I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Family Math Night

1

Math Curricu-lum

1

Fourth Grade Erie Canal

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Vocal Music 2

NT Youth Vote 2

Global Connect

4-5

Calendar 6-7

Math Curriculum

Ohio Elementary School D E C E M B E R / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 4

I M P O R T A N T D A T E S :

D E CE M BE R

3 1 1 : 4 5 D I S M I S S A L

7 E V E N I N G C O N F E R E N C E S 9 1 1 : 4 5

D I S M I S S A L 1 0 Report Cards Grades1

-6

1 4 1 1 : 4 5 D I S M I S S A L 2 3 - 2 W I N T E R B R E A K

J A NU A RY

5 O H I O M E E T I N G

2 0 5 T H & 6 T H G R A D E C O N C E R T

Kindergarten In Kindergarten we are building the foundations for success in math. Some impor-tant skills that help build this foundation are: • Counting

• Patterns Here’s how you can help…. Have your child practice counting groups of objects up to 10. Make sure they are touching each object as they say the number. We call this one-to-one correspondence. Have your child count the din-ner plates, snacks, socks, etc.

Grade 1 In first grade we are incor-porating skills such as:

• Measuring

• Sorting

• One to One correspon-dence

Here’s how you can help…. 1. Cut out yarn in a variety of lengths. Have your child meas-ure the yarn using paperclips, buttons, coins, etc. You can then move into using a ruler. 2. Describe an object by giv-ing its attributes. (orange, bumpy etc.) 3. Use any board game and practice counting the number of spaces. Use two dice and make a number sentence. (3+4=7)

Grade 2 Students in second grade are developing the skills needed to be proficient in math. These skills include:

• Manipulating shapes and pattern blocks.

• Right/Left directionality and beginning graphics.

• Addition and subtraction. Here’s how you can help…. Have your child use flashcards, dice, noodles, buttons, etc. to master addition and subtrac-tion facts. These skills are the basis for multiplication in third grade.

On October 28th, Ohio Elementary School hosted it’s first ever Family Math Night for grades K-2. Students, parents, and teachers played math games and learned the math curriculum at each level. Thank you to all the teachers and staff members who volunteered, the Math Committee, and all the parents who made this night such a success.

P A G E 2

Fairness: Reasonable and just. Showing impartial judgment.

As a music teacher it is always wonderful to see and hear the musical talents of my students’ blossom. This is the case with the amazing 5th graders this year. Their singing skills are some of the best I’ve heard and I am so anxious for everyone to enjoy their concert. Because their instrumental skills are also wonderful we have decided to eliminate the concert on December 16th and have them perform both in chorus and in band on January 20th instead. We know that you will love their choral performance of “Instruments Are Us”; a tribute to our band instruments and some of the finest the works of Irving Berlin. Please mark your calendar and circle January 20th, 2011. It will be a wonderful night of music.

NT Youth Vote

Grade 4 Field Trip to Erie Canal

Mrs. Noe’s Class

Character Trait for December is

Responsibility and January is

Fairness.

O H I O E L E M E N T A R Y S C H O O L

The students at Ohio Elementary School have spoken. If the students read 4000 books, Mrs. Richards will kiss a snake!

Kiss a Snake 38% Staff vs. Student Activities 26% Dye Hair Blue and White 14% Roller-skating 12%

Mrs. Strong

Gifts for the Mind P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 4

With the gift giving season upon us, I wanted to make some recommendations for games and activities that strengthen language, math, critical thinking, family bonds, social skills, and are just plain fun! Here is just a sample of gift ideas to expand your child’s mind. (In no particular order) I know there are many, many more. Games: Activities: Chinese Checkers Science experiment kits Othello Build it kits such as radios or motion detectors Mancala Art kits Checkers Dress up and items for pretend Chess Puzzles Apple to Apple** Tipover Rush Hour Chaos Backgammon Scrabble Building Toys: Blokus Knex Bananagrams Legos (like a boardless Scrabble) Magnetics Wacky Wigglers Computer: Wooden Blocks Simulation programs marble building sets, such as Marble Madness Chessmaster, Sudoku Brain Booster Books: *Books in your child’s area of interest, but that are too difficult for them, make great read alouds…no matter what your child’s age and reading ability. *Puzzle books such as Sudoku, crossword puzzles, Classic Brainteasers by Martin Gardner (age 12 and up), and Match Wits with Mensa by Marvin Grosswirth (ages 10 and up) *Internet linked books such as Usborne *A deck of cards with a book with different card games *Magazine subscriptions such as: Zoobooks (ages 4-12), Sports Illustrated for Kids (ages 7-13), and National Geo-graphic World (ages 10 and up) If you are an online shopper, one resource where you can find creative and educational items is at www.mindwareonline.com. If you know of any wonderful ideas that I should include on next years list, please email them to me at cy-oung@ntschools.org. Have a wonder filled, brain expanding, holiday season!

Register to Receive Web Site News Updates Parents, do you want to know the latest news that’s been placed on the district Web site? Do you want to receive district broadcast emails of general school news, special events and other announcements? Through the Web site, you have the ability to register in our system to receive these notifications. Your first step is to register yourself as a user. Directions for registering are at www.ntschools.org. In the Short-cuts area, click on New! Web/Home Communication. Your next step after registering is to go back into your profile and subscribe to the specific Web sections you are interested in. Steps to do this are included in the directions.

Global Connect Program The North Tonawanda City School District has implemented the Global Connect program within our district. This program is designed to enable us to complete “mass” phone calling under emergency conditions or to share district-wide information with parents. Everyone should have received a Global Connect Call during this year’s school closing due to inclement weather.

In order for this program to work most effectively, we ask you to maintain current contact information with us. If any of your contact information changes, please fill out the form below and submit this to Ohio’s main office. We will then forward the information to our district offices so that the Global Connect system can be well maintained.

Thank you for your support!

SEX OFFENDER NOTIFICATION The North Tonawanda Police Department has informed the school district that we will no longer be receiving written notification of level 2 and 3 sex offenders through the mail as we have in the past. The Niagara County Sheriff’s Department created a web site listing all the level 2 and 3 sex offenders in their jurisdiction and the NT Police Department has teamed up with them. Level 2 and 3 sex offenders residing in North Tonawanda are now on that web site. Additionally, the web site will allow users to sign up for a notification service that will automatically notify you via e-mail every time a level 2 or 3 sex offender moves into or from place to place within Niagara County. The Niagara County Sheriff’s Department web site is www.ncsd.com/SOR/. Please also remember that the New York State web site is www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us/sor/. The state web site allows you to search by name, county, or zip code throughout New York. The state’s toll free number is 1-800-262-3257.

The District will continue with notifications using the District newsletter and District web site www.ntcityschools.wnyric.org.

V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 4

P A G E 6

Throughout the month of January, our students will be participating in the Pennies for Patients drive. It's not too late for the students to start saving their pennies and/or any loose coins they may have. A reminder will be sent home regarding this drive. All money raised is donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. These funds help support lifesaving research and ser-vices for patients. We will have containers for children to deposit their money. This is strictly done on a voluntary basis. We thank you for any help you may give for this drive.

Thank you for supporting this worthy cause!

Emergency Contact Information

Attention Ohio Elementary School - Please note these changes in our contact information: Date: ________ Student Name(s) and Grade levels __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ Our new home phone number_____________________ We no longer have a home number. Our new cell number: _____________________ Our new address: _________________________ Additional person(s) with permission to pick my child(ren) up from school: ___________________________________________________ Other contact information changes: (i.e.: Grandparent phone number changes if they are listed as emergency contacts) ___________________________________________________

_____________________

Parent Signature

P A G E 7

December

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

O.H.I.O Meeting 6:30 Holiday Gift Shop

2 Holiday Gift Shop

3 Parent Teacher Conference Day 11:45 Dismissal

4 Breakfast with Santa NYMS

5 6 BMX-treme Assembly How to say no to Drugs and Violence

7 Evening Parent/Teacher Conference

8

9 Parent/Teacher Conference Day 11:45 Dismissal

10 Report Cards Issued 1-6

11

12 13 Special Ed. Parent Support Meeting 7pm

14 Parent Teacher Conference Day 11:45 Dismissal Board Meeting 7:30

15

16

17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

P A G E 8

The NTMS Honor Society will be hosting its breakfast with Santa:

December 4th 9:30-11am NTMS Café

RSVP to Mrs. Sturgeon at 807-3700 ext. 3202 or jsturgeon@ntschools.org

January

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

2 3 4 5 O.H.I.O Meeting 6:30

6 7 8

9 10 Anti-Bully Grade 4 9:30-11 Special Ed. Par-ent Support

11 Board Meeting 7:30

12 13 14 K– Report Cards Grade 5 BMS 9:15-1:30

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16 17 MLK B-Day

18 Totally Courageous Basketball 5th grade

19

20 5th & 6th grade Band & Chorus Concert

21 22

23 24 25 26

27 Skating Party 6-8

28 29

30 31

P A G E 9

A Message from the Reading Center:

Miss Scully and Mrs. Petersen

Please continue to encourage your child to “Pop Open Good Book!” We hope all students are striving to read 25 books or more this year! If stu-dents, as a school, read 4,000 books, then Ms. Richards will have to kiss a snake! Helping Your Child with Reading: • Read to your child every day. Vary the types of books read (short stories, poems or long stories) depend-ing on their age. • Encourage your child to choose books you read together and help the child to tell the story from pictures in the book. • Sometimes point to the words as you read. • Talk about the books you read, ask questions about the story. • Draw attention to the illustrations when you read with your child. • Enroll your child in the local library. • Talk about things you read: books, magazines, and newspapers. • Recognize and be proud of your child’s success in reading. • Encourage your child to read for different purposes: Recipes, building instructions, and reading to a younger sibling. Make sure there is always a wide range of reading material available in your home for your child to read.

Third graders practice their sight words on dry erase boards.

Third graders Jessica Kuhn and Jaden Coleman conference over their writing.

Strive for 25:

Children all around Ohio School are working hard to reach their goal of reading at least 25 books this year. With the holidays fast approaching, remember books make great presents! Encourage your child to read nightly. The best way to become a better reader is practice, practice, practice!

Here is this month’s list of children who have already read at least 25 books! Congratulations everyone and KEEP READING! Kindergarten: Joshua M, Alyssa M Grade 1: Thomas C, Brooklyn H, Aidan C, Megan O, Alexander F, Shea P, Braeden O, Brooklyn H, Ashton M, Jimmy R, Max W, Brianna D, Anthony M, Zoe W, Meadow S, Izayha J, Shelby L, William S, Kyle S, Seenaa A, Grade 2: Benjamin N, James J, Benjamin G, Maddison B, Abigail C, Kaitlyn S, John Paul B, Samantha G, Joseph H, Lindsey P, Ethan D, Aidan C, Emily V, Alexia S Grade 3: Kira D, Anthony M, William S, Corey W, Grade 5: Gabrielle S, Paige K, Julia M, Alexis R Grade 6: Sophia G

Slim Good Body visits NT The districts first and second grade students were treated to the Slim Good Body Show at the Alumni Center. This show taught the fundamentals of anatomy, nutrition, fitness, and personal hygiene.

For more information you can visit www.slimgoodbody.com