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We are off to a great start on our goal to collect 160 items for the Wardsboro/Jamaica Food Pantry. So far we have collected 80 items. We will continue to collect items until Monday, November 23^rd.

From the Principal’s Desk

Rosemary FitzSimons

We hope that you found parent conferences valuable this week. Read over the following pieces of information. Have a great weekend. Don’t forget some family reading!

· Thanks to all who have donated items at school to be given to the food pantry. We currently have collected 80 items towards our goal of 160 food items. If your family hasn’t contributed, help us reach our goal. We will accept contributions through 11/23/09.

· Our music teacher, known as Ms. Becky to the students, has begun preparing for our winter music concert. To honor and respect all families in our school community, this concert will not have a Christmas theme. Our theme will focus on “Keep America Singing”.

· H1N1 – We have had students and staff with flu like illnesses. Most doctors are not testing for H1N1 so we will probably not be reporting diagnosed cases. We will continue to follow the Health Department recommendations for the procedures put in place early in the school year. Please refer to the Student Handbook for at home procedures.

· At All School Meeting on Thursday, Ms. Becky taught us a new Veterans Day song. I copied this and had all members of the WES community sign it. It is included in our newsletter. I asked the students to pass this out as a thank you to a veteran they know.

· Thanks to all who contributed to the School Club bake sale last Saturday. The School Club raised well over $100 for future initiatives. Their next big fundraiser to support our students is the Basket Raffle. Information on this is included in this week’s newsletter.

· ROARS is off to a great start. This morning we had one of the PBS coordinators from VTDOE here to interview staff and some of the students. He was impressed by the student (and adult) responses. He told me “we passed” with flying colors. It is great to have this additional layer of support. Parents, last week we sent home a parent survey. We only received a few back. Please take some time to fill this out and share your thoughts with us.

· THANKS for all you do to support our school!

Dear Pre K and Kindergarten Families,

Thanks to all of you who took the time to meet with me about your child for Parent/Teacher conferences on Wednesday. It was great to meet with you to update you on the progress of your child. I hope you found the time worth while. Please remember, that any time there is a question or concern, do not hesitate to contact me.

In the classroom this week we continued our study about “long ago”. We read a story comparing things people did long ago to things people do today. We discovered that some things have changed while others have stayed the same. At the art center, students weaved paper placemats. They look fantastic. At the ABC center this week students enjoyed playing a fishing for letters game. At the writing centers students wrote things they enjoy doing with their families. From Letterland this week we met a colorful character. See if your child is able to tell you about him.

On Monday November 23rd, kindergarten students will be taking a filed trip to Billings Farm, in Quechee, VT. I will be looking for a few parent volunteers. Please let me know if you are interested. I will be sending more information to follow. Mrs. Mehner will be staying with the preschool group on that morning.

Kindergartners started Chapter 6; numbers 10 – 30. This week we learned about a “ten frame” and the strategy of counting on from ten. The teens are still proving to be tricky for some of us as we practiced using numbers 13, 14, 15 and 16.

On next Monday and Tuesday, I will be attending the NE Kindergarten conference in Nashua, NH. Mrs. Mehner will be here and there will also be a substitute.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Mrs. Bates

First and Second Grade

Mrs. Parker-Jennings (PJ)

It was great meeting with so many parents during our conference time. This is a very important time for me to share the student’s growth and accomplishments. Thank you to all the families for taking their time to meet with me.

Our new theme is Now and Then. We have begun with a home project that is due on Monday, which includes an interview of someone who was born around 1950. Students will be sharing what they learned by this interview through projects that are due Monday. We also have been reading about how different the first Thanksgiving was compared to how we celebrate it today.   On Monday, November 23^rd the kindergartners and our class will be taking a field trip to Billings Farm to learn about what a child’s role was on a family farm long ago. If any family member would like to join us please let me know. I have one chaperone that can be paid for, and others will need to pay $6.   This will be an all day field trip. However, more details about time will come home next week.

            Thank you for your time and support. I hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend!

Yours Truly,

Cris PJ

2009 Wardsboro School Club Basket Raffle

Handmade Basket (Basket #1) – Sponsored by the Wardsboro School Club. This basket will feature several handmade items including knit items. Items include several scarves; a ladies purse and neck warmers.

Chocolate Basket (Basket #2 ) – Donated by the Pre-K and Kindergarten students. Be creative – any kind of chocolate will do…hot chocolate; brownie mix; white chocolate – you name it; it’ll fit!

Christmas Basket (Basket # 3) - Donated by the 1^st and 2^nd Grade students. Anything works in this basket – it could be a small item for a gift, an ornament, tape, wrapping paper, tags, etc. Let’s make Christmas easy for whoever wins this basket!

Kids Activity Basket (Baskets #4 & #5) - Donated by the 3^rd and 4^th Grade students. Think kids of all ages – and simple things to keep them busy – card games, board games, puzzles, arts and crafts, books, snowman kit, etc. Again this year we will split the items into 2 separate baskets!

Bakers Basket (Basket # 6) – Donated by the 5^th and 6^th Grade students. Any item related to cooking/baking would be great here; geared towards adults or children. Cookie cutters, sprinkles, parchment paper, baking pans, etc.

Wardsboro Harvest Basket (Basket #7 ) – Sponsored by the Wardsboro School Club; this basket will feature items such as locally made jams, jellies, pickles, relishes, etc. This is going to be one delicious basket!

We ask that every student donate at least one item for their classroom basket if possible. If you have more than one item or items that you would like to donate to other baskets as well, please do not hesitate to do so. You can drop items off at school – just put a note as to which basket you want it in. We must have all items in by November 30^th in order to get them together for the display at the Holiday Bazaar on December 6^th.

The winners will be drawn at the Wardsboro Elementary School Winter concert; scheduled for December 14^th;in the event this concert is postponed – winners will be drawn on the new date.

The following information is from the Vermont Department of Education website. http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_adulted.html

PROGRAMS & SERVICES:  ADULT EDUCATION & LITERACY

OVERVIEW

Vermont's adult education and literacy programs are offered through Learning Works, Vermont’s Adult Education & Literacy System, which is made up of 10 full-service centers and 3 satellite centers across the state. Full-service centers provide a full range of services, from beginning to advanced literacy in math, reading, writing, interpersonal skills, workplace skills, general educational development (GED), adult diploma programs (ADP), English to speakers of other languages (ESOL), commercial driver's license (CDL) and basic computer instruction.

The goal of adult education and literacy programs is to provide opportunities for adult learners to transition to a better place in their family, work and community life by getting a high school credential or diploma, preparing for college, or sharpening skills for current or advanced employment. Programs are student-centered, placing the learner at the center of their own education setting goals and meeting them with guidance, support and academic rigor from our trained and talented staff.

If you are an adult learner or an adult educator or staff, use the links below to view information about programs most pertinent to your needs:

Adult Learners

·    General Educational Development (GED) Credential

·    Adult Diploma Program (ADP)

·    High School Completion

·    English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and English Language (EL) Civics

·    Foundational Skills (Reading, Writing, Math & Life Skills)

·    Family Literacy

·    Workplace Skills

·    Other Skills and Services (Computer, CDL, Other)

·    Center Locations

CONTACT INFORMATION

Adult Education & Literacy Kay Charron, Assistant Division Director  (802) 828-5133 (P) (802) 828-3146 (F) kay.charron@state.vt.us

Tom Alderman, Work Group Coordinator

(802) 828-3134 (P)

(802) 828-3146 (F)

tom.alderman@state.vt.us

Assessment/Adult Diploma Program (ADP)

Sharon Parker, Adult Education Assessment Coordinator

(802) 828-0077 (P)

(802) 828-3146 (F)

sharon.parker@state.vt.us

Professional Development

Kate Nicolet, Adult Education Professional Development Coordinator

(802) 828-5144 (P)

(802) 828-3146 (F)

kate.nicolet@state.vt.us

GED Testing & Information  Sharon Parker, Adult Education Assessment Coordinator  (802) 828-0077 (P) (802) 828-3146 (F) sharon.parker@state.vt.us

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Friday, November 6

Newsletter 11/06/09

by Laura Smith on Fri 06 Nov 2009 06:42 AM PST

Wardsboro Update

11/6/09

Calendar

Tuesday, Nov. 17 School Board meeting 6:30 pm

Wednesday, Nov. 18 School Club Meeting 6:00pm

Friday, November 20 Family fun Night – Crafts 6:30 pm

Monday, November 30   Basket Raffle items due at school

Wednesday, Dec. 9    School Club Meeting 6:00pm

Monday, December 14           School Winter Concert & Basket Raffle drawing

at Wardsboro Town Hall



Cub Scouts

Den meeting – Tuesday, Nov. 17^th 6:00 pm at the Wardsboro Town Hall.

Bring your books!

Basketball

Practice for the 5-6th grade basketball team will be Friday from 4-5:30 in the WES gym.

Practice for grades 2, 3, & 4 will be Monday and Wednesday next week 4:30 – 5:30pm

From the Principal’s Desk

Rosemary FitzSimons

Happy November – how did it come so quickly? As a school this month, we are focused on community service. Read over the three opportunities students and families will have for this:

·         Energy Fair at the Town Hall, tomorrow 10-4pm. We can use student help any time during the day. Come as a family and check out what’s there. Have your child see me – THANKS! This is their future. (free homework passes awarded to all who help out!)

·         Food Pantry Donations – with so many families in need, the shelves at the Wardsboro/Jamaica Food Pantry are getting empty. As a school, we set a goal to bring in 160 food items. I did remind the students to check first – we don’t want your family’s supper donated. We are collecting until Thanksgiving vacation.

·         School Club Basket Raffle –This raffle supports the club’s initiatives. Having students involved in the donation of basket items provides an opportunity to participate in their fundraising efforts.

Also, don’t forget conferences are next week. This is an important opportunity for parents and teachers to meet to discuss student growth, along with identifying strategies for continued improvement. The conferences will provide valuable information for teachers, parents and, most importantly, students. There is no playground supervision during conference so if your child/ren need to come to school with you, please have him/her sit outside the classroom. Feel free to stop in and see me if you have questions or concerns. DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE BOOK FAIR – Thank you to Jennifer Densmore for organizing and running this for us.

            Our second set of Connections afterschool classes started this week. Two of them have openings if your child still has an interest. Mad Science is full. I’ve heard great things from the students about them.

Dear Pre K and Kindergarten Families,

We had another great week. During our Literacy Center Time students at the ABC center played a new Letterland Lotto game with Mrs. Mehner, at the Writing Center students drew and wrote about their families and at Reading Center enjoyed reading poems from their new Poetry Folders. During our “word work” and “phonics” time kindergartners and preschoolers paired up to play an ABC matching game. From Letterland, this week we met the famous Harry Hatman. See if your child remembers, why you have to be quiet around him and what color his hairy hat is. Next week we will meet Impy Ink.

We started a new unit this week. We will be comparing life “long ago” to now. This week we began by taking a closer look at families. Each student drew a picture of their family and shared it with the class. We discovered that each family is unique. Next week we will take a look at family life long ago. We will then compare school life long ago to now. During your students sharing time, it would be great if they could bring in an object in to share that related to our theme. While this is not required, it might spark up a good conversation and learning opportunities. For example, a family photograph, an old quill pen or a story about when their parents or grandparents went to school.

This week kindergartners finished up our unit on numbers 6-10. I think we can officially call our kindergartners number experts. Students this week used number lines, practiced counting backwards and used the numbers in our phone numbers to create a class graph of the most common number. We found out that the number 9 is the most common. Next week, we will begin learning about numbers 10 – 30. We will first concentrate on the “tricky teens” and then move on to the 20s and 30s.

Kindergartners began guided reading groups this week. Each student should have come home with a reading bag with a parent letter explaining it as well a book to read. Please make sure that your child rereads the book to a family member and returns their reading bag to school the next day. Everyone is doing a fabulous job!

Thank you to our Four Winds volunteers for a great class this week. Students enjoyed the puppet show and the hands on activities that the class demonstrated the Life Cycle of a Tree.

Finally, I have heard back from most of you regarding Parent/Teacher Conferences. If you have not sent in your form, there is still time. I look forward to meeting with all of you.

Sincerely,

Tammy Bates

Dear Third and Fourth Grade Families,

            Thank you to everyone that quickly returned their conference sign-up form. Those of you that have returned them will be receiving your original form back with your assigned conference time written and circled on it.   If you have not returned your form there is still time, please return them as soon as possible.

            I am looking forward to meeting with you all next week! I have lots of information to share with you, and I hope to answer any questions that you may have.

            Enjoy your weekend! Please make sure that your children continue to read every day, and if you get chance talk with them about what they have read.

                        Sincerely, Mrs. Bills

5-6 Newsletter for November 6, 2009

On Wednesday, 11/4, parents should have received confirmation of a time and date for a conference to discuss their child’s progress. Because there are 24 students, I have added three days to the 5-6 conference schedule. At this time, it looks like I will be meeting with parents on November 10^th, 11^th, 17^th, and 18^th.

Conferences will last for 20 minutes per student, with a five minute time in between for me to put away materials and reorganize for the next meeting. Please plan to be on time.

Also, let me know of any concerns you specifically want me to address, right at the beginning of the conference. It will help me if you have your concerns written down, so I can determine whether or not we will need to plan for another follow-up conference. I have information I need to share with you, and I will do my best to cover it during the 20 minutes. I expect to have time for discussion and questions during our meeting, but I also want to make sure that we have enough time to discuss any further concerns you may have.

I plan to address your child’s progress (strengths and concerns) in the following academic and study skill areas:

·         Reading

·         Writing

·         Math

·         Social Studies, Current Events

·         Science

·         Work Habits

·         Cooperative Learning Skills

I look forward to a positive and productive meeting with all parents!

Sincerely,

Tina Shakespeare

Daisy Girl Scouts (Grades K-1) will meet on Monday, November 9^th

4:30 – 5:30 pm at the Wardsboro Town Hall

If you missed registration and are interested in signing up for Daisy Scouts, it’s never too late. Please join us on Monday. Registration is $12.00/yr.

We are currently seeking volunteers and supplies. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering to help with our troop activities, would like to lead another age group, or would like to donate any supplies please contact Virginia Pearson at 896-1042. We would be interested in scrap paper or cloth, old buttons, magazines, yarn, etc. Anything that you can afford to spare and you think may be useful to the girls would be greatly appreciated.

Tips for Making Parent-Teacher Conferences Work for Your Child

By Donna Sebastian

Parent-teacher conferences are an opportunity to talk openly and honestly with teachers about your child. Your child’s areas of strength and any areas of concern should be identified and discussed. A plan can be developed during the conference to help your child if there are any concerns.

Before the Conference

Ø Talk to your child. Find out what he/she thinks is his/her best subjects and the subjects he/she likes the least. Find out why. Ask your child if there is anything he/she would like you to talk about with his/her teacher. Make sure your child doesn’t worry about the meeting and help him/her understand that you and the teacher(s) are meeting together to help him/her.

Ø Familiarize yourself with your child’s assignments and homework folder.

Ø Write notes to yourself about important information to share with the teacher, concerns you have, and questions you want to ask. The parent-teacher conference is a time for you and the teacher to determine how you can work together to help your child. Here are some suggestions of questions you may want to ask:

·         Is my child meeting his/her learning goals?

·         How has my child performed on daily class work?

·         How has my child performed on homework?

·         How has my child performed on tests?

·         Is my child behaving appropriately?

·         Is my child meeting the grade level expectations in each area?

·         Is my child in different groups for different subjects? Why?

·         Does my child participate in class discussions and activities?

·         How can I support my child’s learning at home?

·         What are my child’s strengths and challenges?

·         Are there things that you recommend I do to become more involved in my child’s education?

The Conference

Ø Bring your notes, a notepad, pen, and your date book/calendar to the conference. Make notes for yourself about what you discuss during the conference.

Ø You may want to ask your most important questions first, just in case time runs out before you and the teacher have a chance to discuss them all.

Ø Be sure to ask and discuss with the teacher specific suggestions on ways to help your child do better. This is important because a plan of action to help your child at home and at school can be developed in the discussion.

Ø If the teacher says something you don’t entirely understand, don’t be shy about asking for an explanation.

Ø Near the end of the conference, it’s good practice to sum up decisions you and the teacher have made together. If you write the plan, you could refer to it later and review it frequently.

Ø If you feel you need to meet again, ask to set another conference date/time.

After the Conference

Ø Discuss with your child the plan you and the teacher worked out together.

Ø Begin immediately on the plan. As time goes by, watch your child’s behavior and check your child’s class work and homework.

Ø Maintain contact with the teacher to discuss the progress your child is making.

You and the teacher both have an interest in doing what is best for your child. Parent-teacher conferences can be used to help your child improve his/her success in school. By working together, you and the teacher can help your child on common goals.

2009 Wardsboro School Club Basket Raffle

Handmade Basket (Basket #1) – Sponsored by the Wardsboro School Club. This basket will feature several handmade items including knit items. Items include several scarves; a ladies purse and neck warmers.

Chocolate Basket (Basket #2 ) – Donated by the Pre-K and Kindergarten students. Be creative – any kind of chocolate will do…hot chocolate; brownie mix; white chocolate – you name it; it’ll fit!

Christmas Basket (Basket # 3) - Donated by the 1^st and 2^nd Grade students. Anything works in this basket – it could be a small item for a gift, an ornament, tape, wrapping paper, tags, etc. Let’s make Christmas easy for whoever wins this basket!

Kids Activity Basket (Baskets #4 & #5) - Donated by the 3^rd and 4^th Grade students. Think kids of all ages – and simple things to keep them busy – card games, board games, puzzles, arts and crafts, books, snowman kit, etc. Again this year we will split the items into 2 separate baskets!

Bakers Basket (Basket # 6) – Donated by the 5^th and 6^th Grade students. Any item related to cooking/baking would be great here; geared towards adults or children. Cookie cutters, sprinkles, parchment paper, baking pans, etc.

Wardsboro Harvest Basket (Basket #7 ) – Sponsored by the Wardsboro School Club; this basket will feature items such as locally made jams, jellies, pickles, relishes, etc. This is going to be one delicious basket!

We ask that every student donate at least one item for their classroom basket if possible. If you have more than one item or items that you would like to donate to other baskets as well, please do not hesitate to do so. You can drop items off at school – just put a note as to which basket you want it in. We must have all items in by November 30^th in order to get them together for the display at the Holiday Bazaar on December 6^th.

The winners will be drawn at the Wardsboro Elementary School Winter concert; scheduled for December 14^th;in the event this concert is postponed – winners will be drawn on the new date.

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