ORCHARD DRIVE ELEMENTARY
MARCH 2019
WILSON'S WORDS
Dear Parents,
We are continuing to work on our mission: It is the mission of Orchard Drive Elementary to foster the growth of children with character, integrity and purpose. Through learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom, we encourage our children to reach high levels of achievement and become leaders, using their strengths to serve others. We have had classes visit Jackson Manor, the Jackson Villas, and have made cards for the Veterans Home.
I am happy to report that we have seen a drastic increase in the students reading on or above grade level from September to December. This is great news! If you want to help at home, just read WITH your child and TO your child...let your child choose any topics of books that they want. Help to instill in them a love for reading.
We also have had an increase in our number of POSITIVE office referrals. Congratulations, Orchard students! We had a staff challenge aligning with the 100th day of school of trying to make 100 POSITIVE phone calls, face to face encounters or notes home and the staff exceeded the challenge!
Even with progress, we are still continuing to push every child to their potential. In order to do this, we need your help. We strongly suggest that you ensure your student is here every day and on time to receive instruction. If possible, please schedule appointments and vacations when school is out. In most classes, reading instruction begins promptly in the morning. Students go to their classrooms at 7:50 AM each morning. Teachers are working diligently to teach the curriculum set by our state and district while meeting the students on their learning level. We need your help reinforcing this at home. You may help your student learn their math facts, conduct fun science experiments while talking about the scientific process, read books, play learning games, or complete suggested activities sent home by the teacher.
With your help, we plan to meet our goal by the end the year of having every child read at his/her grade level and above.
Please know that if you have any questions, you can write a note or call us to get the information you need.
Happy March,
Shanna Wilson, Principal
SIMMONS' SCOOP
Dear Orchard Families,
At Orchard Drive Elementary, we have a lot going on and we are constantly trying to share what is happening. For instance, did you know that the PTO Father/Daughter Dance is March 24th at the High School Event Center and the Mother/Son event is April 7th at Orchard? We put this information in the Orchard Google calendar, newsletters, notes home, teacher posts on Remind, and on our Facebook Page. We want to make sure you are informed and that all the information is getting home. You can add the calendar to your own Google calendar by clicking the plus sign on the bottom right of the calendar. This should give you real time updates when items on the calendar are changed.
Did you know we have to make up a few days for snow and early dismissal? Since we have 2 days (Nov. 15th & Jan. 11th) that we will need to make up due to weather and an early release, we will now be in Session on April 18th and April 23rd. Students still have April 19th and April 22nd off for Spring Break
We hope that by connecting more that we are creating another avenue for you to be involved in your child’s education. As technology continues to advance, we continue to learn. Afterall, parents and guardians are the first step in making sure that our students receive a great education.
Thank you for all that you do ,and please let me know if you ever have any questions or concerns.
Jessica Simmons
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Counselor Corner
February is always one of my most favorite months because we celebrate Kindness Week. I love seeing students demonstrating kindness toward others...not because they earn something, but because it is the right thing to do! Our Kindness Tree has really bloomed this month! Thank you for all of the Kindness Pantry and Humane Society donations. We have been stocking and restocking the pantry regularly, but feel free to add a can or two if you can.
THE GREEN BEAR CLUB:
Another exciting event in February was the return of The Green Bear Club. The Green Bear Club is a primary child abuse prevention program designed to teach children how to stay safe. Green Bear has visited Orchard Elementary for about the last six years. Our students always love to see Green Bear (K-1) and his sister Tiffy Bear (2nd). Not only is the presentation engaging, but the program provides our students with valuable, developmentally appropriate safety information.
TESTING:
Throughout the months of March/April, our third and fourth grade students will be preparing for the MAP test, our state assessment. If you are the parent of a third or fourth grade student, please mark the following dates on your calendar:
MAP Testing Dates--3rd and 4th Grades
Tuesday, April 30 ELA 8:30-11:00 AM
Wednesday, May 1 ELA/Math 8:30-11:00 AM
Thursday, May 2 ELA/Math 8:30-11:00 AM
Friday, May 3 ELA/Math 8:30-11:00 AM
We will be testing in the morning, so if you have any appointments to make, please keep these dates in mind. It is always better to take the test with the class rather than during a make-up session.
4th grade transition to 5th grade
Week of March 18-21: Counselors meet with all 4th grade students
Mrs. Stoneking and Ms. Buchtmann will meet with 4th grade students for approx 45 minutes to discuss their transition to middle school: selecting classes, completing course selection forms, reviewing frequently asked questions
Monday March 18
Tuesday March 19
Wednesday March 20
Thursday March 21
East 2:00pm
South 8:50am
Orchard 1:00pm
West Lane 12:45
North 12:30
Homeroom teachers will receive an envelope with 2 items to hand out to each of their students:
1 course selection card and 1 course selection packet
Tuesday March 26 & Thursday March 28:
Parent Transition Nights at Jackson Middle School @ 6pm
(parents may attend either night - students are welcome, but not required to attend)
Counselors and Principals will present information about students’ transition to middle school
School will be open to walk around
Friday, March 29:
Course selection cards (signed by parent and student)
are due to 4th grade homeroom teachers
Please send all cards through interoffice mail to Counselors at JMS
Please let us know how we can help anytime!
Lauren Buchtmann (last names A-K) lbuchtmann@jr2mail.org
Mary Kay Stoneking (last names L-Z) mstoneking@jr2mail.org
5th grade curriculum offerings
Required Courses
Elective Courses (Exploratory)
English Language Arts 5
Science 5
all year
all year
Life Skills 5
Foreign Language I
1 quarter
1 quarter
Mathematics 5
all year
Makerspace
1 quarter
Social Studies 5
all year
Criminology
1 quarter
Physical Education 5
1 semester
Study Hour
1 quarter
Tech 5.0
Music 5
Art 5
1 quarter
1 quarter
1 quarter
Advisory
all year
ALERT is offered all year for qualified students -- JMS counselors will meet with current 4th grade ALERT students in their ALERT class on March 13 & 14. They will receive a different course selection card, as the ALERT course replaces the elective course options in their 5th grade schedule.
Reading & Math Strategies classes are offered per teacher recommendations. Parents will receive a letter if their student is identified as needing that additional class.
Summer School information will be sent out to parents in April.
Registration & Course Selection Guide
Birthday book club
March
Thomas Wilson 3 Gentry
Etta Carrasquillo-Wilkinson 7 Bardot
Paxton Gentry 10 LaFave
Mystique Claussen 20 Dotson
Orlando Herrera 21 Wren
Ayden Marshall 24 Burr
Lila Bohnert 26 Wren
Gracie Huffman 30 Dotson
Congratulations to Autumn Caffrey and Eva Wilson for reading all 12 Mark Twain Nominee books. What an accomplishment! Any 4th grade students who read all 12 and pass the comprehension quizzes will be treated to a special lunch and prizes at the end of the year.
What I Need {WIN}
How to Read an E-Book with Your Child
- Recognize the novelty factor. The first few times your child is uses an e-book, allow time for exploration. Then, set out to read or listen to the story without too many non-story related interruptions.
- Enjoy the features, but don't forget to focus on the story. See if you can help your child find a balance between having fun with the games and sticker books and really enjoying and understanding the story.
- Stay present with your child and the book experience. It's tempting to let the device do the work. But there's no substitute for quality parent-child conversation. Keep talking, commenting on interesting words and ideas, and sharing your love of literacy with your child.
Kindergarten Enrollment
Thursday, Feb 28, 2019, 04:00 PM
Orchard Elementary School, Orchard Drive, Jackson, MO, USA
After School Kids Club
Summer School Information
Exciting Jackson R-2 Elementary Summer School Announcement: This year’s summer school theme is DISNEY! It’s going to be a magical summer! Incoming Kindergarten-4th Grade: June 4-June 25, 2019. Kindergarten students will choose a morning or an afternoon session. We will host summer school at both South and East Elementary. After School Kids’ Club will be available at both buildings in the afternoons following the summer school day. More details to come in the following weeks and months! Like us on Facebook for summer school announcements: Jackson R-2 Elementary Summer School.
Orchard Pride Banner
WORK HARD DO YOUR BEST
SHOW YOUR ORCHARD PRIDE!
Each Week a staff member picks another staff member to receive the Orchard Pride banner. It is given to the staff member whom they think shows PRIDE here at school every day. The banner hangs outside their classroom door or area for the entire week and a new staff member is announced during the Monday morning announcements.