February 2015 Principal`s Notes

February 2015
8259 S. Lavergne
Burbank, IL 60459
Principal’s Notes
Dear Parents,
I cannot believe that we have already finished the first month of 2015. During January many students had the opportunity
to take the practice PARCC assessment. During this time, the teachers and students learned how to navigate through the
test. We continue to prepare for the first session of the PARCC assessment which begins on March 9th.
Also, in January, the students at Byrd School attended the musical You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown at Stagg High
School. Stagg High School and the Spotlight Youth Theater Company were very cordial and generous. I believe the students really enjoyed the production and some even showed interest in joining the Spotlight Youth Theater Company.
The ELL teachers are almost finished administering the ACCESS test. All ELL services should resume on Monday, February 2nd. The testing went very smoothly because of the excellent organization from the ELL teachers and the accommodations made by the staff at Byrd School.
I am very proud of Konrad who represented Byrd School at the District #111 Spelling Bee at Liberty Junior High on January 22nd. Konrad performed very well at the spelling bee and gained valuable experience. Congratulations Konrad!
On February 7th, District #111 will be holding its annual Fitness Fair at Liberty Junior High from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Bridgeview Chiropractic will provide free chair massages, the Fusion Recreation Center will provide free Zumba classes
and there will be a Farmer’s Market where healthy food and recipes will be available. Make sure you are prepared to
move and eat healthy. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
On February 11th, Byrd School will have its monthly parent/teacher involvement meeting at 9:00 am. On February 12th,
the sixth graders will be going to the Shedd Aquarium. The students will be focusing on conservation, animal habitats, and
the Great Lakes. Mr. Fialek, Mrs. Hammad, and Mrs. McCormick’s students are really looking forward to the trip. I know
that all of the teachers are excited about going as well. During the same week, we will have our Valentine’s Day classroom parties taking place on February 13th. The parties will start at approximately 1:30 pm.
Byrd School will hold its second ELL Parent Workshop on February 20 th for the parents of those students who are in the
ELL program, and whose native language is Spanish. More information will be sent home with your child soon.
Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Sincerely,
Mr. Martin
Principal
Students of the
Month
Th e f o l l o wi n g st u den t s
wo r ke d h ar d du ri n g t h e
m o nt h o f J an u a ry an d w e re
c h o se n a s S t u de n t s o f t h e
M o nt h . T h e y h av e pro v e n t o
be ro l e m o del s f o r al l
st u de n t s at B y rd S c h o o l .
JANUARY
K-Ms. Valentino - Michaela Matis
K-Mrs. Motola - Matthew Chaidez
1st-Mrs. Erbs - Milosz Klak
1st-Mrs. Vallianatos - Jocelyn Vasquez
2nd-Mrs. Sevedge - Cristian Huerta
2nd-Mrs. Amin - Christian Moczarny
3rd-Mrs. Turner - Angel Lopez
3rd-Mrs. O’Riordan - Raymond Stotts
3rd-Mrs. Paulson - Mia Villa
4th-Miss Russell - Haron Abuelhija
4th-Mrs. Abeja - Daniel Lunar
5th-Ms. Kijak - Yocelyn Medina
5th-Ms. Shannon - Wyatt Kohler
5th/6th-Mrs. McCormick - Christina Tidwell
6th-Mrs. Hammad - Alejandra Serna-Ruiz
6th-Mr. Fialek - Aisha Karim
Mrs. Catizone - Jeanise Aguilar
Ms. Hernandez - Reghan Girondi
Congratulations to the
2014-2015
R.E. Byrd School
Spelling Bee Participants:
From 4th Grade:
Melissa Bautista
Nathan Luna
Amaris Camargo
Yulissa Orozco
From 5th Grade:
Ashley Cano
Alyssa Carrillo
Konrad Dziewulski
Emanuel Jimenez
Kevin Rodriguez
From 6th Grade:
Sofia Fuerte
Ariana Garcia
Alexis Gonzalez
Shukriah Sheikh
Jacob Viar
Finalists: 1st Place-Konrad Dziewulski
2nd Place-Kevin Rodriguez
3rd Place-Jakob Viar
Richard E Byrd
Join UsDonate
By Phone: (888) 899‑2253 Download Donation Form
E V E N T D A TE
Mar 18, 2015
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
LOCATION
Liberty Junior High School - Burbank School District 111
5900 W. 81st St.
Burbank, IL US
T E A M C A P T A IN
Richard E. Byrd
Check back soon to see this team’s top participants!
Team Members (336) r:
Your donations fund lifesaving children’s cancer research
Be the first to donate towards our $2,000 goal!
- $2,000 goal
V. I. P. s
VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE
By: Ms. Livingstone
Mr. Walsh, our Health Aide, is very important to your child’s
medical welfare. He is the one who takes care of all the daily
bumps, bruises, headaches, and nausea for our 338 children at
Byrd School. Periodically, he checks the children’s vision and
hearing. He is well schooled in what to do for any health
emergency that may arise and he is officially trained in CPR
(cardiac pulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automatic external defibrillator) as well.
His health interest goes beyond the school level. Currently, he is co-captain of our St. Baldrick’s
Drive to conquer childhood cancer. Please think about donating to this worthwhile cause. On
March 18, 2015, from 6:30-8:30 pm, children and adults from the Burbank community will be
shaving their heads and collecting pledges from friends and neighbors to show monetary support
for this event. Last year, we raised $20,200. Won’t you join the fight to conquer childhood cancer?
Thank you Mr. Walsh for everything you do for us.
MARKET DAY NEWS!
Our Market Day goal is to raise $1,000 to fund a K-6 presentation by Jim Nesci's Cold Blooded Creatures.
Thank you to everyone who purchased groceries in December and January! We have raised $417.95 to date for
the students at Byrd School.
Receive a $20 promo code to spend at Shutterfly when you make any purchase online. Plus, receive a FREE
60-count bag of Cheese Ravioli when you spend $90 online and enter FEBBONUS at check out. Orders are
due to school or online at marketday.com by 11pm on Friday, February 6th. Pick-up is Wednesday, February
11th from 1:45pm-2:15pm.
PLEASE NOTE: Beginning in March, Market Day will no longer accept EBT/Food Assistance cards as a payment option for purchases. However, Gordon Food Service (GFS) carries a
variety of Market Day products and will continue to accept EBT/Food Assistance cards on purchases made at their stores.
ELL NEWS!
Estimadas Familias de la escuela Byrd,
En el mes de enero, el departamento de inglés como segunda lengua, por sus siglas en inglés (ELL), administró el
examen anual ACCESS a todos los estudiantes para quienes el inglés no es su primera lengua. Dicho examen es
requerido por el estado para monitorear el progreso de nuestros estudiantes. Las áreas monitoreadas son Escuchar,
Lectura, Escritura, y Habla. El nivel de competencia requerido para salir del programa, comenzando en enero 1,
2014, es 4.2 en lectura y escritura y 5.0 en una combinación de todas las áreas. Los resultados de dicho examen
serán enviados a sus hogares a principios del próximo año escolar junto con la carta anual en la que se les pide su
autorización para continuar trabajando con sus hijos(as).
También tomamos esta oportunidad para dar una calurosa bienvenida a la Familia Galván. Nos da mucho gusto
tenerlos como estudiantes en la escuela Byrd.
En el mes de febrero, me estaré comunicando personalmente con los padres que asistieron a la clase, “aprendiendo
con tecnología”, para darles la nueva fecha y hora para que continuemos aprendiendo.
Espero pasen un muy Feliz Día Del Amor y la Amistad!
Ms. Muñiz y el equipo de ELL
Dear Byrd Families,
In the month of January, the ELL department administered the annual ACCESS exam to all of the students who are
exposed to another language at home or whose first language is not English. This test is required by the state in
order to monitor the progress of our students. The areas monitored in the exam are listening, reading, writing, and
speaking. The proficiency level needed to exit the program, as of January 1, 2014, is 4.2 in reading and writing and
a composite score of 5.0. The results of the exam will be sent to your homes at the beginning of the next school
year. You will also receive a letter in order to accept or deny services.
We also want to take this opportunity to give a warm welcome to the Galván family. We are very happy to have
you at Byrd School.
In the month of February, I will be contacting the parents that attended the first class, “learning with technology”,
in order to give you the new date and time for when we will continue this class.
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Ms. Muñiz and the ELL team.
Kindergarten News
Hip Hip Hooray! Our 100th day of school is fast approaching. We have some exciting activities
and projects planned for our 100th day celebration!
January and February are months full of many holidays and celebrations: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Chinese New Year, Groundhog Day, Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, George Washington’s Birthday, Valentine’s Day, Presidents’
Day and more! One of our final Social Studies units for the end of January we will be learning
about another culture’s New Year. This year Chinese New Year is celebrating the year of the
Horse. In the unit we will make red envelopes to share and wish each other good luck in the
coming year, and complete many other projects and activities. We will also learn that red is a
very special color in the Chinese culture.
Cold winter weather has settled upon us; please make sure your child knows how to dress him/herself properly. It
takes a long time to venture out into the cold, and when your child knows how to get dressed, it makes dismissal
time go much faster and smoother. Please practice zipping coats, putting on gloves, mittens, hats and scarves. If
your child wears boots to school, please make sure they have a regular pair of gym shoes to change into.
Please continue to check your child’s folder daily for any homework, completed work or projects, notes from
school, as well as our weekly newsletters.
Congratulations to our February Students of the Month! Matthew Chaidez for Mrs. Motola and
Michaela Matis for Ms. Valentino.
Library News
I hope the students are working towards their Six Flags reading goals. They have until February 20 th to read 6
hours and they will be eligible to earn a Six Flags ticket.
The arrival of new books to the Byrd School Library should help the students achieve their reading goals.
“Popularity Papers,” “Nerds,” “Charlie Joe Jackson,” “Stick Dog,” “Puppy Place,” “Magic Puppy” and “Goddess
Girls” are among the new series that have arrived for middle school readers.
“Dino Hockey, “Dino Soccer” and “Dino Baseball” have arrived for primary readers. Also “Let’s Play Baseball”
and “Let’s Play Soccer” are among new sport books for primary readers. “Stink,” “Tales for Very Picky Eaters,”
“Being Frank,” “Dear Primo, “Fly Guy Amazing Tricks,” “Tiara Club” and “Robin Hill School” are just some of
the new primary books and series. I hope the students will enjoy these new books. Keep reading.
Ms. Durrant
Byrd Library
First Grade News!
We are very happy to welcome Mrs. Erbs back to First Grade! Baby Michael now has to share his time
with all of us. Happily we will not be completely saying goodbye to Miss Steele as she will back at Byrd working
in other classrooms.
As February approaches, we would like to ask you to be thinking about 100 items to bring in to school for
our 100th day—Can you believe it? We will send a letter with details out as the exact day approaches, but it will be
the beginning of this month (February).
We also ask that you send in a package or two of pencils as our class supply needs replenishment by this
time of year. If you have a chance to stop by a $ store to pick up a magnetic letter set, many kids have to share due
to lost letters or just not having a set. Our making words time occurs often (almost daily) and it goes so much more
smoothly when everyone has their own sets. Please ask your child if they need a new set.
Thank you for all your support at home with homework and reading assignments! All the extra time spent
at home makes our time here at school more productive.
Truly,
Mrs. Erbs, Miss Steele, & Mrs. Vallianatos
Students of the Month for January:
Mrs. Vallianatos: Jocelyn Vasquez
Mrs. Erbs/Miss Steele: Milosz Klak
Second Grade February Newsletter
We are so proud of how hard the students have been working at learning their addition facts! We have quite
a few students who have mastered their addition skills and are now trying to learn their subtraction facts. Once students have begun their subtraction timed tests, please continue to practice addition flashcards, so students are proficient in both.
On February 9th, we will be celebrating our 100th day of learning in school. We are so lucky to have such
hard working, wonderful students!
Students of the Month:
Cristian Huerta (2b)
Christian Moczarny (2a)
Third Grade News!
February is in full swing!
We would like to thank all of you who took the time to vote for the Follett Challenge. It truly showed how a small
school district can come together and make change.
The 3rd graders will be working extra hard all month to prepare for the PARCC Test coming up in March. Every
Tuesday, we will participate in Training Tuesday. This is a fun and educational way students can practice and learn
skills that they will see on the PARCC Test. Remember, all students can dress down every Tuesday in February.
2nd Quarter report cards went home on Friday, January 23rd. Please review, sign, and return the report card ASAP.
Due to PARCC prep and training you will see less Monday folder work in their folders, because we are focusing on
longer step by step assignments to prepare them for the PARCC test.
Please continue to check your child’s daily assignment book and home folder for homework and notes. Also, a
PARCC practice binder will be coming home so you can see the skills your child is responsible for knowing on
PARCC Test.
Please make sure your child is practicing their multiplication and division facts since
70% of the math portion of the PARCC test deals with multiplication and division.
Stay warm,
Mrs. Paulson & Mrs. O’Riordan
Student of the Month:
Mrs. Paulson- Mia Villa
Mrs. O’Riordan- Raymond Stotts
Mrs. Turner’s 3rd Grade Room 8
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the third quarter! I want to begin by thanking many of you for the constant support and reinforcement
you are giving your students at home. I believe it is very important to stress the value of education both at school and at home.
It is when we are all on the same page that the students can achieve to their highest potential.
The students are making wonderful progress in Reading. They have been working very hard and their efforts are not
going unnoticed. Due to all of their hard work, we can see improvements in both word decoding and reading fluency. Many
of the students are also working on reading comprehension with the use of graphic organizers and flow charts.
In Math, many of the students have begun adding double-digit numbers with and without regrouping. Some students
are even working on their multiplication facts! Many of the students are catching on to the concepts and are able to work independently. We have noticed that the students are finding success with the “touch math” program.
Please remind them to use their touch points while doing work at home.
We are having a great time learning about habitats in Science. Please ask your students
about the fun facts and new information they are being exposed to during out lessons.
If at any time you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call me at (708)499-3049
or e-mail me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Mrs. Turner
Mrs. Barrett
Mrs. Perkins
Fourth graders are loving 4th grade this February!
It is hard to believe that February is here already. We are just one month away from PARCC testing. We will be participating in Training Tuesdays which is when the students are allowed to dress in sweats/relaxing clothing to prepare for PARCC by reviewing concepts and practicing skills. Some of the 4th graders have participated in a practice run of the PARCC test. They shared their thoughts in
writing about their experience. They felt it was very challenging and a different experience. Reasons they shared were because; unlike
the ISAT, it is online rather than paper/pencil.
Please remember if your child comes home stating that they have “no homework”, they should still be reviewing
for upcoming tests, reading and practicing math facts. They are given advanced notice as to when assessments are
going to be given, so they should be coming home with those books to study each day to review what was taught in
class.
In Science, we have been continuing to learn about the water cycle and it’s stages; condensation, precipitation and
evaporation.
In Social Studies, we have started our State Journals, in which we have been introducing new states weekly. We also are continuing our
studies of the Northeast, the American Revolution and the Industrial Revolution. We have also been working with the distribution maps
and how to determine the population of a region.
In Math, we are learning more about decimals and fractions. We are using magnetic fraction/decimal circles that have really helped us
understand conversion and how they are equivalent.
In Language Arts, we have been introducing our new spelling words weekly, along with using words properly in sentences as in subject /
verb agreement.
In Reading, we are still becoming familiar with the new WONDERS reading series. We are enjoying the interactive activities in class
and learning about the different genres. Students are becoming more acclimated to the selection tests and vocabulary review.
In writing, we will be predicting what we think the groundhog will say. With that in mind, don’t forget to remind your child to bundle up
each day. The weather often changes throughout the day and we go out for recess once in a while to enjoy the fresh air.
Mrs. Abeja & Ms. Russell
Room 11 – Daniel Lunar
Room 13- Haron Abuelhija
NEWS FROM FIFTH GRADE
The PARCC testing will be in March and we are practicing for this assessment. On Training Tuesdays, every Tuesday in February, students may wear comfortable training clothes. Students can practice at home using the website http://parcc.pearson.com/practice-tests/.
The students were also introduced to another website Study Island where they can practice at home too. Check them out with your child!
In Math, we ended our Fraction unit and moving on to Decimals. We will start off by reading and writing decimals, then adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals. We continue to learn cool things in the DARE program. Detective Michelson visits with the
students every Thursday and teaches them about drug prevention and awareness. In Social Studies, we are still learning about the American Revolution. The students are having fun learning all about the history of our great country. We still continue to work on our Geography skills daily. This month, we’re studying physical maps and comparing maps at different scales.
We have started the 3rd quarter. We are pleased with our students’ progress so far. Keep up the good work! Remember to turn in quality, neat 5th grade work. Just a few reminders: Students must wear their IDs to school every day. READ for Six Flags. Practice math
facts nightly. Be sure to check assignment notebooks and Friday Folders for any homework or notes.
Thank you for your support!
Ms. Shannon and Ms. Kijak
Student of the Month:
Shannon- Wyatt Kohler
Kijak- Yocelyn Medina
News from Room 17:
Congratulations to our January Student of the Month: Christina





In math, we are working on fractions, as well as, reinforcing multiplication.
In reading, both groups have been working on inferences. They have been answering comprehension questions that are
not stated directly in the text, but are using the details within the text to come up with their answers. The students have
been working hard on this skill and I am very proud of them.
In spelling this month, we will be working on Lessons 18- 21. Remember that students take a spelling test every Friday.
In grammar, we will be studying adverbs. The students are continuing to write essays in preparation for the PARCC exam.
Thank you to Mrs. Nykaza for planning the wonderful field trip to Stagg High School to see the Charlie Brown musical.
The sixth graders will be going on a field trip to the Shedd Aquarium on February
12th.
As always, please remember to check your child’s Take Home Folder and assignment
books daily. Corrected papers should be left at home. Also, it is important that your child
is reading, studying spelling words, and practicing multiplication facts every day.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Mrs. McCormick and Ms. Affaneh
Sixth Grade!
Fabulous February
February will be the dedicated month to PARCC training. We will be focusing on skills and strategies that will help students
understand and answer common core questions in ELA, Reading, and Math. We will also be practicing how to navigate
through this test. We will be having PARCC Training Tuesdays where we get to dress down in athletic wear to mentally
“tackle” skills and strategies needed to successfully take the actual PARCC which will be the second week in March. We
will still be following our schedule of the reading program with possible deviations.
Students in Mrs. Hammad’s class were chosen to pilot the math portion of the PARCC test. The format is quite different
from the MAP test so, we learned a little about the meanings of the icons and how to navigate through a part of the test.
We also will be visiting the Shedd Aquarium February 12, 2015. We can’t wait to see all the different species of fish in existence.
We have completed the Rational Numbers Unit and will begin Algebra. Some students are anxious about this topic; however
we will sail through this unit with mastery. Reading, writing, and solving Expressions and Equations will be our focus.
In Science, we have studied the importance of science literacy. Having a basic background or knowledge of how something
works, what to look for if there is a problem, and just being able to relate to things/events that occur in society. We don't
have to be experts in a field to give an opinion or point of view. We also learned how different careers, firefighters to chefs,
and artists to sound technicians, may require basic skill from science to perform their jobs. We will look at the work of scientist, technology, and engineering.
In social studies, we continued with reading about the various gods/goddesses of Greek
mythology. The students seem to enjoy this extended reading. They are in the process of
learning the W hat Does Pandora Say? parody song. The students are looking forward to
creating their Greek god movie posters. They must select a certain amount of gods/
goddesses, actors to portray them, and decide what the title of their movie will be.
Congratulations to our students of the month: Aisha Karim and Alejandra Serna-Ruiz
Sincerely,
Mr. Fialek and Mrs. Hammad
NEWS FROM OUR SOCIAL WORKER!
Dear Byrd Families,
During the month of February, Byrd students will be participating in the 3 rd annual Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (L&LS) Pasta for Pennies Fundraiser. The L&LS is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to the
funding of cutting edge treatments for blood cancers. The students have taken part in a developmentally appropriate assembly explain to them what blood cancers are, how they affect the immune system, and how we can help
support the mission of the L&LS in finding a cure for blood cancers.
Our 1st through 6th graders know what our Penny War is all about, but for our new students and Kindergarteners,
Here is some Penny War information:
What: A fundraising competition: Pennies and Dollar Bills go in YOUR box. Silver
change (nickels, dimes, quarters, half-dollars, etc.) goes in OTHER CLASSES boxes to
sabotage (take away from their penny count). The class with the lowest deficit is the
winner of the pasta party.
Who: All Byrd Students, your grade against the rest.
When: February 2nd – 12th
Where: At Byrd School
Why: To assist the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in finding a cure for blood cancer s
So Byrd students, ask you parents, grandparents, guardians, and other relatives if you could have
the spare change found under your couch cushions, in kitchen drawers, under car seats, and anywhere else change can be found!
Last year Byrd students raised $1,363.62, let’s see if we increase our efforts!
ART NEWS!
Your children are having a busy year in art. Kindergarten will be working on “Love Bugs” for Valentine’s Day.
First grade is starting on patterned toothbrushes for Dental Health Month. Second grade is learning about
the artist Klimt and looking for patterns in magazines to create a piece of art. Third grade is paper plate weaving
and will be putting a face in the middle with some tooling foil. Fourth grade is finishing up their cup weaving and
will begin printmaking. Fifth grade has been working hard on their guitars and will begin making Op Art (optical
illusions). Sixth grade is finishing up their Warhol inspired artwork and will be working on Aztec inspired masks.
I am also spreading the word that if you have any items that you would like to donate the Art Room that would be
fantastic! Please make sure these are items that are non-toxic and safe for students to use. Some items may include; paper towel tubes, toilet paper tubes, boxes (cardboard or plastic) yarn, containers of any size, beads, buttons, sequins, tempera or acrylic paint, felt, fabric, empty Lysol/Clorox containers
with lids and anything else you think we could use throughout the year.
Artistically,
Mrs. Carroll
[email protected]
The Speech Therapy Department
In February, the children think of Presidents’ Day and Valentine’s Day. The teachers think and prepare for what is
soon to come – PARCC Assessment in March, for grades third through eighth. Today’s standardized tests are completely
different from those administered in the 70s, 80s, or even 90s. Today, the students who score well on standardized test have
content knowledge and are comfortable with the “language” of testing. Becky L. Spivey, M.Ed., recently wrote an article entitled, “How Can I Help My Students Perform Well on Standardized Tests?, for both teachers and parents. Ms. Spivey stated
that even if students know the content, they must be able to understand the terminology used in the writing prompts and then
organize and present the information accordingly.
Ms. Spivey in her article, targeted words that appear routinely on standardized test from elementary through high
school. Below is a list and explanation of some of these words:
Five W’s – Answer who, what, when, where, and why questions about a passage;
Describe – Write a response to help the reader visualize a clear picture of a person, place, thing, or idea;
Explain – Write a response telling how to do something or how/why something happened or will happen;
Compare – Write a response as to how two or more things are the same;
Contrast – Write a response as to how two or more things are different;
Define – Present a clear meaning and understanding of a term or event;
Infer – “Read between the lines” of a passage/statement and use the author’s clues to write an interpretation of what the author is really trying to say; the answer is not in the passage;
Summarize – Write a short version of a longer text and include only the most important details and/or events;
Author’s Purpose – Determine the author’s reason behind his/her writing – to inform, entertain, or persuade.
Ms. Spivey suggests that both teachers and parents start reviewing these vocabulary words with their students to help
them achieve their best on upcoming assessments. After reviewing, then we can all have a piece of Valentine’s Day candy!
Donna Dalton – Speech/Language Pathologist
Literacy
The month of January came and went like the cold blustery wind. During the month of February,
all grades will continue with informational text. The primary grades will be working on reading
non-fiction articles and answering comprehension questions and learning about informational text
features and their purpose. The intermediate grades will also continue with non-fiction reading.
They will focus on how to use the features of an informational text for a Text Treasure Hunt and
participate in a group project, where they have to create an informational text poster/travel guide
and give a presentation to the class. Computer Lab-With the PARCC test fast approaching, 3rd6th grade will be in the computer lab taking the PARCC reading and math practice tests. Kindergarten and first grade will be introduced to Microsoft Word and type sentences into a document. The second and
third grades will practice their typing skills and also practice typing in a Microsoft Word document.
Mrs. Catizone
Literacy Teacher-Byrd/Kennedy Schools
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at [email protected].
From the Health Department
February is American Heart Month
With all the beautiful red hearts we will see displayed around our schools this month, let’s remember to keep our
hearts healthy! According to the American Heart Association, “Healthy students perfor m better academically, have better attendance, and behave better in class.” Their Life’s Simple 7 for Kids Program is a great way
to adopt a healthy heart lifestyle for our students and families. It all begins with a decision to live healthier!
Decide TODAY!
As a reminder, with flu season well under way – if you are sick - stay home and get
plenty of rest and hydration. Some signs and symptoms people with the flu often feel
include: fever* or feeling feverish/chills , cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose,
muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue (very tired), and/or more common in children than adults; vomiting and diarrhea. (*It’s important to note that not everyone
with the flu will have a fever). If your child develops these signs/symptoms while at
school, you will get a call from the school health aide to pick him/her up. Please make
arrangements to have your child promptly picked up. For the safety of your child, and
to prevent the spread of disease, we cannot have sick children waiting around the
health office; we do not have the space or resources to care for sick children. Please
make every effort to have your child promptly picked up. Remember to keep your
child home for at least 24 hours following vomiting, diarrhea, or fever (without the use
of a fever-reducing medicine).
Patrice Williams RN
District Nurse
708-496-0500
February 2015
Sun
1
Heart
Healthy
Month
Mon
Tue
Wed
2
3
4
Cadet & Intermediate
Band Lunch Rehearsal
Writer’s Workshop
1st/2nd/4-6th
Groundhog Day
National
Black
History
Month
9
Cadet & Intermediate
Band Lunch Rehearsal
Academic Support
No After-School
Activities
3-4 Club Enrichment
7
Concert Band Lunch
Rehearsal
Byrd Spirit Wear
Fitness
After School
Academic Support Seeds of Knowledge
12
13
Band Lunch Rehearsal
Concert Band Lunch
Rehearsal
Byrd Spirit Wear/
Red or pink for
Valentine’s Day
Academic Support
3-4 Club Enrichment
Parent /Teacher
involvement mtg.
9:00 am
Training Tuesday
(wear sweats / relaxing clothes)
After School
5-6 Club Enrichment
6th Gr field trip to
Shedd Aquarium
Lincoln’s Birthday
19
20
NO
SCHOOL
Presidents’
Day
Mardi Gras Day (wear
your beads)
Faculty Meeting
Concert Band Lunch
Rehearsal
Byrd Spirit Wear
No After-School
Activities
Ash Wednesday
23
Cadet & Intermediate
Band Lunch Rehearsal
After School
Beginner Band Lunch
Rehearsal
Academic Support
Seeds of Knowledge
5-6 Club Enrichment
Girls Volleyball
26
27
Cadet Band Lunch
Rehearsal
Board Meeting 7PM
Concert Band Lunch
Rehearsal
Byrd Spirit Wear
or dress like Mr.
Gamino
Writer’s Workshop
1st/2nd/4-6th
Academic Support
Boys Volleyball
Progress Reports go
home
25
After School
3-4 Club Enrichment
Training Tuesday
(wear sweats / relaxing clothes)
21
ELL Workshop
2:45—3:30 pm
24
Recycling Club
14
Classroom Parties
1:30 pm
18
After School
Academic Support
LJH
Girls Volleyball
17
2:45-3:30 pm
10-1
Seeds of Knowledge
16
Cadet Band Lunch
Rehearsal
Fair
Academic Support Beginner Band
Lunch Rehearsal
Training Tuesday
Washington’s
Birthday
Girls Volleyball
Cadet Band Lunch
Rehearsal
3-4 Club Enrichment
22
Beginner Band
Lunch Rehearsal
11
Memory Book Club
Sat
6
10
Writer’s Workshop
1st/2nd/4-6th
Kindergarten
registration begins
Fri
5
5-6 Club Enrichment
Training Tuesday
(wear sweats / relaxing clothes)
After School
100th day of School
15
After School
Recycling Club
Boys Volleyball
Faculty Meeting
2:45-3:30 pm
Recycling Club
Boys Volleyball
8
Cadet Band Lunch
Rehearsal
Thu
Band Lunch Rehearsal
Memory Book Club
After School
Academic Support Beginner Band Lunch
5-6 Club Enrichment
Rehearsal
Seeds of Knowledge
Girls Volleyball
28