Seven Hills Elementary News
A Home-School Connection
March 19, 2019
5th Grade Parents...Middle School Open Houses Are Tonight!
Seven Hills Star Leaders Are Wearing Crazy Socks on Thursday for World Down Syndrome Day!
Friendship According to Humphrey...Our New School Book!
Our school is about to take part in a special, community wide shared reading event. This is our third year to read a school book, and we appreciate the generous donation from 7 Hills PTA to make this possible! Every student will receive a copy of the same book – Friendship According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney – and will be asked to read it together at home over the next few weeks. I am personally asking you to make the time so that your family can participate in this special activity.
Reading aloud at home is valuable because it better prepares your child to be an effective reader, and it is also a fun, worthwhile family activity. With this program, we aim to build a Community of Readers at our school. Everyone – students, parents, teachers, even administrative staff – will all be following along together.
Your child will receive a copy of Friendship According to Humphrey at the Leadership Expo (Open House). If you are unable to attend the Expo, a copy of the book will be given to your child at school. On Friday, the entire school will participate in a special school wide assembly introducing the program and the book. Along with the book, you will receive a reading schedule so that you can keep up at home, as well as activities to accompany the chapters. There will also be an opportunity for students to draw or write about how the characters in the story are using the 7 Habits. This book is shorter than our previous school books, and generally, you will be asked to read about 15 minutes each night.
In school, your child will be invited to answer daily trivia questions to encourage and reward attentive listening. We will also read portions of the book to engage students in the book, and get them excited to read as a family. You will soon find that your child will take pride in knowing and anticipating the details of the story. During Habit Huddle, students will explore the book through activities and discussion. You will want to make sure your family keeps up so that your child can be included. Throughout the month, everyone will be talking about Friendship According to Humphrey!
This is a novel program in that children of all grade levels will all be listening to their parents and siblings read same book. Strange or daring as that may seem, it actually makes sound educational sense. Reading professionals recommend reading material out loud that is beyond a child's own reading level. We also believe that you can and should continue reading chapter books with your older children, even when they are able to read by themselves. We have selected a title that can be followed and understood and enjoyed by younger students, but will still captivate and stimulate older children.
I know that you’ll enjoy this special reading time with your children. I hope to talk with both you and your student sometime in the days to come about the further adventures of Humphrey – everyone’s favorite hamster – and his positive influence on the students – and families – in Room 26! "When a whole school reads a book, there's a lot to talk about." With your help, we can build a Community of Readers at our school. Leaders are readers!
A New Set of Questions and Activities Will Be Sent Home This Week!
Learning Prefixes, Suffixes and Root Words Helps Students With Reading!
Did you know that 97% of the words we read come from the 30 most commonly used prefixes, suffixes and root words? It is important for readers in all grade levels to become familiar with these word parts and their meaning so that they can become better readers, writers, and thinkers!
- Root Word = the most basic word. For example, act
- Prefix = a word part that changes the meaning of the root word when added to the beginning of the word.
- Suffix = a word part that changes the meaning of the root word when added to the end of the word.
Our students need your help! While we are busy learning these word parts at school, To help families practice at home, we have created flash card sets for the 30 prefixes, 30 root words, and 30 suffixes. Each set has been copied in a different color. Cut apart the cards and add them to the ring. When you have free time, you can practice with your child.
The same sets are being given to all students in K -5 grades. It is not our expectation that students in K-2 master these words and word parts. We want students to become familiar and begin building a strong reading foundation. In grades 3-5, students should be working to master the 30 prefixes, suffixes and root words. This will help students read higher-level books, add voice to their writing, and will help on assessments in all content areas!
Have fun! You might even learn a new word too!
Adventure Dash Fundraising Is Going Strong:
Our students are LOVING the Adventure Dash lessons in specials. For a glimpse into these lessons and the fun we have been having all week, check out their website:
The PTA needs help on Friday, March 22 for water stations for the Adventure Dash fun run event. Watch your emails from teachers and Facebook for sign-ups.
We will have an adjusted specials schedule on Friday for Adventure Dash. We will share the schedule as soon as it is finalized.
Students wear navy "Adventure Starts Here" shirts, Adventure Dash wrist bands earned, and comfortable shoes for the Adventure Dash fun run on Friday, March 22!
Parents...We Need Your Feedback!
Attendace is Important:
When parents make school attendance a priority, they help their child get better grades, develop healthy life habits, avoid dangerous behavior and have a better chance of graduating from high school.
When students are absent for fewer days, their grades and reading skills often improve—even among those students who are struggling in school. Students who attend school regularly also feel more connected to their community, develop important social skills and friendships, and are significantly more likely to graduate from high school, setting them up for a strong future.
When kids are absent for an average of just two days of school per month—even when the absences are excused– it can have a negative impact. These absences can affect kids as early as Kindergarten.
For example, young elementary school students who miss an average of just two school days per month often have difficulty keeping up with their peers academically and tend to fall behind in reading. But when students are able to read on grade level by the end of third grade, which is when kids transition from learning to read to reading to learn, they are three to four times more likely to graduate high school and attend college, post-graduate, or professional development classes than their peers who struggle with reading.
Save the Date:
5th Grade Visits Middle Schools & Middle School Open House:
- Tuesday, March 19
Rock Your Socks Day:
- Thursday, March 21 - students and staff wear crazy socks in recognition of World Down Syndrome Day
PTA Adventure Dash Fun Run Event:
- Friday, March 22 during specials (Students wear navy "Adventure Begins Here" shirts)
Junior Achievement Day:
- Friday, March 29
STAAR Testing and Closed Campus from 7:20 - 3:00:
- 4th grade Writing STAAR: Tuesday, April 9
- 5th Grade Math STAAR: Tuesday, April 9
- 5th Grade Reading STAAR: Wednesday, April 10
Running Club Update:
Running club starts back up the Wednesday after Spring Break which is March 20th.
College Pennants Needed!
Coach Grounds is excited about using Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind by decorating the gymnasium with college pennants! If you have any to donate, please send them with your child. She greatly appreciates your support!
Please Check the Lost and Found!
Campus Reminders:
- The doors to the school will open at 7:20 a.m., and students may go either to the cafeteria to eat breakfast or to their classrooms to begin their day. To ensure student safety, please do not drop students off at school before the doors open at 7:20.
- Our school day begins promptly at 7:40 a.m. Students are expected to be present in their classrooms and ready to begin “Habit Huddle” when the 7:40 tardy bell rings. Any student who is not in their classroom, or arrives after the tardy bell, will be counted tardy. Please encourage your child to be proactive and arrive at school on time.
- The safety and security of students, staff, and visitors is a priority. All visitors must sign-in with the front office using the Raptor system to receive a visitor badge. Any visitor without a badge will be redirected to the front office. All new guests will need to scan their ID the first time they visit this year. We appreciate your patience and understanding with this safety measure.
- Please contact the school office if your child will be absent from school. This helps us verify our overall attendance for the day and properly account for all students. When your child returns to school after an absence, please be sure to send a note explaining the reason for the absence.
- For information on lunch menus and accounts, visit the NISD website at: https://www.nisdtx.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=232201&pageId=268259
NISD Information:
- See What’s Going on in Our Communities: As a service to our families, the district provides the Community Folder for non-school groups or organizations to post information that may be of interest or a benefit to students and families. Click here to see approved flyers.
Stay Connected!
Website: http://northwestseven.ss10.sharpschool.com/
Location: 654 FM3433, Newark, TX, United States
Phone: 817-215-0700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SevenHillsElem/
Twitter: @7HillsNISD