Newfane Elementary School



Newfane Elementary School

April Newsletter

NYS ELA and MATH Exams:

The Elementary School will be proctoring ELA and Math exams for grade 3 and grade 4 students on April 14th, 15th, and 16th (ELA) and on April 22nd, 23rd, 24th (Math). Attendance on these days is very important. Please avoid scheduling any appointments or trips during the testing period. It is always best for students to take the tests with their classmates during the regular administration dates. However, if your child is sick, please use your best judgment to determine if your child should stay home. You know your children best.

As a parent, encourage your child to do their best! Keep the discussion relaxed and as stress free as possible. Encourage your child to get a good night sleep and to eat a healthy breakfast on the mornings of the exams. Send them off in the morning with a good luck kiss and let us do the rest. Thanks for all of your support in this matter!!!

Report Card Revisions:

The report card committee continues to meet to make revisions to our report cards, grades 1-4. The new report cards will be aligned with the Common Core Learning Standards for ELA and Math. Below is a sample of how the grade 3 math section will look next year. As you can see the new report card allows teachers to accurately report student progress toward meeting grade level standards.

OLD REPORT CARD NEW REPORT CARD

|MATHEMATICS |

|Effort |

|Knows number facts |

|Reasons well in problem solving |

|Understands skills being taught at this time |

|Works accurately |

|Completes assignments on time |

|Mathematics |

|Number & Operations – Base Ten & Fractions |

|Rounds whole numbers to the nearest 10 or 100 |

|Adds within 1000 with and without regrouping |

|Subtracts within 1000 with and without grouping |

|Plots fractions on a number line |

|Identifies and generates simple equivalent fractions |

|Compares and orders fractions with like numerators or denominators |

|Operations and Algebraic Thinking |

|Multiplies fluently up to 10 x 10 |

|Divides fluently within 100 |

|Solves multi-step word problems using addition and subtraction |

|Solves multi-step word problems using all four operations |

|Measurement & Data |

|Tells and writes time to the nearest minute |

|Solves word problems involving elapsed time |

|Represents and interprets data using bar graphs and line plots |

|Shows how area and multiplication are related using a model |

|Solves real world problems involving area |

|Solves real world problems involving perimeter of polygons |

|Geometry |

|Describes and analyzes shapes and their attributes |

Panther Chase, Fit Fest & Chiavetta’s Chicken BBQ:

Mark your calendars – our annual Panther Chase and Fit Fest are scheduled for MAY 15th. That’s right, this year BOTH events will be “run” on the same day. The Panther Chase will begin at approximately 9:30am with the fourth grade race. The third grade race will begin at 9:45; second grade at 10:00, and first grade at 10:15.

The Fit Fest is scheduled to begin at 5:30 and run through 8:00pm. This year the Sophomore Class will be sponsoring a Chiavetta’s Chicken BBQ. Food will be available for pre-sale after break. Families can take the food home or eat in before the festivities. Watch for a BBQ flyer and order form.

As with past Fit Fests we will have sports clinics run by our varsity sports teams, fitness challenge stations, fitness crafts and healthy snacks available. We will also be running Health and Wellness Fair in the library. We will have representatives from local foundations available to provide information to our families on how we can live a fit and healthy life. Finally, from 7:00-8:00pm will be treated to a fun, and fit focused assembly performed by FreshStart Fitness. This assembly will be a high energy and interactive show that teaches about fitness and nutrition. Thank you Newfane PTSA for providing the funding for this program!

AVID Update - INQUIRY

Critical thinking and questioning is an important component to our curriculum and instruction at the Elementary School. Through our AVID training teachers have learned instructional strategies to help students to better understand why asking questions is vital to learning. In all classes and grades at the Elementary School teachers are talking to students about asking and answering LEVEL 1, LEVEL 2, and LEVEL 3 questions. Each level of question requires different skills and a different thought process. Below is a brief description of each level of question as well as a graphic that we are using in our classrooms to teach levels of questioning.

What are the levels of questions?

Level 1 ― Gathering Information – RIGHT THERE QUESTIONS

Level 1 questions can be answered right in the text – for example, Who are the characters in the story? What type of cloud produces rain? What year did the Civil War begin? Although these questions require the least about of thinking – they are important. A student needs to comprehend the basic information before they can build on their knowledge and work at a higher level.

Level 2 ― Processing Information - INFERRING

Level 2 questions ask students to think about the text and then make an inference – to compare and contrast information or explain why something has happened – for example, Compare how the character changed from the beginning to the end of the story. Explain why the setting of the story is important to the plot. Classify each animal into one of the five kingdoms. Level 2 questions are very challenging to create and to answer. We spend a lot of time working in this level of thinking.

Level 3 ― Applying information – OFF THE PAGE QUESTIONS

Level 3 questions require students to make judgements and evaluate information. At this level they are making predictions based on evidence. They are creating new thoughts by using information they have learned – for example, Evaluate which choice is better for you and our school. Predict how the story would change if Cinderella did not meet the fairy godmother. Pretend you were General Lee, what would you do differently with your leadership in the Civil War?

IMPORTANT DATES

|April 14-16 – Gr. 3 & 4 ELA Exams |May 5 – Gr. 2 Field Trip to Artpark |June 1 – Gr. 4 Science Written Exam |

|April 17 – PTSA Movie Night and Book Fair @ the MS |May 13 – PTSA Meet the Candidates Night @ Elementary |June 3 – Veteran’s Luncheon (Student Senate) |

|April 22-24 – Gr. 3 & 4 MATH Exams |Café |June 4 – Gr. 4 Chorus Assembly and Evening Concert at |

| |May 15 – Panther Chase, Fit Fest, Chicken BBQ |the MS |

| |May 19 – Budget Vote |June 5 – Gr. 2 Swim Meet (TENTATIVE) |

| |May 22-25 - Memorial Day Recess |June 10 – Gr. 3 Field Trip – Burt Reservoir |

| |May 26-28 - Gr. 4 Science Performance Exam |June 12 – Gr. 3 Swim Meet (TENTATIVE) |

| |May 29 – Elementary Art Show |June 15 – Gr. 4 Field Trip to Erie Canal |

| | |June 18 – Field Day |

| | |June 19 – Gr. 4 Swim Meet (TENTATIVE) |

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Standards-based indicators that specifically describe the skills students need to demonstrate at each grade level.

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