Anderson Angle
Volume V Issue 3
A MESSAGE FROM MR. HEWITT
Hello, Anderson Families,
I want to thank you all for the great start to the school year. We had another excellent turnout at conferences. The teachers and I appreciate your continued support.
Because we live in Iowa, road and driving conditions can deteriorate quickly. As the weather turns from rain to ice and snow, it will be essential to allow for extra time to go through the pick-up lines. I have attached a link to our drop-off/pick-up procedures. The safety of our students and families is of the utmost importance and one where we place a high emphasis. If you pick-up or drop off your student, please take the time to review the procedures and please practice patience. Your cooperation is appreciated.
While staying with the theme of weather, please make sure your child comes to school prepared for the day's forecasted conditions. This means appropriate clothing such as gloves, boots, coat, and hat. With 690 students at Anderson, you can imagine the amount of lost and found items during the winter. It is recommended to label your child's coat, sweatshirt, gloves, hat, etc. If your child's outdoor gear is lost, please encourage them to check the lost and found located in each grade level pod.
As a reminder, Anderson students will go outside for recess when the actual temperature or "real feel" temperature is 6 degrees or higher.
In the morning before school, students will come inside if the actual temperature or "real feel" temperature is 32 or lower. The reason for the difference between before school and recess is that in the morning our students are lined up and are not permitted to run around due to traffic on the north, south and east entrances.
As always, the staff and I are available to discuss questions or concerns you have about your child’s education. Thank you for being a partner in education!
Sincerely,
Mel Hewitt, Principal
Please Follow Anderson Elementary on Twitter: @MelHewitt1, #AndersonJays
November Calendar
8th - PTO Meeting - Morris Elem @ 6:00pm
16th - Report Cards will be accessible on Infinite Campus
16th - Muffins with Mom (Preschool students)
21st, 22nd, 23rd - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
REMINDER: 2:00 Dismissal Every Monday
Preschool News
October was a busy month for preschool. The preschool students completed a study on pets. Through the study, students discussed what kinds of animals could be pets, what pets need, where pets live, shared about their pets, had a few pet visits and a visit from a vet. In October the students also took part in learning about fire safety. A few of the activities students enjoyed include; getting a tour of the fire truck, learning about fire safety from the Bondurant Fire Department and the opportunity to try on fire gear. Lastly, the students had a chance to go on their first field trip. The preschool classes went to Geisler Farms for the field trip. On the trip, the students were able to play in the corn pool, go down the giant slide, jump on the giant jumping pillow, have a picnic lunch as a class, take a hayride and see the pumpkins growing in the field.
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
Hands-On Science in Third Grade
Third graders are enjoying a new way of learning the New Generation Science Standards here at Anderson Elementary. Implementing inquiry-based learning has been an engaging way for teachers to begin science instruction this year.
The students are also excited about using new hands-on activities from the website, “Mystery Science” that go along with the lessons. Our first unit question asked, “Why plants grow flowers and fruit?” The students watched videos, researched articles, and made a model of a plant. This hands-on approach has brought a lot of excitement to Science lessons.
Our next unit is titled, “Stormy Skies.” The students will learn about the water cycle and phases of matter. The question that students will explore in this unit will be, “Where do clouds come from?” Students will research and explore as they work to answer this question. Be sure to ask your child what fun experiments they are working on in class!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
4th Grade
In Social Studies, the 4th graders will learn about the Regions of the United States of America. Discussions will revolve around the five regions of the United States: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West, and Southwest. We will also talk about several other topics within each area, such as natural resources, landmarks, industries, and history.
We started the year learning about the Northeast region. This region is rich in resources. We discovered that this region produces apples, blueberries, potatoes, seafood, coal, iron, and steel. One of the most significant resources in the area is cranberries. Another area of interest for the students has been their learing about the history of the region. The students love learning about the history of the United States.
Recently we have started discussing the Southeast region. The students enjoy this region because many have visited! We have great classroom discussions because the students can directly relate to it. Climate is a significant part of our discussion when we explore this region. We discuss what hurricanes and floods are and have made several connections due to our experiences here this past summer with flooding an tornados.
Ask your student about what have learned in Social Studies; you’ll be amazed!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
Fifth Grade Fragments
Band is Here!
The fifth-grade band has finally arrived! Many of the fifth graders have been buzzing with excitement about joining the band! Some instruments may have been recently rented or purchased while others may have been retrieved from storage after use by parents or older siblings. Students will need to bring their instrument with them on Mondays, Thursdays, and on small group lesson day.
Students who do not participate in the band will be in homeroom study hall. When students are in a small group, they will be pulled from class with their group members for lessons. We encourage these students to find a homework buddy who can gather any work they miss while at their lesson.
If you have any questions regarding the band, please contact Ms. Breitbach
Winter Weather Reminder
The fifth-grade team would like to send a reminder about winter recess gear. Fifth-grade recess is in the morning, and we do go outside for recess until the real feel temperature falls below five degrees. We want to remind students to dress appropriately for the colder weather. We will wear coats outside if the temperature is less than sixty degrees. Once snow arrives, students will need to have snow boots, jackets, and snow pants to have full access to the playground.
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
B.E.S.T. Students of the Week!
Information from Mrs. Nash (TAG)
The Bondurant-Farrar K-12 TAG Department is implementing changes to the process of identifying students to receive services through the gifted program. Our goal is to have a screening process that recognizes that students' needs change, and that is inclusive of twice-exceptional students (those who may be gifted while also having other learning needs) and English language learners, as well as our general education population, in an effort to identify approximately 5% of our students who have needs that could be met through services through the talented and gifted program.
In order to qualify for TAG services at Bondurant-Farrar, a student needs to score at or above the 97th percentile on a majority of Iowa Assessments subtests or the new Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) or on a-Reading/a-Math tests when compared to norms for students at their grade-level. A student also must score at or above the 96th percentile (9th stanine) on two of the three subtests of the Cognitive Abilities Tests (CogAT) or have a complete composite score at or above the 96th percentile when compared to norms for students their chronological age. The CogAT tests include verbal, quantitative and non-verbal subtests.
All second graders, fifth graders and eighth graders will be taking an abbreviated Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) screener the first week of April. Those who score in the desired range and have qualifying scores on a-Math, a-Reading and/or the Iowa State Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) will be invited to take the full CogAT test to see if they are eligible to receive services through the Talented and Gifted (TAG) program. These grade-levels were selected because they are at points where building transitions occur. Students who are new to our district and students who are exhibiting a possible need for services will be screened and tested on a case-by-case basis regardless of their current grade level. All students (including those already identified and receiving TAG services) will need to qualify/requalify to receive TAG services when they transition to the next building.
Mrs. Reyerson's Art News
The first trimester is almost already over! Wow! The year is flying by so fast! The Anderson Elementary art room has been buzzing non-stop with so many projects, and we have been learning so much!
Stop by the library soon to see the 5thgrade Aboriginal-Inspired Sculptures on display. Recently students began work on a yarn weaving using a cardboard loom and a basic under/over pattern. They are designing hot pads, coasters, trivets, and more. They absolutely LOVE to weave!
Fourth grade has been working so hard on a monochromatic painting unit since the beginning of the year and we are SO CLOSE to its conclusion! Please stay tuned for the most adorable Cat/Dog Monochromatic Paintings to be displayed in the hallways! You will not be disappointed;)
And finally, I’m really having fun getting to know my third grade artists. They are a super creative bunch, as evident through their first project we called Creative Names. We are currently working on our Fall Owls where we are learning about hatching and cross-hatching, 2 drawing techniques. The students have already shown some extraordinary skills on their preliminary sketches so I can only imagine what the final owls will look like! They will be on display through mid-November.
As always, please follow the Anderson art room on twitter @andartteach !
Mrs. Miltenberger - Guidance Counselor
Did you know that Abraham Lincoln suffered from severe clinical depression? Lady Gaga suffers from PTSD, Chris Evans (Captain America) suffers from anxiety and Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, has been diagnosed with depression.
These celebrities and public figures, as well as many more, have come forward to share their mental health struggles to help shed light on this stigma in our society.
The 1st week of October was Mental Health Awareness Week. It was established in 1990 by the U.S. Congress in recognition of efforts by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Congress hoped this would help educate and increase awareness about mental illness. Every year mental health professionals, including school counselors, fight the stigma and provide support for students and parents. Just as a person goes to see a doctor for a physical ailment, it is ok to see a doctor for a mental health issue.
We should all try our best to see the person and not the illness as we strive to listen, understand and allow them to tell their story. We can educate ourselves about mental health issues and know that this is a global issue that is ok to talk about.
Mental health conditions are long lasting and can change how we think and feel - going beyond what might be considered typical emotional reactions. People receiving treatment can live up to their full potential and be productive members in our society. Treatments vary from person to person and it is important to know that there is no “one size fits all” treatment.
Who can I contact for more information or help? Your family doctor is trained to help you. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has a number in Des Moines that you can call 515-254-0417 and they will be happy to assist you.
This year, through a partnership with Stepping Stones Family Services, school-based mental health therapy will be available for our students at Anderson as well as the other schools in the district. Please see the information below from Stepping Stones.
Multiple research studies have found that children and adolescents are not receiving necessary mental health services due to services being limited and difficult for families to access. Providing mental health services in schools increases access to care. Children and families are more likely to access and utilize services when they are being offered at schools. School personnel refer students to school-based therapy when students' mental health needs affect their daily functioning. Stepping Stone Family Services provides school-based therapy services during the school year and the summer break. School-based services and length of service is individualized. Each referred student and his/her parent(s) will meet with a therapist from Stepping Stone Family Services for an assessment. During the assessment, student's needs, strengths and goals are discussed. An individual treatment plan is developed for each student.
Stepping Stone Family Services provides School Based Therapy Services to all schools in the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District.
Also, the school counselors at BFCSD are here to serve all of our families. Please do not hesitate to contact me at miltenbergerl@bfschools.org for additional resources or referral information. You can also find a list of outside agencies that provide counseling on the School Counselor section of the Bondurant-Farrar website; https://www.bfschools.org/Page/729
Staff BEST
BackPack Program
Once again, we are excited to partner with the Food Bank of Iowa to provide nutritious weekend snacks to low-income families with elementary aged students. If you are in need or know of a family who may benefit from this program, please call Mrs. Bonita Wiley at 515-967-7494 or email her at wileyb@bfschools.org. For more information regarding The BackPack Program, please click here.
Watch D.O.G.S. Program
The Bondurant-Farrar WatchDOGs program is a parent involvement program that invites parent-figures into the school to help increase security and reduce bullying. Moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are encouraged to spend a half- or full-day at their child’s school. During that day, you’ll have the opportunity to be in your child’s classroom, eat lunch with him or her, help in other classrooms, monitor hallways, and/or assist teachers and administrators with every-day projects – all of which enhance the overall education experience of our children. To find out more, or to sign-up to be a WatchDOG, email watchdogsbondurant@gmail.com.