PANTHER
PAWPRINTS
Clermont Elementary
Your Neighborhood “5 Star”
School
LCSB
December 2012 Issue
Principal’s Corner
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the exciting month of December.
There are many items of interest this month for the
Clermont Elementary School family. The teachers
have many activities and requirements for the
students. The school wide activities include Smiley
Math, Accelerated Reader, Superintendent’s
Reading Challenge, and the basic curriculum for
each grade level. Parents, please contact your
child’s teacher or me if you have any concerns.
Special points of interest
12/6 SAC Meeting @3
12/6 PTO Meeting @ 7
12/6 Science Fair 5:30-7:00 in Cafeteria
I would also like to thank everyone for his or her
cooperation as we work together to make CES an
academic center of excellence. I would also like to
give a special thanks to our business partners and
volunteers. Have a safe and wonderful holiday
season.
12/11 Cookie Dough Delivered
12/12 4th grade to Arabian Nights
12/13 DARE graduation 9:15 a.m. in Cafeteria
12/18 2nd Grade plaster cottage
Cleamstine Caple, Principal
12/19th & 20th 5th Grade to Pizza Hut
12/20 Holiday Chorus Performance 7p.m. in Cafeteria
12/21-1/7 Winter Break
A Special Note: Florida statute requires that parents be given an opportunity to provide input into the instructional
performance assessment of teachers. During the course of this school year, your comments and suggestions are
welcome. Please feel free to call the school (352) 394-2706 or send any concerns or recommendations relevant to
your child’s education to CapleC@lake.k12.fl.us
Reminder
School Volunteers
Clermont Elementary welcomes you as a volunteer during the
2012-2013 school year. In order to volunteer on campus or
attend a field trip, you must be an approved Lake County
Schools (LCS) Volunteer. If you have never been a LCS
volunteer, you will need to complete a blue application and
have your photo identification with birth date verified and
copied by a school employee. Returning LCS volunteers will
need to complete a gold application. If you plan to volunteer
occasionally or go on field trips, please sign-in on the C.E.S.
computerized visitor system and choose visitor and then choose
volunteer or field trip. The computerized system will print a
badge for you. If you have questions about volunteering at
Clermont Elementary School, please call or e-mail Deborah
Harris.
Please be aware that
Clermont Elementary is
a CASH only school. All
field trips must be paid
in cash. Upon request
a written receipt can
be provided for your
records. Thank you for
your support!
Harrisd2@lake.k12.fl.us 394-2706 ext. 5924
Becky Avery 393-2706 ext. 5913
PTO Gift Avenue
Holiday Shop
Is coming!!!
When- December 10th-17th
Where- Media Center
During your child’s scheduled specials times.
Literacy Corner: Mrs. Graziani, Literacy Coach
No matter what your age, we continually expand our vocabulary by learning new words at
school, on the job, and in everyday situations. The steps to learning new vocabulary words are
the same whether you are learning a foreign language or expanding your personal vocabulary
list.
Step 1: Start Early! Don’t wait until the night before the test to start studying the words.
Start studying as soon as you get the vocabulary list is given, reviewing a little each day.
Learning in small increments is much easier and you will retain much more if you study over a
period of time. Repetition is the key to learning.
Step 2: Make flash cards. Write the word on one side and the definition on the back. Draw or
attach an image to help remember the word. Making the word-picture connection is one of the
basic steps of learning new words. Some people are visual learners – they learn best by seeing
something over and over.
Step 3: Find a study buddy. Ask someone to call out the words to you, and you answer with
the definition. Some people are auditory learners – they remember things best when they hear
them.
Step 4: Write the words over and over on a chalkboard, dry erase board, or on paper. Use
colored markers to make it fun. Write the word in the air making big and small letters. Act out
the word and/or definition. Physically spell the word – touching your head for tall letters
(b,d,f,h,k,l,t), your waist for short letters (a,c,e,i,m,n,o,r,s,u,v,w,x), and your knees for
letters that go below the line (g,j,p,q,y,z). Some people are kinesthetic learners – they learn
and remember best by writing something again and again.
Step 5: Use memory tricks. For example, let’s say that the words are “stalagmite” and
“stalactite.” Stalagmites are cylindrical calcium deposits on the floor or GROUND of a cave;
stalactites are cylindrical calcium deposits hanging from the CEILING of a cave. You will see
that stalagmites has a G in it – for GROUND; stalactites has a C in it for – CEILING. Memory
tricks!
Step 6: Understand Latin root words. Much of the English language is derived from Latin.
Knowing Latin root words can help you figure out the meaning of a word. For example, the
words recognize, cognitive, and incognito all come from the Latin word “cognoscere” which
means “to know.” Recognize literally means “to know again,” cognitive means “the process of
knowing,” and “incognito” means “to conceal identity, or unknown.” Learning Latin roots can
really pay off when remembering the definitions of new words.
Step 7: Create tests and play games. You can make up tests with matching, fill in the blank,
or multiple choice style questions. Use the flash cards creatively by spreading them out on a
table and quizzing yourself. Again, repetition and practice is the key to fast learning.
Step 8: Use new words daily. Try to use the new words in your daily conversations, emails, or
even in your thoughts. Incorporating the new word into your daily vocabulary will make it stick
in your mind.
The key to success in vocabulary development is repetition, repetition, repetition. Practice
daily using visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and memory tricks to learn words.
Vocabulary websites to explore:
Spelling City: http://www.spellingcity.com/
Super Kids Vocabulary Builder: http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/words/
Learning Can Be Fun: http://www.vocabulary.co.il/
Free Rice: http://www.freerice.com/
During this season of giving, Clermont Elementary School would like to
give THANKS to all our business partners and volunteers.
Abracadabra Ice Cream Factory
Center
Back to School is Cool
Beef O’ Brady’s
Bob Evans
Brown’s Nursery
CEMEX
Chik Fil A
Chili’s
Church of South Lake
Clermont Garden Club Circle
Clermont Recreation
Dollar Tree
Rev. Dr. John and Dorris Wisner
Family Christian Center
First United Methodist Church
Greater Macedonia Church of God Faith
Green Isle Native Plant
Groveland Mascotte Garden Club
Indian Summer Honey Farm
Jacob’s Chapel
Kidsville 3 Family Medical
Kings Ridge Computer Club
Kings Ridge Women’s Club
Kiwanis Club
Lake County Native Plant
Lowe’s of Clermont
Lutheran Shepherd of the Hills
Matlock Tree Farm
Merry Heart Farm
Nutrients for Life
Papa’s Diner
Plaster Cottage
R & G Bakery
Rotary Club of Clermont
Smith’s Nursery
South Lake Presbyterian
Target
Valley Crest
Winn Dixie
Saura Alida, Becky Avery, Jim and Barbara Bobo, Malinda Brewer, Cheryl
Bushie, Jim Charlton, Rocio Colon, Amy D’amicol, Lillian Foster, Amanda
French, Jennifer Gedraitis, Terry Godts, Kathy Gushwa, Carol Harrison,
Janet Hawkins, Jim Hick, Tim Johnson, Jason Joyner, Sara Kelley, Brian
Leisenring, Jerry Lykins Sr., William Mack, Fe Tan Marapa, Ann Martin,
Maritza Matos, Tricia Merring, Eva Morgan, David Morgan, Debbie Piper,
Satesh and Jasodra Rama, Alisa Saura, Kate Smith, America Sommer, Mary
Ann Suarez, BettyWaldrop, Susan Tillery, Lisa Welling, Hershell Wombell.