BES COUGAR RECORD October 2016

October 2016

BES Cougar Record

Cougar Cubs of the month important dates

Message from the Principal

This is the last paper copy of the newsletter you will receive. Please let us know if you wish to re-ceive future hard copies. The newsletter will be available on our website.

10-10 No School (Columbus Day)

10-11 Book Fair 9-3

10-12 No School (Yom Kippur)

10-13 Mystery Read Night 6-7PM

10-13 Book Fair 9-3 &6-7 PM

10-14 Book Fair 9-3

10-19 Early Dismissal 1:05

10-21 BOTS Cultural Arts 9-9:45

10-21 1st Grade Family Read

2:45-3:15

10-26 & 27 Early Dismissal 1:05

10-28 Fall Festival PTO 4-8 PM

10-31 Halloween Parade 2:15

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” - Audrey Hepburn

Dear BES Families,

Feeling a little pessimistic in this political climate? Take a look at our teachers’ blogs or stop by our

school. Watch the joy of our kindergarteners and read about the hopes and dreams of our third

and fourth graders up on their bulletin boards. Pick a cherry tomato planted by our Garden Club

students. Try to keep up with our Running Club kids. Check out the anticipation of the fourth grad-

er opening up their instrument case for the first time. You’ll believe in tomorrow again. I do. I get

a chance to see your children run (“Please walk, you are in school now.”) in the building excited to

learn. Some are holding hands … just because. Others are talking about the sports they were play-

ing last night. If I’m lucky, I get a “Good morning, Mr. Larson,” but often they are just excited to be

together again. Thank you for sending us children who share the hope that so many of us yearn for.

I know many of you have already stopped by. Thank you for coming out to our curriculum night.

We have many more events planned over the next month, beginning with our book fair and ending

with our harvest party and Halloween parade. Keep updated with what is going on at our website.

One way our students are hoping to create a better future is by reducing the resources we use. Last

year our Green Team students asked if we could start sending our newsletter home electronically.

We polled you in the spring and most were in favor. We’ve got a new crop of parents and I wanted

to make sure that those of you who continue to want a hard copy get it, so we are doing one more

on paper. Let us know if electronic won’t work for you.

I will also be posting some ways you can subscribe to teachers’ blogs so you don’t miss any cute

pictures or classroom information. I’ll place a link on the front page of our website soon.

Have a great October,

Eric Larson

BES COUGAR RECORD October 2016

Mrs. Harkin

Go Noodle!

We had some fun with Go Noodle to-day. It's a great web-site that provides the kids with some move-ment brain breaks! I like to let the kids do these when they've been working hard, after a test, on indoor recess days or just for a fun brain break.

Talbot

MAKER-CHALLENGE: BUILD 18 INCH MARSHMALLOW TOWER

Mrs. Zeidler

We finally got to come to

school on a Monday and had

Library! We even got to take a

book out and take it home to

read with our families!

The children received a special

library bag with their name and

picture on it to bring their library

book home. Please help your

child find a special place to

keep their book during the

week so they can find it easily

when they want to read

it. Enjoy reading the book to-

gether!!

BES COUGAR RECORD October 2016

Mrs. Fox

Having a picnic with friends!

Trains are a favorite during morning playtime!

Mrs. Burt, Mrs. Harkin & Mrs. Pommer

Bring on the Tower Garden!

The second graders had so much fun learn-ing about our Tower Garden! They learned that it is a hydroponic growing "machine" that allows plants to grow using water and fertiliz-er alone. The best part is, with grow lights, it can grow indoors all winter long! We planted our seeds in rockwool cubes, which will act like a sponge and keep our seeds water while they soak up the sun in our windowsills. Once they sprout, we will give them a little "Tower Tonic" (fertilizer) to help them along. Once they are about 2 1/2-3" tall, we'll transplant them into our Tow-er. We'll keep you posted on our pro-gress! Here are some pictures of our experi-ence:

BES COUGAR RECORD October 2016

Mrs. Treubig

PM Preschool Friends worked together to complete some floor puzzles. They did a great job taking turns and work-

ing together to complete these giant puzzles.

Learning about Apples and creating tissue paper apples. So fun!

Mrs. Aithal

Mmmmm Apple Crisp day! We peeled, cored and cut apples! Then

we measured, mixed, and baked our

very own apple crisp. It was devoured by

all! We even had some to share with fel-

low teachers. Students went and asked

teachers if they wanted a taste! Then

hand delivered our tasty treat! Recipe to

follow shortly!

BES COUGAR RECORD October 2016

Blasiak

Today the students and I read a book about a little mouse that worried about everything. We then discussed things

the students worried about at home, on the playground and at school. Students then worked on a little project where

they had to write about what the characters worried about and one thing they worried about in school. They then

created these beautiful water color pictures to go with their work. They loved the painting aspect of this project.

They were all so careful and thoughtful in their choices. I was so proud of all the hard work they put into this activity.

We have some beautiful pieces of work for you to see when you come into our classroom.

Mrs. Kulmann

In math our class has

been learning about

tally marks. The staff at

Burr voted to see if Mr.

Larson should keep his

goatee or shave it off.

Our class tallied the

votes. The children

loved this fun activity

and were anxious to

share the results with

Mr. Larson and the

BES COUGAR RECORD October 2016

Mrs. Rodbourn

Fourth graders have been working very hard on their first stories of the year. We are writing realistic fiction pieces. Many

students are done with their first story and are ready to begin a second one tomorrow.

We have been adding to our writer's toolbox with strategies for developing believable characters and planning a story. We

have been using Google Docs and Google Classroom to draft our stories.

Mr. Bergantino

Remember, Be Flexible

This week in the gym students in grades 2-4

are learning about the importance and bene-

fits of being flexible. They will test their lower

back and hamstring flexibility using a special

measuring box. Students can now identify

whether or not they need increase their flexi-

bility or not. These students also focused on

teamwork and applying kicking patterns in a

game called Human Fooseball. K-1 students

further explored personal space and and

kicking patterns as they worked on passing to

a partner and Animal See, Animal Do. Pre-K

worked on using locomotor patterns we

learned in class to successfully navigate an

obstacle course. Please, ask child about

their class.

Miss Polderman

Welcome Back! I'm so happy to

"sea" you! Welcome back to school! My name is Amy Polderman and I am

the new music teacher at Burr Elementary school! I am so excit-

ed to be here working with the students and staff! So far, I've

found that Burr is a wonderful place to be! You might even "sea"

a new theme in the music room this year. If you're wondering a

little about me, read on! I grew up in Connecticut but went to

college at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA (Mrs.

Kulmann is very excited because she also attended Susquehan-

na). I majored in music education with my primary instrument

being the flute. I also have a minor in Spanish. I taught music

for two years at a charter school in Hartford before coming to

BES! I love to sing, play flute, swing dance, ring handbells, read

and cook in my spare time. I can't wait to meet more families

and continue to get to know you and the students!

Mrs. Burt

Project Lead The Way: We started our new science curriculum! We are learning about the design process and

how to use it to solve everyday problems. We have used the iPads to learn about a student who created a

crayon holder to help make broken crayons last longer. We’ll be devising something that will keep a popsicle

from melting!

BES COUGAR RECORD October 2016

Notes from Mr. Granucci, in the Art Room

We are off to a fantastic start this the year in the art room. The classes I will be teaching at Burr Elementary School will be

on Monday’s and Tuesday’s this year. If you ever have a question, I can be reached at jgranucci@rsd17.org. Typically, all

my students start the year off with drawing a portrait of some kind. Some students draw self-portraits, others draw por-

traits in a different style of art such as cubism or styled after a famous artist. Students in kindergarten through fourth

grade always learn about famous artists, and how artists interpret the same subject differently. Next, the children will be

learning about what is a still life and how artists also use different techniques and styles to create their pictures. For our

new kindergarten parents, don’t be alarmed if you don’t see any of the art projects are coming home. I save most projects

each student does all year for our annual art show. We are always looking for volunteers to help out in the art room, spe-

cifically the art show. If you are interested, send me an email indicating the best days of the week and times. Be sure to

check my weekly blog @ www.rsd17.org. You will need to click on the globe next to my name in the staff directory to get

Regional School District 17 is seeking qualified indi-viduals to work as substitute teachers. We offer regionally competitive pay for substitutes. Qualifi-cations for substitute teachers include a Bachelor’s Degree (required) and experience working with children. A teaching certificate is not required, but definitely a plus. Substitute teaching is a great way to contribute to our schools for those who enjoy working with kids. Please visit the “Employment Opportunities” page of our district website (www.rsd17.org) for more information and to initi-ate an application. If you have any questions, please contact Larissa Johnson, Administrative As-sistant to the Assistant Superintendent, 860-435-4534 x1110.

Nurses Office

There will be a family/community flu vaccine clinic which will be held by the Connecticut River Area Health District in the Region 17 School build-ings during October and November.

Dates/times and locations are listed below:

October 5th - Killingworth Elementary School, from 2pm until 6pm

October 11th - Burr District Elementary School, from 2pm until 6pm

October 19th - Haddam-Killingworth High School, from 2pm until 6pm

November 1st - Haddam Elementary School, from 2pm until 6pm

November 9th- Haddam-Killingworth Middle School, from 2pm until 6pm

BES COUGAR RECORD October 2016

Read Every Day! Read Every Day!

That’s the rally cry we love to hear! You can encourage your child to become an engaged and confident

reader by inspiring your young reader to practice reading every day. There is only one way to become a

stronger reader, READ lots of books!

Don’t leave home without it . Bring along a book or magazine anytime your child has

to wait, such as at a doctor’s office. Always try to fit in

reading!

Once is not enough. Encourage your child to re-read favorite books

and poems. Re-reading helps kids read more

quickly and accurately.

Dig deeper into the story. Ask your child questions about the story you’ve

just read. Say something like, “Why do you think

(character) did that?”

Take control of the television. It’s difficult for reading to compete with TV and video

games. Encourage reading as a free time activity.

Be patient. When your child is trying to figure out an unfamiliar word,

give him or her time to do so. Remind your child to

think about what would make sense and to look closely

at the word.

Pick books at the right level. Help your child pick books that are not too difficult. The

aim is to give your child lots of successful reading expe-

riences.

Congratulations to our Summer Readers!

Check out the library website for your

reader’s name!

I read to you, you read to me. Take turns reading aloud. Kids enjoy this special time with

their parents and you will be model good fluency too.

Gently correct your reader. When your child makes a mistake that changes the meaning

of the story or doesn’t look at all like the word, gently

point out the error and encourage your child to reread

so it makes sense or to reread and look more closely at

the word.

Talk, talk, talk! Talk with your child every day about school and things going

on around the house. Sprinkle some interesting words

into the conversation, and build on words you’ve talked

about in the past.

Write, write, write!

Ask your child to help you write out the grocery list, a thank

you note, or to keep a journal of special things that hap-

pen at home. They can write stories about these every

day events. Encourage your child to use their best

spelling.

Play word games. Have your child change out sounds in words. From mat to fat

to sat; from sat to sag to sap; and from sap to sip.

BES COUGAR RECORD October 2016

Math Education at Home

Parents can play an important role in their children’s math education. One of the best

things parents can do to improve their children’s math literacy is to regularly expose them

to practical applications of math at home. This is not “teaching,” per se, as much as it is

helping them develop mathematical reasoning on their own. What students observe, dis-

cover and learn outside the classroom can often benefit them as much as what they learn

in class.

The most important thing is daily mathematical reasoning. Early education experts stress

reading to children every day, and math should be part of a daily regimen as well. Here are

a few ideas:

Estimate, estimate, estimate When grocery shopping, estimate how much all the groceries will cost. When driving, esti-mate how long it will take to get to your destination. When you’re on a road trip and you can see the road miles ahead, estimate how many miles away the furthest point is (and use the odometer to check your guess. Be financially savvy When you’re grocery shopping and there are multiple brands for the same product, look at the price per ounce (usually in small letters at the bottom of the price tag). Have your chil-dren figure out which is really the BEST price. You can also use coupons and have children figure out the true cost of something by deducting the coupon amount. Play games Chess, Uno, PayDay and Monopoly are great games for developing mathematical thinking. In chess, there are many options for where to move. Players need to predict their oppo-nent’s best moves and calculate responses. As players get better, they think several moves ahead. (Grandmasters can think more than twenty moves in advance!) Chess helps with calculation, prediction, strategy and analytical thinking. Monopoly is a fun simulation of re-al estate investments and also allows for good arithmetic practice. These are just a few suggestions, but mathematical opportunities arise everywhere, all the time. Parents and students can keep their eyes out for a chance to utilize math concepts. Turning everyday occurrences and household tasks into lessons not only helps students with their mathematical reasoning skills and sense of applied math, but prepares them for adulthood. K. Goodison Sept. 2016 *adapted from A Greater Role in Math Education for Parents by Katie Kor-manik

BES COUGAR RECORD October 2016

FALL PROGRAMS at HK RECREATION The Haddam-Killingworth Recreation Department is offering a variety of fun and exciting programs this fall. Please visit our website (www.hkrec.com) for more detailed information. Register on-line at http://hkrec.recdesk.com/recdeskportal/

A variety of Youth programs will be offered such as

Young Chefs (Wednesday, 4:15 – 5:45 pm, 10/5 at HK High School B-112)

Children’s Swim Lessons (Tuesdays & Thursdays, starting Oct. 6, 6:00-6:40 pm or 6:50 – 7:30 pm at the HK

HS Pool)

Wizard School of Magic (Thursday, 3:30 – 4:30 pm, 10/20 at Burr Elementary School Library)

Acting (Thursdays, 3:30 pm at Haddam Elementary School, starting 10/6)

Creative Art (Wednesday, 3:30 pm at BES starting 11/2)

Lego Engineering (Mondays, 3:30 – 5:00 pm at Burr Elementary School, starting 10/17)

For more information about any of our programs, please call the Haddam-Killingworth Recreation Dept. at 860-345-8334 or

Brainerd Library’s Nutmeg Book Club is looking for 4th graders

who like to

READ, EAT, and TALK

Our next meeting is Oct. 28from 4 to 5 pm

when we meet to discuss

the 2017 Nutmeg Nominee,

Eddie Red Undercover: Mystery on Museum Mile

By Marcia Wells

BES COUGAR RECORD October 2016

BES COUGAR RECORD October 2016