Linden Leopard Growl Summer Edition
July 31, 2019
Planting A Seed...
...You'll Soon Find Out The Answer!
Classroom Teacher Placements Update 2019-2020
Linden's student placement process began in mid-April with parent input. In the weeks that followed, homeroom teachers, along with our counselor, reading specialist, and special education teachers developed class lists. The placement process is finalized during the summer months.
As you know, all of our teachers are caring, capable, and highly qualified educators. Our job is to support our students by developing confident, capable individuals. We thank you for trusting the process and invite you to celebrate your child's placement with your son/daughter.
Classroom teacher placements can be accessed through the Parent Portal on Thursday, August 1st at 3:30 PM. Please click here to be directed to the Parent Portal resource section of the Central Bucks School District homepage.
Please visit the Linden website to view grade level classroom supply lists. The lists can be accessed by using the Department/Grade Level tab or on individual teacher websites. Student welcome letters from your child's teacher are available on the teacher's website.
***If you need help navigating the Parent Portal login procedure, you are welcome to contact Linden's main office @ 267-893-4400 Monday - Thursday between 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM***
Meet Linden's 2019-2020 6th Grade Ambassadors
This summer our volunteer 6th Grade Ambassadors began training for Linden Family tours, as well as other school events. During these tours, they will talk about the activities and events that make our school awesome. They will also share some interesting historical facts about our past.
Parent Portal Account Information
If you do not have a Parent Portal account, please follow this link to request one.
If you need technical support, please email parentportal@cbsd.org
Important Student Emergency Information
Each year, the Central Bucks School District requires our families to fill out a Student Emergency & Information Form.
This year, we are asking that you complete your family’s Student Emergency & Information Form online by September 13, 2019. The online form will ask you to confirm and/or update the following:
· Demographic Information
· Emergency Contacts
· Health Information, including permission for emergency care and analgesic administration
· Media Release Preferences
Please click here to be directed to your Parent Portal account to complete the Census Verification form.
Thank you for taking the time to update this important information.
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For detailed information about this process, including a User Guide, please click here.
If you do not have a Parent Portal account, please follow this link to request one.
If you need help filling out the online form, email or call Lori Rebstock.
lrebstock@cbsd.org
267.893.5714
If you need technical support, please email parentportal@cbsd.org.
SAVE THE DATE(S) FOR IMPORTANT BEGINNING OF SCHOOL YEAR EVENTS!
AUGUST
- Tuesday, August 13th from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: New Family Ambassador Tours
- Monday, August 26th from 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Welcome Kindergarten Orientation
- Thursday, August 29th from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: All-School Open House
SEPTEMBER
- Tuesday, September 3rd: First Student Day of School
- Wednesday, September 4th: Back-to-School Night @ 5:30 PM for PEN
- Wednesday, September 4th: Back-to-School Night @ 6:00 PM for Grades 4 & 5
- Monday, September 9th: Back-to-School Night @ 5:30 PM for Grades 2 & 3
- Monday, September 9th: Back-to-School Night @ 7:00 PM for Grades 1 & 6
- Monday, September 23rd: School Picture Day
2019-2020 Linden Elementary School Staffing
Please click here to view Linden's 2019-2020 school staffing line-up.
New Elementary Math Resource (Article Taken from the CB Bulletin)
The 2019-2020 school year will see the rollout of new elementary math resources for all students in grades kindergarten through six, both regular and special education.
The program, “Math in Focus, is sometimes referred to as "Singapore Math." It employs resources that were built on the successful work done in Singapore to transform math education. Singapore is the highest achieving country in the world in mathematics on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study and Program International Student Assessment, the two most highly regarded international assessments that measure mathematics achievement.
"We are very excited to bring these resources to Central Bucks School District because they address a few areas in need of improvement within our elementary mathematics curriculum," Rich Kratz, Central Bucks math curriculum supervisor explains, "The materials we have used in Central Bucks for the last 20 years have served our students well, but the Math in Focus curriculum has a more narrow focus on the most essential skills for each grade level."
The new resources will have teachers and students focus on the development of skills they will need to solve rich and challenging mathematics problems, while developing a deep and meaningful understanding of the information they are learning. This way, students can apply the skills in new ways to demonstrate they have not just memorized, but truly understand the content.
As a mastery program, the same topics will be taught for multiple days and within the same unit. "The strength of the program is the development of problem solving," Kratz added, "We are already seeing students solve more complex problems and apply their math skills to new and novel situations."
"If you ask teachers from our pilot group what makes this program better, you would hear them say it is ‘C – P – A ,’ concrete – pictorial – abstract. Students are provided with an opportunity to learn new math skills using a progression of concrete representation, then pictorial representation, and then the abstract representation using numbers, symbols and variables," Kratz said, “In addition, students can progress at a rate aligned to their understanding so all students can experience success!”
The journey towards Math in Focus started three years ago, when a group of teachers and administrators worked to consider and evaluate program materials for elementary mathematics, with a focus on addressing some specific needs, including:
- improving students’ number sense and basic computation skills.
- focusing on the traditional algorithms for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division - the algorithms that parents are comfortable with and can more easily provide support for at home.
- providing a more narrowed focus on essential skills from the grade level.
A committee of 35 teachers and administrators narrowed the search down and resources were piloted in 27 classrooms during the 2017-2018 school year and 75 classrooms during the 2018-2019 school year.
The results of the pilot were positive.
- Parents, students, and teachers in the pilot classrooms felt the resources their students were using in math class were better than in previous years.
- They felt their children were understanding the content better and at a deeper level, and they felt they were being appropriately challenged.
Central Bucks also consulted with other high-quality school districts that have recently adopted these same resources here in Pennsylvania. Conversations with their curriculum supervisors and administrators further solidified the recommendation that Math in Focus was the right resource to help Central Bucks elementary students learn mathematics at a deeper and more meaningful level.
Professional development for all elementary teachers on resources and administration of Math in Focus was conducted through full day trainings, online courses, and hands-on sessions, and will continue into 2019-2020.
"Along with the pilot teacher committee, Rich and his team of coaches have done an outstanding job of preparing Central Bucks for the full implementation of Math in Focus," Dr. Nadine Garvin, Central Bucks' assistant superintendent for elementary education said.
"We look forward to seeing its long term impact for our students and their deeper understanding of mathematical concepts, higher order application of skills, and complex problem solving abilities," she added.
CHIP Information
To all families: If you are interested in learning about the Children’s Health Insurance Program, please click here to learn more and to access an online application. Hard copies are also available in both english and spanish in Linden's main office.
Gearing up for Summer Reading!
You will find lots of information on the CBSD Elementary Reading website.
You can also find this information on Mrs. Wholf's teacher website under the SUMMER READING tab.
Dear Central Bucks families,
As the end of the school year approaches, we hope to generate lots of enthusiasm for reading during the summer months! Our goal is to have students reading on a regular basis because they choose to do so. We encourage students to choose books that interest them! When students are interested and engaged in a book, reading becomes a meaningful part of their lives.
Make reading a summer family activity! We encourage you to be involved in conversations with your child about the book they choose. You may even consider reading a book together as a family!
Elementary Families
Follow this link to download lists of suggested books for elementary students. [https://www.cbsd.org/Page/1097] You’ll also find these lists at the Bucks County Free Library in Doylestown. On June 22, the library will kick off its annual “Summer Quest” featuring a variety of fun, free activities to stay active, keep learning, and READ all summer long. Get the details at www.buckslib.org/summerquest!
Alyssa M. Walloff, Ed.D.
Supervisor of K-12 Language Arts & Middle School and High School Gifted Services and Career Plan
Nadine M. Garvin, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education
Abram Lucabaugh, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!
There is something for everyone at the Bucks County Free Library. Please click here for more information.
What A Great Year!
Linden Elementary School
Email: mtestani@cbsd.org
Website: https://www.cbsd.org/linden
Location: 480 Linden Avenue, Doylestown, PA, USA
Phone: 267-893-4400
Twitter: @CBLindenES