Common Core Presentation
·
Betsy Knox and Nancy Pollack presented an overview of what
the Common Core is and how this is being applied at HCS. A
Power Point will be made available and posted on the website.
The parents present discussed how valuable the 6-7pm presentation was (again) for feeling connected to the school, more knowledgable and enabled to communicate and support their children. And discussed methods for exposing more parents to this opportunity. "Bring a friend", "math night", etc.
The parents present discussed how valuable the 6-7pm presentation was (again) for feeling connected to the school, more knowledgable and enabled to communicate and support their children. And discussed methods for exposing more parents to this opportunity. "Bring a friend", "math night", etc.
·
Parent tip: when coaching your children
with math (regardless of when the problem is right or wrong) ask them to prove
their thinking.
·
Talked about how shared language helps
generalize concepts between grade levels.
Teaching parents some of the “catch phrases” or Common Core vocabulary
can help parents in talking with their children using a common language.
Grade Level Celebrations/Committee Updates:
·
K-2 (Primary Grades):
o 2nd
grade is doing a play of Where the Wild Things Are Thursday night (12/6/12) at
6 pm. Bake sale and donations
being collected to support schools impacted by Super Storm Sandy.
·
Grades 3-5 (Intermediate Grades):
o 3rd
graders starting to work on persuasive writing (“Should kids have
homework?”). Working on Reader’s
Theater; will soon be presenting their plays to kindergarten classes. This is
helping them becoming aware of their audience.
o 4th
graders are getting introduced to Greek myths/Gods and are planning a play for
January. They are working on
persuasive writing as well.
o 5th
grade: Mrs. Wallace has been
phasing back into school. They are
also working on condensing their research paper into a one-page paper. King Arthur kits came home and bread
was made (one loaf went home, one went back to school and shared within the
community). Loaves that came back
into school went to the Food Shelf.
o If
you use Google Chrome as your web browser, it constantly updates your Flash
player. If you’re getting stuck or having technical difficulties using Fast
Math, try accessing it through Google Chrome.
§
Goal for 2-5th graders is to be on
Fast Math 4 times a week.
·
Grades 6-8:
o 6th
grade continues to explore the uses of technology and iPads specifically. They
are able to share their work from their iPad onto the Smart Board for group
sharing.
o Science
fair is starting in the initial preparations.
·
Fundraising Committee:
o Election
day bake sale brought in just over $200.
o Book
fair started Monday (and goes through Thursday). There are still some
slots available; www.SignUpGenius.com/go/8050B4CAFA7238-hcsscholastic
o Online
Book Fair link: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/hcs2011bookfair
o Tyson
frozen products have started their own equivalent of Box Tops and we are signed
up to receive them.
o Next
round of Box Tops will be class versus class; vying for a pizza party and a hat
day.
·
Staff Appreciation:
o A
Staff Appreciation event is scheduled for December 17th. Will be
looking for volunteers to help staff that…stay tuned for more.
o Working
on “Star Catcher” program for teacher appreciation/recognition. Hopefully this program will officially
begin in the new year.
o Working
with Jessica Wilson on creating a school-wide database for posting and
eliciting volunteer help.
Help Wanted:
·
Cafeteria needs help on Tuesdays in the morning
chopping vegetables.
·
Odyssey of the Mind needs a parent volunteer to
coach the team. Coach training might have passed, but if anyone is interested
they need to make themselves known sooner than later.
