the
PINNEY
post
Pinney Website
2012 December Newsletter
9989 Concord Road * Dublin, OH * 43017 * 614.798.3570 * Fax 614.718.8961
Please check out the Eli Pinney website for school calendar events and other important
information. Scan the QR code above to access.
www.dublinschools.net/pinney
Greetings Pinney families,
I hope everyone enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving break with their friends and family. We now move into
the busy holiday season and there is plenty of excitement going on at Pinney. I’d like to thank all of
our families who are participating in our annual Adopt-a-Family program this month. We have a
special relationship with Welcome Warehouse and all of the wonderful things they do to support our
Dublin families. This month, we will once again sponsor over 20 families in our community for the
holidays.
As we move into the chill of winter, please make sure your child leaves for school with outerwear appropriate for the day's weather. Make a habit of checking the weather forecast and encouraging
your child to wear a jacket, hat, scarf and gloves on these colder days. Please write your child’s
name on these items as our lost and found tends to build up during the winter season.
* 20 degrees or below with wind chill - all recesses will be indoors
* 21-25 degrees with wind chill - lunch recess will be indoors, short recess may be outdoors
* 26 degrees with wind chill and warmer - all recesses will be outdoors
Thank you for helping our Pinney students stay healthy and warm.
Go Panthers!
Troy Ehrsam, Principal
Notes from
the Pinney Office
Office Communication
• Students may not enter the building until 9:00 a.m. daily.
• Be patient in the pick-up line at the end of the day. Cars need to remain in a single file line to
pick up students. Also, please drop off your child at the sidewalk or side door in the
morning. A Pinney staff member will monitor the side door beginning at 9:00 a.m. daily. We
do not want children walking through cars and/or traffic. Student safety is our priority.
• Give the buses the right of way during arrival and dismissal. No cars in the bus loop during
the following times: 8:45-9:15 a.m. & 3:15-3:45 p.m.
• Call the office or the automated attendance line (718-8960) if your child is going to be absent
or late. Please send in a note if your child is signing out early for an appointment.
• If your child is going to be absent from school, we would appreciate a phone call before 9:30
a.m. of that day. Ohio state law does require us to now have a written note upon a child’s
return to school after an absence of any kind. An absence form can be found in the
downloads section of our Pinney website (Absence Notification Form). We would appreciate
your help by sending in this form or a note explaining the absence upon your child’s return to
school. It is also important that you know that absences due to a family-planned vacation
are no longer excused absences.
• All phone number changes should take place at the building level. Please do not call the
district office to change your contact information. Please call the Pinney office for questions
(798-3570).
• Send in a note if your child’s end of the day arrangements change. Without a note, we will
follow typical end of day routine.
• Both students need a note giving parent permission when bringing home a friend. New
“Note to School” pads can be picked up in the office.
• Write your child’s first and last name on the inside of lunch boxes, backpacks, jackets and
other items so that we can return them if lost. All lost and found items will be donated to
Welcome Warehouse at the end of each trimester.
• Check your child’s backpack frequently.
School Day
AM Preschool
8:45-11:15 am
PM Preschool
AM Kindergarten 9:10-11:40 am
PM Kindergarten
Grades 1-5
9:10-3:40 pm
ELI
Latchkey (7:05 a.m. start & 6:00 p.m. end)
12:45-3:15 pm
1:10-3:40 pm
12:05-1:05 pm
Clinic Communication with Mrs. Slack & Mrs. Pagan
Clinic Communication
The Dublin City School District has developed policies to help insure the health and safety of
all our students. These policies have been developed in direct correlation with the recommendations of both Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Centers for Disease Control. It is even
more important that parents familiarize themselves with these policies and adhere to them as
we move into the time of year when flu and other contagious illnesses become more prevalent. Please take time now to review the following information. If all of our parents follow
these policies, we can reduce illness and absences for your child.
• It is important to keep any child home exhibiting signs of illness. Signs of illness include fever
of 100 degrees or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, chills, irritability, or unusual skin
rash. Other signs of illness are red and crusty eyes, as well as, other symptoms that are unusual for your child. If your child has been home ill, they must be symptom free without medication for 24 hours before returning to school. If they have been placed on an antibiotic for a
contagious illness, they must be on the antibiotic for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Please remember that parents are responsible for supplying the school with any medication
(prescription and over-the-counter) that needs to be given during school hours. The appropriate forms(s) must be completed for clinic staff to be able to administer the medication. Prescription and non-prescription forms are available on the district web site at
www.dublinschools.net or from the clinic. The clinic staff is happy to help you determine which
forms are needed for your child.
• Please make sure to call the school if you change phone numbers. This information is vital
as we often need to contact a parent(s) if there is an injury or illness. When listing someone
as an emergency contact, please make sure it is a local person who would be able to pick up
an ill child.
• Remember that cough drops are considered a medication. They must be kept in the clinic
and must be sent in with a non-prescription medication form that has been completed by a
parent. Students are not permitted to carry cough drops with them during the school day.
• When leaving a message on the attendance line, please
provide any symptoms your child has such as student's
temperature, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle
aches, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Please also include if your
child has been seen by a doctor or travelled abroad.
Please feel free to call the clinic and speak with the clinic
aide or school nurse regarding any questions or concerns
you have. Thank you for your helping to keep all of our
students healthy and safe this season.
Clinic phone #
- (614) 718-8955
Counselor
Corner
During the month of December, I will visit each
classroom, grades K-5, for one guidance lesson. The lessons will focus on Feelings (K),
Kindness and Respect (1st), Conflict (2nd), Bullying (3rd), Self-exploration (4th) and Growth
and Development (5th).
In kindergarten, we will read and discuss The
Feelings Book, by Todd Parr. Through interactive Smartboard activities, we will discuss different feelings and situations when we might feel that way. We will close the lesson by
discussing the importance of sharing our feelings with those we trust.
In first grade, we will read and discuss Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun, by Maria Dismondy.
Students will then participate in an activity that requires them to think about and share
one way they can show kindness to others.
In second grade, we will read and discuss Problems with Pete the Pencil and Eddie the
Eraser, written by third grade students of Kindsland E.S. We will discuss when we see
conflict and appropriate ways to deal with conflict. Students will work together to complete a task to see the difference in working through conflict and working as a team,
compared to trying to continue working without resolving the conflict.
In third grade, we will read and discuss Just Kidding, by Trudy Ludwig. Through a Smartboard activity, students will be challenged to talk about the differences between teasing
and bullying.
In fourth grade, we will begin the lesson with a self-reflection activity that requires students to think about who they are and their strengths. We will read and discuss The Gift
of Nothing, by Patrick McDonnell. Students will then
be challenged to look at their self-reflection and determine what “gift of nothing” they can offer to those
they are closest to.
On Friday, December 7th, fifth grade students will
view a video on the physical development of boys
and girls during puberty. These are informational
films that present the physical and emotional
changes in a supportive, reassuring manner. An open
question and answer period will follow the film. I will
present the film and lead the discussion with all fifth
grade girls and Mr. Ehrsam will present and lead the
discussion with all fifth grade boys. Classroom teachers will also be present at the appropriate sessions.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with
any questions or concerns at
cellar_leslie@dublinschools.net or 718-8953.
MOPA museum of pinney art
News from the art room...
Below is a brief description of what the different classes have been working on in
the past few months. Each grade level is exploring a different big idea and creating
art that demonstrates their thinking, learning, reflecting and creativity.
Issues and ChangeLeadership 5
The fifth grade classes are currently working on
creating a piece of art about an issue they feel is
important. We are looking at the work of several
contemporary artists that deal with current
contemporary issues in their artwork as well. A part
of each artwork will be created using clay. Some
students are working individually and others are
working collaboratively.
Minimalist DesignsIdentity 4
The fourth grade students are creating minimalist
designs about themselves. Each artwork represents
the student’s personality and individuality. As a group,
we looked at several examples of minimalism and
graphic design elements. Each student began the art
making process by reflecting on who they are as an
individual. We tried to move away from just “likes and
dislikes” to try and focus on the aspects of our lives
that make us truly unique and special.
Colors AnimationCommunication 3
Third grade students are working on creating an
animation using the Keynote program. The focus of
the animation is on colors and how colors can
communicate many things in many different ways.
We began the lesson looking at how artists use color
and the symbolization of colors across the spectrum.
The students’ have done a great job learning how to
use the presentation program Keynote as a tool for
animating their ideas on color as a form of
communication.
My PerspectiveCommunity 2
The second grade students have been working on creating
a piece of art that represents their perspective on their
community. We began the lesson with two books. A Street
Called Home by Aminah Robinson and Mirror by Jeannie
Baker. Mirror tells the story of two families in two different
parts of the world. While we see the families are both
different in many ways, we do notice they have several
similarities that are true no matter where one lives. Using
this book as inspiration, the students came up with a list for
five categories about their community. The categories were,
a meal they love, a special person to them, a favorite activity,
a special place they love to go and a tradition they take part
in. These categories could be used in any community, in
any part of the world. The purpose of this lesson is to learn
that while Pinney students’ all live in the same community,
we may see and experience this community in very different
ways.
A Gift to.....Relationships 1
First grade students are creating gifts to a special person in
their lives. We began this lesson by discussing what a
relationship is. We looked at various artworks that depict
special relationships and read the book, A Chair for My
Mother by Vera B Williams. The next step was to generate a
list of all of the special people in our lives and think of
meaningful gifts to give these people. This gift could
represent a memory, a hobby or a special wish they have for
that special person in their lives.
The GiftIdentity Mr. DeMatteis’ Class
Mr. DeMatteis’ class is currently working on the
interdisciplinary project titled, The Gift. In art, we began this
process by answering some in depth questions from a Who
Am I? questionnaire. The purpose of these questions was
to both help us reflect on what makes us unique, as well as
inspire our art making. Currently, we are taking one or more
of our answers from our questionnaire and creating a visual
representation, featuring expressive interpretations of our self
selected responses.
Music Notes
Mrs. Casto
The music room has been full of creativity and exploration this trimester.
All grades were involved in an instrument unit. Students were introduced to xylophones,
metallophones and drums. They had the chance to explore the sounds each instrument
made and find out which way to play the instrument to get the best sound. Additionally,
all classes composed aleatoric music, music that happens by chance. First graders then
used the instruments to play songs that focused on high and low sounds and steady
beat. Second graders played songs focusing on so and mi pitches and rest. Third graders
focused on the pentatonic scale and songs using the half note. Fourth graders explored
songs using low la and low so and sixteenth-eighth note combinations. Fifth graders used
the instruments to practice the extended pentatonic scale and syncopation.
Students in grades four and five have begun to create an electronic portfolio. Students
are recording themselves performing musical examples they have prepared in class. The
hope in creating these portfolios is that students can hear how they are growing as a
musician and will have a chance to look back at the end of the school year to see how
much they have learned and grown. It has been amazing to see the students’ excitement
when they hear how they are improving and that they are
truly blossoming into fine young musicians. The focus for
the portfolios this past term has been rhythm. Students
will continue to add rhythmic examples and begin to add
melodic examples during the new term.
All grades have also been doing a lot of dancing. Dances
help students identify musical form, develop spatial
awareness, encourage physical activity and discover the
value of group work and effort. The list of dances students know will grow as we prepare for the PTO dance-athon coming up in February. Be on the look out for details
for what is sure to be an amazing event!
MEDIA CENTER RESOURCES
Our students have been learning how to use several new technology tools for reading and
research in the library. Each resource is described in more detail below. These resources
are valuable to students because they provide age appropriate, reliable text. All of these
resources can be accessed from home using links on the Pinney Library website
(http://www.dublinschools.net/EPESLibrary.aspx). Students have been practicing using the
usernames and passwords for these sites. Look for them to come home soon, as well!
Pebble Go
The Pebble Go site includes information about four main topics: Animals, Earth and Space, Biographies, and Social Studies. These databases are designed for younger researchers and include appropriately
leveled text and features that allow for easy navigation. The site also
allows students to hear the text read aloud and provides video clips.
Kids InfoBits
Kids InfoBits meets the needs of older students with simple, quick access to curriculum related information. The database allows students
to search for information in two ways. First, the home screen includes
a topic tree with icons for students to click as they narrow their topic.
These icons allow students to visualize the research process and help
simplify the process for younger students. Older students can also
search by subject using a keyword or phrase.
INFOhio
INFOhio, Ohio’s virtual library, is a collection of commercial databases and other resources that can be accessed free by Ohio
teachers, students and their parents. INFOhio provides reliable and
up-to-date resources on many subjects for all age groups including a
large, organized collection of maps, pictures, charts; homework
help; test taking strategies; full-text magazine and newspaper articles; and online encyclopedias and dictionaries. TumbleBooks
TumbleBook Library is an online collection of TumbleBooks – animated,
talking picture books. TumbleBooks are created by adding animation,
sound, music and narration to existing picture books in order to produce an electronic picture book which students can read, or have
read to them. With a variety of high interest material the TumbleBook
Library provides support to students who are learning to read and enrichment to students who are reading independently.
Contact Mrs. Riley: riley_jamie@dublinschools.net
Visit the Pinney Library website:
http://www.dublinschools.net/EPESLibrary.aspx
Panther Pics
IMPORTANT DATES
* December - January * ELI PINNEY ELEMENTARY
* You can also check out the Pinney calendar on the website for updated events and times.
Thurs., Dec. 6
Town Meeting (Welcome Warehouse/
Commons
Adopt-A-Family)
Thurs., Dec. 6
PTO Kinder Key Caroling
Wed., Dec. 12
Market Day pick-up
Commons
Thurs., Dec. 13
1st Gr. Field Trip
BalletMet “Nutcracker”
Fri., Dec. 14
Adopt-A-Family (Wrapping)
Wed., Dec. 19
Mrs. Bollie’s “Charlotte’s Web” play
Commons
Thurs., Dec. 20
AM-PS Holiday Party
Classroom
Fri., Dec. 21
Holiday Parties (AM-K/3-5)
Classrooms
Fri., Dec. 21
PM-PS Holiday Party
Classroom
Fri., Dec. 21
Holiday Parties (PM-K/1&2)
Classrooms
Mon., Dec. 24-Fri., Jan. 4
NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
Sat., Jan. 12
PTO Skate Night
Dublin Chiller
Wed., Jan. 16
2nd & 4th Gr. OLSAT
Thurs., Jan. 17
General PTO Meeting
Commons
Thurs., Jan. 17
4th Gr. Stanford Testing (Word Study/Vocabulary)
Fri., Jan. 18
NO SCHOOL - Teacher Work Day
Mon., Jan. 21
NO SCHOOL - MLK, Jr. Day
Tues., Jan. 22
4th Gr. Stanford Testing (Reading Comprehension)
Wed., Jan. 23
4th Gr. Stanford Testing (Math Problem Solving)
Wed., Jan. 23
Market Day pick-up
Commons
Thurs., Jan. 24
4th Gr. Stanford Testing (Math Procedures)
Thurs., Jan. 24
APE Field Trip
Dublin Chiller
Fri., Jan. 25
4th Gr. Stanford Testing (Science/Social Studies)
Fri., Feb. 1
Movie Night - Hotel Transylvania
Pinney Gym
3:00-3:30pm
6:00-8:00pm
5:30-6:45pm
9:20-12:00pm
3:00-3:30pm
2:15-3:15pm
10:00-11:15am
10:00-11:15am
1:45-3:00pm
1:45-3:00pm
5:15-7:15pm
9:30-12:00pm
9:30-10:45am
9:30-12:00pm
9:30-12:00pm
9:30-12:00pm
5:30-6:45pm
9:30-12:00pm
9:45-1:30pm
9:30-12:00pm
6:30-8:30pm
Other News & Notes
• “Child Find” is the process of locating, evaluating, and identifying children with disabilities who may
be in need of special education and related services. Parents, relatives, public and private agency
employees, childcare providers, physicians, and concerned citizens are encouraged to help school districts find any child, ages birth – 21, who may have a disability and are in need of special education
and related services. If you suspect a child may have a disability, help is available. Please contact:
Department of Student Services, Dublin City Schools 7030 Coffman Road Dublin, OH 43017-1068
Phone: 614-764-5913 Fax: 614-761-5899 <www.dublinschools.net>
Dublin
City
Schools
Community
Education
Program
•The
<http://www.dublinschools.net/communityeducation.aspx> is offering programs for the 2012-2013
school year. Contact Mary Ann Grimes <grimes_maryann@dublinschools.net> with details.