Volumn I Issue 6 CASSINGHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL March 2012

AN IB/PYP WORLD SCHOOL

A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL H. Jeannine Hetzler

At least the daffodils outside Cassingham’s office

window seem ready to accept March beginning this

week; this school year seems to be zipping by

quickly. Soon the walls of our building will be

transformed into a gallery as Mrs. Ungar and her

amazing volunteers build student displays for the

Cassingham Art Hop on Thursday, March 29th

.

During this annual evening to celebrate our students’

artistic achievements, many student performers will

also be highlighted in our theater. A schedule of the

evening’s events will be posted before Spring Break.

While I cancelled this year’s IB Night, in honor of

Mayor Brennan’s memorial service, we will share IB

updates during some traditional spring events here

at Cassingham. We’ll have casual conversations and

displays about your child’s IB/PYP experience

during the Art Hop (3/29) and Open House (5/10).

A number of 4th

, 5th

, and 6th

students, parent Betsy

Ross, and staff members Ms. Goodenow, Mrs. Clary,

and Mrs. Walker are helping to coordinate new

recess choices for our students. If you might be

willing to assist with a lunchtime activity, please let

me know as we have students interested in

establishing an Art Club, Dance/Flash Mob Club,

and Poetry Club.

Please be aware that Bexley High School’s

gymnasium is a polling location. Voters will be able

to access the site through the gymnasium doors. No

access will be granted to voters through any

Cassingham doors after our school day begins on

Tuesday, March 6th. As with any other day, please

help us maintain a secure building by entering

Cassingham through the main entrance in the center

of our complex.

Enjoy the daffodils, and as always, let me know if

you have any questions or concerns.

jeannine.hetzler@bexleyschools.org or 614-237-4266.

March

3/2……..Read Across America Day

3/6……..PTO Meeting-6:30 p.m.

3/8……..Yearbook Group Pictures

3/10…….Montrose Elementary School

Fun-for-All 12:30-3:30 p.m.

3/11…….Daylight Savings Time Begins

3/13……Late Start-Doors Open at 9:20

3/13……Market Day Pick-up 3:00-4:00

3/19-23...Spring Break

3/27……Pizza Night at Bexley Pizza Plus

3/29……Cassingham Art Hop 6:00-8:00 p.m.

3/30…….End of the 3rd Nine Weeks

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2012/2013 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

...kindergarteners are learning the differences

between fiction and non-fiction texts in reading

workshop? Our focus in writing workshop will be

plants and animals as we write How-To and All-

About books. We are learning how to add and

subtract!

...first graders are learning about tools and

strategies that orient them in place and time? From

hidden treasure to exploring the world!

...second graders are smarter than Ed Venture, our

fictitious science character? They were able to solve

all of his inquiries about weather. Students used

their scientific knowledge of forces, magnets,

gravity and weather to prove Ed wrong. Next,

second graders will be investigating the structure of

fiction stories across cultures in our How We

Express Ourselves unit.

...third graders visited SWACO (Solid Waste

Authority of Central Ohio) last week

as part of our Sharing the Planet

unit? We are learning more about

Earth's resources and how they are

used in our houses. We are also

thinking about how well we use

DID YOU KNOW...

First and second grades will celebrate

Dr. Suess’s birthday this month by read-

ing some of his books in Spanish. They

will be learning some vocabulary from

“Juevos Verdes con Jamón.” Can you

guess the book’s name in English?

Grades three through six learned about the origin

of Spanish last names and naming customs. Each

student received a translation of their name in

Spanish. Ask your student to tell you their

“Spanish” name!

En La Clase de Español Señora Kristen Konya

renewable and non-renewable resources, and

wondering if there are ways we can conserve them.

…fourth graders are beginning their explorations of

energy, matter, electrical circuits, entrepreneurship,

and economy? Students will be experimenting with

snap circuits & states of matter, developing business

plans, and producing goods to be sold during the

4th grade market. All funds raised during the

market will be donated to Partners in Conservation.

...fifth graders had an awesome time “jamming”

with Michael Bashaw last month and are currently

engaged in their “Where we are in place & time”

unit as they study Native Americans? We are

learning how the past connects us to the present

while we delve into these cultures and their

technology!

...sixth graders are learning that there are atoms in

living things which form cells, tissues, and organs

and that each perform specific functions needed to

sustain life? Did you know that a cell is composed

of 90% water? Sixth graders here at Cassingham

know this and much more! Soon each student will

be creating their very own plant or animal cell. Be

on the lookout for these marvelous creations!

SAFETY PATROL NEWS Mrs. Sonja Hutchison, Advisor

Special thanks to our flag captains this month:

Trey Asensio, Max Dietz, Grant Heilman, Na-

thaniel Holden, Billy McIntyre, Clara Murphy,

Zach Shapiro and Austin Sher! With the passing

of Mayor Brennan they helped us

demonstrate our love and respect for

him as they made sure we lowered

our flags to half-mast. We appreciate

their hard work and dedication to

keeping Cassingham safe!

Terra Nova Testing Schedule for Cassingham Elementary

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

2/27 2/28

6th – Social

Studies

2/29

3rd – Math

5th – Reading

3/1

3rd - Reading 3/2

3rd – Science

5th – Social Studies

3/5

3rd – Social Studies

4th – Social Studies

3/6

2nd - Math 3/7

4th – Social Studies 3/8

Make-up Day 3/9

Make-up Day

The Mystery Musician for February was Marian Anderson (1897-1993). After hearing this

American contralto sing, conductor Arturo Toscannini said that she had a voice you might

hear once in a century. She performed on concert stages around the world. In April, 1939, she

gave a concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial because the owners of Constitution Hall

would not allow an African American to sing in their theater. Years later, they invited her to

sing in Constitution Hall. She was known for her beautiful voice and her grace and composure

at all times.

Congratulations to the Fourth Graders who performed at Wexner Heritage House on February

24. They gave a wonderful performance and had a good time visiting with the residents. Thank

you, Fourth Graders.

On March 14, the sixth graders will attend a Young People’s Concert by the Columbus Symphony Orches-

tra called “Nationalism in Music.” They are busy learning about the pieces that they will hear.

Congratulations to the 2nd & 3rd Graders who are in the Billy Goat Chorus for our Opera Columbus

presentation on March 2. Grades K-3 will see the opera at 2:00, and grades 4-6 will see it at 1:00. Thank

you to Mrs. Shapiro and Mrs. Gosnell for coordinating the hat-making committee.

Notes from the Music Room

by Mrs. Deborah Forsblom

Our Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart event was an-

other great success! Our grand total donated to the

American Heart Association this year was

$4,819.39! Sixth grade collected $841.00 for their

Hoops event. Grades 3-5 collected $3,978.39 for

their Jump Rope event. Thank you to all who do-

nated! This year, Cassingham students created 154

different ways to jump rope!

The following students donated $100.00 or

more: Emma Beckman, Benjy Davis, Jadyn Estby,

Coco Gonzalez, Maddy Gosnell, Samantha Katz,

Talya Lusiak, Maggie McDow, Aidan O'Dell, Kar-

leigh Place, Malen Rankin, Elliot Roe, Isaac Roe,

Luke Smith, & Anne Tobin.

Our top donators this year were 3rd grader Jadyn

Estby with $235.00 for Jump Rope and 6th grader

Anne Tobin with $146.00 for Hoops.

In The Gym With Ms. McCarthy

A Collage From Mrs. Ungar’s Art Room

Cassingham Parents, please save the date for the Cassingham Art Hop!

Thursday, March 29th 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Don’t miss a fun family evening!

THINKING AHEAD ABOUT COLLEGE?

Bexley High School hosts an upcoming pro-

gram for parents of middle school and elemen-

tary students regarding low-key college visits,

financial info and college search resources, as

well as a Q & A session.

Wednesday, March 7 @ 7:30 p.m.

Bexley High School Theater

SCHOOL CALENDAR NEWS!!!

The Bexley City School District introduces a

new calendar starting in Fall 2012, with the

first day of school coming earlier than in

the past; Wed, Aug 15, 2012. The last day

of next school year will be May 30, 2013.

Reasons for the shift: (1) to make the calendar more stu-

dent-centered—with various student assessments, includ-

ing the high school’s 1st semester exams, concluding be-

fore breaks & (2) to align better with OSU’s new semester

calendar.

A copy of next year’s calendar is enclosed.

Delicious Food!

STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS Mrs. Mary Ann Claydon &

Mrs. Monica Miars, Advisors

IB/PYP Particulars Mrs. Jana Clarke

IB Coordinator

The staff at Cassingham greatly values the ½ day

collaborative planning sessions we have each grad-

ing period. Our appreciation seems even greater

to us now, as we wrestle with new Common Core/

Ohio standards. We use this time to plan units of

inquiry (according to national and state stand-

ards), to organize and evaluate data, and to refine

our teaching practices so that we can best meet the

needs of our students. We find the consultations

we’re able to have with special area teachers and

specialists help us meet student needs in an even

more unified and deliberate manner. We know

that these intensive planning sessions help us hone

your child’s experiences within the International

Baccalaureate program here at Cassingham! Feel

free to contact Ms. Hetzler or me, Jana Clarke

(jana.clarke@bexleyschools.org or 237-4266)

should you have any questions.

Our collaboration sessions for this grading period

are as follows:

February 21: 6th

grade am & 5th

grade pm

February 23: 2nd

grade am & 4th

grade pm

March 1: 1st grade am & Kindergarten pm

March 8: 3rd

grade pm

Congratulations to the 2011-2012 5th

Grade Battle

of the Books Team for taking first place at the an-

nual Franklin County BOB Competition on Febru-

ary 23, where they competed against 17 other teams

(including Montrose and Maryland) from a total of

8 districts. Students have been reading from a list

of 12 books since earlier this fall to prepare for the

big event. Cassingham was represented on stage by

Tess Baker, Hadley Brown, Emma Easley, Noah

Luehmann, and Alec Russo; Claire Flora and Alli-

son Hoyer served as alternates. The team was pre-

sented with a trophy, as well as individual medals.

All students participating in the county event also

received a special gift of Pillow Pets from one of the

competition judges, former OSU and NFL player

Calvin Murray. All BOB participants should be

commended for their hard work and commitment

to this year’s team!

Battle of the Books! Ms. Chris Amspaugh, Advisor

Our school district uses One Call Now (a mass notification system) to send messages regard-

ing school events and/or cancellations to the primary phone number listed in each student’s

school records. You may add additional contact info (cell & work numbers or email address-

es) through the One Call Now website. If you would like to update your contact information

here are the steps to access the system:

From the district website (http://www.bexleyschools.org) click on Parent/Student Info.

Under the Parents section, click the One Call Now link.

The One Call Now page asks you to enter your last name, primary phone number and select Cassing-

ham.

Then, enter the phone numbers and/or email addresses you would like notified by One Call Now.

If you prefer a text message to a voice message on your cell phone, send a text message to 22300 with a

one-word message: ALERT.

Second Semester has begun with a bubble and a

pop; Thursday, February 23rd

was Cassingham’s

Chewing Gum Day! Students raised

more than $350.00. The funds raised

will allow us to replace our “tired &

worn out” Cassingham School Flag and

purchase playground balls & sports

equipment.

Watch this space next month for 2nd

semester’s ros-

ter of representatives.

Daylight

Savings Time

Begins on

Sunday,

March 11.