PAWS
Oley Valley Elementary School - March 2018
Principal's Update
The month of March will hopefully bring warmer weather and no snow! Spring break for students has been shortened to only Friday, March 30th and Monday, April 2nd due to snow make-up days. Before Spring break begins, do not forget about elementary conferences. March conferences take place the evening of March 22nd and all day on March 23rd. Elementary students have off school on March 23rd.
The Oley Valley School District believes that the safety and security of all students and staff in our schools is imperative to the creation of a positive learning environment. The district has put into place a comprehensive All Hazards Plan. The plan is reviewed on an ongoing basis by school officials, first responders, and is submitted to the Berks County Department of Emergency Services.
All staff in the Oley Valley School District are trained on the Standard Response Protocol (SRP). The SRP is used by all Berks County Schools with the purpose of developing a common language that is used by stakeholders during a crisis event. Additionally, students receive age appropriate training with the SRP language during Health classes at OVES.
I encourage parents/guardians to have discussions with their children regarding school appropriate conversations as well as being cautious regarding what is posted on social media. Comments made as jokes, whether in person or online, could have serious unintended consequences.
As a reminder, the building is open until 4:30 p.m. if parents or students need to access homework and/or forgotten items at school. After 4:30 p.m. the wing doors will be locked and parents and students will not have access to the classrooms.
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, and/or celebrations of OVES, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Respectfully,
Dr. Matt Broskey
Principal
Family Reading and Math Night
Elementary Art Show
Family Fitness Night
2018 - 2019 Kindergarten Registration
The Oley Valley School District began its 2018-2019 Kindergarten registration on Monday, January 29, 2018. Parents may register children who reside in the district and will be five (5) years old on or before September 1, 2018.
You may come to the Elementary School Office to pick up a registration packet or you may print the forms listed below. Once the registration forms are completed and returned to the Elementary School Office, you may schedule your registration appointment.
http://www.oleyvalleysd.org/posts/2018/01/28/2018-2019-kindergarten-registration/
To register your child, please contact the Elementary School Main Office at 610-987-4100, ext. 2098, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You will need to make an appointment to bring your child to the Elementary School on either Tuesday, June 12, 2018, or Wednesday, June 13, 2018, for an informal screening with the kindergarten team.
Kindergarten Academy will be held at the Oley Valley Elementary School on August 15, 2018 during the evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. There will also be a Parent Back-to-School Night for parents during Kindergarten Academy.
If you have any questions regarding Kindergarten registration, please contact the Elementary School Main Office at 610-987-4100, ext. 2098.
2018 PSSA Dates
The parent/guardian PSSA letter was sent home with students on March 12th. A copy of the letter can found by clicking here.
April 10, 11, & 12
English Language Arts (Grades 3-5)
April 17-18
Math (Grades 3-5)
April 24-25
Science (Grade 4 Only)
Kindergarten
Miss Baugh's Classroom
Read Across America Week!
Read Across America Week!
First Grade
First grade had tons of fun celebrating Dr. Seuss during Read Across America week.
In math we will be starting the chapter on measurement and in science students will
be learning about the scientific method and inquiry skills.
Second Grade
Second Grade students celebrated the 102nd Day of School on February 8th. The kids made T-shirts with 102 dots, created puppy headbands, used QR readers, wrote 102 words, and made a Dalmatian puppy project. They also had a special ice cream sandwich snack and watched 102 Dalmatians together as a grade level. What a fun day!
In math we just finished adding and subtracting 3-digit numbers. Our new unit of instruction will be on counting money. The kids are getting really good at counting groups of coins up to $1.00.
Third Grade Information
Fourth Grade Update
In ELA students completed their adjective riddles. Each class had fun guessing the item described by each student through the use of many colorful and vivid adjectives. Students’ riddles are displayed in the fourth-grade hallway for everyone to enjoy. We are currently reviewing story structure elements and reading an excerpt from the historically famous 1938 radio broadcast, “Invasion from Mars”. Students are working on writing their own creative ending to this tale.
Students have finished their second trimester AR goals and will begin to work towards the final trimester goal. For the third trimester, each student will again be required to read two chapter books and two nonfiction books in their AR range. New AR stickers with updated AR levels and due dates will be coming out shortly. AR stickers our housed in the front of students’ agenda books. Thank you for your continuing to encourage your child to read daily. As always if you have any concerns don’t hesitate to contact your child’s ELA teacher.
In Math, students will be working on Fractions. In Chapter 8 they will multiply fractions and Chapter 9 they will relate fractions to decimals. Students will also review and prepare for PSSA tests which are in April. Students need to continue to practice facts on Xtra Math. Reminder that students can access the math book and digital lessons through Think Central. Also, check the 4th grade homework math link on the elementary school website.
In Science class this month we will complete a mini unit on electricity. The students will build various types of circuits with batteries, wires, bulbs, and switches. Then we move on to the topic of Motion. In this unit we focus on position, speed, velocity, push/pull, and acceleration. We will use the iPads to create push/pull posters demonstrating our understanding of this concept. This finishes our focus on the area of Physical Science.
In CBL, we have been learning about Native Americans of Pennsylvania and early European explorers. The students each completed a research project. Currently, we are learning about the early English settlements of Roanoke, Jamestown and Plymouth. Coming up, we will be focusing on the early days of Pennsylvania and Colonial America.
Fifth Grade
As our second trimester has reached the end, we are definitely beginning the third trimester (yes, it’s hard to believe we are that far already) keeping busy with projects, new chapters, and activities! Now more than ever, especially as they are getting this close to Middle School, please make sure you/your student keep up to date with grades online and any upcoming homework, projects, or technology driven opportunities on our 5th Grade webpage (found under “Elementary,” “ES Homework Pages” on our district website).
English Language Arts, with Mrs. Parson and Mrs. Muriel, have been exploring a unit on the Everglades with their classes. Library research, reading, VR lab trip, and related videos have all played a part in gearing up for an information writing piece on the Everglades. Keep an eye out for upcoming projects and reading assignments, spelling and fluency assignments continue as well. As always, encourage your students to read at home, read with them, and try out the monthly reading challenges (new AR goals for our last trimester, too)!
In Math students are arriving at the end of their unit on Fractions. Data, reading graphs, metric units, graphing points, geometry, measurement are the focus of the last unit of the year. Just like fractions, these topics are everywhere, try to make a connection at home with anywhere they seem to pop up; magazines, sports, video games. Extra online practice at home for math skills is always there with our numerous math links; Think Central (online textbook), Extra Math, Khan Academy, First in Math, and Prodigy.
Science is continuing with the focus on biology. Their recent focus has been on Unit 4- How Plants and Animals grow, and Unit 5- Ecosystems and Energy. They have labs on dichotomous keys, microscopes, and a flower dissection this unit; lots of topics to notice at home as we get into the Spring season.
Lastly, Ms. Gardecki’s Social Studies classes are wrapping up their unit on the Revolutionary War. Students read the biography I am George Washington and used it to continue their summary writing skills. Other focus skills that were an area of concentration this month were cause & effect, comparing & contrasting, and drawing conclusions. They were able to bring in some math skills this month as well as tracking the medals earned by Americans during the PyeongChang Olympics and graphed the results.
Oley Valley Breakfast and Lunch Information
http://www.oleyvalleysd.org/administration/food-nutrition-services/
Parent Resources
Important Dates
March 16 - 4th Grade Sleepover 6:30 p.m.
March 20 - PTO Meeting @ 6:30 p.m.
March 22 - Evening Conferences (5-9:00 p.m.)
March 23 - No School / Day Conferences (Elementary Only)
March 26-29- School In Session (Snow Make Up Dates)
March 30 & April 2 - No School
April 3 - School Resumes
April 14 - School Spring Pictures
April 16 - Class Pictures