Tuesday, September 15, 2009

FAX Gilbert appeared today!


FAX Gilbert appeared at all elementary buildings today.  Special thanks to the PTOs and the Iowa Arts Council for supporting FAX's appearance. FAX's message focused on character and wellness.  Students loved the presentation! 

Science pictures -- insects! Insects!





                            Here are pictures of the "insects" outside Mr. Abarr's classroom. 

Monday, September 14, 2009

Town Hall Meeting on Education

I received this earlier today from Jeanne Ackerson, Program Support Assistant of the Department of Education -- sounds like a good opportunity to participate in a discussion about federal eduction policy.

A monthly update on U.S. Department of Education activities and information relevant to the education communityfor Region VII Stakeholders (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri & Nebraska)

U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION WILL HOST TELEVISED TOWN HALL: PUBLIC INVITED TO PARTICIPATE BY PHONE AND E-MAIL.  (Please see attached Flyer for additional information.)

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will engage in a live discussion with parents, educators and students across the nation on the Sept. 15 broadcast of Education News Parents Can Use, the U.S. Department of Education’s monthly television series focusing on schools, learning and student success.

Secretary Duncan has been traveling the country to engage Americans in a conversation about federal education policy.  The “National Town Hall Meeting,” broadcast Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 8 – 9 p.m. ET, (7 – 8 p.m. CT) will be the next stop on the Secretary’s “Listening and Learning Tour.”  During the one-hour broadcast, Secretary Duncan will discuss education issues with a studio audience of parents from the Washington, D.C. area and with other participants from around the country via phone, e-mail and video messages.  The conversation will include a discussion of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  More information on how to take part in the broadcast is available at www.ed.gov/edtv.

Education News Parents Can Use airs live via satellite on the third Tuesday of each month during the school year, offering parents and others vital information about getting involved in children's learning.  The program will be carried live on the Dish Network, dozens of PBS stations, and hundreds of public access and education channels. Other broadcast and cable outlets will air the show on a tape-delayed basis.  A list of viewing options is available at www.ed.gov/edtv.  In addition, the program will be available as an archived webcast at www.connectlive.com/events/ednews.

WHO: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

WHAT: Televised interactive “Listening and Learning” National Town Hall Meeting on education

WHEN: 8 – 9 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009

WEBSITE: www.ed.gov/edtv

Please feel free to contact us at us_dept_of_education.region7@ed.gov with any questions.  

Jeanne Ackerson
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Program Support Assistant


Department of Education


Office of Communications & Outreach


8930 Ward Parkway, Suite 2002


Kansas City, MO 64114
816.268.0401 (Phone)
816.268.0407 (Fax)

 

Thursday, September 3, 2009

President Obama's speech on Sept. 8, 209

We are not planning to watch this speech at school due to the broadcast time (11 am our time). There will probably be video available at a later time if you want your child to watch the speech.

President Barack Obama to Make Historic Speech to America’s Students
C-SPAN and White House Web Site to Broadcast Speech Live

Classroom Activities
Grades preK-6
download files PDF (115K) | MS Word (119K)
Grades 7-12
download files PDF (170K) | MS Word (184K)

At 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time (ET), September 8, 2009, President Barack Obama will deliver a national address to the students of America. (Please note that this is a change from the originally scheduled time.) During this special address, the president will speak directly to the nation’s children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school. The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.

The U.S. Department of Education invites students of all ages, teachers, and administrators to participate in this historic moment by watching the president deliver the address, which will be broadcast live on the White House Web site (http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/) and on C-SPAN at 12:00 p.m., ET. The Department of Education offers educators a menu of classroom activities—created by its teachers-in-residence, the Teaching Ambassador Fellows—to help engage students in the address and stimulate classroom discussions about the importance of education.


Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Elementary Newsletters

Elementary Newsletters have been sent out and are copied below.

Bailey Park Elementary News
Nancy Beck, Head Principal
Sarah Seney, Assistant Principal
September 1, 2009
School is off to an excellent start! Students are learning the routines and expectations and starting the work of learning to read or improving reading or math skills. Read with your child or practice math every day if you can. It makes a great difference!
Parents, please remember that you cannot pull into the front drive at the end of the school day to pick up your child. We need to keep the front drive open and available for buses at the end of the day. You must park on a nearby street, being careful of no parking signs, to pick up your child. Do not park in no parking zones – you are at great risk of receiving a ticket.
If you come to school during the school day to get your child for an appointment please check in at the office to sign your child out before leaving with your child. If you return the same day with your child remember to come back in the office and sign your child back in. This procedure helps us keep track of all the children.
We have some exciting events planned. On September 15, FAX Gilbert, will be here to present an assembly based on wellness, health, and happiness. Thanks to the PTO and the Iowa Arts Council for sponsoring this event.
All K-4 classes will be taking a field trip to Faulconer Gallery in October to view the exhibit, Molecules that Matter, and create their own artwork. The students’ artwork will be displayed as part of the exhibit. You and your child will then be invited to a community event on November 14 to view the art exhibit and take your child’s artwork home. We are pleased that Grinnell College has invited our students to view the exhibit and participate in hands on activities during the trip.
New computers have begun to arrive! There are still components not here but hopefully all computer components will arrive soon and the computers in the lab will be replaced. Watch for the new computers!
We are participating in the HyVee Shop and Share Fundraiser again. Bailey Park School will receive 3% of purchases (including the purchases at the pharmacy) at HyVee from the first through the tenth of each month. Forms are available at the school or you can request a form if you e-mail me at nbeck@grinnell.k12.ia.us. You must have a form for us to receive the 3% of purchases.
On Wednesday, September 2, teachers will meet to discuss and plan for use of the new reading/writing materials. Teachers will share information with each other, including what is working for them at this time and what changes need to occur. With new materials for reading and writing this year it is vital for teachers to have time to collaborate and work together as they learn about the new materials and the strategies included in the new curriculum.

Sept. 2 Early dismissal
Sept. 3-4 DIBELS testing, kindergarten and first grade
DIBELS are short, 1-minute tests of phonemic awareness skills. These tests help us know the students’ prereading or reading skills.
Sept. 8 – 11 Developmental Reading Assessments (DRA) for first grade students
The DRA tests help us determine reading skills of our first graders.
Sept. 15 FAX Gilbert, a health and wellness assembly
Sept. 17 Homecoming Parade
Sept. 24 Open House/Curriculum Night, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Title I Parent Meeting, 6 pm


Davis Elementary News
Nancy Beck, Head Principal
Josh Hetrick, Assistant Principal
September 1, 2009
School is off to an excellent start! Students are learning the routines and expectations and starting the work of learning to read or improving reading or math skills. Read with your child or practice math every day if you can. It makes a great difference!
If you come to school during the school day to get your child for an appointment please check in at the office before leaving with your child. If you return the same day with your child remember to come back in the office to let us know your child has returned. This procedure helps us keep track of all the children.
We have some exciting events planned. On September 15, FAX Gilbert, will be here to present an assembly based on wellness, health, and happiness. Thanks to the PTO and the Iowa Arts Council for sponsoring this event.
All K-4 classes will be taking a field trip to Faulconer Gallery in October to view the exhibit, Molecules that Matter, and create their own artwork. The students’ artwork will be displayed as part of the exhibit. You and your child will then be invited to a community event on November 14 to view the art exhibit and take your child’s artwork home. We are pleased that Grinnell College has invited our students to view the exhibit and participate in hands on activities during the trip.
We are participating in the HyVee Shop and Share Fundraiser again. Davis Elementary will receive 3% of purchases (including the purchases at the pharmacy) at HyVee from the first through the tenth of each month. Forms are available at the school or you can request a form if you e-mail me at nbeck@grinnell.k12.ia.us. You must have a form for us to receive the 3% of purchases.
Volunteers are still needed! Let your child’s teacher know if you can volunteer to read to or with students, help students in small group activities, or assist in preparing learning activities.
On Wednesday, September 2, teachers will meet to discuss and plan for use of the new reading/writing materials. Teachers will share information with each other, including what is working for them at this time and what changes need to occur. With new materials for reading and writing this year it is vital for teachers to have time to collaborate and work together as they learn about the new materials and the strategies included in the new curriculum.

Questions to ask your child about school:
What is your favorite subject? Your least favorite?
If you could make one class longer what would it be? Why?

Upcoming Events:

Sept.2 Early dismissal
Sept. MAP testing
MAP tests are computer-based tests that help us know the reading and math skills of the students. The results are used by the teachers to aid in providing appropriate instruction for the students.
Sept. 9 School Board meeting, 5:30 pm
Sept. 15 FAX Gilbert, a health and wellness assembly
Sept. 17 Homecoming Parade

Fairview Elementary News
Nancy Beck, Principal
September 1, 2009
School is off to an excellent start! Students are learning the routines and expectations and starting the work of learning to read or improving reading or math skills. Read with your child or practice math every day if you can. It makes a great difference!
Parents, please remember that you cannot pull into the front drive at the beginning or end of the school day. We need to keep the front drive open and available for buses at the beginning and end of the day. You must park on a nearby street, being careful of no parking signs, to pick up your child. Do not park in no parking zones – you are at great risk of receiving a ticket.
If you come to school during the school day to get your child for an appointment please check in at the office before leaving with your child. If you return the same day with your child remember to come back in the office to let us know your child has returned. This procedure helps us keep track of all the children.
We have some exciting events planned. On September 15, FAX Gilbert, will be here to present an assembly based on wellness, health, and happiness. Thanks to the PTO and the Iowa Arts Council for sponsoring this event.
All K-4 classes will be taking a field trip to Faulconer Gallery in October to view the exhibit, Molecules that Matter, and create their own artwork. The students’ artwork will be displayed as part of the exhibit. You and your child will then be invited to a community event on November 14 to view the art exhibit and take your child’s artwork home. We are pleased that Grinnell College has invited our students to view the exhibit and participate in hands on activities during the trip.
New computers have begun to arrive! There are still components not here but hopefully all computer components will arrive soon and the computers in the lab will be replaced. Watch for the new computers!
We are participating in the HyVee Shop and Share Fundraiser again. Fairview School will receive 3% of purchases (including the purchases at the pharmacy) at HyVee from the first through the tenth of each month. Forms are available at the school or you can request a form if you e-mail me at nbeck@grinnell.k12.ia.us. You must have a form for us to receive the 3% of purchases.
Volunteers are still needed! Let your child’s teacher know if you can volunteer to read to or with students, help students in small group activities, or assist in preparing learning activities.
On Wednesday, September 2, teachers will meet to discuss and plan for use of the new reading/writing materials. Teachers will share information with each other, including what is working for them at this time and what changes need to occur. With new materials for reading and writing this year it is vital for teachers to have time to collaborate and work together as they learn about the new materials and the strategies included in the new curriculum.

Ask your child these questions to learn about the school day:
What is your favorite subject? Least favorite?

Upcoming Events:
Aug. 31 – Sept. 1 DIBELS testing, kindergarten and first grade
DIBELS are short, 1-minute tests of phonemic awareness skills. These tests help us know the students’ prereading or reading skills.
Sept. 2 Early dismissal
Sept. 8 – 11 Developmental Reading Assessments (DRA) for first grade students
The DRA tests help us determine reading skills of our first graders.
Sept. 15 FAX Gilbert, a health and wellness assembly
Sept. 17 Homecoming Parade
Sept. 22 Open House/Curriculum Night, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Title I Parent Meeting, 6 pm