Gravely Connection
October 2018
We are off to a great start for the 2018-2019 School Year. In September we were fortunate to have Mrs. Gravely stop by and welcome our Kindergartners. Our PTO continues to be amazing, they have celebrated our staff with treats and funding, and had a great turnout for the outdoor movie night. Our teachers continue to deliver engaging instruction, and our staff is working tirelessly to ensure a great year for each and every student.
Seadog students are continuing to demonstrate Quality MATES Behaviors throughout Gravely ES. At this time our students have earned 12,652 MATES Tokens out of our goal of 120,000 Tokens for demonstrating positive behaviors. As we work towards our First Quarter House Celebration, and towards the end of the year Seadog Cup, current points are:
Seminole 2,195
Jouett 2,622
Falgout 2,628
Chandler 2,032
Tausigg 2,289
This month we are looking forward to Math Night, PTO Bingo, the kickoff to our WATCHDOGS program, and Parent Teacher Conferences are right around the corner.
As always, we would like to thank you for your continued support of Gravely!
Michael Kelchlin - Principal
Kisha Trammell - Assistant Principal
Dates
October 1-5 Book Fair
October 2 PTO -Spirit Night @ Chipotle
October 3 - Picture Day (Individual)
October 8 No School - Professional Development Day
October 10 Walk to School Day
October 11 Interim's Go home
October 15 Advisory Council 5:30pm PTO 6:30
October 19 PTO Bingo @6:30 Costumes Optional
October 22 WATCHDOG Pizza Night 6:30pm
October 25 Math Night (6:00-7:15)
November 2 End of Grading Period
November 5 Teacher Workday
November 6 Parent Teacher Conferences
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
Second Grade is off to a flying start! They traveled to each classroom with their suitcases and passports to learn about American Symbols. The students flew to New York City to learn about the Statue of Liberty and then to Philadelphia to visit the Liberty Bell. Their suitcases were filled with what they learned about the White House, American Flag and Bald Eagle.
Second Graders are also gaga ball champions! You should see the daily gaga ball tournaments at recess. It is so popular with our grade level. Cooperation and good sportsmanship are naturally part of who they are!
We are currently learning to use our new math software called Dreambox which is supporting our math curriculum. All Second Graders have signed in and are playing! More information will be coming home about this fun learning computer experience.
Third Grade
Third grade has had a great start to the school year. We have been working hard on our procedures throughout the school day. In math, we have learned about place value, rounding, addition and subtraction, and money. In reading, ,we have learned about fiction versus nonfiction, author's purpose, homophones, and asking and answering questions when reading a fiction text. We are working on writing personal narrative in writing. The students decorated their writers notebooks and shared with the class. In science, we have completed our unit on matter where the students learned about solids, liquids, gases, physical properties, and physical changes. In social studies, we have completed one unit on citizenship and are currently in the middle of our geography unit learning about the continents and oceans.
4th Grade
5th Grade
Our 5th graders have been hard at work on a Project-Based Learning activity to plan their field trips for the year. Students have been working in small groups to research, analyze logistics, and create proposals to inform and persuade their peers, teachers, and administration about their chosen location. Mr. Kelchlin, Dr. Trammell, and Mrs. Templeton, our Bookkeeper, participated in a question and answer session with the entire grade level where students asked questions about rules and guidelines to keep in mind when planning. We look forward to seeing their creative presentations and voting as a grade level for our top choices.
Art
Library News
Our fall book fair is here. The book fair will be open during the school day 9/28-10/4 from 9:15-3:30. On October 5 the book fair will be open from 9:15-12:00. We still are in need of some volunteers. If you are able please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4cabae2eabff2-fall1 Did you know that a child who reads 20 minutes a day is exposed to 1.8 million words per year and generally score in the 90th percentile on standardized tests.
SIGNET
Reading Room
During the month of September and October, K-3 students will be given all or parts of the PALS (Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening) assessment. The results will be used to plan instruction for this year. Look for more information from your child's classroom teacher.
Our first book swap of the year will hopefully take place in October! Your child's teacher will let you know which day the cart will visit their class for them to take a book to read and then they will need to swap a book to get one next month. If you have any books you would like to donate, they would be much appreciated. Thank you for your help!
One of the most important ways to become a good reader is to spend a lot of time reading good- fit books. When helping your child find a just right book, it should be one they can read comfortably and independently with a high level of fluency (accuracy and expression) and comprehension.
General guidelines:
Independent Level: Child is able to read accurately and fluently and comprehend without teacher or parent assistance.
Instructional Level:
Child needs teacher or parent support, is able to recognizes at least 90% of words, and comprehends 75% or more of the text without assistance.
Frustrational Level:
Recognizes less than 90% of words and comprehends less than 50% without assistance.
Symptoms of tension, word by word reading and poor comprehension may be present.
General suggestions of number of missed words (not including proper nouns) for each level:
1 in 20 words = independent
1 in 10 words = instructional
>1 in 10 words = frustrating text
Happy Fall, Happy Reading! 🍁 📚 🍁
Melissa D. Piszczor,
Reading Specialist
COUNSELORS’ CONNECTION
THIS MONTH IN C.A.S.E. LESSONS - October
Kindergarten: Students will be learning about the responsibilities of being a student worker in a school, such as listening and paying attention.
Grade 1: Students will be demonstrating positive work habits by paying attention, following directions, and staying on task.
Grade 2: Students will understand the importance of goal-setting. Students will identify a goal and develop a plan to achieve it.
Grade 3: Students will be practicing the goal-setting process by developing a realistic short-term academic goal.
Grade 4: Students will be identifying positive test-taking skills to utilize during classwork and tests.
Grade 5: Students will be practicing the goal-setting process by developing a realistic long-term academic goal.
WHAT DO SCHOOL COUNSELORS DO? - C.A.S.E. Lessons
School counseling curriculum is delivered to all students as part of the general education program through monthly C.A.S.E. (Career, Academic, and Social/Emotional) Lessons. Curriculum is designed and implemented based on Prince William County objectives, American School Counselor Association student standards, and school needs. To review grade-level specific objectives, please visit our website via the Gravely homepage and click on Counseling Curriculum.
FREE PARENT WORKSHOP – Internet Safety
Help keep your kids safe online by attending a FREE Internet Safety presentation by the United States Secret Service.
LOCATION: Bristow Run Elementary School, 8990 Worthington Drive, Bristow, VA
DATE: Wednesday, October 10, 2018
TIME: 7pm-8pm in the Bristow Run Cafeteria
Note: There is potentially sensitive/emotional content in this presentation which will not be appropriate for younger children to hear. Parent/Guardians only. Daycare will be provided for school-age children by volunteers from Patriot HS. Please direct any questions to Mrs. Leischner, School Counselor at Bristow Run, at leischma@pwcs.edu or 703-753-7741.
Physical Education
Physical Education in September with Mrs. Haugan, Mrs. Laskodi and Mrs. Goldsberry
Please welcome our fantastic PE Assistant, Mrs. Laskodi and Long-term PE substitute teacher, Mrs. Goldsberry! They have been an amazing addition to our Gravely PE program this fall. You can find him out at Kiss N Ride each morning and afternoon with big smiles. Currently, they are busy teaching the students in grades K-2 the importance of personal space while moving in general space. As for grades 3-5, providing several opportunities for students to work on teamwork and communication skills, plus fitness testing.
Any questions please contact Mrs. Goldsberry while Mrs. Haugan is out on maternity leave.
Thank you J
Advisory Council Meeting 5:30 pm / PTO 6:30 pm
September 10, 2018
October 15, 2018
November 19, 2018
December Canceled
January 14, 2019
February 1, 2019
March 1, 2019
April 8, 2019
May 13, 2019
Samuel L. Gravely Jr. Elementary
Website: https://gravelyes.pwcs.edu/
Location: 4670 Waverly Farm Drive, Haymarket, VA, United States
Phone: 571-248-4930
Facebook: facebook.com/SamuelLGravelyJr