cassingham elementary school an ib/pyp … · volumn i issue 5 cassingham elementary school...
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Volumn I Issue 5 CASSINGHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL February 2012
AN IB/PYP WORLD SCHOOL
A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL H. Jeannine Hetzler
Please join us for IB Parent Night 2012 on
Thursday, February 16. This event, in support of
our efforts to “live the learner profile”, will provide
parents with a chance to live the Cassingham
International Baccalaureate experience. Jana
Clarke, our teacher leader, a number of faculty
members, and I will coordinate a lively, interactive
evening full of information about why our lessons
and units of study operate in the ways they do.
We’ll gather in in the Community Room at 6:30 to
begin the hour-long event.
Here are some additional events within our building
that move us toward our goal to “live the learner
profile”.
Thirty-two students took an artistic risk and
entered our 2012 Yearbook Cover Contest. After
extensive review of the applicants by our staff, our
yearbook design will be announced during our town
meeting on February 3rd
.
Mrs. Forsblom and a group of 2nd
& 3rd
graders are
intently preparing for two performances on March
2nd
with Opera Columbus here in our theater at
1:00 pm and 2:00 pm. Our students will help the
company communicate a powerful message about
empowerment in the face of a challenge. In this
case the challenge is a territorial troll within a
production of “3 Billy Goats Gruff”.
Ms. Goodenow and our school’s Social and
Emotional Climate committee are coordinating a
Kindness is Contagious recognition board. All
Cassingham students have the opportunity to be
highlighted on this board by demonstrating
principled behavior during their entire school day.
February
2/1……..Report Cards Go Home
2/3……..1st Semester Safety Patrol Party -
Gymnasium 3:10-4:00 p.m.
2/6-10….National School Counseling Week
We appreciate Ms. Goodenow!
2/6-12…Jump Rope & Hoops for Heart
2/7……..PTO Volunteer Luncheon
2/14……Late Start-Doors Open at 9:20
2/14……Valentine’s Day Parties-2:15 p.m.
2/14……Market Day Pick-up 3:15-4:00
2/16……IB Parent Night 6:30 p.m.
2/20……Presidents’ Day—NO SCHOOL
2/23……PTO Skating Party 6:30-8:30
2/25……BEF BRAVO Event 7:00-11:00 p.m.
2/28……Pizza Night at Bexley Pizza Plus
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Cassingham teachers have been reflecting upon
their Language Arts instruction with Matt Glover.
Mr. Glover has been helping us hone the ways our
students demonstrate their knowledge within
Reading & Writing Workshop. During his most
recent visit, January 19, Mr. Glover modeled
conferences for us and worked directly with some
lucky students. This exciting work will continue
with a final half day of professional development for
teachers in April.
...kindergarteners will soon be learning how to
Share the Planet? We will explore living things to
learn more about our world. We will be actively
involved with observing animals and plants as we
grow to understand the characteristics of living
things. Non-fiction reading and writing will become
the focus of our workshop times.
...first graders are exploring how people use self-
expression to show thinking, feeling and/or culture?
A BIG THANKS to Bill Manchester for his creative,
interactive presentation that brought our line of
inquiry to life!
...second graders shared information about our
notable persons at our recent Town
Meeting? Everyone had to listen carefully to the
facts shared, two were truths but one fact was
fabricated. Next, we will meet a new friend named
Ed Venture as we learn about How the World Works
through forces & motion including weather.
...third graders have been working to solve recess
problems and understand how we can organize
ourselves to help the common good? We have used
critical thinking to identify
some reoccurring issues and
gathered information to make
informed decisions about
possible solutions. We are
continuing our efforts to improve recess over the
coming months. We appreciate the support of
many people at Cassingham while we collected
information, but especially Ms. Hetzler and the 5th
grade. In our upcoming unit, Sharing the Planet, we
DID YOU KNOW...
¡Feliz invierno! Happy winter!
This month in Spanish, first graders are learning
about birthday celebrations in Latin America. Se-
cond graders are about to embark on a unit regard-
ing sports related vocabulary. Third graders will be
working with fruit words. Please send in any fruit/
veggie stickers that are from a Spanish speaking
country. We will be collecting them to see where
our winter produce originates. Fourth graders are
working with geography and countries in Spanish.
Fifth grade is continuing to learn about culture, tra-
ditions and history in Spain. Sixth graders are
working with communication activities regarding
their interests and technology. Ask your student to
teach you the “frio/caliente” chant that all classes
are learning to aid with remembering important
words!
En La Clase de Español Señora Kristen Konya
will explore how our actions affect our natural
resources.
…fourth graders are currently exploring various
forms of self-expressions related to immigration,
Underground Railroad, and the War of 1812? At
the end of February, students will be expressing
themselves through various forms of international
song and dance. They will perform at the Wexner
Heritage House and at the February 24th
Town
Meeting.
...fifth graders are currently studying energy in the
form of light, sound, and heat in our How the World
Works unit? We are also observing Isaac Newton’s
laws as we play with marbles, scooters and coins.
The Snap Circuit Pro kits are also a source for
adventure as we inquire into how electricity works.
We look forward to Michael Bashaw’s visit later
this month as the climax of this unit!
...sixth graders will be learning about the Ancient
Civilizations including Mesopotamia, Egypt, India,
and China? We will study the
elements of civilizations and use this
knowledge to create our own
Museums. Watch for more
information concerning a tour to be a
part of this exciting educational event!
SAFETY PATROL NEWS Mrs. Sonja Hutchison, Advisor
Special thanks to all our Patrol Members who are
braving the winter season! Most do not complain as
they look forward to their morning cup of hot choc-
olate! The new second semester schedules have been
emailed to parents and if you need an extra copy,
there are color coded schedules on the Safety Patrol
board. Choose the colored sheet that coordinates
with the corresponding sheet posted on the board.
Attention Parents: please be mindful of how hard
our patrol members work each day and offer a
“thank you” when you see them. A little encourage-
ment can go a long way!
The Mystery Musician for January was Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868). We studied him as a beginning of
our preparation for Opera Columbus’ production of Three Billy Goats Gruff which will come to Cassingham
on March 2. This little opera deals with bullying and how to deal with that sort of behavior.
On Friday, Feb. 24, the fourth graders will present their annual International Program at Wexner Heritage
House (10:30) and at Cassingham (2:30). They are learning songs, games, and dances from all over the
world. The public is invited to either performance.
Notes from the Music Room
by Mrs. Deborah Forsblom
Our annual event, Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart
is just around the corner! Grades 3-5 will partici-
pate in Jump Rope, while 6th grade will participate
in the Hoops for Heart. The event kicks off on
Monday, February 6. Classes have been busy in the
computer lab creating and emailing their website to
donors. You can help your child log on and check
their fundraising progress. www.heart.org/jump or
www.heart.org/hoops students put in their login
and password. A tab at the top - Check my fund-
raising progress - will show them who has donated
and how much. They can then go into Edit my
page and send a thank you email to those that do-
nated. There are even sample thank you notes they
can click and send!
Thank you for supporting Cassingham kids! Our
record breaking year last year, over $8,500.00 in
donations to The American Heart Association, got
us in the top 20 schools in Ohio for donations. Over
the years, Cassingham has donated
$108,763.00. THANK YOU! Cassingham is mak-
ing a difference in research for heart disease and
strokes.
In The Gym With Ms. McCarthy
A Collage From Mrs. Ungar’s Art Room
Here’s what happening in intermediate art classes:
Fourth graders have been working two dimension-
ally in art to create the illusion of depth in their
work. Their fun “Sock Monsters” create a crowd-
ed space using high, medium, & low spaces along
with overlapping taught students how to achieve
their goal.
Fifth and sixth graders have begun their clay fami-
ly bench projects. Students looked at the Family
Sculptures created by artist Henry Moore. They
will build their pieces next week.
A critical date changes this year for Bexley Schools. Students starting kindergarten must be five years old on or before August 1 of the year that they intend to enroll in kindergarten. (Formerly, students had to be five on or before September 30 in order to start school that fall.)
Kindergarten registration for Fall 2012 is scheduled for Tuesday & Wednesday, 4/3 & 4/4/2012 at each of Bexley’s elementary schools.
THINKING AHEAD ABOUT COLLEGE?
Bexley High School hosts an upcoming program
to help school school district parents start pre-
paring for transitions that lie ahead. Parents of
middle school and elementary students will hear
about low-key college visits, financial info and
college search resources, as well as have the
chance to ask questions.
Wednesday, March 7 @ 7:30 p.m.
Bexley High School Theater
A Dose from the Health Office Catherine Burns, R.N. & Joann Spain, R.N.
Ms. Sarah Goodenow Guidance Counselor
IB/PYP Particulars Mrs. Jana Clarke
IB Coordinator
As a staff, we value collaborative planning ses-
sions as we design, reflect upon and revise units
of inquiry to support your child’s academic pro-
gress. Each grading period Cassingham is com-
mitted to ½ day collaborative planning sessions
for each grade level. These professional work
sessions allow time for teachers to examine the
progress students are making across the year and
revise unit plans, gather resources and/or seek
information to enhance that progress. Student
work samples are examined, assessments are re-
viewed and lesson/unit plans are honed during
these sessions. Bexley’s incredible pool of guest
teachers provides high-quality instruction to our
students during these working sessions; we are so
thankful for their work.
Check out what we’ve been planning during
those ½ day sessions:
Kindergarten students will be researching,
observing & discussing worms while cre-
ating an “All About” book with what they
learn. This unit will help them read and
write non-fiction pieces.
First grade teachers set up an inquiry into
maps; students will apply what they learn
by creating and mapping a treasure hunt.
In the second grade, ‘Ed Venture’ will be
guiding students through an investigation
of energy and weather.
Third grade students will have the opportuni-
ty to create model homes demonstrating
what they learn about renewable & non-
renewable resources.
Fourth grade students are studying the con-
nections between personal experiences,
creative expression and historic events.
Fifth graders are investigating light, heat,
sound and electricity through hands-on
experiment stations.
In sixth grade, teachers are setting up inquir-
ies that literally investigate ‘Who We Are’
down to the cellular level.
“Kindness is Contagious”
At Cassingham students are encouraged to “live the
learner profile”. The IB attributes and attitudes
are displayed throughout the school and discussed
and displayed in each classroom. Beginning in Feb-
ruary the Cassingham staff is recognizing students
who are displaying these qualities, even when no
one is looking! Check out all the high fives and
thumbs up our students will be receiving outside of
Ms. Goodenow’s office.
What’s the #1 most common occurrence in children? The common cold. And what is the #1 way to prevent this? Hand washing! A good 20 second scrub does the job. Do you know the difference between cold & flu? Both can have fevers. Flu is more of a sudden onset with extreme exhaustion and muscle aches. Colds have runny noses, sneezing, sore throat & mild hacky cough. What is the 2nd most common occurrence in children? Lice. Peak season for lice is Aug thru Oct, but peaks again in Jan & Feb. The good news is that lice are not harmful; but are inconvenient & highly contagious. Any age can catch head lice but it is most common in ages 5-12. This winter, please educate your child to not share hats, combs, brushes & hair clips. The most common symptom is itching.