Hawk Happenings
Mill Hill Elementary School | April 2024
Admin Announcements
with Kevin & Rebecca
SPRING into ASSESSMENTS!
This spring, students in grades 3-8 will participate in the annual state assessments in English language arts and mathematics by taking the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA). Students in Grades 5 will also be tested in science by taking the Next Generation Science Standards Assessment (NGSS). SBA assessments will begin on Monday, April 22nd and conclude by May 31st.
The Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) is a summative assessment that aligns to the Connecticut’s Common Core State Standards (CCSS). This assessment can be used to describe student achievement and growth of student learning as part of program evaluation and school, district, and state accountability systems. It consists of various parts: a computer adaptive test (in ELA and mathematics) and performance task (in mathematics).
Student reports will be sent home to parents and guardians in early fall. You can use the results to see what your child knows and what skills they can demonstrate based on the state academic standards taught in the classroom. Results from the state assessments are only one source of information about your child’s learning. Other measures such as daily teacher feedback, classroom assignments, and report cards should also be considered.
Results from the state assessments will be reported at the school and district levels. These results help to strengthen our educational programs to improve learning outcomes for your child. Together we can help students on their way to being prepared for future college and careers.
It is important for students to get a good night’s rest, eat a balanced breakfast, and put forth their best effort. While there is no set time limit with the SBA, we have broken up each assessment to reduce testing fatigue and stress.
Below, please find our school calendar of SBA dates for grades 3-5 in addition to our district NWEA assessment dates (K-3 Math; 4-5 Math, Language, Reading). Additionally, students in K-3 will complete the following district assessments by May 24th: NWEA Math, Acadience Reading, and a Phonics Assessment.
Students will spring into action and demonstrate all the amazing learning that has taken place this year and become a guide for all the learning yet to come!
See below for full testing schedule.
SEL News
Notes from Dr. Ludwiczak & Ms. Bellani
All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism
Since We’re Friends: An Autism Picture Book
A Note from Mrs. Han
March has been such a fun month of learning and celebrating reading. I hope you all enjoyed the sweet story of friendship displayed in the book Masterpiece, by Elise Broach. We are really looking forward to her visit in April! We also had our first ever bookmark contest. There was such a tremendous amount of participation from our Mill Hill Hawks. There are so many creative and artistic minds! The winners and runner ups were recognized at our closing assembly. You can find their designs displayed in the Main Office.
We have also been very busy in LLT, see the LLT Newsletter for grade specific information.
Classroom Connections
Pi Celebrations with Ms. Meehan
Ms. Meehan's 4th grade accelerated math students had so much fun celebrating Pi Day!! The students investigated with several circular objects and determined that the value of pi is the circumference/diameter.
Dante Puglisi was the winner of our Digits of Pi contest, memorizing 72 digits!
Grade 5 Pi Contest Winners
First Place: Lena Sizensky with 132 digits
Second Place: Davey McKenzie with 108 digits
Third Place: Mor Varga with 81 digits
Homeroom Winners:
5E Lena Sizensky; 5F Mae Zaino; 5G Ishan Tadapaneni; 5T Ava Kardos
Congratulations!
HERE FOR YOU
Written by: Finley McGovern of 5F
On March 24, The fifth graders at Mill Hill had an assembly with Ellie and Emma from the clothing brand, Here For You. Most people think of Here For You as just a clothing brand, but it's more than that. Here For You is a saying that two best friends Ellie and Emma started saying to each other when they were going through a hard time and struggling with their mental health. Ellie And Emma taught the fifth graders about mental health and how it's ok to not always feel 100%. They made bracelets and decorated letters with things that made them happy or helped them through a hard time.
They also read a book called the Rhino Suit. The Rhino Suit is a gentle and heartwarming book about a young girl who feels things deeply--so deeply that she decides to make herself a rhino suit for protection. What she learns, though, is that it's important to feel your feelings--the good and the bad.
The fifth graders were told that it's important to know what mental health is and how it can affect you. If you didn't know, Mental health includes our emotional, physiological, and social well being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. The fifth graders learned it’s important to talk about your feelings, think of things that make you happy, breathe, and most importantly, always be kind.
St. Patrick's Day
KT celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a visit from some pesky leprechauns. They escaped our traps, but left some goodies!
Slime Time
2C earned their (long overdue) Dance-a-thon slime party! They had so much fun making a mess and watching it glow!
A very special thank you to Mrs. Thompson for allowing us to use her space and to Lisa Alberts for the supplies!
Sorting and Counting with Stuffies!
First Grade’s Stuffy Slumber Party! This party is the kick off to our sorting and counting math unit.
Choral Festival
A few photos from the town wide Choral Festival on March 14.
4th Grade March Madness
Fourth graders participated in their annual March Madness Battle of the Books tournament!
Narrative Nonfiction Writing
2C students used vivid verbs, adjectives, onomatopoeia, and similes in their animal narrative books. They typed their books using WIXIE, created a habitat display board, and presented their materials to their families on March 28.
PTA News
Presidents Message
Hi Mill Hill,
March was a busy month at Mill Hill! Much of the month was spent celebrating the joy of reading with our One Book, One School program and the book, Masterpiece. Thank you to Mrs. Han and the One Book, One School team for offering creative and fun ways for the students to enjoy this great story.
This month also had the community swapping books, wrapping up the Above & Beyond winter session, and shopping at our spring book fair. Big thanks to our volunteers who work hard to offer these fun opportunities to our students.
On 3/25, fifth graders participated in a “Here for You” workshop with Here for You founder, Ellie Haney who shared what here for you means and helped the students think about positive ways they can be here for themselves and others.
Also this month, 5th grade families treated the staff to a yummy and greatly appreciated breakfast—thank you volunteers who helped put that together and thank you staff for all that you do!
March ended with special guest reader, Mrs DeMelo visiting Mill Hill to read the final chapter of Masterpiece. Students and staff were thrilled to re-connect with such a special Mill Hill friend.
Looking forward to more fun in April!
Remember to check the PTA website often as it is updated regularly. You must be logged in to view.
Happy Spring,
Christen Davis & Lisa Alberts
Important Upcoming Dates
April 10: NO SCHOOL - Eid Al-Fitr
April 11: Author Visit
April 15-19: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
April 22: Spring Above & Beyond classes begin
April 22: Earth Week - Zero Waste Week
April 26: School Spirit Day - Wear your school colors
Bad Dad Joke Alert!
How does a lemon answer the phone?
Yellow!