530 Prospect Street, Box 430, Palmerston, ON, N0G 2P0
519-343-3520
“Be The BEST That You Can Be”
“Fais De Ton Mieux”
2013-2014
Newsletter #4
December 1, 2013
MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM
In November, Progress Reports for grades 1 to 8 were sent home. Teachers and parents then had the
opportunity to sit down and discuss next steps for children to continue learning and improving. In the
newsletter you will see explanations for some of the new terms that you might have read on your child’s
progress report and we hope this is helpful.
Many of our primary and junior students have been using RAZ-Kids both at home and at school to
practise their reading and improve their comprehension of texts. One primary class celebrated reading 500
books with a pyjama day on November 29th. Well-done; practice makes permanent! We all like doing things
we are good at and reading to and with your child for only 20 minutes each night is so important in building
their reading skills and confidence.
School intermediate and junior volleyball teams have enjoyed practising their skills and playing games
against other schools. Thank you to staff who coach the teams and parents who support the players’
participation. The boys and girls at Palmerston P.S. truly enjoy being active in the gym and outside at recesses
and this physical activity is essential for good health and a sense of well-being. Our students look forward to
going skating with their classmates this month. Please remind your child to dress appropriately for weather
conditions; it’s never fun to get wet and chilled when playing in the snow. Please remember that in the
interest of student safety, all creative playground equipment, including swings and climbers, are out of bounds
until the end of March. This also applies to weekend use, of course.
At the November Panda Pride assembly Mrs. Stroeder’s class told the student body about their efforts
to fundraise for the giant Panda through the World Wildlife Foundation. Mme Black’s class will also provide
items for the bake sale on Wednesday, December 4th. For only a quarter, your child may purchase a delicious
treat and help to support the survival of the giant Panda in the wild.
In December we look forward to spirit days and the food drive organized by our amazing Student
Activity Council (SAC). These intermediate students work hard to improve life in our school and the
community and they are developing leadership skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Our parent School Council continues to support our school through advice, organizing family events
like movie nights, and regular hot food days at school. Some parents attended the education portion to learn
about three-part math lessons with a problem-solving focus. The educational topic for the January is RAZ-Kids
and will be from 6:00 to 6:30 on January 27th, followed by the regular School Council meeting starting at 6:30.
All parents are welcome to attend.
Palmerston will be saying au revoir to Mr. Cameron, our present Vice Principal, at Christmas Break. He
has been transferred to Willow Road P.S. in Guelph, which is much closer to his home. Mr. Cameron will be
sincerely missed by the entire school community here at P.P.S., but we wish him all the best at his new school
and we know that he takes some of our “Panda Spirit” with him. In January, 2014 P.P.S. welcomes Katherine
Wainman, who is presently teaching at Elora P.S., as our new Vice Principal.
We join the staff of Palmerston P.S. in wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year, Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!
Wilma Shannon, Principal
Sean Cameron, Vice Principal
THANKS AND GOODBYE FROM MR. CAMERON
It has been such a pleasure working in Palmerston for the past four months, and I have appreciated the
staff students and parents welcoming me into your community. I will miss the close community feel that is
present here. Palmerston will hold a special place in my heart as being my first school as a VP.
Have a great holiday. I wish you well in the New Year.
RECEIVE NEWSLETTERS AND NOTIFICATIONS THROUGH EMAIL
Palmerston Public School is participating in a project to improve communication with parents. We are
giving you the opportunity to manage your own email subscriptions. This new e-mail program will let you
know when the monthly newsletter is available online, and alert you about important school events or news.
To participate in this program, go to www.ugdsb.on.ca/palmerston and look for this picture on the
right side of the page (near the bottom)
Once you have signed up, a confirmation email will be sent to the address you’ve submitted.
It should arrive within 60 seconds. Your subscription will be activated once you click the
confirmation link inside the email.
If you don't receive the confirmation email, make sure you check your spam mail folder, it
might be hiding there. If the confirmation email does not appear in either your inbox or
spam folder, add palmerston.ps@ugdsb.on.ca to your web-based contact list (GMail, Yahoo, Rogers,
Sympatico, etc.), and then re-submit the subscription request.
BAKE SALE
Mrs. Stroeder and Mme. Black's Grade 4/5 classes will be hosting a bake sale on Wednesday,
December 4th to help raise money for the World Wildlife Federation. Bake sale donations will be put towards
helping the Giant Pandas who are a critically endangered animal, as well as our school mascot. All items are
$0.25. We appreciate your support!
KINDERGARTEN 2014-15
Kindergarten registration will be held from February 3 – 7, 2014. If you have a child, or know of
someone who has a child who was born in 2009 for Senior Kindergarten or 2010 for Junior Kindergarten,
please have them call the school 519-343-3520 before December 19th . We will be sending out registration
packages in January.
SPIRIT DAYS
Friday, December 6th is “Hawaiian Day”. Wear a grass skirt, Hawaiian shirt or a lei. Thursday,
December 19th is “Santa’s Workshop”. Wear red, green and white!
There will be a dance for the Grade 7 and 8 students on Thursday, December 19th in the gym in the
afternoon.
WINTER HAS ARRIVED!
As the weather gets colder, please consider the following “STAY WARM” tips:
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Send an extra pair of socks and mitts to school.
Indoor shoes are required for gym and to keep the feet dry (halls and classroom floors do get wet from
the snow).
Snowpants, scarves, boots, warm coats, etc. help keep the children warm and dry, (students are
encouraged to wear the outdoor clothes that parents send to school).
Each week our Lost and Found box grows with articles of clothing that seldom get claimed. Students
are encouraged to look for lost items in the box. Parents are also welcome to have a look for lost items.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
This is just a reminder that Christmas is a good time to replenish your child’s school supplies - pencils,
erasers, etc. A calculator would make a good stocking stuffer as well.
INCLEMENT WEATHER REMINDERS
1. The buses will not go home early on days when the weather deteriorates during the day.
2. When the buses do not run the students who have come to school will be dismissed at 3:00 p.m.
NO BUS DAYS & SPECIAL LUNCH DAYS
The School Council has made a decision that on No Bus Days the Grilled Cheese and Hot Days will be
cancelled and re-scheduled by School Council for an alternate date. Please send your child with a lunch on Hot
Dog or Grilled Cheese Days when the buses do not run.
SNOWBALLS/SNOWFORTS
It is that time of year again when the snow covers most of our school yard and our children get the
opportunity to play in the snow. Please remind your child that our school has a “No Snowball” rule. Children
caught throwing snow may be asked to stand up against the wall of the school for the duration of the recess or
given a detention. It is important that we ensure the safety of all of our students. Our children also need to
know that “No One Owns the Snow, But We Must Respect Others’ Work” so forts, blocks etc. do not become
the focus of our students’ attention and protection. It would be appreciated if you could talk to your child
about respecting others.
"Scholastic Book Fair" Was a Big Hit!
Another successful Book Fair has come and gone! The Palmerston Public School Library recently held
its annual "Book Fair" during the week of November 18-21, 2013. Revenue from the "Book Fair" totalled
$4214.50 and that earned us a 60% profit of $2,351.69 (excluding tax) in Scholastic books.
Winners of the two Book Draws were: Addison B. (Grade 1) and Megan L. (FI Grade 2). Each student
was awarded $25 worth of books from the Book Fair. Thanks to Scholastic for providing the Book Draws.
A special acknowledgement to the volunteers - Liisa Toose and Kerstin Cowan - for helping during the
week of the Book Fair.
But most importantly, cheers and gratitude to the students, parents, grandparents, family members,
staff and friends who helped to make this fundraising event a huge success! As a result, the library gained
many new books from Scholastics. These materials will be enjoyed by our students, not just this year, but for
many years to come. Your generous support is an investment in helping children become lifelong readers and
learners!
GRADE 6 & 7 TRIP TO CAMP WANAKITA
There will be a meeting for all parents of Grade 6 and 7 students on Wednesday, December 4th at 7:00 p.m. to
discuss fundraising for their trip to Camp Wanakita in June, 2014.
GENEROSITY AT HOME
From December 9th to 13th, we as a school community will be collecting products to support our local
food bank and toy distribution drive.
We would appreciate any support your family can bring to help others in our community have a joyous
Christmas season by bringing in the following items:
Monday, December 9th - Paper products
Tuesday, December 10th - Toys
Wednesday, December 11th - Baby items (diapers, baby food, etc.)
Thursday, December 12th - Canned and non-perishable food items
Friday, December 13th – Catch-up day
Please do not send food items that have reached their expiry date. The Food Bank cannot use food
items that have expired.
The members of our Student Activity Club (SAC) will be gathering boxes to put the donations into and
these will be on display in our foyer under the Christmas tree.
October 2013
Palmerston P. S.
GRADE 3 AND GRADE 6 EQAO RESULTS - LEVEL 2, 3, and 4
In May/June 2013, Grade 3 and Grade 6 students in the Upper Grand District School Board participated in the
EQAO province wide testing. The tasks which the students are asked to perform are based on the
expectations from the Ontario Curriculum for Language and Mathematics for grade 3 or grade 6.
Although provincial and board results are reported by the percentage of students achieving level 3 (B grade,
meets the provincial standard) and level 4 (A grade, exceeds the provincial standard) combined, often it is
useful to look at those students who achieved a level 2 result ( C grade, approaching the provincial standard.)
These three levels reflect students working in the average and above average ranges.
The charts below outline the percentage of students in the school, board and province who achieved a level 2,
3 or 4 on the EQAO evaluation.
Primary Years (Grade 3) Results
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
School
60
93
79
Board
92
97
94
Province
90
96
95
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
School
88
89
77
Board
95
97
86
Province
95
97
86
Junior Years (Grade 6) Results
Our goal as a school is to move our students working at a Level 2 to level 3 or 4 work. We are doing this by
telling students our learning goals, and by giving them the success criteria so they know exactly what they
need to do to complete level 3 or 4 work for assessment tasks. Teachers are also giving students specific and
precise feedback to help them understand what they need to change or add to their assignment in order to
improve it. Our focus as a school is to improve all students’ learning and achievement and to continually
improve as teachers. Your support for our school community and the goal of “Be the Best You Can Be” “Fais
De Ton Mieux” is important and very much appreciated.
MATH HELP
Everyday children go about their daily lives exploring and discovering things around them, and by doing
so they’re exposed to the world of mathematics. And since mathematics has become increasingly important in
this technological age, it is even more important for our children to learn math at home, as well as in school.
Attitude is Important
How do you as a parent feel about math? Your feelings will have an impact on how your children think
about math and themselves as mathematicians. Take a few minutes to reflect on these questions:
Do you think everyone can learn math? Do you think of math as useful in everyday life? Do you believe
that most jobs today require math skills?
If you answer "yes" to most of these questions, then you are probably encouraging your child to think
mathematically. Positive attitudes about math are important for your child's success.
Mathematics as Problem Solving, Communication, and Reasoning
Helping your child learn to solve problems, to communicate mathematically, and to demonstrate
reasoning abilities are fundamental to learning mathematics. These attributes will improve your child's
understanding and interest in math concepts and thinking.
A problem solver is someone who questions, investigates, and explores solutions to problems. They stick
with a problem to find a solution and understand that there may be different ways to arrive at an answer and
attempt different ways to get there. You can encourage your child to be a good problem solver by involving
him or her in family decision making using math.
To communicate mathematically means to use words, numbers, or mathematical symbols to explain
situations; to talk about how you arrived at an answer; to listen to others' ways of thinking and perhaps alter
their thinking; to use pictures to explain something; and to write about math, not just give an answer. You can
help your child learn to communicate mathematically by asking your child to explain a math problem or
answer. Ask your child to write about the process she or he used, or to draw a picture of how he or she arrived
at an answer to a problem.
Reasoning ability means thinking logically, being able to see similarities and differences about math
concepts in different domains and make choices based on those differences or similarities. You can encourage
your child to explain his or her reasoning behind answers and encourage them to ask themselves, “Does this
make sense?” As you listen, you will hear your child sharing his or her reasoning.
Look forward to next month’s newsletter more about how you can help you child/children further
develop these attributes of a strong mathematician.
CALCULATORS IN THE CLASSROOM – CHALLENGE YOUR OWN THINKING
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has released an opinion statement on the use of
calculators in the classroom. We should be embracing calculator use, and using these deliberately for
instruction in the classroom from an early age. Maybe a great stocking stuffer? Here is the article from their
website: http://www.nctm.org/tcm009/
Question
What is the role of calculators in the elementary grades?
NCTM Position
Calculators have an important role in supporting and advancing elementary mathematics learning. The
benefits of their selective and strategic use are twofold. Calculators can promote the higher-order thinking
and reasoning needed for problem solving in our information- and technology-based society, and they can
also increase students’ understanding of and fluency with arithmetic operations, algorithms, and numerical
relationships.
Although calculators—from simple four-function versions to programmable graphing models—are
used routinely outside school for a variety of purposes, their specific use within the mathematics classroom
must be selective and strategic, with attention to how such a tool will support and advance learning. More
important, the use of calculators does not supplant the need for students to develop proficiency with efficient,
accurate methods of mental and pencil-and-paper calculation and in making reasonable estimations. Emphasis
and implementation are the critical issues—when and for what purposes should calculators be used in the
elementary mathematics classroom?
In a review of 127 research studies on calculator use in K–12 classrooms, Ellington (2003) noted,
“Students received the most benefit when calculators had a pedagogical role in the classroom and were not
just available for drill and practice or checking work” (p. 456). The key here is that their use was deliberate,
tied to specific learning activities and outcomes. Ellington’s analyses found that students in classrooms where
calculators were used strategically to support and advance learning, when compared with students in
classrooms without such calculator use, performed at higher levels on measures of operational skills (a
composite of procedural and conceptual knowledge) and problem-solving skills. In addition, students’
attitudes toward mathematics were more positive when calculators were a part of the learning process.
As Reys and Arbaugh (2005) assert, “When students are engaged in solving problems, formulating and
applying strategies, and reflecting on results, a calculator is an important enabling tool” (p. 93). In this sense,
the strategic use of calculators enables elementary students to engage in mathematically rich problems that
involve recognizing and extending patterns, testing ideas, and exploring relationships, without getting caught
up in the mechanics of rote computation.
As NCTM’s Technology Principle states, “Technology should not be used as a replacement for basic
understandings and intuitions” (NCTM 2000, p. 25). The proper implementation of the Technology Principle
depends on teachers’ creating approaches to classroom instruction that appropriately integrate the use of
technology into lessons focused on the learning of mathematics.
(July 2011)
“PROGRESS REPORT LANGUAGE”
Like all professions, educators sometimes use language specific to teaching and learning. We often don’t
even realize when we have slipped into using “edubabble”. On the Progress Report that has just come home,
we have made every attempt to use language that is meaningful to parents. We want you to know and
understand what we are doing at school, and how you can help support your child’s learning. Below are some
of the terms you may have read on the Progress Report or hear at the Parent/Teacher interview.
•
Learning Goal: A learning goal is a stated or written goal the teacher provides to help students know
exactly where they’re heading in a lesson.
•
Success Criteria: Success criteria often start with the words “I can ….”. Success Criteria lists what the
student needs to do/accomplish for the lesson or unit of study.
•
Descriptive Feedback: Descriptive feedback can be oral or written. It is provided by the teacher and
offers the student information on how he/she is doing. Descriptive feedback lets students know what
their next steps are and what they can do to improve.
•
Guided Reading: Guided reading is small group learning where the teacher helps students practice and
improve his/her reading skills. The instruction, strategies taught and reading material are carefully
chosen to meet the needs of each student.
•
Three-Part Problem-Solving: Three-part problem-solving is students learning mathematics and
developing an understanding of mathematics through reasoning and working through a problem. It has
3 distinct stages:
1. Before – Getting started or Minds On is introducing and practicing mathematical ideas and strategies
that connect to the day’s learning goal.
2. During – Learning or Action is solving the lesson’s problem in pairs, small groups or individually. The
students develop their knowledge, thinking and strategies while the teacher pushes and guides their
learning using questioning and feedback.
3. After - (a) Consolidation is a whole-class discussion where the teacher and the class analyze the
solutions the students came up with to the problem. Together they highlight key mathematical ideas
and strategies. (b) Independent Practice is the students solving a problem(s) similar to the lesson to
practice the same skills and try out the new ideas.
Adapted from:
“A Guide to Effective Instruction in Mathematics, Problem Solving and Communication, K-6”’
“Bansho (Board Writing)”, Capacity Building Series, 2011
“Communication in the Mathematics Classroom”, Capacity Building Series, 2010
“Early Reading Strategy, The Report of the Expert Panel on Early Reading in Ontario”, 2003
“Grand Conversations in the Junior Classroom”, Capacity Building Series, 2011
“Growing Success, Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting in Ontario”, 2010
“Making Room for Talking to Learn”, Adolescent Literacy: Engaging Research and Teaching, Literacy Gains Alert, 2012
2
9
MONDAY
Paper Products
16
Day 2
Day 2
Santa Grams for sale
Day 2
3
TUESDAY
Day 5
13
19
Day 5
20
18
Day 4
17
Day 3
Christmas Concert 1:45 pm
– Dress Rehearsal 9:15 am
Pizza Day
12
Day 4
Day 3
Toys
Pizza Day
Intermediate Volleyball
Tournament at Norwell
6
11
10
Hot Dogs
Bake Sale to raise money
for WWF
Gr. 6 & 7 Parent meeting
re Camp Wanakita 7:00
pm
Baby items (diapers, baby
food, etc.)
Santa Grams for sale
Dental Screening K & Gr. 2
Hot Dogs
THURSDAY
Day 5
5
4
Pizza Day
WEDNESDAY
Day 4
Day 3
Picture Retakes 9:00 am
Pita Lunch
Gr. 8 Girls HPV & Gr. 7
Meningitis
Canned goods & nonperishable food items
Santa Grams for sale
Santa’s Workshop
FRIDAY
Hawaiian Day
Day 1
Catch-up day
Santa Grams for sale
Day 1
MINISTRY
MANDATED DAY
HOLIDAY MATINEE
MON. DEC. 23, 2013
NEW YEAR MATINEE
MON. DEC. 30, 2013
DOUBLE FEATURE
DOUBLE FEATURE
&
2:00 PM
FREE ADMISSION
DONATIONS ACCEPTED TOWARDS
1ST PALMERSTON SCOUTS
CJ’16 – NOVA SCOTIA TRIP
NORGAN THEATRE - PALMERSTON
TURBO
2:00 PM
& PACIFIC RIM
&
6:45 PM
FREE ADMISSION
DONATIONS ACCEPTED TOWARDS
1ST PALMERSTON SCOUTS
CJ’16 – NOVA SCOTIA TRIP
NORGAN THEATRE - PALMERSTON