Pleasant Street School News
building a community of learners that strive for excellence
January 24, 2016
We are a Community of Readers!
During the month of January our teachers have been busy teaching non-fiction and informational text in Readers' Workshop. We are also completing our winter literacy assessments to measure student progress and mid-year reading levels. We are seeing students super excited to share new facts and to talk about what they are learning in their reading. Students also “own" more of their reading by knowing their current reading level and by being able to apply effective reader strategies. We encourage families to have your child tell you some of the reading strategies he or she uses.
Strategies for unfamiliar words could include:
- Look at the first letter
- Look through the word
- Does it look right, sound right, and make sense?
- Can the word be chunked?
- Look at the picture- is there something specific in the picture that helps the reader?
- Does it make sense?
- Go back to the beginning of the sentence and re-read.
We ask that families make daily reading a priority at home. If families read between 15-20 minutes a day it would add up to 2 hours of reading per week and over 104 hours in a year! This commitment to family reading is a gift that will last a lifetime as research indicates children who are effective readers are more likely to complete high school and to have higher achievement.
Reading Resources for Families
Listed below are some informational tips and resources for families to develop their children's literacy skills. We encourage you to take a few moments for some grown up reading time (!) by looking through these resources on how to promote your child's learning. As parents are children's first and primary teachers, we as educators, want to do our best to partner with families to share ideas to support children's learning.
Parent tips on non-fiction and informational texts:
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/How-to-read-non-fiction.pdf
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Getting-the-most-out-of-non-fiction.pdf
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Informational-literacy.pdf
Understanding reading challenges and the importance of reading widely
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/reading-widely_en.pdf
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Target_the_Problem.pdf
Book lists from Reading Rockets
http://www.readingrockets.org/
Looking for some reading applications for your mobile device?
Need to know more about math?
We encourage families to use this website with your child to help break down math lessons with step by step guidance.
http://lpssonline.com/site5514.php
Parent support tips from the Eureka math website
http://greatminds.net/support/parents
Informative article from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics on teaching math fluency through the use of games
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/MasterMathFluency2013-09-96a-2.pdf
Brain based research on teaching mathematics
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/The-mathematics-of-hope.pdf
The 100th day of school is coming soon!
Don't Miss Out on the Fun! Dinosaur projects will be coming soon in second grade
To see a short video of projects from last year please click on the link below.
Caring Paws Club inspires donations of pet food & supplies
The Caring Paws Club is a group that was formed over a year ago by some now third grade friends at Pleasant Street. The focus of this group is to support animals and to work toward putting an end to kill shelters.
From January 11 to February 11 Pleasant Street School will be collecting the following to donate to an area animal shelter.
- Dog & cat food and feeding supplies
- Grooming supplies- brushes, combs, trimmers
- Leashes, collars, or harnesses
- Bedding supplies- clean, used towels, blankets, or sheets
- Cat Litter and trays that would be used for litter boxes
- Cleaning supplies
All students who bring in animal supplies will be given a button, "I helped saved animals" made by the Caring Paws Club.
Caught Being Good!
While Melania was not our only student Caught Being Good this week, she is the one who was caught on camera by Principal Ellis with not just one, but two certificates!
So you know...our faculty and staff use Caught Being Goods as just another way of letting children know that we notice and appreciate simple acts of being helpful and kind throughout our school. When a student receives a Caught Being Good certificate he or she also receives a small prize from Principal Ellis.
Catch of the Day!
Community Stars... Accomplishments of our Students in the Community!
Pictured:
The FCHA Gilmore & Farrell Vipers defeated Ludlow, 5-2, in a Greater Springfield League Squirt North Division youth hockey game Sunday at the Olympia in West Springfield.The game was also a District 6 Playdown game. The Vipers will represent District 6 in the Massachusetts Tier III Squirt State Championships in late February. Congratulations to Hunter, a fourth grade student in Mrs. Robinson's class, standing in the back row, last on the right, and his team, for this quality win, and the opportunity to play for a state title!
Free Breakfast & Lunch
As part of the 2010 Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids Act, Athol-Royalston Regional School District, along with other districts, now offers free meals to all students this school year.
Menus
- Breakfast menu for January
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/BREAKFAST-ELEMENTARY-JAN2016.pdf
- Lunch menu for January
Community Events & Postings
Do you have news to share or want to inform members of our school community about family friendly events in our area? if so, please email or forward a flyer or link.
Thank you :)
Mother Goose on the Loose Playgroup-Thursdays 10am—11:30am Valuing Our Children 217 Walnut St. Athol. For more information contact: Jen: 978-249-8467 x 22
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/PG-and-MGOL.pdf
New Parenting Class- Tuesdays beginning Jan. 26, 10:15 - 11:45 am Childcare and help with transportation are provided. To sign up call Jennifer at Valuing Our Children: 978-249-8467. Focus of class is for those parenting children under the age of 6 and includes: how to understand your child’s behavior, how to listen and talk to your child, discipline that makes sense….and more!
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/2016-flyer.pdf
Petersham Playgroup- Beginning on Thursday, Sept. 17th from 10-11:30 at the Petersham Center School. For more information please call Jennifer at Valuing Our Children 978-249-8467 x22
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Petersham-playgroup.pdf
For other local events, happenings, and resources in this area... you can also check the North Quabbin Community Coalition website below:
These are not school sponsored events but are posted here as a public service for families in the greater North Quabbin community.
Upcoming Events...Mark your Calendars!
- Jan. 11- Feb. 11- Caring Paws Club, pet donation drive
- January 27, all school meeting for students
- January 29, 2016- Mad Science Assembly Programs, sponsored by our PTO
- Feb. 1-Feb. 5th, Winter MAPS assessment
- Feb. 3, district half day, noon dismissal, lunch is served
- Feb. 3- 100th day of school
- Feb. 12, Sock hop dance, school cafe, 6-7:30 pm, sponsored by PTO
- Feb. 12- Student council hosts, "Go for Gold", childhood cancer awareness and benefit event
- Feb. 14, Valentines' Day
- Feb. 15-19, Winter recess, no school
- Feb. 22, school resumes
http://www.arrsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CALENDARFOR2015-2016a.pdf
Check back soon for more news!
News from Principal Ellis
Email: dellis@arrsd.org
Website: arrsd.org
Location: 1060 Pleasant Street., Athol, MA 01331
Phone: (978) 249-2405