The Dolphin Newsletter
Home of the Extraordinary Dolphins: September 26, 2016
Principal's Pride
Hello Parents!
This year is off to an amazing start. I am very pleased with the work of our teachers, the progress of our students, and the engagement of our parents. Your engagement is essential in ensuring we are successful.
As a parent, you are your child's first and most important teacher. When parents and families are involved in their children's schools, the children do better and have better feelings about going to school. Over the next few weeks, I will highlight important strategies that are research-based and proven to be effective.
Strategy: Attend parent-teacher conferences and keep in touch with your child's teacher.
Schools usually have one or two parent-teacher conferences each year. This year, we will hold two annual conferences. The first is teacher led and the second one is student led. You can also ask to meet with your child's teacher any time during the year. If you have a concern and can't meet face-to-face, send the teacher a short note or set up a time to talk on the phone. Communication with your child’s teacher is essential to ensuring your child receives the best education and most appropriate support.
Why is it important to go to a parent-teacher conference?
Going to the parent-teacher conference provides you and the teacher an opportunity to work together as a team in order to help your child. You each have an important perspective to share — as the parent, you know your child's personality, habits, strengths, and weaknesses. The teacher, on the other hand, has been trained professionally in the best methods of teaching, meeting individual student's needs, how to control classroom behavior, and how to help your child succeed in school. Working together you will be able to find ways that each of you can provide the appropriate and necessary support for your child.
The conference is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about your child's progress, to learn more about the class and what the students are studying, and to find out if your child is having difficulty with anything in particular.
In addition, the more you know about your children's school and classes, the more likely they will be to talk about daily experiences with you. They will appreciate your concern and involvement, and they will be more likely to approach you when they have problems.
Save the Date:
Asa Philip Randolph ES Conference Day: November 08, 2016
Sincerely,
Principal Miley
Randolphprincipal@fultonschools.org
Parents we have three release days that are not on FCS District-wide calendar. These dates are unique to Randolph Elementary School. Our students will not attend school on these dates, as the dates are reserved for Professional Development for our teachers. During this time, we will focus on Project Based Learning and STEM activities.
Very Important Reminder! Five Day Break, including the weekend.
October 7-Professional Release Day #1- No School for Students @ A. Philip Randolph ES
October 8-Saturday
October 9-Sunday
October 10-Columbus Day-No School for Students
October 11-Fulton County Professional Development Day-No School for Students
Let's Talk Testing!
Testing Tidbits
Assessment is an integral part of instruction, as it determines whether or not the goals of education are being met and the data informs our instructional decisions. At Randolph, as we assess our students, we continually engage in data talks to modify instruction, set additional learning goals, and align resources to assist students as they master standards.
Upcoming are two major assessments at Randolph:
· Write Score: October 3-21
· Iowa Tests of Basic Skills: October 24-28
Write Score is a formative writing assessment aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence. During the October administration, our students will respond to writing prompts focused on Opinion writing. The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, also known as ITBS, are standardized tests administered to Fulton County elementary students in grades 3 and 5. Students take a battery of tests in the content areas of Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies and Language Arts.
How can you help? Engage your children often in opportunities to share and express their thinking orally and in written format. Encourage them to put forth their best effort, and stress that assessments inform teachers and administrators as to how we can better serve their educational needs.
For more information or support, please contact: Victoria Grubbs, Assistant Principal.
Visit the Curriculum Corner
Tips to Promote Family Literacy
Choose books that are at an appropriate reading level for your child: Use the “Five Finger Rule”: Open the book to any page and ask your child to read. Put up a finger every time your child comes to an unfamiliar word. If you have used more than five fingers before the end of the page, the book is too hard for your child.
To foster writing at home, parents can provide a place for their child to write. The area should be one that is quiet and well lit. The "writing center" can be stocked with various supplies that encourage writing such as paper, pencils and crayons. Photos of family and friends or from magazines are also great resource to add to the center, as they can be used for story starters. Let’s make learning a Family Affair!!
I look forward to serving all of your curriculum needs. If you need additional support, please feel free to reach out to me, 470-254-6520.
The Counseling Connection
Character Word of the Month:
Showing regard for self, others and property. Discuss ways to show respect for others. (Examples could include using table manners, showing kind expressions, opening a door for someone, etc.) Explain that respect means showing consideration for places and things too, such as property and the environment. Talk with your child about a favorite possession. Ask how he or she would feel if it was damaged or lost. Ask how respect is shown for the people and things we love? (Take care of them, protect them, etc.) Ask your child how he or she shows respect for the environment. (Not littering, planting trees, etc.) Encourage your child to value all people, property and the environment.
Career Day
Friday, November 4, 2016 Career Day If you are interested in speaking to students about your career please e-mail Ms. Scott at scottk@fultonschools.org.
G.R.E.A.T. Program
G.R.E.A.T. Program
On Thursday, September 15, fifth grade students participated in their first of six lessons included in the G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) Program. This violence prevention program is taught by trained law enforcement, Sergeant Price and Sergeant Edwards. Program activities such as discussions, role playing and group work will help students learn the skills and behaviors to help them become a G.R.E.A.T. citizen.
Counselor's Connection
School Counseling Advisory (SCA) Committee
The advisory council is a representative group of stakeholders selected to review and provide input on the school counseling program.
Thank you to the following people for volunteering to serve on the 2016 - 2017 SCA Committee:
K - Ms.Naidoo; 1st - Ms. Moody; 2nd - Ms. Cowan;
3rd - Ms. Jamison; 4th - Ms. Carpenter; EIP - Ms. Smith; IRR - Ms. Ali; Special Area - Ms. Brown; Parent - Ms. Jackson (K- Hagans);
Parent - Ms. Surratt (4 – Witzel)
Community Representative:
The SCA Committee is currently seeking a Community Representative. If interested, please email Ms. Scott, the school counselor, at scottk@fultonschools.org
1st Meeting:
Monday, September 26, 2016
Conference Room
3:30 – 4:10 pm
Tip of the Week:
Reading is at the heart of all learning.
Tips for Great Readers
- Set up a family reading time.
- Visit the public library with your child.
Dolphin of the Month
The following students have been selected as their homeroom’s Dolphin of the Month for September 2016. These students have done an exemplary job displaying the character trait of the month: RESPECT On Friday, September 30, 2016 our Dolphin of the Month award recipients will be featured guests on our closed circuit school news program, WAPR. Faculty and students will watch as Mrs. Miley, the principal, recognizes and awards each Dolphin of the Month recipient with a medal. In addition to being on WAPR, students will have their pictures displayed on our school’s Dolphin of the Month Board throughout the month of October.
Pre-K Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade
Ms. Bacon: Chrislynn Pipkins Ms. Prather: Micah Adams Ms. Hagans: Janiyah Thomas Ms. Naidoo: Brooke Stewart Ms. Ross: Amayah Culbreth Ms. Thornton: Princess Covington Ms. Baldwin: Jayell Vance Ms. Evans: Aaron Mack Ms. Johnson: Kayla Ivey Ms. Moody: Kassidy Colon Ms. Cowan: Shiloh Simmons Ms. Ellis: Maya Hall Ms. Jones: Isaiah Clinkscales Ms. Medlock: Andrew Gobin Ms. Brown: Tyriq Green Ms. Grant/ Ms. Small: Kevin Hartley Ms. Jamison: Elisa Riley Ms. Paschal: Trinity Hope Ms. Pitts: Kobe Daniel Ms. Carpenter: Lauren Howard Ms. Solomon/ Mr. Baxter: Daliya Williams Mr. Williams: Evan Murray Ms. Witzel: Akira Coulson Ms. Griffith-Johnson: Emanuel Warrior Ms. Knight: Joshua Delamar Ms. Nash: Kylei Stewart Ms. Reid: Asia Moody
Discipline Dynamics
Suggested Reading Sites:
Discipline strategies:
Positive Behavior Management Tips:
http://minds-in-bloom.com/2015/03/positive-behavior-management-strategies.html
Coping Strategies and Problem Solving for Kids:
September: Fall Tips for Behavior Management
Classroom Management
“4 Early-Year Keys for Effective Classroom Discipline”
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/early-year-effective-classroom-discipline-allen-mendler
Quick Tips:
1. Make your first words and actions confident, enthusiastic, and welcoming
2. Set guidelines for how you plan to handle misbehavior.
3. Let students know when and how they can give you feedback.
4. Define the difference between fair and equal.
Positive Behavior Management Tips:
“The First Six Weeks of School
https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/product/first-six-weeks-of-school/
1. Using positive teacher language to establish high academic and behavioral expectations
2. Getting students excited about schoolwork by offering engaging academics
3. Teaching the classroom and academic routines that enable a collaborative learning community to thrive
School-wide Behavioral Initiatives
S.W.I.M
S = Show Respect
W = Work Hard
I = Include Kindness
M = Make Responsible Choices
S.W.I.M Reminders
Sometimes we need a reminder to follow the rules and make better choices. In this instance, teachers and staff will give your student a citation referred to as, “S.W.I.M reminder.
Dolphin Dollar Store: Reward System
We love to reward students for extraordinary dolphin behavior! Your student can earn as many Dolphin Dollars as they want. At a designated time of the month, Ms. Scott, guidance counselor will open the Dolphin Dollar Store that is filled with all kinds of prizes. Purchases can be made with Dolphin $$ only.
Media Matters
September is National Public Library Card sign up month. Please visit the Wolf Creek Public library to apply for a card. A huge thanks to Ms. Carter the public librarian from Wolf Creek for coming out on Curriculum night and signing up our students, parents, and staff members!
Check out the fun things that they offer at http://www.afpls.org/wolf-creek-branch .
Pizza Hut Book It Program begins October 1, 2016 through March 31, 2017. Teachers will set reading goals with their classes and once the goals have been met students will receive a coupon for a free personal pan pizza. Let's continue to READ, READ, READ!!!
Melanie B. Ellis
METI
Parent Connections
Parent Liaison: Sandra Mack
GRANDPARENTS CONNECT EVENT – THANK YOU!
On September 9, 2016, Randolph welcomed Grandparents. Our Grandparents were hosted by Randolph PTA, where they enjoyed refreshments, a short program and visited their grandchildren’s classroom. President Barack Obama in a proclamation issued from the press office of the White House on Sept. 9, officially recognized Sept. 11 as National Grandparents Day, and urged “all Americans to take the time to honor their own grandparents and those in their community.” We support all of our families and look forward to Grandparent’s Day becoming an annual event.
“Because (grandparents) are usually free to love and guide and befriend the young without having to take daily responsibility for them, they can often reach out past pride and fear of failure and close the space between generations.” — Jimmy Carter
To Register as a Volunteer:
http://www.fultonschools.org/en/divisions/sup/comm/Pages/partnersvolunteers.aspx
Getting Ready For Fall
Getting Ready For Fall ………..
What Is Allergic Asthma?
If you have allergic asthma, your airways are extra sensitive to certain allergens. Once they get into your body, your immune system overreacts. The muscles around your airways tighten. The airways become inflamed and over time are flooded with thick mucus.
Whether you have allergic asthma or non-allergic asthma, the symptoms are generally the same. You’re likely to:
· Cough
· Wheeze
· Be short of breath
· Breathe quickly
· Feel your chest get tight
Common Causes for Allergic Asthma
Allergens, small enough to be breathed deep into the lungs, include:
· Windblown pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds
· Mold spores and fragments
· Animal dander (from hair, skin, or feathers) and saliva
· Dust mite feces
· Cockroach feces
Keep in mind that allergens aren’t the only thing that can make your allergic asthma worse. Irritants may still trigger an asthma attack, even though they don't cause an allergic reaction. These include:
· Smoke from tobacco, a fireplace, candles, incense, or fireworks
· Air pollution
· Cold air
· Exercise in cold air
· Strong chemical odors or fumes
· Perfumes, air fresheners, or other scented products
· Dusty rooms
Your doctor can test you to see what causes your allergic asthma. The two most common (and recommended) methods are:
· Pricking your skin with a tiny amount of the allergen and measuring the size of the red bumps 20 minutes later
· A blood test known as a specific IgE or sIgE test
School Governance Council Meeting: Called Meeting
Wednesday, Sep 28, 2016, 04:30 PM
A Philip Randolph School, Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
PTA Cluster Meeting
Tuesday, Oct 4, 2016, 06:30 PM
A Philip Randolph School, Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
Professional Development Release Day: Randolph ES
Friday, Oct 7, 2016, 07:00 AM
A Philip Randolph School, Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
Columbus Day: No School for Students
Monday, Oct 10, 2016, 07:00 AM
A Philip Randolph School, Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
Fulton County Schools Professional Development Day
Tuesday, Oct 11, 2016, 07:00 AM
A Philip Randolph School, Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
School Governance Council Meeting
SGC Chair: Catherine Rowell
Vice Chair: Raynal Harris