November, 2017 Newsletter
Dear KG Parents,
It hardly seems possible to already have over two months of school completed at this time. The month of November brings on colder temperatures, the end of daylight savings time, and parent-teacher conferences. Due to the success experienced with our sign-up process at the junior high last year using PTC Wizard, all parents will need to schedule a specific time with their child(ren)’s teachers this year for conferences. Conferences will last ten minutes per session which will allow parents to see multiple teachers during either day. Parents will create a login to schedule times using the PTC Wizard online system. You will be able to view each teacher’s availability, including the exploratory and PE teachers, and select the times to create your own schedule to visit your child’s teachers. A handout with instructions will be sent home, is included in this newsletter, and will be available on our website. If you do not have internet access, please contact your child’s teachers directly to schedule your time. The link to access the PTC Wizard is below:
Guide for Parents:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iVk_TFjl42IhnfBOQ3L4bBXcYoT_A-ci201HAfqwMFo/edit?usp=sharing
PTC Wizard:
https://kelvingrove.ptcwizard.com/parent/
Once you have created your schedule, the program will sync with your calendar and save the appointments into your mobile device. We look forward to having another strong turnout for conferences on Monday, November 20th, 12:30 pm - 8:00 pm, and Tuesday, November 21st, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm. Students will receive their first trimester report cards on Friday, November 17th for you to review before meeting with the teachers.
At KG, we are working with students to develop a “Growth Mindset”. We believe that all students can improve and grow, and it is our job as educators to ensure they do. Students are developing individual growth goals for the content areas of reading and math. For those that meet their goals, we will be having an assembly to celebrate their accomplishments on Friday, February 2. This will replace our traditional honor roll assemblies during the year. There will be no change to our Awards Night and special awards at the 8th grade commencement ceremony. Our hope is that each student will meet the growth targets they set for themselves. They will be setting targets again for the end of the year in January in preparation for the final celebration on the last day of school.
With the change in daylight savings time approaching, I am always reminded of the change in the seasons as well. The fall weather is always unpredictable but cool mornings and evenings are guaranteed. Please make sure your child has sufficient clothing in the morning as they come to school and if they walk home after a club or activity. Dressing in layers is the best way to combat the changes in temperature during this season. Stay warm and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Sincerely,
John R. Jennings II
Principal
Follow me @KG_Hornets
Health
During this time of year we tend to see a higher incidence of strep throat, respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly from person to person through droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk. Flu viruses also may spread when people touch something with flu virus on it and then touch their mouth, eyes, or nose. Many other viruses spread these ways too. To maintain a healthy school environment we encourage D91 families to practice Everyday Preventative measures such as:
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you or your child gets sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you (or your child) stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.
In addition to everyday preventative measures, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for children to get a seasonal influenza vaccine each year. Flu vaccination is recommended for all children aged 6 months and older. The week of December 6-12 is National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), which is a national observance that was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination. Making healthy choices can help prevent the flu and spreading flu to others.
As always, please remember any medication needs a medication authorization form (which is available in the office and online) on file in the nurse’s office and the medication must be in it’s original container. Please contact me with any changes in your student’s medications or the development of any health concerns during the school year. It is important that your student’s health record is kept current.
Finally, with the cold winter weather, PLEASE send students to school with appropriate outerwear including coats, hats, and gloves/mittens. Have a safe and healthy winter.
Guidance
We are enjoying a good start to this school year in Guidance classes. We have discussed what integrity means, why it is important, and ways we can show integrity. We have also been practicing self-control. The teachers and I are working together to help students practice using self-control in various situations at school. An essential part of practicing and maintaining self control is becoming aware of our emotions and knowing how to remain calm even in difficult situations. We are beginning to talk about managing our feelings and recognizing when our emotions are becoming stronger. We will also discuss strategies that we can use to maintain emotional control. Please initiate conversations about self-control and managing emotions at home as well to help our children develop and strengthen these important skills.
October is also “Bullying Prevention Month,” and we have been addressing the topic of bullying (what it is and what to do) through discussion and activities as well as encouraging positive interactions. Junior high students from Ms. Dickson’s accelerated ELA class prepared presentations and activities about bullying and kindness/respect for all grade levels, and shared their presentations with the students. These presentations and positive messages were very well received by fourth and fifth grade students.
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the guidance program, please contact me. I would love to hear from you! I would also encourage you to visit my webpage to find out more about the Guidance program and other helpful information.
Kathi Henderson
Kelvin Grove Student Counselor/Social Worker
Email: khenderson@d91.net
Phone: 815-838-0737 Ext 1132
Website: www.henderson91.weebly.com
4th Grade
The month of November will be a month to look forward to. Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 20 and 21.
On an academic note, classes are well into reading our first novel study, On My Honor. In Language we have learned about complete and simple predicates, compound subjects and predicates, and simple and compound sentences. In Social Science, we will soon begin learning in greater detail about our nation’s government and economy. Our students have been working hard in Science, where we have been learning about plants, animals, and ecosystems. Our Math series is focusing on multiplication and division. Be sure to study those facts.
Remember, homework is an extension of the school day and is meant to help your child practice skills learned at school. It is very important to establish a good homework routine. Please check your child’s Home folder and agenda each night, as well as checking each homework assignment to make sure it is done correctly. Also, please work with your child in making sure those assignments are returned when they are due.
On behalf of the fourth grade teachers, Happy Thanksgiving!
P.E.
This November, we will be finishing our flag football unit and headed into our basketball unit. We will be learning and practicing the skills of passing, dribbling, shooting, and finish with a basketball game tournament.
5th Grade
We finished our first novel Hatchet. Students seemed to really enjoy this book. We had wonderful classroom discussions. In math students have been working on decimals. Place value of decimals and adding and subtracting decimals. Please continue to practice basic multiplication facts with your child. In language students have learned about simple and compound subjects and predicates, clauses, simple, compound and complex sentences and common and proper nouns. In social studies students created a diorama of a tribe depicting the life of early Indians. Our next unit of study will be early explorers. In science students have been learning about ecosystems.
Fifth grade will be going to AMC movies in New Lenox on November 17 to see the movie Wonder. We have been reading Wonder as a read aloud in class. Permission slips were sent home several weeks ago, and the money along with the permission slip are due on November 6.
Please continue to check agendas daily to ensure all homework and signed papers are coming back. All graded work goes home every Thursday. Also, be sure you are signing your child’s grade sheets, which come home weekly as well.
P.E.
6th Grade Science
6th grade Social Studies
Students have become experts on ancient Mesopotamian culture. They will complete this unit by learning about the contributions of the Mesopotamians such as the plow and the wheel. Then on to mummies and pyramids and sphinx! Ancient Egypt is our upcoming unit.
6th Grade Math
In mathematics, students are have started our second unit on number operations. We learned how to multiply and divide fractions and mixed numbers, and how to apply these operations to real world situations. November continues operations with decimals. Students will learn how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals WITHOUT a calculator. We will be exploring various ways to find the solution mentally. Our goal for all students in sixth grade is to develop a stronger number sense.
Assignments will be given out of the text on working and lesson days with the final day of using the Personal Math Trainer to complete an online checkpoint. Text assignments should be completed on a daily basis, failure to do so means that the student is unprepared for class. Students have math homework on a daily basis and should be bringing their Go Math books home to complete them.
Did you know that all students have the opportunity to retake an assessment to attempt for greater points? We encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity when scoring anything under 100% on an assessment. All a student needs to do is sign up for a designated retake time and day, study the concepts more from home using our excellent Go Math resources, and be ready to do their best the second time around. Ask your child to login to their account and show you how to access the additional practice features.
How can I help my child with math at home?
Encourage your child to solve everyday problems involving numbers.
Talk about the importance of math and how it is used in daily life.
Review your child’s homework and ask them to explain how they arrived at their solutions to problems.
View the Math on The Spot videos with your child for concepts or skills he or she may be having difficulty with.
Talk with your child’s teacher about any questions you have about the math your child is learning.
6th Grade ELA
Vocabulary study continues for the sixth graders. They are using the Chromebooks to access and complete the activities for the Vocabulary Workshop program. Assignments are completed regularly with this program. If your child is absent, or doesn’t finish an assignment in class, he or she can access the program at home. Having a set of headphones/earbuds at school is highly suggested in order for your child to fully utilize all components of the program. Please have your child show you the various activities that are available with this program. Many of these activities can help your child prepare for the unit tests.
Our grammar lessons will concentrate on understanding the various types and correct uses of pronouns. Finally, our reading selections will be nonfiction pieces from our Literature texts.
Lastly, parent-teacher conferences will be held on November 20, 2017, and
November 21, 2017. Please use the online registration system to schedule conferences with your child’s teachers.
P.E.
7th Grade Life Science
7th Grade Social Studies
7th Grade Math
Students have finished up their first unit of numbers. We have learned how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational numbers and apply rational numbers to real world scenarios. November begins our second unit of ratios and proportional relationships. Students will be learning how to graph proportional relationships on the coordinate plane and apply proportions and percents to consumer math scenarios. Next time you are at the store or out to eat, ask your child to figure out the tip or discount on your purchase. They know how to do it!
Assignments will be given out of the text on working and lesson days with the final day of using the Personal Math Trainer to complete an online checkpoint. Text assignments should be completed on a daily basis, failure to do so means that the student is unprepared for class. Students have math homework on a daily basis and should be bringing their Go Math books home to complete them.
Did you know that all students have the opportunity to retake an assessment to attempt for greater points? We encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity when scoring anything under 100% on an assessment. All a student needs to do is sign up for a designated retake time and day, study the concepts more from home using our excellent Go Math resources, and be ready to do their best the second time around. Ask your child to login to their account and show you how to access the additional practice features.
How can I help my child with math at home?
Encourage your child to solve everyday problems involving numbers.
Talk about the importance of math and how it is used in daily life.
Review your child’s homework and ask them to explain how they arrived at their solutions to problems.
View the Math on The Spot videos with your child for concepts or skills he or she may be having difficulty with.
Talk with your child’s teacher about any questions you have about the math your child is learning.
7th Grade ELA
“Bah! Humbug!” is what Scrooge retorted grumpily to his nephew Fred when Scrooge was asked about his Christmas spirit. You won’t hear any seventh grade students repeating this phrase in the Kelvin Grove halls. Or will you?
Students will be reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in a drama format. We will be focusing on plot, sequencing, tone, and expression. Interpreting and visualizing stage directions will be covered as well. To deepen our study of A Christmas Carol, we will be going to the Drury Lane Theater in Oakbrook on Friday, December 8, 2017, to see a live rendition of the play. After seeing the play, we will compare and contrast the written drama with the theatrical production as we focus on the symbolism present within the text and how it was portrayed in the play.
Seventh grade students will also begin a unit on argumentative writing. This type of writing will be introduced through many different text examples and sample book reviews. Your child will then write his/her own book review to demonstrate understanding.
Finally, Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, November 20, 2017, from 12:30-4:00 and 5:30-8:00 and on Tuesday, November 21, 2017, from 8:30-11:30 and 12:30-3:00.
Please use the online system to schedule conferences with your child’s teachers.
P.E.
8th Grade Science
We are exploring Astronomy through our current unit.
Through our studies of the solar system we have answered the questions:
What is the Universe? What goes on in Stars? What are the predictable patterns caused by Earth's movement in the solar system?
Coming up next, we will be exploring each of the planets in our solar system by doing a group research presentation.
8th Grade Social Studies
8th Grade Math
Students have finished October with beginning our second unit of study: Proportional and Nonproportional Relations and Functions. Students have learned how to make a table of values, write an equation, and graph a proportional relationship. In November we will be moving on to graphing nonproportional relationships with an emphasis on writing the equation for these relationships as well.
Assignments will be given out of the text on working and lesson days with the final day of using the Personal Math Trainer to complete an online checkpoint. Text assignments should be completed on a daily basis, failure to do so means that the student is unprepared for class. Students have math homework on a daily basis and should be bringing their Go Math books home to complete them.
Did you know that all students have the opportunity to retake an assessment to attempt for greater points? We encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity when scoring anything under 100% on an assessment. All a student needs to do is sign up for a designated retake time and day, study the concepts more from home using our excellent Go Math resources, and be ready to do their best the second time around. Ask your child to login to their account and show you how to access the additional practice features.
How can I help my child with math at home?
Encourage your child to solve everyday problems involving numbers.
Talk about the importance of math and how it is used in daily life.
Review your child’s homework and ask them to explain how they arrived at their solutions to problems.
View the Math on The Spot videos with your child for concepts or skills he or she may be having difficulty with.
Talk with your child’s teacher about any questions you have about the math your child is learning.
8th Grade ELA
Eighth grade students have been busy this month! Students have been working hard this quarter and have completed an essay comparing and contrasting elements from a story with a movie. Students also continue to complete vocabulary lessons and grammar reviews. Keeping with a Halloween theme, 8th grade students have worked on a spooky Edgar Allan Poe unit focusing on mood and tone. Students annotated “The Tell-Tale Heart”, “The Cask of Amontillado”, and “Annabelle Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe in order to develop their understanding of complex literary works and vocabulary.
In the month of November, students will begin working on their first novel of the year, To Kill a Mockingbird. Watch my website with any further announcements.
Parent Teacher conferences are coming up in November. Like last year, we are having parents schedule times through PTC Wizard. Be on the lookout for the link on my website and the D91 website to sign up for conference times.
P.E.
Intermediate/ Junior High CAD
Welcome fall! We are adjusting to our new room and the new schedule. We have been reviewing addition, subtraction, multiplication, coins and clocks. Everyone is reading and completing worksheets about characters, settings, problems and solutions. We learned about planets in preparation for our field trip. In writing, we have been reviewing when to capitalize letters, punctuation, nouns and verbs. They have begun using writing webs, filling in the webs, writing short paragraphs, and correcting errors. For cooking, we are learning kitchen safety and how to use basic kitchen tools. Making homemade applesauce was a hit!
Art
Throughout the fall months, we are working on the following projects:
Our 4th Graders have completed a fall still life with accurate size, shape, proportion, and spacing - inspired by the work of Paul Cezanne. We also focused on achieving highlight and shadow through shading with watercolor pencils. Next month, we will explore the simplicity and beauty of landscape silhouettes and create our own original watercolor using warm colors. Our 5th Grade students have completed an enlarged animal eye with oil pastels that places focus on color scheme, achieving texture, and demonstrating emphasis. We also explored the technique of overlap to achieve both highlight and shadow. As we progress in the months ahead, we will begin a unit on painting, the color wheel, and exploring the unique styles of both Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh.
The 6th, 7th, and 8th grade art students of first trimester are working toward their final assessment. Students will review all artists, skills, terminology, and techniques prior to this cumulative online evaluation of growth.
Please note the following upcoming Art Club dates:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2017
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2017
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2017
Please note all 4th - 8th grade students can attend ALL MEETINGS listed above. If your child would like extra time to work on art club projects, they may attend all meetings - even those previously labeled for specific grade levels. Thank you for your flexibility.
Mrs. Cravens
Chorus
To Contact Mrs. Randolph K-8 Music & KG Chorus Director
Email: srandolph@d91.net PHONE: 815-838-0737 ext. 1140
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM (Grades K-5 & KG Chorus): T. Dec. 19 (10am Change & 1:15 pm)
Parent/ Teacher Conferences: Please sign up through the web
“Jingle Bell Jukebox” (a musical featuring songs of the season in a 1950’s era soda shop) will be presented Tuesday, December 19 at 10 am & 1:15 pm in the Kelvin Grove Gym (enter Door # 1) by all students in grades K-5 and the Kelvin Grove Chorus. The Kindergarten and First Grade will perform two songs on the stage to open the musical. Second through Fifth Graders and KG Chorus will present the entire musical in the gym on the floor in front of the stage. Auditioned Chorus members will be the cast. Morning Kindergarten will perform during the 10 am show and the afternoon kindergarten will perform during the 1:15 pm show. Students are to wear nice clothes for this performance.
WEDNESDAYS (7:30-8:20 am): FREE Open Music Lab for Students at Kelvin Grove to use music lab – use music software, practice piano, organ, etc. – Enter Door # 1 at 7:30 (CHECK WEB PAGE BEFORE YOU COME FOR DAYS LAB IS CLOSED. No appointment needed.
Check the music web page: We are encouraging families to sing along with the videos throughout the D91 music web pages. Click on tabs for each grade for homework, music, class pictures and other information. Grades 4-8 receive email through Google Classroom for homework, and will be using Hapara, Quizlet, Quizstar, and other web sites and youtube videos for students and families to learn and share music together. Students are to put graded worksheets in their music portfolio (3-ring binder) behind Chapter 2 Theory or Chapter 2 History and have homework completed by class time each week ready to be graded. Their portfolio should have five tab dividers labeled: 1- Notes; 2 – Theory; 3 – History; 4 – Classical Is Cool; 5 – Music; and save the portfolio (binder) through 8th grade.
Grades 4-8 SPECIAL Recognition: Students who pass the entire Level 1 Book for one or more of the following instruments (piano, organ, guitar, or recorder) will earn a completion certificate and have their first name listed on the music web page.
MUSIC CALENDAR:
Parents are needed to help decorate and set-up for the Christmas Program. Please return the form to Mrs. Randolph if you can help! This year we are decorating the stage starting in November.
F. Dec.15 3pm (Old Gym closed to 10pm Dec.17)(Parents & Friends help decorate program)
M.Dec. 18 During school morning Christmas Program practice
T. Dec. 19 10am & 1:15pm Christmas Program (Grades K-5 & Chorus) KG old gym
MUSIC FUNDRAISERS:VALUCARDS $10 each good at area businesses. Contact Mrs. Randolph to purchase a discount card good EVERY Day until the end of May!
SAVE TABS FOR MUSIC! Please bring metal tabs from soda and other cans to school in a ziplock bag or large mouthed container and have students put in large white buckets in the hallway.
Return to Mrs. Randolph ASAP or by November 10, 2017
Student’s First & Last Name _______________________________
Grade _________ Homeroom Teacher ______________________________
Yes, I can help decorate and set-up for the Christmas Musical
CIRCLE DATE(S) YOU CAN HELP: M. Nov. 20, T. Nov. 21, F. Dec. 15 &/or M. Dec. 18
I prefer to help (circle one or more): During school After School Evening
Print Parent/ Volunteer First and Last Name _________________________________
Day Phone ________________________________Evening Phone _____________________________
Email _____________________________________
May I give your above information to a parent to help me contact you? (circle One) YES NO
I have experience with (circle all that you are willing and able to do):
sewing - decorating - set design - building sets – graphic design - advertising - clerical (typing, copying) Other (list it) ________________________
CIRCLE ONE: YES NO I have turned in a Volunteer Background Check to the office.
I understand I must have a Volunteer background check form on file with the office before I may help. (The form is available through the D 91 web page or from either office. Direct all Volunteer background check questions to the office.)
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR VOLUNTEERING! You will be contacted in November to help. If you aren’t contacted, please call or email Mrs. Randolph. She may not have received your form.
UPCOMING CONTEST INFO:
Kelvin Grove will be hosting our own Solo & Ensemble Contest on Thursday, November 16 from 5:30-8:30pm. All students who are participating should have already received their times. Please make sure to be practicing your piece(s)! Parents will be needed to help with room monitoring, handing out medals, setting up, tearing down and other activities. Please watch for e-mails and papers coming home! This contest won’t run without the help of the parents.
UPCOMING CONCERT INFO:
Our first concert of the year will be on Wednesday, November 8 at 7:00pm in the old gym. This concert will feature the Jazz Band, Intermediate Band and Concert Band. Concert Band will also be performing for the Veteran’s Day assembly on Friday, November 10 at 9:00am. The Winter Concert and the first concert that will feature the Beginning Band is Tuesday, February 13 at 7:00 pm in the old gym. Please mark your calendars.
FUNDRAISING INFO:
Avon sales began on Tuesday, October 2. All orders and money were due on Friday, October 27. Remember Ad book ads were due on Tuesday, October 24. Thank you for supporting the band through our fundraisers.
Starting on November 2, the Band and Chorus will be starting our Poppin Popcorn sale.
We will have all sorts of flavored popcorn for sale in resealable half gallon and gallon bags! Remember that Christmas, New Years and sporting events are great times for some popcorn! All orders and money will be due on Friday, November 17.
RECOGNITION:
Congratulations to Rileigh Rubar for being selected to perform at the ILMEA District I Band Festival. She will be performing at Lincoln-Way Central High School on Saturday, November 4. Students from all around the surrounding area audition and only a fraction of students who audition are selected to participate in this festival. It is quite an honor to be selected. Congratulations!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mrs. Plagman at (815)838-0737 x1139 or nplagman@d91.net.
Student Council
Yearbook Club
Yearbook club is in full swing. Students have picked out a cover for our yearbook and have been tagging photos of KG students. Our goal is to get ALL students in at least one candid shot in the yearbook and we need everyone’s help.
Our upcoming meetings are as follows for the year
November 13, 2017
November 27, 2017
December 11, 2017
January 22, 2018
January 29, 2018
February 12, 2018
February 26, 2018
March 12, 2018
May 14, 2018