Happy Holidays!

Free digital slideshow customized with Smilebox We had a terrific week filled with lots of learning and fun.  Many thanks to our parents who provided snacks and other supplies for our holiday celebration today.  I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday break!  See you in 2015! :)Deb

Holiday Craft Fair

Our team earned $184 at the Holiday Craft Fair this weekend!  A HUGE thank you to all the families that donated supplies, worked our booth and bought our candle holders and pictures.  We couldn't have done it without you!  The money we have earned will help pay for our Firefly field trips.
During Writer's Workshop we have been busy creating our own stories using Jan Brett's style of writing and illustrating.  Everyone is very engaged and doing their best work on these books.  When we are finished we will be sharing them along with all our learning about Jan Brett with other first grade classes.
We began a new Math unit this week and have spent a lot of time exploring the number line.  We have been developing stronger number sense through this exploration and have been learning about different ways we can use the number line to solve problems.
Thanks so much to everyone who has sent in peanut butter for the food drive here at school.  This year we have many needy families and your donations will have such a positive impact on their lives during the holiday season.
Have a terrific weekend!
:)Deb

Free photo slideshow made with Smilebox

The Week of Field Trips!

Free digital slideshow customized with Smilebox  Firefly enjoyed two field trips this week.  On Wednesday, we went to the Flynn Theater to see Charlotte's Web.  We enjoyed a great show that was very true to the book Charlotte's Web.  On Thursday, we spent our day at Shelburne Farms learning about solids, liquids and gases.  We made pizza dough, sauce and cheese, then combined them all with some delicious veggies to make pizzas.  We spent some time outside exploring the farm and playing games while we were waiting for our pizza to cook.  At the end of our time at Shelburne Farms we had fun singing songs and enjoying our homemade pizza.  Many thanks to all the parents who joined us to chaperone this field trip. We also spent some time this week getting ready for the Holiday Craft Fair.  We have lots of sparkling candle holders and tea lights to sell. A big thank you to all the families who donated items for our candle holders and photo booth.  We hope to see everyone at the Craft Fair tomorrow. Have a great weekend, :)Deb

Macaela's Last Day

Our Hands On Nature lesson this week was about the importance of dead wood in a forest and how its importance is often overlooked. We focused our learning on decomposition and its importance to the many functions of the forest ecosystem. We watched a puppet show where we met some inhabitants of standing snags and rotting logs and learned how they contribute to the process of change and decay.  We had a visit from Dr. VanRottinglog and her time machine and witnessed what happens to a snag and log over a period of time.  We then got to go outside to investigate rotting logs and look for evidence of living things - plants, animals and fungi - that live on or in it.  We then recorded our observations in drawings and words in our Hands on Nature Science Journals.  A huge thank you to our Hands On Nature parents for this incredible learning opportunity.
Today was another Mix-It Up Day.  We joined our Middle School friends in their classroom at the end of the day to participate in some fun Red Ribbon Week activities.  It's such a beautiful thing to see first graders and eighth graders building friendships and having fun together!
The homework coming home today is for the next two weeks.  With the Thanksgiving Holiday coming up, I decided to assign some things activities that move beyond academics and might be helpful to parents during the week off.
Today was Macaela's last day at SCS.  She and her family are moving out west over the Thanksgiving Break.  We had a great celebration to wish her well and send her on her way.  Macaela was such a positive force in our classroom, she will be greatly missed by all of us!
I hope everyone has a terrific Holiday Break!
:)Deb

Another picture slideshow by Smilebox

November PTO News!

November PTO News and Notes

(you may read the unabridged minutes on the PTO page of the SCS website)

Fundraising Update

•  Hannafords Helps Schools ends 12/6

•  We have a limited number of extra Boston Coffee Cakes available for purchase!  These will be sold on a first come, first served basis.  Please email Jen Cairns jencairns0408@gmail.com to reserve yours for pick-up on Wednesday, November 19 (and confirm availability).   Flavors available:  $11:  Marble Madness, Lemon Burst.  $13:  Pumpkin Gingerbread, Raspberry Cinnamon.  $14:  Pecan, Caramel Apple, Chocolate Caramel.  $15:  Whoopi Pies (6).  $18: Cinnamon Walnut Loaf Cake (duo).

•  Planning on ordering photo greeting cards for holidays, birthdays, and other occasions?  genevievesgreetings.com  offers hundreds of designs with 40% of the cost going back to your child's team!  Be sure to enter our school code/account #5919 when prompted!  Cards ship to your home within 3-5 days.

•  Keep cutting out and sending in your 'Box Tops for Education'

Treasurer's report

•  Fall fundraiser raised $8,692.64 so far (cards and extra cakes could bring in more $)

•  Direct donations--over $2,500

•  School directory brought in over $2,000!

Mark your calendars

11/15:  Shelburne Community Days at Open Arms Cafe from 10-3pm (10% donated to PTO)

11/19:  Fall Fundraiser product pick up

11/19:  3:15pm PTO Fall Grants meeting in c-wing/computer lab

12/6:  Holiday Fair

12/6:  Shelburne Community Days:  Cucina Antica Half Baked Pizza sale

12/7:  Holiday Basket Assembly/Distribution

Help Wanted

•  Fall Fundraiser product distribution--Wednesday, November 19--2:30-6:30 (and/or earlier to unload & organize product)  email jencairns0408@gmail.com to help.

•  Holiday baskets assembly--email Cathy Townshend cjovt@yahoo.com to help. 

•  Holiday basket coordinator--Cathy has coordinated this effort for 8 years and is ready to train the next coordinator!  Total commitment is about 3 hours.  Contact Cathy for more information.

•  Be a CVU budget buddy!  Mtgs 12/1, 12/15, and 1/20.  Contact Kim Schmidt kschmittpa@gmail.com

•  Holiday Fair poster distribution; 12/5 set up, 12/6 clean up.  Contact Dawn dawn.fragola@vtmednet.org

•  Donate your used books to the PTO Holiday Fair Used Book Sale!  Please, no reference books, VHS tapes or magazines.  Donations may be dropped off in the labeled box outside the front office.

Other business

•  Holiday Fair Discussion--As the Holiday Fair continues to grow and change, we would like to clarify our rules about WHO may have a table, and how much each crafter should DONATE TO CHARITY, if any.  Everyone seemed to be in agreement that tables should be given to students and teams first, then to teachers and parents as we are able.  Currently, student crafters pay $10 for a table.  This money goes directly to their team.  Any teacher/parent crafters are required to donate 10% of their profits to a charity--SCS Angel Fund or another of their choice.  In the future, we would like to follow up with crafters to find out which charities they support and how much they end up donating.  There were many ideas about student tables and donations--keep $10 fee (given to teams), require donation of 10% in lieu of $10 table fee, donate $10 table fee to charity of choice instead of team...no decisions were made on this.  Rules will be more clearly stated in next year's flyer, and crafters will indicate their charity on registration form.

•  Used Book Sale on the stage at holiday fair--Dawn Fragola and her team will pilot the sale this year.  BOOKS MAY BE DROPPED OFF ASAP in the box outside the front office.  Prices will be simple--ie 50 cent paperbacks, $1 hardcover.  Will hold a preview for teachers on Friday.  May distribute coupons to students.

•  Lottery results:  Team WONDER will run the holiday fair concessions this year.

•  In addition to holiday food baskets, Cathy Townsend works with the Shelburne Food Shelf to give presents and books too!  For the 3rd year, The Flying Pig will hang 'wish list' stockings at the store.  You may buy these wish list books at a 20% discount, and they will wrap and give to our school for distribution.

•  $11.2 million bond vote will be on the ballot in March.  A group (friends of SCS) is forming to garner support for this important project!  This group will give presentations to community groups, print and scatter lawn signs, write letters to the editor etc.  (School and Facilities Committee can put out information, but can not be the advocates/proponents).  PTO voted to support this group by donating funds (up to $500) for signage, printing, advertising etc.  Contact Matt Wormser if you are interested in joining this group!  matt.wormser@ge.com

Principal's Report

•  Mix it up day--October 31 was the first of 3 cross-grade collaborations of the year.  Older and younger students buddied up to share books, songs, games and laughter!  Great community building!  All are looking forward to the next mix it up day on January 30.

•  Playground update--bids will soon come in for playground equipment and installation to replace the structures on the Snelling Community Playground (the large playground by the baseball and soccer fields).  The concept plan is located on the bulletin board in the main lobby.

•  Congrats to 5-6 grade spelling team for placing 2nd in the CSSU district competition

•  Grand Rounds for Parents--Events (Parenting, Cyber Safety, & Early Education Evening) have been very successful!  Next session will be a November 19 viewing of 'Hungry Heart' about opiate addiction.  Middle and high school students may attend with their parents.

Thanks to:

-Sherry Senior for another great bulletin board!

-everyone who shopped at The Flying Pig and supported our 1st Shelburne Community Day!

-Lori Roberts for producing the beautiful Shelburne Community Day Flyers and newspaper ads!

Next meeting:  Tuesday, December 9 @ 6pm.  COOKIE SWAP!  Bring 3 dozen cookies, take away 3...  (please come to the meeting regardless of cookie swap participation)

Holiday Craft Fair

This week we spent a lot of time partner reading during our Writer's Workshop time.  We have also been reading Jan Brett books for our author study.  We have discovered some great videos and activities on the website Janbrett.com.  We are learning more about how she creates her illustrations through some of these videos and have been practicing drawing many of Jan Brett's characters. 
On Thursday, December 12th, our team will be going on a field trip to Shelburne Farms.  We will be leaving in the morning, having lunch at the farm and returning in the afternoon.  If you would like to join us to chaperone this field trip, please let me know.
Our team will be participating in this year's Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, December 6th.  Please check this week's Friday Folder for information.  We are hoping to get as many donations as possible toward crafts and the photo booth.  We are also looking for families to help work at our tables that day.  If you are able to work a shift, please go to the Firefly website wikki and sign up.
Have a great weekend and stay warm!
:)Deb

Customize your own free digital slideshow

Learning About the Election

This week Henry's Dad came in to teach us about elections in the United States.  We learned a little bit about the history of our country, Congress and our recent election.  We talked about what a "majority" is for voting.  Then we voted on several different things for our classroom.  A big thank you to Dan for teaching us about elections!
We are beginning an author study about Jan Brett during our Literacy time.  We will continue this study throughout November and into December.  We will be learning more about Jan Brett's writing and illustrations.  In Art, we will be creating artwork inspired by Jan Brett.
In Fundations, we will begin a new unit about the glued sounds "an" and "am".  We are finishing up our Small Moments unit in writing and are busy publishing our small moments on Book Creator using Ipads.  This is our first time using Book Creator and we are learning more about it (myself included) all the time.  We hope to get these up on our website in the next couple weeks.  In Reader's Workshop we have moved into new reading groups and are busy making connections in our reading journals.
We continue to work on strategies for adding math facts.  We have spent this week learning about the doubles plus and minus one strategies.  We have also been making many conjectures about odd and even numbers.  We are becoming more efficient with our math facts every day!
Have a great weekend,
:)Deb

A free picture slideshow by Smilebox

Hands On Nature

This week we learned about worms and soil during our Hands On Nature lesson.  We had an opportunity to observe and touch worms and spent some time outside digging them up from our garden beds.  We also listen to a puppet show about worms and created pictures using crayons and dirt.  Those picture are hanging on the bulletin board outside our classroom.  Many thanks to Anna and Ben's parents for such a great experience! 
Yesterday we met Miss Niles' class in the computer lab to begin our buddy blogging.  Miss Niles' Second Graders partnered up with us and showed us how to create a post.  We posted about our learning in Hands On Nature.  I sent an email home yesterday with information and directions about how to get on your child's blog to read it and comment.  Next week we will be spending more time in the computer lab with Miss Niles' class learning how to make comments.
Today was a busy day for us.  We had a Harvest Party in the morning which mixed all three classes for some fun activities in each of the Firefly classrooms.  We also enjoyed a delicious snack.  A big thank you to those parents who contributed to our Harvest Party.  Our afternoon was spent in "Mix It Up" activities.  During this time our class was paired with a Middle School class and we spent some time outside doing a fun scavenger hunt.  It was a great way to end our busy and fun day.
We finished reading Red Clover books this week and voted on our favorite.  It was a landslide!  The Day the Crayons Quit was the winner with 14 votes.  Four other books got 1 vote each.
I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Halloween and weekend!
:)Deb

Slideshow customized with Smilebox

Picture Retakes Monday, October 27th!

Please check Friday Folders for pictures today.  Picture retakes will be this Monday, the 27th of October.  If you would like your child to have a retake, please return the pictures with him/her on Monday.
We have been working hard to finish up our Small Moments unit in Writer's Workshop.  We have been learning about ways to bring our stories to life through unfreezing characters, telling our stories in small steps and including what our characters feel and think.  In Reader's Workshop we continue to focus on comprehension strategies and setting goals for ourselves as readers.  We will be mixing into new reading groups next week.  We have also been reading this year's Red Clover books.  Red Clover books are books are nominated and voted on by Vermont teachers and librarians.
We are finishing up our second math unit next week.  This unit has focused primarily on the development of addition strategies through the use of dice and dominoes.  It has been amazing to see the growth in number sense in our classroom over the past month.  We will begin a new unit that will continue with addition and will also focus on subtraction.
Please make sure your child comes to school Wednesday prepared for the outdoors.  We will be having our Hands On Nature lesson and will probably be going outside.
Have a great weekend!
:)Deb

SCS Grand Rounds for Parents

Option 1 - Shelburne Community School  EEE and Literacy / Math Programs

Invites families to celebrate an evening of exploration

Who: Shelburne Families with children from newborn to age five (children invited and encouraged to attend)

What: An evening of activities to celebrate early literacy and math skills

Date: Wed October 22nd, 2014   5:30pm – 7:00pm

Agenda:

• 5:30 – 6:00 – Free family dinner (no childcare available) :  pizza, soup, salad, fruit and a drink in the SCS cafeteria
• 6:00 – 6:15 – Introduction and overview
• 6:15 – 7:00 – Explore and play with your children at learning stations in library and cafeteria
• 6:00 - 7:30 - Part2 Childcare available for all school-age students

Option 2 - Shelburne Community School Counseling Department

Invites families to join us for an educational evening learning about Cybersafety for Parents

Who: any and all Shelburne Community School Families (info will be relevant for all parents K-12)

What: Presentation about Cybersafety - what every parent needs to know about keeping your family electronically safe - presented by Corporal Tom Nash from the Burlington Police Dept and CUSI

Free Childcare provided for all students in grades K and above

(pre-K parents and children are encouraged to attend the Early Education sessions described above)

Date: Wed October 22nd, 2014   5:30pm – 7:00pm

Agenda:

• 5:30 – 6:00 – Free family dinner (no childcare available):  pizza, soup, salad, fruit and a drink in the SCS cafeteria

• 6:00 – 7:00 – Presentation by Corporal Nash
• 7:00 - 7:30 – Questions and Answers
• 6:00 - 7:30 - Part2 Childcare available fro all school-age students

We would also encourage everyone to set aside 5:15 - 7:30 on Wed. Nov 19 when our monthly Grand Rounds for Parents will feature a screening of the documentary film Hungry Heart, looking at the issue of opiate addiction in Vermont.   The movie will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Bob Bick from the Howard Center.   

October PTO Meeting Minutes

October PTO notes & news (full minutes are posted on the PTO page of the SCS website)

Mark your calendars

•   Monday 10/20:  FALL FUNDRAISER ORDERS DUE!

•   Tuesday 10/21:  Unified Arts Curriculum night  from 6:30-7:30pm

•   Friday 10/24:  Flying Pig Bookstore kick-off event--spread the word about our first Shelburne Community Days!!  Digital copy of flyer will be sent to teachers.

•   Friday 10/24-Sunday 11/2:  Shelburne Community Days--Flying Pig Book Sale

•   Walking Wednesdays--every Wednesday in October

•   Tuesday 11/11:  SCS Budget Forum after PTO meeting

•   Saturday 11/15:  Shelburne Community Days--Open Arms Cafe

•   Wednesday 11/19:  Fall Fundraiser product pick-up 2:45-6:30pm in the small gym

Help Wanted

•   Fall Fundraiser product distribution.  Wednesday 11/19 from 2:45-6:30pm.  Contact Jen Cairns jencairns0408@gmail.com

Principal's report highlights

•   Endeavor team--worked to stock the the bare shelves at the Shelburne Food Shelf, and participated in the Hike for Hunger--raising $922! to food shelf.

•   Thanks to FEED chairperson Erica Frey-Delaportas for her commitment to a great program! 

•   Everybody Wins!  Currently serving 8 students in this mentoring program, but would love to add another 8 if we can find more mentors!  If you are interested in reading and talking with a 1-5 grader every Tuesday throughout the school year at lunchtime, please contact Jen Marx jmarx88@yahoo.com

•   Grand Rounds for parents--39 parents attended the September presentation on effective discipline by Maris Rose.  Upcoming presentations include Cyber Safety (10/22), Hungry Heart viewing and discussion (11/19), and a 4-part parenting series by Maris Rose (dates to come). Free babysitting by Part2.

Treasurer's report

Voted and approved the 2014-2015 PTO budget--a fairly conservative budget set by Courtney, Lisa, and Randy based on trends over last 3 years. 

Fundraising update

•   Soccer concessions--$1800

•   Fall fundraiser update--ORDERS/MONEY DUE BACK TO TEACHERS ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 20!! 

•   Direct donations--over $2,000!

•   Bowl-a-thon date changed to February 6. 

•   Price Chopper--register your advantage card, and earn money for our library with every purchase!

•   Hannafords Helps Schools--Now through 12/6.  Earn $3 reward certificate for every 4 participating items purchased.  Bring certificates to main office.

•   We encourage you to shop locally, but if you also shop at Amazon, please enter the site using the link on the PTO page of the SCS website.  We earn a portion of each purchase!!

•   Box Tops for Education-- Please cut out the 'Box Tops for Education' symbol from various General Mills products and drop them in your child's team collection box.

Fund Spending Update

•   The 2014-2015 Directory is here!!  Printing was 1/2 the price of last year!

•   Fall grants committee meeting--November 19 at 3:15 in computer lab/c-wing (PTO meeting space.  All parents are welcome to come review teacher requests and decide how to give our PTO money away!  Usually 1 1/2 hours.

Other Business

•   Concept for playground is on display in lobby

•   Winter Gear drive had begun!  Please donate all sizes, all winter gear!

•   Like us on Facebook!  We have over 250 likes. 

•   Sign up for the List Serve (now with 230 parents and teachers on the list!)  This list serve is meant for everyone to be able to post to and here are the instructions:

            1) Go to the list serve at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/scspto

            2) Log in

            3) Once you are logged in, you should see everything that has been posted then at the               very top there is red button that says "New Topic"

            4) Once you click on that, it lets you type out the subject area and your message and                   then you just hit "Post"

•   Facilities Improvement Update--The school board will be reviewing and voting on the proposed facilities improvement plan on Tuesday, October 21.  If they approve the proposal, we will see it on the ballot as a bond vote--separate from the school budget.  The 11.2 million dollar plan (the lowest cost of the 6 options) includes: 

•   new roof

•   new windows

•   new HVAC system installed on the roof

•   central hallways in "D & E wing" (the open classrooms to right and left of the library) to allow for larger classrooms with more natural light as well as closing and locking doors in every classroom. 

•   The central hallways will mean that students no longer have to use the breezeway to walk from one end of the building to the other!!  If approved by school board and then voters, construction would begin in October 2015 and take 18 months to complete.

Please share your support of these much needed improvements with our school board and community members!

           

Thank you, thank you:

•   Cate Cross and Catherine Collette for your efforts with the soccer concessions

•   Amy Knight and Dawn Fragola for your efforts with the Newberry Cup

•   Sherry Senior for organizing and running the craft corner at the Newberry Cup

•   Jen Cairns, Meagan Downey, and Ginger Williamson for visiting each team in the school to kick off the Fall Fundraiser

•   Corrine Levinthal for your hard work on the directory, and Colleen Wemple for data entry

•   Sherry Senior and Shannon Baird for the beautiful bulletin boards