Important Dates...

Where we take care of selves, others and things

Cheetah Pride Press Issue Number 1 October 6, 2017

October 9

Columbus Day~No

School

October 28

Cheetah Palooza 11-2pm

November 7

Professional Learning

Day~No School

November 8

Picture Retake Day

November 10

Veterans Day~No School

November 22

1:10pm Holiday Dismis-

sal

November 23-24

Thanksgiving Break~No

School

November 28 & 30

1:10pm Dismissal for

Parent/Teacher Confer-

ences

Memorial School

Cheetah Pride

Dear Memorial School Family,

The start to the 17-18 school year at Memorial has been amazing! From the very first day of school, our students have demonstrated an enthusiasm and eagerness to learn that makes them a joy to work with.

In an effort to share highlights of the exciting learning experiences your child participates in, we will be sharing seasonal editions of our “Cheetah Pride Press.” We hope you find the information in these editions helpful and enjoyable to read.

In this first edition, we wanted to take time to thank you for your support and attendance at our open house evenings. We were excited to share our vision, mission and goals with you. In walking around the school after our presentation, it was obvious that fami-lies were enjoying their classroom visits. Our teachers worked hard to create a welcoming environment and to provide you with valua-ble information. Working as partners in your child’s education, we are confident that all our students will meet with success this year.

With pride,

Andy & Brandy The Memorial School Family

Photo by Joe Gowac

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports…

Cheetah Pride Trackers- When students receive Spot-On tickets for taking care of

themselves, others or things, they bring home their portions of the tickets and have

conversation with their families about how and why they were recognized. Families fill

out trackers (16 tickets) and return them to the office where the students will meet

with Mr. Gonzalez or Mrs. Gadoury to celebrate their accomplishments.

Bell Ringing Behaviors- When students go above and beyond with our hallway and com-

mon area expectations, they can be sent to office to ring our East Hampton bell!

Memorial Models– Each week classroom teachers will nominate a role model student to

receive this honor and certificate. Student names are read during morning announce-

ments and Memorial Models pose for grade level pictures to be hung in cafe and posted

to our social media accounts.

Positive Office Referrals– Provides students with special recognition for their posi-

tive behavior. The student carries the form to the office and meets with Mr. Gonzalez

and/or Mrs. Gadoury who add a personal message to the form and contact home with

an email or phone call.

The Order of the Cheetah– Special recognition for staff members who go above and

beyond with taking care of others and/or things.

CHEETAH PRIDE PRESS

CHEETAH PRIDE PRESS

Spelling Connections is a comprehensive resource for spelling instruction that we will implement from kindergarten through fifth grade. Backed by exten-sive research, it uses carefully selected spelling lists to teach patterns, build vocabulary, and devel-op the skills students need to become proficient spellers. Proficient spelling leads to improved skills

in other areas, including more fluent reading and writing. Research confirms that spelling is a foun-dational skill for reading success. Literacy expert Dr. J. Richard Gentry has brought together the ev-idence to support this and to show how the learning techniques used in Spelling Connections are the most effective and meaningful way to teach spelling. This research provides today’s teachers with information about how to teach our students about the relationships between words, and how to vis-ually recognize the patterns in English language. As a result, students become conventional spellers while building connections between spelling, vocabulary development, reading, and writing. Each week you will receive your child’s weekly spelling list with tips on how to support your child in their spelling development. Classroom lessons will focus on a language and spelling skill that these words demonstrate. In class, hands-on activities and differentiated instruction will support your child’s skill acquisition through specific strategies to deepen their spelling skills.

i-Ready is an online program that assesses a child’s

individual needs in reading and math and monitors their progress throughout the school year. The diag-nostic is given to all grades 1-3 students in Septem-ber, January and May. Kindergarten students will

complete in January and May. Individual students may access i-Ready instructional ses-sions based on their needs. Teachers will share students’ performance and explain how this data will help shape decisions made about their academic program.

CHEETAH PRIDE PRESS

At School and on the School Bus, we take care of ourselves; we take care of others; we take care of things!

September 15th was Bus Expectations Day! All students reviewed expec-tations with a lobby presentation with Mrs. Gadoury followed up by prac-tice on a bus with Mr. Gonzalez.

SUMMER CHALLENGE CELEBRATIONS

In total, 161 Summer Readers read 5,605 books!

45 Grade 1 Summer Readers read 2,553 books!

71 Grade 2 Summer Readers read 1,960 books!

45 Grade 3 Summer Readers read 1,092 books!

In total, 40 students turned in the Summer Fitness Challenge Forms!

We are proud of how our Cheetahs flexed their brains and muscles this summer!

Let It Ripple

Coin Challenge for Americares

Mr. Evans’ Student Created Inspirational Posters

Run Hartford for Houston

Kindness Rocks

UNICEF

Be on the lookout for more details on how Memorial staff and students

make kindness and caring common in the upcoming Events Magazine.

CHEETAH PRIDE PRESS

NEWS FROM CAFÉ...

The response to our new menu options has been fantastic and we are excited to see so many of our students enjoying our many different lunch options. We want to make sure that every child has plenty of time at lunch to fill their bellies, and we have noticed that our youngest students have difficulty deciding which menu option they want, which increases the amount of time they spend in line. We have instituted a picture menu board outside the cafeteria lunch line to help students decide while waiting in line, and we would love to have your help at home as well. If your child is new to the school or the cafeteria process, please take a few moments at the beginning of the week, or before they head off to school, to go over the menu and help your child decide which option they prefer and which sides they’d like to try. This will help in speeding the line along during these first few weeks while the stu-dents are still getting com-fortable with the hot lunch process. Thank you for your help and support!

NEWS FROM NURSE…

It is so much fun getting to know your children this year! This Fall we are working on health promotion activities to keep every child as healthy and happy as possible through the school year. September has been dedicated to handwashing teaching in the kindergarten clas-ses. What a blast! We’ve had fun putting glow in the dark “germs” on our hands, learning how the germs spread, and how to properly scrub them off with soap and water. I’m looking for-ward to moving up in the grades through October and November with more GloGerm hand-washing fun!

Jillian Crouch, RN

MEMORIAL PROUDLY LAUNCHES 2 NEW PROGRAMS

CHEETAH PRIDE PRESS

ATTENDANCE MATTERS

Communication is a key ingredient in any successful partnership. We are requiring parent/guardians to continue to provide written communication when your child is absent, tardy or dismissing early. Our school district im-plemented the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Guidelines for Excused and Unexcused Absences and as a result, we ask that you submit written documentation of the absence. To submit documentation, we recom-mend using the convenient green “A Note to School” slips provided to each student or medical notes written by your doctor. This documentation can be submitted as your child returns to school and should be submitted to the main office. Please continue to call in the morning before school when your child will be absent or tardy so attendance can be done promptly and effi-ciently.

More information about these guidelines can be found at: http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/publications/guidelines_excused_and_unexcused_absences.pdf

Joining our preschool team as the teacher of our brand new grant funded Smart Start program is Mrs. Stacey Gibson with paraprofes-sional support provided by Mrs. Leslie Wicander.

Mr. Ian Lynch-Passarelli joins our instructional team as the special education teacher of our brand new STARS program.

PTO Jog-A-Thon

Thank you for sup-porting our Fun Run! Stay tuned for an-nouncements about total contributions as well as photos of our runners!

NEWS FROM LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER...

Hi Cheetah families!

The beginning of the school year is off to a great start in the library! Students have reviewed library practices and are doing a great job with our routines and with returning library books. Our first Star Reader Week will be the week of October 16

th, more information to follow. Here is a peak at what

we have done by grade level in September.

PreK students are enjoying a variety of read-alouds and songs with the back to school theme. We have also discussed book care and how to be a responsible library patron.

Kindergarten has gone over book care, the parts of the book, and is starting to discuss the roles of the author and illustrator. They have also enjoyed some back to school themed read-alouds.

First grade has reviewed book care and learned about how to take care of the Chrome-books in the library setting. They have practiced, practiced, and practiced logging into their accounts and are getting better at each week. They have also listened to a variety of back to school themed read-alouds.

Second grade began the year by reviewing basic library skills and how to choose a “ just right book”. They have also been introduced to the library catalog and are eagerly becom-ing independent users of the library. In addition second graders have begun listening to the 2018 Nutmeg nominees read aloud. This month it was Hippopotamister by John Patrick Green and Wet Cement by Bob Raczka.

Third graders have also reviewed basic library skills and how to choose a “ just right book”. In addition, third graders participated in a “Breakout Edu” activity, where they worked in small groups to think critically about how to solve a variety of puzzles, which would allow them to “break into” our locked box. Kids are having a blast with this activity. . In addition, third graders have begun listening to the 2018 Nutmeg nominees read aloud. This month it was Hippopotamister by John Patrick Green and Wet Cement by Bob Raczka.

For more information and updates, make sure to check out the library website at https://sites.google.com/site/centermemoriallibrary/ and follow us on Twitter @EHk5libraries! Questions, contact, Mrs. Flannery at rflannery@easthamptonct.org.

Mrs. Flannery and Mrs. Hill

Exploring model texts to find 3rd Grade Breakout 3rd grade Breakout QR code tic tac toe

examples of a "just right book”

CHEETAH PRIDE PRESS

NEWS FROM MUSIC... Greetings from the music room! During the past month, students in all grades have learned routines and expectations in music. Below, you will find the things we focused on at each grade level this month.

Preschool: Students have jumped right in to fun music learning by playing rhythm instru-ments, dancing, and singing silly songs! A favorite song story this month was “The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”.

Kindergarten: Students have started to learn the difference between talking, whispering, shouting, and singing voices. They have also started to practice matching pitch when singing a greeting and identifying the difference between fast and slow music. A favorite song this month was “Engine, Engine Number Nine”, sung at various speeds.

First Grade: Students reviewed musical contrasts such as fast vs. slow and loud vs. soft. They also learned the music term “steady beat” and started to practice keeping a steady beat to music. They continued to practice matching pitch when singing a greeting. A favorite song this month was “Frog in the Bucket”.

Second Grade: Students reviewed how to read rhythms (ta, ti-ti, and quarter rest) and notes (mi, sol, la) in familiar songs and patterns. They reviewed some music notation concepts in the pro-cess of trying fun challenges and games. A new music term we’ve just started to talk about is sing-ing in a round! (We tested it out with “Rain, Rain Go Away”.)

Third Grade: Students reviewed how to read rhythms (one, two, and three beats long) and notes (do, re, mi, sol, la) in familiar songs and patterns. They also transitioned to counting rhythms with numbers instead of the familiar rhythm syllables, ta and ti-ti. They also learned about the whole note and whole rest, two new four-beat rhythms. They are getting prepared to read music for the recorder in a couple of months! REMINDER: Recorder order forms are due to your child’s class-room teacher by October 5

th!

As the year progresses, I will put more details, pictures, and sometimes video or sound clips from class on my website. Preschool and kindergarten parents will even be able to find lyrics to some of the songs we sing in class on the website to practice at home if desired! You can access the music room website at: https://sites.google.com/a/easthamptonps.org/memorialmusic/home . Please feel free to email me at any time with comments or questions! smaldona-do@easthamptonct.org Mrs. Maldonado

CHEETAH PRIDE PRESS

CHEETAH PRIDE PRESS

NEWS FROM PE… PreK/K — Our youngest learners love when we incorporate movement skills into games—skipping, gallop-ing, hopping, etc.

Grade 1 — Class time focused on reviewing movement skills and teaching soccer foot skills—dribbling, passing and trapping.

Grades 2/3 — Class time focused on teaching soccer skills including foot skills, throw-ins, and goalie work while being introduced to indoor soccer games.

Grades 1-3 — Students are practicing correct technique of sit-ups and push-ups, and building stamina while jogging/running outside.

Kindergartners Jog and Gallop!

Reminder – Any child who turns in a monthly Fitness Calendar will receive one extra PE class.

NEWS FROM ART...

We are so excited to be diving into art as the school year began! Watching the students create and imagine their mas-

terpieces has been so exciting! During the first week of school, students were introduced to 4 famous artists; Vincent

Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Salvador Dali, and Frida Kahlo! We were able to look closely at, and color, one of each of their

paintings and are practicing learning those artists names and what makes them special. The artists designate 4 differ-

ent “teams” in the art room. The students are picking this up very quickly, and are excited to get to know these artists!

With the coming of Autumn, the students have transitioned from learning art room rules and expectations, to creating

with a variety of materials such as markers, tempera paint, sharpie, oil pastel, colored pencil, watercolor paint, paper

and glue. We are also already earning “free art time” during art class for excellent listening and

behavior!

Please note that 3rd grade students’ art classes are run differently than the other grades, as the

3rd graders are taking “choice art”. In “choice art”, students have the opportunity to use any art

materials for the various projects we will learn throughout the year. This requires a lot of person-

al responsibility, risk taking, and problem solving, and the students have been doing an EXCEL-

LENT job! It is fun to have all of the art materials at our fingertips, and choice art produces

much more authentic works of art! We can’t wait to share our discoveries and masterpieces with

you!

Here are the projects the students have worked on for the first month of school:

Prek- Self Portraits, Apple Prints, and Sunflower Drawings

K- Self Portraits, Abstract Name Designs, Apple Prints, Ripped

Sunflower Collages

1- Wacky Name Design Watercolor Paintings, 3D Flower Collages

2- Patterned Name Design

3- Three Dimensional Abstract Name Sculpture AND Two Dimen-

sional Name Design

(choice of all dry media: charcoal, chalk pastel, oil pastel, colored

pencil, china marker, marker, sharpie, crayon)

Grade Sit-Ups Push-Ups Jogging/Running

1 20 20 2 laps- ½ mile

2 25 25 3 laps – ¾ mile

3 30 30 4 laps- 1 mile

CHEETAH PRIDE PRESS

It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment regardless of an individual’s race, color,

religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability (including but not limited to, intellectual disa-

bility, past or present history of mental disorder, physical disability, or learning disability), genetic information, marital status, or age or be-

cause of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information,

marital status, or age of any persons with whom the individual associates.

The District shall provide to all students without discrimination, course offerings, counseling, assistance, employment, athletics, and extracur-

ricular activities. The District shall provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The District shall make reasona-

ble accommodations for identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and

regulations.

Inquiries regarding East Hampton Public Schools’ nondiscrimination policies and practices should be directed to: Mary Clark, Director of Cur-

riculum and Instruction, East Hampton Public Schools, 94 Main St., East Hampton, CT. Tel: 860-365-4000. mclark@easthamptonct.org.

East Hampton Public Schools

Vision

The East Hampton Schools District—preparing and inspiring our students to be innovative,

responsible, contributing members of an ever-changing global society.

The Mission of East Hampton Public Schools

The mission of East Hampton Public Schools in partnership with our community is to develop

knowledgeable, responsible, productive citizens who effectively demonstrate

problem-solving and communication skills, make informed decisions and respond

appropriately and confidently to life’s challenges.

Our next meeting is October 4th

at Center School 6:00pm

Please visit www.ehepto.com - Twitter: @ehepto

Facebook: PTO East Hampton Elementary

2017-2018 PTO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President - Melissa Alford 860-267-1400 lucyeloise@me.com

Vice President - Christine Wiesner 203-848-7740 weeeezy316@hotmail.com

Secretary - Kim Kiernan 860-922-3741 kimmycakes80@gmail.com

Co-Treasurer - Kate Werme 860-213-0036

Co-Treasurer - Julie Johnson 860-930-3397 johnson7479@yahoo.com

Thanks to our PTO for the amazing end-of-year gift! The PTO presented Memorial School with a check for over $16,000 that will be used to purchase re-sources for classrooms, provide enriching cultural experiences, and support our students’ elementary school experiences.

CHEETAH PRIDE PRESS

Memorial School’s Cheetah Palooza

What is it…Cheetah Palooza is a carnival type event to raise money for technology for Me-morial School as well as for the John Fidler Scholarship Fund . There is a variety of carni-val style games for the kids to play and earn prizes as well as crafts, face painting, bounce houses, a photo booth, food, cheetah swag items for sale, raffle prizes and services raffled off by Memorial School staff members. A favorite activity by most is the dousing booth where you can attempt to dump a bucket of water on our principal or another teacher! All food, cheetah swag, game and raffle tickets on the day of the fair are cash only! When…Saturday, October 28 11:00 – 2:00

Tickets…Most games or activities cost 1 – 2 tickets. Full face painting is 5 tickets. You can pre-order tickets and receive additional free tickets or you can purchase tickets that day for $1.00 per ticket. *Ticket forms will be available at Parent Nights and sent home with students. Donations…Do you want to help us out by making a donation? We are in need of the fol-lowing items to make the day a success: ~cases of water bottles ~fill a gallon size Ziploc bag with prizes, (brand new/unused prizes only, no food or candy) ~gift card donations to stores, restaurants, etc. ~monetary donations are also accepted ~any other connections that you have (we are looking for a business to donate hot dogs

and rolls) Raffle Prizes…Be sure to check out the Raffle Tables that day! Some raffle prizes include gift cards to local businesses, tickets to a show at the Bushnell, Lularoe, a weekend in New Hampshire, restaurant gift cards and more! Memorial School staff members are also raf-fling off services such as pizza delivered to your house, an afterschool movie day, baked goods, open gym, manicure, ice cream party and lots more!