The Dolphin Newsletter
Home of the Extraordinary Dolphins: October's Edition
Principal's Corner: The Journey Continues!
Parents,
The month of October is perhaps one of my most favorite months, it is also one of my favorite seasons. I think of leaves changing, Halloween, pumpkins, and I also think of awareness. In October of this year, we will celebrate awareness of various forms, Mental Health Awareness Week, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a few more.
During this month, I am also inspired. I urge you to think of what inspires you. There are many things that provide inspiration-seeing other people accomplish great things, overcome challenges, face adversity, and even the sheer beauty of life can remind us just how lucky we are to be alive.
It inspires me that we are becoming increasingly aware of how to better care for ourselves. It is indicates an intentional effort to become better and to love ourselves.
Above all things, I am most proud to serve a school community and a staff that works daily to bring both awareness and inspiration into the walls of Randolph ES. I am inspired by your commitment and your endless efforts in looking for ways to improve the quality of education and the outcomes for students. Thank you for always being my inspiration and making me aware of the importance of the work we do everyday!
Happy October! Keep winning each and every day!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Miley, Proud Principal of Asa Philip Randolph ES
Parent-Teacher Conference Window is Open......
An effective parent-teacher partnership can make a significant difference in your child’s education, and the start of a new semester is an ideal time to refocus this partnership.
It is important to approach each parent-teacher conference as an opportunity to refine your child’s individual learning plan and to make sure the roles of teacher, student and parents are clear, specific and designed to bring out the best in your child.
A good conference can help a busy teacher focus on what your child needs. If you have not received a scheduled conference date, please reach out to your child's teacher.
We Need Volunteers: Falloween Festival 2018
Please review the flyer for more information & please remember to sign up to volunteer. All volunteers must complete the Fulton County Schools volunteer application.
Assistant Principal's Corner
District Assessments: IOWA Assessments
All third and fifth grade students will take the IOWA Assessments October 22nd through October 26th. The Iowa Assessments help determine how students are performing on nationwide standards. These assessments measure achievement in several important content areas including Reading, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Please review your child’s Thursday VIP this week for additional information pertaining to the tests. You may also contact Ms. Grubbs, Test Coordinator for additional information.
Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS)
Save the Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Randolph’s Falloween Festival
Additional information and opportunities for donations, and volunteers are forthcoming and will be placed in your child’s Thursday VIP folder and School Messenger.
Victoria Grubbs Ed.S
Assistant Principal
A Philip Randolph Elementary School
5320 Campbellton Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30331
470-254-6520
Curriculum Corner
Join us October 25, 2019 to be a part of the world’s largest shared reading experience- bringing together over 2 million people each year in classrooms, libraries, community centers, and homes across the U.S. This annual campaign was launched over a decade ago to highlight the importance of building early literacy and language skills for EVERY child, so that all children have the opportunity to enter kindergarten prepared to succeed.
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record raises public awareness about the importance of early childhood education programs, early literacy, and community involvement for all children, of every income level. By gathering to read the same book on the same day, we can all be part of setting a new world record in a way that engages our entire community – children, families, and civic leaders – in our schools.
The 2018 campaign book is Maybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell and Illustrated by Rafael Lopez, is based on a true story of the Urban Art Trail in San Diego, California. Maybe Something Beautiful reveals how art can inspire transformation-and how even the smallest artists can accomplish something big. Maybe Something Beautiful will not only inspire adults to read with children but will also spur policymakers and organizations to take action towards transformative change in early education while putting books in the hands of more children across the country.
For more information please visit the website at https://www.jstart.org/about/
Literacy Corner: From Readers to Writers
5 Ways to Help Kids Fall in Love with Books
How do you flip that light switch and get their eyes to shine at the thought of reading a book?
And if they are stuck in a rut, wallowing in lowbrow literature, how do you get them to challenge themselves? And, finally, when they are not cleaning their room or making you dinner as part of their new team-spirit chore regimen, how do you keep the roiling furnace of your advanced reader’s mind plied with new and exciting books? Here are five techniques I have developed as a parent and a teacher to help kids be better readers.
1. Let them read what they want, even Captain Underpants
Our kids are going to read books we do not like, whether it is Spot Goes to Sleep or Captain Underpants and Poopy Diaper Joke ad infinitum. I remember reading in the back of the car as a kid, when, at a stoplight, my big sister grabbed the book out of my hands. “What is this?!” she yelped, reading the back blurb. “The mistress of space is enslaved?!” She rolled down her window and tossed my book out onto the sidewalk.
While in hindsight, I can appreciate my sister’s political analysis, as well as her flair for the dramatic (my mom made her retrieve it), at the time it was not welcome feedback. I did not suddenly swear off the trash I was reading and vow to read only space adventures with strong female characters and, perhaps, utopian matriarchal societies. The fact is, I was happily reading and growing into an independent, successful reader, and that is more important than always reading the “right” books.
When in doubt, back off. Let kids read what catches their eye and ignites their imagination as they build their relationship with reading. If it is comic books, it is okay if they start with worthless ones.
After a while, you can guide them into the amazing ones, from Tintin to Asterix to the exploding field of graphic novels. Make sure to check out The Fog Mound Trilogy, crafted in a hybrid genre, half comic, half novel, a great way to help kids make the transition to pages filled with text.
If they are hooked on Captain Underpants for a few months, bide your time. Eventually, ease them up to Diary of a Wimpy Kid and then, better yet, to the hilarious Wayside School books or the challenge of reading their way through the A to Z Mysteries. If you’re lucky, they’ll latch on to a huge series, like the sweet Boxcar Children, with hundreds of titles waiting in the library.
2. Experiment with libraries
There are countless stories out there about how finding the right book suddenly opened the floodgates for a beginning reader. However, you should also consider whether you have found the right library. For my own kids, it was when my wife discovered that the next town over had a beautiful downtown library and allowed anyone to get a library card, regardless of address.
Or, it may be just about finding the right approach to your local library. Our local library got a lot better when we discovered the online component, allowing us to order books in advance and have them sent from other branches, waiting for us when we strolled in.
3. Help them find favorite authors
Because it is often difficult to find the specific book you're looking for at the library, try encouraging your kids to look for authors instead. As a general rule of thumb, I recommend kids have one favorite author per grade level and that this be an ongoing quest. If a third grader has three favorite authors, suddenly they have a lot of options when they scan those shelves. Not only will they have the three authors they are currently holding up, they have the authors they are auditioning to move to the top three slots.
A great way to research wonderful authors is to look up the Newbery and Caldecott book awards (a quick Google search away). Print or scribble a list and bring it to the shelves. Fifty-plus years of archives will surely turn up some new reads. Pay special attention to the Honor Awards (the runner-ups). Some of my all-time favorite children’s books were awarded second best, such as Abel’s Island or Charlotte’s Web.
Favorite books, incidentally, are also important, and obsessively re-reading them is a wonderful thing. I read Charlotte’s Web aloud to third graders at least ten Septembers in a row and every time it got better and wiser. Somewhere, etched deep inside me, are these amazing words: “It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.”
4. Read children’s books yourself
For years, I had been encouraging the kids in my class to read books I had heard were great, reading aloud the blurbs in back and asking who wanted them. (No one).
However, when I came to class clutching a book I had just read myself and was able to talk genuinely about why I loved it, I was nearly stampeded by kids dying to read it next. I started taking home a stack of children’s books, reading them, and bringing my favorites back to the kids.
5. Read your own books in front of them
Above all, you’ve got to build a culture of literacy in your home. Telling them, “Reading is important!” is virtually meaningless, if you never sit down in front of them and eagerly tuck into your own book. If all they see is you collapsing in front of the TV or eagerly sneaking off to your computer or phone when you are tired or waiting for something, they will learn that this is how one spends the invaluable minutes of one’s life. (Trust me, I am talking about myself as much as anyone.)
My sister, yes, the book chucker, developed a wonderful tradition with her kids when they were young. It was called “Reading Boat” and involved the whole family hopping onto the bed and reading their own books together. In the classroom, I discovered that if I spent silent reading time reading my own books, the room got considerably quieter than if I patrolled the room, shushing talkers.
So, if you want to get kids to read, here’s the big secret: Take a few minutes, sit down and read a book yourself.
~By Evans Nichols
Counseling Corner
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Parents, friends and members of the community are invited to volunteer for Randolph's Annual Career Day scheduled on Friday, November 9, 2018.
The purpose of Career Day is to expose students to a variety of career fields and professions.
If you would like to share information about your career, please complete this form by Tuesday, October 23, 2018.
As of July 1, 2012, Georgia law states that all school volunteers are now mandated reporters and are required to report any suspected child abuse or neglect. Therefore, all volunteers are required to complete the Volunteer Registration located on the school's homepage.
Please click on the link below to sign up. You will be contacted by Tuesday, October 30, 2018 with your scheduled time(s) to present.
Randolph Elementary's 2018 Career Day Sign Up Link (Career Day: Friday, November 9, 2018)
DOLPHINS OF THE MONTH
Month: September
Learner Profile: Principled
We act with integrity and honesty. We have a strong sense of fairness and justice and respect others. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
Grade/Teacher
Dolphin of the Month
PreK - Bacon
Sanaa Strozier
PreK - Gartrell
Lamir Pinckney
K - Baldwin
Jourden Hall
K - Gumbs
Cairo Fields
K - Ross
Derwin Daniels
K - Thornton
Julian Gates
1 - Cowan
Shaniya Tolbert
1 - Dawkins
Mario Thomas
1 - Evans
Soraiya James-Divine
1 - Taylor
Haven Reddick
2 - Burke
Brooklyn Thomas
2 - Brown
Princess Covington
2 - Smith
Gia Jackson
2 - Wilson
Eric Goodrum
3 - Cox
Kylie Bennett
3 - Kaufman
Tytiana Ballard
3 - Paschal
Zyon Green
3 - Tullis
Khadence Roberts
4 – Blackley
Braylen Neal
4 – K. Mitchell
Parker Pettway
4 – T. Mitchell
Joel Sabessar
5 - Carpenter
Robert Wilson
5 - Jamison
Khamari Jenkins
5 - Knight
Jessi Williams
5 - Wallace
Alana Tomlinson
The Red Ribbon Campaign® is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the Nation and a way for people and communities to take a visible stand against drugs. The National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign. NFP provides drug awareness by sponsoring the annual National Red Ribbon Campaign™. Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction cause by drugs in America. Asa Philip Randolph’s Red Ribbon Week will begin October 29th. The RRW flyer will come home next week in your child’s VIP folder.
The Red Ribbon Campaign® is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the Nation and a way for people and communities to take a visible stand against drugs. The National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign. NFP provides drug awareness by sponsoring the annual National Red Ribbon Campaign™. Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction cause by drugs in America. Asa Philip Randolph’s Red Ribbon Week will begin October 29th. The RRW flyer will come home next week in your child’s VIP folder.
Drug Prevention Tips for Every Age
“Conversations are one of the most powerful tools parents can use to connect with — and protect — their kids. But, when tackling some of life’s tougher topics, especially those about drugs and alcohol, just figuring out what to say can be a challenge. A Partnership for Drugfree Kids has provided scenarios and scripts on what to say to your child, no matter their age.” Please click on the link below to gain access to this resource:
https://drugfree.org/article/prevention-tips-for-every-age/
Enter the 2019 Red Ribbon Theme Contest Today
With adult consent, students can send the National Family Partnership (NFP) their ideas for the 2019 Red Ribbon Theme Contest today for a chance to win $500 in Red Ribbon Theme Merchandise in 2019.
•Entries must be received by December 1, 2018 at 11:59pm (EST), via email to redribbon@nfp.org or via mail to National Family Partnership, 2490 Coral Way, Floor 3, Miami, FL 33145. Please include your name, school, telephone number and email address. Winners will be announced on or before February 4th, 2019.
•All entries become property of the National Family Partnership. Note: NFP reserves the right to select the theme or design from one submission and match it with another submitted theme or design. In that case, there will be two contest winners.
•Entries should include a Red Ribbon in the design. The actual ribbon should be a double looped ribbon or bow, as opposed to a single loop. (please refer to Red Ribbon logo on www.redribbon.org/downloads)
Helpful Hints
•Red Ribbon Week is celebrated in schools across America, where banners and signs are hung from marquees and fences. Whatever the theme or design you create should fit well within that context.
•Themes should be brief and as catchy as possible. This year's theme is "Life Is Your Journey. Travel Drug Free." Last year's theme was "Your Future Is Key, So Stay Drug Free." Other recent theme slogans include "YOLO. Be Drug Free.", "Love Yourself. Be Drug Free.", "A Healthy Me Is Drug Free.", "The Best Me Is Drug Free," “It's Up To Me To Be Drug Free," "100% Me Drug Free,” “Look At Me I’m Drug Free” and “Drug Free Is The Key.”
•While the red ribbon should be prominently featured in the design, don’t be afraid to use other colors as well.
Randolph Elementary would like to thank the City of South Fulton Fire Department for taking time out of their busy schedule to conduct fire safety presentations for our students on October 9th and October 19th.
Fire Safety Checklist: Tips for Parents
1. Check Smoke Alarms
2. Create and Practice A Fire Escape Plan
3. In An Emergency, Leave Home Immediately
Fire Prevention Month
City of South Fulton Fire Department
Check Your Fire Alarms
Media & Technology Corner
Hurray the Accelerated Reading Program has started!!!
What is Accelerated Reading (AR)?
The Accelerated Reader Program is an exciting and innovative reading program that encourages students to read a variety of literature.
Accelerated Reading (AR) is when your child reads a book on his/her level and then comes to school to take a brief comprehension test on the book they've read. It helps students become better independent readers as they read books and monitor their understanding (comprehension) . Students should read their library books, classroom books, or books from home at least twice before coming to school to take an AR test. Students should also try to read with an adult if they are struggling with reading.
Got Books???
Accelerated Reading (AR) books are available in our classroom library, school library, and the public library. Many of the books you purchase are also AR books. Make sure your child is reading a book at his/her own pace at school or home. Students may also take tests on books which have been read to them. Once they have completed the book the students take a computerized test featuring 5, 10, or 20 comprehension questions. The computer will report the number of correct responses, the reading level, and the length of the book. As points are earned the students will receive small monthly tokens for earning a certain amount of points! A larger celebration will be held at the end of school. Please see me or your classroom teacher for any questions.
Happy Reading!!!
Melanie B. Ellis
Media and Educational Technology Instructor
PBIS Corner: Let's Talk Positive Interventions!
Discipline Dynamics
How we... Show Respect, Work hard, Include Kindness and Make Responsible Choices"
Bathroom Expectations
Hallway Expectations
Cafeteria Expectations
Classroom Expectations
Playground Expectations
Recess Expectations
Assembly Expectations Bus Expectations
I
10 POSITIVE BEHAVIOR REWARDS THAT AREN’T FOOD
1. Extra GoNoodle – Celebrate your class’s accomplishment over the course of the ENTIRE day. Decide on a number of extra GoNoodle breaks and sprinkle them throughout the day. It’s the perfect way to build suspense into your learning!
2. Class Read-In – (PK-5)A reward that celebrates and promotes reading is always a win-win. Have students bring in their favorite pillow, a blanket, and a favorite book to share. Camp out on the floor and enjoy lots of extra reading moments! (Read more here.)
3. Stinky Feet – (PK-2)Take off those shoes and rock learning in socks. This is a classic choice that brings out the 5-year old in any student!
4. Hat Day – Rock that favorite pilot’s day and teach the day in style!
5. Class Walk – (PK-2)Have you ever taken a silly walk? We love making sure our tennis shoes are extra-tight and putting them to work. We walk outside our school in all different kinds of styles – robots, ninjas (low to the ground), bunny (hoping), granny (tiny steps), race car (arms out straight with quick walking feet), gymnast on a tight rope. After you’ve modeled a few, put a student in charge and see what types of walking-style they can create!
6. Dance Workout – (PK-5)Turn on KidsBop on Pandora and jam. Make a whole-class dance circle and give every friend a moment to showcase their favorite move!
7. Directed Draws – Art matters and there is never enough time for it! Directed draws are the perfect reward for awesome choices. From turkeys to snowmen to Dr.Seuss, we are all about showcasing our listening and art skills!
8. Guest Readers – From a favorite custodian to a friendly secretary, we love inviting special guests into our classroom.
9. Bubble Party – A set of 24 mini wedding bubbles can be purchased from Hobby Lobby for $3.99 (If you don’t have a Hobby Lobby you can snag them on Amazon using my affiliate link). They are the perfect size, ridiculously fun, and a great excuse to visit outside for an extra 10-15 minutes!
10. Science Experiments – Science just for the sake of science is THE best. From Making Music to the Great Candy Cane Experiment, the magic and joy of science is unstoppable. Plus, experiments are always the perfect chance to revisit how-to/procedural writing.
Corner of Exploration: IB Primary Years Programme
Student initiated action makes up a large and important part of the PYP program. It is defined as an action that the student takes themselves without prompting from an adult. Action happens all the time and more often than not, is very simple and straightforward. It is easy to get caught up in thinking that action from the students will take the form of a fundraising event or a charity cause, but action is so much more. It is also and importantly, a change of mindset, a shift in thinking, a new way of seeing things, and can often happen without being seen by others. Action often comes from in depth inquiry that is meaningful and becomes personal.
Parents, please be on the lookout at home for examples of action in your children, related perhaps to a classroom lesson, a book they have read, or something that they have seen, heard or done during the last couple of months. We love to hear about how your child has internalized their learning, and made connections between different areas of their lives and this in turn helps us to achieve our school vision to be lifelong learners who explore the world!
We look forward to hearing stories from you about how your child has chosen, acted and reflected back on the choices they have made!
School Liaison's Corner: Parent Resources
UPCOMING IOWA ASSESSMENTS TESTING WINDOW
Fulton County Schools will administer the Iowa Assessment to third (3rd) and fifth (5th) graders between October 22, 2018 - November 2, 2018. This assessment data, in combination with district assessment data and numerous, valuable data points collected throughout the year help to track student growth and achievement. It is the combination of all data points that help identify the areas students are excelling and the areas where additional help is needed in order to meet achievement goals. The Iowa Assessments make this possible by providing detailed information about your child in a variety of important content areas including Reading, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. The Iowa Assessments also measure student growth and progress from year to year, and helps identify a student’s strengths and areas that may need additional emphasis. The assessments also provide a focus for teachers to evaluate their instruction, so they can better prepare your child for the next step on their educational path. To learn more about the Iowa Assessment, view the short video from Testingmom.com that provides an overview of the Iowa assessments.
Iowa Test and ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) Overview - TestingMom.com
youtu.be
Details about the Iowa Tests (Iowa Assessments and ITBS Test) to help your child ace the test on their testing day. Overview: https://www.testingmom.com/test...
Video credit: Testingmom.com
Have You Paid a Visit to Randolph’s Parent Resource Center?
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dr. Catherine Foster Rowell, Title 1 School Liaison @ 470-254-9945.
The Clinician's Corner
Keep a Sick Child at Home if You See the Following:
- Fever - This is one symptom that automatically rules out school, no questions. (Anywhere from 100 to 101 degrees or higher is the usual guideline used by most schools.) Your sick child should be fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours before you send him back to school.
- Diarrhea - This could be a sign of a viral infection, so it’s best to keep your child at home. It’s also important to keep rehydrating him with an oral rehydrating solution when he has diarrhea, and the best way to do that is by keeping him at home.
- Vomiting - Aside from the fact that your child won’t be comfortable, he could vomit again. Keep him home until he has gone 24 hours without throwing up although some parents and doctors say it’s fine to send a child to school if he hasn’t vomited since the night before.
- Cough - This depends on how severe the cough is. Coughs can spread the infection to other students. A serious cough can also keep a child from getting a good night’s rest, which means he’ll be too tired for school in the morning. As a general rule, if your child has a serious cough, particularly if it’s accompanied by breathing troubles, call your doctor and keep him home. But if it’s just a mild cough and he has no other symptoms, he can probably go to school.
- Rashes - Skin rashes could be a sign of a contagious infection, such as impetigo. You should have a rash evaluated by a doctor before sending your child to school.
- Pinkeye - (conjunctivitis) - This infection can quickly and easily spread from one child to another, as many parents of grade-school age children already know all too well. Keep your child home until the doctor says he is no longer contagious.
We are always accepting donations for the following clothing items: new under wear for boys and girls all sizes, socks, and belts too.
Very Important Information & Reminders
School Uniforms:
The School Governance Council has approved the School Uniform Policy. Our students wear school uniforms Monday-Thursday. Friday remains our spirit day/free dress. We are pleased to align our expectations with our feeder Middle School: Sandtown Middle School, as both councils have voted to support the School Uniform Policy.
The original uniform policy was initiated in 1994. The uniform policy creates an environment of uniformity and discipline, and encourage the students of A. Philip Randolph to feel pride in their school and focus solely on academics in an unformed environment.
Our School Uniforms will consist of:
• Top: Yellow, White, or Blue • Bottom: Khaki or Blue
Preferred Vendors
- Prestige Apparel
- Get School Uniforms for Less
- 3D Printing and Accessories, LLC
- Triple J Photography and Printing Services
- Kreated Positively by Kim
- UUA Printing