We are thrilled to see Eastmont students becoming accustomed to the new school. As teachers incorporate educational technology into the classroom, students will reap the benefits. We are also excited about our new web site, which has helpful information. Please visit the web site at http://home.dps.k12.oh.us/school-eastmont-elementary-school/ Celeste Hoerner

Eastmont PreK-8 School, 1480 Edendale, Dayton

Cardinal Courier February 2011

A Word From The Principal

The mission of Eastmont PreK-8 School is to provide a productive learning environment for all students by working together to reach state and district expectations through instruction based on best practices.

Visitors fill school during dedication

The dedication on Jan. 9 was attended by hundreds, including the mayors of both Dayton and Riverside. Visitors were able to view classrooms and other areas afterward.

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News from the Classrooms

Grades K-3 Gail Wright Mrs. Wright's class has been learning all about snow and dressing warmly for winter. We are working hard on our Alternate Assessments and gathering evidence. In February, we will learn about taking good care of our teeth and celebrate Black History Month. We also will celebrate Valentine's Day with a party and by making cards and surprises for our parents.

Third Grade Michelle Pund Ms. Pund's students are enjoying our new classroom! We have been comparing it to our old room as we continue to find similarities and differences between the two. We have also been studying animal habitats and especially learning about those in the Arctic. We are working on cursive writing and continue to prepare for the upcoming Ohio Achievement Assessment in the spring.

Kindergarten Adele Bond and Christy Gariety The kindergarten classes are looking forward to our 100th day of school, which will fall in February! We are also busy reading our baggie books at home and having parents help us fill out our read-a-thon forms. Everyone who turns in two read-a-thon papers in January receives a ticket for our incentive drawing at the end of the month. The boys and girls are working on reading sight words and sounding out words with short “a” and short “i.” Short “i” is in "winter," and we are busy listening to winter stories and doing winter activities.

ECIP Ann Gottschlich It has been so exciting to move into a new building. We love the larger classroom - it is beautiful. We have three new computers to use and many new centers. We have had new food items to try since our move. We surveyed our class and gave the meals being served a big "THUMBS UP!” Our favorite thing about our new school is the gym and we have a daily scheduled time to play there. We are anxiously awaiting nice weather so we can try out our new playground.

First Grade Alice Perkins and Tamara Zompetti Our first graders have been adjusting to our new building just wonderfully. With our new technology in our classrooms, students are learning new ways to meet their needs. The atmosphere in our classrooms is pleasant for learning. We are still having a new story, spelling words and word wall words each week. In Math, we are progressing quickly with skip counting, patterns on a hundreds chart, even and odd numbers. We recently had Firefighter Phil and Pals Fire Safety Program visit. Our students learned about fire safety. The program was presented by the Dayton Fire Department.

Second Grade Diana Flax and Lisa Taylor We strongly encourage parents to help us by getting your children to school each day on time. During the cold month of February, our students will be snuggling up to stories about amazing animals in Theme 4 of our reading book. We will research information about animals and write reports in Language Arts. In Social Studies, we will study people who have made history. We take to the sky in Science to learn about the moon, sun, and stars. In Math, we are counting money and telling time. In reading, we are also working on building our reading fluency. Every child in second grade should be reading at a rate of 88 words per minute by the end of February. Parents, you can help your child by listening to them read at home. In Math, please help your child learn to count coins, and tell time on both analog and digital clocks.

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Grades 3-5 Vicki Petreman and Robin Shope We are so very excited to be in the new Eastmont. Please feel free to come see our classrooms, but be sure to stop by the office for a visitor's pass. Mrs. Petreman's class has been working with a winter theme. The penguins hanging outside her class are adorable. Mrs. Shope's class has been working with a dinosaur theme. They had the opportunity to be paleontologists and do a "dig" for fossils. The trip to Booneshoft Museum of Discovery was a success. The planetarium show was beautiful and we had a fun time exploring the rest of the museum. Thanks to Johnny's and Kate's mom for helping. Alternate Assessments will be completed by mid-February. We would like to thank our parents for helping with the collection of evidence. We will celebrate Valentine's Day. More information will follow. Brotherhood will be the theme for February. We have no February birthdays. Enough snow already!

Grades 6-8 Carla Reed We have been learning about nutrition and following the food pyramid guide for making healthy eating choices. We will continue this concept in February when we learn how to plan and prepare balanced meals. Our trip to SICSA had to be postponed, so we will now be going in February to deliver our dog treats and meet the animals. We plan to combine our trip with a side excursion to McDonald’s, where the kids will practice their restaurant skills, from ordering and purchasing their meals to exhibiting proper restaurant etiquette. Our SICSA visit will be a timely intro to this year’s Iditarod race, which begins March 5. By the end of February, we will have learned about the famous sled dog race, mapped out the route, and picked our musher to track along the way! Also in February, we will begin talking about seeds and planting. We are going to try our hand at indoor container gardening starting from seed, so we’ll need to get an early start. Hopefully, the students will produce some beautiful vegetables and herbs that they can take home to replant and cultivate over the summer!

Fourth Grade Christine Dieruf Now that the students and I are adjusted to our new facility, we have been very busy! The students have a wonderful new sense of motivation as they gear up for the upcoming OAA. We have been very busy working on daily extended response questions where students restate the question or command, choose an operation, show their work, tell me the answer, and label their answers. With this strategy, the students are able to work on their comprehension skills. The students are continually working on computation in the classroom through differentiated games and hands-on manipulatives. They are getting excited because they can see that they are moving into higher fifth grade math work! On Feb. 11, my homeroom students and I will be going to Aullwood from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Students cost $4, parents cost $5). Students will be extending their knowledge about leaves, circumference, measurement, graphing, the maple syrup process, the environment, molecules, and even bees! We have been working on various science experiments that have helped us create a base for our understanding for this wonderful trip. Have a wonderful February! Ms. D

Upcoming dates for Young Scholars and other programs The Sinclair Young Scholars Program is currently recruiting for the Winter Session, eighth grade only. Interested eighth grade students see Ms. Cooper, school counselor, for details. The David Ponitz Career Technology Center is still accepting applications. In February, there will be academic counseling (8th Grade). We will review and discuss first semester grade reports. High school selection letters will be mailed to parents. Kuder Career Assessments (date and time TBA).

Holiday’s history not so sweet By Maddison Kuth Sixth Grade Contributor Every February across the globe is a very special holiday we call Valentine’s Day. Some people think that Valentine’s Day is about candy, flowers and sharing it with someone you enjoy being around, all in the name of St. Valentine. A lot of people are probably wondering: “What is the true meaning of Valentine’s Day?” Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. Another legend says that Valentine actually sent the first greeting himself, according to information from www.history.org. Some people believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of St. Valentine’s death or burial, which happened around 270 A.D.

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Students, teachers reflect on Black History Month By Ra’Nesha Jones Sixth Grade Contributor Did you know Black History Month originally began as Negro History Week in 1926? Eastmont staff and students view this month as a time to recognize the achievements of African Americans. For Paola Leyva, a sixth grader, this month means celebrating the freedom of African Americans. “I think that African Americans have come a really long way and we have achieved so much,” said eighth grader Keasia Reeder. “Black History Month is a celebration of achievements that African Americans made over the years,” said Teacher Sylvia Ervin. Teacher Josie Thompson said the month presents a great opportunity for people to learn about the accomplishments of African Americans.

Students find lockers helpful, perplexing By Elizabeth Reed Sixth Grade Contributor Now that we have transitioned into our new school, the sixth, seventh, and eight grade students were lucky enough to get new lockers. To you students who can’t get into your lockers, don’t feel badly, you’re not the only ones. Lots of students can’t open their lockers. Our new lockers are very useful. The students’ belongings aren’t scattered everywhere, lost, or even stolen. “They should have been our school colors, but I’m happy we got them,” said Brandy Lynch, a sixth grader. Eighth grader Matthew McHenry said he likes the lockers, but sometimes it is hard to get into them. Seventh grade Joe Knox said he also has a hard time getting his open. Teacher Michael Van Tine said the lockers help make the new school “clutter-free.”

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By Kristen Cason Sixth Grade Contributor One of our new staff members, Melvin (sp) Dorsey, is one of the first staff members that the students see every morning. He works as a paraprofessional and also checks bags as students enter the school. He coached the boy’s basketball team this winter. Q: Have you worked in other schools? A: I have worked at Wilber Wright and Trotwood High School. Q: How long have you been in security? A: The past several years. Q: What are the new rules for Eastmont students, as far as what they can bring in their backpacks? A: They can bring books, paper, pencils, gym clothes, and cell phones with permission from principals and staff members. Q: How do you like Eastmont so far? A: Mr. Dorsey said he really likes being here. The students are good and the staff is outstanding and he would not want to be at any other school.

Staff member greets students, coaches team

Q: What’s your dream job? A: To keep helping kids, learning and achieving their goals of becoming the best they can be. That’s my goal. Q: What is your biggest challenge in your job? A: My biggest challenge is to make every day for the student that I come in contact with a great day.

PTO News Here are upcoming events in February:

� Feb. 7-11 – Count Week/Spirit Week. More details to come.

� Feb. 8 – PTO monthly meeting at 8:30 a.m. in room 1108. All are welcome to attend.

� Feb. 7-9 – Orders will be taken for the Lollipop Sale.

� Feb. 14: Lollipops will be delivered.

February Title I event Family events are sponsored throughout the year with Title I funds. The next event is Family Day at the KROC Center, which will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 26. The event will be at 1000 N. Keowee St. in Dayton. The day will include dances by the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2, Stivers School for the Arts and Wogaman PreK-8 School African Dancers, Troops, Cheerleaders and Tap Dancers. Admission is free.

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