The Clayville Chronicle
December 2018 Edition
From The Desk of Mrs. Francis
Trimester 2 officially begins on Monday, December 3rd. Teachers are working hard to prepare report cards for distribution as well as for parent/teacher conferences. Please note, report cards will be sent home on Tuesday, December 11th. Reminders for scheduled parent/teacher conferences will also be distributed on December 3rd. In the meantime, please reach out with any questions.
In addition, Clayville School continues to prioritize giving back to our greater community. We had a successful food drive and look forward to another Give-A-Gift drive. Thank you for your continued support that helps to make Clayville so special.
As always, the purpose of our newsletter is not only to keep you informed and provide information that is pertinent to your child's success, but also serves to highlight our students' accomplishments inside and outside of our school. As a school community it is important that we support our students in all of their endeavors!
Happy Holidays!
Courtney Francis
Parent-Teacher Conference Tips:
Before the Conference:
- Listen. If you hear your child talking about something he or she is doing well in
or is struggling with, make a note of it. When it’s time for the conference, you’ll
have a list of topics to discuss.
- Ask. Sit down with your child and ask him or her about school. Ask what’s
happening in class, at lunchtime, or in special classes such as art or physical
education. Does your child enjoy classroom activities? Does your child feel like
he or she is falling behind academically? Is he or she bored? Are there any
troubling issues with classmates? Try asking your child what he or she thinks
their teacher is going to tell you about them.
- Assemble notes and papers. Write down questions you want to address with
the teacher. Bring copies of any assignments you have questions about. Think
ahead of time how to bring up concerns.
During the Conference
- Be on time. Schools tightly schedule parent-teacher conferences because
there’s only so much time available and dozens of families to see. Show up at
least a few minutes early.
- Take notes. Make note of what the teacher tells you about your child. Bring up
your concerns, making sure to explore strengths, weaknesses, and social skills.
- Keep emotions out of it. It is always difficult to hear that your child may not be
the person you thought he or she was in the classroom. Keep your cool and
bear in mind that the teacher is offering constructive criticism.
After the Conference
- Talk to your child. Tell your child what you and the teacher discussed.
Emphasize the positive things the teacher said. Remember that it’s important
for your child to feel positive about learning, the teacher, and the school.
- Follow up. If there were important issues that need to be dealt with, make sure
to follow up in writing with the teacher soon after the conference. Specify what
steps will be taken, what your responsibilities and the school’s responsibilities
will be, and what the timetable is for action.
- Meet with your principal. If, after conferring with your child’s teacher, you still
feel that serious issues weren’t adequately addressed, set up a time to talk to
the principal.
- Follow through. Once you know what you can do at home to help your child
succeed in school, make sure you follow the necessary steps.
Source: Report to Parents, written to serve elementary and middle-level
principals, may be reproduced by National Association of Elementary School
Principals members without permission.
Announcements & Reminders
- Students should come dressed and prepared for outside recess for as long as 30 minutes.
- Parent-teacher conference reminders will be sent home on Monday, December 3rd. Conferences are scheduled for December 11th and 13th. Please call Mrs. Reynolds (647-4115) if you have not scheduled a time.
- District Policy requires all parents and school volunteers to maintain a current BCI check and to RENEW all BCI checks yearly prior to volunteering in classrooms/school or field trip activities. Please contact the school office if you are in need of a form.
PBIS Core Value of the Month: RESPECT
PAWSitive Office Referrals
Tootles Lunch!
All Tootle Tickets and pictures of our PAWsitive Office Referral recipients are displayed in our cafeteria.
November Attendance Winners!
Congratulations to our November winners:
- Ms. Radtke's class for the 3rd month in a row! Enjoy Paws!
- Raegan C. (K-2 winner) and Grant B. (3-5 winner). Enjoy your Spirit Wear!
All students get a fresh start for December!
27th Annual Harvest Festival
Clayville School’s 26th Annual Harvest Festival was a huge success! Thank you to the entire school community for your unwavering support! I am beyond impressed by our fourth and fifth grade students and their wealth of knowledge about the Native American and Pilgrim people. A special shout out to the parents, staff, and community members who dedicated their time to ensure the villages and feast were ready for the big day!
We would also like to acknowledge our generous donors:
-Andrew and Carina Dittson
-Cleo Monti
-Cucumber Hill Farm
-Fredrickson’s Farm
-Passion for Pumpkins
-Pottersville Fire Department
-Salisbury Farm
-The General Society of Mayflower Descendants
-Town of Scituate
-Yankee Tree Service
-The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of RI
We look forward to continuing this special tradition with you all for years to come.
PBIS Reward: Lunch with the Teachers
Grade 3 Multiplication Fun
Turkey Disguises in Kindergarten
Ms. Radtke's students disguised Tom the Turkey to help him escape from the farmer! Students practiced their speaking and listening skills by presenting their projects to their classmates.
Escape the Classroom: Thanksgiving Edition!
Ms. Forgue's second grade students participated in The Escape Classroom, Thanksgiving Edition! They used their critical thinking and problem solving skills to solve clues and gather a key to escape the classroom!
PreK's Thanksgiving Unit
Engaged First Graders!
Food Drive!
* All donations will benefit the Food Closet at Trinity Episcopal Church
PTO After School Play Date!
Principal for a Day!
Clayville School in the News!
NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST’S CORNER
Report Cards: Tips for talking with your youngster about their grades
As we come to the close of the First Trimester, students will be coming home with their first report card for this academic year. Reports cards convey a snap shot of a student’s progress to date and reviewing them with your youngster is an opportunity to reinforce with them the areas that they do well in and also to discuss any areas of need for improvement. While there is a temptation to focus on the individual grades/performance here are some helpful things to keep in mind when talking with your child.
•Approach the discussion collaboratively- stress that the report card is an opportunity for you both to learn more about what they do well at school and what they might need to focus on to improve.
•Don’t overlook the feedback regarding effort, and work habits and focus only on the grade/rating. Give praise and positive feedback for effort and persistence over the final outcome.
•Understand that the information from the report card is only one piece of information regarding your child’s performance at school, and stress with them the importance of continued progress and effort throughout the year.
•Arrange to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss any concerns with the goal of working together to develop a plan to support your child.
Bill Rapp, MA-Clayville Elementary School Psychologist
Community Shout Outs!
The Northern RI Vikings Squirt Smythe Hockey Team
Scituate Youth Drama
Hope Tree Lighting
Scituate Prevention Partnership Announcement:
We are very excited to announce that registration for the RI Governor's Council on Behavioral Health's Prevention Advisory Committee's RI PREVCON 2019 is now live. Some of the workshop titles are: Building Trauma Sensitive Schools, Stand up to Stigma, Inspiring Positive Lifestyles and Combating the latest trend in tobacco.
Please follow this link to register for the conference:
http://www.cvent.com/d/mbq3st/4W
Please follow this link to check out conference details:
Please follow this link to check out conference sessions:
http://www.cvent.com/d/mbq3st/6X
The Scituate Prevention Partnership will pay the $35 registration fee for anyone interested in attending.
News From Northwest Special Education
SPECIAL EDUCATION LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Northwest Special Education Region
23A Theodore Foster Drive
No. Scituate, RI 02857
IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND CALL 647-4106
PTO Update
News from the Scituate School Committee
Dates to Remember:
- 12/3: Chorus Performs @ State House (9:30 a.m.)
- 12/4: School Committee Meeting @ North Scituate School (7 p.m.)
- 12/3-12/7: Give a Gift Drive
- 12/5: Student Council Spirit Day: Sports Day
- 12/5: PTO Restaurant Night @ Panera
- 12/6: PTO Meeting @ 6:30 p.m.
- 12/7: Highlander Lighthouse Classroom Support Day
- 12/10-12/11: PTO's Holiday Workshop
- 12/11: Report Cards Sent Home
- 12/11 & 12/13: Parent/Teacher Conferences
- 12/12: Picture Retakes
- 12/14, 12/18: Robotics Enrichment Club 3:15-4:30 p.m.
- 12/17-12/21: Student Council Winter Spirit Week!
- 12/18: Grade 5 Field Trip to Trinity Rep.
- 12/20: School House Orchestra Performance @ 9:15 a.m.
- 12/24-1/1: No School - Holiday Recess
- 1/2: School Resumes
Stay in Touch!
Email: Courtney.Francis@ScituateSchoolsRI.net
Website: http://www.scituateri3.net/Clayville/
Location: 3 George Washington Highway, Clayville, RI, USA
Phone: 401-647-4115
Twitter: @Mrs_Francis7