The Month in VIEW
October 2019
Principal news
Student Safety:
We welcome parents and volunteers to our school while also focusing on student safety. Therefore, all persons entering the building will sign in and present their license, which will be scanned through the RAPTOR system. A name badge will be given and must be visible throughout the visit.
Please keep the following procedures in mind as you use our Parent Drop-off and Pick-up areas:
Drop-off Procedures/Reminders
Enter the line from Dorsey Avenue
Pull forward as far as possible
Do not park in the gravel lot or along the fence on Richard Ave.
Stay in your vehicle
Follow directives of the school staff
Proceed to the front of the school if you are dropping off AFTER 8:45. The doors will be locked.
Pick-up Procedures/Reminders
Enter the line from Dorsey Avenue
Have your name card visible for staff members and follow their directives
Do not park in the gravel lot and walk to where students are waiting for their vehicles. Students will not be dismissed to anyone who has bypassed the pick-up line and procedures.
Stay in your vehicle. Your child will be sent to you.
Be patient so we can keep all students and staff safe.
Safety Drills
It is important that staff and students are aware of what to do in the event of an emergency. To prepare, we practice a variety of safety drills throughout the school year, including an intruder drill. Teachers work hard to prepare students for these various types of situations. We have had several fire drills already this year and we will have our first intruder drill soon.
One School, One Book (OSOB)
Mountainview is excited to be participating in our second year of a school-wide activity called One School One Book. For the month of October, ALL of our families will have the opportunity to receive and read the same book. Our book for this year is titled Lunch Money by Andrew Clements. Families received a copy of the book on Monday, September 30th. Make sure to follow the calendar inside, which listed the chapters to read each night with your family. You can also tune in to the PTO Facebook page and see live readings of the chapters that will be done by some of our school staff members. Thank you to all of the families who donated two dollars for this event.
To celebrate completion of the book, we will have a family night on October 23rd. Look for more information about this evening soon.
Fall Party information:
As in previous years, students will parade around the outside of the school (in the gym if weather conditions are poor) in their costumes. This event can certainly be enjoyed by parents and extended family members. However, volunteers will run and support the parties in the classrooms so students have enough space to enjoy their party without overcrowding.
The parade/party for all grade levels will occur on Thursday, October 31st. Please send students with their costumes on this day. The parade/parties will be at the following times:
Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades:
Party- 9:30-10:00
Parade-10:00-10:30
3rd, 4th, and 5th grades:
Party- 1:45-2:15
Parade-2:15-2:45
PBIS
We are beginning our second year of implementation of PBIS. Here is some information about PBIS:
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a way for our school to encourage good behavior.
With PBIS, we teach kids about behavior, just as we teach about other subjects like reading or math.
The focus of PBIS is prevention, not punishment.
PBIS sets up three tiers of support for students and staff in a school.
Tier 1 is a school wide, universal system for everyone in a school. Kids learn basic behavior expectations. We focus on PAWS (Proud, Awesome attitude, Well-mannered, Safe choices). School staff regularly recognize and praise kids for good behavior. We pair a verbal recognition of the positive behavior with a point awarded within the PBIS Rewards program. Students can use the points they earn in their classroom store and our school store.
Tier 2 provides an extra layer of support for kids who continue to struggle with behavior. Kids get a set of evidence-based interventions and instruction.
Tier 3 is the most intensive level. It’s for kids who need individualized supports and services because of behavior issues.
You can help reinforce positive behavior at home too!
- First, make sure you are linked to your child within the PBIS Rewards system. If you aren't, send a note to your child's teacher so he/she can get information home to you.
- Have conversations with your child about how they are doing with meeting the school expectations (PAWS). By using the PBIS Rewards app, you can see the points they are earning. This will help jump start great conversations.
- Providing positive reinforcement is great. Read this article for some great information about how best to praise kids
- If you feel your child is struggling with interacting with others, read this information about how to support them if they struggle with social interaction.
Communication
It is important that you know what is happening in the school. To help with this, we have a variety of modes of communication we will utilize. Please follow us on the following social media platforms:
Twitter-- @mtnviewelem
Facebook-- @mountainviewbobcats
Instagram-- mtnviewbobcats
We will also send out updates each Friday evening about the upcoming week. These will come via a phone call and a text message. We have been sending these each Friday since the beginning of the year. If you have not received them, please follow the directions here: https://boe.mono.k12.wv.us/News/174#sthash.ox7nRkPi.dpbs
If you have trouble with this, please email Chris Urban at curban@k12.wv.us for help.
Online Absence Notes
Attendance continues to be a focus for us this school year and we want your child to be at school every day! When illness prevents your child from attending, you can now complete an Online Absence Note by following this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIUiYMHb6dHJ_qSdtPXzHHkJpFSUc42BZf7QAHCCzdanEahA/viewform
PTO Update
1.) The Craft Fair is on October 26. The sign up link for anyone who is willing to volunteer is https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054ea9af2eabfb6-mountainview4. There will be a raffle for four tickets to the Great Wolfe Lodge for a family of four; look for more information to come home during the month of October.
2.) The next PTO meeting is October 8 at 6:30pm. Childcare will be provided.
3.) Thank you to everyone who donated to the Fun Run and came out to the Back to School Bash!
Grade Level news
Pre-K
We're having a great beginning of the year!
- This month in Pre-K we are learning about and dissecting pumpkins!
- We will also practice bus safety.
- Don't forget our Fall Party is on October 31st. If you want to come in for the party, you must have completed the parent volunteer training.
Kindergarten:
We continue to practice skills for learning. These include: focusing attention, listening, using self-talk, and being assertive. This month we will focus on how to show empathy.
Our Fire Safety field trip is on October 3rd. We will learn about checking fire alarms, what to do if there is a fire, and how to prevent fires.
In Math we are finding ways to make numbers (0-10). For example, 2 and 3 make 5. We are also comparing numbers between 0-10, discussing ways to determine which number is more or less.
In Reading we continue to work on identifying rhyming words, letter names, and letter sounds. We are also practicing retelling stories.
First Grade:
We have had a wonderful first month of school! The students have been working so hard and we are very proud of them!
Please be sure to check the weather for each day. If your child wears a jacket to school please label it with their name. Your child is responsible for bringing their jacket in from the playground, please remind them of this.
Please continue to check your child's folder each night for any important information that will be coming home. If you have not already sent in a pair of headphones for your child to use on the computers please do that soon.
In reading, we are working on short vowel sounds. Please continue to read with your child for at least twenty minutes each night to further develop their reading abilities. Your child should have also brought home a list of sight words. Please practice these with your child. A new list will come home each month.
In math we are continuing to work on counting on to add and subtract within 10. Practicing this at home will offer support for your child in the classroom.
Thank you for all that you do!
Second Grade:
For the month of October,
- In Math we will be continuing to use different strategies to increase our fact fluency. Students will be introduced to repeated addition and two-step word problems. Continue to practice fact fluency daily.
- In Reading, students will be working on text features, story structure and author's purpose, as well as new vocabulary and high frequency words.
- In phonics, we will be working on common word endings, and using -ed and -ing.
- During our daily journal writing, we are continuing to write for enjoyment. Our goal is to celebrate our writing successes and instill a love of writing. Pictures are being used to spark ideas and focus our thoughts.
- Our morning meeting time is the highlight of our day. We use this time to learn more about our classmates, share thoughts, feelings and to problem-solve issues as a class.
Our days are full and our expectations are high, but these second grades are rising to the challenge each and every day.
Third Grade:
Third grade will continue to work through multiplication strategies and fact fluency through the month of October. The relationship of multiplication and division will also be introduced.
Students should practice multiplication/division fact families at home to build fluency, while also working on Reflex math independently.
While working with non fiction and fiction texts, students will work with comparing and contrasting, inferences, and cause/effect.
In writing, students will continue to work on the writing process and write opinion pieces.
Fourth Grade:
- In reading we will be focusing on main idea of informational texts and being able to support it by key details.
- In Math we are wrapping up Unit 1 and we will begin to move to multiplication and division. Students will be working on multiplication fact fluency so be on the look out for more information coming home with students.
- In writing we have been working hard building our writing communities and learning the writing process. Students are working to complete their first piece of writing and learning how to help their peers become better writers through peer conferencing and offering constructive suggestions on how to improve their writing.
- We will spend a few more weeks on social studies as we focus on Where Does your Money Go? and Slavery in America.
Fifth Grade:
Click the link below to be taken to 5th grades website!
October Calendar
September 30- One School, One Book begins!
October 2- Midterms come home
October 8- PTO meeting at 6:30
October 11- Show your school spirit by wearing your WVU shirt or yellow and blue!
October 11- Cook's Day- Thank them!!
October 14- No school
Week of October 21st- School Bus Safety Week
October 23- Family Night- One School One Book edition
October 25- 2 hour Early Dismissal- dismiss at 1:30
October 26- PTO Craft Fair
October 29- Make-up picture day
October 31- Fall parade