December 10, 2013
Dear Roosevelt Families,
As we approach the holiday season and a two week vacation for students, our staff if making the most of
each day with your children! Our students are working very hard to become better readers, writers,
problems solvers and mathematicians and are building a strong community at Roosevelt. We recently
enjoyed listening to our band, chorus and orchestra at our Winter Holiday Concert and are playing hard
and learning about good sportsmanship in morning intramurals.
Your children are learning about a wide range of topics in ELA and Math using the Common Core
Learning Standards as our guide. They are spending time reading independently each day, working in
small “guided reading groups” and many are receiving support from inclusion teachers, reading
teachers, and support staff.
Roosevelt staff is working very hard each day with over 480 children to make our school an engaging
learning community for every child.
As December flies by, please take a moment to review this newsletter for upcoming events and
important information. As always, feel free to call, email, or stop by if you have a question or concerns.
(762-8280 or chilsond@binghamtonschools.org). Your child’s educational experience is very important
to us!!
On behalf of our staff, I would like to wish everyone a great Holiday Season!
Sincerely,
Mr. Chilson, Principal
Upcoming Calendar of Events:
Friday, December 20th
Last day of school for 2013.
Monday, January 6, 2014
First day of school for 2014.
100 Book Challenge Parent Workshops
Roosevelt first grade teachers, Kristy Ripley and Melissa Slater presented a workshop to parents to help
parents better understand the concept of 100 Book Challenge and to provide parents with tools to help
students become strong readers. The workshop was offered at 3pm on each of our Parent Teacher
Conference days and was well attended on each day. We look forward to offering more parent “classes”
in the future!
November Perfect Attendance
79 of our 481 Roosevelt students earned the distinction of having “Perfect Attendance” for the month of
November. “Perfect” means being on time, in school, and staying for the entire day. We hope to have
even more students recognized for December!
Kindergarten (10)
Sooz Amin, Daniel Armand, Keston Bartholomew, Naomii Connally, Khyra Green,
Anastasia Grover, Han Nguyen, Zorena Stanley, Joshua Travis, Amed Zebari
First Grade (11)
Avah Cosme, Isabella John, Aiden Jones, Nevaeh Masso, Andrew Perch, Jose Perez,
Cheryska Pierre-Louis, Kianna Roseburgh, Ariana Shenk, Keavyn Viraphong, Chelsea
Wilson-Salisbury
Second grade (11)
Bilind Amin, Samuel Armand, Natalia Cole-Root., Marcel Collins, JulissaDavis, Nathan
Fowler, Zephrym Grover, Andreas Lloyd, Afifa Ouedraogo, Brianna Pello, Tyler Showers
Third Grade (24)
Hunter Ackley, Hailey Bonilla, Jo-Layna Brady, Kaitlyn Burke, Miranda Costick, LaJae
Cunningham, Emanuel Elie, Kiara Harris, Nahz’jae Hughes, Madison Hull, Kristopher Irvin,
Samerah Jenkins, Tanayla Kadlecik, Arielle Mahugu, Andrew Miller, JaQuece Moon,
Promise Myers, Rosalena Pena-Forestier, Kendya Pierre-Louis, Aaliyah Pulliam, Alisha
Richard, Paxton Root, Keyaan Smith, Kayanna Viraphong,
Fourth Grade (13)
Maranda Archie, Kyle Barwell-Meade, Khamren Chanthavong, Adalia Cole-Root, Samuel
Elie, Nicholas Golden, Kassandra Grover, Nakkhya Hughes, Breonna Irvin-Springs, Salwa
Nadeem, Madison Oliveri, Kali Quin, Eldin Serifovski
Fifth Grade (10)
Grace Adams, Kycieim Cooper-Viraphong, Rebecca Gilbert, Janay Gregory, Anthony
Minard Jr., Jenna Mooney, Syrus O’Connor, Egypt Vannoy, Chiara Verhoeven, Aysha
Waddell
FOUND:
2 sets of glasses. Contact the main office if they are your glasses!
Parent Participation Basket Winners!
Congratulations to the following families who were chosen as winners of the Parent
Participation prize baskets! Parents received a free participation raffle ticket for attending
a parent conference, “Meet the Teacher” night, and “Safety Night”. Hundreds of tickets
were given to parents who had the opportunity to place their ticket into one of six
containers with the hope of winning one of six prizes. The six winners are pictured with
Roosevelt Guidance Counselor, Allison Smilnak.
“Family Night Out” Basket -
Dylan Varcadipane
“Family Movie Basket”-
Aisha Waddell
“BU Sports Basket”-
Shenea Skervin
“Puzzle Basket” -
Kendya Pierre Louis
“Family Dinner Basket”-
Rend Hassan
“Family Game Night Basket”-
Emilia Brady
COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
What are Common Core Standards?
These are new guidelines that describe what children should learn in each grade from K-12.
These same standards are being used in 45 of the 50 states.
Why are so many states using the Common Core?
Public school students will be learning the same skills in the same grade no matter where they
live. The goal is for all students to be ready for college or a career upon graduating.
How is Common Core different?
The guidelines are tougher that what most states had before. They encourage students to learn
more at lower grade levels. Students and teachers clearly know what is expected of them. Parents know
what is expected of their children.
What subjects does Common Core cover?
The Common Core affects how children learn math and English Language Arts (reading, writing,
listening, and speaking).
How will Common Core affect my child?
The new standards expect more from your child. Students will learn much more but about fewer
topics. This should give them a better chance of understanding what is being taught. Students will be
taught important skills and ideas in earlier grades.
How Common Core changes MATH:
Teachers will present fewer math topics to students each year. More assignments will be about
how math is used in the real world , such as in recipes or in building objects. Students will have more
word problems to work. Students will have to show how they solve the problems and explain their way
of thinking and defend their answers.
Younger students are expected to learn addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and
decimals.
How Common Core changes READING:
Students will read more non-fiction – books and articles about real world facts. Students will be asked to
read more closely and to think more about what they have read. Students will be asked to talk more
and write about what they read.
Holiday Concert Fun!!
4th and 5th grade chorus singers and dancers performing.
A packed house provided a tremendous showing of parent
involvement!
Mr. Garrett directing the 4th and
5th grade band.
Nearly everyone enjoyed the
show… although it was a long
day for some!
We wish our kindergarten coolidge
friends well!