The Clayville Chronicle
February 2020 Edition
From the Desk of Mrs. Francis
The dedicated teaching staff at Clayville School recently participated in our second Data Day of the school year! During these meetings, grade level teams, including our specialists, analyzed student achievement data in order to effectively plan for instruction. This type of planning requires teamwork, and leads to powerful changes for our students. Our teaching assistants also play a large role in supporting instruction to meet the needs of all learners.
Further, our most recent faculty meetings were centered around analyzing RICAS scores. As a team, we celebrated successes and identified areas of need to improve student outcomes. I am proud to be part of a team that is committed to continuous improvement for our students!
Thank you for your ongoing support of our hard-working teaching staff. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with families as we enter the second half of the year. We are committed to staying a 5 star school!
Best,
Courtney Francis
Announcements & Reminders
- Please notify the office (647-4115) when your child is absent or will be tardy.
- When possible, students will have outdoor recess during the winter months. Students should come dressed and prepared for outside recess for as long as 30 minutes. Any student wishing to play in the snow should also wear boots.
- 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.
Parent Tips For Building Math Skills At Home
Communicating with Children Using Math Language
Talking About Math:
Talking about mathematics with your child – whatever his or her age – helps strengthen his or her mathematical reasoning and understanding. Some ways to keep the talk engaged and focused while you support your child include:
Revoice - Repeat what you heard your child say, then ask for clarification (e.g., “So you are saying it’s an odd number?”).
Repeat/Restate – Ask your child to restate your reasoning (e.g., “Can you repeat what I said in your own words?”).
Reason – Ask your child to apply his or her own reasoning to someone else’s reasoning (e.g., “Do you agree or disagree? Tell me why.”).
Adding On – Prompt your child to participate further (e.g., “What more would you add to that?”).
Think Time – Wait several seconds (try five) to give your child time to think (e.g., “Take some time to think.”). You may be surprised by how hard it is to stay silent in that time!
Everyday Mathematics:
Daily Decisions
We all use mathematics daily in what we do. Involve your child in using numbers to solve problems and make those everyday decisions with you. For example:
- “Do we have enough plates and utensils for all the guests coming for the birthday party?”
- “We are doubling this recipe. How much of all the ingredients will we need?”
- “We are fertilizing the lawn. The fertilizer bag covers three square meters. How many will we need?”
- “This store is selling the game you want for 20% off of $27.00. That store is selling the same game for $19.99. Where should we shop?”
Growth Mindset in Math
In general, a growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and ‘smartness’ can also be learned and that the brain grows from experience and effort. The opposite, a fixed mindset, is the idea that you are smart, or you are not. In math, that translates into “some people are good at math, and some are not.” Did you know that praising efforts rather than intelligence or results can impact your child’s ability to persevere in challenges?! The goal is to have children thrive on challenges and see failures, not as a sign of low intelligence, but as a learning opportunity. Brain research tells us that making mistakes actually wires more connections into the brain! When a person has a growth mindset, they accept challenges, see their efforts as worthwhile, and are open to learning from mistakes. Students with a growth mindset achieve at higher levels than those with fixed mindsets. How can you help? Some simple ways:
- Adding “yet” when they claim they are “not good at this” (Respond: “You are not good at this yet.”)
- Ask questions that focus on their effort and choices and get them to reflect on satisfaction of that effort (e.g. What did you learn today? What mistake did you make that taught you something? What did you try hard at today?)
- Model this yourself as you share about your day
Source: EduGains. Permission granted to school leaders to include these ideas in communications (e.g. newsletters, websites) with parents/guardians.
SurveyWorks
- SurveyWorks is a statewide survey sent out annually to students, families, and teachers to hear from Rhode Islanders directly about their experiences in our state's public schools.
- SurveyWorks will be given to all students in grades 3-12, parents, teachers, support professionals and building administrators.
- The Rhode Island Family Survey is for all parents to complete. For the third year in a row, parents of students receiving special education services will receive a single survey that combines the Rhode Island Family Survey and the Special Education Survey.
- You can take the short survey online between January 14th and March 31st. To take the survey, visit: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/ride/login. The family access code was sent home to all families. Please reach out if you'd like a paper copy. Your feedback is so important to us!
PAWSitive Office Referrals
Tootles Lunch
All Tootle Tickets and pictures of our PAWsitive Office Referral recipients are displayed in our cafeteria.
Attendance Challenge!
Congratulations to our January winners:
- Kindergarten: Alexia B.
- Grade 1: Fiona R.
- Grade 2: Bryce K.
- Grade 3: Amelia B.
- Grade 4: William B.
- Grade 5: Lauren H.
All students get a fresh start for February! Keep up the great work, Wildcats!
Core Value of the Month: Inclusion
Congratulations to Liana D. for earning a special shirt by showing our previous Core Value of the Month, responsibility, throughout the first few months of school. Liana was nominated by her teacher and other staff members! We look forward to recognizing a student who has gone above and beyond to show inclusion during our February 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.
District Wide Spelling Bee
Best of luck to:
- 5th grade winner: Declan C.
- 5th grade alternate: Ryan P.
- 4th grade winner: Gabriella D.
- 4th grade alternate: Alexander C.
Our Clayville representatives will compete in the District Bee on February 5th @ 6:30 p.m. in the Scituate High School auditorium.
Scituate Kindergarten Registration for 2020-2021 School Year
SCITUATE KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION DATE SET FOR 2020-2021
●Children who will be five years old by September 1, 2020 are eligible to attend kindergarten in September 2020. The Scituate School Department requires registration for Kindergarten in Scituate.
●The registration date for all three Scituate elementary schools is Wednesday, April 8, 2020.
●Parents of children scheduled to attend kindergarten this fall should contact the school of attendance so that a registration packet can be sent to you prior to the registration date.
●Parents/guardians of students whose last name begins with the letters A-L are asked to register between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM.
●Parents/guardians of students whose last name begins with the letters M-Z are asked to register between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM.
Clayville School:
3 George Washington Highway, Clayville
Phone: 647-4115
Hope School:
391 North Road, Hope
Phone: 821-3651
North Scituate School:
46 Institute Lane, North Scituate
Phone: 647-4110
If you have a question regarding which school your child will attend based on your address, please contact the Scituate School Department at 401-647-4100. Be advised that the Scituate School Department reserves the right to selectively redistrict your child to another Scituate elementary school based on class size issues. In most years this involves a relatively small number of students.
Further, if your child will not be five years old by September 1, 2020, but will turn five by October 1, 2020 and you desire to be considered for a waiver, you must do so by May 17, 2020.
American Reading Company Curriculum Professional Development
Grade Level Curriculum Highlights
PreK: Arctic Animals Unit
Kindergarten Hibernation Project Presentations
Grade 1: The Power of Partners!
Grade 2: Reading Step Celebration!
Grades 2 and 3 Authors
Grade 4 Scientists
Grade 5 January Highlights
STEAM Enrichment Highlight: Kindergarten Coding
Grade 3 Artwork: Shading Techniques
Anti-Bullying Presentation Courtesy of Scituate High's HOSA Club
Fire Safety Presentation
Scituate's Robotics Competition
*Special thanks to Mrs. Boutiette for running our club and to Ms. Donovan for organizing the event. The day would not have been possible without our many parent volunteers - THANK YOU!
High 5 Friday with Members of the Scituate Police Department and Scituate High's Hockey Team
News from NorthWest Special Education
Special Education Local Advisory Committee Meeting
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Northwest Special Education Office
23A Theodore Foster Drive
North Scituate, RI 02857
Anyone who wishes to attend should register by calling 647-4106
News From the Scituate School Committee
PTO Update
Dates to Remember:
2/4: School Committee Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.
2/5: District Spelling Bee 6:30 @ Scituate High School
2/6, 2/13: Sports Skills 3:00-4:10
2/6: PTO Meeting @ 6:30 p.m.
2/7: PTO's Valentine Bingo 6:30-8:00 p.m.
2/10: Fiddle N' Fun Skills Class 3:00-4:15 p.m.
2/14: No School: Professional Development Day
2/17-2/18: No School: Winter Recess
2/24: Dental Screenings
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