BrainPOP at SCS!

Good news! Our students have BrainPOP!  We’re happy to inform you that BrainPOP & BrainPOP Jr. are now part of our SCS library database collection. The SCS Library was able to purchase a 12 month subscription to this award-winning web-delivered resource with a grant from the SCS PTO. BrainPOP creates animated, curriculum-based content that supports educators and engages students. Hundreds of topics within Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Technology, Arts & Music and Health are all brought to life through short, animated movies and related interactive quizzes and features. All content is aligned to and searchable by state standards. BrainPOP Jr. provides educational movies for K-3 learners and addresses a wide range of grade-appropriate topics.  Each animated topic has a movie, leveled quizzes, games, activities, and lesson ideas that develop critical thinking and inquiry skills. All content is read aloud so young students can browse the site on their own. Because BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr. are delivered entirely online, there’s nothing to install or download.  You can use BrainPOP resources with PCs, Macs, projectors, and interactive whiteboards. Getting started is easy by using the step-by-step Getting Started Guide. Our school’s subscription to BrainPOP will remain active for the next 12 months and includes HOME ACCESS to all the movies, quizzes, and interactive resources.  Questions? Check out the Help (www.brainpop.com/help/) section, or contact Kari & Ellen at the library. Happy Learning from the SCS Library! Kari Ahern & Ellen Matthews Access BrainPOP from the SCS Library Homepage

December PTO Notes

PTO NOTES FOR DECEMBER 2012   TWO SPECIAL REQUESTS:   The PTO had over $8000 in grant requests last month but only $5000 to give out.  We've also been asked to help fund a visiting artist program through the Flynn Theatre and to help repair the playgrounds.  All of these requests are in addition to our yearly budgeted spending.  These things are needed and worthwhile but we simply don't have the money to fund all of these requests.   If you normally make end of the year charitable contributions, please consider making a donation to the SCS PTO.  Your donation is fully tax deductible and will go towards making our school an even better place for our children.  Checks can be made out to SCS PTO and sent to the school.   The Angel Fund is also in need of funding.   The population in Shelburne is changing - in 2009 we had approximately 5% of students on free and reduced lunches.  Currently it's closer to 15%.  The Angel Fund helps families in critical financial need with many of their basic needs. Checks for this can be made out to SCS Angel Fund and sent to the school.   SCS BUDGET MEETINGS are continuing through January.  These meetings are attended by our principals, school board members, CSSU administrators, teachers and community members.  Look for articles in the Shelburne News and other communication from the school board on important issues pertaining to this year's vote.  Of specific concern is a requirement by the state for our budget to be voted on in two pieces - more on that in January and February!   Congratulations to 3rd grade teacher EMILY VIGNEAULT on the birth of her son, Aaron Matthew, born on October 26!  Welcome Kimberly Lewis who will be her long-term sub.   In November, all CSSU teachers were involved in PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT which included a presentation by two Vermonters with autism, Larry Bissonnette and Tracy Thresher.  They were included in a film called "Wretches & Jabberers" and their presentation was insightful and inspirational.  This work was part of the ongoing Common Core professional development specifically addressing the belief that all students can be successful.   Pati Beaumont, SCS guidance counselors and special educators attended training on working with students who have experienced COMPLEX TRAUMAS.   We have sold 44 LOCAL COUPON BOOKS!  There are 4 left!  If you're interested, contact Randy Sweeney (sweeneyrs@gmail.com).   The HOLIDAY FAIR was a wonderful, festive day as always!  We had 108 tables (the most ever!)  and teams had a very successful day fundraising - many teams making well over $500!   The RED BARN FUNDRAISER will begin on January 4 with delivery on February 7.  Look for information on that to come home right after the vacation.   The PTO gave out our FALL GRANTS last month.  Some of the things we funded were:  A visit from VT author, Natalie Kinsey-Warnock for the 4th grade, an ipad for the library, more Kindles for the library, Spanish books, and recess equipment.     MARK YOUR CALENDARS: • Wed. December 12 @ 7p - 6-8 Chorus Concert • Thurs. December 13 @7p - 4/5th grade Chorus Concert • Tues. January 15 @ 6p - Parent, Elena Ramirez will talk about anxiety in children and adolescents.  Hosted by the Alpha team - free! • Fri. January 18, @6-7:30p - International Pot-luck Dinner   THANK YOU TO: • Mark Fragola for printing our colorful Holiday Fair flyers! • Sharon Harkness, Leslie Borrok and Courtney Tharpe for putting together another successful  Holiday Fair! • Jessamyn Walker,Valerie Richardson, Katie Kennedy, Deb Buley, Fiona Kovacik, Susan Dunning and everyone who helped setting up and cleaning up the Holiday Fair! • Dave Kelly, Bob Miller , Randy Mushtare, the rest of the custodian staff and Allan Miller for all their help setting up and cleaning up the holiday fair! • Rita Daley and Teresa Shuptrine for the Holiday Fair bulletin board!  

The Next Two Weeks

During the next two weeks while I am absent from the classroom, Heather LaFantano will be my substitute.  Heather is currently working as a paraprofessional on the Endeavor team and has experience in first grade.  Heather and I have had an opportunity to meet and discuss the learning your child will be doing while I am out of the classroom and she spent today in our classroom getting to know your children and learning about our routines.  She is very excited to have this experience and will be sending a letter home in Friday Folders to let you know more about her.
During the time I am gone the class will continue to learn about "Native Americans Long Ago and Today" during Social Studies.  On Wednesday, December 5th they will take a break from this unit and enjoy a visit from a Chinese scholar named "Nina".  She will be sharing about a day in the life of a child in China, and teaching about Chinese food, geography and art.
Our class will continue to focus on characters and learning about strategies good readers use to get to know characters in their books during Readers Workshop.  Some of these strategies are:  thinking about how the character feels and asking questions like "Would I feel the same way?", noticing changes in characters' feelings, imagining what characters are thinking, looking closely at pictures and words in books to think about how a character feels, paying attention to what characters say to learn more about them, sharing what we know about characters with partner,s and re-reading to get to know characters better.  Mrs. Cavanaugh, our literacy coordinator, will be in periodically to provide support during Readers Workshop. 
Our class will finish up our procedure writing unit during this time by choosing a favorite "How To" book we've written to edit and revise and publish.  They will be using their learning from our mini-lessons and a "How To" book template to create a published copy of their favorite book. They willl use a "How To Book Checklist" to help them with this process.  The checklist will include things like:  I have taught my reader everything I need to in each step, each step makes sense, I did my best to spell those hard to spell words, I added end punctuation to my sentences, I checked to make sure my directions work, my words and pictures are clear and precise, and I used specific words.
In Fundations, the class will complete a unit about suffixes.  The focus of this unit will be on the suffix "s" and they will gain practice in separating "base words" from suffixes.
Our math unit about computation and place value will continue during this time and wrap up the first week of January.  The class will spend some time creating and solving lobster picture problems, and be playing games to foster stronger computation skills and a deeper understanding of place value.  Mr. Madden, our math coordinator, will be in two days each week to teach some of these lessons.
Homework will continue to be assigned up until the Holiday Break.  There will be no homework during the holiday break.
A huge thank you to all of you who have signed up to bring my family a meal during the next couple of weeks.  It will be so helpful and is so appreciated by my family;  my husband is hugely relieved he will not have to learn how to cook and my kids are hugely relieved they won't have to eat his cooking!
I hope everyone has a happy, healthy holiday!  I look forward to the new year and getting back to work teaching and learning with all of your amazing children:)

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An Interesting Read!

Here's an interesting read I thought would be nice to share with you:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/11/12/164793058/struggle-for-smarts-how-eastern-and-western-cultures-tackle-learning?sc=emaf