PAW PRINTS
Winfield Elementary Newsletter - August 31, 2018
Winfield Elementary School Improvement Goals
All students will demonstrate measurable growth and achievement in reading.
All students will demonstrate measurable growth and achievement in mathematics.
From the Principal, Mrs. Alonzo
BOY oh BOY it is the beginning of the year and time for B.O.Y. Assessments!
Students are Winfield participate in three types of assessments at the beginning of the year: Developmental Spelling Inventories, mCLASS®:DIBELS Next®, and STAR. Here is some information about each of these assessments.
Words Their Way: Developmental Spelling Inventories
Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling Instruction has spelling inventories for primary, elementary, and upper level grades. These spelling inventories are used to help group students by spelling developmental stage. They contain lists of words that were chosen to represent a variety of spelling features at increasing levels of difficulty. These features might include consonants, digraphs, blends, short vowels, and so forth. They relate directly to the stages of spelling development. The words in the spelling inventories are designed to demonstrate students’ knowledge of these key spelling features at the different stages of spelling development.
These inventories are administered like traditional spelling tests, but there are some significant differences. Unlike traditional spelling tests, students should not study the words before the assessment. Students can then be grouped for instruction according to the spelling developmental stages or by specific grade level. Student groups can be further differentiated by the three additional stages within each developmental stage or grade level. These stages are early, middle, and late.
Groups in the program should be fluid and flexible, and student progress should be monitored regularly. Weekly assessments and Spell Checks are provided in each level of the program to monitor student progress. Teachers can use the results of the Spell Checks to plan for individual or small-group instruction. Children in Kindergarten will begin the program in October. Children in grades 1 and 2 will begin in September.
mCLASS®:DIBELS Next®
We are focused intensively on improving academic achievement for all students. Our teachers use proven instructional strategies and closely track student progress through a system of periodic assessments that keep us informed about each student’s needs. If a student faces a challenge, we will know it early and address it immediately.
We are committed to providing the ability to track and support your child’s progress. Therefore, we are assessing your child three times this year with mCLASS®:DIBELS Next®.
mCLASS:DIBELS Next instantly analyzes your child’s development in grade-appropriate foundational reading skills.
Teachers use this data to focus their instruction around your child’s specific needs in areas that may include:
• Hearing and using sounds in spoken words (Phonemic Awareness)
• Knowing sounds of letters and sounding out written words (Alphabetic Principle)
• Reading words in stories easily, quickly, and correctly (Accuracy and Fluency)
• Understanding what they read (Reading Comprehension)
After each assessment period you will receive a letter outlining your child’s specific assessment results and progress as a reader. The letter includes easy, fun activities you and your child can together do at home to reinforce skills learned at school. The teacher’s efforts in school, combined with your support and encouragement at home, will ensure your child reads with mastery and confidence. Children at all grade levels participate in these assessments.
Renaissance Star 360®
This suite includes interim assessments for early literacy, math, and reading, helping teachers determine the best instruction to meet the needs of all students. Each assessment produces valid, reliable data and can be completed in about a third of the time it takes to complete other benchmark and interim assessments. These assessments are administered 3 times per year, and more frequently when used as a progress monitoring tool. Students in Kindergarten take Star Early Literacy. Students in grades 1 and 2 take Star Reading and Star Math. For more information about each assessment, please check out the product brochures here:
If you have any questions about these assessments, the activities, or your child’s classroom work and progress, please talk to your child’s teacher, who is ready to help. The classroom door is always open.
We are off to a great start to the 2018-2019 school y ear. Please call, email, or stop by if there is something I can do to better serve you and your family. Enjoy this long weekend!
Contact Information:
Winfield Elementary- 663-2287 ext. 19001
Home-School Connections
The first week has been wonderful getting to know both our students and families. We have been visiting classrooms teaching students about our roles and ways to cope with some feelings that may arise, especially at the beginning of the school year.
School can be a very overwhelming place, and for our youngest students it can be downright frightful. At Winfield Elementary, we strive to build connections with our student while making them feel safe and wanted. One way we engage with our students is through books. Sharing stories with our kids is a great way to introduce ourselves allowing them to have one more familiar, friendly face in the hallways. The books we share are always relatable and have an important message.
Mrs. Mucha read the Angry Octopus by Lori Lite to several classes this week and will continue with more classes next week. This book is framed around being angry and out of control; however, the content of checking your body’s reaction and moving the feelings out in a constructive way is useful for many emotions we experience. The book shows the students how mindfulness practices such as deep breathing and flexing our muscles from our toes all the way to our faces in increments helps calm strong emotions. See if your child can teach you how to do this technique too!
For the first three weeks of school, I (Mrs. Sims) spend most of my time getting to know our kindergarten students. I share a series of six books with them call The WorryWoo Monsters. The author, Andi Green, says “The Woo Stories offers terrific scenarios for kids that blend behavior, humor, connection, and ways to identify. Their themes are rich with content to guide a child into the idea of a feeling without too much intensity, establishing themes to which a child can connect without traumatization.”
This week your kindergarten students met Wince, the monster of worry, and Nola, the monster of loneliness. Ask your child about his or her new monster friends. I hope they enjoy the monsters as much as I enjoy sharing the stories with them.
Contact Information:
Kelly Mucha, Home-School Facilitator
663-2287 ext. 19108
Brandy Sims, PBIS Coach
663-2287 ext. 19602
From the School Nurse, Mrs. Taylor
Attention all Kindergarten parents: All shot records and physical/dental forms are PAST DUE. Forms and immunization records can be dropped off in the Winfield main office.
Permission for Medication Forms
All parents: If your child will require any medications during the school day a written doctor's order and parent consent is required to administer medications at school. Required forms can be printed from the school corporation website. No medications will be accepted unless the completed forms are submitted with the medications. This applies to any prescription or over-the-counter medications that may be needed during the school day.
Contact Information:
Winfield Elementary- 663-2287 ext. 19081
School Hours 9:05 am-3:44 pm
*ALL TRANSPORTATION CHANGES MUST BE CALLED INTO THE OFFICE BEFORE 3 PM.
All children are dismissed through the car rider line. Parents do not come inside the building during dismissal. Please review the Arrival/Dismissal Map here: Traffic Map. Traffic flow has gone very well the past few days! Please remember to remain in your vehicle to speed up the flow of traffic. If your child need your assistance fastening a seatbelt/car seat, kindly pull into a parking space before your exit your car.
Note: If you are a car rider, we will provide your with a nameplate for your dashboard. Please ensure this nameplate is present every day at pickup to expedite the line.
The school office is open daily from 7:30 am-4:30 pm. If you have Transportation questions after hours, please call 219-663-1465.
School Attendance
Regular school attendance is critical to a child's success. We recognize that being at school on time, all day, every day is the responsibility of the entire family. We are excited to announce that we will be honoring one FAMILY each week that demonstrates perfect attendance. Each full week, on Friday afternoon, we will draw a family name to win a Family Fun Night! Included in this fun pack will be a gift card for dinner from Pizza Hut and a movie from Redbox!
This Week's Winner is the DiMichele Family! Congratulations, Avery!
ATTENDANCE GOAL: 97% ACTUAL: 96.5%
Kindergarten: 94.9% First Grade: 97.3% Second Grade: 97.3%
From the Cafeteria
Understanding the Lunch Line: A Parent's Guide
Meal Prices
Student Breakfast: $1.50 Student Lunch: $2.25 Milk Only: $0.40
Funding Cafeteria Accounts
Send cash or check payable to Winfield Elementary Cafeteria in a sealed envelope with your child' name, teacher, $ amount, and "Cafeteria" clearly written on the front. Payments may also be made online by visiting www.mymealtime.com. The required passcode is the same as the child's Student ID in RDS.
Contact Information:
Winfield Elementary- 663-2287 ext. 19603
Cafeteria Menu: Week of September 3
MONDAY
Breakfast: NO SCHOOL
Lunch: NO SCHOOL
TUESDAY
Breakfast: Pancake Wrap OR French Toast Bites
Lunch: Chicken Tenders, Mac & Cheese, Green Beans, Red Peppers, Pears
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast: Breakfast Sandwich OR Confetti Pancakes
Lunch: Corn Dog OR Grilled Cheese, Smiley Fries, Fresh Broccoli, Peaches
THURSDAY
Breakfast: Breakfast Burrito OR Whole Grain Donuts
Lunch: Popcorn Chicken w/wo Oriental Sauce, Rice, Broccoli, Garden Salad, Pineapple
FRIDAY
Breakfast: Whole Grain Muffins OR Cereal / Poptart
Lunch: Pizza Crunchers OR Ravioli, Corn, Carrot Sticks
Birthday Celebrations
As a school we believe it is important to recognize students on their birthdays. To protect instructional time in the classroom and manage student health needs, we do not allow edible birthday treats in the classroom (this includes CANDY in treat bags). Your child's birthday will be announced on the morning announcements and he/she is invited to the office for a small birthday treat.
If you choose, non-food items may be substituted your child may commemorate their special day by bringing a small treat for their classmates (pencil, bookmark, sticker, etc.) or dedicating a book to the classroom (and placing a special birthday bookplate inside).
OPTIONAL: Families wishing to celebrate their child's birthdays at lunch may purchase Ice Cream Tickets for each child in the class. Tickets are $0.75 each. Please complete an order form in the office 1 week prior to birthday.
Important Dates
September 2018
3- No School
4- One School, One Book Kickoff
10- Fall Picture Day
12- Chocolate Fundraiser $ is DUE
25- McSchool Night
26- Half Day Dismissal @ 12:14 pm
Backpacks Available
Winfield Elementary Volunteers
- Volunteers must have a completed background check on file.
- Volunteers are always scheduled in advance. Teachers are required to provide this schedule to the office to manage the flow of visitors.
- Volunteers are kindly requested to leave younger children at home.
Safety & Security
CAFE Corner
CAFE...Community Advocates For Education
We need everyone’s help to make CAFE a successful support group for our schools. Our first meeting will take place on Thursday, September 20th at 6:00 p.m. in the Jerry Ross Elementary School cafeteria.
FALL FUNDRAISER
The Fall Chocolate Fundraiser for Winfield and Jerry Ross is underway!
Top prize (one per school) will be a $150 gift card of choice, top seller of each grade (6 total) will be a $75 gift card to Amazon, and 30 students per grade will visit the Ice Cream Truck!
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED: We are looking for 2-3 people on Sept. 4, 5, 6 and Sept. 11, 12, 13 to help collect $ and distribute additional boxes of chocolate. Please contact Carrie Josleyn at carriejosleyn@yahoo.com if you are available.
SPIRIT WEAR
Fall Spirit Wear order forms came home today! You can check out the link to order, and pics in color here: FALL SPIRIT WEAR
COMMITTEE PERSONS SOUGHT
We are in need of committee chairpersons. Here is a list of our immediate needs.
- Dining for Dollars (McSchool Night and other dining opportunities)
- Playground
- Publicity (Newsletter, social media)
- Student of the Month (One for each school)
- Critical Position: Treasurer- We are actively searching for one treasurer from each school. This is a year-round volunteer position unlike some of the committee chairs.
If you are interested, please contact me or Ms. Linsley for more information.
Extracurricular & Community News
Winfield Elementary
Email: jalonzo@cps.k12.in.us
Website: www.cps.k12.in.us/Domain/843
Location: 13128 Montgomery Street, Crown Point, IN, United States
Phone: 219-663-2287
Twitter: @WinfieldElem