The Clayville Chronicle
December 2019 Edition
From the Desk of Mrs. Francis
Trimester 2 began on Monday, November 25th. 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 3rd. Parent/teacher conferences will be held on January 8th and 9th. In the meantime, please reach out with any questions.
In addition, Clayville School continues to prioritize giving back to our greater community. We look forward to another successful food drive and 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 school's accomplishments! I am beyond proud to share that we have earned a 5-Star Rating on the 2018-2019 RIDE Report Card! Continue reading to learn more about this commendable achievement!
Happy Holidays!
Courtney Francis
RIDE Report Card 2019: 5 STAR-RATING!
As you may remember, in 2018, Rhode Island updated its system of school accountability under the federal education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The most significant change is that Rhode Island now assigns a Star Rating to every public school. Ranging from 1 to 5 stars, the Star Rating simplifies and summarized overall school performance, providing an easy-to-understand snapshot for parents and communities. The factors used to calculate Star Ratings include student achievement and student growth measured by state testing results, and a more expansive view of school climate, culture, and achievement, including such measures as student and teacher chronic absence, and suspension rates.
I am very proud to share that Clayville School earned a 5 Star Rating, which is the highest rating! In 2018, we received a 3 Star Rating and made great gains over the course of one year. Our 5 Star Rating was most affected by academic achievement and high growth. This is a huge testament to the dedication and tireless efforts of our staff, students and families. 5 Stars is a reflection of our entire school community and should be celebrated! Let’s keep the momentum going! Our students deserve it! Click on the link below to view Clayville School's full Report Card.
Announcements & Reminders!
- *Our Librarian, Ms. Lowrey is looking for a volunteer to assist her in shelving books. The possible hours are Thursdays 11am-12pm working alongside her or Tuesday after school and Monday, Wednesday or Friday anytime during the school hours working independently. She will provide the interested volunteer with training. As with all school volunteer positions, you will be required to have a current BCI check on file prior to the start. If you should have an interest or questions please contact her directly for further detail at jennifer.lowrey@scituateschoolsri.net.
- Ms. Joslyn, our preschool teacher, kindly requests gently used clothing to use, when needed, in her classroom. All sizes accepted.
- Please keep in mind that students have outdoor recess. We encourage students to dress in layers and wear a coat to school.
- Please note, Free and Reduced Forms were sent home with students! If you are in need of another copy, please call our main office 401-647-4115. All other questions should be directed to the Superintendent's Office, 647-4100.
- 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.
PAWsitive Office Referrals!
Tootles Lunch!
All Tootle Tickets and pictures of our PAWsitive Office Referral recipients are displayed in our cafeteria.
Core Value of the Month: Responsibility
Congratulations to Parker L. and Ora C. for earning special shirts by showing our previous Core Value of the Month, respect, throughout the first few months of school. Both students were nominated by their teachers and other staff members! We look forward to recognizing two students who have gone above and beyond to show responsibility during our January assembly.
Special thanks to Mr. West for volunteering his time to visit Clayville School. This community partnership will continue throughout the year in order to reinforce our Core Values in an memorable way for students.
Attendance Matters!
As we enter the holiday season, here are a few things to consider:
- This holiday season, the best gift you can give your child is a good education. And the best place to get that education is in school. Every day. On time.
- Every year, absences spike in the weeks before and after winter break. It’s time to break that cycle.
- We know it’s tempting to extend your vacation by a few days on either side of the holiday.
- We recognize that holidays are an important time for reconnecting with families far away and exposing your children to your home and language, whether you grew up in another part of the United States or a different country. The costs of plane tickets often influence when you want to travel. But keep in mind the costs to your children’s education if they miss too much school.
- Just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school.
- So make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. But it’s harder to teach and it’s harder to learn when too many students are absent.
- If missing school is unavoidable, talk to your children’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. But remember, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that goes on in the classroom.
Give your child the gift of education and help build a habit of attendance!
~Information gathered from www.attendanceworks.org
Clayville's Attendance Campaign
Congratulations to our November winners:
- Kindergarten: Jaxon M.
- Grade 1: Jilliana P.
- Grade 2: Jaylyn M.
- Grade 3: Luka P.
- Grade 4: Alexander C.
- Grade 5: Brynn L.
All students get a fresh start for December! Keep up the great work, Wildcats!
28th Annual Harvest Festival
Clayville School’s 28th 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:
-Blanchard Farm
-Cucumber Hill Farm
-Dame Farm
-Potterville Fire Department
-Salisbury Farm
-The General Society of Mayflower Descendants
-The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of RI
-Town of Scituate DPW
Grade Level Curriculum Highlights
Hands on Learning in PreK
Kindergarten: Bridges Math Quilt
Kindergarten students worked together over the course of two days to create a wildcat quilt as part of their math unit. Each student was responsible for making two squares, a patchwork square, and a paw square. Then, they explored the shapes and many patterns to assemble the quilt using an ABAB pattern. Students were so excited to show off their hard work!
Grade 1's quilt (below) is a great example of how the core curriculum builds upon skills learned in the previous grade level.
Grade 1: Progression of Bridges Math Quilt
Grades 2 and 3: Reading Steps Celebration!
*Reading steps are part of our American Reading Company curriculum. 1 Step = 15 minutes of reading*
Grade 4: Collaborative Mathematicians
Grade 5: Writing Across the Curriculum
Grade 4 STEAM Enrichment Highlight
Kaleidoscope Theater's Presentation of B.U.L.L.Y
Spirit Day in Support of Food Drive!
* All donations benefit the Food Closet at Trinity Episcopal Church
Upcoming Events!
Give-a-Gift Drive
Student Council's Winter Spirit Week
PTO's Holiday Shop
Clayville School in the News!
News from the School Psychologist's Corner
How to Encourage Youngsters to Try: Growth Mindset Statements
Parents often use praise as a way of helping to encourage and motivate their youngsters. Typical statements used often take the form of “You are so smart at …”; “You are really good at…” Recent research has shed light on the impact of praise on youngsters’ motivation and school achievement. (Dweck, 2006,2015).
Children’s beliefs they have about their intelligence, effort and struggle affect the way they view learning. One critical factor that has a large impact on a student’s academic achievement is whether he or she has a “fixed” or “open” mind set. Comments like “You’re really good at math, you are so smart,” or “you’re just not good at math” can create the idea that the child’s achievement is due to a fixed amount of intelligence or general ability, with effort having little to do with success. Youngsters with a fixed mindset can focus on looking smart over learning and see mistakes as a sign that they lack ability. When such students encounter difficulty or setbacks, they are likely to respond by becoming discouraged, withdrawing effort, or even giving up entirely.
In contrast, comments like “You’re working really hard at math and your extra effort is working”, “you’re writing is improving a lot, the extra time you put it is really paying off” sends the message that their academic success is due to increased effort and persistence. Having a growth mindset is not just about increased effort however, and it is important to remember that the overall goal is about learning and improving. Youngsters with a growth mindset see their intelligence as something that can be developed: they have faith that increased effort will result in more effective learning and accomplishment. Parents can help their youngsters look at problems and setbacks as opportunities to develop new coping skills and strategies by helping their youngsters focus on what worked and also what other new strategies need to be adopted. When growth-mindset learners are challenged by academic tasks, they interpret these struggles as "an opportunity for growth, not a sign that they are incapable of learning" (Paunesku et al., 2015; p. 785)
Bill Rapp MA, Clayville Elementary School Psychologist
News from the Scituate School Committee
PTO Update
Dates to Remember:
12/3: Report Cards Go Home
12/3: Fall Picture Retakes/Make Ups
12/3: School Committee Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. (North Scituate School)
12/5, 12/12, 12/19: Robotics Club 3:00-4:30
12/5: PTO Meeting @ 6:30 p.m.
12/5-12/12: Give A Gift Drive
12/12: PTO Fundraiser @ Charming Treasures 4:00-8:00 p.m.
12/16: Chorus @ RI State House 9:30 a.m.
12/16-12/20: Student Council Winter Spirit Week! More information to come
12/17-12/18: PTO's Holiday Shop
12/19: School House Orchestra Performance @ 1:30 p.m.
12/20: Grade 5 Field Trip to Stadium Theater
12/23-1/1: No School - Holiday Recess
Stay in Touch!
Email: Courtney.Francis@ScituateSchoolsRI.net
Website: https://clayville.scituateschoolsri.net/
Location: 3 George Washington Highway, Clayville, RI, USA
Phone: 401-647-4115
Twitter: @Mrs_Francis7