BUBBLES’ BLOG
FEBRUARY 2016 NEWS
S. B. BUTLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
IMPORTANT DATES / EVENTS
Tues, Feb 2nd
100th Day of School!!
Thurs, Feb 4th
Dine & Donate at S&P Oyster Co
4pm – close
Fri, Feb 5th
Roller Skating with NEA (Galaxy Roller Rink)
5-7pm
Tues, Feb 9th
Teaching & Learning Initiative
Early Dismissal for Students
Fri, Feb 12th
After-School Bingo
Mon, Feb 15th &
Tues, Feb 16th
No School – President’s Day Break
Tues, Feb 23rd
PTO Meeting – Media Center
6:30-7:30pm
Sat, Mar 5th
Applebee’s Breakfast to Benefit
5th Grade Sturbridge Trip
8-10am
Fri, Mar 11th
Professional Development for Teachers
No School for Students
Sat, Mar 12th
Chorus student to Hartford Wolfpack
3:00pm
Tues, Mar 15th
PTO Meeting – Media Center
6:30-7:30pm
Thurs, Mar 17th
Wellness Day!!
Fri, Mar 18th –
Thurs, Mar 24th
Book Fair!! – Media Center
Tues, Mar 22nd –
Thurs, Mar 24th
Parent Teacher Conferences
Early Dismissal Days for Students
Fri, Mar 25th
Good Friday – No School for Students & Staff
3:30-4:45pm
PRINCIPAL’S CORNER
Dear S.B. Butler Families,
We hosted our first “Cookies and PJs” reading event at S.B. Butler on January 14.
Students and families arrived wearing their pajamas and were assigned to a classroom for
the evening. Teachers and staff members greeted families and read a story to their group.
Families were then encouraged to find a comfortable place to share a book. The evening
ended in the cafeteria with milk and cookies. We had over 90 people attend. The literacy
committee will plan for a similar event next year. It was great to see families and staff
celebrating literacy with our students.
As the winter has finally found us, it is important to make sure that your students
come to school ready for outdoor recess. We will be heading outside as long as the
temperature/wind chill does not dip below 20 degrees. If we do experience inclement
weather and Dr. Graner calls for a 2 hour delay, our school day will begin at 10:55 and only
hot lunches will be served (no salads) to students.
Due to the overwhelming response to our coding class that was offered in early
December, I intend to offer additional, after school coding sessions to those students
that signed up for the opportunity and were not included in the first class in February.
We had over 70 students sign up to participate. Students were excited about the concept
and had fun working through different coding stations with varying degrees of difficulty.
Lastly, ask your students about our book recommendation bulletin board. Students
can ask their teachers for a form that can be filled out at home, recommending a book
they have read to the S.B. Butler School community. All forms are posted on the bulletin
board outside of the library for all to see!
Stay warm and healthy!
In Partnership,
Steve Wheeler
Health Room
Mrs. Grater & Mrs. Donnel
Here are some winter safety tips from the American Academy of
Pediatrics
What to wear
 Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several
thin layers will keep them warm and dry.
 Don’t forget warm boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia develops when a child’s temperature falls below normal due to
exposure to colder temperatures. It often happens when a youngster is playing
outdoors in extremely cold weather without wearing proper clothing or when
clothes get wet. It can occur more quickly in children than adults.
As hypothermia sets in, the child may shiver and become more lethargic and clumsy.
Speech may become slurred and body temperature will decline in more severe cases.
If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911 at once. Until help arrives, take
the child indoors, remove any wet clothing, and wrap him in warm blankets or warm
clothes.
Frostbite
 Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen. This
condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears and nose.
They may become pale, gray and blistered. The child may complain that his/her
skin burns or has become numb.
 If frostbite occurs, bring child indoors and place the frostbitten parts in warm
(not hot) water. Warm wash cloths may be applied to frostbitten nose, ears and
lips.
 Do not rub frozen areas.
 After a few minutes, dry and cover the child with clothing or blankets. Give
him/her something warm to drink.
 If the numbness continues for than a few minutes, call your physician.
Winter sports and activities can be lots of fun, just remember to follow safety tips and
use common sense.
Kindergarten
Mrs. Horler & Mrs. Whitten
While February is a short month, it is a busy month in Kindergarten! We will focus on what it
means to be a good friend and we will celebrate random acts of kindness. We emphasize keeping in
contact with family and friends through our writing lessons that focus on
writing friendly letters. We will also practice making lists. We will continue
to compare fiction and non-fiction works during literacy. We will also take a
closer look at books and determine who the characters are in a story, what
the setting is, and the main events of the story. Our sight word vocabulary
continues to grow weekly! We are blending and reading 3 sound words
(CVC).
In math, we are building and decomposing teen numbers into groups of ten and the extra
ones. We continue to work on five groups as part of a number. We are working on our fluency with
addition and subtraction facts to five. We are comparing groups to determine if they are equal or
unequal.
Our science time is focused on winter – brrr!
friendship and making positive choices.
In social studies, we are learning about
We would like to remind our Kindergarten families to label all coats and items of clothing.
Snow pants and snow boots are a must to play in the snow. Hats and gloves or mittens are a must
also!! Thank you!
First Grade
Mrs. Celtruda & Mrs. Grigg
In writing, the first graders will be learning to write their opinions.
They will learn to write an opinion story using the three components (opinion,
reasons to support your opinion, and conclusion). It’s always fun to get a chance
to state your opinion about a topic or a book!
In reading, the children are working on connections with texts, close
reading strategies, and using the decoding strategies independently when they
come to an unfamiliar word.
In math, we will be working on unit 3 which focuses on addition and subtraction word
problems. As always, please help your child practice addition and subtraction facts to build fluency.
The 100th Day of School is fast approaching! If there are no snow days, the 100 th day should
be February 2nd. The first graders have their at-home tee shirt project decorating a tee shirt with
100 of something. It can be drawn with fabric markers, glued on, etc. They are also learning a fun
100th Day song.
Second Grade
Mrs. Bailey & Mrs. Westkott
Over the next few weeks the second graders will be carrying out a
variety of activities in Math that include subtracting two digit numbers.
We will also be working with money and counting sets of coins greater
than a dollar in value. At home please have your child practice counting
coins. Have your child show the same amount in two different ways.
Discuss what is different about each way. If the coins do not equal a
dollar, try to figure out how much more money is needed to equal a
dollar. If there are coins left over, ask your child to try to make another
group of coins that equal a dollar. Using coins is just one way that second
graders can show their thinking in Math.
Don’t forget that the students can access STMath from home.
website and click on the SB Butler homepage to find the link!
Simply log on to the GPS
Just a friendly reminder: All students need a snack from home each day AND - All lunch
money should be labeled with your child’s name and teacher so the kitchen staff can credit the
correct account.
Have Fun!
The Second Grade Teachers
Third Grade
Mrs. Gwaltney & Mrs. Zuliani
In Reading, we continue to make connections to what we’ve read and are beginning to examine
author’s purpose in variety of books. We also continue to improve our writing skills during Writing
Workshop. We have wrapped up our informational writing and have moved on to Literary Essays. In a
Literary Essay, students must make a claim and support their claim with text evidence.
In Math, we’ve learned concepts for multiplication and division. Kids should be practicing their
multiplication facts regularly at home for automatic recall. We are currently reviewing strategies to
solve multi-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping. Students have been encouraged to make
proof drawings to check their work.
In Science, the third grade classes have started a new
unit of study titled Rocks and Minerals. We have discussed
the three main types of rock: sedimentary, metamorphic, and
igneous and how they are each formed. The students have
begun to conduct field tests on our minerals to produce color,
luster, transparency, and hardness.
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Burdick, Mrs. Genovese & Mrs. O’Connell
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In reading, we will switch our focus to reading about history.
In writing, we will be focusing on opinion writing
The fourth graders will finish a unit on different types of
word problems, and begin a unit on fraction concepts and
operations.
o Please continue to have your children practice their
basic math facts daily.
In science we will begin a unit on the water cycle. Our travels
through the regions of the United States in social studies will
soon take us to the Midwest Region.
Fifth Grade
Mrs. Hubbard & Mrs. Wilson
Our fifth graders are a very busy bunch. We just held our kick-off for
the Invention Convention where we learned about past inventions. We have
begun the Invention Convention process. In math, we are beginning to
wrap up our unit about adding and subtracting with decimals. In writing we
are finishing our informational writing and going into opinion writing. We
will be finishing reading Wonder and begin working in small groups reading
various texts.
Upcoming events include:
 March 5th – Saturday morning at Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser
– more information to come later in the month.
 April 8th
– Friday - S.B. Butler Annual Invention Convention –
more specific information about what the Invention Convention
entails to come.
Special Education Teachers and Speech-Language Pathologists
Mrs. Salovitz, Mrs. Harris,
Mrs. Buttermore & Miss Kasparek
For such a quick month, February is certainly packed with holidays. Here are a list of books to
read and a craft to do with your child.
President’s Day Craft
All you need is paper, crayons, and coins! Simply place your coin (we used quarters, pennies,
nickels, and dimes) under a piece of paper and shade it with crayon. Be sure to hold your coin in
place so that it doesn't slip around and ruin your shading.
Some books to read with your child:
Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock
The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting
Who Will See Their Shadows This Year? By Jerry Pallotta
Math News
Mrs. Fleming
It has been exciting to see all the growth students have made in
math so far this year! Mohegan Sun graciously donated playing
cards and dice to our school that students have been using to play
math games. In addition to math games, I have been visiting
classrooms to do performance tasks with students. Performance
tasks require students to use a variety of math skills, higher order
thinking, and real life situations to solve math problems. We
usually begin by having a discussion about how the situations in the
performance tasks relate to our real lives. Performance tasks give
students a chance to take their math skills to a higher level,
prepare them for the SBAC assessment coming this Spring for the upper grades, and shows
students how relevant math is to our everyday lives. It’s always fun to see how many different
ways students solve a problem and come up with the correct answer. We often have rich
discussions about the performance tasks which makes math even more fun and exciting!
PE/Health
Mr. DeMario
Now that we may have snow and more cold temperatures on the way, a little something
for you to read in regards to winter sports safety. Also, please have a talk with your
children about going onto frozen bodies of water. They need to stay off at all times
unless with an adult who knows what they are doing.
Winter sports safety
Wintertime offers plenty of outdoor activities for kids including
sledding, snowboarding, skiing, hockey and ice skating. And though
these activities are a lot of fun, thousands of children suffer
injuries playing winter sports each year.
Be sure your kids are wearing sport-specific helmets and other
safety gear every time they are playing winter sports.
Fortunately, many of these injuries can be prevented. According to SafeKids.org, 53
percent of head injuries suffered by kids while skiing and snowboarding can be
prevented or reduced just by wearing a helmet.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids under age 16 don't drive
snowmobiles and children under age 6 don't ride on them at all.
Also remember that even in cold weather, kids (and adults) need to drink plenty of
fluids and wear sunscreen whenever outdoors.
Quick tip: If your child is wearing a long scarf, make sure it's tucked in so it doesn't get
caught on ski poles or other sports equipment.
Enjoy the winter wonderland, and Happy New Year.
Music Classes Are Making Lovely Music at SBB!
Mrs. Martelle, Mrs. Stevenson & Mr. Schneider
In Preschool classes we are discovering music through echo songs, call
and response, simple songs, rhythm instruments, fingerplays, action
songs, and circle games.
In Kindergarten, we are learning music concepts such as rhythm vs. beat,
loud/soft, high/low, and fast/slow. Themes include making friends,
following directions, letters, colors, numbers/counting, health/safety
and shapes. We are also looking specifically at songs for Winter.
In first grade, we are learning about beat, high/low, fast/slow, and loud/soft. Students are also
working on creating their own movements and words to songs. We are also looking at songs
for Winter. The students are doing an awesome job creating their own verses for "Down By the
Bay".
In second grade, we are learning about beat, high/low, fast/slow, loud/soft. We are also
starting the music for the 2nd grade play which will be Tuesday, May 17th at 6:00 p.m.
In grade three, the students are earning belts playing their recorders.
In fourth and fifth grade, the students are learning about different composers and following
listening maps. They are creating movements for pieces of music and have centers they can
work on.
The SB Butler Chorus is comprised of fourth and fifth grade students.
We rehearse
every Friday from 2:30-3:15. The Chorus performs two concerts every year. The spring concert
will be on Tuesday, May 17th at approximately 6:45 p.m., following the 2nd grade play, in the SB
Butler gym. These concerts include a wide variety of music plus movement. The chorus will once
again perform at the Hartford Wolfpack game on Saturday, March 12th at 3:00 p.m.
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Spring Instrumental Concert: Wednesday, June 1, 2016 (6:30pm) at SB Butler
Mark your calendars! We will once again be performing at the Hartford
Wolfpack hockey game! The game will be Saturday, March 12th at 3pm
when they will play the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Stay tuned for more
details.
Reading
Mrs. Fridinger & Mrs. Pombrio
At S.B. Butler Elementary School, we want our students to LOVE
reading. That is why every classroom, Kindergarten through Fifth Grade, has
a daily time devoted to reading self-selected books without interruption.
Research has shown that the amount of time students spend in self-selected
independent reading is the best predictor of reading achievement. Kids who
choose to read in their spare time set themselves up for a lifetime of learning
and enjoyment.
There are many ways you can foster a love of reading! You can eliminate distractions and
make sure your child has time set aside for curling up with a book. Remind your child that good
readers don’t always read fast. If your child seems unengaged during reading, you can suggest
that good readers sometimes use sticky notes to show their thinking. For example, they can
post a sticky note that says LOL to show that they found that part to be funny. Some
classrooms use certain codes for stickies, if you find out what is used in your child’s class; you
can help him or her to have more exciting conversations about books.
Also, remember that children value what their parent’s value. If they see you enjoying a
good book, they will expect to find enjoyment in books as well. Show your child that you have a
book with you in case you find yourself with time on your hands in a waiting room or even in a
long line. Keeping a variety of books handy and replenishing them during frequent visits to the
library is another way to stimulate a longing to find time to read.
At school, we encourage students to find “Just Right Books” that are not too hard and
not too easy. Sometimes it’s hard to find a book on a topic that your child enjoys at his or her
reading level. There are many book lists on the internet. Here is one example of a website that
sorts books by reading level: http://www.scholastic.com/bookwizard/ .
We’ve seen the
motivation level of some of our most reluctant readers transform once they find a series, at
their reading level, in which they are interested. Here’s a link for series books sorted by
reading level:
http://thorntoncreekes.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_10003/File/Academics/s
eries-at-levels-chart-F-W-20120618.pdf.
We hope all our students will spend more and more time choosing to read this winter!
"There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world.
Love of books is the best of all."
— Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
How to Help Your Child Prepare for Standardized Tests
This excerpt was from an article in Colorin Colorado, a bilingual site for educators and families of
English language learners.
Standardized tests currently play a major role in the United States public schools. You child
may take one or more standardized tests during the school year, and your child’s teacher may spend
class time on test preparation throughout the year. As a parent, there are a number of ways that you
can support your child’s learning habits on a daily basis that will help her be more prepared when it’s
time to be tested. While many parents, educators, school leaders, and policymakers disagree about
the kinds of tests administered, how the scores should be used, and how frequently students should
be tested, it is important to be supportive of your child’s efforts on standardized tests, and to help
her do her best.
On Test Day:
Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast. Many teachers
report that students who don’t do well on tests haven’t gotten enough sleep, and haven’t eaten
breakfast on the morning of the test. Doing both of these things will ensure that your child is working
at full capacity.
Remain positive. Staying calm will help your child stay calm. If she gets nervous about the
test or is likely to experience anxiety during the test, help her practice some relaxation techniques
that she can try once she’s taking the test.
On a Daily Basis:
There are a number of ways that you can maximize your child’s learning capabilities
throughout the school year, which can lead to confident test-taking. Some of these strategies
include:
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Assisting your child with homework and ensuring that your child is completing all
homework assignments.
Helping her to develop good study habits, thinking skills, and a positive attitude
towards education from an early age.
Ensuring that your child has good attendance at school.
Staying in communication with your child’s teacher.
Encouraging your child to read as much as possible, and to increase her vocabulary –
even reading magazines, newspapers, and comic books regularly will help improve her
reading skills.
Looking for educational games and programs that engage your child.
Helping your child learn how to follow directions carefully.
Finally, remember that standardized tests and grading systems are not perfect; each format
has its own limitations. As you help your child do her best on the tests she takes and in all of her
schoolwork, also remind her that testing is just one part of her education. With your support and
involvement, she will be well on her way to her own bright future.
Dr. Nancy Anderson, school psychologist at Butler Elementary School, provides consultation to any parent requiring help
for issues related to their child’s educational achievement. Contact Dr. Anderson at nanderson1@groton.k12.ct.us.