CHEETAH NEWS
VOLUME 9: ISSUE 8 (2023-24)
Tips to Help Your ESE/ESOL Student Be Successful This School Year
1. Meet your child's teacher. As soon as the school year starts, try to find a way to meet your child's teacher. Let the teacher know you want to help your child learn. Make it clear that you want the teacher to contact you if any problems develop with your child. Talk with your child's teacher offers some great tips for developing a partnership with your child's teacher.
If you feel uncomfortable speaking English, don't let a language barrier stop you. What you have to say is more important than the language you say it in! Ask the school to find someone who can interpret for you. There may be a teacher or parent liaison who can help. Or you can bring a bilingual friend or relative with you.
2. Get to know who's who at your child's school. There are many people at your child's school who are there to help your child learn, grow socially and emotionally, and navigate the school environment. Who's Who at Your Child's School describes the responsibilities of teachers, administrators, and district staff. Each school is different but this article will offer a general introduction to personnel of your child's school.
3. Attend parent-teacher conferences and keep in touch with your child's teacher. Schools usually have one or two parent-teacher conferences each year. You can bring a friend to interpret for you or ask the school to provide an interpreter. You can also ask to meet with your child's teacher any time during the year. If you have a concern and can't meet face-to-face, send the teacher a short note or set up a time to talk on the phone. For more ideas about how to prepare for parent-teacher conferences, see Tips for Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences at Your Child's School.
4. Help your child prepare for tests. Tests play an important role in determining a students grade. Your child may also take one or more standardized tests during the school year, and your child's teacher may spend class time on test preparation throughout the year. As a parent, there are a number of ways that you can support your child before and after taking a standardized test, as well as a number of ways you can support your child's learning habits on a daily basis that will help her be more prepared when it's time to be tested. Learn more standardized tests and general test-taking in How to Help Your Child Prepare for Standardized Tests.
3 Things We Want You to Know About Drop Off and Pick Up Here at TSMS
1. Know the Rules- Drivers are asked to wait at an active school crosswalk until it is clear of children and the crossing guard gives the hand signal for the driver to proceed. It is crucial drivers are aware of this and wait to see that the crossing guards and students are clear out of the way before proceeding.
2.Be Alert - There are a lot of moving parts, traffic is spiking, parents are locating kids, lines of cars, and students are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their parents. We ask that everyone help by being alert and limiting distractions during this time. This will help us create a safer school zone for our parents, students, and faculty.
3. How can I help? –
As a pedestrian: The best way to help is to follow the safety rules by using designated walking areas. It is important to us here at TSMS that our students use safe practices when transitioning on campus. Please avoid crossing in the middle of the street or crossing between parked cars.
As a driver: Be on high alert and exercise patience. When driving in a school zone, help contribute to a safe school zone by focusing on driving and refraining from distracted driving. Be extra cautious, especially near crosswalks.
Drop-off and pick-up in a school zone is unlike any other setting, and following safety rules is the key to success. Next time you drop your child off, keep these three tips in mind to make school zones safer for everyone.
Many parents don’t realize how quickly unexcused tardies and absences can add up to academic trouble in the classroom. An unexcused tardy or absence is any time your child is out of school for reasons not recognized by law outlined in school policy. If children don’t show up on time for school regularly, or they are missing too many days in the month (having 2-3 unexcused tardies/absences is considered excessive), they miss out on fundamental reading, math and social skills along with the chance to build a habit of good attendance that will carry them into high school, college and their future careers.
Parents, it is your responsibility to notify the school regarding your child’s absence in a timely fashion. In order for a child to be considered for receiving an excused tardy/absence from school, it would need to be one of the following reasons with follow up documentation provided to the school:
- Personal illness and/or medical care of student
- Death in the immediate family
- Court appearance/Legal reasons for the student
- Religious Holidays/Observances
For absences, please use the following link to indicate time away from school and to submit documentation for the absences. https://schoolofmathandscience.org/index.php/school-life/absence-form
Additional Considerations for Excused Absences not listed above:
- Other special circumstance(s) or insurmountable weather condition(s) approved by an Administrator
Chronic or Excessive Unexcused Tardies/Absences could result in a Parent/Administrator conference with you and your child and if the tardies/absences do not improve, your child could be placed on an attendance contract. Let’s all work together to have a great 2023-2024 school year for each and every single student!
Ms. Juman
Great progress this week.
This week in class we continue to make progress in reading.
In math we work on various ways to make 10 using counters. We practiced adding and subtracting number, break apart word problems to write number sentences.
In science we finished up our unit on Matter. We celebrated by having ice cones. We talked about liquid ice cream mixture , when it is put into the freezer it becomes a solid , then when taken out of the freezer in the warm air it turns to liquid again.
Kids had to eat their cones quickly because the temperature changed the ice cream from solid to liquid. Matter is all around because it takes up space.
Ms. Sellers
Too much fun on Valentine's Day!!
We are learning about respect this week and most of the kids are great with manners and being kind. Everyone helped each other when passing out valentines to their classmates. They were kind and shared with others who didn’t help boxes and they gave freely with the food, drinks, candy and toys that our parents sent to our party. Thank you all for the gifts you gave me. Love these guys!!
Ms. Foley
Ms. Foley's class has been learning about Black History and decorated their door with Barack Obama for the Black History Month door decoration contest.
Ms. Portero
We are learning all about force, gravity, push and pull and friction. What better way to show the students examples of each by using them as models! The first picture is of friction and the students loved getting "hot" hands. Gravity will bring that tennis ball down! The students used their desks to show "push" and "pull. " It was a very physical but fun day!
Ms. Bautista
We're diving into fractions this week!
Diving into fractions with the enthusiasm of young minds—where numbers become an adventure, and understanding is the treasure!
They loved exploring fractions through fraction strips and fraction houses. 😊
Ms. Bohol
The 3rd class of Ms. Bohol showed creativity in making the Fraction Model. Aside from identifying each part of a whole, they enjoyed decorating their output and look! Turns out to be great and fantastic
Mr. Lemons
Math - We continue to work with fractions in 211. The next week or so will be manipulations of values (Same Value - $1.00 can look different depending on what coins you have). We will then be shifting gears and moving into Geometry (then returning to multiplication and division of fractions).
Science - We are exploring energy! I do enjoy just about all of this, and this part of the curriculum takes us through electricity specifically.
Ms. Khabibullaeva
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome to the captivating world of mathematics this semester! It brings me great pleasure to share some thrilling highlights from our classroom journey. Following the recent completion of the IReady Diagnostic PM2 test, we took a moment to celebrate the commendable improvements and progress achieved by some of our students. Their dedication and hard work are truly commendable, and it's heartening to see their enthusiasm reflected in their achievements. The students particularly enjoyed receiving their new bracelets as tokens of their accomplishments, serving as reminders of their ongoing growth and success.
Looking ahead, our next target is to excel in the upcoming FAST Math PM3 assessment. With our collective efforts and commitment to excellence, I'm confident we'll continue to reach new heights in our mathematical endeavors.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Khabibullaeva
Middle School Math Teacher
Mr. Bozjanov
We're thrilled to share the exciting strides our algebra classes are making as they delve into the fascinating world of fundamental algebra! Our dedicated students are not just solving algebraic expressions; they're mastering concepts like Linear Equations, Functions, and Linear Inequalities, setting the stage for an enriched mathematical journey.
This month marks a pivotal step forward as our students gear up to explore the realm of exponential functions. With a focus on deepening their understanding and application of algebraic principles, they are poised to tackle the complexities of exponential functions with enthusiasm and determination.
Our intensive classes have been leveraging cutting-edge educational tools such as I-Ready, Reflex, and IXL to bolster their math knowledge. These platforms have proven instrumental in providing personalized learning experiences, allowing our students to progress at their own pace while honing their skills in a supportive environment.
The diagnostic results from I-Ready have proven to be invaluable, guiding our intensive classes towards targeted interventions that address any existing gaps in their mathematical foundations. This tailored approach ensures that each student receives the support they need, fostering a robust understanding of algebraic concepts.
We're immensely proud of the commitment and hard work our students exhibit daily. Their engagement in the learning process, coupled with the guidance of our dedicated educators, is propelling them towards a heightened proficiency in algebra.
As we continue this journey of academic excellence, we invite parents, guardians, and the entire TSMS community to join us in celebrating the achievements of our algebra classes. Together, let's champion a culture of learning and growth!
Mr. Akpinar
TSMS Shines at Regional Science Fair 2024 at FSU
The Tallahassee School for Math and Science (TSMS) proudly participated in the Regional Science Fair 2024 held at Florida State University on February 9th. Two exceptional projects represented TSMS at the event, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of our students.
The students' hard work and innovative ideas were evident in their projects, which stood out among the many impressive entries. Their dedication to scientific inquiry and exploration was truly inspiring.
Not only did our students present their projects with confidence and professionalism, but they also engaged with judges and visitors, demonstrating a deep understanding of their research topics. Their enthusiasm for science was contagious, and they left a lasting impression on all who visited their displays.
Participating in the Regional Science Fair was a valuable experience for our students, allowing them to apply their classroom learning to real-world situations. It also provided them with an opportunity to showcase their skills and knowledge to a wider audience, helping to build their confidence and communication abilities.
We are incredibly proud of our students' achievements at the Regional Science Fair 2024. Their hard work, dedication, and passion for science have brought great honor to TSMS. We look forward to continuing to support and nurture the scientific talents of our students as they pursue their academic and professional goals.
Art with Ms. Baldwin
This month is black history month and we have been learning about Jean-Michel Basquiat, Alma Thomas, Amy Sherald and many more. Our students have been learning and creating based off these artists within the black community.
Computers with Mr. Muradov
Students in the computer class at TSMS are embarking on a fascinating journey into the world of 3D digital design. Their adventure began with creating accounts on the TinkerCad platform, where they honed their basic skills in moving, resizing, copying, and duplicating digital objects.
Phase two delved deeper, challenging students to master the art of combining, grouping, and ungrouping objects - a crucial step in constructing more complex designs. Now, their creativity shines as they bring to life a diverse range of objects, from boats and log cabins to houses, chess pawns, gears, rings, and beyond.
To further ignite their passion, TSMS proudly boasts a dedicated 3D printer, transforming digital creations into tangible objects. Over 5 projects have already been printed and presented to the students, filling them with a sense of accomplishment and pride in their design prowess.
World History with Ms. Akyurek
In our world history class, we delved into Mesopotamian empires, with students representing various civilizations like the Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and Sumerian. Each group researched and presented their empire's key aspects. Additionally, we fed our school's little friend lambs, adding a touch of compassion to our learning environment. Through these activities, we gained insights into both ancient civilizations and the importance of caring for living creatures.