HILLTOP HAPPENINGS!
FEBRUARY 2018
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Does your child have grit? Grit is defined as firmness of mind or spirit, an unyielding courage in the face of challenges. Studies have suggested that grit is the number one factor in determining how successful a student is at school. We at Hilltop encourage students to develop grit and persevere in their attempts to reach their goals, academic or extracurricular. We desire students to have a strong work ethic and a don’t-give-up attitude as they engage in learning activities at school. Here are some links to learn more about grit as it applies to education: ww.edutopia.org/blog/true-grit-measure-teach-success-vicki-davis www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance
FEBRUARY EVENTS
5- 9 Great American Magazine Drive
16 Teacher In Service Day - No School
19 Presidents Day - No School
LOOKING AHEAD...
March 1 Conferences
Early Release
1:35 p.m. Prek/KDG
1:45 p.m. Grades 1- 5
March 8 Conferences
Early Release
1:35 p.m. Prek/KDG
1:45 p.m. Grades 1- 5
March 16 End of 3rd Quarter/ Early Release
March 26- 30 Spring Break
COUNSELOR NEWS
I am amazed at the generosity that the little community of Reading Hilltop is able to produce. Within the last three months, we have raised over $600 to support our families in need. Each year, I look forward to the smiling faces of the students who help raise the money. They learn so much about compassion and empathy, which will continue throughout their lives. I also would like to thank Valley Central Bank for adopting a family this holiday season! My favorite quote from the Chinese Philosopher, Lao Tzu, sums the reason why we continue to give to those in need, “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”
Educator of the Month
Mrs. Sarah Nimeskern
We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Sarah Nimeskern is our Educator of the Month for February. Mrs. Nimeskern has been teaching at Hilltop for several years. She earned her teaching credentials from Xavier University and a master’s degree in reading from Miami University. She has always wanted to be a teacher. She enjoys working with young children because of the excitement they show toward learning. Back when she was a student, she had some excellent teachers that had inspired her to become a great teacher herself.
Mrs. Nimeskern truly loves books. She loves book talks, laughing, wondering, and sometimes even crying together with her students when reading. To hook third graders into reading, Mrs. Nimeskern finds favorite authors or series of books that encourage her students to become book lovers, too.
In addition to being an avid reader, Mrs. Nimeskern is adept at using technology to support learning in her classroom. Students in her room read books online, type stories, and conduct research to show what they are thinking. One of her new programs to use with the students is Seesaw, a program where students demonstrate their learning through video posts, booksnaps, and google activities. Students are eager to use Seesaw to share what they are learning in Mrs. Nimeskern’s class.
When she is not teaching, Mrs. Nimeskern loves to read, make crafts, and run. She also has a small farm where she takes care of her chickens and goat.
Without a doubt, Mrs. Nimeskern is a true asset to the Hilltop staff. Congratulations!
Preschool News
February will be a very busy month in Preschool! We will learn about Groundhog Day, winter, our country’s presidents and dental health. Of course we’ll also celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14th! In Reading we’ll continue to study our letters and sounds. We’ll focus on letters P, Q, and R this month. We’ll enjoy visits from a police officer and dental hygienist too! We’ll also learn about authors, illustrators, opposites, and blending and segmenting syllables this month. In science we’ll study the properties and characteristics of light and sound. In math we’ll practice counting, identifying our numbers, subitizing (identifying without counting small quantities of up to 3 items), and comparing groups of objects to determine which has more or less. We sure are learning a lot!
Preschool snowflakes!
Kindergarten News
Our hearts are pumping for all the sweet activities we’re working on in February! We’re looking forward to predicting the weather for the next six weeks with the help of Buckeye Chuck, the Ohio Groundhog! Groundhog’s Day is interesting and fun! We’re working on lots of Social Studies objectives this month and Kindergarteners will read and write about National Symbols, the Pledge of Allegiance and Presidents to celebrate President’s Day! We certainly won’t forget Valentine’s Day! We’ll have a heartfelt celebration and exchange valentines to show how much we care for our friends! Kinder kiddies will also learn about Dental Health and the importance of brushing and flossing our teeth every single day! Our Math lessons include learning to identify and describe 2-D and 3-D shapes as well as beginning to understand and memorize our addition and subtraction math facts from 0-5! That’s all very exciting!
Some friends from Mrs. Elam's class.
First Grade News
First grade has many fun things planned in the month of February. We will finish up working on informative paragraphs and will begin to write about their opinion. We will be celebrating the 100th day of school by doing many fun activities and crafts. We will be learning about 2-dimensional shapes. We will be reading many fun books about presidents and Valentine’s Day. First grade will learn more about wants and needs and economics too using cupid cash, when making our Valentine Bags. Students will learn about goods and services as well.
Second Grade News
February will be a very busy month in Second Grade! We will have our Valentine’s Day Box Decorating Contest on Valentine’s Day. It is always a fun activity for our students that allows them to show their creative side! February is also exciting because we get to “travel back in time”! We will start by reading about the History of our Flag. We will then continue to study United States history by reading some biographies on famous presidents. We will also take a look at what life was like long ago compared to life today. After our history studies we will also get a chance to go to on a field trip to Parky’s farm on February 23rd. This field trip will allow us to pretend that we lived long ago as we learn about and participate in chores, dancing, and jobs from the 1800s. This month in math we will continue subtracting 2-digit numbers using multiple strategies. In science we will start learning about the 3 states of matter (solids, liquids, gases).
Third Grade News
In math, the third graders will continue working on fractions. We will focus on comparing fractions and placing fractions on the number line. We will also order fractions. We have some fun activities planned for science. We will focus on magnetism and static electricity. We will also do some more STEM activities, which are always a favorite of the kiddos. Language arts will be a mixture of units. We will wrap up our fictional genres unit with publishing our fables and investigating our favorite genre a little deeper (myths, folktales, fables, fairy tales). Then, mid-month we’ll begin our biography unit. This is always a fun one because we end by sharing our learning through our very own Hilltop Historical Wax Museum! (More details to come.)
Fourth Grade News
This month students wrap up their informational reading and writing units by completing a research project in conjunction with their reading unit and by publishing several informational books for the classroom library. We will begin Historical Fiction book clubs this month. Students join a club based on a specific time period and read multiple books that take place during the time period. This month begins our opinion writing unit: The Literary Essay. During this unit (which will wrap up in March) students will complete both personal and persuasive essays. As we finish up our Government work in Social Studies students will move into the last chapter of our Methods and Skills unit. Students will learn more about interpreting graphs and charts before starting work about creating budgets. In math we will continue our work with fractions. We will be looking at how to add, subtract, and multiply fractions and use these skills to do some real world problem solving with fractions. We will also extend our fraction work to understanding and working with decimals. In science we will continue our work in life sciences. We will be exploring the interdependence living things have on one another, the importance of balance in nature, and the how our actions and natural actions can damage that balance.
Fifth Grade News
5th graders will be reading a historical fiction book in coordination with Black History Month. Our history studies will continue in Social Studies as we learn about multi-tiered timelines and we will become archaeologists as we learn about some early native tribes of Central and South America.
We will also be reviewing reading skills and strategies.
Reading Hilltop Elementary
Cincinnati, Ohio 45215
513-733-4322 Office
513-483-6771 Attendance Line