Calendar
4th - PTO Meeting at Morris Elementary - 6:30pm
5th - Midterms go home
8th & 11th - Parent/Teacher Conferences - 2:00 Dismissal both days
12th - NO SCHOOL - Teacher In-Service Day
18th - Pick-up Fundraiser items at Anderson 3:45-6:00pm.
REMINDER: 2:00 Dismissal Every Monday
Preschool News
Preschool has been in session for only a few weeks, but we have already been very busy! In the first weeks of school, we learned about the school and who works in schools. We also talked about what makes each of us unique as well as who is in our families. The students all made faces out of paper plates to look like themselves. We end each week with Science Fridays. The students become scientists and make predictions of what they think will happen in various science experiments. We have already gotten to do some fun experiments like “Dancing Raisins,” and we got to see what happens when vinegar is mixed with baking soda.
We have started an author study on Eric Carle. Students will not only hear and retell familiar stories, but they will also get to listen to new books by this famous author. Students will have the opportunity to try new art techniques that are similar to what Eric Carle uses in his books. Ms. Margaret from the Bondurant Community Library will also continue to visit and read to the students each month. We are excited for yet another fun-filled year!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
Third Grade Happenings...
Welcome to third grade!! We are off to a wonderful school year. We have several new third grade students this year and would like to welcome them and their families to our school and community. Also, welcome all third graders to the Anderson Elementary building.
At the beginning of the year, we practice routines and our schedule so the school year goes by smoothly. We are digging into our academics now and starting up our math and reading groups. This takes time to get them started but kids are doing a great job.
Our first big project for the year will be next week for Social Studies. The students are learning about mapping skills, directions, continents, and oceans. To go along with the curriculum we will be making globes. This is a 2-day project. This project gives the students a good perspective of what the world looks like in the shape of a sphere and where the continents and oceans are located on it. The kids will learn a lot from this project and have a fun time making globes.
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
4th Grade - Student Led Conferences
The fourth grade team is using our October Anderson Angle Article as an opportunity to tell parents about an awesome opportunity students have in fourth grade during conference week.
Student led conferences, in which students facilitate their own conference, have been a tradition in fourth grade. In the fall, teachers help to guide students during their conference. By spring conferences, students will lead their own conference. Parents are asked to bring their child with them to their conference so they will be able to participate in this great experience!
Students will be working hard in the weeks leading up to their conference by getting materials ready and filling out a reflection paper about fourth grade so far. They will be able to discuss these items with their teacher and parents during their scheduled time. There will also be time for teachers to review progress reports, aReading scores, math fluency scores, and current things that students are learning in class.
The fourth grade team looks forward to student led conferences each year as it allows our students the opportunity to showcase the learning they are doing at school each day. We love the look of excitement in our student’s eyes when they get to share their success with their parents and really take pride in the work they have done!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
Fifth Grade Fragments
Fifth grade is off to a great start! We have been practicing routines, delving into the curriculum, and using a fun classroom management system, Class Dojo. Class Dojo is used in several school systems in the United States and is used in over 180 countries (Classdojo.com/about). “What is Class Dojo?”, you might be asking. Class Dojo is a behavior management and communication system.
Throughout the day, teachers can give students points based on specific behavior that the teacher observes (like active participation, working hard, citizenship, etc.) Teachers can also take note of undesired behavior by giving the students negative points (off-task, disrespect, or forgetting materials for class). Once the teacher has given the points, the student’s parent can view the points by being connected to their child’s account. If you have not connected to your child’s Class Dojo Account, we encourage you to contact your child’s homeroom teacher.
With our Class Dojo Behavior System, students are also able to earn rewards. Each day that the child earns a score of at least 5 overall points, the teacher will give the student a BEST ticket. To earn the champions of character recess for the month, students will need to earn 125 points. This year the fifth grade Class Dojo awards are at 100, 300, 600, 900, 1,000, and 1,500. When the student receives 100 points, their Class Dojo Avatar is added to the Super Improvers Wall. At 300 (MVP Level), the students will earn a sweet treat. When a student has earned 600 points (Pro Level), they will receive a Lunch Bunch ticket for them and two friends. At 900 points (Super Star Level), students will get a special music privilege. When the student reaches 1,000 points (Hall of Fame Level), they will earn the privilege of the extra recess at the end of the year and a sweet treat. The ultimate surprise is at 1,500 (this is a surprise for students). Keep up all the hard work fifth graders!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
Anderson is in the Zone!
This semester, in the 3rd -5th grade classroom guidance lessons, as part of our PBIS program, we will be learning about the Zones of Regulation. If you hear your child talk about what zone they are in, or “being in the blue/green/yellow/red zone” they are talking about how they are learning to self- regulate. Below is a brief explanation of what the Zones of Regulation are about. If you find your child, taking deep breaths, getting a drink of water, or counting to 10, they just might be using one of the tools to help regulate their brain and body.
“Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it”. -Charles Swindoll
Here is a little bit about Self-Regulation and the Zones of Regulation from the website describing it in more detail. Self-regulation is something everyone continually works on, whether we are cognizant of it or not. We all encounter trying circumstances that test our limits from time to time. If we are able to recognize when we are becoming less regulated, we are able to do something about it to feel better and get ourselves to a better place. This comes naturally for some, but for others it is a skill that needs to be taught and practiced. This is the goal of The Zones of Regulation (or Zones for short).
What are The Zones of Regulation? The Zones is a systematic, cognitive behavior approach used to teach self-regulation by categorizing all the different ways we feel and states of alertness we experience into four concrete zones. The Zones curriculum provides strategies to teach students to become more aware of, and independent in controlling their emotions and impulses, managing their sensory needs, and improving their ability to problem solve conflicts.
The Red Zone is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions. A person may be elated or experiencing anger, rage, explosive behavior, devastation, or terror when in the Red Zone.
The Yellow Zone is also used to describe a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions; however, one has some control when they are in the Yellow Zone. A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, the wiggles, or nervousness when in the Yellow Zone.
The Green Zone is used to describe a calm state of alertness. A person may be described as happy, focused, content, or ready to learn when in the Green Zone. This is the zone where optimal learning occurs.
The Blue Zone is used to describe low states of alertness and down feelings, such as when one feels sad, tired, sick, or bored.
The Zones can be compared to traffic signs. When given a green light or in the Green Zone, one is “good to go”. A yellow sign means be aware or take caution, which applies to the Yellow Zone. A red light or stop sign means stop, and when one is the Red Zone, this often is the case. The Blue Zone can be compared to the rest area signs where one goes to rest or re-energize.
All of the zones are expected at one time or another, but the curriculum focuses on teaching students how to manage their Zone based on the environment and people around them. For example, when playing on the playground or in an active/competitive game, no one would think twice about one being in the Yellow Zone but that would not be same in the library.
Please contact Mrs. Miltenberger if you have any questions about the Zones of Regulation.
School-Based Mental Health Therapy
This year, through a partnership with Stepping Stones Family Services, school-based mental health therapy will be available for our students at Anderson as well as the other schools in the district. Please see the information below from Stepping Stones.
Multiple research studies have found that children and adolescents are not receiving necessary mental health services due to services being limited and difficult for families to access. Providing mental health services in schools increases access to care. Children and families are more likely to access and utilize services when they are being offered at schools. School personnel refer students to school-based therapy when students' mental health needs affect their daily functioning. Stepping Stone Family Services provides school-based therapy services during the school year and the summer break. School-based services and length of service is individualized. Each referred student and his/her parent(s) will meet with a therapist from Stepping Stone Family Services for an assessment. During the assessment, student's needs, strengths and goals are discussed. An individual treatment plan is developed for each student. ct.
Stepping Stone Family Services provides School Based Therapy Services to all schools in the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District.
3rd-5th Grade Music Notes
Hello and welcome to another exciting year of Bluejay Music! This fall we began our classes by discovering new instruments in the music room and the cool new sounds they can make! We’ve also continued to learn about rhythm and counting rhythms on numbers!
In addition to the new instruments and working on rhythms we have begun music notation. Students are learning how to read and write the notes and rests we are learning about.
Each grade will have a concert this year in the brand new High School Auditorium!!! The performance schedule is as follows:
The 5th Grade will be performing on Thursday, November 1st.
Students in the classes of Owens, Belschner, Viggers and Lihs will perform at 6 pm.
Students in the classes of Kula, Cornia and Weaver will perform at 7:15 pm.
The 4th Grade will be performing on Thursday, January 24th.
Students in the classes of Tyler, Spears, VanWoerkom and Lehman will perform at 6 pm.
Students in the classes of Bruhn, Swearngin, McDonald and Howard will perform at 7:15 pm.
The 3rd Grade will be performing on Thursday, April 4th.
Students in the classes of Cook, Kloster, Owen and Wirtz will perform at 6 pm.
Students in the classes of Reents, Wanninger and Voss will perform at 7:15 pm.
Thanks so much to all of you in our community for your continued support of the music program! As always if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at prestons@bfschools.org or by phone at 515-967-7494
Sallyanne Preston
3-5 Vocal Music
Nurse News - The Flu and You
- What is Influenza (Flu)?
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.
- Signs and Symptoms of Flu
People who have flu may feel some or all of these signs and symptoms that usually start suddenly, not gradually:
· Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
· Cough
· Sore throat
· Runny or stuffy nose
· Muscle or body aches
· Headaches
· Fatigue (very tired)
· Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in young children than in adults.
*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.
- How Flu Spreads
Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes.
- Period of Contagiousness
You may be able to pass on flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
· People with flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins.
· Some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.
· Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others with flu viruses for an even longer time.
- Onset of Symptoms
The time from when a person is exposed and infected with flu to when symptoms begin is about 2 days, but can range from about 1 to 4 days.
- Preventing Seasonal Flu
The first and most important step in preventing flu is to get a flu vaccine each year. Flu vaccine has been shown to reduce flu related illnesses and the risk of serious flu complications that can result in hospitalization or even death. CDC also recommends everyday preventive actions (like staying away from people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes and frequent handwashing) to help slow the spread of germs that cause respiratory (nose, throat, and lungs) illnesses, like flu.
Content source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), August 27, 2018.
Staff BEST
Mrs. Postel
Mrs. Cook
Mrs. Wiley
Can you help our District raise $10,000?
Bondurant-Farrar schools have been given a great opportunity to raise up to $10,000 in ONE day. Bob Brown Buick in Ankeny has chosen B-F schools to be the recipient of this great fundraising opportunity. Bob Brown Buick will be bringing in ten vehicles to the B-F High School parking lot on October 6, 2018 from 8am-5pm. They are paying us $20 per person that test drives a vehicle ($10 a vehicle if we only have 100 drivers) up to 500 drivers. Two drivers are allowed to test drive per household. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other miscellaneous Bluejay Fans living in the Bondurant community or outside the community can test drive as well. The test drives will begin and end at the high school parking lot. All drivers must be at least 21 years old and have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. Personal information like name and address are required in order to be eligible for the payment. This is only a test drive, there will be no sales propositions. The test drive will take approximately 5 minutes plus the time to fill out necessary paperwork and a waiver. Sign up at http://signup.com/go/LkPfFjA to help B-F organizations earn money. You can select one or multiple groups that your test drive donation can go toward. Contact thebluejayparty@live.com if you have any questions. Thank you for supporting our kids!
BackPack Program
Once again, we are excited to partner with the Food Bank of Iowa to provide nutritious weekend snacks to low-income families with elementary aged students. If you are in need or know of a family who may benefit from this program, please call Mrs. Bonita Wiley at 515-967-7494 or email her at wileyb@bfschools.org. For more information regarding The BackPack Program, please click here.
Watch D.O.G.S. Program
The Bondurant-Farrar WatchDOGs program is a parent involvement program that invites parent-figures into the school to help increase security and reduce bullying. Moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are encouraged to spend a half- or full-day at their child’s school. During that day, you’ll have the opportunity to be in your child’s classroom, eat lunch with him or her, help in other classrooms, monitor hallways, and/or assist teachers and administrators with every-day projects – all of which enhance the overall education experience of our children. To find out more, or to sign-up to be a WatchDOG, email watchdogsbondurant@gmail.com.