1

March 15, 2013

BLUEBIRD BUZZ

On Thursday, March 14, Mr. Larry Elliott, a.k.a. Abraham Lincoln visited Alvaton Elementary. The Living Historian impersonates our 16th President and makes learning history fun and exciting. Mr. Elliott is like Abraham Lincoln as he was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky. His Great, Great, Great, Great, grandmother was the midwife that helped deliver Abraham Lincoln in 1809. As a child, Abraham Lincoln was his idol. Strangely enough, he grew to be 6'4" and 180 lbs., just like Lincoln. In 2003 Mr. Elliott entered a Lincoln look-a-like contest in Hodgenville and began reading about this great man. After an extensive study of his life, he decided to purchase a complete period-correct Abraham Lincoln costume and began portraying him. He now portrays Mr. Lincoln in the first person, from his humble roots in Kentucky, to growing up in Indiana, to becoming a self taught lawyer in Illinois, to becoming our sixteenth President who preserved the Union and freed the slaves, to his untimely death at Fords Theatre. His visit allowed the students of Alvaton Elementary to take a ride through the Historical times of Abraham Lincoln. Sure to be a learning experience, they will not soon forget!

HISTORY COMES ALIVE AT ALVATON

Message from Mr. Rathbun: We had a very interesting guest to visit Alvaton on March 14. Our students were introduced to Abraham Lincoln, or at least a very close likeness. Many of our students learned about the Civil War, slavery, and many other things that took place in history during the time of President Lincoln. We appreciate Mrs. McClard, our Family Resource Coordinator, arranging and planning this visit. I know that our students enjoyed learning more about this period of time in our United States' history. It is awesome that we are able to have exciting people like this visit our school and address our students. We hope everyone has a great great weekend.

2

IDITAREAD

The Iditarod has come to an end.... and the winning musher is... Brian Seavy from Mrs. Borland’s room. During the month of March 3rd-6th grade classes have been learning about the Iditarod, the dogs and the mushers. Students have been reading stories about the Iditarod, and researching a musher chosen by their class. Mr. McGinty and Mrs. Cook's class got together and problem solved in small groups to create an Iditarod dog sled. All the groups had to use was a small paper plate, four rubber bands, two straws, a piece of foil and a paperclip. All the kids really synergized and were very creative! Students are working throughout this month to meet their reading goal to earn a special Iditaread brag tag and certificate!

UPDATE: We are over 1,500 books read for our contest to see Mr. Rathbun and Mr. Theirl dress like women. Only 500 books left to read!!! We CAN do it, Alvaton!!! The book fair will be April 15-19th. The classroom book float winners were as follows (guest readers last Tuesday judged the floats): Mrs. Onan's Class - 1st place (received $25 gift cert. to the book fair), Mrs. Reiter's Class - 2nd ($15), and Mrs. Cook's Class - 3rd ($10). Hot Rod Book Buddies Program cards due March 15th - School with the most participation receives $1,500 and 2nd/3rd get $500.

READERS MAKE LEADERS

3

In Other News...

Important Preschool Information

Your child may be eligible for preschool next year if your child will be three-or-four years old and has a disability or delay. It is very important that you begin the process for determining if your child has a disability now. Disabilities and delays range from very mild to very involved. Quite often a child has a simple delay in speech and language that may not be detected until they reach kindergarten. The earlier a child receives therapy services, the more likely they are to overcome their delay and they may not need speech therapy by the time they get into kindergarten. If you have concerns that your child or a child that you know has not met developmental milestones, or you would like further information, please contact Judy Ged or Lisa Stevenson at 843-8067 or judith.ged@warren.kyschools.us or lisa.stevenson@warren.kyschools.us

Alvaton Elementary will host a blood drive for the American Red Cross on Tuesday, April 30th from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Alvaton Bluebird Community Center (the Old Gym). Information will be sent home with students after Spring Break, but if anyone would like to schedule a time before the letters go home may contact Leeann Morrison at 270-843-8067.

Pre-K and Kindergarten

Registration

April 29-May 3 Make plans to stop by Alvaton Elementary and pre-register your preschool or kindergarten student during these dates!!!

4

GET ON BOARD AND SUPPORT THE KELLY AUTISM CENTER

GET INVOLVED--ALVATON CURRENTLY HOLDS THE TROPHY

LET’S KEEP IT!!!!

Saturday, April 13th

Bowling Green Ball Park

Mark your calendar and begin training for the 5th Annual LifeSkills Walk/Run for Autism to benefit the Kelly Autism Program. This event will include LifeSkills 4 Mile Run and Dylan’s 1 Mile Family Walk. The event will take place at the Bowling Green Ball Park on April 13, 2013. There will be children's activities that day and a silent auction that night at the Hot Rods baseball game. Participants receive a race t-shirt, entrance to the April 12th Pasta Party and a free ticket to the April 13th Hot Rods game with registration.

For more information and to register visit autismrun.org or call 270-745-4527.

Ways to get your school and students involved:

1. SCHOOL SPIRIT CHALLENGE Team up to support individuals with autism and show your school

pride! Students and teachers work together to help your school have the largest and most spirited presence during

Dylan’s 1 mile walk. Use the attached flyer to distribute and use among your students and staff. A special trophy

will be awarded to the local school with the highest number of registrations for the walk/run and it will be

displayed at the school until next year. When registering, specify what school you attend or support.

2. ATTEND THE HOT ROD’S GAME, APRIL 13TH 7:05 pm If you are not able to attend the

walk/run, please attend the Hot Rod’s game that night and support the Kelly Autism Program. When buying your

tickets, tell them you are here supporting the Kelly Autism Program and a portion of the proceeds of your ticket

will go directly to support KAP.

3. TALK TO YOUR STUDENTS ABOUT AUTISM Some disabilities, like autism; affect a person’s

social understanding, leaving them more susceptible to being left out and encountering teasing/bullying. Educate

and encourage your students that by giving support and being a friend, students with autism can learn rules for

friendships that they may not know instinctively. For more information on how to discuss autism with your

students, contact us at 270-745-4527 or kellyautismprogram@wku.edu

5

6

S O A R

SHOW A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

OWN YOUR ACTIONS

ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST

RESPECT OTHERS AND

YOURSELF

Helpful Links Warren County Schools Webpage

Alvaton Elementary Webpage Elementary Lunch Menu

Bluebird Buzz

DON’T FORGET-EASTER LUNCH TO BE HELD ON MARCH 21! JOIN

YOUR STUDENT AND ENJOY LUNCH AT ALVATON

ELEMENTARY! PLEASE NOTE: Payment for the meal is to be brought in on March 21. We request that you bring exact change as it is difficult to ensure change is available in the cafeteria. Cost for the meal is $3.25 for a visiting adult and $2.00 for any visiting child. WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US!!!!

Easter Lunch at Alvaton Elementary March 21 Menu

Roast Chicken or Ham Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans Honey Glazed Carrots

Romaine/Mandarin Salad Broccoli/LF Ranch Dip

Tropical Applies Homemade Roll

Sidekick-Frozen Treat Low Fat Milk Choices

GRADUATION DATES SET: Friday, May 24th at 7:30 p.m.--

Warren Central High School

Saturday, May 25th at 9:00 a.m.--

South Warren High School

Saturday, May 25th at 12:30 p.m.--

Warren East High School

Saturday, May 25th at 4:00 p.m.--

Lighthouse Academy High School

Saturday, May 25th at 6:30 p.m.--

Greenwood High School All ceremonies will be held at E.A. Diddle Arena on the campus of Western Kentucky University. Hope

to see you there!

7

Fastest Kid in Bowling Green

The Fastest Kid in Bowling

Green 100 meter race, will be held at WKU on Saturday,

April 13, 2013.

The fastest kids from all of the elementary schools in

Warren County and Bowling Green will have the option of

participating.

Ms. Ellis, PE teacher at Alvaton will be sending

students to represent Alvaton. Through races that will be

held at the school the fastest students will be determined

for representation in the following groups:

1st grade-3rd Grade Girl 1st grade-3rd grade Boy 4th grade-6th grade Girl 4th grade-6th grade Boy

GET YOUR RUNNING

SHOES READY!!!

Greenwood Area Band and

String Concert

Warren County Schools offers a Strings program. The students participating learn musical pieces and present them at a yearly concert. The “school-day” Strings Concert for Alvaton students will be held March 25 at 2:10 p.m.

As a part of Music in our Schools Month, you are cordially invited to the Greenwood Area Band Concert on Thursday March 21st at 6:30 pm in the GHS gym. This concert will feature the combined 6th grade beginning bands from Alvaton, Briarwood, Cumberland Trace and Natcher Elementary schools along with the Drakes Creek Middle School 7th grade band, the DCMS 8th grade band, the Greenwood High School Concert band and the GHS Wind Ensemble. The concert will last approximately one hour and will conclude with a massed band performance by all students in grades 6 through 12. This concert allows parents, teachers and administrators the opportunity to view the development of these young musicians from the earliest stages to the culmination of their high school band careers. It is our hope that the achievement displayed will encourage the continuing support of music education in the Warren County Public Schools.

The Alvaton Jr. Beta students will be participating in their first service project--Alvaton Clean-Up Day! Over 15 students have committed to come to school on Saturday and assist with cleaning up our building. THANK YOU MR. BUSH FOR ORGANIZING THIS EVENT FOR OUR JR. BETA STUDENTS!

“Let Us Lead By Serving Others.”

8

More From the Classroom… ALVATON...

The students in 5th and 6th grade will be bringing the Bluebird Circus to town on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 . The students have worked with the one and only, Broadway the clown and have learned many theatrical and special effects that must take place to “put on a show.” This is always a wonderful collaboration with Mrs. Austin and her 5th and 6th grade students. Come one, come all...SURE TO BE entertaining and FUN!!!!

1st Grade News The students enjoyed meeting "Abraham Lincoln" and getting his autograph. During the month of March we are learning about Healthy Eating. Be prepared to get mini lessons from your child about making good food choices. Our class AR goal for the month is to read and pass 350 books. The first grade goal is 1,000 books. Our class is already over 200 books for the month (and we have had only 8 school days in March). Pretty impressive!!! We are anxiously awaiting the results of the Dream Out Loud Writing Contest. We wrote many good essays. Now we are writing "How To” pieces and soon we will be writing poems for the Creative Communication Poetry Contest. In math we are stepping it up and learning two-digit addition and subtraction with and without regrouping. Be sure to continue to review math facts at home!

Circus Date Changed

The following student’s artwork will represent Alvaton Elementary in an art exhibit that will be held at the Knicely Conference Center on the South campus of Western Kentucky University. The conference is for school personnel but the exhibit is open to the public. The conference is March 19 and 20 the artwork will be displayed for those two days only. Eliza Witty 6th grade Caitlyn Kirchner 5th grade Greyson Henson 2nd grade Cory Brungardt 6th grade

A SPECIAL THANKS TO MS. LEHMAN, ART EDUCATOR FOR ALVATON FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS!

9

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

Upcoming FRC Events Family Fitness Night-April 18

Doughnuts with Dad-April 19

Muffins with Mom-May 3

Alvaton Elementary students participated in the RCX Robo Challenge Regional Competition held at Todd County this past Saturday, March 9 under the direction of Curriculum Coordinator, Darlene Porter. The theme for the competition was “The farmer provides fuel and food to the world”. The students designed and programmed a robot to run missions to accomplish this goal in two minutes and thirty seconds. RESULTS: Team Wall-E- 1st Place Elementary Division Mason Allison Owen Allison Blake Helson (not pictured) Alex Oliver Canaan Rathbun Charlie Skean Team Alvabots- 4th Place Elementary Division Makenzie Eversoll Hanna Thorp Caitlyn Kirchner JJ Gibson Jacob Jones Connor Jolly Team: Legonaters- 1st Middle School Division Jackson Sutherland Cruz McClure Tucker Clack Hailey Watson Skylar Anderson

CONGRATULATIONS on and OUTSTANDING

DAY!!!!

Alvaton Fares Well at the RCX Robo Challenge Regional Competition

10

7 HEALTHY HABITS OF

HIGHLY EFFECTIVE KIDS

1. Be Proactive 2. Begin with the

End in Mind 3. Put First Things

First 4. Think Win-Win 5. Seek First to

Understand, then to be Understood

6. Synergize 7. Sharpen the Saw

YEARBOOKS

ON SALE NOW!

ALL COLOR with 48 PAGES

FILLED COVER TO COVER WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF FRIENDS,

SPECIAL EVENTS, CLASSES, ACTIVITIES AND CANDID SHOTS

DURING THE

2012-13 SCHOOL YEAR!

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Until all ordered copies are sold, you may purchase a yearbook for $20. Please include either cash or a check payable to Alvaton Elementary School in an envelope marked with your child’s name, their teacher’s name and yearbook written on the memo line of checks. Hold on to the receipt which will be issued from the office. The books will be delivered in May. Help your child remember the fun-filled times that have made this year special by ordering a yearbook for your child! If you have any questions about ordering a yearbook please call Margaret Frizzell or Sharon Freeland at 843-8067.

Thank you!

CHERISH THE MEMORIES WITH YOUR ALVATON ELEMENTARY YEARBOOK-

$20.00

YEARBOOKS ARE ON SALE

11

12