Maybe you have seen something different in the media center since school

started. Mrs. Patterson and Mrs. Vaughn are working to bring a new space

and opportunity to Pyron students through a Makerspace. A Makerspace

is a designated area for student innovation, creativity, exploring, and

creation. Through the use of items like legos, cards, computers, found

materials, sewing machines, a 3-D printer, and other manipulatives

students will be encouraged to design, build, re-build, and tinker. This

hands-on time will provide your student another way to practice critical

thinking skills, boost self-esteem, and persist on task individually or with a

small group. The Makerspace also complements the STEM work students

are completing in the classroom.

Students will have an opportunity to go to the Makerspace during media

center activity time and/or other times as available. Drop by the

Makerspace some time!

“A space with materials for students to let their curiosity and imagination come to life. An informal, playful, atmosphere for learning to unfold. A space where making, rather than consuming is the focus. A space where trans-disciplinary learning, inquiry, risk-taking, thinking, crafting, tinkering, and wondering can blossom.” Ann Smart

Paws for the Principal A Word From Mrs. Thompson

Pyron Elementary School

U p c o m i n g

E v e n t s :

Oct. 5– Picture Day

Oct. 6– Dr. Hall visits 4th Grade

Oct. 8– Christmas Angel Yard Sale at Pyron

Oct. 13– End of 1st Quarter

Oct. 20– K-6 Parent– Teacher Conferences

Oct. 21– No School for Students

Oct. 24-28– Red Ribbon Week

Spanish version available upon request.

Versión en español dis-ponible sobre petición.

I nsi de

t his issu e:

Red Ribbon Week Announced

2

Counselor’s

Corner

2

Class News 3

Stay Connected 3

LIGHTS News 4

AR Super Reader 4

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 6

Home and School Connection:

Working Together for our Students

P a g e 2

BEGIN WITH THE END IN

MIND

Habit 2 is about making a plan and reaching

goals. Students are learning that it is important to identify goals so they know where they are going. As Tiana, in Princess and the Frog, said

“Fairytales can come true. You

gotta make them happen, it all

depends on you.”

HABIT #2

Counselor’s Corner

Begin with the End in Mind Mrs. Brewer’s guidance lessons will be focused on Habit #2: Begin with the End in Mind during October. Students are learning (or have learned) about setting goals and making plans to reach their goals. We learned that it is important to visualize the end state you want, whether it be an A on a test, a new friend, or getting along with a sibling. All things are created twice, you see. First in the mind’s eye… then for real. Just ask Helen Keller, Superman, or Cinderella. As a parent there are several things you can do to help you child in setting and achieving their goals. You may wish to emphasize why writing down a goal is so important. As the saying goes, “A goal not written is only a wish.” You may wish to encourage your child to plan ahead and lay out their clothes for tomorrow before going to bed each night. Another way to encourage goal setting is discussing with your child what they want to do when they grow up and discussing what they will have to do to get that specific job. All children have something they need to do better at, like doing their homework, brushing their teeth, or obeying family rules. Help your child pick one of these and encourage them to work toward improving.

-adapted from works by Sean Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Happy Kids”

P a g e 3

What a busy September! Fourth grade students have been learning about all sorts of interesting things. Some students have written personal Bio-poems, while others wrote Bio's about famous scientists. The students created Concrete Poems (shape poems) too. Science has definitely been interesting, this month...... It is rumored that Ms. Pianalto's students created cells and ate them!!!! COOL!!! Students are also learning about the eye and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Dr. Hall. Dr. Hall is one of Clarksville's optometrists, and she will be sharing her knowledge with the entire fourth grade. Does anyone have a surfboard? I hear that Mrs. Hollingsworth's class is making wave models! I think we should "Drop In" for that activity! Did you know that fingerprints have been used as a means of identification for well over 2,000 years. After reading, Among The Hidden, Mrs. Senter let her students study their own fingerprints and compare the differences to others in class. They learned that there are three types: Arch, Loop and Whorl. Mrs. Key's class is growing pinto beans, in clear bags, attached to their window. It actually looks like some form of fascinating art work. However, the students told me that they are growing the beans in order to study plant parts. It's definitely eye-catching! If you are looking for exciting ways to learn.... Fourth grade is the place to be !

It’s a great day to be a third grade Cub! Students enjoyed visiting and touring with grandparents for Grandparent’s Day. Stories were told, and students were able to get a better understanding of what school was like from grandparents’ perspectives.

October will be a fun, fast-paced month full of activities. In literacy, stories will be based upon “Inspiration from the Sea”. Third graders will also be researching and writing about sea animals, and also continue working on reflective writing. For math, addition and multiplication will be the main focus. Please help your child memorize those facts coming home. In science, the PLTW module, science of flight, is winding down, and students are designing and building gliders. It’s going to be a fantastic fall!

The second grade classes will be starting our Wild West Unit during the month of October. In this unit we will also include

fables and folk tales from diverse cultures. We look forward to all the learning and fun we will have this month!

NEWS

The Lost and

Found is filling up

fast with jackets.

Please have your

child check the

lost and found

Coming Soon… To the Pyron Media Center Arrrgh you ready for the Fall 2016 BOOKANEER Book Fair? Arrrgh you ready to read mateys? Our Scholastic Book Fair is a reading event that brings to school the books kids want to read. It’s a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. Please make plans to visit our Book Fair and be involved in shaping your child’s reading habits. MATEYS MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Treasure Wars: October 3– October 7 Dress and Talk like a Pirate Day:

October 7 Book Fair Dates: October 7-October

20 Special activities: Family Night

October 20, 2016 from 3:00-8:00

We look forward to seeing you and your family at our Book Fair! Remember, all purchases benefit our school.

Mrs. Patterson

Media Specialist

P a g e 4

Gifted and Talented students encountered wild life and

sea life on their recent field trip to the Tulsa Zoo and Oklahoma Aquarium. While there, they practiced the photo journalism profession, taking pictures and journaling to answer open ended questions. It proved to be quite educational.

Jocelyn Zapata is Pyron’s first

Accelerated Reader “Super Reader” for the

second year in a row. Jocelyn Zapata has

earned over 304 points this school year. We

are so proud of Jocelyn’s reading

achievements and look forward to seeing

others reading and reaching their Accelerated

Reader goals!

HUGE YARD SALE

To Support Christmas Tree Angels

Pyron Elementary School

Gym 1903 Clark Rd, Clarksville

Saturday, October 8 8 AM-2 PM

“Christmas, my child, is love

LIGHTS Enrichment News Every other week Pyron students attend LIGHTS enrichment classes with Mrs. Fultz. Currently classes are practicing the Scientific Method to learn about density. Students are showing great enthusiasm during the process, as they seem to thoroughly enjoy hands-on activities.

Halloween Notice: As most of you know, Pyron par ticipates in

a parade of costumes through our hallways and Kraus’ hallways

each year on Halloween day. To promote reading, we are

encouraging students to dress in book character costume this year.

Halloween is still several weeks away. We hope that everyone will

participate in the book character parade. Let’s have some fun

showing our love of books and their interesting characters!

Additionally, no student will be allowed to have hair coloring, face

paint, or weapons as a part of their costumes. This goes against our

school policies! We thank you for your understanding and look

forward to seeing your creativity!!

Individual school pictures will be taken at

Pyron on Wednesday, October 5th. Students

will receive ordering information from their

classroom teachers.

BMI, Hearing, and Vision will be October 5th-7th. We

ask parents who do not want their child to have their

BMI measured to send a note. All students without a note will participate. BMI state reports will be

available in the Spring for the parents who wish to

have a copy of their child’s BMI.

The Johnson County Health Department will be at

Pyron to give students a flu shot on Oct. 18th. The flu

mist will not be available this year. Your child will be

bringing home information and permission forms for

the flu clinic soon.

Volunteers and/or Watch Dog Dads

are needed from 7:15-7:35 each

morning to help supervise students

dropped off early in

front of the

school. Call Mrs.

Deletha Morris at 705-

3262 if interested in

volunteering.