The Phoenix Press
November 2022
A note from Director Jacobs:
Brr, it is definitely getting cold! Despite the lack of temperature warmth, November to me, has always seemed like one giant hug. An opportunity to reflect deeply on the acts of kindness bestowed upon us, and the reminder that gratitude for others should be shared and not kept quiet.
Despite the colder temperature, I was given a beautiful visual of so much of what I have to be grateful for. Incredible colleagues, fantastic families, and the heart of the school, our scholars. From Rosie the Riveter, to Justice Jackson, Rosa Parks, Gloria Steinem to the incredible Phoenix moms, our scholars showed up to show who inspires them. THIS is who we are! Empowered. Confident. Relentless.
Our scholars are our next leaders! Let’s continue to work together, to ensure that their light for learning and growth never dims, but shines brighter with each passing day.
KAS Family Guides:
The KAS Family Guides were developed to help families familiarize themselves with the concepts of each grade level’s standards and include suggestions for how families can reinforce standards content at home. Each guide contains a standards overview for reading and writing, mathematics, science and social studies. Guides are available for grades K-8 and high school and are available in Spanish for Spanish-speaking families.
Check them out on the Standards Family Guides webpage and make plans to share them with families soon!
Congratulations to Ms. Keene for having the most teacher contacts in PLP for the month of September! (The PLP is a log reflecting a team member's contacts with families)
Congratulations to Mrs. Lee for having the most support staff contacts in PLP for the month of September! (The PLP is a log reflecting a team member's contacts with families)
Upcoming Events
Fourth Grade Field Trip to the Equine Adoption Center
Tuesday, Nov 1, 2022, 10:00 AM
Kentucky Equine Adoption Center Inc, Catnip Hill Road, Nicholasville, KY, USA
Rise PTA Celebrates Dia de Los Muertos
Friday, Nov 11, 2022, 05:30 PM
2420 Spurr Road, Lexington, KY, USA
Veterans Day Gratitude Breakfast
Friday, Nov 11, 2022, 07:15 AM
Rise STEM Academy for Girls, Spurr Road, Lexington, KY, USA
Presentation of Learning!
News from Dr. Witt
New charms for scholar’s charm bracelet
The first Presentation of Learning night has taken place which means our first quarter projects are complete. To celebrate their hard work, each scholar will get a new charm to represent their completed project. Shout out to the 4th grade 3D-printing club for designing these! I made a video below to show you how to put these new charms on their bracelets. Be on the lookout for these to go home by November 1. Can’t wait to see more scholars wearing these with pride!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8ziyUA5D5Q
STLP/DPOJ
Student Technology Leadership Project (STLP) is in full force this year as we will be submitting 4, level 1 projects, to regionals to be held mid November. Our hope is to move all projects to level 2 and attend the state STLP competition in the spring. Another part of the STLP competition categories are the Digital Products Online Judging (DPOJ). I have decided to open this up to all students to participate this year by sharing the categories and rubrics found here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1gTGliq_JiyP9xz-VVS6_70UcVmQkqH_ugYlvLtUVcMA/edit#slide=id.gf9a1f518b7_0_327
If your scholar is interested in one of these categories, please let me know so I can help and be on the lookout for their project as most of the categories only allow one or two entries per school. I can’t wait to see what our scholars come up with!
-Dr. Witt
Minecraft Challenge
The FCPS Minecraft Challenge is back! Last year we had 3 scholars finish in the top 5 for the district, including the winner of the whole challenge!! This year’s challenge is to help design parts of the new Cardinal Run North Park. Winners will even get to help the Lexington design team and be present at the grand opening. Your 1st-4th scholar has been introduced to the challenge and will be working on their park build to complete by the end of November. The top 10 builds from Rise will be chosen to compete at the district level.
4th grade Science Fair
Rise’s first annual science fair will take place on January 20, 2023. All 4th grade scholars are welcome to participate. The top 5-10 projects from Rise will then move on to the FCPS district science fair which will take place on February 4, 2023. These projects will mostly be completed at home, however a mentor for check in dates will be assigned to each scholar. If you requested more information, that should be out by November 1, if you still need a packet, please email Dr. Witt. Can’t wait to see what these girls come up with!
-Rise STEM Department
Build to Blast Off
FCPS Office of Instructional Technology has partnered with Club for the Future and Blue Origin to give all students in the district access to space in the classroom and the opportunity to send a postcard to space. It is our mission to inspire our students to pursue careers in STEM and see themselves as solution makers for future problems. Blue Origin will fly postcards to space and back on an upcoming rocket launch and then postcards will be returned to students through their school with a "Flown in Space" stamp. Rise scholars will participate in this event mid-November!
Rise will be collecting your candy wrappers!! Instead of throwing these in the trash, they will be recycled in our "Trick or Trash" bin which will be housed in the Makerspace. Please have your scholar bring in their candy wrappers as we work to fill the box!
Updates With Ms. Owens
CogAT Testing 3rd - 11/1/22
The CogAT test is used to identify gifted students and help teachers and parents understand scholars' cognitive strengths, weaknesses and learning styles
IOWA Testing 3rd - 11/2/22-11/4/22
The Iowa tests quiz scholars' knowledge that they have learned in school in reading, mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies. It’s a basic standardized test for all students in elementary or middle school.
The CogAT/IOWA assessments are administered to all 3rd graders in FCPS during the month of November.
DISTRICT READING COMMON ASSESSMENTS
3rd Grade: 11/16/22
4th Grade: 11/17/22
PTA News:
Can you help us decide about PTA meetings?
Please complete this survey: https://forms.gle/GTwQdgQYTZyKq4MB8
Scholars Enjoy the Fundraiser Foam Party!
Outdoor STEM:
Outdoor STEM in November will focus on Environmental Education and Sustainability. We will look at different topics related to the environment around us and how we as humans can help or harm it. Lessons will be closely tied to each grade level PBL for 2nd quarter.
Sustainability and Wellness
We have formed our Rise Wellness committee and will be sending out information about upcoming events. If you have connections to locally sourced food and/or exercise and wellness please reach out!
Rise Celebrates Halloween HerStory!
SCAPA INFORMATION
Spanish Fusion
-Ms. Hoskins