Washington Word
by Carol Feuerbacher
January 01, 2008
ARE YOU SPENDING ENOUGH TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN?
Research shows what
parents always suspected: Kids need parents to be actively involved
with their lives. Are you involved enough? Here’s a quiz to find
out.
I monitor what my child sees on TV and on the Internet.
We have at least one meal a day together.
My child is responsible for doing some household chores.
I am very aware of what my child is learning at school.
We don’t have the TV on during dinner. We talk instead.
Try some of the ideas on the quiz to become more directly involved with your child.
2008-2009 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Though it is hard to believe, we are already beginning to put together our plans for the upcoming school year. With that thought in mind, we are beginning to register students who will be entering kindergarten during the 2008-2009 school year (those who will be five-years-old by October 15).
In order to register a parent or guardian of the incoming kindergartner needs to come into the school during regular school office hours (8:00-4:15). At that time, we will have the adult complete a small packet of registration information. We will also give them information about physicals and shots that the incoming kindergartner will need.
When you come to
register your child it is very helpful if you bring a copy of their
birth certificate as well as their Social Security card. If you do
not have a copy of their birth certificate, one can be obtained at
the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services office located
at 304 North 5th St. in Norfolk.
If you have any questions, give Mrs. Feuerbacher or Mr. Hastings a
call at the office at 644-2557.
By registering your child early, you guarantee a spot in the kindergarten at Washington School for next year. We are excited to begin registering your children. Please let your neighbors who also have school-aged children.
We look forward to serving your child at Washington School!
NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE GUIDANCE OFFICE
Notes from the School Counselor
This article is written to invite you to join me in a parenting class at Northern Hills School. Another colleague, Jan Dyer, counselor at Woodland Park will be helping me teach the “Parents on Board” Curriculum.
WHEN: MONDAYS
(January 14, 21, 28)
TIME: 6:30 -8:00 P.M.
WHERE: Northern Hills School Library
COST: $15.00 (covers expense of book)
WHY: Did you know that children whose parents are involved in their education do better in school and in life?
Research has shown that children whose parents are involved:
Get better grades
and test scores
Do more homework
Have better attendance
Are more involved in extra-curricular activities
Have higher graduation rates
Are more likely to go on to college or post-secondary education
Demonstrate a more positive attitude and behavior.
JOIN US! Meet other parents, share common questions and concerns and learn how to help your child find academic success.
SIGN UP SOON! SPACE IS LIMITED!
Call Mrs. Feuerbacher at Washington School and let her know if you’ll be able to join us.
Hope to see you
there!
Anita Theophilus, School Counselor
NEWS FROM MRS. KING’S 3RD GRADE
It has been a wonderful year for my third grade class. We have been working on new, difficult math concepts, we have been learning about various Native American groups in Social studies, and in science we have studied plants, planets, and bugs (a favorite of our group!) At the beginning of the year, we also started working on our cursive writing. To make cursive writing a little more interesting, we have written poems, letters, autobiographies, and, my personal favorite, tongue twisters. The students were encouraged to write a tongue twister using their name. Most did, others came up with some funny twisters without their name. I thought we might share them with you today! Mrs. King
Here are some terrific lounge twisters to wrap your mouth around....
Titana travels to
Tempelton, Tennessee to flick ticks.
by Titana D.
Ally eats ants in
Arizona.
by Ally G.
Bob Blubber blew
big bubbles.
by Adrian G.
Justin jumped over
the Jolly Giant.
by Justin S.
Damian dances with
a dog.
by Damian G.
Tanya toasted tangy
tangerines.
by Tanya N.
Henry hikes on high
hills.
by Carlos S.
Silly Sally eats
snails.
by Riley L.
Tabby cat pulls
tacks.
by Emily L.
Jose hops with
hairy hares.
by Jose E.
NEWS FROM MRS. SCHULZ THIRD GRADE
Greetings from the Washington third graders in Room 106!
The students in third grade had a special visitor in November for Veteran's Day this year. We welcomed PFC Tennille Hess to our classroom to speak to us about her experiences in the 600th Transportation Company currently serving in Iraq. Tennille surprised her cousin, Korbyn Freeman, one of our third graders. Korbyn was speechless! PFC Hess was back from Iraq on her allowed two week break from her assignment there. As of now she is back in Iraq serving all of us proudly. We all owe her a big thanks for the great job she is doing to help protect all the freedoms we enjoy!
The third graders have been working hard in math in the study of numbers. We have been learning about and writing different forms of numbers ... standard form, expanded form, and word form … through the hundred thousands. In addition to number forms, we are comparing numbers, ordering them from least to greatest and greatest to least, and learning more about rounding numbers. We will take a district test over these learnings in January. This is one of seven district math tests our third graders need to complete this year. What a challenge for our students!
Social Studies and
science have the third graders learning about the world we live in.
Recently in Social Studies we have been learning about geography in
our study of the different landforms and climates of the United
States. Our adventures in science have led us into the world of
volcanoes and outer space lately.
We are learning to write in paragraphs using Step Up to Writing
skills. Step Up to Writing is a program that helps us organize our
thoughts into meaningful parts to make our writing easier to
accomplish. Ask a third grader what it means to unpack a prompt,
and he or she can probably tell you. Our third graders are learning
to write topic, main idea, and conclusion paragraphs. It is
impressive what some of us have accomplished so far.
As you can see, third grade is really a full time job for our students. They are working hard to prepare for fourth grade.
Mrs. Schulz and the Third Graders
NEWS FROM CHALLENGE
Challenge Corner
As we turn the calendar to a new month and a new year, let’s turn our attention to what is happening in the Challenge classroom!
The first-graders
are working on their math skills by completing a unit called “Math
Rules.” This book is specifically designed for gifted students. The
challenge problems develop logic and reasoning skills and self
confidence in the understanding of mathematics. The problems are
designed to help students use the skills they have learned in the
regular classroom and in the real world!
The second-graders will be working on a P.E.T.S. unit. This unit
does not involve the actual study of pets, but rather the study of
Primary Educational Thinking Skills. What are thinking skills you
might ask? These thinking skills include the following: convergent,
divergent, analytical, and creative thinking. Students will meet
Dudley the Detective, Isabelle the Inventor, Sybil the Scientist,
and Max the Magician to help us along the way!
“Let your fingers
do the walking…” Our third-graders will become Telephone Detectives
by the end of this unit! Old telephone books will provide
opportunities for students to learn research, reading, writing,
social studies, and creativity skills. Students will use both the
yellow and white pages to answer questions such as … “Find all the
area codes that are in your state.” “Where can I take my dog for a
haircut?”
Fourth graders will be managing the “TimberView Dog Kennel.” This
simulation provides students the opportunity to apply math and
problem solving skills in a real-life situation. Students must
calculate fees; determine services and other tasks relating to the
management of a dog kennel. As a highlight to this unit, I hope to
take the students on a fieldtrip to a local dog kennel/grooming
business.
Finally, our
fifth-graders will become SLEUTHS. Sleuth is a treasure hunt
simulation game. It involves students exploring 10 recognized,
award-winning pieces of literature. Some of these titles include
The Long Winter, Where the Red Fern Grows, and Indian in the
Cupboard. Students will try and solve clues to uncover the title of
the book and then create a “product” related to the pieces of
literature. Teams will complete to finish all ten clues!
As always, it is a pleasure to work with your student!
Sincerely,
Nancy Boche
nboche@npsne.org
(Home phone- 371-0284/School- 644-2557)
