walker wildcat news - summit hill...wildcat news- march 2016 page 1 of 23 6 walker wildcat news...
TRANSCRIPT
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 1 of 23
6
Walker Wildcat News March Edition
Hilda Walker Intermediate School
19900 S. 80th Avenue
Tinley Park, IL 60487
www.summithill.org PHONE (815)464.2285 // FAX (815) 464.2160
PRINCIPAL’S PAGE – Ms. Goebel
Dear Parents & Students:
At this point, I certainly hope the snow and winter weather is
behind us! We are all in need of some warmth and with that being
said, spring break! Regardless, I am sure we will continue to
experience all of the varieties that our Chicagoland weather
promises. Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather.
Often times, we see students sporting sweatshirts and shorts despite
the frigid temperatures.
As you know, our sixth graders completed In-View testing last
month. Results will be sent home with third quarter report cards on
April 8th. This month staff will continue focusing on prepping
students for PARCC and wrapping their prep up utilizing mock
tests. Students will be practicing these mock tests on their tablets.
Teachers have focused their attention on standards and meeting
varied needs of students, so I am confident that Walker and the
entire District will continue to do well on this state exam. You are
welcome to contact your child’s teacher or me if you have any
questions or concerns about this assessment. As a reminder, the
PARCC test will be scheduled to begin April 5th for both our 5th and
6th graders. It will assess reading and math and will look a bit
different than last year. The test will incorporate three ELA
sessions/four math sessions for 5th grade and three ELA
sessions/three math sessions for 6th grade. Testing sessions will
range in length from about sixty-110 minutes.
Remember that our District’s SHEF event will be held on Sunday,
March 20th. The students attended an assembly rallying together
to support staff playing for this Battle Ball title! It was a fun
assembly watching our staff battle against each other and show
Upcoming Events
March 4
Social Media Presentation by
Det. Bonarek for Grade 5 & 6
SHHW AB World Cup Soccer
March 7
No School/Pulaski Day
March 10
D.A.R.E. Graduation
PAWmart
March 11
SHEF Pizza Day
March 15
No School/Election Day
March 18
National Action against
Bullying & Violence Day
March 19
SHHWAB – 3-on-3 Basketball
March 22
Spring Pictures in am
March 25-April 1
No School/Spring Break
(Classes Resume on April 4)
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 2 of 23
off their skills. Hopefully you will be able to see for yourself what an
exciting event this will be! Buying a ticket will help raise funds for
our education foundation. SHEF has been responsible for giving
back hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants that enrich the
academic environment of all our 161 schools. They are a
wonderful group of people who volunteer their time to benefit our
students- please consider joining SHEF and supporting their
outstanding efforts!
Before we know it, it will be the end of third quarter and spring
break will be upon us. Although we are securely in the second half
of the year and assessment season is upon us, please continue to
help us promote a positive academic attitude with your child. We
have a variety of events happening this month some of which
include our upcoming Social Media Program (March 4), 5th grade
DARE graduation (March 10), The Lion King Drama Performance
(March 17-18), and Student Council Spirit Week (March 21-24).
Every day is an opportunity to learn and grow- that’s part of the
Walker Way! Thank you for your continued support!
Kindly,
Ms. Laura C. Goebel, Principal
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S PAGE – Mr. Hantson
Dear Parents & Students,
Everyone here at Walker is full steam ahead as we move into the
Spring season. There will definitely be a lot happening in March, but
one event that I am truly looking forward to is the DARE graduation.
Our 5th grade students have worked very hard all year with Officer
Adamski and on March 10th the students will be rewarded for all of
their hard work as we celebrate their success at the ceremony. In
addition to that, Walker student Patrick Isom, will be participating at
the Will County Regional Spelling Bee on March 3rd. If Patrick wins he
will move on to the National Bee in Washington D.C. Good luck!
Student safety is essential here at Walker and following bus behavior
expectations is very important so that the drivers can get the
students to and from school in a safe manner. Please be sure to
follow the Walker Way on the bus and be respectful by keeping
hands, feet and objects to yourself and following the driver’s
instructions. Be responsible by reporting problems to your driver and taking your belongings off the
Important
Announcement
SCO Treat Day, March 3
(chocolate-covered pretzels
from Kernel Sweet Tooth)
PBIS Popcorn March 24
SCO Hot Lunch, March 18
(Noodle & Co.-Mac and
Cheese, fruit snack, piece of
fresh fruit, bag of chips and
Icee frozen treat)
In the Community
Board of Education Meeting
@AC March 9 and March 23
SHEF
SHEF Battle Ball Event on
Saturday, March 20 @SHJH
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 3 of 23
bus. Also, let’s not forget to be safe by staying seated and out of the
aisles. Following bus procedures is necessary to keep everyone safe.
Let’s keep this momentum rolling into Spring Break and as the
weather gets nicer out before you go out and have fun get your
homework done.
Remember to always follow the Walker Way because every day is a
great day to be a WILDCAT!
Thanks for all you do.
Mr. Don Hantson, Assistant Principal
IMPORTANT NEWS…
Remember if you need to contact any of our staff, please email
them using the first letter in their first name and full last name
Spelling Bee
On Thursday, January 28, students from Hilda Walker Intermediate
School participated in the Summit Hill 161 District Spelling Bee. The
Spelling Bee was held at Summit hill Junior High and featured the top
spellers from grades 5 through 8. After a great display of intelligence
by all of the competitors, Walker student Patrick Isom was declared
the winner! Patrick will move on to compete in the Will County
Regional Spelling Bee in March. Congratulations to all of the Walker
students, Tarrah Mottley, Katarina Wojick, Kyle Cavitt, Michaela Buck,
and Jillian Mills, who participated in the District Bee.
Illinois Grade School Music Association Contest
On Saturday, February 13th, about 250 of our Hilda Walker &
Summit Hill Jr. High Band, Orchestra, and Choir students participated
in the annual Illinois Grade School Music Association contest. They
were joined by about 1500 other students from many different local
area school bands, orchestra, and choir programs. The contest was
hosted by band directors Jason Collins and Scott Wagstaff here at
Hilda Walker. All students performed solos and/or small ensembles.
Each performance was heard by a judge who awarded the
Progress Reports/
Report Cards
Quarter Three: 4/8
Quarter Four: 5/2, Last
day of school
*Check PowerSchool
weekly for updated
student grades as well as
teacher websites at
www.summithill.org
A Good Idea…….
Some students need to call
home from time to time: A
good idea would be to jot
down parent’s cell phone
numbers and work numbers
on a note card. The card
can be placed in a small
zipper area of your student’s
back pack and will be
readily available to them
when needed.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 4 of 23
performance with either a first place, second place, or third place rating. All District 161 students
received either first or second place medals. We applaud all of these students for their extra efforts
and outstanding achievements. Congratulations to all participants!
Lane Williams and Kyle Hankosky’s Duet
PREVENTING BACKPACK INJURIES
Experts warn that overloaded backpacks often result in back injuries among children.
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) advises parents and caregivers to pay
close attention to children's posture and not wait for them to complain about back pain before
lightening their load.
Backpack injuries are commonly caused by wearing overloaded backpacks, as well as lifting and
carrying them incorrectly. Parents and teachers should guide kids to take preventative measures.
The academy suggested several additional ways to help children avoid pain and discomfort from
wearing a backpack:
Use both shoulder straps to evenly distribute the weight of the backpack.
Tighten the straps and use a waist strap if available.
Place the biggest items in the backpack closest to the back, but remove anything that is too
heavy.
Bend at the knees and use the legs when picking up a backpack.
Only carry essential items in the backpack. Leave extra books at home or school whenever
possible.
Do not leave backpacks in aisles or walkways to avoid falls.
Parents and caregivers should encourage children to speak up about any pain or discomfort
they feel while wearing their backpack, particularly numbness or tingling in the arms or legs.
Children should only wear backpacks that are appropriate for their size.
Parents and caregivers should be aware of any posture changes in their child or red marks on
their shoulders from wearing their backpack.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 5 of 23
Video Club
With only one more scheduled meeting left, the Walker Video Club will put the finishing touches on
the Walker Orientation Video. There have been many pieces to the puzzle and everyone has done
their best to bring the production to life.
Computer Club
The 5th and 6th grade Computer Club concluded their sessions by working on
Soundation. Soundation is an online audio studio where students can create music. The creative
imagination is endless with the amount of sounds, effects, and instruments available on
Soundation. Students layered tracks to create their own musical master piece. Thank You to
everyone who participated this year.
PBIS
PBIS Nacho day was on the February 25th. PAWmart will be on March 10th! PBIS Popcorn day will be
on March 24th.
We will have a Quarter 3 PBIS Celebration on Wednesday, March 23rd. Students will be having a
celebration with their Team. Each room will have a different reward time.
Drama Club
It’s almost time for the Hilda Walker Drama Club to perform our spring musical, The Lion King! Our
cast and crew of over 65 students have been working since January to put together an amazing
production. Some favorite familiar songs from the Disney film, along with new songs from the hit
Broadway Musical, will be showcased by our amazingly talented cast of 5th and 6th grade students!
Tickets for the production will be $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Tickets will be available
at the door. The production will run March 17th and 18th at 7:00pm in the Walker School gym! We
look forward to seeing you there!
Track
The Walker Track Team will soon be starting!! Be on the lookout for permission forms,
announcements, and check out Mr. Acevedo’s web page. Track is a great opportunity for athletes
of any sport or anyone that has never participated in an organized sport. Challenge yourself and
join the Hilda Walker Track Team!
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 6 of 23
Safety Patrol
The Hilda Walker Safety Awareness Team is busy working on two projects. The team has decided to
make games, crossword puzzles, and word searches using the various themes related to safety.
Once the project is completed they will be taking their products to one of the elementary schools
to use on days that they have indoor recess.
The second project is called “GOT THE DOT.” This program is sponsored by the Illinois Department of
Transportation and could save your life or any member of the family. This is a statewide initiative
designed to provide vital medical information on vehicle drivers or passengers to not only first
responders, but hospital personal immediately following a serious crash. This program involves filling
out an informational card on each member of the family, placing the information in the glove
compartment, and placing a dot on the rear-facing window on the driver’s side. Students will be
available at the Spring Play to hand out available packets and if not enough packets are available
they will take orders to send home at a later date. If you are not able to attend the play, but would
like a packet please send a note with your student to their homeroom teacher asking for a packet
to be sent home.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 7 of 23
Team Ohio State University Mrs. Amy Bednarz, Mr. Michael Doody, Mrs. Colleen Maranto, & Mrs. Nicole Rafa
Team Ohio State has been working hard to review our PBIS goals. We are proud to announce that
the students earned a game day because of their positive behavior. Everyone had a great time!
Students also took the time to research George Washington and list numerous facts about his life.
These facts were put on hearts that are on display outside of the gym so all of Hilda Walker can learn
about him as we celebrated President’s Day.
Students have been working hard getting ready for the upcoming PARCC Test by adding,
subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimals. Once they have finished decimals, we will be
moving on to fractions.
In addition to working hard in math, students are continuing to learn about our forefathers and how
they set up our great country. Students have been learning about the U.S. Constitution and why our
political parties were formed. Students are encouraged to tune in to coverage of the current
presidential election.
In science, students are learning about our solar system or our body systems. Students studying our
solar system will be creating a new constellation and telling a story of why it came about.
Team Ohio State Second Quarter Junior Buckeye Recipients
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 8 of 23
News from Team Alabama
Mrs. Chikerotis, Mrs. Gallagher, Mr. Klosak,
Mrs. Milazzo, and Mrs. Pelkowski
Team Alabama continues to work hard as we have successfully made it to the third quarter of the
school year! February was a busy month in the classroom but also a month filled with great memories
made at the George Washington assembly from Face to Face Productions. Fifth graders were able
to enjoy a musical performance that followed the life of George Washington. It was amazing how
well the performance paralleled what the students have been learning in Social Studies.
In Science, the students have just begun studying cells and the body systems. Many of the students
completed a lab where they tried to recreate the digestion system. Students are also working in their
technology class to create a body systems PowerPoint that correlates with the science unit. It is so
fun to see the students so excited to learn something new. Go Team Alabama!
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 9 of 23
TEAM ISU Mrs. Boudreau, Mrs. Cramer, Mrs. Davault, Mrs. Schaefer, Mrs. Stokoski, Mrs. Zitkus
Team ISU, along with all fifth grade classes, had the awesome opportunity to view a live program
titled “George Washington’s Follies” presented by Face-to-Face Productions. This program went
along perfectly with our Social Studies curriculum, which excited the students even more! This
presentation was set on April 30th, 1789. It was Inauguration Day for the first President of the United
States, Mr. George Washington. He was nervous about his new role as President and was extremely
tired from being up all night worrying about his new job. He dosed off and was visited by King
Charlemagne, Cleopatra, and Confucius in his dream. Each of these individuals shared their
thoughts and feelings about leadership with George. With their help, George had a better
understanding on how to lead the nation ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people.’ This
was a fantastic presentation! The students, as well as the staff, thoroughly enjoyed every minute of
it!
.
The students of Team ISU are working diligently on showing their PBIS behaviors daily in order to have
a chance at earning a free pass to Odyssey Fun World. The students are very excited to earn their
pass! Special thanks to Odyssey Fun World for their generous donation to our PBIS program! We really
appreciate it!
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 10 of 23
Notre Dame Team
Mrs. Sajewich, Mrs. Mc Farland, Ms. Mittelstadt, Mrs. Dermody and Mrs. Dempsey
Mrs. Sajewich’s/Mrs. Mc Farland Reading/Language Arts Classes
In ELA, students are continuing to read Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief. We are aligning the
novel to many myths and finding key elements of mythology to make connections between texts.
We are also working on ‘Theme’. We will be finishing up the novel and watching the movie for
comparison. Students will then write a persuasive letter to the movie director. They will get an
opportunity to express their concerns at all the differences found in the movie.
In Summit, ELA students have completed the novel, The Giver. They are presenting character
interviews. Our next novel is The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. This is the first book in the trilogy.
Our focus is on dark vs. light during this new novel.
Ms. Mittelstadt’s Math Class
In Math, the students have been learning about proportions. They have been using proportions to
find distances on maps. They have also been using proportions to convert measurements. The next
module focuses on percents. Please continue to practice multiplication facts!
In Summit Math, the students have been working on geometry. The students completed a scale
drawing project. They learned about cross sections of three-dimensional figures. The students have
also been measuring angles, drawing triangles, and learning about angle relationships such as
supplementary angles and complementary angles. The next geometry module focuses on
circumference, area, and volume.
Mrs. Dermody’s Social Studies Class
The students just finished up creating posters recruiting others to join Sparta or Athens. We are now
focusing on the culture of the ancient Greeks as expressed in their religion, literature, and art. The
students will learn about Greek Mythology, poetry and different fables that taught Greek values.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 11 of 23
Mrs. Dempsey’s Science Class
In Science, the students are currently working on fossils and the geologic time scale, which has
allowed them to see what has occurred on Earth over the past 4.6 billion years. Once we have
finished those topics, the students will learn about plate tectonics and how movement under the
Earth’s crust causes natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanoes. From there we will begin
to look and weather and the different patterns that occur across the continents. Continue to review
vocabulary and material with students throughout the chapter as they prepare for assessments.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 12 of 23
Team University of Michigan
Mrs. Anita Becker, Mrs. Tracy Decesare, Ms. Marianne Hourihan, Mrs. Dawn Krueger,
Mrs. Jen Medendorp & Mrs. Tucker
Mrs. Becker and Ms. Hourihan’s Reading and Language Arts Classes
Team Michigan’s Language Arts students will be working hard on argumentative writing. Students
have explored parts of an argument essay which include: claim, reasons, data, counterclaim, and
a rebuttal. After reading three pieces of text, students learned how to support a claim with logical
reasons, relevant evidence, and demonstrate an understanding of the topic. Students completed
a unit on Pronouns. Students will continue to study Greek and Latin prefixes and work on Daily Oral
Language skills.
In Reading students are finishing the novel Lightning Thief. Students continued to practice how to
align two texts and explain the relationship between the texts. Triad groups have been making
connections between the key elements of mythology and the current novel. To conclude our novel,
we will be watching the movie Lightning Thief (rated PG). As a class, we will be comparing and
contrasting the differences between the film and the novel (CCSS RL 6.7). A permission slip will go
home and will need to be signed to watch the movie. Ms. Hourihan’s Class will be starting online
research for a Greek God Project.
Mrs. DeCesare’s Math Classes
This month students will be starting Module 8: Percents. We will start with understanding percent
and move to solving percent problems. As a culminating project, students will do an activity where
they will “pretend” they are going to a restaurant for a family. They will get a budget to spend, but
within their budget, they will have to calculate tip and sales tax. If anyone has extra menus laying
around, we could use them in class for this activity. Thank you.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 13 of 23
Mrs. Medendorp’s Science Classes
In science, students are exploring how different forces shape our planet. The forces of compression
and tension are responsible for many of the geologic features on the surface of our planet. These
forces are created from plate movement, and the forces of compression and tension create the
tallest mountains on Earth, the deepest ocean trenches at the bottom of the sea, and enormous rift
valleys on land. Students will identify many different geologic formations and connect the
formation back to the specific geologic force. The students will then shift their focus to how
weathering can affect the landscape of our planet.
Mrs. Krueger’s Social Studies Classes
Our study of Ancient Greece is coming to an end. We recently started the last section of this unit.
In this section, students will learn all about the culture of Ancient Greeks as expressed in their
religion, literature, and art. Some various topics of discussion will be mythology, poetry & fables, the
Trojan War, Greek drama (tragedies and comedies), and architecture. While reading, students will
make connections to how Ancient Greeks have influenced writers and architects today. Once we
have finished with our unit on Greece, we will begin the unit on Ancient Rome.
Team Michigan Student of the Month: February
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 14 of 23
Team University of Illinois
Mrs. Lauren Driscoll, Mrs. Leah Fischer, Mrs. Kelly Higgins, Mrs. Tammy Johnson, & Mrs. Julie Nance
Social Studies—Mrs. Driscoll
We will be continuing our study of Ancient Greece. Students will be learning about the culture of
ancient Greeks including, Greek poetry, drama, art, architecture, and mythology. Students will be
able to connect to their understanding of Greek Gods from their novel, Percy Jackson: The Lightning
Thief. We will be simulating an architectural dig and discovering ancient city-states Sparta, Athens,
or Troy. In addition, students will also complete a mini-research activity comparing Greek
architecture to architecture today.
Science—Mrs. Fischer
Throughout the next month, Mrs. Fischer’s science classes will be diving into the unknown parts of
our Earth. The students will be learning about tectonic plates and Earth’s crust. As we move further
into Chapter 4, we will be learning about how the Earth has been shaped by the movement of our
continents and ocean floor.
ELA—Mrs. Higgins
Throughout our novel, Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief, students have had the
opportunity to read many different myths about different Gods and Goddesses
mentioned throughout the story. All myths have key elements that are typical or
common. These repeated elements include symbols, themes, patterns, and
characters. Students are continuing to learn how to analyze literary and
informational text using these myths to the key elements of mythology. Did you know
according to Greek mythology we have the seasons because Demeter is sad during the winter
months because her daughter Persephone is in the Underworld and she won’t let anything grow?
Did you know according to Greek mythology we have spiders because of the Goddess Athena?
Did you know that Cronus ate all of his children? Did you know that the goddess Athena was born
full grown out of Zeus’s head? These are just a few fun things we have learned aligning Greek
mythology with Percy Jackson.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 15 of 23
Should texting and driving be banned in all 50 states? Students will be sending their argumentative
essays about texting and driving to the White House. We have spent the last few weeks finding data
and explaining how we feel about the topic of texting and driving. Students have learned how to
organize an argumentative essay that includes a claim, data, and in-text citations.
ELA—Mrs. Johnson
The students just finished reading The Lightning Thief. While told in a humorous tone and cast as a
fantasy adventure, The Lightning Thief explores serious issues that are highly relevant to the young
reader. Percy is a young man whose learning disabilities and family problems have given him a
negative self-image. He is self-conscious and needs acceptance. At the same time, he is fiercely
loyal to his friends and his mother, and has a strong sense of justice and fair play. When he finds out
his father’s true identity, Percy must redefine who he is.
We covered the following issues/questions while reading the novel:
1. What can one individual do to benefit an entire civilization?
2. What is “Western Civilization” and have its central principles changed since its origins in
Classical Greece?
3. What is the nature of a family, and what are the duties and responsibilities of a parent and a
child?
4. What is the definition of a hero?
5. Is one’s destiny predicted, or can one overcome?
6. What qualities make a true friend?
7. Does classical mythology still have a role to serve in modern society?
In English, students are working on an outline for their argumentative essay. They will use this outline
to complete a 5 paragraph essay on texting and driving.
Mrs. Nance’s Math Classes
This month students will be starting Module 8: Percents. We will start with understanding percent
and move to solving percent problems. As a culminating project, students will do an activity where
they will “pretend” they are going to a restaurant for a family. They will get a budget to spend, but
within their budget, they will have to calculate tip and sales tax. If anyone has extra menus laying
around, we could use them in class for this activity. Thank you.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 16 of 23
P.E. Team
The past four weeks in PE have really SET us up for success!! The month of January ended with a
weeklong dance unit. Our students were taught the importance of understanding a rhythmic
sequence within music, and how to coordinate different body movements or exercises to those
sequences. They were able to identify movement patterns and implement them with our various
dances. The dance unit ended with a glow in the dark dance party where the students could
perform all of the dances taught to them throughout the week with glow sticks and fun light up
props. We had a blast! Following our dance unit was volleyball. We spent the first two weeks of
volleyball practicing the skills of the forearm pass, and the serve. We taught the importance of
getting under the ball, squatting while in an athletic stance, and making contact with flat arms.
After days of practicing the forearm pass and the serve, our students became quite skilled and
showed that they were ready to move on to mini games. We have spent the last two weeks
helping the students use the volleyball skills we have taught to them within our mini games. They
have done a great job!
While the gym has been rocking and rolling with volleyball our fitness center was focused on
speed and agility. Our students learned the importance of training with an agility ladder. We
taught them that it helps with eye and foot coordination, injury prevention, and boosts our
cardiovascular health. They did a good job learning beginner, intermediate, and advanced
ladder workouts!
Lastly, with the assistance of Bill Nye the Science Guy, our students learned about the heart. Our
students watched a video that covered the importance of keeping our heart healthy, and how
our cardiovascular system allows our bodies to move blood to our muscles. We had our students fill
out a worksheet that went along with our educational movie. It was a unique and fun way to look
at just how important our heart is!
Thank you for reading. Stay fit!
-Hilda Walker PE Staff
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 17 of 23
March Art News
Mrs. McCarthy-Weglewski
Art to Remember
Our school, in conjunction with Art to Remember, is offering a program that reproduces your child’s
personal artwork onto a variety of colorful products. Some include: magnets, key chains, quilt blocks,
beverage insulators, matted prints wall calendars, bookmarks, ceramic mugs, sports towels, mouse
pads, heart ceramic ornaments, journals, art sketchbooks, placemats, CD cases, stainless steel travel
mugs, pillows, teddy bears with T-shirts, tote bags, ceramic tiles, aprons, and T-shirts.
Your child will create artwork following the art class curriculum. Order forms will go out in March.
You will have the opportunity to purchase a variety of products featuring your child’s artwork. You
are under no obligation to purchase. However, we believe you will be excited by these unique
personal keepsakes and a portion of the proceeds is donated to the Hilda Walker Art Program. They
make great gifts for family and friends. We are excited to share this unique art program to promote
your child’s art!
Walker Art Club
Art Club meets on Thursdays for 5th Grade or on Tuesdays for 6th in either the Science Lab or the Art
Room. Please listen to announcements at school on the day of art club for the materials that you
will need to bring to class that day. We will be experimenting with different materials and techniques
each time we meet so that you can experience the various aspects that the art has to offer.
Art Club is after school until 3:55 PM. Students can arrange for a ride with parents in the front of the
school. Thank you in advance for your help in this matter.
5th Grade Art Club will meet on Thursdays this year from December 3rd-February 8th.
6th Grade Art Club will meet on Tuesdays this year from December 1st- February 16th.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 18 of 23
Art Club has been working on Woodsies. The students first created creatures out of different
wooden shapes and now they are painting them before adding features.
Left to Right-Izabella Miranda, Karlie Dillon, Esther Spreadbury, Alyssa Swiech, and Ellie Pipikios.
Second Picture Left to Right- Nathan Loera, Justin Miller, Ivie Sidler, and Olivia Burghard.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 19 of 23
Technology Times
Word(s) of the Week- tab, crop, format, accuracy, browser, graphic, link, URL,
resources and bibliography
5th Grade Technology
In technology class,
the 5th grade students
are working hard on
finishing up their Power
Point presentations.
The children have
learned new skills such
as adding new slides,
changing the design,
manipulating the
colors, playing with
different fonts, inserting
pictures, adding
transitions and
animations, and a few
other tasks along the
way. The students have
done a great job and
put a lot of creativity
into his or her work. The
projects are saved to
their flash drives, and
are able to be viewed
at home!
6th Grade Technology
6th graders have been
finishing up lessons on
bibliographies and
citations. Next, we are
learning the basic
functions of Microsoft
Excel! Students will be
starting off by creating
a grocery shopping list
and then learning how
to use commands,
within the program, to
perform simple functions
such as addition and
multiplication.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 20 of 23
Reading Strategy of the Month
Ms. O’Dell and Mrs. Stupay, Reading Specialists
Read to your Children – One of the most important things you can do for your reader is to read to
him or her. Read things that they are interested in and things for just pure enjoyment. Stop and
talk about what you have just read – you thought it was funny; you liked the way the author said
something, etc. Talk about any part of the story or writing that you want.
Point out different aspects of the text like: see how the pictures help tell the story, did you hear all
those rhyming words, what do you think will happen next, look at all the lines that repeat, see how
long that word is, we already know a lot about this story because of something else we’ve read or
heard about, etc.
Remember, as a significant adult in your reader’s life, your uses of reading and writing for real
purposes, including enjoyment and information, are powerful demonstrations you can give. Just
as your child learned about speaking from your demonstrations, he or she will learn about reading
through your modeling of it.
Math Strategy of the Month
Jennifer Matos, Math Interventionist
Help your child master their math facts
One of the biggest obstacles students face when trying to solve a math problem is not knowing their
basic math facts. This can really slow the student down and hinder them, even causing them to get
an incorrect answer if they don’t know their facts. There is a simple solution to this problem. There
are many apps for tablets and phones that parents can download and have their child practice 5
or 10 minutes a day. They can be done while driving in the car, while waiting for dinner to be made,
or even before your child can have free time after their homework is completed. If a phone or
tablet is not available, flashcards can be bought at the dollar store or even made at home for no
cost. If you want your child to have an easier time with math, have him or her master their math
facts!
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 21 of 23
PPS Team – Mrs. Linke, Mrs. Rybczynski and Ms. Collins
Helping Your Child Overcome Test Anxiety
Providing students with tools and strategies that build both emotional skills and healthy physical habits
when preparing for a test can help them overcome test anxiety and the associated symptoms, while
improving their ability to prepare for and perform on critical testing. It is important to help students identify
what they are feeling and give them tools that will help them learn to manage emotions such as anxiety,
self-doubt, anger or frustration. The proper physical habits enable students to have enough energy and
stamina for their brain to do its job of thinking and analyzing for a sustained period of time.
Share these tips with your children ahead of time to better prepare them emotionally and physically for
test taking.
PRACTICE THE NEUTRAL TOOL: When you have negative feelings about whether you will do well on
the test, practice the neutral tool. It’s important to catch negative mind loops that reinforce
self-doubt. Every time you catch a negative thought repeating itself, stop the loop and
practice going to neutral. Start by focusing on the area around your heart. This helps to take
the focus off the mind loop. Then breathe deeply. Breathe as if your breath is flowing in and
out through the center of your chest. Breathe quietly and naturally, four-five seconds on the in-
breath, and four-five seconds on the out-breath. While you’re breathing, try and find an
attitude of calmness about the situation. Do this in the days leading up to the test, right before
and during the test.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 22 of 23
ADDRESS THE WHAT-IF QUESTIONS: A lot of times before we have to do something like take a test,
much of the anxiety we feel is a build-up from negative “what-if’” thoughts. What if I fail, what
if I can’t remember anything, or what if I run out of time. Try writing a what-if question that is
positive and can help you take the big deal out of the situation and begin to see things in a
different way. Examples of these kinds of questions are, “What if I can remember more than I
think I can?” “What if I can feel calmer than I think I can?”
THINK GOOD THOUGHTS: Science is showing that good feelings like appreciation can actually help
your brain work better. When you feel nervous or anxious, try this. You can do it as many times
as you need to or want to. Remember something that makes you feel good. Maybe it is your
pet or how you felt when you got a big hug from your mom, or how you felt after a super fun
day at the amusement park with your friends. After you remember how you felt, hold that
feeling. Pretend you are holding it in your heart. Let yourself feel that feeling for 10-20 seconds
or more. Practice this tool right before the big test.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP: Big tests require a lot of energy and stamina to be able to focus for several
hours. Make sure you get at least eight-10 hours of sleep the night before the test.
EAT A HEARTY BREAKFAST: The brain needs a lot of energy to maintain focus on a big test for
several hours. Eat a hearty and healthy breakfast, including complex carbohydrates and
protein to make your energy last as long as possible.
This material has been provided by the Institute of HeartMath, a nonprofit research and education organization specializing in research on how
stress and emotions impact learning and performance. www.heartmath.org.
Wildcat News- March 2016 Page 23 of 23
EXPECT RESPECT … Be respectful, Be Responsible, & Be Safe, The Walker Way!
The sixth National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is the being held on Friday, March
18 and will be one of a few breakout sessions from our March 4 Social Media Program. Hilda
Walker students and staff will be participating in lessons geared towards understanding the true
meaning of bullying and how it can effect daily lives.
Staff will guide students to answer the following inquiry questions in order to scaffold a
collaborative discussion with students as a whole class or in small groups:
1. What do we mean by a respectful relationship within a community/group?
2. How do we build respect within communities?
3. What might happen if you choose to be a passive bystander?
4. What do we mean by power in relationships?
5. What do we mean by a power structure within a classroom (or peer group)?
6. What do we mean by misuse of power?
These inquiry questions are designed to encourage students to think deeply about many issues
surrounding the concept of bullying. Students will most likely come up with a variety of responses
which should always have a reason that will allow for ongoing discussion.
Staff will be able to use probing questions to deepen the students’ line of inquiry. These probing
questions will be based on student response and will allow students to thing about alternative
perspectives.
At the end of each breakout session, students will be able to reflect on their learning. They will
focus on how they can apply these new experiences to their relationships at school with peers and
beyond school at outside social events.