Dolphin Parent Connection
July 2018 Volume 3, Issue 10
Summer Reading
Don't forget to keep your child's academic skills strong over the summer. Below you will find valuable resources for both math and reading. Once again this fall, the Red Mill PTA will recognize students for their summer reading. To participate, your child only needs to read 5 books during the summer months (more than 5 is even better) and keep a written record of the books (title and author). Please note that a parent signature is required on any handwritten form. However, the PTA will also be accepting the printed certificate for those students also participating in the Virginia Beach City Public Library summer program. Students who complete the reading and turn in their form by Tuesday, September 18th will take part in an ice cream social and will receive a brag tag for their accomplishment.
Thank you,
Michelle Miller
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
· Friday, August 24th: Teachers report back to work
· Wednesday, August 29th: Kindergarten & 1st Grade Parent Open House 6:00-7:00 PM
· Thursday, August 30th: Teacher Meet & Greet for grades PK-5 (Times To Be Determined)
· Tuesday, September 4th: First day of school
· Tuesday, September 18th: Summer Reading Logs Due for PTA Summer Reading Program
· Friday, September 21st: 5th Grade Field Trip to Oceana Air Show
Attention Rising 5th Grade Parents
Red Mill Yearbooks
The main office still has a few 2017-18 Red Mill yearbooks available for purchase. All yearbooks are hardcover and full page color! Yearbooks will remain on sale for $20 while supplies last. Stop by the main office if you would like to purchase a copy this summer. Checks should be made payable to Red Mill Elementary.
Summer Academic Support Resources
Keep Your Math Skills Strong Over the Summer
Summer Reading
Reading is one of the easiest ways to help students learn when they’re not in school. Here is a link to a list of good books of varying levels of difficulty for students to read over the break:
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collections/17-18/2018-summer-reading-challenge-book-lists/
Looking for good books may mean a trip to the library or bookstore, or finding a digital copy, but with the vast number of books there are to choose from, having a list of recommendations certainly comes in handy. Additionally, it’s worth researching our local libraries to see what kinds of reading-related events are offered during the summer break, including the Virginia Beach Summer Reading Challenge (see below for link to register).
Additionally, all Red Mill students who will be entering grades K, 1, or 2 will have access to Smarty Ants. In the Smarty Ants World, children are surrounded by fun, laughter and joy while they learn the basic reading skills to help them become great readers. This world is designed to match your child's learning style and personality, ensuring they are always engaged, challenged and rewarded during their journey toward the power and enjoyment of a lifetime of reading. Students may access Smarty Ants through their Clever Portal.
Princess Anne Public Library Summer News
​​​​The Summer Reading Challenge is an annual initiative to engage readers of all ages in reading throughout the summer months. Summer Reading Challenge benefits school age children who may be at risk for the loss of reading skills during the summer break and encourages reluctant readers with reading incentives. It is also great fun for all ages!
The 2018 Summer Reading Challenge begins on June 11, 2018 and ends on August 4, 2018 at 5 p.m. Sign up now for our reading tracking software, Beanstack, and receive reading recommendations. https://vbpl.beanstack.org/reader365
​Reading Incentives:
- 5 books - Free book
- 10, 20 and 40 books - Prize wheel spin
- 50 books - Sand animal bean bag toy
Super Reader Badge
- Read for 20 minutes a day, 5 days every week this summer and unlock an invitation to the Super Reader Celebration at the Virginia Aquarium on Thursday, Aug. 9 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Capstone Interactive Summer Reading eBooks
We’re excited to announce a great resource for reading this summer: Capstone Interactive eBooks!
This summer, Capstone is providing free access to thousands of ebooks that can be read from school, home, or on-the-go. These eBooks can be used with a laptop or desktop computer or an iPad. Best of all, Capstone Interactive eBooks provide critical supports like text-highlighting and read-aloud audio, recorded by professional voice-over artists. Plus, the easy navigation makes it inviting for your student to find their Capstone favorites: like the spunky Katie Woo, stunning photography from PebblePlus books, and thrilling reads like Library of Doom from Michael Dahl. And you can feel comfortable knowing your student is exploring an ad-free website bursting with resources to help them read in and out of the classroom. Check out all the titles available using the login information below.
Go to www.mycapstonelibrary.com
Login: summer18
Password: lovetoread
P.S. Want to read offline?
Download the app directly from iTunes!
Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program
Barnes & Noble Town Center Virginia Beach Announces Summer Reading – Earn a Free Book
New York, NY– May 14, 2018 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest retail bookseller, today announced the return of its customer-favorite Summer Reading Program. Now in its 22nd year, the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program encourages kids across the country in grades 1-6 to celebrate the joy of reading all summer long and gives them the exciting opportunity to earn a free book by reading eight books and turning in a completed reading journal listing the books they’ve read. Free books this year include perennial favorites such as Pete the Cat, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Artemis Fowl, plus many more for children in grades 1-6.
To get started today, simply visit any Barnes & Noble store and ask a bookseller for the Summer Reading Journal, or download it online at BN.com/summerreading (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/summer-reading/_/N-rs9) . Kids then spend the summer reading eight titles of their choice and return the completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 15 and September 3 of this year to choose a free book from the titles featured on the back of the journal.
In addition to the chance to earn a free book, Barnes & Noble is today announcing a special buy one, get one free promotion on kids chapter books that will run throughout the summer both in stores and online. New titles will be introduced throughout the summer, but will include the following favorites:
• Critter Club by Callie Barkley
• Galaxy Zack by Ray O'Ryan
• Captain Awesome by Stan Kirby
• Hiedi Heckelbeck by Wanda Coven
• Kingdom of Wrenly by Jordan Quinn
• Adventures of Sophie Mouse by Poppy Green
For another great way to encourage families to read more and get special offers, parents can sign up for the free Barnes & Noble Kids’ Club™ which provides a $5 reward for every $100 spent on kids’ items*, a free café treat on their child’s birthday and a 30% off welcome email coupon**.
Parents can enroll at their local Barnes & Noble store or online at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/account/kidsclub/
Achieve 3000 Summer Challenge
Summer Contest for Nonstop Achievement: When your students log in to Achieve3000 and complete lessons this summer, they can win an iPad miniâ„¢!
Here’s how it works: encourage your students to work toward completing 40 activities over their summer vacation. Students who complete 40 activities with a first-try score of 75% or greater will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad mini™. Six iPads will be awarded. Plus, each week, we’ll award an exciting prize to the student with the most achievement points across the nation.
Access to BrainPop All Summer
Let Your Child Design, Build, and Explore This Summer at Camp Invention
Summer is just around the corner. Enroll you child now for Camp Invention, a hands-on STEM camp where your child will explore, create, and have a blast.
Camp Invention will run from July 9 – July 13 from 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM at Strawbridge Elementary. Camp Invention is for children entering Kindergarten through 6th grade this coming fall. Students entering 7th – 9th grade can participate as Counselors-in-Training. Students entering 10th – college can volunteer as Leadership Interns. Leadership Interns earn forty community service volunteer hours.
The price for the week remains $230. Families registering 2 siblings living in the same household earn $25 off per child, 3 or more children earn $50 off all season long! Families registering 2 siblings living in the same household earn $25 off per child, 3 or more children earn $50 off all season long! Families registering 2 children (must be siblings) – receive $25 off the base price for each. You may register at campinvention.org or call 800-968-4332. Contact Terry Quinn at Theresa.Quinn@vbschools.com if you have any questions.
We can’t wait to see your child this summer!
Parks and Recreation Summer Camps
Old Dominion Youth Football Camps
First Tee of Hampton Roads Summer Camps
Summer Reading Skills & Speed Reading Programs
Tidewater Volleyball Summer Camps
Paul Webb Basketball Camp
Virginia Beach Field House Summer Camps
Kellam Girls Basketball Camp
Dolphin Summer Soccer Camp
Fire & Life Safety Camp
The Virginia Beach Fire Department’s Life Safety Office is having their Fire & Life Safety Camps again this year. They will be having two (2) Camps with the first being conducted during the week of July 9th to July 13th, 2018. The second Camp will be August 6th through August 10th. The Camps will have a MAXIMUM capacity of 25 Campers each. It is FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. This Camp is opened for RISING first through third graders (current kindergarten through second grade students). THE CAMP IS FREE!!
Attached, you will find the Application Cover Letter and Camp Application. The deadline for these applications to be turned into our office is Friday, June 15th.
Destination Graduation
Students and their parents are encouraged to visit the Academic and Career Planning webpage to view and engage with K-12 career resources, middle and high school academic and career planning documents, and career pathway guides. Likewise, the Destination Graduation site offers students and families grade-level specific information and resources to help students and families navigate the journey from preschool to high school graduation.