Principal's Letter for November 2008

Notes from Ms. Daniels,  

Thank you to everyone who participated in our first Focus Group.  We had excellent dialogue regarding communication between home and school.  We hope to begin implementing some of the ideas presented in the near future to help improve communication.

We look forward to the upcoming events in November. Our Craft Night will be on Nov. 7^th from 5:30 –8:00 p.m.- A fun event for students to work creatively on special projects to take home. 

The Turkey Fun Run (replacement for the Cougar Fun Run) will take place on Friday, Nov. 21^st.  Students will run/walk laps during their specials block.  Awards will be given to two students, one boy and one girl in each grade level who complete the most laps in their allotted time.

KUDOS KORNER

Congratulations

To our Top Science Fair Winners

First Place

Sarah Anderson

What’s That Smell? Oh It’s Me!

Second Place

Benjamin Lafo

Breaking Bridges

Third Place

Megan Lee

Megan Lee

Do Different Kinds of Apples Have the Same Number of Seeds?

A Word from the Counselors…….

During our first quarter, we’ve been busy with classroom guidance lessons.  Our primary grades were learning to be independent problem solvers with Kelso’s Choices and the upper grades were setting personal goals for themselves.  First graders are learning not to be “sour pickles” … or tattlers.  Ask your child how they can use Kelso’s choices at home too!

Media Center News

The Media Center Staff would like to thank all the parents, staff, and students that supported the Fall Book Fair.  It was a huge success!  Thank you to all the volunteers that helped with the book fair, without you the book fair could not go on.  Thanks also to Geronimo Stilton for visiting the Book Fair.  Volunteers, you are awesome!  A huge thanks goes out to the Media Center volunteers who have been helping with new curriculum and book orders, daily shelving of the books, and helping with laminating, working the circulation desk, etc.  You are the BEST!  In the Media Center , students have been listening to stories and paying close attention to the characters and the setting.  Students in Third – Fifth grade are reading the Sunshine State Young Readers Award books and looking forward to March when they will vote for their favorite book.  Using an ActivBoard flipchart, Mrs. Twedt is doing lessons on predicting using the SSYRA books.  The Media Center has a great display set up focusing on the 2008 Election.  Stop by to browse the timeline, books, and information on elections, civics, citizenship, presidents, our flag, and much more.  Remember to visit the Media Center website at www.cranberrymediacenter.com.

CALENDAR OF UP COMING EVENTS                                                                                                       

NOVEMBER

07                    Craft Night – PAWSE Fall Fundraiser, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  

11                    SPIRIT NIGHT AT “JETS PIZZA”

18                    SAC Meeting, 4:00 p.m. (one week early due to holidays)

20                    Parent Education Training at Landings, Rm. 220 - 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Organization Skills)

21                    Turkey Fun Run, During Specials

26-28               Thanksgiving holidays – School closed

DECEMBER

05                    DARE Graduation, 5^th grade 9:00 a.m., Cafeteria

06                    BREAKFAST WITH SANTA, 8:30 – 11:00, Tickets required

08 – 12            Holiday Shop, Portable 2

09                    Spirit Night, Jet’s Pizza

20 – Jan 4        Winter Break Students and Staff return January 5

Science Spotlight

During the month of November, children will be studying how animals interact with the environment.  This includes learning about food chains and food webs.  They will also explore where animals live and how animals have special adaptations to their environments.  A box of animal crackers can offer a great opportunity to get your children talking about animals.  For the younger ones, play Animal Cracker Charades.  Have your child pick a cracker and look at the animal.  They should keep the animal a secret.  They should act out being that animal and have other family members guess what they might be.  Encourage children to think about what the animal might eat or how it moves to add more action to the charade.  For older students, you could play Animal Cracker Twenty Questions.  Have your child pick a cracker and keep it a secret.  The family should ask yes or no questions about the animal to try to figure out what it is.  Model questions that tell about how the animal adapts or where the animal lives.  For example:  Does the animal live in the desert?  Does the animal hibernate?  Is it a carnivore?

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S TO OUR

Top Twenty SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS

Matthew Ignotis, Jacob Graybeal, Thomas Labno, Megan Lee, Benjamin Lafo, Tabitha Wittek, Jarett Lafferty, Bryce Graybeal, Javier Amaya, Katharine Jones, Sarah Anderson, Grace Lafo, Brooke Fisher, Andre Zaldivar-Menendez, Jesse Rossetti, Nathan Baumhardt, Clayton Spicer, Austin Smith, Ashley Bryant, Brendan Nyman, Dacoda Flenard, Gabrielle Parish.

We have a new Home School Liaison at Cranberry who will be visiting many of our students' families during the week day. We are reaching out to the parents/guardians of our students so that we can better meet the children's needs and make a positive impact on their school experience by working together. Our Home School Liaison can make you aware of programs and resources offered by the school and the county which can benefit your child/children.

Call Ms. Hill at 941-480-3400 if you have any questions.