Grade Level
News
School Newsletter
Park
Ave. Elementary
School
Newsletter
February 2015
Principal Carolyn Wallace
Principal’s News
This is it! We are moving on February 13th! The building will be
closed for everyone starting February 14th. Here are the
opportunities for you to say your farewells to the old PAE and see the
new PAE.
OLD SCHOOL
Thursday, Feb. 5 - 6:30 -7:30 - cafeteria OLD PAE
 Parent Information Meeting - what is changing and what is
staying the same
 I will be available to answer your questions at this time as well
Contents
Principal’s News
1-2
Dates to Know
2
Pre-K & K
3
Grade 1 & 2
4
Music & P.E. News
5
Note from the Nurse
6
Interventionist & ELL
7
Park Avenue Elementary
58 Park Avenue
Webster, MA 01570
Phone:
(508) 943-4554
Fax:
(508) 949-1668
We’re on the Web!
www.webster-schools.org.
Saturday, Feb. 7- 9:00 - 2:00 -PTO Packing Party
(rescheduled from 1/24)
 this is the final weekend for teachers and staff to pack for the
move
 volunteers are still needed - let us know if you can help
Saturday, Feb. 14 - 9:00 - 2:00 - Farewell Open House
 all community members are welcome to make one final visit
to the school
 there may be a few surplus items available for free that day
including books, old tables, etc.
The actual move will take place on February 16 and 17. Teachers
will be able to enter the building on February 18 to unpack. We will
be opening up volunteer slots if you can help us unpack Feb. 18 Feb. 22. Thank you to you and the PTO for your support with our
packing and unpacking. It has been a challenge to get this done
while keeping rigor and engagement in classroom activities high.
Thank you to the staff for doing such a good job with this challenge.
NEW SCHOOL
When students return from February vacation on Feb. 23 we will be
returning to the NEW school. I will be sending home information
about arrival, dismissal, visitor parking, etc. before vacation for
anyone that can't come to the Parent Information Meeting on Feb. 5.
Feb. 23 and Feb. 24 we will be running on a 2 HOUR DELAY schedule
for Park Ave. ONLY! School will start at 11:00 on those two days to
help teachers make sure their new classrooms are ready for
academics. There will be time on the two days for parents to come
see the NEW school.
Feb. 23 and 24 - 10:30 - 11:00 - Parents can come in and tour the
new school WITH your child. If you want to walk around the building
School Newsletter
School Newsletter
Dates to Know
Grade Level News
Page 2 of 7
NEW SCHOOL (continued)
Page 2 of 6
Feb. 23 and 24 - 10:30 - 11:00 - Parents can come in and tour the new school WITH your child. If
you want to walk around the building before the day starts you can. However, you CANNOT leave
your child before 11:00. I also ask that you spend this time looking around the building and NOT in
your child's classroom so that your child's teacher can unpack not talk to parents and children.
THANK YOU!
~ Carolyn Wallace ~
Principal
February Events
Wednesday, Feb. 4th – ½ Day for Students 12:30 Release
Thursday, Feb. 5th – Parent Information Meeting about New School 6:30-7:30
Saturday, February 7th – Packing Party 9-2
Thursday, Feb. 12th – PTO Meeting
Saturday, Feb. 14th – Farewell Open House 9-2
Monday, Feb. 16th – Friday, Feb. 20th – NO SCHOOL - February Vacation
Monday, Feb. 23rd – FIRST DAY IN OUR NEW SCHOOL
Monday & Tuesday, Feb. 23rd & 24th – Park Ave. on a 2 hour delay.
Parents & children may tour building 10:30-11.
Students may enter the classrooms at 11am both days.
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Upcoming March Events
Wednesday, March 4th -½ Day for Students 12:30 Release
Sunday, March 8th – Daylight Savings - turn your clocks ahead
Thursday, March 12th – PTO Meeting
Friday, March 20th – NO SCHOOL for students – Prof. Dev Day
Friday, March 20th – PTO Scholastic Book Fair
Saturday, March 21st- PTO Scholastic Book Fair
School Newsletter
School Newsletter
Grade Level News
Grade Level News
Page 3 of 7
Preschool News
Preschool friends are anxiously anticipating our move to the new building! Children, as well as teachers, are
excited about the new classrooms!
We continue our work with “Lively Letters.” Children love to hear the songs that accompany our work with
each letter. One of our favorites is the “fire-breathing dragon” for letter “f.” We have learned about the
following letters so far: p, b, t, d, f, and v. We enjoy coloring the character letter sheets for each letter friend
and brainstorming words that begin with those specific sounds. When writing, many children are referring to
these letters and noticing them as beginning sounds in given words.
Remember to try to post these coloring sheets in a handy spot such as the refrigerator when they come home.
The home-school connection is such a powerful one!
Have a wonderful February--See you in the new building!
Kindergarten News
This month is very exciting for us! The children are looking forward to the big move. Some
children are finding it a little difficult to understand. Quite a few are thinking that they are going
to 1st grade. We have been talking with them about the move and are explaining that they are still
going to be in kindergarten, they will still be with the same teacher, and the same kids. You can
help your child understand what will be happening by reassuring them that they are still going to be
in kindergarten with the same teachers and same kids. Very soon, any nerves about the move will
disappear, because we will be in the new building!
In literacy, you may have seen your child come home with a paper labeled “literacy plan.” This paper
is used weekly to help the students organize their centers and to hold them accountable for the
work at each center. In story lab Jack and Annie will be visiting the ice age.
In math, we will be celebrating the 100th day of school. We are also beginning to teach simple
addition. Over February break, please work on sight words, reading CVC words (consonant-vowelconsonant) like cat and dog.
Breakfast in the Classroom
Half way through the school year and our BIC programs continues with much success! School breakfast
is proven to be good for childrens bodies and their minds. Research shows that kids who eat breakfast
have improved memory, problem solving skills, verbal fluency, and creative abilities! So why not start
your kids off with a school breakfast every day? Did you know..........Our BIC program gives two servings of
grains daily! New to the menu this month.........Fresh, delicious peaches, yummy bagels with cream cheese,
and super sweet cranberries!!
Hope you are staying warm this winter. See you in February!
School Newsletter
School Newsletter
Grade Level News
Grade Level News
Page 4 of 7
Grade One News
The first graders have been extremely busy
already in 2015. Just as soon as we came back
from vacation we got right back to work on
reading, writing and math.In Fundations we
have been focusing on words with digraphs (wh,
th, ch, sh, ck), glued sounds (all, am, an),
bonus letters (ss, ll, ff) and many trick words.
It is very important that your child practices the
trick words every day at home. They are
expected to not only read the words, but write
them in sentences as well. The trick words are
found on the front cover of the weekly
homework packet. New words are added
weekly.In math we have been working on many
skills. We have begun to use addition strategies
such as count on, turn around facts, doubles
plus one, doubles minus one and make a ten.
Ask your child about each of these strategies.
Find out which one your child prefers and which
strategies work best in particular math
problems.Each week we spend time counting
items efficiently and effectively. You can help
out at home by having your child count objects
like small toys or coins. You can encourage
them to group them by 5s or 10s and then to
count the groups and any leftovers.In early
February, we will be celebrating the 100th Day
of School. We will read books, work on
projects and celebrate the number 100. There
will be a very special homework project to work
on when the date nears.Some classes may be
celebrating Valentine’s Day by doing friendship
activities and/or card exchanges. Be on the
lookout for details from your child’s classroom
teacher.
Ask your child about each of these strategies.
Find out which one your child prefers and which
strategies work best in particular math
problems.Each week we spend time counting
items efficiently and effectively. You can help
out at home by having your child countGrade
objects Two News
like small toys or coins. You can encourage
The Disequilibrium of Mathematics
teacher doesn’t do it that way!!"? In the
them to group them by 5s or 10s and then to
primary grades, we are focusing our instruction
count the groups and any leftovers.In early
As you make plans for half day and full day
on using multiple strategies to solve problems
February, we will be celebrating the 100th Day
"professional development" days off, do you
in order to develop stronger "number sense".
of School. We will read books, work on
wonder what the teachers are doing? Perhaps
Students are being asked to demonstrate their
projects and celebrate the number 100. There
one of the pre-requisites for becoming a
understanding of concepts by showing their
will be a very special homework project to work
teacher is the need and desire to be life-long
thinking using pictures, numbers, and words.
on when the date nears.Some classes may be
learners, a goal we all have to develop in our
One of our goals is to develop flexible thinking,
celebrating Valentine’s Day by doing friendship
students. In our ever-changing world it is
and thus we (and our students) may find
activities and/or card exchanges. Be on the
necessary to keep abreast of current research
learning to be a real struggle. We are realizing,
lookout for details from your child’s classroom
in education to provide students with up-tohowever, that it is in the "struggle" that the
teacher.
date approaches to learning. As teachers (and
most learning takes place. And rather than
parents), we often find ourselves in a state of
telling or showing students "the right way" to do
what famous psychologist, Jean Piaget, calls a
things, asking guiding questions that lead our
state of "disequilibrium". This is a conflict
students in a particular direction is far more
between new ideas and current conceptions.
valuable. The focus then becomes more on the
This feeling of "unbalance" may be most felt in
"process" rather than on the "product" or
the area of mathematics. Our second graders
correct answer. The reassuring idea, we hope,
are working on addition and subtraction of 2
is that confusion is not a state of being. So if
and 3 digit numbers, with and without
you have questions about what your child is
regrouping. When you have tried to help by
learning at Park Ave., talk with the teachers.
explaining how to "carry the one to the tens
We are all students walking this journey
place", have you heard the response, "but my
together. Thanks for your continued support in
your child’s education!
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Page 5 of 7
Physical Education News from Mrs. Benton
By the time you receive this newsletter, we should almost be in our new building. This is very
exciting! Not just because we will have a regulation-sized gym, but this also means the return
of basketball to our PE program! Students will be learning how to dribble, do a bounce pass,
shooting, and other related ball handling skills. We will also try a basketball obstacle course
and other basketball lead-up games. We all hope you will be visiting our new school building.
Don’t forget to stop by and check out our fabulous gym!
Music News from Mrs. Howes
Wow! We managed to squeeze in the Second Grade Winter Concert between
snow storms. Thank you to all the parents, family and friends who brought
second graders over to Bartlett High School for the Second Grade Winter
Concert. We couldn’t have had a concert without you! The children sang,
recited a poem, played instruments, and in general had a grand time performing
for you. Thank you all for your support of the music program here at Park Ave
School. You should be very proud of your students--especially since we were
snowed out of our dress rehearsal! What a great job they did! Park Ave. is a
busy place with everyone getting ready for our move to the new building. We
are looking forward to having a music room again where we can sing, say, dance
and play (instruments). Thank you for making the new school possible!
Music moves our voices, bodies and hearts!
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Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 6
A Note from the School Nurse: Sarah Phillips
What an exciting time it is for us here at Park Ave! Things are looking VERY different
around here, with classroom shelves being emptied and packed into boxes. We’ll make
the “BIG MOVE” to our new school in just a few weeks! February 13th will be the last
day in our existing building, and we will come back to school on February 23 in our
brand new state of the art school!! :) SOOO very exciting!! Be patient with your children,
who may find all this excitement and change a little overwhelming! Even as adults, we
can find change - even when it’s the best change possible - to be overwhelming
sometimes!
Valentine’s day is around the corner, and I hope everyone takes time that day to give
those that we love an extra squeeze! I would like to take this time to remind you that we
have a NO OUTSIDE FOOD policy to protect those children who have life threatening
food allergies in our school. This means candy is NOT allowed to be sent in for Valentines
day. If you would like to send something in for your child’s class, you can send in
pencils, stickers, a book to be read in the classroom - anything that is NOT food is
welcome!
In the spring, I will be conducting hearing and vision screenings for grades K-2, and
height and weight screenings for 1st graders. These are state mandated screenings that
will be conducted by myself as well as trained vision screeners from Gentex. We are very
fortunate to have their help with our vision screenings! If your child fails either their
hearing or vision screening, you will be notified by a letter home asking you to follow up
with a physician’s exam. You will not be notified if your child passes the screening, as no
action is needed. Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) calculations will not be sent
home in a letter. If you are interested in your child’s BMI, please feel free to contact me
and we can set up a plan for notification.
I want to thank you for your cooperation with the rule that states that students must be
free of fever or vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school after being dismissed
with an illness. By keeping children home from school until they are fully well for 24
hours, you are helping us to keep our school as a whole healthy! Please continue to keep
your child home for the full 24 hours. If they are sent back to school after being
dismissed the previous day, I will call you to come pick them up! The winter months are
almost over, and with spring will hopefully come less illness! I hope that everyone has a
wonderful February vacation! Be well!
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Page 7 of 7
A Note from the Interventionist: Mrs. Gelineau
Midyear benchmark testing is underway for grades kindergarten to second. During this time each
student is assessed on early literacy and numeracy skills. These skills are predictors of reading and
math success. Letter naming and letter sound fluency measures how quickly students know their
letters and sounds. These tests are administered to kindergarten. The test is a minute long and
student must be able to name letters and sounds quickly. Although students may know their
letters and are slow to respond, this is an indication that the letter names and sounds are not
automatic yet. The more energy the brain has to exert on these skills would make more difficult
skills significantly harder. In kindergarten and first students are also asked to listen to a word and
take it apart into all its sounds. For example mop would be /m/ /o/ /p/. Being able to isolate
individual sounds in words helps students with understanding the letter sound relationship as well
as learning how to spell. Students are also asked to blend nonsense words. Students are given
three sounds and asked to read it as a word. This skill is crucial to decoding. The reason nonsense
words are used as opposed to real words is because many students already have a bank of words
they can recognize by sight. If they can identify the word without decoding it, we can not measure
their ability to use this skill. These early skills are predictors of reading success. Kindergarten and
First grade are also tested on early numeracy skills. Students are asked to count, identify
numbers, determining which of two numbers is greater than the other, and identify a missing
number in a sequence of three numbers. These early skills contribute to a student’s ability to
develop number sense.
English Language Learners (ELL)
Park Ave Elementary School’s
3rd Annual Multicultural Night
April 8, 2015
Here are the cultures that each grade level will be studying this year:
Kindergarten- Egypt
Grade 1- Italy
Grade 2- Canada
If you have anything new for our children to learn about any of these cultures,
please let us know! We welcome any help we can get. 
Contact Krista MacKinnon
508-943-4554
kmackinnon@webster-schools.org