From Anne Bezner, Elementary Principal
Welcome back to the second half of the 2009-2010 school year! It seems amazing to realize that so much of the year has already passed! As we remember the exciting highlights of the fall term, we look forward with anticipation to the remainder of the school year! There is more work to do and many more exciting events in which to participate. Please take a moment to click on the links provided on this page to see pictures, download helpful information, and find links to important web sites. By scrolling down to the very bottom of this screen you can see the online calendar, notifying you of upcoming events. As always, we stand ready to serve you and your family by seeking educational excellence in every avenue.
Curriculum Focus for 2009 - 2010
Academic Vocabulary - In pursuit of the highest standards in educational excellence, our department has made grade level specific academic vocabulary a curriculum focus for this year. This means that each student in elementary from K4 to 5th grade will build an academic vocabulary notebook as they progress through the year and work through the essential vocabulary that has been targeted for their grade. You can download your child’s vocabulary list by clicking on the link to the right of the screen.
Mathematics - Two equally important pillars of our mathematics instruction are 1) the building of critical thinking, reasoning, and problem solving skills through Everyday Mathematics in the classroom, and 2) the increased speed and recollection of basic math facts gained through student practice on the Mathletics web site. Mathletics can be accessed online from home by clicking on the link on the left of your screen. Please help to reinforce concepts learned in the classroom and make “Mathletics time” a part of your child’s daily homework routine.
Renaissance Place Home Connect - Do you wonder how many Accelerated Reader points your child has earned? This information is now accessible due to our purchase of an online license for Accelerated Reader. You can click on the link located on the left, log on with your child’s username and password, and keep current with all of the latest test results. Students and parents can also check the AR database for book titles, levels, and points available within the Accelerated Reader system. A portion of the funds earned from the ADVANCE Campaign helped to purchase this new service for you.
New Technology - The focus for our ADVANCE Campaign fundraising for the previous school year was increasing technology use in the classroom and labs. Your hard work during the Walkathon, School Bazaar, and the funds donated in the Friends Campaign purchased 9 new iMacs for the elementary computer lab, 5 new projectors, and 5 new ELMO’s. Thanks to you, each grade level, from K4 - 5th grade, is now able to cooperatively study maps, microscope slides, math manipulatives, video clips, and much, much more, on the big screen in the classroom. These new additions to our classrooms have excited students and teachers! Thank you for helping us to create visually powerful lessons that engage every student!
Sincerely,
Anne Bezner, Elementary Principal
