KUTZ CHRONICLES
January/February 2014
Kutz Elementary School - Where children care to learn and children learn to care.
Welcome Back!
It's great to be having full days of school again! I can feel the students are getting back into the rhythm of learning. Don't forget, that on those snow days.... - your children can read, write stories, practice their Math Facts, do research, etc. Don't let the learning stop!
Apparently your children have been doing a lot of reading. We have reached our milestone set for the end of the year!!! The students at Kutz have read 1 million minutes!!!
Our plan is to treat all of our students to a movie, "The Iron Giant." This will occur over a two day period at the end of the school year. Thanks for your support in encouraging your children to read.
Central Bucks School District Twitter now available...
Follow Central Bucks School District @CBSDInfo for up-to-the-minute notifications of school delays, closures and emergencies.
Class Placement for Next Year
Class Placement forms went out this week. If you have feedback concerning the type of learner your child is - feel free to share that with your child's homeroom teacher using the form provided.
If you have more definitive information that I, as principal, should know - please send that in an enclosed envelope or an email, directly to me (Dr. Kahley).
Just an FYI - there will be some change with regard to teacher's grade level assignments for the 2014-15 school year.
SAFETY FIRST at KUTZ
VFW Post 175 Presents Dr. Kahley with a Plaque for Her Work with Veteran's Day
Jonathan Sprout
Grammy nominated children's recording artist Jonathan Sprout performed his newest American Heroes concert for our Kutz students. Mr. Sprout sang original songs about Albert Einstein, William Penn, Dr. Seuss and Theodore Roosevelt. The progam included visuals and stories about these heroes. He had the students and teachers singing and dancing.
Floyd Cooper
Students and staff were entertained, amused and astonished while watching presentations by artist and author Floyd Cooper. Mr. Cooper allowed the audience to observe the painting technique he is famous for developing, referred to as a subtractive process. Mr. Cooper began with a nearly dried oil paint and then used an eraser to reveal a portrait of a Native American.
See Adrienn Banhegyi Jump
Kutz Faculty and Staff pledge most to United Way
Kutz Family Book Club
Readers are Leaders
On February 20th, Kutz families gathered together to discuss the book "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio.
The book is an amazing story about Auggie, a boy who has considerable challenges in his life. The tale is told from different points of view of the students in his school. This allows the reader to see into the minds of those who are compassionate and those who are not.
Families that Read Together . . . are AWESOME!
Parents and their children met in the Kutz library to discuss the book and set their own precepts for life. One of the biggest messages throughout the book was:
It is better to be kind than to be right. What is your family's precept?
When Parents and Their Children Read the Same Book a Bond is Formed
Jr. First Lego League Team from Central Bucks
This year’s theme was Disaster Blaster and the kids learned about natural disasters. Our team chose to focus on tornadoes, and they researched and built a model depicting some of the things they learned. They presented at an EXPO this weekend in Kennett Square, PA, and were honored with the Peer Educator Award. This award was one voted on by all teams at the event (17 total), and was meant to honor the team who did the best job outlining the disaster, telling about it, and sharing what they learned!
Their team name was The Bucks County Chasers. On the team was Mason Keller (Kutz), Mikey Steitz, Nitya Nadinpalli and Lizzy Steitz (Bridge Valley) , Nate Liang (Linden).
World Language Academy
As many of you know, we began a World Language Academy at Kutz and Linden Elementary Schools this past year. The Academy is after- school instruction in the Spanish language. Teachers use an immersion process in which the students are taught completely in Spanish. The goal is for them to be bilingual in Spanish and English. We are contemplating expanding the program for next year and would like to know if there is further interest at Kutz. The program this past year ran from September thru May and entailed 3 school days – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Instruction took place immediately after school for one hour. Students dismissed at 4:45. The program cost was $1500. I imagine the program will be similar next year 2014/2015.
If you have an interest in being a part of the program next year – please click on this link to fill out a short survey:
6th Grade Parents Middle School Orientation
Dear Sixth Grade Parents:
On Tuesday, March 4, 2014, at 7:00 PM, each of our Middle Schools will be hosting an orientation for sixth grade parents. Everything that you need to know to prepare your sixth grader for middle school will be covered. Please be sure to attend the orientation at your child’s middle school.
Lenape Middle School
313 West State Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
267-893-2800
PLEASE TAKE NOTE! PSSA INFO
PSSA Reading/Math (Grades 3-6)
Monday, March 24th through Friday, March 29th
PSSA Writing (Grade 5 only)
Tuesday, April 8th, Thursday, April 10th and Friday, April 11th
PSSA Science (Grade 4 only)
Tuesday, April 29th and Wednesday April 30
For more Information go to CBSD.org - Curriculum - Assessment
Please refrain from taking your children out of school during these times.
Elementary Report Card Revision Information
Be sure to check out the POW TOON videos available through the below link to learn more about the proposed elementary report card revisions. More POW TOONS will be available soon.
The West Cluster is offering a Parent Information Night on Wednesday, April 23rd at Pine Run Elementary School at 7:00 PM.
Elementary Report Card / Overview www.cbsd.org
WINNER OF THE KUTZ GEOGRAPHY BEE!
Sean Kostic astounded the audience with his knowledge of places around the globe!
Could you answer this question?
The Yellow Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk border the eastern shore of which continent?
If you cannot answer this - then you are not smarter than 4th grader, Sean Kostic!
Answer is - ASIA
KUTZ SPELLING BEE
The following students in 4th, 5th and 6th grade were the top spellers in their class and participated in the Kutz Spelling Bee: Ben Callanan, Sam Shin, Mike Brennan, Jerry Lepping, Riley Kostic, Ruby Scupp, Sophia Evangelista, Emma Bekes, Trisha George, Charlotte Weiss, Alison Silldorff, Ani Nangunoori, Will Russell, Rehan Devarevar, Ralph Gariano, Casey Traina, Liam Oles, Bret Hatzinger, Abhi Nangunoori.
The winner was Amanda George and runner up was Jackson Swartz. Amanda will be attending the Regional Spelling Bee
Important information for Kindergarten and new 1st grade students for the 2014-2015 school year
Don't forget to register your incoming Kindergarten student or your new to Kutz 1st grader for the 2014-2015 school year. Please contact 267-893-2111 to make an appointment ASAP.
If you don't have an incoming Kindergarten child or a new 1st Grader - spread the word to register early. Early registration helps all of us plan for the next year.
Orientation for these new students is scheduled for June 5th, 9:15 - 10:15.
Snow Days and Delays
Please note that should the school district call a snow day - students are off on that day. When school is delayed - students may not be dropped off until the appropriate time e.g. -
1 hour delay 9:35 AM
2 hour delay 10:35 AM
Unless your child is signed up for the Before School Program - he/she may not come to school earlier.
A GREAT BIG THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!
Thank you so very much for your donations to the Toys for Tots Drive, and the Kutz Holiday Food Drive! Together, the Kutz community helped make a memorable holiday for many families and children.
Operation Helping Hand: Giving Kids the Food They Need to Succeed
More than 20,000 children in Bucks County are "food insecure." That means they don't know when - or if - they will get their next meal. Hungry kids often have health issues and struggle to do well in school. Luckily, you can help! Operation Helping Hand, United Way of Bucks County's annual one day food drive for schools, is March 12, 2014. When you send your child to school with a nonperishable food item on March 12, you are fighting hunger in Bucks County and helping a child like yours succeed in school and beyond.
Kindergarten - Canned Vegetables, Cereal
1st Grade - Cereal, Nonperishable Milk Products
2nd Grade - Canned Fruit, Tomato Products
3rd Grade - Peanut Butter, Jelly, Canned Meat
4th Grade - Canned Fruit, Juice, Cereal
5th Grade - Spaghetti Sauce, Canned Tomatoes
6th Grade - Tuna, Canned Meat, Stew, Rice
Calling ALL Campers!
Boomerang Award
This year, Kutz will continue to accept nominations for the Boomerang Award, which is our way of honoring students who best demonstrate their own developmental assets. What are Developmental Assets? Students possessing a combination of “40 Assets” are typically most successful in school and in life. These assets have the power to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults. For a complete listing of the 40 Developmental Assets visit: www. Search-institute.org.
February: #26 Caring. Young person cares about others. They place a high value on helping other people. He/she thinks about ways of helping others and is motivated to initiate kind and thoughtful acts.
March: #38 Self-Esteem. Young person demonstrates a confidence that promotes positive behaviors and relationships. He/she is proud to be the person that they are, and they serve as a role model to others because of their healthy self-confidence.
Portfolio Conference Information
Portfolio conferences will be held on Thursday, April 17th. As always, conferences can be held either before or after this time frame to accommodate parents. Please work with your child's teacher to schedule the conference. Enjoy the time it provides you to discuss your child's work and engage in valuable reflection and goal-setting.
Prior to the conference, portfolios containing student work will be sent home with each student. This is an opportunity for you to look at your child's work and have some discussion. We will then ask you to reflect on the work and the progress made with your child and write a brief summary. This will help you and your child to prepare before the actual conference. Portfolios will be sent home from April 7th to April 11th - and homework will be minimized to allow you this precious time.
A LOOK AHEAD
FEBRUARY
18 - 21 6th Grade Assessments
21 Dress Up Day!
MARCH
7 Crazy Hat Day!
5 Reading Olympics Team Meetings 8:00 AM in Library
10 Science Fair 6:30 - 8:30 PM
18 Bus Driver Appreciation Day
21 Kutz Spirit Day-Blue/White or Kutz Gear
24 iRUN4Life starts 3:45 - 5:00 PM
24-28 PSSA Grades 3-6 Math, Reading & Language Arts
26 Reading Olympics Team Meetings 8:00 AM in Library
APRIL
3 EARLY DISMISSAL 12:10 PM, NO PM-K, End of 3rd MP
4 Kutz Spirit Day-Blue/White or Kutz Gear
8 Reading Olympics, Mill Creek Elementary 5:30 PM
8-10 PSSA Grade 5 Writing
9 H&S Meeting, 9:15 AM
14 Report Cards Distributed
15-16 No Kindergarten, Additional Kindergarten Conferences
17 Parent Conferences, NO SCHOOL
18 Spring Recess, NO SCHOOL
23 Secretary's Day
25 Favorite Slippers Day!
29-30 PSSA Grade 4 Science
Upcoming Events are always scrolling on the Kutz Website
Paul W. Kutz Elementary School
Website: www.cbsd.org
Location: 1950 Turk Road, Doylestown, PA, United States
Phone: 267-893-3900
Twitter: @CBSDinfo