May 6, 2015 Volume IX, No. 24 Emily Gaberman, Principal – [email protected] Karen Bourn, Assistant Principal – [email protected] Dates To Remember: DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION Fri. May 8 9:45 & 12:30 2015-‐2016 Incoming Kindergarten Visit Day Fri. May 15 9am Gr. 1 Parent Concert Performance Center Fri. May 15 7pm Broadmeadow-‐Mitchell Basketball Game Needham High School Wed. May 20 6-‐7pm Book Pals & Art Show Opening Lobby, Hallways Mon. May 25 No School – Memorial Day Fri. May 29 9am Gr. 5 Immigration Fair Thu. June 4 12:15pm Early Release Day – NO AM Kindergarten due to AM Parent Conferences Fri. June 5 8:20-‐11:10am Gr. 1-‐5 Field Day Playground Fri. June 5 6pm PTC Playground Picnic Playground Wed. June 10 7pm Concert for Gr. 3 Strings and Gr. 4 Parents Performance Center Mon. June 15 7pm Concert for Gr. 5 Parents Performance Center Wed. June 24 12:15pm Early Release Day – LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!! REVISED MCAS Math & Science, Technology & Engineering Testing Dates: Grade 3: May 13, 14 Grade 4: May 18, 19 Grade 5 Math: May 11, 12 Grade 5 STE: May 20, 21 PRINCIPAL’S NOTES WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM Writers’ Workshop can take many forms in the elementary classroom and our approach has been evolving as we align with the expectations set out by the Common Core Standards. In writing, we explore a variety of genres at all grade levels and we incorporate many aspects of writing skills including voice, author’s craft, and conventions of writing each year. As with reading, Writers’ Workshop lessons follow a similar format – beginning with a specific teaching point. Connections to earlier lessons ground students in what they already know and small group instruction or individual conferences provide both targeted instruction and opportunities for teachers to informally assess student progress. Most Writers’ Workshop lessons end with a share where students discuss specific 1
elements they focused on during the writing block or share some aspect of what they produced during that time. Students experience the writing process (which includes pre-‐writing experiences, organizers, drafts, revisions and publishing) in all genres of writing. In the early grades, the source of ideas for writing draw from personal experience, whether it’s a first person narrative (a small moment), an opinion piece (a persuasive letter or a book review) or non-‐
fiction writing (something a student knows a lot about). While this is still important in the middle grades, students incorporate research skills to amplify their background knowledge. This year, Jennifer Potter, Media Specialist and Barb Tennyson, Instructional Technology Specialist, have worked with both fourth and fifth grade teachers and students on developing research skills and learning about developmentally appropriate resources. Throughout the grades, individual choice and the opportunity to write about something that interests a student fosters greater engagement in the process. Writing is incorporated throughout the day – not just during Writers’ Workshop. Students write about their reading, their math thinking, make observations in science notebooks, reflect during interactive read aloud, and research and take notes to name a few of the writing experiences. How can you support your writer at home? 1) Talk. Talk is critical to helping students explore ideas, test out language, and add descriptive details. Talk allows students to share ideas with each other and to think out loud. 2) Model. Share with your child when you write, how you approach the process, how you revise, etc. 3) Read. Reading good writing is important for all writers no matter how young or old. 4.) Enjoy. Enjoy the weekend! Emily SCHOOL NEWS GRADE 1 -‐ 5 ART SHOW; CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS! The Grand Opening of the Spring Art Show is taking place on Wednesday May 20th, from 6 until 7 p.m. The Art Show is an annual celebration of Broadmeadow's visual artists. Every student in Grades 1 thru 5 will select, mount, and label a few of their favorite works from the year to go on display. The children's art -‐ around 1,000 pieces -‐ will be exhibited throughout the school on bulletin boards, walls, and in the media center. If you'd like to assist with putting up or taking down the artwork, or supervising student volunteers at the Opening, I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at [email protected], or drop by the art room and let me know if you can help. Even an hour or two really makes a difference! With many thanks -‐ Damon Burnard NEEDHAM SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS Needham Public Schools Transportation Department reminds residents that all bus transportation forms were sent home the first week in April. Kindergarten forms will be mailed with am/pm notifications in May. Completed forms should be returned by May 15, 2015, to be guaranteed a seat Be sure to read the conduct rules and sign on the appropriate lines. All students are required to register and agree to the bus conduct rules to be eligible for transportation. The transportation fee for the school year 2015-‐2016 is $395 per student with an $800 family cap for families with 3 or more students. The fee after May 15, 2015, increases to $445 per student. The family cap increases to $900 after May 15, 2015. Registrations received after May 15, 2015, will be 2
processed provided there is available space on the bus. Please register early to avoid being placed on a wait list, as many buses reach their full capacity before September. For more information please call the Transportation Department Office at 781-‐455-‐0400 x 242 or check our website at www.needham.k12.ma.us to check your school and street for eligibility or to download an application. SAVE THE DATE: SPRING MUSIC PERFORMANCES! First Grade Spring Music Celebration -‐ Friday, May 15th at 9:00am Fourth Grade Spring Concert (strings, band, chorus)-‐ Wednesday, June 10th at 7:00pm Fifth Grade Spring Concert (strings, band, chorus) -‐Monday, June 15th at 7:00pm TO FAMILIES WHO ARE MOVING OR TRANSFERRING TO PRIVATE SCHOOL Please notify the office as soon as possible if your child (ren) will not be returning to Broadmeadow or the district in the fall. COMMUNITY NEWS CHILDREN’S THEATRE WORKSHOP Needham Community Theatre is proud to announce auditions for Children's Theatre Workshop One-‐
Acts: Snow White Lite, The Fairy Tale Network, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. Auditions are open to children ages 6-‐12.Tuesday May 12th and Wednesday May 13th at 6:45 at Needham Presbyterian Church (park at Newman Elementary School). Auditions by appointment only. Children will learn and participate in all aspects of the production, including sets, costumes and make-‐
up. It is meant to be a fun learning experience. For more information, visit www.needhamtheatre.org. SEPAC EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION -‐ APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS AS AUTISM THERAPY For typically developing children, the world around us provides the right conditions to learn language, play, and social skills. But children with autism learn much less easily from the environment without intervention. They have the potential, but it takes a very structured environment, one where conditions are optimized for acquiring the same skills that typical children learn “naturally.” Join us to learn how Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is used to create an environment that enables children with autism to learn. We will also discuss insurance coverage for ABA services, including coverage available for children of veterans and military members. Presenter Dr. Robert Levine is a licensed clinical psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who has been working in the field of developmental disabilities for the past nine years. In 2012 he founded Red House Behavior Resources, a company dedicated to in-‐home ABA therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders. Wednesday, May 13, 2015 Broadmeadow Media Center 7:00pm Refreshments 7:30pm Program begins 3
What is SEPAC? The Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is a parent organization that provides information and support to the families of special education students, and meets regularly with school administrators to give input on policies and programs. For more information, please visit www.NeedhamSEPAC.org or contact Karen Han at [email protected]. NEEDHAM JUNIOR FOOTBALL SAFETY INFORMATION NIGHT Needham Junior Football will host a Safety Information Night on Tuesday, May 19th at 8pm at Memorial Park Fieldhouse. Program and safety leadership will detail NJF’s C.A.P.E. approach to safety and Head’s Up football, and be available for Q&A. Refreshments will be served. For more information or to RSVP visit http://www.needhamfootball.net or email [email protected] THE CENTER The Center, located at the Congregational Church of Needham, is an after school program for 6th graders. The Center is a safe place where youth can develop independence and with staff supervision we hope that youth grow in confidence and respect for themselves and others, develop lasting friendships, learn to make positive choices, and pursue new interests. For more information, go to myyouthcenter.org or [email protected]. FIRST LEGO LEAGUE: NEW TEAMS NIGHT 2015 Date/Time: May 20, 6:30 to 8pm (Best for one parent and child attend. FLL is best for students entering 5th through 8th grade.) Goal of evening: to learn more about the FLL program, and to help parents/students form FLL teams of their own. The location in Needham will be mailed to you prior to May 20. Please sign up at this website: http://tinyurl.com/NeedhamFLLNight2015 Before coming to the meeting, be sure to check out: http://firstlegoleague.org/parents Check out the Google Group: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/needhamfll where parents can find other members for their team, or find a team for their child. Questions: email Hans Batra ([email protected]) or Laura Miller: ([email protected]) 4