Middlebrook Lion's Link
Linking Our School To Our Community November 12, 2021
Weekly News
Dear Middlebrook Families,
It's been a very exciting week at Middlebrook. Ranger Mark visited our Kindergarten classrooms. We recognized Veterans Day with a video from student council and read alouds in our classrooms. We also welcomed local author, Lori Lisi. Mrs. Lisi read to all of our third grade students. She recently published the book, Maeve Mcqueeney in Fort Fever.
Mrs. Lisi used her experiences as a mom and teacher in the Shelton Public School system as inspiration for her book. Mrs. Lisi read the first chapter of the book to our students. They were highly engaged and enjoyed the humor and descriptive language. After the read aloud, they asked thought provoking questions such as:
· “Who was your inspiration for the main character?”
· “When did you realize you wanted to become an author?”
· “How long did the writing process take?”
· “Are there any other books in this series?”
Mrs. Lisi donated a signed copy of her book to each classroom so that teachers can continue to read the book aloud. In addition, she donated a copy to the Middlebrook library. Mrs. Balzano will be ordering more copies so that students can find out what happens to Maeve.
Please be sure to see the information below from our Kindness Club on next week's participation of the start of "HELLO" week.
Middlebrook Nurse's Direct Phone Line
If you are trying to reach the Nurse, Jeanne Hoggatt, with specific questions, please call 203-452-4412.
Vaccine appointments for children ages 5-11 are now available. Please access the following link for more information: https://portal.ct.gov/vaccine-portal/kids?language=en_US
Upcoming Events:
November 15th
PTA meeting 7:15 in the cafeteria
The start of HELLO week (see below for details)
November 16th
Favorite Shirt Day (Hello Week)
International Day of Tolerance
BOE mtg. 7:00pm
November 17th
Wear Green (Hello Week)
November 18th
Say "Hey" Day (Hello Week)
November 19th
School Spirit Wear Day (Hello Week)
School Store - grades 1-5
November 24th
Early Release 1:00pm dismissal - bagged lunch to take home
November 25th
No School, Thanksgiving Break
November 26th
No School, Thanksgiving Break
Native American Heritage Day
Random Acts of Kindness Day
November 28th
Hanukkah begins at sunset
Have a wonderful weekend.
~Debbie Ponte
Read Aloud in Grade 3
Meet Our Math Specialists!
Mrs. Consolati and Mrs. Powell
MATH ROCKS at Middlebrook!
Kindergarten friends began counting by 2’s and working on concepts of doubles and even numbers through the exploration of bicycles and bicycle wheels. They will soon move on to adding and subtracting 1 to and from a number. (see pictures from Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Thomas)
Grade 1: First graders have loved working with dominoes, dice, and their number racks to improve counting skills along with addition and subtraction skills. Strategies are encouraged for both addition and subtraction such as counting on from the larger number, doubles, counting back, etc. Here are just a couple ways you can help your child at home:
- Count forwards and backwards regularly
- Play with dice and dominoes and have your child identify the quantities
- Combine groups of objects (such as 3 red apples and 3 green apples or 5 books and 4 books) to practice addition
- Take away items to practice subtraction strategies (10 cookies to start and take away 5 cookies)
Grade 2 friends have been working hard on place value and counting to 100 by bundling ones, tens, and hundreds. Soon they will be writing three digit numbers in unit, standard, expanded and word forms.
Grade 3 friends have been working on telling and writing time on both analog and digital clocks. They have been solving word problems with elapsed time using a number line. They will move on shortly to measuring weight and liquid volume in metric units.
Grade 4: Students are in the middle of a long unit that focuses on multiplication and division. They are using their place value understanding and multiple visual representations to learn many strategies. Be sure to ask your child about some of these strategies (ie. Double doubles, breaking apart a number by place value, etc.)! You can help your child at home by continuing to work on their multiplication math facts. Using a deck of cards, dice, dominoes, or games you may already have, such as Yahtzee, can really make the practice more fun!
Grade 5: 5th Graders are really starting to expand their understanding of place value to multi-digit whole number and decimal operations. Place value disks are used to model problems on place value charts, and students are starting to use the distributive property more often as they improve their mental math and number sense. They are moving toward the regular use of the multiplication algorithm as well. You can help your child at home by practicing math facts, asking your child about strategies being used, and reviewing daily classwork.
Student Council on Veterans Day
The Student Council Senators helped to enhance our virtual assembly celebrating Veterans Day by providing information about the different branches of our armed services and reading poems aloud that spoke about veterans and the history of Veterans Day. They also led by example, donning their red, white and blue on November 11th to honor and celebrate our veterans!
Back Row Left to Right is: Vasili Kourounis, Rupashi Sachdeva, Nicole Massaria, Avery Colon and Alia Almahamid
Front Row left to right is: Melissa Carmona, Jack Doran, Ella Daly, Pietra Barbosa
Not Pictured: Hope Lang (absent)
Student Council Advisors: Kelly Ginand, Molly Michaels, Abby Baldino
Enjoy this Veterans Day Tribute Video from Our Middlebrook Student Council
We are excited to announce Middlebrook’s 3rd annual participation in “Start with Hello Week!” An initiative started by the Sandy Hook Promise, Start with Hello Week teaches students how to help peers who may be dealing with social isolation and promote a culture of inclusion, acceptance, and connectedness within the community.
Below, please find the schedule of events for the week of November 15th-19th:
Monday, November 15th: Positive Message Monday – morning greeters will be in the front foyer/drop off circle to greet students with a “hello” and smiley sticker.
Tuesday, November 16th: Favorite Shirt Day – wear a shirt to school that tells something about you (a favorite vacation place, sports team, hobby, etc.).
Wednesday, November 17th: Wear Green Wednesday - Have your child wear green today.
Thursday, November 18th: “Say Hey” Day – we will distribute “Hello My Name is…” nametags for all students and staff. Encourage your child to make an effort to greet others by name today.
Friday, November 19th: Friday Funday: Wear School Spirit-wear & Compliments/ Shout-Out Day: Wear MB/ Be Kind spirit-wear. Students will use post-it notes to write inspirational/ positive notes (or pictures) for a random student locker in another class.
Thank you as always for your support, - Middlebrook’s Kindness Connects Club
Middlebrook Kindness Club
Were you wondering why there was a little white table displayed when you walked through the doors on Veterans Day?
"America's White Table" written by Margot Theis Raven
“The table, set for one honors the men and women who served in America’s armed forces and are missing from our ranks.
The white cloth symbolizes purity of their motives when answering the call of duty.
A single plate is placed waiting to give strength and healing.
The glass is inverted to symbolize their inability to share this meal with us.
A black napkin, for prisoners of war, is a reminder of the isolation, deprivation and cruel fate of our missing.
The silverware shines bright in remembrance of a shining soldier gone to serve his or her country.
A single red rose reminds us of the life and the blood that was shed, and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith and await their return.
The vase is tied with a red ribbon, a symbol of our commitment, and continued determination to account for the missing.
A candle is set on the table to remind us that America is a light to the world of darkness.
A slice of lemon is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land.
Salt is sprinkled to remind us of the tears endured by those missing and their families who still seek answers.
An empty chair is tilted as they are not here: and will remain so until they return or are accounted for.”
TRUNK or TREAT Fun!
Middlebrook Holiday Boutique is back!!
Kindergarten Visit with Ranger Mark
The PTA's first ever holiday wreath sale!
The PTA's first ever holiday wreath sale! Fresh hand-made holiday wreaths from Ganim’s Garden Center and Florist, will be available for purchase through Middlebrook's PTA. All wreaths are hand decorated at Ganim’s. Several options are available. Please be on the lookout for an order form brought home with your child or place orders through Membership Tool Kit. See link below.
https://middlebrookelementarypta.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/168957
Students in ALL grades K-5
Reflections is an arts program run at the national PTA level for about the last 50 years. Trumbull has been participating in this program for a long time. Reflections runs over all grade levels k-12. Students submit their completed works of art in one of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts. Submissions are due in December. Please download the guidelines and entry packet below. We hope many of our students participate.
Explore the Arts
Middlebrook School
Email: dponte@trumbullps.org
Website: middlebrookelementary.com
Location: 220 Middlebrooks Avenue, Trumbull, CT, USA
Phone: 203-452-4411