Anderson Angle
Volume VIII Issue 5
A MESSAGE FROM MR. HEWITT
Hello Anderson Families,
As I look back on January I wonder...where did it go?! Seems like we just returned from Winter Break, and February is already knocking at the door.
Teachers were busy in January getting winter testing complete and preparing report cards. They were also very busy during their Professional Development day on January 17th. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, they talked about his dream and what we can do for others. Our teachers became aware of various community service-learning projects and how to incorporate them into the classroom as a project or discussion. It was quite an uplifting day for everyone involved. Each person can make a difference!
As we look ahead, we'll continue to prepare for some big changes next school year at Anderson Elementary. Five of the second-grade classrooms from Morris will be moving into our building. As they move in, we'll be saying farewell to our fifth-grade team as they will be housed in the current Middle School. We're excited about these changes and look forward to welcoming lots of new teachers and students!
As always, the staff and I are available to discuss questions or concerns you have about your child's education. Thank you for being a partner in education!
Respectfully,
Mel Hewitt, Principal
Anderson Elementary on Social Media
Twitter: @AndersonBFCSD, #AndersonJays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andersonbfcsd
FEBRUARY Calendar
REMINDER: 2:00 Dismissal Every Monday
FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS
The USDA has approved FREE Breakfast and Lunch for ALL students through 05/27/22. Your students enrolled in the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District will not be charged for any regular school meals starting August 23, 2021.
Learn more: https://www.bfschools.org/Page/1083
We highly encourage Parent/Guardians to please fill out the Iowa Eligibility Meal Application to apply for free and reduced status at https://www.bfschools.org/Page/230 so when we return to meal charging you will still receive the appropriate meal benefits. You may also pick up an application at any school office.
Third Grade News
In third grade, we spend the whole year improving our speaking skills through Sharing Speeches. Each student has the opportunity to gain confidence by presenting on a given topic each quarter. These topics range from inventions, winter activities, fantasy vacations, family traditions, and much more! Students will design poster boards, handouts, and Google Slides including great visuals to enhance their presentation. Students are becoming more comfortable speaking in front of the class and enjoying the exploration of their creativity and imagination through presenting. We look forward to the last speech each year since students have the option to pick their top three memorable memories throughout the school year. In the past students included our world globes, Holidays Around the World unit, special speakers, dress-up days, and much more! We can’t wait to see what favorite memories our third graders will have this year!
BEST Students of the Week
BEST Students of the Week
BEST Students of the Week
4th Grade - Project Lead The Way
In science class, students in fourth grade will have the opportunity to complete two Project Lead the Way projects this year. Both of these projects are focused on energy and are tied to the new Next Generation Science Standards. Project Lead the Way follows an APB approach which means that there are activities, projects, and problems to work through in the ten hours that each project will last. Students are faced with real-world problems and will learn how the skills they develop will apply to their everyday lives.
In our first project, called the energy collisions unit, students work through a variety of tasks to ultimately create a vehicle restraint system to keep an egg safe in a car they have built as it travels down a ramp. Students will learn about potential and kinetic energy as they work through the design process to create a vehicle with a small group. By the end of the unit, students will understand that the faster the object is moving, the more energy it possesses, and that potential energy can be stored in many ways and is released as kinetic energy.
In our second project, the energy conversion unit, students will participate in a variety of activities to ultimately design and model a system to unload boxes of food at a community food pantry. Students will learn that there are six main forms of energy including light, thermal, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and nuclear. Students will understand that energy can be converted from one form to another to meet a human want or need.
The fourth-grade science teachers are very excited about the opportunity to use Project Lead the Way in class and to let students have a hands-on approach to learning science this year!
BEST Students of the Week
BEST Students of the Week
BEST Students of the Week
Fifth Grade Fragments
Most grade levels celebrate their 100th day of school in the winter each school year, but did you know that the 100th day of school is actually the 1000th day of school for the fifth graders? They have had 180 days for five school years before fifth grade. That is 900 days. Then, add the 100 days of school this year to get to 1000. That’s a lot of learning!
We celebrated this accomplishment with a day planned for fifth graders with some fun activities throughout it. This year our 1000th day of school fell on January 28th. Students made some fun 1000th day glasses during their morning meeting time to show off throughout the day. In math, there were some options to do some activities with decimals, powers of ten and the number 1000. During writing, students wrote about different prompts such as, “What would you do with $1000?” or “If you could have 1000 of anything (other than money), what would it be? Why?” To top the day off, fifth graders sported their well-designed 1000 glasses in a class photo to document this day.
We were excited to acknowledge the hard work of the students getting to their 1000th day of school and everything that they have learned up to this point.
BEST Students of the Week
BEST Students of the Week
BEST Students of the Week
Kindness Week
We’re celebrating Random Act of Kindness Week February 14-18. This is a time when the students and staff at Anderson Elementary pause to think about the needs of others. Each day has a kindness quote to reflect on, a challenge, and a little fun!
Our Kindness Project is to collect items for the Ronald McDonald House families. Boxes will be in the lunchroom to collect individual bags of chips, cookies, crackers, fruit cups, Jello cups, K-cups, granola bars, breakfast bars or fruit snacks. RMH parents take sack lunches to the hospital with them during the day when they visit their sick child. These food items will be added to their main course.
Monday’s quote: “Kindness is a vast color that only your heart knows how to paint.” RAKtivist (Random Act of Kindness activist)
Challenge: Give a compliment to someone.
Dress Up Day: Wear Valentine colors or shirt with a kindness logo
Tuesday’s quote: “You don’t need a cape to be a hero. You just need to care.” Kid President
Challenge & Dress up Day: Wear the cancer awareness color(s) of someone you want to honor or support who has or has had cancer.
Wednesday: ”You can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!” Anne Frank
Challenge: Bring an item for the Ronald McDonald House families.
Thurs.: “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” Dalai Lama
Challenge: Leave a kind note on someone’s pillow.
Dress Up Day: Dreaming of a kinder world - wear pajamas
Friday: “Kindness is free - sprinkle it everywhere!”
Challenge: Pick up litter that is sprinkled everywhere inside or outside of the school.
Let's Fight Germs Together! Submitted by Nurse Jacy
Influenza is a viral infection of your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Influenza is commonly called the flu, but it's not the same as stomach "flu" viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting. Flu symptoms may include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.
The common cold is a viral infection of the nose and throat. In contrast to the flu, a common cold can be caused by many different types of viruses. The condition is usually harmless and symptoms usually resolve within two weeks. Symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, and congestion.
Covid-19 is a disease caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Symptoms of Covid-19 may include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, and body aches.
Viral gastroenteritis, otherwise known as the “Stomach Flu”, is an intestinal infection marked by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and/or vomiting, and sometimes fever. The most common way to develop viral gastroenteritis is through contact with an infected person or by ingesting contaminated food or water.
Some of the most germy areas in the home are:
1. Cell phones and electronics
2. Kitchen appliances (knobs/handles/buttons)
3. Faucets and sinks
4. Light switches and door handles
5. TV remotes
Follow good health guidelines: Eat right, exercise, and get plenty of rest to help boost your immunity to fight the effects of colds and flu. Wash hands frequently, try not to touch your face as often, cough into a tissue or elbow, and disinfect “hot spots” at home and work. If you are not feeling well, stay home until you feel better. Children with a temperature of 100 need to stay home and can return to school when they are fever free (without fever reducing medicine) for 24 hours. Children with vomiting and diarrhea may return 24 hours after symptoms have resolved. If you want more information regarding illnesses and how to help reduce the spread of germs, reach out to your provider, they would be more than happy to help you.
PE News & Notes
Welcome back from a well-deserved winter break! I hope everyone was able to get outside and exercise and have fun with their family and friends. Hopefully we get some snow for sledding and cold enough temperatures to go ice skating and fishing.
Just before break, we completed units on cup stacking and basketball. Both units we were working hard with the skill of using both our right and left hand. In cup stacking, students learned the 3-6-3, the 6-6, and the 1-10-1. Basketball, we worked on a lot of dribbling and shooting.
Right now, we are doing a unit on soccer. We are finishing it up by playing a game called Four Ball Soccer. We don’t keep score, but the real winners are the ones whose face is red and wet with sweat! Other units coming up include the following: scooters, bowling, pillow polo, and parachute.
Again, if you want to follow me on Twitter or Instagram, just do a search of my name: Coach Zarr. I post about every week of something that is going on in my PE room.
Being Bondurant’s BEST… On the Playground
What does it mean to be Bondurant’s BEST at Anderson Elementary?
To help students be their best, we have identified seven areas within the school to help define expected behaviors for students. These areas are in the classroom, bathroom, hallway, lunchroom, playground, school bus, and at school assemblies.
The poster shows the expectations we have for students on how to behave on the playground. Students can show how they are Kind and Respectful by inviting other students to join them at play, and following game and playground rules. Students can show Excellent Effort by encouraging others during a game, and reporting to a teacher when something is wrong. Students can demonstrate how they Stay Safe by looking out for others, waiting their turn, and using recess items appropriately. Students can Take Responsibility by stopping play at the whistle, and gathering items and lining up when it is time to go inside.
Recess is the favorite time of day for most students. It is a time where students can exercise their gross motor skills and it provides an open opportunity for social interaction with friends and classmates. The unstructured part of recess, however, can be difficult for some students to navigate successfully as they come across situations that may involve conflict.
Teachers talk with students on a regular basis about Bondurant’s BEST expectations on the playground. They provide examples of what successful play looks like and discuss ways to resolve conflict and seek help from a teacher when conflict does arise. Our hope is that all students are able to have a safe, fun, and enjoyable time during recess!
Submitted by Mr. Kevin VanderLinden
Who Should You Contact?
Many of our families have utilized our electronic form to submit COVID-related questions and comments throughout the pandemic. Because of its success, we've created a new form to electronically submit GENERAL comments, questions, and concerns. This is in an effort to increase opportunities for two-way communication with district stakeholders. The link is referenced in this communication guide and can be found anytime in the footer of our website. Visit: www.bfschools.org/contactus
BackPack Program
Once again, we are excited to partner with the Food Bank of Iowa to provide nutritious weekend snacks to low-income families with elementary-aged students. If you are in need or know of a family who may benefit from this program, please call Sam Kluesner at 515-967-6361 or email her at kluesners@bfschools.org. For more information regarding The BackPack Program, please click here.
Watch D.O.G.S. Program
The Bondurant-Farrar WatchDOGs program is a parent involvement program that invites parent-figures into the school to help increase security and reduce bullying. Moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are encouraged to spend a half- or full-day at their child’s school. During that day, you’ll have the opportunity to be in your child’s classroom, eat lunch with him or her, help in other classrooms, monitor hallways, and/or assist teachers and administrators with every-day projects – all of which enhance the overall education experience of our children. To find out more, or to sign-up to be a WatchDOG, email vanderlindenk@bfschools.org
It is the policy of the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district’s Equity Coordinator; Chad Carlson, Director of Administrative Services, 300 Garfield St SW, Bondurant, IA 50035, 515-967-7819,carlsonc@bfschools.org.; or Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661-7204, (312) 730-1560, OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.