Wheeler Flash
February 2017
Message From the Principal
Dear Wheeler Families,
As I have mentioned in the past, research indicates the more a child reads, the better reader they will become. Please see the 7 tips below that may help you support your child in reading at home. While my daughter loves to read and the whole idea of reading, my son wasn't the biggest fan! I remember purchasing a subscription to sports illustrated junior and he did in fact read those magazines as long as tv was not an option at the time! I hope you find these helpful and please let me know if you have any questions.
- Reading Tip for Parents: What’s “Just Right”? Children feel confident and competent when they read books that are “just right.” But how do you find a “just right” book? Have your child read the back and front cover, and first page of the book. If there are more than five words that he cannot pronounce or understand in context, the book may be too challenging. Be supportive about finding a more perfect fit. Choosing the right book will help your little reader feel successful.
- Reading Tip for Parents: Map it Out It’s important to provide your child with a variety of fiction and non-fiction reading. A fun way to do this is to get a map and show them the way from your house to the grocery store or another familiar destination. Have your child write out the directions, street by street, and then read them to you as you walk or drive to the store – like a living GPS!
- Reading Tip for Parents: Card Tricks Do you think effective reading only takes place at libraries and book stores? Think again! There are reading opportunities everywhere. Go to a greeting card store with your child and read the greeting cards together. Later, vote for the ones whose words convey the best birthday wish or get-well sentiment.
- Reading Tip for Parents: Picture This! During your next outing or gathering, take action-packed photos, then have your child create captions to go with each picture. Assemble the pictures and captions in a picture book or album, and add speech and thought bubbles to create a personalized – and probably hysterical -- graphic novel.
- Reading Tip for Parents: Last Comic Standing Take time to read comic strips together. Share favorites from your own childhood and have your child put his favorites on the fridge. Read them aloud, and often -- repetition is a great way to build reading skills. Soon, he’ll love looking forward to the “Sunday funnies” each week.
- Reading Tip for Parents: Become a Fan Your child will soon develop a love for particular authors and illustrators. Nurture her fan-ship by helping her write a letter to her favorite author. Many authors have their own websites with contact information, but here’s a great place to start your search (http://www.scholastic.com/kids/stacks/authors/all.htm). You can also contact the book’s publisher, the mailing address for which can often be found on the back of the title page or on the publisher’s Web site.
- Reading Tip for Parents: Labels of Love Word recognition and vocabulary are important parts of reading. On a rainy day, get some paper and tape and start labeling everything in your home -- from furniture to small knick-knacks. Reading these labels repeatedly will build your child’s mental word bank. If your family is bilingual, create labels in both languages.
- Close captioning- A parent just recently shared this idea with me. Set your tv for close captioning! You'd may be surprised to watch your child read the words on the tv!
Thank you,
Mr. B.
Principal, Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School
Leaders of the PACK February 2017
Leaders of the PACK
Wheeler Students can earn a Leader of the PACK certificate from their teacher when they demonstrate positive behaviors having to do with Participating, Achieving, Cooperating and Knowing they can succeed!
Leaders of the PACK
Leaders of the PACK
More Leaders of the PACK!
Participating in PACK activities!
Students earn blue tickets throughout the day for demonstrating positive behaviors at Wheeler School. In turn, they have opportunities to exchange these tickets to participate in fun activities! Below are some examples.
Making Valentine's Day Wreaths!
Cupcake Decorating!
FUN Movement Break in Mrs. Calabro's Class
If you walk through Wheeler Classrooms during the day, this is not an uncommon occurrence. A fun movement break to promote wellness and activate thinking power! Enjoy the short video!
https://youtu.be/KtTV7n-74Hk
Town Wide Jazz Band Performs at the XL Center!
Town Wide Elementary Jazz Band
On Saturday, Jan. 28th, the Town-Wide Elementary Jazz Band performed at the Hartford Wolf Pack game. Over 10,700 people attended the game, and the Plainville ticket sales raised $2,000. This was the Jazz Band's first performance of the year. The Jazz Band meets as part of the After School program twice a week, under the direction of Mr. Michael Boncimino (4th Grade Band Teacher at Wheeler) and Mr. Greg Wilfrid (General Music/Choir teacher at Toffolon). The jazz band consists of 45 of our most talented band students from all three elementary schools. GREAT JOB BY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS!!!
Mrs. Mahtaney's Class exchange letters all over the country!
Mrs. Mahtaney's class
Students in Mrs. Mahtaney's class participated in a Valentine Exchange with schools in 22 states from January until February 14th. We learned about the birth place of Elvis, the Sonoran Desert, sports teams of other states, Yosemite National Park, the largest tree house ever built and that the Eastern Woodland Indians lived in Virginia. It was a blast learning about different school sizes, uniform wearing and even what different grades do. Check out pictures from some of our letters!
Students Share Their Individual Goals!
As part of highly effective teaching and learning, students develop their own individual goals along with action plans. They voluntarily share their goals with the entire school on Wednesday morning announcements. Lastly, they post their goals on our goal sharing display located across from the cafeteria!
PACK RAFFLE WINNERS!
Are any of these your child's clothes????
LOST and FOUND
Please take a look at some of these articles of clothing. If they belong to your child, please come in to pick them up. At the end of the year, we end up donating all remaining items. Thanks for taking a look! Mr. B.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
- 2/22/17 - Wheeler PTO 6 to 7 pm
- 2/22/17 - Teacher PD 1:30 Dismissal
- 2/23/17 - Walk to School Day- Weather permitting 8:35 to 8:50 AM
- 2/24/17 - Pokemon go day
- 2/27/17 - Talent Show Auditions 3:30-5:00 pm
- 2/28/17 - Talent Show Auditions 3:30-5:00 pm
- 3/01/17 - Wheeler Capital Project Meeting 6-7 pm
- 3/06/17 - 3/10/17 - Music in our Schools Week
- 3/08/17 - Teacher PD 1:30 Dismissal
- 3/08/17 - 5th Grade Dare Graduation 6-7:30 pm
- 3/09/17 - Grades K-2 Family STEM Nights 5:30-7:30 pm
- 3/10/17 - Backwards Day
- 3/16/17 - Grades 3-5 Family STEM Nights 5:30-7:30 pm
- 3/17/17- NO SCHOOL- Teacher Professional Development
- 3/22/17 - Parent Conferences (5:30-8:00) 1:30 Dismissal
- 3/24/17 - Black & White Day
- 3/29/17 - Wheeler PTO Meeting 6-7 pm
- 3/29/17 - Town Wide Band Concerts PHS Wood Gym 7-8 pm
- 3/30/17 - Wheeler Kindergarten Early Links 6:30-7:30 pm
- 3/31/17 - Emoji Day
- 4/02/17 - PTO Pancakes w/the Principal 8-11 am
- 4/05/17 - Teacher PD 1:30 dismissal
- 4/05/17 - Parent Conferences/Book Fair 5:30-8 pm 1:30 dismissal
- 4/10/17- 4/14/17- Spring Break No School
- 4/18/17 & 4/20/17 Talent Show Mid-Season Rehearsal 3:30-5:00 pm
- 4/26/17 - Teacher PD 1:30 Dismissal
- 4/26/17 - PTO Meeting Wheeler 6-7 pm
- 4/27/17 - Walk to School Day 8:35 to 8:50 AM
- 5/04/17 - Walk-A-Thon AM
- 5/04/17 -Kindergarten Early Links 6-8 pm
- 5/10/17 - Teacher PD 1:30 Dismissal
- 5/11/17 - 6th Grade Orientation at MSP 6:30-7:30 pm
- 5/12/17 - New Britain Bees Wheeler Chorus 5:30 - 8 pm
- 5/15 & 5/16/17 - Talent Show Dress Rehearsal 3:30-5:00.
- 5/18/17 - Talent Show 7-9 pm
- 5/19/17 - Jamboree 6-7 pm (Rain Date 6/2/17)
- 5/24/17 - Teacher PD 1:30 Dismissal
- 5/24/17 - Wheeler PTO 6-7 pm
- 5/24/17 - Chorus & Grade 4 Recorder Concert 7-8 pm
- 5/25/17 - Walk to School Day 8:35 to 8:50 AM
- 5/30/17 - Band Concert 7-8 pm
Link to Wheeler Website
https://sites.google.com/a/plainvilleschools.org/wheeler/
Link to Wheeler Public Calendar