April Newsletter
Dear KG Parents,
April is an extremely short month due to spring break, April 1st through April 5th, and days surrounding the Easter holiday, April 19 and April 22. In March, we finished our Illinois Assessment of Readiness and IL Science Assessment testing for all the grade levels at Kelvin Grove. We will once again eagerly await the results which will be reported on the Illinois School Report Card at the end of October. Our goal is to maintain our prior “Commendable” rating determined by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) last year. The scores from the IAR and ISA are combined with our 5-Essentials survey results and attendance data to make up our school’s rating for the year.
The warmer weather means more students will be walking and riding their bikes to and from school. We ask that parents that are driving take extra precaution as they enter and exit the parking lots. Students don’t always look as they begin to cross streets, and so it is our duty as motorists to watch for them. We ask that parents don’t block the sidewalks or walkways in any of the parking lots surrounding KG. Additionally, I have been asked by the Lockport Police Department to remind our parents that CELL PHONE USE IS ILLEGAL IN SCHOOL ZONES! Also, there is no standing, stopping, or parking along the curb-side of Adams Street during drop-off and pick up time. This causes a traffic hazard between the west and south lots of the school making it difficult for cars to enter and exit those areas. Cars are only allowed a right hand turn while exiting the junior high drop off area. Please follow all of the drop off and pick up procedures for the safety of our kids at KG.
April is also the month for our annual drama production. This year’s production, “Peter Pan,” will take place on Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26 from 7:00-9:00 pm. Please come support our drama club and be entertained in the process. Tickets are only $4 for students and $6 for adults. I hope everyone has a relaxing spring break and has the opportunity to spend some time with family and friends.
Sincerely,
John Jennings
Principal
Nurse Notes
Current Sixth grade students are required by the State of Illinois to have a completed dental exam form on file at school by May 15, 2018. There are still many students who do not have a current dental form on file. According to the law, report cards can be withheld if a dental form is not on file. Reminders will be sent out to students who have not complied.
It is not too early to start thinking about next school year sixth grade physicals! If you have a fifth grade student, complete the Illinois Health Exam now! Don’t forget a dental exam is also required! Please look on the District 91 website, under the Health and Wellness section, to view the health requirements for your student's grade.
ALL students entering 6th grade are required to have:
2 doses of MMR
3 or more doses of Polio
3 or more doses of DTP/DTaP
3 doses of Hepatitis B
1 dose of the Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine
1 dose of the Tdap vaccine regardless of the interval since the last DTap, DT, Td dose
2 doses of Varicella or documentation of varicella disease documented by physician
Parent/Guardian must complete, sign and date the Health History section located on the backside of the Health Examination form
Please be aware that students trying out team sports must have a current sports physical on file in order to tryout.
Are you interested in learning more about our school lunches? Check out the school lunch menu nutritional facts on the Lunch Program page of the district website.
All district medical forms and the District Wellness Plan can be found on the Health and Wellness page of the district website.
Thank you,
Jenna Drobick, BSN, RN
Kelvin Grove School Nurse
815-838-0737 ext. 1102
4th & 5th Grade Guidance
We began our unit about problem solving and students are doing a nice job learning the problem solving steps and how to implement them. Our problem solving model consists of four “STEPs”:
S - Say the Problem without blame
T - Think of Solutions that are safe and respectful
E - Explore Consequences - both positive and negative
P - Pick the best Solution and make a plan
Our final four lessons for fourth grade will be about solving playground problems, taking responsibility for your actions, dealing with peer pressure, and reviewing what we learned this year. The final four lessons for fifth grade will be about seeking help, dealing with gossip, dealing with peer pressure, and reviewing what we learned this year. Thank you for completing the Second Step homework activities with your child! I hope it is helping you to have some meaningful conversations and to reinforce positive life skills at home.
As always, if you have any comments, questions or suggestions regarding the Guidance program, please contact me. I would love to hear from you!
4th Grade
ELA
Students completed a unit on Latin and Greek root words.
Students will begin reading the novel, The White Giraffe. Students should be re-reading the chapters at home for additional practice.
Students should be practicing spelling words for the tests on Wednesdays.
Math
Please work with your child on fact fluency.
Students can use the think central online component of the Go Math Series to practice concepts learned.
Science
Students will be learning about communication using wave energy.
Social Studies
Students have been learning about the regions of the United States.
Please check your child’s agenda, home folder, and teacher website daily.
5th Grade
We can’t believe how quickly the year has gone by and are already well into spring. We are trying to finalize a date for GREAT graduation. Once we have that information, we will let you know.
In math we just finished up fractions and have moved onto geometry.
In reading we will be starting our next novel after we return from spring break; Maniac Magee. Our novels this year all had a similar theme dealing with some form of survival.
In science we are learning about matter. In social studies we have been learning about the Revolutionary War. This is a longer unit and will take us to the end of the third semester.
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher. Please continue to check your child’s agenda on a daily basis. Grades are sent home on a weekly basis as well, please make sure to check the grades, sign and return to your child’s teacher.
Fifth Grade Teachers
PE
Spring is finally here! We are very excited to see the students running around and playing outside again. April PE will start off with one of the students favorite units...Volleyball! Skills and fundamentals will be the first week and then we will proceed into games and a tournament.
We would also like to welcome back Mrs. Clark from her maternity leave. She is thrilled to be in the classroom with all of her students again.
Mrs. Maloney would like to thank each and everyone of you for your kindness and support while she was guest teacher these past 4 months. She loved getting to know you all and wishes you all the best with your future endeavours!
4th & 5th Grade Technology
Students have been working hard in technology class to learn how to format documents using Google Docs. Students are learning how to change font size, style, color, etc.
LASEC
6th Grade
6th Grade Technology
7th Grade
In math, students have wrapped up with our study of geometry. We are just beginning to study probability and statistics, which will take us through the end of the year. At home, point out statistics you see in everyday life with your child, especially those in advertisements, to open a discussion about our classroom learning.
In 7th grade ELA students are moving towards the completion of FlyGirl, they‘ve been doing a great job in discussion and sharing ideas about the main character’s development as her choices begin to challenge her sense of right and wrong. The use of figurative language throughout the story has helped to broaden the student’s understanding of language in everyday life. We’ll be focusing on narrative writing and using text evidence to support answers from our reading. We’ll continue with a few short stories with emphasis on the elements that make up the short stories.
7th Grade Students have completed The United States Constitution & The Illinois Constitution Units in Social Studies. We will now be moving on to the New Republic of the United States by learning about Washington’s presidency, the challenges of the new government and the Federalists who are in charge of the new nation. Students will explain how the leaders of the new nation met the challenges of establishing a sound economy and a stable, democratic government.
Currently in Science, 7th Grade Students are working on understanding the genetic code. We have used models to help us understand how genes are passed from parents to offspring. This will lead us to understanding how mutations change the traits of species over time. This brings us to learn about Natural Selection & Biodiversity.
7th Grade Technology
8th Grade
READING-LANGUAGE ARTS
Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop: https://www.sadlierconnect.com/@1952592
We recently finished “The Diary of Anne Frank” from the textbook. The reading of this drama tied in with our recent visit to the Holocaust Museum. We continued our study of this time period by reading several nonfiction pieces from our text.
Journal writing is done on a regular basis. Vocabulary study continues with the online Sadlier Connect program. Study guides are given for each unit test, so make sure that your child has completed the study guide and is using it to prepare for the final test.
SOCIAL STUDIES - Discovery Education
Online Textbook: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/
United States History (Civil War to Present)
The students will continue to examine the events that led up to WWII and the events that led up to U.S. involvement in WWII. In addition, students will examine the social, economic and political effects that WWII had on the United States.
SCIENCE -StemScopes
Online Textbook:http://stemscopes.com/ (login with school email and password)
The students will be studying the role of water on the Earth’s surface and the influences of weather and climate. Driving questions will include, How can the interactions of the air, oceans, and land be used to predict the formation and movement of a hurricane? and How does the use of natural resources like petroleum impact the environment?
MATH - Go Math
Online Textbook:https://my.hrw.com/ (login with school email and password)
During the month of April, we will be working on Unit 5, Measurement Geometry. This will include the Modules on Angle Relationships in Parallel Lines and Triangles, The Pythagorean Theorem, and Volume. Homework assignments will be given to enhance student learning experience..
8th Grade Technology
PE
Spring is finally here! We are very excited to see the students running around and playing outside again. April PE will start off with one of the students favorite units...Volleyball! Skills and fundamentals will be the first week and then we will proceed into games and a tournament.
We would also like to welcome back Mrs. Clark from her maternity leave. She is thrilled to be in the classroom with all of her students again.
Mrs. Maloney would like to thank each and everyone of you for your kindness and support while she was guest teacher these past 4 months. She loved getting to know you all and wishes you all the best with your future endeavours!
The Art Update
The Kelvin Grove art students in fourth and fifth grade are continuing with the art of painting and will begin 3-D sculpture before outside sketching and other nature inspired projects.
The third trimester junior high students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades have completed their functional projects - a placecard to define and advertise their seat in class, a handbound art sketchbook, and an art portfolio to store all work and materials needed daily. We are now progressing into the color wheel, color relationships, and a final painting to demonstrate concepts learned.
Please note the following ART CLUB dates for April and May:
Any art club student - in fourth through eighth grade can attend ALL remaining art club days.
April 10, 2019 - April 17, 2019 - April 24, 2019
May 1, 2019 - May 8, 2019
Thank you for your continued interest and support! Please be sure to check us out on the web anytime! -Mrs. Cravens
April Band News
Director: Mrs. Nicole Plagman
BAND NEWS:
Congratulations to the Kelvin Grove Bands for an outstanding Music in our Schools month in March!!! Concert Band had an wonderful performance at the IGSMA District Festival. The Concert Band received a Division I rating and, even more impressive, received two perfect scores! Congratulations to the Concert Band! They will be performing at the Prairie State Middle School Band Festival on Saturday, April 13 and the IGSMA State Festival on Saturday, April 27. Please mark these dates on your calendar. More information will be forthcoming when it becomes available. Thanks for a great National Music in Our Schools Month!!!
The final concert of the year is the Band Recognition Concert on Wednesday, May 8 at 7:00pm. At this concert, each band (Beginning, Intermediate, and Concert) will be performing and will receive band awards. Please join us to recognize the hard work and committment that all the band students have put in all year.
UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS:
We will be having our Cold Stone Ice Cream Social after the Band Recognition Concert on Wednesday, May 8. Order forms will be coming home the week of April 26. Orders and money will be due Friday, April 20.
The spring flower orders will be delivered the week of May 6.
AS ALWAYS…
Please feel free to contact Mrs. Plagman if you have any questions or concerns at (815)838-0737 x1139 or nplagman@d91.net. Also, check the band website at http://kgband.weebly.com/ for updated information.