WEDGWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL3rd MARKING PERIOD NEWSLETTER 2014-2015

THE MUSTANG

PRINCIPAL’S NEWS

Near the end of the school year, we will begin the process of tentative classroom assignments for next year. These assignments are made collaboratively by many staff members:your child’s teacher, the next grade level staff, our Reading Specialist, BSI Math teachers,Special Education staff, our Guidance Counselor and the Administration. These professionalswill be taking a considerable amount of time regarding the placement of the students. Thefollowing factors are taken into consideration: student reading level, student standardized testscores, report card grades, social history, heterogeneous grouping, special educationrequirements, teaching styles, learning styles, and BSI reading and math.

With this in mind, we cannot honor requests for a specific teacher because it couldimbalance the classroom make-up. Because it is not possible to honor all such requests, it wouldnot be equitable to do so for some. However, it is understandable that, if a sibling had a teacherassignment which resulted in conflicts in parent-teacher relationships, a parent may suggest analternative placement. In this type of situation, parents, students and teachers are better off ifsuch a request is honored.

UPCOMING EVENTS

4/23 - Take Daughters & Sons to Work Day4/23 - Early Dismissal 1:40 – Parent Conferences4/24 - Early Dismissal 1:40 – Parent Conferences4/27 thru 5/1 – Spring Book Fair 4/28 - Gr. 4-TDBAC – The Teacher From The Black Lagoon4/28 - BOE Public Meeting – 7 pm 11/12 High School – Teacher of the year presentations4/29 - Book Fair Family Night - 6 – 8 pm District Art Night-WTHS – 7 pm5/4 - National Librarian Day5/5 - National Teacher Day – Box Tops Due5/6 - National School Nurse Day - PTO Spring Clothing Drive 5/7 - T-1 – Garden State Discovery Museum5/8 - Gr. 3 – TDBAC - Miss Nelson is Missing5/8 - Gr. 1 – Mother’s Day Tea – 2:00 pm – All Purpose Room5/13 - 4th marking period progress reports5/14 - Gr. 2 – Adventure Aquarium - Baby Bundles Collection Deadline5/15 - Gr. 5 Track Meet5/16 - PTO Designer Bag Bingo & Basket Auction5/18 - Gr. 4 – Academy of Natural Sciences - BOE Work Session – 8 pm5/20 - Art Show & Ice Cream Social 7-9 pm All purpose room - Family Night5/21 - Gr. 1 – Philadelphia Zoo (rain date 5/27)5/25 - School Closed – Memorial Day5/26 - Gr. 3 Strings Recruitment – 2:305/26 - BOE Meeting – 8 pm5/28 - Gr. 4 – Band Recruitment - 2:305/29 - Gr. 3 – Franklin Institute6/2 - Gr. 5 Safety Patrol Picnic (rain date 6/4)6/4 - Gr. 5 Talent Show 7 pm – All purpose room6/5 - Early Dismissal 1:40 pm Staff inservice6/5 - Gr. 5 Festival at Chestnut Ridge Middle School 7-9 pm6/8 - Gr 5 Pool Party - Gr. 3 – Duffields Farm 6/15 - Gr. 3 Luau 9:15-10:45 am – All Purpose Room6/15 - BOE Work Session – 8 p.m.6/16 - Softball Game Early Dismissal 1 pm – no lunches served 6/17 - Field Day- Gr. 3,4,5 Early Dismissal 1 pm – no lunches served 6/18 - Field Day – Gr. 1,2 Early Dismissal 1 pm – no lunches served 6/19 - Gr. 5 Breakfast Early Dismissal 1 pm – no lunches served 6/22 - Gr. 5 Awards Ceremony 6/22 - Last Day - Students Early Dismissal 1 pm – no lunches served6/23 - Last Day - Teachers

PTO CONNECTIONS

PTO Voicemail - 856-227-8110, ext. 3644 – for any comments, concerns,with Lifetouch, Fundraising, Junior Achievement, etc. Please leave a message

PTO email: Wedgwoodpto@yahoo.com

FIRST GRADE NEWS

The first graders have been busy little bees since our last newsletter. Spring has arrived and like nature, our minds continue to grow. We are becoming competent readers and independent workers. February and March were busy months of learning. First graders learned about two of our great presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Spring has also brought reading and science lessons on the life cycles of both plants and animals. Reading is a major focal point of first grade. We have been busy working on comprehension strategies such as, answering and asking questions while reading, understanding the text features of a nonfiction book, finding the main idea and details of stories, and using fix up strategies when reading breaks down. First graders also continue to grow in their writing ability. The students have many opportunities to write in the classroom. We have published both fiction and nonfiction pieces. Our last project was writing a “how to” paper to explain step-by-step directions. The children are enjoying the writing experience, sharing their thoughts and stories with each other while gaining confidence in their ability. They are becoming wonderful authors! Journal writing, letter writing and story responses are other types of writing we use in first grade. Our Fundations program continues to assist the students with the rules of our language for reading and writing. Using the core tiles to move around and make words enables the first graders to strengthen skills in a fun hands-on environment. You must be as amazed as we are at how well the children can break down so many new words while reading and writing! Please continue to practice the “trick words” with your child. Math keeps our minds stimulated. The children have been working on mastering facts to 10, using the double, double plus one and friends of ten strategies. We are currently exploring fact families to help us understand the relationship between addition and subtraction. Please continue to practice addition and subtraction facts at home. Remember the goal for a first grade child is to be fluent in facts to 10 in both addition and subtraction by the end of the year. Thank you for your help with math practice and homework assignments. First Graders also had many opportunities to participate in many fun and educational experiences. We had a return visit from one of our favorite dentists, Dr. Anthony Calandra! He came to Wedgwood for a lesson on dental health. The lesson incorporated the importance of taking care of our teeth, brushing and flossing, and choosing the right snacks for healthy teeth. Thank you, Dr. Calandra! Friday, February 20th, was Junior Achievement Day. Volunteers from our community, many of them Wedgwood parents, came into class to teach the first graders. With the help of a high school student, lessons were presented that centered on family and community. The parent volunteers and high school helper provided hands on activities to keep the first graders’ interest and learning high. The children were very enthusiastic and enjoyed the novelty of being taught by someone other than their teacher. Thank you, parents for taking the time to come into class and share your expertise with the children.

The 100th day of school took a while to get here, but we celebrated on February 17th. The students paraded around the school showing off very unique and unusual hats covered with 100 items. The students participated in many other classroom activities in honor of that special number! Our Spirit Day was also celebrated in February. . We were able to show our school pride by wearing the new tee shirts that were gifts from the PTO. Many thanks to the fine PTO parents who are always doing and giving so generously to the students at Wedgwood! March brought our annual Read Across America Day. Wedgwood School participated in a school wide reading event to promote the importance of reading daily. Everyone, student and adult, went out into the hallway with a book and read for 20 minutes. We all had fun participating in this worthwhile activity. The first grade classes went to the TD Performing Arts Center to see an all-time favorite character, Curious George! His silly antics were very entertaining. Riding the bus to the center was also a highlight for the children! Our next bus ride will be to the Philadelphia Zoo on May 21st. We are looking forward to that adventure! First grade is truly a learning experience for all involved. We would like to thank you, our parents, for your continued help and support. Your help is invaluable to us and we appreciate your time and effort put forth at home. Moms, please keep Friday, May 8th open for our traditional Mother’s Day Tea. We look forward to seeing you in your fancy clothes and smiling faces!

SECOND GRADE NEWS

Spring is in the air. Warmer weather can’t be far behind. We look forward to seeing the green grass and the flowers starting to bloom. Second graders have been very busy! In Math, we have learned to regroup with two digits in addition and subtraction. Knowing our math facts and practicing our timed tests have helped us with this concept. Fractions were introduced and we have also begun an understanding of measurement to the nearest inch and centimeter. We will continue to reinforce these skills daily in our math boxes and journals. The children are enjoying the stories in our reading series. We will continue to write stories, work on story vocabulary, reading comprehension, and skills practice. Our writing curriculum has brought us many interesting topics to write about. We are writing fiction, non-fiction and friendly letters. What a community of writers we have become. In Science, our classes learned about animals and their habitats and soon we will begin our unit on weather and atmosphere. Some topics being presented in Social Studies include: Needs and wants, government, major types of landforms on Earth and map skills. Our students are also learning about the United States and are excited about presenting their state reports. Cursive writing has been introduced, and the children are eager to begin writing in a more “grown up” style. We will continue to work hard and have fun. Thank you for your continued support at home. Don’t forget to sign the homework pad nightly and check your child’s folder!

Many other exciting activities have kept us busy as well. Second grade had the opportunity to participate in our school wide celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday. The children loved reading their book in the hallways of our school as well as dressing each day in different styles. A fun filled week was had by all. We also attended our school’s handbell and chorus concert. All of the participants did a fantastic job. We participated in the Junior Achievement event that brought us all an awareness about our community. We enjoyed our trip to the TD Bank Center where we saw the play of Fly Guy and Other Stories. Mrs. Ruh’s class also invited our school to participate in Alex’s Lemonade Stand in her room. The lemonade was delicious and the proceeds support a great cause. We would like to thank the PTO for all of the activities and support you have given us this year! HAPPY SPRING!

The students in room 16 have been very busy! Our science lessons are exciting. We are learning about life cycles and plant growth. We are currently observing plant growth and keeping an observation log. We are looking forward to the arrival of the butterfly larvae in May. We have been designing and creating costumes for the Species Parade on Earth Day. The children will have a special health lesson in May. A student nurse, Ms. Janelle, is going to teach us about the importance of washing our hands. We are looking forward to a “hands on” lesson! The class enjoys playing games that help us practice our reading skills. Two of the favorites are “Beat the Clock” (similar to “Hangman” but with an emphasis on word structure) and “E-Z Pass” (a way to review our Trick Words). Please continue to read with your child daily. The students have been creating books of directions to make smoothies. We will have a special activity to celebrate their completion in the near future. The boys and girls have been using games and hands-on activities to reinforce math concepts and skills. Ask your child if s/he is on our “Math Stars” list. Every Monday afternoon brings the opportunity to demonstrate “Friends of Ten” and/or “Doubles Facts” knowledge. We are looking forward to our field trips in May. The whole class will visit the zoo. The second graders will also be going to the Aquarium. I enjoy working with your children. Thank you for your continued support. –Mrs. Jan Sanders

THIRD GRADE NEWS

Third grade is happy that spring has finally sprung! It was a LONG, COLD winter! We are excited about the warm weather and new learning adventures! In our Literacy program we have been exploring many types of nonfiction books. Our comprehension strategies have included wondering and questioning and analyzing text features. As a special reading activity, we celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday by having a third grade pajama party. It was fantastic to have so many parents come in and read to us! Reading Workshop is a favorite time of the day for so many third graders. There are so many good books to read! Please continue to read for at least fifteen minutes every night! During Black History Month the students researched famous African Americans. The students learned about the life and contributions of these famous people. We also studied

Cultural Influences, Immigration, and Prejudice and Tolerance. The students really enjoyed sharing things about their cultures. Breakfast Club continues to reinforce good nutrition and at the same time be an enjoyable and delicious experience for all of us. Our weekly TIME for KIDS magazine which was purchased for us by the PTO has kept us informed about current events. Thank you PTO for giving us this opportunity. In math we have been concentrating on problem solving and open ended questions. Fractions and area are important skills for us in third grade. Please keep practicing multiplication and division facts using the Everyday Math fact triangles. We are continuing to develop our knowledge of Spanish vocabulary. We have been working on the days of the week, months of the year, and numbers. Our school's Band and Orchestra and Chorus and Handbell concerts were amazing. The students did a marvelous job. We are sure that many third graders will want to join these programs next year after listening to such wonderful performances. Junior Achievement Day was a special day for everyone involved. Many parents, high school students, and local business professionals donated their time and expertise to enlighten all of the students here at Wedgwood School about our community. Third grade has a lot of exciting events planned for the fourth marking period and cannot wait to implement them! We will travel to the Franklin Institute and see a play at the high school. Tracy Duffield will visit the third graders and help us plant seeds in April. Then we will travel to Duffield’s Farm in June to plant our squash plants. A few lucky students will return in July to harvest the squash for the Charity Garden. We appreciate your continued support in helping your child to succeed this year.

.

FOURTH GRADE NEWS

LET’S HEAR IT FOR SPRING!!! It has been a very long winter and I’m sure everyone is ready for some warm days. It’s hard to believe that the 4th marking period is very close and 5th grade is looming around the corner. We are continuing to work hard on our organizational skills to be prepared for next year. Students need to continue to be responsible and prepared each day. Please continue signing your child’s assignment book, AFTER they have completed their homework. The fourth marking period brings with it a time for your child to reflect on their year in fourth grade. This is their chance to “show what they know”!! Fifth grade can be a challenge for many students and we want them to be prepared. The PARCC test will be given again during the week of May 4-6, followed by the Science portion of the NJ ASK on May 27; so the students need to be “on top of their game”. Many students showed off their talents during the string orchestra/ instrumental concert. I’m sure all parents were very proud of their children – hard work and practice does pay off!! Even more students performed in the Chorus concert. The students had an opportunity to perform in front of their family and friends. The students did an amazing job! They should all be very proud.

In our Math classes, we have covered many skills and concepts. Some units have included geometry, fractions, measurement, multiplication and long division, probability, area and perimeter, to name just a few. The use of the Everyday Math program keeps students on their toes, since all skills come back in a spiral effect. They are using their higher-level thinking skills to solve problems and several strategies are incorporated daily. Students are also practicing “Mathletes”, which are complex problems that involve several steps, as well as, written responses. We recommend daily practice of basic facts to keep their minds active. We have continued to incorporate many skills in our Reading program throughout this year. Our novels this year are in many different genres, such as realistic fiction, biography, fantasy & myths. The correlation between reading, writing, vocabulary, and word study has provided the students with a meaning for their work. They see how things relate to each other and they have become more successful writers and readers. Our “Being a Writer” program has brought continued success with our students! They really enjoy writing and creating based on different stories they are being exposed to. Seeing how an author writes has given them many examples to help in their own writing. They have quite a number of final finished pieces they are very proud of. Students also worked on research projects about states, endangered animals, etc. They were very eager to learn many new things about different states and have become more aware of how they can help the many threatened or endangered animal species. Our Science curriculum has opened up many new areas of study for the students. All classes have been rotating through different units during the last two marking periods. The units include Life Cycles of living things, Body Systems, Ecosystems and Habitats. We will end the year with our Social Studies curriculum, which will include technology, innovations and economics. We will conclude the year with the Holocaust. We are all looking forward to a happy spring and an exciting, busy and productive 4th marking period. Please know that we appreciate all the effort you, as parents, have made to help your child be a successful student and continue to encourage them to be responsible at home.

FIFTH GRADE NEWS

SPRING is in the air! The 3rd marking period is over, and the students’ Wedgwood years are quickly coming to an end. Just one more marking period to go, so hang in there with us in keeping the students focused. In Reading, Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Mattera/Mrs. Centola’s classes just finished reading science fiction novels: Found, City of Ember, and My Teacher is an Alien. Mrs. Mattera/Mrs. Centola’s class completed book reports summarizing each of the novels they read and created “Coming Attraction” posters which can be seen hanging outside their classroom. Ms. Gelzunas and Mrs. McGough’s classes just finished reading historical fiction novels: George Washington Socks, Chains, and Back in Time with Ben Franklin. Their reading groups are working on “Book Talk/Walk” presentations for each novel read. Reading these novels helped them make connections with the Revolutionary War unit in Social Studies. Mrs. Evans and Mrs.

Mattera/Mrs. Centola’s classes look forward to making these same connections in the 4th marking period. Our Being a Writer Curriculum has all the fifth grade students working on expository nonfiction pieces. The students will be choosing topics and conducting research through books, educational magazines, and the internet. The students are doing a great job with this task and we look forward to reading their published pieces! In Math, many of the classes are finishing up Unit 8 which covers the addition and subtraction of fractions, as well as multiplication. The 5th grade classes will then move on to Unit 9 which deals with plotting coordinates, area, and volume. Please review the “Fearsome Fifteen” facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division on a daily/weekly basis. Knowing these facts will help your child continue to be successful in the school.   In Social Studies, we have just finished studying about the Revolutionary War.  The students created beautiful ABC books which told the story and illustrated some of the main events that took place during that time period.  We are now “Moving West”, and are eager to learn about the adventures of Lewis and Clark and many other famous pioneers. In the Science world, we completed our unit on Oceans. All classes chose a marine creature to research and write about in order to learn more about its habitat, predators and prey. Dioramas were created for either in-class presentations or extra credit. The students are looking forward to working on our next unit, Space, through several hands-on labs. The students recently completed two Caron classes that provided them with positive methods for dealing with stress and peer pressure. The students enjoyed the classes and we’re confident that they will utilize and apply these methods to future situations. Our next sporting event will be the softball game in June where students from each class play against our faculty. We look forward to seeing the students’ softball skills and an enjoyable game.

LITERACY AT HOME

After a long, cold winter, spring has finally arrived! Let’s spring into some reading strategies your child can use for successful comprehension:

S ynthesize: Synthesizing involves merging new information with existing knowledge to create an original idea or form a new perspective. Readers’ thinking evolves as they gather more information. When students have an “aha moment”, that’s usually when synthesis has taken place!

P icture clues: Picture clues are useful tools for comprehension. When pictures are included in a book, good readers use them to help deepen their understanding of the text.

R eread: If a sentence doesn’t sound right, it’s usually because a word was read incorrectly or perhaps a word was left out. Rereading to ensure the sentence makes sense is a simple way to correct a mistake and ensure comprehension is taking place.

I nfer: Making inferences is how good readers use words from the text and add personal knowledge in order to think more deeply about what the author is saying. Making inferences is also known as “reading between the lines.”

N otes: Taking notes while reading is an important reading strategy. Notation while reading helps readers mark pertinent information as it unfolds and reduces the need to search back for information or perhaps even forget it. Notes can be written on Post It notes, highlighted in the book (if applicable) or written down in a reading log.

G enres: Reading a wide variety of genres is beneficial for learning different types of authors’ purposes and styles. Readers have a different type of awareness depending on the type of genre they choose. When reading a nonfiction article, text features play an important role in the comprehension of true facts; while being aware of character traits, setting and theme help in the comprehension of a fictional tale.

Using good reading strategies will help your child’s comprehension bloom! Happy springtime!-Mrs. Brown-

RESOURCE ROOM NEWS

We all have the opportunity in life to experience and create through many forms. Almost everything we hear, relates to the magnificent sounds of Music. Finding the overall projection of Music will definitely influence and require the resources of your mind and body. Experience the excitement and soar to a “universal” expectation.

MUSIC NOTES…First Grade- Everyone is doing a GREAT job! We have experienced a wide variety of Musical Form: Rhythms, Melodies, Handsigns for Sightreading, Instruments, Picture Imagery and Movement galore!! It all is coming together very well.We started Spring with an action packed flower growing songs and exercise program… your child is growing into a full beautiful blossomed flower! At the end of April we will begin making Orchestra books and preparing for Mother’s Day Tea!Second Grade- Second Graders are doing a fine job with Sightreading, Rhythms, Scales, Songs, Music Terminology and Movement. In Second Grade everything is put all together to allow the child to feel the overall application of Music. We are working on the Sound unit, exploring with experiments and applying this unit to instruments. We also perform a great deal during our

Spring classes using Percussion Instruments~ this allows a child to not only become confident in what they are learning but enlightens endless possibilities to create!Third Grade- The foundation of Music is becoming stronger and stronger! We have just completed Staff building, applying eight notes scales and identifying notes for Song Flute application. We are moving and dancing to circle songs! The next cycle will be Song Flutes. We will be reading from the staff and creating wonderful harmonic sounds. This project will take us through June. This opportunity allows the child to push forward their Musical foundation while having fun~ Also, all notation and rhythms, will enhance READING and LANGUAGE Art skills Songs Flutes, also present a wonderful opportunity to work gross and fine motor skills. Here they come, Strike up the Band!!!!Fourth Grade- In addition to working on expanding our Musical Foundation, we are now beginning ‘The Orchestra Cycle’. Not only are we discussing the wonders of ‘how’ the instruments are made and work, but also listening and watching demonstrations from superb Symphonies on the Internet. We are currently working with three specific Web Sites; www.dsokids.com. ; www.sfskids.com ; www.nyphilkids.org *Please note, yellow papers will be going home, explaining this final cycle~ The ‘DSO’ site is the Dallas Symphony, ‘SFS’ is the San Francisco Symphony and the ‘NYPHIL’ is the New York Philharmonic Orchestras; ALL demonstrate, illustrate and engage amazing theory experiences that will give perception for interest and creativity. I encourage the Fourth Graders to go on the sites with their mom/ dad/family member and demonstrate what we are doing. This opportunity will allow the Fourth Graders to open their eyes to a whole new world of Instrumental Music. Fifth Grade- We are preparing for Middle School! We have just completed our music: Composer’s Projects~ a project that interlocks four subject areas with Music, Literacy, Social Studies, Technology and Art. Our last component was to perform their projects as a Game Show, Play or Interview someone in the group as the composer~ SUCCESS! We are ready to begin our final stage/cycle of expertise-Performance! Chord progressions; using Orff classroom instruments creating harmonic structures, performing in small groups and learning the overall basic concepts of keyboard skills. All areas will apply the musical concepts, terms and allow your child to explore performance to the best of their ability. The Fifth Graders have the Music Foundation and now are able to become a ‘Musician’-if you may-of free spirit and ingenuity!... …Bravissima!

Handbell and Chorus Music NotesBravissimo!!! Great performance~I hope everyone had a GREAT experience performing and listening to our “A World of Music with Disney” concert that was held on Monday, April 13th. Two thumbs up on a roller coaster ride to both the Handbell and 4th and 5th Grade Chorus!~SO PROUD OF YOU!Many months of dedication, hard work and perseverance was proven to be a successThank You to ALL the 4th & 5th Grade teachers. YOU made our practices possible. Thank You to our supportive parents. I only hope this special gift of Music will continue to grow and always be nurtured throughout our schools in Washington Township. I am very proud of all the performers~ Viva La Musica!

PHYSICAL EDUCATION NEWS William Albertson

It is hard to believe that spring is here and we will be getting ready for field day soon! We have been having a lot of fun in Phys. Ed. this year and I wanted to update everyone on some important upcoming dates. In February, we held our annual Hoops for Heart fundraiser. We raised almost $3000 for the American Heart Association this year. In gym class, each student had 1 minute to make as many baskets as possible from around the foul line. We recorded the number of baskets made along with the student’s name on a paper heart and hung it on the closet doors in the hallway. We wrapped up our basketball unit and fundraiser with a staff /student basketball game. It was a very close game, but more importantly, everyone had a great time for a very worthy cause! Thank you and congratulations to all who participated and made donations to the American Heart Association. In March we began our volleyball unit in gym class and ended it with the fifth grade student teacher volleyball games. All grade levels were invited to the gym to watch the games. It was very loud as the students cheered on their classes and favorite teachers! We have a lot of activities planned for this spring. We hope that you can join us for the fun and competition. In May, we are planning our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade track meet. The meet will take place outside on the playground between the swing sets. Hope to see everyone there! In June we will hold our student/staff softball game and we will also have our field days. The days are getting longer. Be sure and get outside to play and take advantage of the nice weather!

HEALTH OFFICE NEWS Deborah Sernicola, RN Wedgwood School Nurse

Happy Spring to everyone!!! We are winding down to the last few months of school. Health screenings are just about complete. I would like to remind all parents/guardians to please return any completed referral forms that you may have received as a result of the screenings. The fifth graders received their letters regarding immunizations needed for entrance into middle school. Some have been returned, but just remember for those who do not have scheduled doctor appointment until the summer, please send your completed forms to Mrs. Rosemary Coleman at CRMS. We thank you in advance for your cooperation. Also, please let the health office know of any changes in your child’s health status, i.e. updated immunizations, medications, surgery, etc.

The weather is getting nicer and the children will be going outside more for recess. I always try to preach safety to them regarding playground equipment and ball playing and I am asking your assistance to please reiterate the importance of this at home. Kids will be kids, but hopefully with a lot of encouragement they will listen and prevent some of the injuries in the school setting. Accidents will happen, but we need to be proactive in preventing them as much as humanly possible. We have just completed our scoliosis screenings for the year and we will soon be presenting the fourth grade puberty class as part of the health curriculum. The girls will be taught by the nurse. The boys will be in the gym with Mr. Albertson. More information is forthcoming. The fifth grade presentation of “Always Changing” will be completed sometime in May. The exact date has yet to be determined. Last year we presented a nutrition program for all grade levels and we will be continuing that again this year with the help of Mrs. Southwick who has graciously agreed to help me plan and teach the classes. My goal is to try my best to help our students maintain a healthy way of life. I would recommend helping them at home. You may see materials coming home in the near future. They will hopefully benefit not only the students but their families also. Finally, once again our lost and found is piling up. Please check to see if your children are missing any items. The lost and found box is located in the attendance office just outside the health and guidance offices. Feel free to stop by and look through the items. Items will be displayed in the lobby during parent/teacher conferences. Items not claimed will be donated to someone less fortunate. As always, I thank you and appreciate your support and cooperation.

Have a Happy Healthy Spring!!!

COUNSELOR’S CORNER Mrs. Zizzamia

MAKING THE BIG MOVE!!

The transition to a new school is different for everyone. Students will encounter new people, new school subjects, new activities, and many more teachers. This may seem scary, but remember all new experiences are frightening at first. Students will be confident in no time if they have the right attitude and solid information on what to expect.Moving Up to Middle School According to Dr. Susan Bartell, a psychologist who gives seminars to kids transitioning into middle school, while transitioning can be a stressful period of change, many kids also welcome the opportunities that middle school provides. "There are a range of experiences that weren't available in elementary school, like sports, student government and music," says Bartell. “A chance to meet new friends, try new things and become their own person is a turning point and fits perfectly with their natural desire for separation from parents,” she says. Make your child's transition as smooth as possible by following some simple tips to boost their self-confidence and help them juggle new responsibilities:

1. Move In Day – Chestnut Ridge Middle School provides students the opportunity to find their advisory classroom and get their locker assignments before classes officially begin. Move In Day can help demystify the school further and put both parents and student at ease.

2. Organize home work space – If a student breezed through homework in elementary school, that student was lucky. Middle school homework is generally much more challenging. Juggling the demands and expectations of multiple teachers is a learning experience. Set up a work desk at home for your student and stock it with extra supplies to help them prepare for the increased workload.

3. Be Active - Encourage students to explore as many clubs and activities as they can. It doesn't matter who you are or what you're interested in -- there's a place in middle school activities for everyone! Getting involved is the best way to make lasting friends and truly learn what your new school has to offer.

4. Get Help When You Need It - If you need any sort of advice, assistance, or general moral support during your first weeks of middle school, it's important to ASK QUESTIONS. There are lots of people available to give answers students need: teachers, counselors, even coaches or office staff. It's their job to give guidance if students are struggling, lost, or even just a little confused about something.

Moving up to First Grade

Children entering first-grade classrooms for the first time recognize immediately that things have changed. First graders are faced, often for the first time, with having to attend school for a full day. They also are discovering their social roles in the classroom, at recess, and in the lunchroom—often with bigger and more mature children. In addition, they are learning to accept the lead and control of several adult figures other than their main teacher who will introduce many more skills and have increased expectations of them. Schools and parents can work together to help kindergarten students feel more secure about this upcoming change in their lives by communicating with each other and using various methods to make the transition easier for them. Here are tips for parents and incoming first graders to Wedgwood.

1. Embrace the butterflies - It’s natural for your child to be nervous. Parent can reminisce about their experiences starting first grade. This will help your student open up about any worries they might have and give you the opportunity to help them work through those fears. If they are substantial, share them with the teacher.

2. Continuing Education - During summer vacation parents can help their child adjust to the academic expectations of first grade by reviewing skills they learned in kindergarten.

3. Independence - Increased responsibility and expectations are another major change for kindergarten students. First grade teachers will assign homework that is more challenging, and they will expect the students to complete most classwork independently. Parents can reinforce this by encouraging their children to complete homework by themselves and then bring it to them to check. Parents can also give their child a few more responsibilities at home like being sure his backpack is ready to go every morning

One thing always remains the same about making the BIG move: it’s a chance for adventure. REACH FOR THE STARS!!