October 19th, 2015

High Point News

Week of: October 19th, 2015

********NEWS*********************

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Congratulations!!!!
Congratulations to Rebecca Gersten and her husband Jordan who will be expecting their first child in April!!! We are very excited for their new little addition! 

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Safety
A few changes have been made in order to ensure the safety of our students who use the portables or are at recess. Please note the changes/improvements below: 

• The door by the Kindergarten playscape going into the 5th grade hallway will now remain UNLOCKED. Please have students use this door if they are coming in from the portables or need to use the restroom. The other 5th grade door near the parking lot should remain locked. 
• We are working on getting a gate around the portable air conditioning units. In the meantime, please make sure your students are not playing near the backside of the portables where it is unsafe. 
• Please use the BUDDY SYSTEM for anyone needing to go outside or to the portables. No child should be sent outside by themselves or into the building from the portables by themselves. 
• Please use the sidewalk at all times. Classes should not be walking through the parking lot area. 
• All grade level chairs: please make sure to have your walkie talkies at all times in the event of an emergency or if the front office needs a child. 

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Comcast Program Offers Affordable Internet Service to Low-Income Families 

The Internet belongs in the home. That’s the word from Internet and cable television provider Comcast, which offers affordable Internet service to eligible students and their families who meet specific requirements. Through Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, families pay $9.95 a month for service and receive in-home Wi-Fi and free digital literacy training in print, online and in person.

To qualify for the affordable rate, families must have at least one child who is eligible for free/reduced lunch; live in an area where Comcast is available; not have subscribed for Comcast within the last 90 days; and not have an outstanding debt to Comcast that is less than a year old. Additionally, as part of a streamlined enrollment process, children who attend schools with 50 percent or more participation in the National School Lunch Program are instantly approved when they apply for the program.  Since launching Internet Essentials in 2011, Comcast has connected more than 500,000 families to low-cost service. To learn more about how you can assist students and their families in getting connected, click here.

If you have a family who needs Internet service to take advantage of Upraised Math, Redbird Advanced Learning, or other personalized learning programs, please see Mariana Mendoza.  She can help get families connected and online.

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IB MOMENT

The workday's Lunch N' Learn was so much fun! Everyone left with tons of strategies to add to their tool box for practicing inquiry throughout the day! Check with Tiffany Churchwell or Sarah Griffin if you want to know more!  Or of course, I would be happy to schedule a time to talk with you directly!  If you are the kind of learner who would rather investigate it on your own, you'll find the power point and handout on the G drive under INQUIRY STRATEGIES in the IB Resources folder!

-Lib Roberts

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What I've been thinking about...

Check out this wonderful article from Edutopia about three practices that can help students invest in their own learning! 

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ignite-student-engagement-roadmap-learning-john-mccarthy?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow%20&utm_campaign=RSS

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ITBS Testing
This is just a friendly reminder that ITBS testing will be conducted throughout the entire building this week. Please make sure you are quiet in the hallways going to specials and lunch. Also, please do not go outside for recess until an announcement has been made. Thank you!!! 

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****VISUALS OF BEST PRACTICE****

As many of you read a few weeks ago in the Monday Notes that Mrs. Sexton was eager to connect with a classroom from another country to extend her class' global experience. Well, she HAS connected with a Kindergarten class in Sri Lanka!!!! The school is an IB school that just finished the same transdisciplinary theme as our Kindergarten classes. Both classes are working on writer’s workshop so Ms. Sexton’s class sent them a video of their author celebration. Ms. Sexton’s class is eager to hear back from them and keep the connection going between our two IB schools. 

********MATH CORNER**********

Go-To Resources for Common Core Math

By David Ginsburg on October 14, 2015 3:01 PM

It's great that we have instant access to thousands of websites related to Common Core. But navigating this sea of sites can be overwhelming. With this in mind, here's a manageable list of free online resources my team has found helpful in our Common Core Math work with instructional leaders and teachers:

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/coach_gs_teaching_tips/2015/10/go-to_resources_for_common_core_math_implementation.html?cmp=eml-enl-eu-news3.

*****WRITERS' GALLERY**********

The pledge and writers' gallery is hosted by Ms. Calhoun's class this week.

The pledge and writers' gallery will be hosted by Ms. O'Daniels' class next week. 

******CALENDAR OF EVENTS*******

Monday, October 19th 

Bus Driver Appreciation Week
Beginning of ITBS Testing for 3rd and 5th Grade

Tuesday, October 20th 

2:50 - New Kids on the Block
2:50 - ParaPro PLC

Wednesday, October 21st 

IB PLC During Specials

Thursday, October 22nd 

2:50 - PLCs

Friday, October 23rd     
Student of the Week Certificate

******BIRTHDAYS! ****************

Happy birthday to Brittany Frappier on the 22nd!! We wish you a very happy birthday!!!