Dolphin Parent Connection
February 2017 Volume 2, Issue 4
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
· Monday, Feb. 6th: Report Cards Issued
· Monday, Feb. 6th: Running Club @ 2:50-4:00 PM
· Monday, Feb. 6th—Friday, Feb. 10th: National School Counselor Week
· Monday, Feb. 6th—Friday, Feb. 10th: SCA Candy Grams on Sale
· Tuesday, Feb. 7th: Art Club @ 2:45-3:50 PM
· Tuesday, Feb. 7th: Stock Market Club @ 2:50-4:00 PM
· Tuesday, Feb. 7th: Kindergarten Reading Comprehension Parent Workshop (Choice of 2 session times) @ 8:00-8:30 AM or 5:30-6:00 PM
· Wednesday, Feb. 8th: Robotics Club @ 2:50-4:30 PM
· Thursday, Feb. 9th: Helping Hands @ 2:50-4:00 PM
· Monday, Feb. 13th: Running Club @ 2:50-4:00 PM
· Wednesday, Feb. 15th: 4th Grade Field Trip to Symphony at Sandler Center @ 9:30-12:00 PM
· Wednesday, Feb. 15th: Robotics Club @ 2:50-4:30 PM
· Wednesday, Feb. 15th: PTA Board Meeting @ 5:30 PM (All Parents Welcome)
· Friday, Feb. 17th: SCA Candy Grams delivered
· Monday, Feb. 20th: Make-up Day for Students
· Monday, Feb. 20th: Running Club @ 2:50-4:00 PM
· Tuesday, Feb. 21st: Class Picture Day & Club Picture Day
· Tuesday, Feb. 21st: Art Club @ 2:45-3:50 PM
· Tuesday, Feb. 21st: Stock Market Club @ 2:50-4:00 PM
· Wednesday, Feb. 22nd: Robotics Club @ 2:50-4:30 PM
· Friday, Feb. 24th: Spirit Day: Go Green
· Friday. Feb. 24th: 4th Grade Wetlands & Watersheds Outreach Program @ 9:00 AM
· Monday, Feb. 27th: Running Club @ 2:50-4:00 PM
· Tuesday, Feb. 28th: Spirit Night at Chipotle @ 4:00-9:00 PM
· Tuesday, Feb. 28th: VB Regional Battle of the Books at Kellam HS @ 5:00 PM
· Wednesday, Mar. 1st: Robotics Club @ 2:50-4:30 PM
· Wednesday, Mar. 1st: SCA Meeting @ 2:50-3:50 PM
Developing a Growth Mindset Part 4
Our school year is half-way over, and this is a great time of the year to reflect with your child on his or her progress this school year...not only their academic progress but also their progress towards a growth mindset. Here are some questions to help gauge your child’s progress.
· Do they believe their brains are malleable...that brains can grow and develop?
· Do they believe their skills and abilities can change with effort and practice?
· Do they persevere when faced with obstacles and challenges?
· Do they maintain a “never give up” positive attitude even during setbacks?
· Do they reflect on failures and try to learn from them?
· Are they willing to listen to feedback and to try new strategies in order to reach success?
Are you looking for some ways to continue your child’s growth mindset development? Here are some additional tips:
· Model and encourage Resiliency (the ability to bounce back from errors and failures): Consider providing some puzzles or games that may create a little struggle for your child. Work together and discuss why struggle shows that you are learning and that you can build resiliency.
· Model and encourage Flexibility: Communicate that change is an important part of living life. Model this by taking a flexible mentality when things don’t go as planned. Praise your child for his/her flexibility and adaptability when plans change.
· Model and encourage Optimism: Adopt a “glass half full” mentality in your home. Play a game with your child. For every time something happens that is perceived as “bad,” try to find the good in every situation. For example, when a glass is accidentally broken, a possible response might be, “Now we have more room on our shelf.” This game can get a little silly but it gets the message of positivity across.
Red Mill Battle of the Books
Under the leadership of our Reading Specialist, Ms. Terry Quinn, all 5th grade students at Red Mill had the opportunity to take part in the city-wide Battle of the Books program sponsored by the Virginia Beach Public Library. Students had over 2 months to read as many of the 10 pre-selected novels as possible. Each 5th grade class then chose 4 to 5 students to represent their class in the School-wide Battle which took place on Thursday, February 2nd. The top three Red Mill teams were from the homerooms of Ms. Fox, Mrs. Osborne, and Mr. Petermann. These three teams will continue to prepare for the Preliminary Battle which will be held on Tuesday, February 28th at Kellam HS at 5:00 PM. We hope to send one of our Red Mill teams on to the city-wide Semi-finals and Final Battle later in March.
Quarterly Awards
As report cards are scheduled to come home on Monday, February 6th, this is a great time to remind you of the various awards you may see listed on your child’s report card.
· Distinguished Dolphin will be awarded to students in Grades 1 through 5 who display good behavior, work habits, and teamwork. To earn Distinguished Dolphin, students must earn “Proficient” marks for each objective under Productivity, Collaboration & Participation, and Citizenship. Students must also earn an “Advanced Proficient” mark on at least one objective under each of those three categories.
· “Goal-Getter” Award is available to students in Grades 3-5. Each marking period, students will set an individualized academic goal for both language arts and math and work to reach their goal during the marking period. Students who accomplish their goal will receive the “Goal-Getter Award.”
· Attendance Award will be awarded to students in grades 1 through 5 displaying excellent attendance. Recognizing that sicknesses are unavoidable, students are able to have 1 absence each marking period and still receive the attendance award. Also, recognizing the importance of students being in school on time and for the entire school day, tardies and early releases will be taken into consideration for this award. A combination of 3 tardies and/or early releases in one marking period will count as 1 absence.
Students receiving these awards will receive a brag tag or bead to add to their brag tag chain. Additionally, the award will be indicated on their printed report card.
How to Stay in the Loop
The Virginia Beach Elementary Parent/Student Course Information Guides provide parents & guardians with insight into the instructional program and learning expectations for students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 5. To access the Information Guides, click on this link.
http://www.vbschools.com/curriculum/guides/elementary/
There is a new way for parents to access their student’s Grade Book information right on their mobile devices. Parents can now download the ParentVUE mobile app for their device to be able to access grade information and attendance data. With the added flexibility of the mobile app, parents no longer have to use their computer, and can access their information anytime, anywhere, 24 hours a day. For further instructions, visit http://www.vbschools.com/schoolnet/ParentVUE.asp.
SCA Selling Candy Grams
The Red Mill SCA will be selling Candy Grams this week (Feb. 6th-10th) to raise money for a 2nd water fountain that refills our water bottles. Send a sweet smile to your student, friends, teachers, administrators, and staff at RMES!
What are candy grams?
Non-chocolate candies with a special message attached
How much do they cost?
50¢ each *or* send an entire class a candy gram for only $10
How can I order them?
Choose your favorite message on the order form, and fill it out for as many candy grams as you’d like to purchase.
When is my order due?
Completed order forms must be turned into the SCA Mailbox in the office by Friday, Feb. 10th.
Where can I order them?
Go to the SCA webpage to print order form. http://www.redmilles.vbschools.com/pages/secondary/sca/index.asp.
When will they be delivered?
The SCA will hand deliver them on Friday, Feb. 17th.
In order for candy grams to be guaranteed, orders must be paid in full with exact change or with a check made out to RMES. Any incomplete forms will not be processed. 100% of the proceeds benefit the RMES water fountain project.
Red Mill Dolphin Car Magnets
Supplies Needed for MakerSpace in Library
- Working iphones or ipods that you no longer need (does not matter how old)
- Old non-working electronics for our Breakerspace (could be telephones, printers, toys, old cell phones, etc…)
- Empty paper towel and toilet paper cardboard rolls
- Craft supplies and other items (pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, wire, yarn, toothpicks, plastic spoons, skewers, rubber bands, tape, Pom Poms, etc…)