Abbotts Hill Hilltop Happenings
October 30, 2017
Abbotts Hill Elementary
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
October 31 - AHE PTA Member Meeting 8:00 am
November 2 - Fall Feast in the Cafeteria for 4th, 3rd and 2nd grade students and guests
November 3 - Fall Feast in the Cafeteria for Kindergarten, 1st and 5th grade students and guests
November 17 - All Pro Dad 7:00 am
November 13-17 - Wild West Scholastic Book Fair
November 20 - 24 Thanksgiving Break (School Closed)
December 1 - Parent University
PTA General Meeting Tuesday, October 31 at 8:00 am
Abbotts Hill Fall Feast in the Cafeteria November 2nd and 3rd
On November 2nd - families of 4th, 3rd and 2nd graders are invited to join us during your student's normal lunch time.
On November 3rd - families of 1st, 5th and Kindergarten are invited to join us during your child's normal lunch time.
Check in at the front desk - your name tags will be ready for you.
A Note from the Cafeteria Manager - please bring cash or a check with you on the day you will be attending the feast to purchase your lunch. At this time we cannot use your student's lunch account or accept prepayments.
We look forward to having you join us and be on the lookout for surprise guests serving our feast!
Curriculum Corner
Curriculum Corner
By Candy Parrish, CST
Here are more Reading and Math strategies that will help your child be a better learner and in turn help prepare him/her for class work and assessments.
ReadingStrategies Make Predictions
Predictions encourage active reading and keeps children interested, whether or not the predictions are correct. Incorrect predictions can signal a misunderstanding that can be talked about while previewing the story. Here is what you and your child can do:
Look at the pictures, table of contents, chapter headings, maps, diagrams, and/or features and discuss.
Write down predictions about the story/text. During reading, look for words or phrases from those predictions.
While reading, revise the predictions or make new ones.
Stop reading the story before the ending and have your child think of how the story will end based on what they’ve read so far. Then continue reading and see how it does end and then discuss.
Math Strategies
Here is website full of virtual manipulatives to help with math: http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html
This website is full of virtual manipulatives specifically for Grades K- 2: http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/grade_g_1.html
Enrichment Clusters
Abbotts Hill cannot thank everyone enough for all the wonderful donations you have sent in for our Enrichment Clusters so far. All your donations are helping to make our Clusters a tremendous success!! Please continue to check Sign-Up Genius for materials needed over the next few weeks! I will be adding more each week. Any donations are GREATLY appreciated!!
Remember to mark your calendars for our Enrichment Cluster Showcase on
Thursday, Dec. 14 from 6:00 – 7:00PM.
Sign-Up Genius Link for Enrichment Cluster Donations
Click here for the Sign Up Genius for this year’s Enrichment Clusters
A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SENT IN DONATIONS LAST YEAR FOR OUR ENRICHMENT CLUSTERS! ALL YOUR DONATIONS WERE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!
WE ARE NOW STARTING OUR FALL 2017 ENRICHMENT CLUSTERS.
This list will be updated weekly as needs arise so please check the list each week. Dates are included so materials can be purchased and sent in before those Cluster activities begin.
The Enrichment Clusters will run from Thursday, October 19 through Thursday, December 14.
Any materials you can provide would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you SO much in advance for all your help!
Clinic News - Halloween Safety Tips
Halloween Safety Tips
From the candy selection to the costumes, Halloween is a fun-filled time for kids and parents alike. But it can pose dangers to young revelers.
To help make this year’s festivity a trick-free treat, follow these simple safety tips:
COSTUMES:
Choose a light-colored costume because these are easily seen at night. Add reflective tape or glow-in-the-dark tape to the front and back of the costume and treat bag.
Make sure wigs and beards don’t cover your kids’ eyes, noses, or mouths.
Kids should not wear masks – they can make it difficult for them to see and breathe. Instead, use nontoxic face paint or makeup. Test the face paint or makeup on your child’s arm or hand before applying to make sure the paint doesn’t irritate the skin.
TROUBLE-FREE TRICK-OR-TREATING:
Adults should accompany children under the age of 12. Make sure young ones know their home phone number in case they get lost.
Kids may enjoy wearing glow sticks as bracelets or necklaces to aide in visibility or give kids flashlights.
When your kids get home, check all treats to make sure they’re sealed. Throw out candy with torn packages or holes in the packages, spoiled items, and any homemade treats that haven’t been made by someone you know.
Know how much candy your kids have collected and store it somewhere other than their bedrooms. Consider being somewhat lenient about candy eating on Halloween, within reason, and talk about how the rest of the candy will be handled. Let kids have one or two treats a day instead of leaving candy out in big bags or bowls for kids to sample at will. Consider giving some treats away to organizations in the neighborhood; ie. public safety departments.
Make sure trick-or-treaters will be safe when visiting your home, too. Remove anything that could cause kids to trip or fall on your walkway or lawn. Make sure the lights are on outside your house and light the walkway to your door, if possible. Keep family pets away from trick-or-treaters, even if they seem harmless to you.
SLOW DOWN when driving in neighborhoods and be alert! Walk where possible.
excerpted from www.kidshealth.org
First Grade Veteran's Day Celebration on November 7th
Our first graders are excited about their upcoming Veteran's Day event which will take place on Tuesday, November 7th at 8:30 in the cafeteria. All first grade families are invited to attend!
We'll be honoring veterans from the Johns Creek Veterans Association and would also love to honor veterans from within our Abbotts Hill family! Please let Mrs. Dickinson know if you are veteran and can join us by emailing her at dickinson@fultonschools.org.
News from our PTA
Jaguar FUN RUN was a blast!
Students did such a great job at the Jaguar Fun Run! Thank you for supporting our school these past two weeks. Even though the Fun Run is over, we are not finished yet. It is time to focus on collections! Please have all of your pledge money turned in by November 6. Look for collection envelopes coming home this Friday. Simply place all pledge money into the collection envelope and send that back to school. Also, sponsors can pay online if they entered their email address on funrun.com. Thank you again for supporting our school!
Thank you to the following local area businesses who are our Fun Run T-shirt and Event Sponsors: Adobo Taqueria, Gymnastics World, 3 Brothers BBQ, Cashed Consulting LLC, Logan & Babcock, LLP, Magical Vacation Planner, The Little Gym and Lilly's Pharmacy.
PTA NEWS
We are working toward becoming a National PTA School of Excellence!
The Abbotts Hill PTA knows that a strong partnership among our families, school leaders and community members is important to the success of our students and school. That’s why we are participating in the National PTA School of Excellence program, which grows partnerships between PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being of all students. As part of the process, National PTA requests feedback from families at the beginning and end of the school year. Your feedback helps National PTA generate a customized Roadmap to Excellence that provides specific recommendations for improving our family-school partnership and achieving excellence.
Parents, we need your help! Click here to take the PTA School of Excellence Survey
PTA Members Meeting Tuesday, October 31, 8am
Parents, please join us for a quick PTA Members Meeting before the 1st grade storybook parade on October 31st. We’ll share PTA news, details on upcoming events and get your approval on the budget.
PTA BUDGET NEWS: The AHE PTA proposed budget for the 2017-2018 school year is available for review. Click here to view the proposed budget. This budget is subject to general approval at a PTA Members Meeting (October 31 at 8am). Contact PTA Treasurer, Caryn Young at caryn.young@gmail.com with any questions regarding the budget.
All Pro Dad Breakfast: Friday, November 17, 7am
Join us for a quick, before-school All Pro Dad meeting. Sorry no donuts this time, but dads and kids can purchase a school breakfast and eat together! Please Click Here to RSVP.
Abbotts Hill School Musical: Calling all 3rd, 4th and 5th graders to audition for a high energy musical parody where Dr. Froid and his offbeat assistants Igor and Marlene zap ordinary students into another dimension of light, sound, music and comedy…it’s known as “The School Zone.” The students are challenged by many hilarious situations such as dealing with being late, rapping about test anxiety, being on trial for chewing gum, choosing friends, avoiding bullies, and surviving lunch! Stay tuned for more details coming soon! Volunteers are needed to make this production a success. Contact Penny Grapner, pennygrapner@gmail.com if you can help!
Morning Activity Time Volunteers!
Please consider volunteering to help supervise groups of students as they rotate through activities in the gym to prepare for their learning day! Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:15am-7:35am. Sign Up Here
Box Top Winners!
AHE collected over 6000 box tops and raised $670.50 for our school! The winning class was Mrs. Coltrane's 2nd graders. Keep saving those Box Tops for our next collection in February!
Upcoming Events:
10/31 AHE PTA Members Meeting 8 am
11/13-11/17 Wild West Book Fair
11/17 All Pro Dad 7 am
11/20-11/24 Thanksgiving Break
12/01 Parent University
Learning Commons News
Sign Up Genius Link for Book Fair Volunteers
Attached is the link for parents to volunteer for the book fair set-up (Tuesday, 11/7), working the fair, and breaking it down: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080f4aaeaf22a6f85-wild. All volunteers of the Fall Book Fair will receive 10% their total purchase.
Girls on the Run is Looking For Coaches!
Girls on the Run will be returning to Abbotts Hill for the Spring 2018 season! This program, for girls in 3rd through 5th grade, is looking for a couple of parent volunteers to serve as coaches. Coaches do not need to be runners, they just need to be able to commit 4 hours per week for 10-12 weeks. Girls on the Run will take place Tuesdays and Thursdays immediately after school. For more information on becoming a GOTR coach, visit: https://www.girlsontherunatlanta.org/Coach
Coach training events will be on December 2, January 6, January 13, or January 27.
Questions? Contact Caryn Young, AHES Site Liaison & Coach, at caryn.young@gmail.com
You and your daughter will both be glad you volunteered!
Yearbook Cover Art Contest
Draw a picture of your favorite activity at Abbotts Hill. This can be a time during your school day, or at your favorite AHE event. Show Jazzy Jan in the scene!
Submit art on: 8.5” x 11” sheet of white paper, vertical (portrait) orientation. All entries must include: Your name, grade and teacher written in PENCIL on the back of your artwork (NOT FRONT COVER!)
Tips for a good entry: Use up the whole sheet of paper. Not a lot of white space – use lots of color! (including the background). Mix up your medium! (play with one or more of the following: markers, crayons, water colors, oil pastels, etc.) Coloring with a pencil or pen sometimes doesn’t work well on the image when scanned.
ALL ENTRIES DUE BY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd
Submit your drawing to the AHE Front Desk. Questions? Email AHEyearbook@gmail.com
Where in the World is Jazzy Jan?
Do you want to share your own family heritage and culture with others at school? Please consider making a short video (3 to 5 min.) We would like to share it with all students during Lunch time once a month. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Joy Kim at kimjoy@fultonschools.org
"Bite" of Culture
We are very fortunate to have diverse ethnic groups in our school community and want to share some interesting facts about other countries each month. Please contact Joy Kim at kimjoy@fultonschools.org if you have any comments or anything you want to share.
A few Interesting facts about India
In India, each of 29 States has its own language.
Most of Indian people use English as their 1st language and their own language as their 2nd language.
India is the largest English speaking country in the world. (population: 1.342 billion in 2017)
Joy Kim
Bilingual Community Liaison (BCL)