THE GEAR

Vision: Engineering innovative thinkers for global success!

Message from the Principal Happy Holidays to all our families! We wish each and every one of our Jamerson families a Happy December, a month to take time to give to others. Remember during this busy time to take a few minutes each day to give your full attention to your child. Ask questions and really listen to what he/she says!

We had our Annual Thanksgiving Friendship Feast for our kindergarten families. It was great fun. Thanks to the wonderful teachers and FANTASTIC cafeteria staff for making it so special.

Mark your calendars for our many activities coming up. Fall Engineering EXPO will be Thursday December 4th, and will be another enjoyable opportunity to appreciate numerous engineering accomplishments. Mrs. Hill, our music teacher, is busy planning our holiday programs. Chorus and grades 1 and 2 will perform on Dec. 11th, and artwork for first and second grades will also be displayed. Strings and Band will perform on Dec. 16th.

We are having our sixth Jamerson Jammies Day on Friday, Dec. 19th. Students and staff can come to school in pajamas! Remember the dress code still applies.

Continue to have your child read at least 20-30 minutes daily, even during days off from school. Twice a day is even better! The more you read, the better you read!

As 2014 draws to a close, I sincerely send you and your family good wishes for a safe and happy holiday and a new year filled with joy and peace. You might notice that we have condensed our newsletter. Please visit our new and improved school website to read the remainder of the articles.

Kristy Moody moodyk@pcsb.org

SCHOOL OPENING & DISMISSAL TIMES Gates open at 8:05 AM,

School starts at 8:35 AM, Teaching begins 8:35 AM.

Breakfast served until 8:25 AM.

Dismissal M-T-Th-F at 2:50;

Dismissal Wednesday at 1:35 PM.

December 1, 2014 Volume 12 Issue #5

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Dec. 1-Dec. 19 PBS Gearing Up for the Holidays Dec. 4 PTA Fall Engineering EXPO, Jammers perform, 6 PM Dec. 9 Discovery Night, Jammers perform, 6 PM Dec. 11 Winter Concert: Chorus, Grades 1 &2, 6:30 PM Dec. 16 Snow Day; Winter Concert: Strings/Band, 6:30 PM Dec. 19 Pajamas Day Dec. 19 End of first Semester Dec. 22- Jan. 2 Winter Holidays 2015 January 5, 2015 Non Student Day : all personnel on duty, trade day option Jan. 6 Second semester begins. Jan. 15 Common Core Math Training 5:30 PM Jan. 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday 2 month personnel on duty Jan. 20 PTA Board Meeting

Jan. 29 100th Day; Trailblazer Assembly 8:45 AM Jan. 30 All Pro Families’ Breakfast, Day 101 Celebration Feb. 9-13 Kevin Rees School Sculpture Residency

It’s going to SNOW at Jamerson! PTA is bringing back their popular snow day. On December 16th we will be

getting 6 tons of snow. Students will be able to go sledding, throw snowballs, make snowmen, and much more. You will get wet, so in order to

participate, students MUST have a complete change of clothes, including shoes.Volunteers are needed. Please contact Lizz Singh at singhe@pcsb.org if

you can help.

Florida School Grade A, 2014 Magnet School of Excellence, 2014

1200 37th Street South St. Petersburg, FL 33711

727.552.1703 Fax: 727.552.1704 School Web Site:

http://www.pcsb.org/jamerson-es

School Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JamersonElementary

District Office 727.588.6000 District Web Site:

www.pcsb.org Transportation: 727.587.2020

Kristy Moody, Principal

Brandie Williams-Macon, Asst Principal Pat Wright, Area 1 Superintendent Dr. Michael Grego, Superintendent

Jamerson Elementary Winter Break Challenge-Read/Write/Do computer skills daily Students will receive a learning log to complete during the Winter Holidays. Students who return the learning logs will receive a special certificate to allow them special privileges at lunch and a free book. Student Directions: Read daily during the winter break. As you finish reading every day, note the minutes read and write a journal entry either about the reading or about something that you did. Practice skills on one of the several computer programs listed on the learning log. Return by January 9, 2014

School Tours

Every Monday at 9:30 AM, school tours will be given to prospective new families. Pass the word to friends who may be interested.

*Tours will also be held by request.

Celebrate Success with Jamerson Yard Signs

Who gets a sign? Any child who is being honored for the first time this year. Take the report card from November to the office. Criteria for Kindergarten: “Meets expectations” in all academic areas (not specials or motor skills); “Most of the time” in all behaviors (except confidence and group participation). Criteria for 1st and 2nd grade: E’s and V’s in academic subjects, E’s, V’s, and S’s in all other areas. Criteria for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade: Principal’s List or Honor Roll which is printed on the report card; E’s, V’s, and S’s in all other areas.

Many thanks to the following businesses and corporations for their recent donations: 1st United Bank Yanchuk Berman Mathnasium Brain Balance Center Publix (Maximo Moorings) PDQ Fresh Tenders (4356 4th St N) Home Depot (Tyrone location) Pinellas Education Foundation Fazio’s Pizza (Gulfport) Sher Foundation Wilson’s Books Fun Comfy Fashion Panda Express Bright House Networks Superior Business Management Solutions Jamerson PTA

We truly appreciate all of the wonderful speakers

at the Great American Teach In. Thank you for your CANNED FOOD donations for

the SALVATION ARMY ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE! We surpassed our goal of 500 cans!

Many thanks to the wonderful Cafeteria Staff for an outstanding job with All Pro Family Breakfast and Thanksgiving Feast Lunch.

Awesome! Jamerson Families’ generosity was also noted with the Clothing Drive for Clothes to Kids!

Thanks to Junior Achievement for the wonderful presentations. The employees from Enterprise did an amazing job!

Excellent Online Resources Ask Dr. Math Cool Math 4 Kids

Interactive Mathematics Miscellany and Puzzles IXL

Khan Academy-videos to help with math Maths for Kids

National Library for Virtual Manipulatives

Destiny Quest--online card catalog

Battle of the Books & Junior Joust Moodle Site (key= DLJReads)

Math Strategies for Parents to Use

Monitor your child’s progress. Making sure that homework and Sunshine Math is done every week is the best way to help. Read the problems to your child or have your child read the problems to you.

1. Question them to make sure they understand what they have read.

2. Highlight or underline key words to help solve the problem 3. Model the problem using a diagram 4. Use arithmetic to do the math. 5. Check your answer using another strategy. If If your child is stuck: 1. Suggest a strategy. 2. Provide a similar problem for explanation purposes. 3. 4. You can find them on the internet or in your child’s math book

Affordable Internet & Computers Pinellas County Schools is partnering with Bright House Networks to provide affordable Internet service at $9.95 for qualifying families. In addition, families can purchase a low-cost computer or laptop through a third-party vendor. This is part of Connect2Compete, a national nonprofit initiative. For more information go to http://www.everyoneon.org.

New InSync Features! InSync Education has added new features to its website. New features include more quizzes and hands-on activities for students in kindergarten through grade 8. The site has also added new resources for families about Health and Safety, including articles about bullying prevention and tips for talking to children about traumatic events. InSync, which offers activities in English and Spanish, is available online 24/7 and can be accessed from any computer or mobile device at http://www.insyncedu.com/insync/PCSB

We collect for a GREENER tomorrow! Help us earn funding! Collect from home or simply ask businesses in your area to donate their printer cartridges or cell phones to support our school! Powered by Funding Factory.

www.fundingfactory.com

Jamerson Jammies Day In celebration of our students’ success, on Dec. 19th, staff and students can wear their PAJAMAS to school! *Note: Dress code from Student Code of Conduct still applies. Students must wear pants, shirts with sleeves and appropriate footwear such as sneakers.

A “STOP AND THINK”

EXPRESSION: You are responsible for your behavior,

no matter what anyone else does.

Magnet, Fundamental and Career Academy

Application Period Parents of this year’s Fifth

Grade and next year’s Kindergarten students:

The Application Period for applying to any magnet, fundamental or career

academy program for the 2015-2016 school year is

scheduled for Jan. 7-Jan. 16, 2015. Acceptance Period is

Feb. 4-11, 2015. Parents will use their Parent Portal User ID and Password to log onto the Student Reservation System (SRS) web page located on the district website, www.pcsb.org, to apply. Those parents who do not have a User ID and Password may visit any nearby school to obtain one. If families do not have a home computer, they may visit a nearby school or a community location. The SRS also is available in Spanish.

Turn Your Word into Gold: The Art of

Enforceable Statements for the Home from www.loveandlogic.com, Free Resources for Parents

UNENFORCEABLE ENFORCEABLE

Please sit down. We’re going to eat now.

We will eat as soon as you are seated.

Please be quiet. I can’t listen to your brother when you are both talking at the same time.

I'll be glad to listen to you as soon as your brother has finished talking to me.

Clean your room so we can go shopping.

I'll be happy to take you shopping as soon as your room is clean.

I'm not going to play ball with you until all of you are quiet.

I'll be happy to play ball with you as soon as it is quiet.

Don't talk while I’m reading to you. I will start reading to you again as soon as you have finished talking.

You can't go play until you have finished your homework.

Feel free to go play as soon as you have finished your homework.

Don't shout at me. I listen to people who do not yell at me.

Pay attention. I'll start again as soon as I know you are with me.

Don't be bothering your sister. You are welcome to stay with us as long as you are not bothering your sister.

Keep your hands to yourself. Feel free to stay with us when you can keep your hands to yourself.

Do your chores on time or you’ll be grounded.

I’ll be happy to let you go with your friends as soon as your chores are finished.

Don't talk to me in that tone of voice! I'll listen as soon as your voice is as calm as mine.

You show some respect. I'll be glad to discuss this when respect is shown.

Don't be coming home late from school. I drive those to practice who arrive home on time.

I’m not picking up your dirty clothes. I'll be glad to wash the clothes that are put in the laundry room.

Keep your room neat. All owners of neat rooms are welcome to join us for ice cream.

I'm not loaning you any more money. I lend money to those who have collateral.

If you can't remember your pencil, you're just going to have to do without.

Feel free to borrow from anyone but me.

You're not going out without your coat. You may go out as soon as you have your coat.

You're not going to stay in this group and act like that.

You may stay with us if you can give up on that behavior.

Don't you come back to this room until you can show some respect!

Feel free to come back to the room as soon as you are calm.

Quit breaking the rules of the game. Those who can follow the rules are welcome to the play the game.

Get this room cleaned up right now, and I mean it!

You are welcome to join us for ________ as soon as your room is clean.

Stop arguing with me! I'll be glad to discuss this with you as soon as the arguing stops.

If you can't treat the paint brushes properly, you'll just have to sit this project out.

All of those who can handle the paint brushes properly are welcome to join us in the project.

If you forget your permission slip, you're going to miss the field trip.

All of those who remember permission slips are welcome to go on the field trip.

Clinic Needs: The clinic is in need of new or gently used clothing, especially pants for boys in grades K, 1, and 2. Thank you for your help.

Read Every Day!!!

The more you read, the better you read! SEMINOLE LANES AND SUNRISE LANES will

provide Free “Games for A’s” during the year. Students

should bring their Report Card to Seminole Lanes to

receive up to 5 free games per grading period or 20 free

games from the Final Report Card (one for each “A” or

“E”) to be used before August 31st, 2015.

Attention Parents/Guardians Regarding Attendance Policy:

Notify teacher of your child’s absence by providing written documentation on a sheet of paper immediately or within 48 hours of your child’s return to school. Submit doctor’s notes when applicable. Absences and tardies will be marked excused if they qualify as excused. (See code of student conduct for qualifying excused absences and tardies.)

At three (3) unexcused absences, teacher will make contact with parent/guardian and refer to social worker.

Every three (3) unexcused tardies within a grading period count as one (1) unexcused absence.

Every three (3) unexcused early sign-outs within a grading period will count as one (1) unexcused absence.

Students who have at least five (5) unexcused absences within a one month period or ten (10) unexcused absences within a 90 day period will be referred to the state attorney for prosecution for educational neglect.

See the attendance section of the student code of conduct for additional information.

Engineering Keep up with how our young engineers are using the Jamerson Design Process. Check it out: http://www.facebook.com/JamersonElementary Come to the Engineering EXPO on December 4th! See students showcase the integrated engineering units of study they have done during the first semester. This event draws hundreds of people to Jamerson to learn more about the exciting engineering projects that our students do. All day Thursday will be “Engineering Day”, including design challenges, and walkthroughs of classroom exhibits. Students are asked to wear their Jamerson tshirts. Expo Time schedule: 5:45 Gates open, Food sales 6:00 Jammers perform 6:30 - 7:30 Classrooms open, pulley

system open, scavenger hunt

Engineering Day 9:00 am–2:00 pm Mad Science Assembly, Rocket Design & Launch, Grade Level Exhibits

Engineering Expo 5:45-7:30 pm Jamerson Jammers

Family Scavenger Hunt Grade Level Exhibits

School spirit gear for sale! Snacks & drinks for sale!

In a continued effort to keep families engaged, the district’s Office of Strategic Partnerships has developed a Family Engagement Mobile App. It will provide parents access to extended classroom opportunities, family engagement tips and opportunities and parent “How To” videos. There will also be information about parent workshop schedules, parent peer support, and information that will support student learning and school improvement. DOWNLOAD OUR FREE PCS FAMILY

ENGAGEMENT MOBILE APP ON THE ITUNES OR

GOOGLE PLAY APP STORES.

Fall Engineering Day & Expo

Thursday, December 4