JBD FRIDAY FOCUS
January 25, 2019 ~ "Embrace the Adventure!"
Heading into the second semester!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It is hard to believe that we are at the end of the first semester after this week! Time is flying even through our continuous growing pains with construction. You all should be extremely proud of your amazing children as they are growing by leaps and bounds!
As we have truly settled in and teachers and students have the dance of school off to a comfortable beat, I realize there still may be some things that are not clear to you as parents on the other end. For instance, what exactly is an INTEGRATED PERFORMANCE TASK?
Back in the day, I took tests, wrote reports, and occasionally had a poster or hands-on project due for a grade. Each item counted for a grade in one subject-Reading, Math, Science, or Social Studies. However, research based best practices in education today point to the fact that we do not live in a world where we are only tasked with something involving reading, or just math, or just science, or social studies. Most of the time, we incorporate all of the disciplines in our daily challenges. The Virginia Beach Schools and other school divisions across the country are focusing on the '5 Cs' These C's stand for:
- Citizenship
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Creativity
- Collaboration
To be graduation ready, our children need to be prepared to be proficient in these areas. Our integrated Performance Task assessments, are one vehicle to helping the children achieve these skills. A performance task is different from a multiple choice test, essay, or simple poster in the sense that it encompasses choice in demonstration of knowledge, opportunities for collaboration, public speaking and presentation skills, creativity in product, and the ability to critically think about how the information is being shared and utilized. Also, as students present their knowledge to their peers through plays, stories, slide shows, commercials, videos, etc., the other classmates are given the opportunity to see another point of view and provide feedback.
The teachers at JBD are embracing this method of assessment. This doesn't mean that all traditional assessment models are ignored. Sometimes a simple fact based assessment is all that is needed to assess basic memorization of a concept or skill and the SOLs are still a very traditional high-stakes assessment. However, in the next decade, parents will see more digital portfolios, performance based assessments and tasks, and opportunities for children to go deeper into subject matter. The goal is for them to not just know the information, but to apply the knowledge to other situations and mostly, ask the right questions. It's the total immersion that solidifies the knowledge and creates the ability to remember the information which is the heartbeat of 21st Century learning.
So, maybe this has been helpful to some of you. I just thought at this time of the year, some of you may have been wondering about Performance Tasks, as no doubt, you have heard the term in your household. If you have questions, just ask! Attached are a couple of links for further information if you are curious.
Thanks to all of you for all you do for your children to bring them to us ready to learn each day.
Sincerely,
Beth Bianchi
Principal
A Glimpse at 3rd Quarter Objectives Kindergarten through Fifth Grade
LANGUAGE ARTS
Math
Science and Social Studies
Don't Forget! Monday is dress as your favorite Storybook Character Day!
COMING UP
JBD School Planning Council
JBD School Planning Council-Tuesday, Feb. 5th at 8:00 in the conference room. The current plan for continuous improvement will be shared with an opportunity for discussion.
Please RSVP to Beth Bianchi if you plan to attend.
NEXT WEEK AT DEY
Monday, January 28: SCHOOL IS OPEN!
- Storybook Character Day!
Tuesday, January 29:
- PTA Winter Art (K-2) Meet in Cafeteria @ dismissal please 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
- SCA Officer Meeting
Wednesday, January 30:
- Book Swap
- PTA German (Gr. 3-5) Meet in CafƩ @ dismissal please 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
- Grade 1 Gifted Parent Info Night 6:30 p.m. CafƩ
Thursday, January 31:
- Book Swap
- 2nd 9 -weeks ends today
- PTA Winter Art (Gr. 3-5) Meet in CafƩ @ dismissal
- PTA German (K-2) Meet in CafƩ @ dismissal
Friday, February 1:
- Virtual Learning Day
DONATIONS WELCOMED FOR HUMPHREY!
Humphrey has loved his STEM week-to be continued next week to give classes time. He has experienced a zip line, custom bedroom furniture, slides and elevators. Such creativity at JBD!
PTA CORNER
-PTA EVENTS-
Feb 28-Career Day Spirit Day
Feb 28 at 6:00pm-Career Night/PTA meeting at JBD
March 14-Boosterthon Fun Run (During PE)
March 22-Bingo Night
April 3-Spring Movie Night (Mulan)
For More information about PTA, please go to http://www.jbdpta.com
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Registration for Spring After School Activities is now open. Go towww.jbdpta.com to sign up!
Spanish
Grades K&1 Mondays (7 Weeks) Dates: 2/11 through 4/1 $70
Grades 2&3 Wednesdays (8 Weeks) Dates: 2/13 through 4/3 $80
Grades 4&5 Tuesdays (8 Weeks) Dates: 2/12 through 4/2 $80
Tennis with VBTCC
Grades K-2 Tuesdays (6 Weeks) Dates: 3/5 through 4/9 $75
Grades 3-5 Thursdays (6 Weeks) Dates: 3/7 through 4/11 $75
CAREER DAY/NIGHT- During the school day, students are asked to dress in the uniform/attire that they would wear for their future career.
We have 25 confirmed volunteers to share about their careers, but we are looking for more. Please contact the committee to sign up as a volunteer JBDCareerNight@gmail.com
BOOSTERTHON- MYSTERY MIND SPARK is our theme this year. We are looking for some creative volunteers to help with t-shirt design and decorating the school. Please contact Melissa McCormack if you are interested in volunteering. melissainvb@gmail.com
BINGO - Will be on March 22, 2019- If your company is interested in making a silent auction donation, please contact Ashley Cizerle ashreneelynch@gmail.com or Meagan Thrift meagan.thrift@gmail.com
Thank you to the following companies who have already donated to the silent auction:
Disney World, Zen Yoga, Hot House Yoga, Ocean Breeze, Motor World, Jump, Inyodo, iDEAL Fitness, Duck Donuts, Cape Henry Collegiate, Norfolk Botanical Gardens, Smart, Mouth Brewery, The Little Gym of VB, Sign Gypsies Virginia Beach, Camp Twin Creeks, Virginia Living Museum, Seth Broudy School of Surf, Studio Bamboo Institute of Yoga, Pure Barre
LOST AND FOUND ITEMS- PLEASE CLAIM BEFORE FEB. 15!
Stop by the Cafe and claim your items
Lunch boxes and water bottles
Hats and mittens
JBD SPIRIT DAYS~COMING SOON!
CLINIC CORNER ~ 2019
Flu and strep throat season is here. Staff and students are being affected.
SYMPTOMS of the flu include; high fever, headache, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues can also be present.
The flu is SPREAD usually person to person through coughing or sneezing, but can be spread by touching surfaces that are infected.
PREVENTION:
Get vaccinated
Avoid close contact with sick people.
Please keep your child home when the flu is suspected to prevent the spread within the classroom. If your student has a fever of 100 degrees or greater keep them home. If there is any vomiting, keep them home for 24 hours. They can return to school 24 hours with no further vomiting. A child home with a fever can return to school 24 hours fever free with no fever reducing medication.
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing using the crook of your arm instead of your hands.
Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
Get plenty of rest.
When in doubt keep an ill child home. Please do not medicate with a fever reducing medicine (Tylenol/ Motrin) and send them to school. Tylenol and Motrin do not prevent the spread of the flu.
Michele Self, R.N
READING MONTH NEWS!
Reading Month News:
The joy of reading is spreading throughout the school! Humphrey has made such an impact on us. š
This week our students have enjoyed chapters 10-12. So much fun is happening with Humphrey!
Questions for Chapters-10-12
Why did Garth let Humphrey out of his cage?
How does Humphrey get back into his cage?
Why was Garth acting so strangely?
What did Humphrey do to solve the problem at A.J.ās house?
Did the Thomas family ever discover what happened to the T.V.?
What do you think about Humphrey?
What is the best part of this book so far? Why?
Next week we will:
- Celebrate on Monday with Storybook Character Dress-up Day
- Finish up our reading of The World According to Humphrey-read chapters 13-15
- Grades K & 1st will have a visiting reader on Monday from the SPCA-ask your child what animal came to visit
- 2nd Graders will have a visit from Humphrey and one of our principals to read a picture book or two
- Tides Reading Logs should be finished up this week. Please send them in to the classroom teacher no later than Monday, Feb. 4.
- The Annual Book Swap-Jan. 30 for grades 3-5 and Jan. 31 for grades K-2
NEW VBCPS INITIATIVE ~ HERE COMES THE BUS!!!
Here Comes the Bus enables the parent to: ā¢ See the location of their childās bus both before and after school. ā¢ Confirm that their childās bus has arrived at the bus stop, at school or both. ā¢ Receive a notification when the bus is near the childās stop, has been substituted, or when we have important information to relay.
Media and Communications will inform parents via a divisionwide Alert Now. STAY TUNED!
MUSIC NEWS
Grade 4 Parents ā All Fourth Grade students at John B. Dey will take a field trip to the Sandler Center to hear a special concert performed by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra on Tuesday, February 5. This concert is Free! Please sign the permission slip and return it to school as soon as possible. (We apologize, but we will not be taking parent chaperones on this trip.)
Grade 2 Parents - All Second Grade students will perform āSeussical Jr.ā on Tuesday, March 5 at 5:30 pm. Concert attire: Black pants, a solid colored shirt with no design (unless of course it is a Seuss shirt), and tennis shoes. We welcome all Seuss hats or headbands!
GIFTED CORNER
2018-2019 Gifted Testing Dates
Jan. 30, 6:30 (Wed) JB Dey cafeteria. Repeat of the first grade parent information night from the fall. Find out who should apply and what will make a strong application.
Feb. 1, 4:00. Applications* due for: academic gifted identification grade 5, 2nd grade students on HOLD, Old Donation School rising 3rd-6th grades, art, dance, and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program at Plaza Middle School.
Feb. 12 (Tues) Testing Day for students applying for Old Donation School (rising 3rd-6th), 5th grade academic gifted identification and 2nd grade HOLDS. Results will be e-mailed to you in early April.
March 1, 4:00 PM. First grade gifted applications* due.
April 2 (Tues) gifted testing for 1st graders who turned in an application. Results will be e-mailed to you by the middle of May.
*applications: The application is on line, found at: https://giftedapplication.vbcps.com/
You may only submit it once a year so select all appropriate areas before submitting.
The user ID is your childās permanent number (also used for Lunch and book check out. Your child should know this number by heart. Your child has this same number through 12th grade)
The password is your childā school computer password. This will change every 60 days. Please ask your child for this password first, and if that is unsuccessful, follow through with the classroom teacher.
+ Parent Portal is a place to review your childās permanent records through 12th grade. It requires a two-step process to access so establish your account well before you need it. Go to VBSchools.com and click Parent Portal under the PARENTS drop down.
JBD YEARBOOKS
ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK TODAY!
The John B. Dey 2018-2019 Yearbook is on sale now! Order online at ybpay.lifetouch.com with YEARBOOK CODE : 2077919.
Yearbooks are $25.00. Online orders only. Thank you!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
John B. Dey Weekly Family Newsletter
Beth Bianchi
Proud Principal
Email: Elizabeth.Bianchi@vbschools.com
Location: John B Dey Elementary School, North Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Phone: 757-648-2440
Twitter: @JbdElem