Ocean Avenue School News
December 2018 ~ Volume 31, Issue 31
Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) Test Results
The Maine Education Assessment (MEA) test results were received earlier this fall. Each parent received their own child’s score, for students who took the assessment last spring in grades 3, 4 and 5.
The MEA is an assessment for all of Maine’s public schools and assesses students on their competency of Common Core skills and knowledge. State testing is best used to look at trends over two or three years. Policy makers use this information to make decisions about programming. Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 took this test (12-15 hours of testing in the spring of 2018). The big picture results of this data, and how we compared to the State of Maine and Portland Public Schools, are displayed here. OAES is at or above the percentage of students meeting standards compared to Maine or other Portland Public Schools. Compared to 2017, this year, OAES students grew two percentage points in literacy and four in math.
Here is our on-going work in Literacy, reading and writing:
- Our increased rigor in reading instruction, including interpreting themes and making connections to the text. Another focus in the upper elementary is to analyze parts of the story in relation to the whole.
- Strong transdisciplinary units helping students make connections. We have embedded the reading and the writing instruction into most of our International Baccalaureate work. This helps our students understand the skills we are teaching in a real world context.
- The fidelity of using the reading and writing programs. Our teachers have used both of these programs for several years at each grade level, kindergarten through fifth grade. Both our teachers and students know well the format and language of instruction. Each grade level team makes decisions on how to support students stretching to grade level and those students above grade level. We are committed to helping students grow at least one grade level, each year, no matter the starting point.
- Increased classroom libraries (K-5) to have a balance of non-fiction and fiction books.
We have strongly focused on math instruction in our school success plan. Our entire plan can be found on our school webpage. We increased the percent of students meeting standards by 4 points. Here are some highlights of what we are doing differently this school year to increase teacher understanding of a variety of strategies to support all students and make growth:
- Individual teachers and grade level teams working with our math coach (.5 FTE) throughout the school year. This work is focused on instructional techniques and how to differentiate the learning for students working below grade-level.
- OAES will devote professional development time devoted to this work for teachers to work and learn together.
- Number Talks and Counting Collections becoming part of regular classroom routines.
- Technology interventions for students working above or below grade-level. This allows additional instruction for students at their just “right level” of learning. We are using several programs to accomplish this strategy (Fasttmath, Pearson, Prodigy).
- Three years ago, we increased time on task in mathematics to 75 minutes a day devoted to math instruction. This is up from 60 minutes per day.
- Our math interventionist teacher (.5 FTE) will be working with students in grades 1, 2, and 3. The focus will be students who are not achieving grade level standards.
- Our math coach is working with all teachers to focus on how students developmentally acquire new skills.
How Parents Can Help
Over the last few years, Ocean Avenue staff has been focused on helping students develop a Growth Mindset. We all have times where our mindsets are Fixed and times when we know we can grow. When we approach a new task, having a Growth Mindset allows us to focus on learning and how to improve. While having a Fixed Mindset gets us stuck when the new task is not easy at first. Our students will lose the idea that they are” not good at math”, and embrace the power of “yet”. Students knowing, they can learn with effort and persistence: approaching math skills as they would basketball skills or learning to ride a bike.
We are supporting students in developing an inquiry relationship with mathematics, approaching math with curiosity, courage, and confidence. This means having students and adults talking about math and asking questions:
- Why did I choose this method for solving the problem?
- Does this method work in other cases?
- How is this method compare or contrast to the method other people used?
- Can you draw a model or diagram to represent the problem?
- Does the answer make sense? How do you know?
We know that math is a learned set of skills, and everyone can do well in math. We are celebrating mistakes. Mistakes happen when the work is challenging. When the work is easy, we are not learning. Mistakes are productive.
The research into Growth Mindset is striking. Studies looking at elementary students through graduate school, show that having a mindset of growth increases achievement. The students with the sharpest increases are girls and African American students. Shifting our students from Fixed Mindset to Growth Mindset can help us shrink the achievement gap.
Here are some examples of how to help children in your life develop growth mindset for math:
- Model your own growth mindset for math in sharing a time you found math challenging and what you did to learn the new skill. “We can learn this together.” “I can grow my math brain.”
- Support your family to notice when using math in real life: patterns, miles traveled, elapsed time (after we play for an hour at the park what time will it be?, cooking measurements, comparing nutrition labels, comparing prices on shoes or estimating the cost after the 30% off sale, Tom Brady’s career stats vs. this week’s game stats, the relationship of Sony Michel's rushing yards to touchdowns, etc.
Classroom News and Happenings
Kindergarten News
It was wonderful to see our young learners tell their parents about classroom activities, show samples of work, reflect on progress, and set goals during our recent Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences. Our Kindergarten students can be very proud of the gains they have made in their short time here!
As the month of December begins, we will be wrapping up our second unit of inquiry, WHERE WE ARE IN PLACE AND TIME: “Journeys.” Across the Kindergarten classrooms, various approaches have led to the exploration of the Central Idea “People come from and travel to different places in different ways and for different reasons.”
Later in December and throughout January, students will be engaged in their third IB unit of inquiry, HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES: “Expressing Stories.” The central idea of this unit is: “People express stories in different ways.”
Backstage at the Nutcracker
On Tuesday, November 27, students in several Kindergarten and First Grade classes had the opportunity to attend this school performance at Merrill Auditorium.
The children watched in awe as the accomplished dancers leapt across the stage, dancing and twirling to the music. They learned details about the ballet and about the costumes and scenery. As they rode back to school on the bus, the children were enthusiastically talking about their favorite parts. In class, students read several versions of the Nutcracker story. The children drew pictures and wrote about their favorite scenes. They listened to the music and danced around the classroom.
Thanks to the PTO funding this enrichment activity, our young students were able to participate in a truly memorable experience.
First Grade News
Our students were excited to be part of serving our community. Many thanks for your contributions! And, thank you to our first grade for taking on the important role of coordinating the efforts of Ocean Avenue Elementary this year!
Second Grade News
We kicked off our third IB unit of the year, How the World Works. In this unit students will be inquiring about the different ways we interact with matter. We had a visit from the Mad Matter, aka our amazing Side by Side artist, Pamela Moulton. Pamela will be working with us throughout the unit, joining art and science. In the end, each student will have created their own museum book of matter.
In both reading and writing we are starting units on nonfiction. In reading we will be learning strategies readers use to read, understand and learn from nonfiction. In writing we will be learning how to write so we are teaching others about a topic on which we are experts.
Fourth Grade News
Social Emotional Learning is Helping Fourth Grade Students with Academics!
Fourth graders are reflecting on their perspectives and used what they learned in their academics.
As a result of this social development program, our students were able to develop better arguments in their opinion writing. Kiddos were also able to use their work in the Second Step program to reflect on their work in our International Baccalaureate units from earlier in the year.
Fourth Grade Hosts Annual Flea Market
Fifth Grade News
The Ocean Avenue Fifth Grade Math Team had its first math meet of the season. It was held at Lyman Moore Middle School. Students worked hard, and had a great time! We have a small team this year, but there is still room to sign up, if interested. We meet on Monday afternoons, from 3-4 PM. Next meet is a regional meet, with many teams from the Greater Portland area attending....Thursday, December 12 at The Holiday Inn By The Bay.
EL Team News and Information
Below is a podcast episode from the Highest Aspirations podcast, which is all about the latest EL community news and trends. It's part of Ellevation Education, a data software tool designed for EL educators and the students they support.
Empowering Refugees and Newcomers - CLICK LINK FOR EPISODE
In this episode, we are joined by Kitti Murray and Walt Anderson of Refuge Coffee. They talk with us about how Refuge is empowering refugees to use their many gifts to help create a vibrant community in Clarkston, Georgia - a town that has been called the most diverse square mile in the United States.
By pursuing their goal to provide employment and job training opportunities to resettled refugees, creating a unique, welcoming gathering place in Clarkston, and telling a more beautiful refugee story to Atlanta, Refuge Coffee is on a mission to bridge the opportunity gap, the hospitality gap, and the awareness gap.
Library News
Check out this Google Street view link if you have a chance. It's pretty amazing!
Congratulations to Trayvon Miller who came the closest to guessing how many books are in the library. The answer is: 9,637. Congratulations, Trayvon!
Thanks to everyone for making the Book Fair a huge success. It was wonderful to see all of our community excited about reading. A special shout out to our students who were responsible and flexible by using our traveling bookmobile for the time that our library was used.
Cold Weather Reminders
Snow Reminder Procedures
The Portland Public Schools close when it is unsafe for children to travel to school due to the conditions of roads and sidewalks. The district sometimes may delay the start of school for one hour because of bad weather, instead of canceling a full day of school. The change should mean fewer snow days and an earlier start to summer vacation.
In the past, whenever there was too much snow or ice in the early morning, the district canceled school for a full day. However, sometimes it is safe to travel soon after city workers have plowed the roads and sidewalks. On those days, the district will just push back the time school starts one hour, not cancel school.
If a one-hour delay is called, students will start school one hour later than on a normal day. This means Ocean Avenue Elementary School will start at 9:30 AM on a delayed start day. If students take a bus, then the bus will come one hour later than normal. Students will still come home at their regular time after school.
At times when the weather is very bad, the district will continue its practice of canceling a full day of school.
If the start of school is delayed one hour, all Portland Recreation before-school care will be canceled.
There are a variety of ways to learn about school delays and cancellations: Look for morning notices on local television stations; on the district’s website, http://www.portlandschools.org; on the district’s television cable channel, Channel 3; and on Facebook and Twitter.
Also, families will receive a “robo” phone call -- usually by 6 AM on the day of the delay or cancellation.
Openings in Homework Club!
Homework Club is a place you can go before school on Fridays to complete assignments in a quiet and cozy environment. Lights dimmed, quiet music playing; a great atmosphere for practicing all those great skills you're learning in school. Mr. Rounds, 5th grade teacher, will be there to help your students with whatever you may need help on.
Homework Club started on Friday, December 7. Dates of this session are: Dec. 7, 14; Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25; Feb. 1, 8; Mar. 1, 8, 15. The club meets from 7:20-8:20 AM in Room 221 - Mr. Rounds' room. If interested in signing up, please stop by the Main Office for a permission slip.
Snowpants, Jackets, Boots, Gloves/Mittens and More -- DONATIONS NEEDED!
When cleaning out your closets, please think of us if you have any of these gently used or new items to donate. Our students thank you for your generosity!
Lost and Found
Morning Drop Off Reminder!
Students should NOT be dropped off at school before 8:15 AM, unless it is pre-planned or they are attending before school clubs or Morning Rec.
Designing Women Fine Art and Craft Fair
Ocean Avenue School PTO collects and keeps all donations at the door and profits derived from food sales for their programs. We hope to see you there!
Food Bags
If your student is not receiving a white bag and you would like them to start receiving one, please contact the Main Office and we will make sure you are added to the list. Thank you!
Portland Youth Film Festival
Portland Youth Film Festival invites K-12 students from Maine to submit short films of 3 minutes or less and documentaries of 8 minutes or less to our 2019 Young Filmmakers’ Contest. PYFF was founded in 2012 and is run by volunteers with support from the University of Southern Maine Tourism and Hospitality Department.
Entries are welcome from individuals, groups, and classrooms. Beginners are especially welcome, and all students can check out our website for everything they need to know about basic filmmaking skills. Many past award winners have been first time filmmakers!
The submission deadline is April 12th. Entry is free. Selected films will be shown at our Red Carpet Award Ceremony on April 27th at USM. For those unable to travel to Portland for the festival, the film programs will be posted online for screening in your home community at no cost. For more information, go to: www.portlandyouthfilmfilmfestival.com.
If you have any questions, please contact us at contest@portlandyouthfilmfestival.com
Sincerely,
Mark Shaughnessy
PYFF Coordinator
Spring Multi-Cultural Potluck Planning
Healthy Foods for In-School Celebrations
Dear Families,
We love to celebrate! Celebrations provide a perfect opportunity to role model how fun and healthy eating go hand-in-hand! As a part of our efforts towards health and wellness, our program is committed to hosting healthy celebrations. If you choose to send in food for a celebration, let’s make it count with healthy choices!
Fun, tasty options include:
- Fruit and Cheese Kabobs – Put grapes, melons, cheese cubes, and berries onto a wooden kabob stick.
- Make Your Own Trail Mix – Provide bags of granola or whole grain dry cereal, dried fruit, and nuts for students to make their own trail mix.
- Fruit Smoothies – Show up at snack time with a blender, frozen fruit, and yogurt! (Be sure to make arrangements with us first.)
- Yogurt Parfaits – Layer granola, fruit, and yogurt in plastic cups. Send in on a tray covered with plastic wrap; OR send in the ingredients, cups and spoons and let the kids make their own parfaits.
- Vegetable or Fruit Platters with Dip
Our efforts are supported by Let’s Go!, a program at The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center. Let’s Go! works where children and families live, learn, work, and play to help make the healthy choice the easy choice. Let’s Go! encourages families to adopt the 5-2-1-0 message (see message above).
For more information about Let’s Go!, visit www.letsgo.org. Thank you for joining us in our commitment to healthy kids!
News from the PTO
JOIN US AT THE DECEMBER PTO MEETING!
Wednesday, December 19 at 6 PM
Ocean Avenue Elementary School Library
We hope to see you there!
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ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR OCEAN AVENUE SCHOOL?
WE ARE TOO.
Turn that thankful feeling into support for the PTO as we enter our big fundraising season. Here's how:
OAES Auction - February 2nd at 6 pm
- Be a sponsor or help recruit sponsors. Here's how sponsorship can benefit your business AND our school!
- Help your child's class make a Classroom Creation for the auction! This is a really fun way to support the auction and spend time with your child and his/her classmates. Sign up here or email Tori at volunteer@oapto.org for more information.
- Volunteer to solicit auction items from local businesses.
- Do you have an experience or item you would be willing to donate to the auction? Please let us know!
The Auction Committee has no meetings--everything is done over email. We know how busy you are! If nothing else, come to the auction and show your support of our school.
Contact Victoria at president@oapto.org to find out how you can help!
Designing Women - December 8th at 9 am
- Help with setup on Friday night
- Make soup, sandwiches, quiche, muffins, or sweets to sell at the PTO food table
- Donate paper goods or drinks to sell
- Spend a few hours working at the food table or welcome table
- Sign up here to help!
Contact Tori at volunteer@oapto.org to find out more!
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STILL HUNGRY?
We have an upcoming opportunity in the new year for you to eat out with your family AND help the Ocean Avenue PTO! Mark your calendars!
On Tuesday, January 8th, join us at Margarita's in Portland! Margarita's will donate 20% of sales between 3-10 pm from participating customers.