Tolland Intermediate School

Newsletter—January 29, 2014

Welcome to the new newsletter portion of the Tolland Intermediate

School Digital Backpack. The newsletter feature will appear in two

monthly installments. The first installment will include general T.I.S.

news and curriculum updates from the Unified Arts teachers. The second

monthly installment will contain general news, as well as grade level

announcements and updates. We hope that this added feature will

enhance our home-school communication. We will soon be asking our

students to assist us in coming up with a unique T.I.S. name for the

newsletter.

We are in the process of developing a schedule for the upcoming

Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium testing. The SBAC is

replacing the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMTs). SBAC testing is

divided into four testing windows. The testing windows are open from

March 18 to June 6. Students will be tested by grade level, during one of

the windows. A detailed testing schedule will be sent home soon.

Grade 3 has been learning

about Matter: solids,

liquids, and gasses. The

students visited the science

lab for a lesson with Ms

Tyl.

We continue to work on

fluency in both math and

reading.

The students have been

enjoying indoor recess as it

has been too cold to go

outside.

Grade 3

News

The 4th

grade held our second

PBIS assembly on Friday,

January 24 in honor of Dr. Martin

Luther King, Jr. Students recited

poetry, sang songs and watched

video tributes to Dr. King then

shared what they thought was the

most important lesson we could

learn from this great civil rights

leader. It was a fun and

inspirational experience for all!

On the academic side, we are

beginning a math unit on fractions

and have begun our first LA unit

focusing on non-fiction texts.

This worked perfectly for many

classes who began with readings

related to Dr. Martin Luther King.

This also integrates very nicely

with our new unit on state

government. What a great way to

begin discussion on the U.S.

Constitution and the Bill of

Rights as we focus on learning

how our state government works

and how bills become laws.

Finally, in science, students are

learning about weather. And what

a lot of weather there is to talk

about!

Grade 4

News

Grade 5

Fifth grade students and teachers are

really looking forward to Esteem Day on

February 6th

. Students from Canton High

School come to spend the day with fifth

graders to cover a variety of topics

through entertaining and informative

skits as well as small group discussion.

This day is always a favorite of the fifth

graders. Don’t forget to attend the

evening program from 6:00-7:15. Fifth

grade science students are beginning to

wrap up a unit on Sound. Many of the

students have been creating models of the

ear and/or wonderful homemade

instruments. The teachers have been very

impressed with the quality of these

projects. Good job 5th

grade science

students

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 31 TRAVEL/TOURIST DAY

February 3 PTO @ Birch Grove, 7 pm 6 Grade 5 Esteem Day 7 Grade 4 Valentine’s Day Dance 13 Grade 5 Esteem Day SNOWDATE 13 Coffee with the Principals, 9:00 14 Valentine’s Day 17 NO SCHOOL 18 NO SCHOOL 21 PAJAMA DAY 24 Club Photos with Lifetouch

ESTEEM DAY

Dear Fifth Grade Parents: On Thursday, February 6th, the fifth grade students will have the unique opportunity to spend the day and evening with a group of students from Canton High School. These high school students are trained counselors who work with younger children as part of a program known as Esteem. Some of the topics covered in the Esteem program are:

Self-esteem

Awareness of drug and alcohol-related issues

Helping others

Understanding feelings

Developing coping skills The Canton students and their two teacher-advisors will work along with our students and teachers throughout the day in the TIS gymnasium. Our students will also take part in a group presentation for parents that night. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this special program on Thursday, February 6th, from 6:00 - 7:15 PM. An Esteem t-shirt will be ordered for each fifth grader. Students will wear the shirt during the day and at the evening presentation to show their team wide commitment to this program. Since the Canton students spend the entire day with us, we will also provide dinner for the Esteem team. The cost for the program and t-shirt is $10 per child. Please send in cash or make a check payable to TIS SAA by Friday, January 24th. We look forward to having you and your child experience this memorable day. Sincerely, The Fifth Grade Teachers

I read the Esteem letter and have included the $10.00 payment.

______________________________ _______________________________ Student Name Parent Signature

TONIGHT

TOLLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION 2014-15 BUDGET WORKSHOP #3

Please join us! Your input is welcome and encouraged!

The Board of Education budget workshops continue Wednesday, January 29th at 7:30pm in the Tolland High School Library. At our January 22nd workshop, we evaluated our budget in more detail, reviewed what was discussed at our previous workshop, and then broke out into small groups, but this time to discuss potential cost savings ideas. At our next workshop, we will continue toward developing a three-year plan to meet our districts needs. All ideas and suggestions are always welcome during this process. NOTE: For a review of our first and second workshops, see this link (www.tolland.k12.ct.us) and click on “Budget Workshop #1 or #2 slide presentation and notes”. We are looking for the community to partner with us in this critically important work and process. Upcoming budget workshops to be held at the THS Library are scheduled for: January 29th at 7:00pm February 5th at 7:00pm If you have any questions regarding these workshops, please contact the Superintendent’s office at 860-870-6850 or the Board via email at: boardofeducation@tolland.k12.ct.us We look forward to your continued input!

BOARD OF EDUCATION Budget Workshop #3

Wednesday, January 29

th, 7:00pm

Tolland High School Library

NOTE: CHILD CARE WILL BE AVAILABLE

Please report to the Main Office to sign in your child.

High school-age students will be donating their time to care

for the children that attend. The children will be supervised

in the Child Development Room where toys and activities

will be available for use.

Children must be picked up by 10:00pm

Contact: Karen Moran at: kmoran@tolland.k12.ct.us or

860-559-3066 with questions.

All parents and interested community members are invited to an Internet Safety presentation on Thursday, January 30, at 7:00 p.m. in the Tolland

Middle School auditorium.

The program is run by Scott Driscoll, of Internet Safety Concepts, whose mission is “to help

families learn about being safe while using the Internet and other technology. The Internet can be

a fun and educational place, but if not used properly or with safety in mind, it can lead to some

very serious and dangerous situations."

Middle school age students on-line are “brave” and think nothing of sharing all their personal

information on-line with complete strangers. Instant messaging is “cool” if you have lots of

“buddies”. Social networking sites are a rite of passage for this age. The more “cool” stuff on

their sites and more information about themselves, the better the site looks. Is this safe? What

does this tell the world about our children? The following topics are covered during this

presentation:

Chat Rooms

Social Networking

Cyber Bullying

Dangers That Strangers Do On-Line

Texting Concerns

Sexting

Please contact the school at 860-870-6860 if you have any questions.

Tolland Intermediate School

Yearbook Sale

January 21st – January 31

st

Tolland Intermediate School’s yearbook staff is excited to begin

selling the 2013-2014 TIS Yearbook! It will be a 64 page color book

bursting with photos, student portraits, activities, highlights, and of

course, space for special autographs. Yearbooks will be delivered at

the end of the school year.

The cost is $18.00 per book. Checks must be made payable to TIS

SAA.

There are 2 options for purchasing the book.

1. Fill out the Yearbook Order form sent home with your child

and turn it in to your child’s teacher with payment.

Please note: Checks MUST be made payable to TIS SAA.

2. Order online.

a. Visit YBPay.lifetouch.com and enter Yearbook ID Code:

3137814

b. Enter your child’s name and grade.

c. Pick the quantity desired; then complete payment.

Any questions can be directed to Kristen Grabowski, TIS Yearbook

Club Adviser, at kgrabowski@tolland.k12.ct.us.

Spring 2014 RECREATION Soccer Registration has started

Please register online.

Early Registration ends 3/31/14. Late fees will apply after this date.

Any player eligible to play U5 – U14 is invited to participate.

If you have any questions, please direct them to Laura Krementowsk, TSC Registrar at ljkrementowski@yahoo.com

Please visit our website www.tollandsoccer.com

TEPTO Meeting Agenda

February, 3rd 2014

Birch Grove: 7:00pm Approximate Attendance: __________

1. Co-Presidents Welcome: Colleen Yudichak and Sarah Poulin

2 Principal Reports:

a. Birch Grove – Tom Swanson

b. T.I.S. – Jim Dineen

3. Teacher Reports:

a. Birch Grove – Christine Beaulieu

b. T.I.S. –

4. Minutes & Correspondence – Samantha Walbridge

a. Accept minutes from December 2013 meeting

Motion – accept as stated

2nd All in favor________ All opposed________ Any Abstentions______

5. Treasurer’s Report – Kelly Euliano

Financial Activity through:

a. 13/14 Budget remaining (starting $57,000):__________

b. Fund raised for 2014/2015: __________ Motion – accept as stated

2nd All in favor________ All opposed_______ Any Abstentions_______

*Note: 2013-14 Budget is posted on Website

6. Past Events:

a. Book Fairs Chairperson: Tricia Byam, Kim Schawtz, Jessica Burney

and Karen Moran

b. Lil Shopper’s Chairperson: Amanda Hufford

7. Upcoming Fundraisers & Events:

a. Staff Appreciation Feb. 14th T.I.S. Jessica Burney / B.G. Tricia Byam

b. Spring Fundraiser Bulbs & Chocolates Chairperson: Cherita Gay and Colleen Yudichak

c. Box Top Contest Chairperson: Lori Ferguson

d. Book Fairs TIS Chairperson: Jessica Burney/Karen Moran &

Stephanie Leensvart

B.G. Chairperson: Tricia Byam / Kim Schwartz

8. Volunteer Opportunities:

a. Book Fairs Birch Grove and TIS

b. Spring Fundraiser Deliver/Pick up Day at B.G. on

9. SAVE THE DATE: Saturday June 7th 10-2

10. Website change TEPTO website will be available as a link on B.G. and TIS at the end of Feb.

11. Questions:

12. Adjourn meeting:

Reminders:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2013-2015 TEPTO Executive Board

Co-President: Sarah Poulin Co-President: Colleen Yudichak V.P. Birch Grove: Tricia Byam V.P. T.I.S.: Jessica Burney Secretary: Samantha Walbridge Treasurer: Kelly Euliano Ways and Means: Amanda Hufford Membership: Jennifer Gallichant Communications/Publicity: Kristy Jenson

Take Your Child to the Library

Day Saturday, February 1st, 2014

At Tolland Public Library

A day of parent and child fun at the Library

Starting at 10:30 – 11:30AM

with a Multilingual Storytime Students from Tolland High School World Language

Club present a preschool storytime in several languages

(and English too!) Find out how Curious George and

Other classics sound in other languages! For ages 3 and up

1:30 – 2:30 PM Meet our R.E.A.D. Dog Molly Meet and Greet with our registered R.E.A.D therapy

dog, who helps young readers gain confidence!

Gr. 1 and up

Letterboxing Puzzle: All Day Long Do you letterbox? A puzzle for children and parents will be in

the children’s Department to solve. TOLLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY, 21 TOLLAND GREEN, TOLLAND CT 06084 860-871-3620

Free Girls Lacrosse Clinics

Grades 2-6

(No experience necessary) When: February 10

th and 24

th from 6:30-

7:30pm

Where: Hick’s Gym in the Tolland Town

Offices Building

Please contact:

Gail Otis (gailotis0103@gmail.com) or

Kate Tellers (ktellers@yahoo.com) to register.

________ _ ___ ___________

Tolland Little League

Registration is now open for Spring 2014

Baseball, Softball, T-Ball

Season runs from April until mid-June.

Please register now at

www.tollandlittleleague.org

Help support your schools by clipping Box Tops!

*Please tape Box Tops for Education to the tickets on the back of this

paper. Check the expiration dates, since expired Box Tops don’t count!

*For every sheet of 25 filled, your child’s name will be entered into a

drawing for a prize. If you send in 3 sheets, your child will have 3

chances!

*If you have more than 25 Box Tops, your child’s teacher will have

extra sheets.

*Bags of Box Tops will also be accepted for submission, though not

counted in the contest.

*If you have only a few, please send them in, since every one counts!

There will be two winners for this contest: one from Birch

Grove, and one from TIS. The prizes are movie theatre gift

cards!!

Contest ends February 12, 2014

Please tape Box Tops to the “tickets” below. See the back of this paper for instructions.

Name:

Grade:

Teacher:

THE END

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