Elm Street School
June 2018
Principal's Message
Dear Elm Families,
It is truly with mixed emotions that I write this note. I am both excited for the future and sad to say goodbye to the past. I have come to realize how very attached I have become to the students, families, and staff at Elm Street School. I hope that the connections we have made will remain but I will most certainly miss watching the children grow through the years and being a part of how the school evolves to meet their needs. During the past few years, we have worked to recalibrate and focus our energy on students. I am both proud of all that we accomplished and sad for what we have not yet made a reality. As I sit to write my final note to the amazing families at Elm Street School, it seems that adapting my words to the 5th grade class seems quite fitting.
This year's fifth grade celebration theme was “Be proud of your selfie.” Clearly, a modern twist on an age-old saying. In the age of texting, SnapChat, Twitter, Fortnight, Roadblocks, and selfies, it is important to think about what it really means to be proud of your 'selfie'. As my 7 year old son said so eloquently the other day, being proud of yourself means to “treat others as you want to be treated.” For all of our students and families, I hope this means that you will be kind and supportive of one another. You will celebrate one another’s accomplishments and pick one another up when one falls. I hope you will take the time to connect with one another face to face and get outside to play together and experience all that the community and world have to offer. I hope that you will take thoughtful risks and that your mistakes will become learning opportunities. I hope you will treat others, one another, and yourselves with compassion. Be proud of yourself-- I am most certainly proud of you.
It has been my true honor and privilege to serve the Elm Street School community for the past three years. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives. I look forward to hearing great things. I hope you will all take time to refresh and enjoy making special memories together in the summer months ahead.
Most Sincerely,
Principal
Summer Reading
We strongly encourage parents to read aloud, including to those children who are already independent readers. In addition to being a wonderful family activity, children increase their listening vocabulary, which improves their comprehension. It also allows them to develop interests beyond their reading levels.
The following is a suggested guide to authors, resources and activities for children to share their reading experiences. Please choose any title that may interest you from any other sources. Magazines, graphic novels, audio books and eBooks also provide valuable educational experiences.
The Walpole Public Library offers a summer reading program and events to celebrate reading. Check out the schedule at http://www.walpolelibrary.org/children.asp The Showcase Cinemas at Patriot Place offers free story times every week during the summer. The schedule is at http://www.patriot-place.com/cinemadelux Barnes and Noble book store at the Walpole Mall offers weekly story events as well: https://www.thebalance.com/barnes-and-noble-summer-reading-program-for-kids-1356824 Join the Summer Reading Program and win a free book!
Summer Math
Research has indicated that students do not retain the understanding of concepts and skills, which have been previously learned, over the summer months unless they are reviewed and practiced. In order to maintain those skills, Walpole Public Schools provides options for students to maintain their learning.
This year we offer Summer Math Calendars for each grade level labeled as entering the next grade, for example, Entering Grade 1, etc. Our teachers have assembled links to helpful strategies, challenge activities, suggestions and websites to review topics taught during the past school year on this web site. We also thank the Franklin Public Schools for permission to use and adapt their math calendars. You may access the Summer Math Calendars for each grade level using this Math Calendars link.
We strongly suggest that your child pace him/herself by completing at least 12 of the activities listed for each month. Students can show their work on separate paper by identifying the the month and number of the activity. These activities can be done while traveling or during quiet time at home. This should not be a stressful activity, but a positive opportunity for children (and parents/guardians) to review basic math ideas.
Completed calendars should be turned in to the next year’s classroom teacher in order to inform instruction. Students who have completed practice will be celebrated in each school. As always, the Walpole Public Schools appreciates your high level of support for student learning and our efforts toward reaching our goals of academic achievement. We are available during the summer at the central office in Town Hall Room 209 to assist with your questions.
- Wednesday, August 29: First Day of School, Grades 1-12
- Thursday, August 30: Kindergarten Visit; 1:00pm
- Friday, August 31: No School
- Monday, Septemeber 3: No School, Labor Day
- Tuesday, September 4: First Day of School; Kindergarten
Battle of The Books- Sneak Peak
Summer Releases
We are happy to announce that we will continue to have our third through fifth graders participate in Battle of the Books starting in September when we return to school. This year, the Battle will extend to a final competition between our winning team and Fisher School's championship team. We are thrilled to share the love of reading with Fisher and look forward to all of our students enjoying good books and healthy competition.
Here is a sneak peek for the summer of four books that will be on the Battle of the Books' list this fall. You may want to get an early start by reading some or all of these this summer.
Battle of the Books- Summer Releases
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race
by Margot Lee Shetterly
Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo
Rump by Liesl Shurtliff
Honus & Me: A Baseball Card Adventure by Dan Gutman
Elm Street Eagles S.O.A.R.!
SOAR At Home and Through the Summer
• Define core social expectations (Safe, On task, Always respectful, Responsible). Staff and students in the school are expected to model the associated behaviors.
• Teach the behaviors and skills that are associated with those expectations.
• Reward the use of those behaviors and skills with a system of reinforcement.
How Parents Can Support Success As a parent, you can be part of this formula for school success by using the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) strategy at home and making a PBIS home plan. When you teach your child the same behaviors that are taught at school and reinforce them at home, you are encouraging your child’s social and academic growth. You can begin by:
• Comparing your home rules and expectations with the school’s core expectations for behaviors.
• Deciding how you can apply the use of those appropriate behaviors in your home and the community.
• Identifying a way to set up predictable routines at home
• Modeling the behavior you want to see and reinforcing it consistently.
Tips for Making a Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) Home Plan Developing a PBIS Home Plan can help you teach appropriate behaviors and social skills. Start by identifying your family’s core expectations. For example, your family’s core social expectations may include: be respectful, responsible, and helpful. Better yet, use Elm's core expectations of being Safe, On taks, Always respectful, and Responsible. Decide how to model and evaluate your family’s core expectations and behaviors during different parts of the day or in different places in your home. Once you’ve done this, create a chart and place it where everyone can see it. Then decide how you will give regular recognition for appropriate behavior. For example, your child may earn time for a special weekend activity or be able to choose the dinner menu. Whatever your method of reinforcement, use it consistently, keep it simple, and make sure to recognize appropriate behavior more than problem behavior. Remember, helping your child develop positive behavior requires a family commitment. This means that parents must be prepared to reinforce the expectations, but also to be a model for the behavior desired. When you use the PBIS strategy and demonstrate core expectations at home, your child will learn the same lessons at school and at home. This makes it easier for your child to change his or her behavior, and it also positively supports your child’s school success.
Credit: PACER Center, Inc.
Excellence at Elm Street School
Fifth Grade STEAM Day
The Grade 5 students participated in many engaging and challenging Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math learning activities. For example, they worked in teams to build index card towers that met challenging requirements. The towers had to be at least 24 inches high and needed to support a small stuffed animal. Only 100 index cards and 12 inches of tape could be used. Teams demonstrated creativity, cooperation, and perseverance throughout the challenge.
First Graders Explore the Ocean Floor with Discovery Museum
Grade 1 Art News
Second Graders Learn About the Physical Change of Matter with Discovery Museum
Kindergarten Art News
Annual Art Show
Photos from the Annual Art Show at the Walpole Town Library! It was an exciting Opening Night on Tuesday May 1st, 2018. There were so many families from town who came out to see the show which showcased art work from grades K-12. Elm Street Students were so enthusiastic and parents were very supportive and gracious!
Supporting Our Community: Golden Opportunities for Independence
Thank You Walpole Police and Fire Departments!
Elm Street School Parent Advisory Council (PAC)
info@elmstreetpac.org
www.elmstreetpac.org
Join us at the First PAC meeting of the new school year on Tuesday, September 19th at 7:00pm in the Media Center.
End of Year Assembly: Rhythm Room
he Rhythm Room Enrichment Program enabled students at Elm to explore world music as it relates to today’s pop culture by combining discussion, demonstrations, and participation. The use of world percussion, drum set, exploring percussion from objects and one’s own body (stomping, clapping, etc.) built teamwork and was educational, motivational, and fun. The opportunity concluded with a school wide concert which included student and staff participation and dancing.
Field Day 2018
Fifth Grade Celebration
Thank you to our amazing PAC
Elm Street Ice Cream Social
This is a free, family-friendly event sponsored by the PAC. Come get acquainted/re-acquainted with your classmates, friends, and neighbors!
Thursday, Sep 6, 2018, 05:00 PM
415 Elm Street, Walpole, MA, United States
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Elm Street School
Email: rbrogadir@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: http://walpoleess.ss5.sharpschool.com/
Location: 415 Elm Street, Walpole, MA, United States
Phone: (508) 660-7374
Twitter: @elmwalpole