Tiger Tales
Gust Elementary School Newsletter December 2019
Contact Gust
Website: https://gust.dpsk12.org
Location: 3440 West Yale Avenue, Denver, CO 80219
Phone: 720-424-6560
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gustelementaryschool/
Note From the Principal
Greetings Gust Community,
Welcome back from our Thanksgiving Break. It is difficult to believe that we are now in December! December brings our end of the 1st semester and moving into the 2nd semester after our return from Winter Break.
Please remember that students need enough sleep to be able to handle the demands of their daily learning. Students ages 5-11 need at least 10 hours of sleep each night. Please make sure that your child is getting enough sleep each evening in order to support learning.
We have our first Gust Choir performance on December 12, at 6:00pm. Come hear-our talented 2nd-5th graders who have been rehearsing and learning with a Denver Children’s Choir conductor.
January 15 and continuing to February 15, DPS is opening the School Choice enrollment process. If you’re interested in enrolling an ECE or Kindergarten student for the 2020-2021 school year, applications will be available online (http://schoolchoice.dpsk12.org) and at Gust on January 15, 2020. Fifth graders continuing on to middle school must complete a choice application for their middle school of choice. Please see the DPS Website-Choice and Enrollment for more information.
Fifth Grade Parents: To help support your decision making with School Choice, there is a Southwest Regional Expo on Thursday, January 22 at Abraham Lincoln High School, 2285 S. Federal Blvd, 6:00pm-8:00pm.
Last year, DPS introduced a new online, mobile-friendly site which families will use to submit their School Choice application. This tool is easily accessed from smartphone, tablet or computer. Because of this change to an online application process, lots of resources are available for families, including: the School Choice telephone hotline (720-423-3493); access to computer labs and technology support at their child’s school; and one-on-one support from School Choice staff; community events; and more!
There will be no school from Monday, December 23- Monday, January 6 due to Winter Break.
With that, have a safe Winter Break. Enjoy precious time with family and friends. We look forward to your Gust Scholar’s return to school on Tuesday, January 7, 2020. Remind your students of Gust’s expectation that they read (or are read to) at least 30 minutes each day…even when on Winter Break!
Our Gust assistant principal, Brent Westrop, is part of the DPS Learn to Lead Residency Program this year. As part of his program, he will be the acting principal January 6 -17 as part of his residency. During his residency, I will be out of the building in order to afford him the opportunity for an authentic experience. I will be responding to personal emails and phone calls remotely as needed but on a limited basis. I will miss being at Gust but I know all will run smoothly.
Joanne Lander, Principal
A Note from the Assistant Principals
Greetings!
Morning Supervision & Child Care - Just a reminder about our morning supervision hours. Supervision will begin at 8:30. Students are not to be at school or on school grounds prior to 8:30 in the morning unless accompanied by an adult. If you need childcare before 8:30, please contact Kids Smart Inc., our on-site childcare provider at 720.550.6728. Kids Smart provides childcare before school from 6:30-8:40 am and after school from 3:45-6:00 pm
Toys at School: Please remember as we enter the holiday season that students are not allowed to bring toys to school, as they are disruptive to the learning environment. Additionally, toys brought to school that resemble a weapon, and weapons themselves, violate DPS Board Policies and Colorado Law. We would like to minimize the likelihood of students facing consequences regarding bringing non-approved items to school.
Cell phones at School: Gust is seeing an increase of students with cell phones that are turned on at school and being used throughout the day. Please know that Gust is not responsible for electronics brought to school and that they present an extreme distraction for students. If you require your Gust Scholar to have a cell phone, please review the policy of “turned off and out of sight” to minimize learning distractions.
Hats and Hoods: An additional reminder includes the policy of not wearing hats and hoods inside. Thank you for helping our efforts in minimizing distractions in our learning environment.
Celebrate Learning Ceremonies: This month students will be celebrated for strong academic performance, attendance and for demonstrating our personal success factors at a Celebrate Learning Ceremony. Students will receive medals, and of course, cheers and applause for their efforts!
Gust Community Partnership: Gust Elementary and the Gust Community Partnership Parent Organization are hosting a food drive from December 2-December 19. Donating to the Gust Elementary Food Drive is an efficient way to help our community and partner agencies and a great way to share nutritious, nonperishable, unopened food and toiletry items you’ve purchased but don’t plan to consume or use. Here are some examples that make great donations: canned tuna, ham, beef stew, chili, baked beans, soup, fruit, vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, and pasta. Non-glass containers are preferred.
Best wishes during this holiday season,
Kathleen McLaughlin Marucheau
Brent Westrop
From the School Psychologist
United States Postal Service Operation Santa
SUBJECT: Help Santa help the kids who need him most
Ho, ho, hello!
For more than 100 years, USPS Operation Santa® has helped bring joy to thousands of kids across the country.
This year, the United States Postal Service® wants to deliver the magic of Santa to even more deserving children.
To participate, visit USPSOperationSanta.com/getinvolved/letterwriting
There you will find more information and a letter writing kit. Then, help kids write their own letters, attach a stamp, include a return address on the envelope, and mail it to this exact address:
Santa
123 Elf Road
North Pole, 88888
All letters should be postmarked by December 14, though the sooner your letter is received, the more likely it is to be fulfilled.
Let’s make this holiday the most magical yet for the kids.
Thank you,
Lisa Kucera
School Psychologist
Gust Elementary
Early Childhood Education (ECE)
After a fun month in November when we learned about trees and who lives in them, as well as recycling, December has arrived, a month of celebration and saying good-bye to 2018.
This month in ECE, we will be learning about celebrations and holiday traditions in December, decorating our classroom, and learning some new songs. Teachers will also have a special activity in the classroom to celebrate the end of December. (Each teacher will coordinate activities for their own classrooms.)
We want to take this opportunity to communicate our appreciation for your support and trust and to remind you how these first years of your child’s school experience are the most important for learning. It’s when a child learns to associate and apply everything he/she has learned in class. That is why it’s ever important to review what they have learned in school such as; recognition of letters and sounds, counting, recognizing the number and quantity of a number, writing his/her name, and also recognizing different shapes.
Important dates to remember
Friday, December 20th, Last day of class, Winter break.
Winter break starts December 21st, and we will reunite again Tuesday, January 7th. We will return with fun activities that will help our kids learn while playing.
ECE wishes you a HAPPY HOLIDAYS and a great start to 2020.
Mrs. VanAlstyne, Mrs. Way, Ms. Elizabeth, Ms. Borick, Ms. Holguin, Mr. Befus, and Mr. Ben
Kindergarten
It is incredible that we are already in December, the last month of the year!
In Reading we will focus on comparing and contrasting stories and identifying the story elements (characters, setting and events). In writing, we will be working on using correct punctuation when we write two or more complete sentences. In Math, we will be comparing quantities and numbers, and using math vocabulary like: more and less, before and after, greater than or less than.
We would like to invite all of you and your families to our Holiday Show, with our adorable kindergarteners singing holiday songs on Friday December 20th at 2:00 pm. You will receive a letter with more information.
The last day of school before the winter break will be Friday, December 20th. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 7th. The entire Kindergarten team would like to wish you Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year, 2020.
Mrs. Rana, Mrs. Dock, Ms. Belknap and Ms. Velarde
First Grade
What a great November First Grade had; we are moving right along and growing everyday!
In reading and writing we are finishing our new unit called “Creature Features” and preparing our final writing as we have become animal experts. We will move into our animal life cycle unit to further our knowledge of all things animals! Do not forget that children should read daily at home for half an hour, minimum, every day. For writing practice, you can tell your child stories and have him / her write a retell using sequence words (first, then, next, last) or write the main idea and key details of books they are reading.
For science, we will continue to our “Earth Science” exploration and for social studies we will explore various holidays around the world to learn more about different cultures and traditions.
In math we are beginning Unit 4: “Leapfrogs on the Number Line” and continue practicing word problems, both addition and subtraction.
Important dates for the month of December:
Friday, December 20th: Parent Gingerbread House Making Celebration (see communication from individual teacher for times)
December 21- January 6 : No School, Winter Break
Teachers:
Ms. Boniello Math Room 120 & 121
Mrs. Lavelle - Literacy Room 121, Student Teacher Mrs. Samantha Urso
Mr. McManus- Literacy Room 120, Long term sub Ms. Halie Gianulis
Ms. Siddens Literacy & Math Room 123, Student Teacher Ms. Kayla Ruybal
Mrs. Tejeda Literacy & Math Room 133
Second Grade
Second graders just finished our Unit 3 all about Plants and Animals in Their Habitats! Ask your students about some of the different habitats we studied in November. Our next Literacy Unit is titled Many Characters, Many Points of View. It will include fables, folktales, and texts that show how characters’ points of view are different. Students will be learning about a new style of writing which is opinion writing! They will get to write their own opinion book recommendations on some of the texts we read.
In math, students will be working with 2-digit numbers to solve more word problems! Drawings, number lines and comparison charts are some of the strategies they will be expanding their use of. In class, math games will also be helping the students to model, read and compare 3-digit numbers, as well as solving addition facts to 20.
Ms. Roybal & Ms. Brown
Ms.Valero & Mr. Williams
Ms. Gomez
Third Grade
Literacy:
This month in literacy we are continuing our module on cultures of different people and countries throughout our world. Our current unit is looking at customs and traditions in Japan. In reading, we are continuing to work on comprehension skills to think more deeply about texts. While your student continues to grow in his or her reading level, it is very important that he or she continues to read at home. Please help your child find a quiet space to read for at least 15 - 30 minutes every night. It is especially important to continue with this practice during winter break. Thank you for your support and happy December!
Math: In the coming weeks, 3rd graders will be learning estimation and measurement of mass and volume. They will solve story problems involving addition and multiplication of mass measurements given in grams and kilograms. They will also be introduced to the concept of liquid volume and challenged to solve story problems involving addition and multiplication of volume in milliliters and liters. This unit on measurement also includes measuring time to the exact minute and elapsed time word problems. Students will also be introduced to fractions.
Fourth Grade
Math
This month we will finish our unit on fractions and decimals. This includes adding and subtracting fractions, converting decimals into fractions, and comparing fractions and decimals. Students will also be reviewing multiplication and division strategies.
Literacy: Our fourth graders are learning about animal defense mechanisms as we read nonfiction texts. We are writing about how animals use their bodies and behaviors to help them survive in our essays and RACE responses. We are also starting narrative writing this month and learning about transition words, descriptive words, and dialogue.
Fifth Grade
Literacy: This month we will be beginning our new unit on the importance of sports in America. We will be reading texts about how sports became an important part of the American culture and then begin discussing the role athletes play in standing up for social change. The second part of this unit will focus on learning about Jackie Robinson as a figure of change. Thank you for your continued support at home. Please make sure your child is reading at least 30 minutes every night. Happy holidays!
Math: This month we will finish our unit on Place Value and Decimals which focused on addition and subtraction strategies with decimal numbers, reading, writing, and comparing decimals, and rounding with decimal numbers. As we finish that we will begin the first part of Unit 4 which focuses on Multiplying and Dividing Whole Numbers and Decimals. During this unit, students will learn a variety of strategies that will support them in using visuals, area models, and the standard algorithm for multiplication. To support your child please continue to make sure they are completing their homework throughout the week including their multiplication and division facts.
Science: In December 5th graders will begin the unit about Human Body Systems. During this unit, they will learn about major body systems and their organs and functions related to each system. As a continuation of this unit 5th graders will also be receiving their first lessons about Adolescent Biology, which is specific to 5th grade and their science lessons about the human body. Teachers will be sending home more information to communicate what these lessons consist of.
Art
Thank you so much for contributing to our art fundraiser! It was a roaring success and I am so proud of everyone’s hard work! All items ordered will be available to pick up starting 12/16. Please look for more information.
-Mrs. Martinez