January 31, 2014

Bulldog Bulletin Betsy Ross School 700 N. Schoenbeck Rd. Prospect Heights, IL 60070 (847) 870-3868

Principal: Mr. Craig Curtis

ISAT Testing Tips for Parents (March 3 – 14)

ü Encourage your child to do well, but don’t pressure him/her. It is important for your child to stay relaxed.

ü Make sure your child gets enough sleep the night before the test.

ü Ensure your child eats a healthy breakfast the day of tests. Avoid heavy foods that may cause grogginess and high sugar foods that may cause hyper activity.

ü Make sure your child gets up early enough, so he/she will be on time to school.

ü Talking with your child about the test in advance can relieve stress about test taking.

During the month of December, members for the Betsy Ross Star Values Student Committee were selected. This representative committee will plan events related to our Star Values program for the remainder of the school year.

Important Dates

Feb. 6

Feb. 6 & Feb. 13

Feb. 7

Feb. 12

Jump Rope for Heart Kick-Off

P/T Conferences (As Scheduled)

Wear Red Day for Jump Rope for Heart

School Board Meeting (7:00 @ Mac)

Star Values Student Committee

“Empowering Children to Achieve Excellence”

Feb. 13

Wear Valentine Colors or Hearts (V-Day)

Feb. 13 Valentine’s Day Parties (Beginning @ 1:15)

Feb. 14 & Feb. 17

No School

Feb. 25 PTO Theaterbam Chicago Assembly

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January 31, 2014 September 27, 2013

Bulldog Bulletin Betsy Ross School 700 N. Schoenbeck Rd. Prospect Heights, IL 60070 (847) 870-3868

Principal: Mr. Craig Curtis

Intergenerational Connections Grant Update

You may remember from our last publication that one of our Betsy Ross teachers recently received the very distinct honor of acquiring a grant from the Illinois Education Association. As a result of this grant and in an effort

to increase community awareness and a desire for service, Mrs. Souri's third grade bilingual class is excited to announce their next visit to the local senior living home that is scheduled to take place on February 7th. The students will visit the residents and are planning to present reader's theater skits. Both Betsy Ross School and Mrs. Souri’s third graders are very excited about this opportunity.

The PTO Winter Carnival Pizza Night that was originally scheduled for Thursday, February 20th has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. However, the event will still take place. The new date for the event is Thursday, May 29th. We continue to be extremely excited for this event as the buzz is already in the air! For more information, please visit the PTO website at: http://d23epto.org/pto/.

More Important Dates

Feb. 26

Feb. 27

Mar. 3 – Mar. 14

Mar. 7

PTO Meeting (7:00 in Sullivan Library)

Jump Rope for Heart Event (All Day in Gym)

ISAT Testing Window

Report Cards Go Home

PTO Winter Carnival (Pizza Night)

“Empowering Children to Achieve Excellence”

Mar. 8

PTO Roller Skating Party

Mar. 11 2nd Grade Battle of the Books Final

Mar. 13 & Mar. 14

Sullivan Play

January 31, 2014

2nd Grade Curriculum Update Reading: We have finished book one of our reading series. Unit four is titled "Our Changing World". We will explore how things change and how things stay the same. Some of the concepts we have recently covered are fact and opinion, sequencing, and compare and contrast

Grammar: We have been learning about verbs, and verb tenses.

Spelling: Comparative endings, -er and -est, long i patterns, and compound words.

Writing: We continue to work on writing fiction and nonfiction pieces that have complete sentences and proper punctuation. We are focusing on using transition words to better sequence our writing. We are encouraging students to add detail to better help the reader comprehend what is written.

Mathematics: We have begun learning the partial sums algorithm for 2 & 3 digit addition. We encourage parents to have students use this algorithm when helping with homework. Although it does not look like the same as the traditional method parents learned, it will help children develop strong mental math skills. We briefly touched on 2-digit subtraction with the help of base 10 blocks to demonstrate trading. We are also learning about arrays to help understand the multiplication.

Library: We continue to research the animal of our choice using digital info and books found in the Ross Library following the Super 3 research model. Using a graphic organizer, we gathered info, summarized facts, and rewrote statements. Next they will be creating a “What Am I?” class Power Point that will include facts and a drawn picture of their animal.

Science: We will soon start our unit on Force and Motion that will accompany our High Tech High Touch field trip.

In early November, District 23 began a new tutoring program to service students who need additional instruction, re-teaching, or guided practice in reading and mathematics. Though the program is taking a short break due to ACCESS testing. We plan to start up again soon. Sessions will continue to take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 at Jolly Fun House in Wheeling.

Art: Created a nighttime winter landscape. We used a variety of media & earned about shading and shadows. Next, we will be creating a snowman portrait from two different viewpoints—worm's eye and bird's eye.

Social Thinking: Our team is working on presenting Lesson 2 to our students: “Big Problem vs. Little Problem”. Thus far, we are excited to see the enthusiasm of both staff and students pertaining these lessons.

Music: Some of our classes discussed the importance and learned a song about Martin Luther King Jr. Learned a speech piece called “The Noble Duke of York” and added movement while standing in a circle.

Social Studies: We have been learning about Martin Luther King & the Civil Rights Movement.

Title III Bilingual Tutoring

Guided Math with Mrs. Levato

Super 3 Research in the Library Angry Verbs in Mrs.

Rollefson’s Room

January 31, 2014

3rd Grade Curriculum Update Reading: We have worked on generalizing, summarizing, graphic sources, important ideas, fact & opinion, inferring,fact & opinion, questioning, cause and effect, and monitor & clarify skills.

Grammar: We studied singular & plural nouns, subject & object pronouns, and prepositions.

Spelling: Patterns include irregular plurals, possessive pronouns, and contractions.

Phonics: We worked with r-controlled words, prefixes, suffixes, and VCCCV.

Writing: We wrote imaginative stories, persuasive, biographies, autobiographies, summarizing, and extended written responses.

Homework Club: We continue to meet every Wednesday.

Art: We have been finishing up an African art unit and are beginning a cartoon self-portrait of ourselves catching snowflakes on our tongues.

Social Thinking: Our team is working on presenting Lesson 2 to our students: “Big Problem vs. Little Problem”. Thus far, we are excited to see the enthusiasm of both staff and students pertaining these lessons.

Library: We are completing research projects about natural disasters, invertebrates or vertebrates or their culture using the Big 6 Research model. Once the research is completed, students will create a presentation through Move Note that simulates a newscast format. Once completed, all students should have digital access to their project. Additionally, one class is creating book trailers for their favorite books.

Coming up on March 4, bilingual teachers, district representatives, family members, and bilingual students will meet in the Ross Library for our next Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) meeting. The focus of this meeting will be math. During the night, bilingual teachers will discuss the many math supports available to our district families.

Mathematics: We have focused on multiplication and division, fact power, parentheses, extended facts, ratios, patterns, and extended written responses (long & short).

Social Studies: Topics have included communities, how are people different, how the economy works, global trade, public services, city hall, and government.

Music: Some of our classes began to learn how to play recorders. Students learned three notes B, A, and G and learned proper playing technique. These classes also began a speech piece called “Three Little Monkeys” while alternating clapping rhythms to create the musical form called Rondo.

Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC)

Reading Strategies in Ms. Chartouni’s Room

Please contact us if you would like this communication translated into your native language. Por favor, póngase en contacto con nosotros si desea que esta comunicación traducido a su idioma nativo. Prosimy o kontakt, jeżeli chcą Państwo by wiadomość ta została przetłumaczona na Państwa język ojczysty.

Guided Reading with Mrs. Duytschaver Celebrating Students in

Mrs. Sabath’s Room