november 2015 from the principal€¦ · welcome to a new school year! just a few reminders and...

50 Whitehouse Avenue, PO Box 157, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889 Phone: (908)534-4411 Fax: (908)534-9157

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November 2015

From the Principal

Dear WHS Families:

It is hard to believe that in a few short weeks, the holiday

season will be in full swing! This is always the time of year when I pause to

reflect on how fortunate we are at WHS to have the level of parental and

community support that we do. As a bucket filling school, we stop each week

to write bucket tickets. It is a good time for us to express our appreciation

and love for others. On behalf of Whitehouse School, here is our bucket

ticket to you:

Over the past few months, a lot of great things have been happening here.

Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to give some special thanks.

The Whitehouse Fire Company volunteers joined us again to speak to the

children about fire safety. We always love their grand finale as one of

them climbs up to the school’s rooftop using the fire truck’s ladder. We

truly appreciate this group: Mr. Pat Paul, Mr. BJ Apgar, Mr. Tim Apgar,

Mr. Phil Colasurdo, Mr. Scott Barton, and Mr. Adolfo Kohara.

Officer Bob Marelli addressed students during Violence Prevention Week.

He discussed how to resolve conflict, as well as how to ask for help.

The Readington Township Police thought about us once again by providing

each student with a glow stick to use while trick-or-treating!

Another special thank you goes out to Nurse Stephanie Armstrong and

Bus Driver Don Schuyler for all the hours they spent weeding our outdoor

classroom around the map.

The H.S.A. parents also continue to offer their unwavering support. We

are so fortunate to have dedicated Vice Presidents, Mrs. Shikha Shah and

Mrs. Barbara Hess. In addition, we have had several recent events and

sincerely thank the numerous volunteers who have helped on those

committees.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We want to fill your bucket.

Thank you for sending us your children and

making sure that they are always ready to

learn. You make our job a pleasure !

Warmly,

The Whitehouse School Staff


We are grateful…

Welcome Back! Thank you to Mrs. Stacy Rossi and Mrs. Kelly Gulick for

facilitating a Welcome Back Dance Party for all grade levels at recess. The

children loved this surprise!

Block Party Mrs. Nancy Cirigliano and Mrs. Heather Siegel did a fantastic job

co-chairing our Fall Block Party. A good time was had by all!

Fall Book Fair We truly appreciate the efforts of Mrs. Diana Cirianni for

organizing and running the Book Fair. It was outstanding! Mr. Tumolo was the

featured reader during the evening storytimes. Did you also happen to see

those amazing monsters that Mrs. Suzanne DeVries created for the Spare

Change Challenge? (Congratulations to Mrs. Painter’s Class for winning the

Teacher/Principal Swap contest!)

Halloween Spooktacular! The chairpeople worked so hard to make this

evening a smashing success! Many thanks go out to Mrs. Lisa McDonald,

Mrs. Rebecca Tenore, and Mrs. Lisa Hills. Also, Mr. Tumolo and his

phenomenal cast put on an outstanding performance for our students!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Ann T. DeRosa


V OLU ME 1, ISS UE 1

Nurse’s News

Welcome to a new school year! Just a few reminders and healthful hints from the school nurse.

Dear Parents,

Please be alert to the potential for lice in the community!! This is a cosmetic issue, not

a medical condition. If you suspect your child has lice, information on the Health Office

webpage may be helpful to you. Head lice or pediculosis affects between 8 and 12 million

American school children each year. The most common symptom of infestation is intense

itching on the back of the head or neck. Head lice cannot survive without a human or

animal host like a family pet. Head lice are passed from person to person by direct

contact or on shared objects, such as hats, combs, towels, hair accessories, etc.

Encourage your child to keep these things to him or herself.

Notify the school nurse

If your child has lice, please notify the school nurse. Information will be kept

confidential.

Friends, relatives, and other close contacts should also be notified so they can take

proper action. This includes childcare facilities and extracurricular activities.

Annual student screenings have begun. The nurses will contact you if

your child’s screening indicates the need for a referral.

Stay well,

Maureen Sjonell & Stephanie Armstrong

WHS Nurses


Helpful Hints How do I know if my child has head lice?

Check every member of the family. Every member with lice or nits must be treated.

Be alert to complaints about itchy scalp or scratching behind the ears.

Examine your child’s head to catch an infestation as early as possible.

Use a bright light and begin by looking behind the ears for little bites and nits.

Work in small areas (about 1 inch), parting the hair with a comb, to look for eggs attached to the hair near

the scalp. The eggs or nits are firmly attached to the hair shaft. Look for tiny white or tan teardrop shaped

eggs (nits). Unlike dry scalp or dandruff, they actually have to be scraped off the shaft of hair.

Head lice are small, wingless, grayish-tan insects. They travel quickly so you are less likely to find the lice

themselves.

If you find head lice follow the steps below to easily take care of the problem.

1. Kill the lice: Several non-prescription treatments are available at local pharmacies. Follow the instructions

on the package. Retreatment of all initially infested persons in 8 to 10 days is recommended to insure com-

plete elimination. If live lice persist after treatment, please consult your physician. Do not use the product

more often than recommended. Over-the-counter products are recommended first and are 44% effective.

Prescription shampoos are 84% effective and may be obtained from your physician.

2. Remove all eggs: This is the most important step in ending lice infestation. Eggs survive lice-killing

treatments, and they will hatch and cause a reinfestation unless they are all removed. Work in small areas,

sectioning small areas of hair. Combs are provided with most lice treatment products but manual removal may

be necessary. Please check your child daily for the next two weeks to insure complete elimination.

3. Clean the environment: Wash clothes, bed linens, and towels. Use hot, soapy water, and then dry on the hot

cycle for at least 20 minutes. Combs and brushes may be soaked in hot water for at least 10 minutes or

soaked in rubbing alcohol for 1 hour. Stuffed animals and other unwashable items should be tightly sealed in

plastic bags for at least 2 weeks or dry cleaned.

4. Vacuum everywhere: To make sure the rest of your home is louse-free; you should vacuum carpets, pillows,

mattresses, upholstered furniture and your car. Please remember to change the bag after each session.

Non traditional approaches

There are several issues associated with recurrent head lice.

Head lice resistance to over the counter products – documented in much of the literature.

Failure to remove nits and lice – this takes a lot of time and perseverance and must be performed daily for

at least 2 -3 weeks.

A fine toothed nit comb or brush to physically remove the lice and nits during treatment.

Unrealistic expectations – successful treatment requires additional shampooing or non traditional treatment

to catch the lice during the appropriate lice cycle.

Over the counter shampoos with rosemary and other tree oils are also believed to repel lice.

Please continue to check you children’s heads. It is helpful if the girls wore their hair up.


Speech Sound Acquisition Let’s remember to reinforce the importance of communication throughout the year. Speech and language skills are

essential for overall communication. The ability to communicate is critical for social and academic success in the

educational setting.

What is Speech and Language?

Speech is the actual physical aspects of communicating a message. There are three aspects of speech.

Articulation: The production of single sounds in all positions of words.

Fluency: This refers to how smoothly sounds, phrases and sentences flow when speaking.

Voice: The quality of sound production involving the volume and pitch appropriate for a child’s age and

gender.

Language refers to an organized set of symbols or a code used to communicate. There are three components

involved in language, which determine ‘what we say’, ‘how we say it’ and ‘why we say it.’

Content (what we say): This refers to the meaning that the child expresses or understands.

Form (how we say it): The understanding and use of grammatical structures including plural and verb forms.

Use (why we say it): The reason or purpose for communicating. This is how a child understands and uses

verbal and non-verbal language in a variety of situations. This includes the social use of language

including initiating conversation, turn-taking during conversation, using greetings and salutations, asking

and answering questions appropriately and understanding and expressing feelings and emotions.

Who addresses speech/language concerns in our schools?

Certified speech/language specialists along with teachers, learning consultants, social workers and psychologists

identify individuals with speech and/or language difficulties within our schools. The speech/language specialist also

provides intervention to students eligible for services and acts as a consultant to teachers, parents and

paraprofessionals. If you have any questions please contact Marie Potenta.

W HI TE HOUSE NEWS

Guidance Newsletter October was a very busy month at Whitehouse School. Students and staff celebrated The Week of Respect

from October 5-9th. The topics of respect and good choices were discussed. Students described ways to show

respect and completed friendship pledge cards. We also showed respect for our community volunteers at our fire

safety assembly on October 9th.

The week of October 19-23rd, was designated as School Violence Awareness Week. Readington Township Police

visited our school to discuss the topics of bullying, diversity, tolerance, and school/bus safety. The students and

staff wore purple on Tuesday, October 20th as a reminder that we use different ways to solve our problems then

to hurt each other with our words or hands. Thursday, October 22nd was “Turn-Your-Back on-Bullies-Day”.

Students and staff were asked to wear their shirts backwards on that special day.

Whitehouse School also celebrated Red Ribbon Week from October 26th-October 30th. This is a special week

set aside for schools to celebrate a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Over 100,000 schools and communities nation-

wide joined in the event, making it the most successful drug prevention activity in America. On

Thursday, October 29th, all students and staff members dressed in red. They also wore their

red ribbons for the entire week!

Whitehouse students and staff members are very proud of the fact that we are proactive and

participate in all of these worthwhile awareness programs each year!

Speech AND Language


The kindergarten children will continue their phonemic awareness study of letters and sounds

this month. They will be working on the letters Cc, Nn, Dd, Gg, and Ff. The boys and girls

will be actively involved in many shared reading experiences, handwriting, word study, and

retelling activities where these sounds will be emphasized. They will also be introduced to

two vowels, Aa, and Ii. Blending sounds, as well as making and reading short vowel words are

some of the ways the children will utilize these vowels. Don't forget those sight words, too!

With our unit on Senses in science, we will continue to build our understanding of just how

important our senses are to us. We will be involved in many activities that will help us to

appreciate the use of our senses. The children will be listening for sounds, playing games

where our eyes play tricks on us, looking at partial pictures and trying to figure out what an

item is and much more! When you walk into a kindergarten classroom, you will find some very

busy little scientists!

In math, we will continue to work on those tricky teen numbers with many counting and

number writing activities. The children will be discovering and creating patterns using a

pattern block template. We will also be making Native American pattern necklaces.

Be on the lookout for pumpkins, Indian corn, Native American pictographs, and turkeys as you

walk through the halls in our school. We will be very busy in kindergarten this month!

W HI TE HOUSE NEWS

Kindergarten



The first graders have settled into our busy first grade schedule. We have made new

friends, renewed old friendships, and come together as new class communities. One way

that we have come together as a class is by having a morning meeting each day. It is in our

morning meeting that we get to know each as we do various greetings and activities. We also

use this time to problem solve ways in which we can be bucket fillers and show each other

that we respect one another.

Each day begins with Writer’s Workshop where you’ll find us writing about Small Moments

that have occurred in our lives. We’re having fun learning how some of our favorite authors

use words to tell stories and we are trying out some of their writing techniques ourselves.

In Reader’s Workshop, we have learned about choosing “Just Right” books from our personal

reading bins. The students love when they have the chance to share reading books with

their classmates. During our Daily 5 literacy block, you will find us working on many

different activities: Read To Self, Read To Someone, Listening To Reading, Word Work,

and Writing. In math, we have been working on number partners and identifying number

patterns through ten, solving addition story problems, and working toward fluency for

addition within ten.

Our Social Studies unit focused on communities, citizenship, laws, and rules. We finished up

this unit by creating our own community maps showing all of the places where people live,

work, and play together.

We started our first science unit, Balls and Ramps. In this unit, we will be discovering things

about motion and force using balls and ramps as the tools for our scientific investigations.

In addition, we will be wrapping up our Balls and Ramps unit with a field trip to Oakwood

Lanes bowling alley!

First Grade


Autumn greetings from Second Grade!

We have been very busy building our reading stamina and learning strategies to help build

our accuracy, fluency and comprehension skills. Students are reading independently each day

and are learning how to work with others in partnerships and small reading groups. As you

read with your children at home, stop and ask him or her questions about the characters or

plot or even challenge him or her to make a prediction about what might happen next!

Remind your child to “chunk out” tricky words and to read smoothly with expression. These

are skills we will continue building throughout the year.

Our small moment authors have been writing amazing stories! Small moments are true

stories that tell about a time when the author experienced something that created a strong

feeling or emotion. Students are learning how to “zoom in” on a particular experience and

stretch it out with attention-grabbing beginnings, descriptive details, dialogue, strong action

words, and satisfying endings. Authors are learning how to plan, write, revise and edit

stories and are working with partners to improve those stories. They are having a great

time! Our next unit will focus on opinion/persuasive writing and we will be writing persuasive

pieces, book reviews and restaurant reviews. Perfect time to read some new books and go

out to your favorite eatery!

In math, we are continuing to create and solve word problems. Students are learning about

different types of word problems and the various strategies to use when solving them. We

continue to practice our math fact fluency (keep visiting Reflexmath.com), which greatly

helps them solve problems of all types faster and more easily. Unit Two will focus on place

value; comparing numbers using greater-than, less-than, and equal-to signs; and two-digit

addition.

Our social studies unit focuses on citizenship, different types of communities, leaders and

government. We have been discussing the importance and purpose of government and

leadership within communities and the rights and responsibilities of citizens within those

communities. In science, we have begun working with the Master Gardeners and are learning

about the role and importance of soil in plant growth. We have learned about composting and

how it can enrich soil and help grow stronger plants.

We are looking forward to many more exciting lessons and activities with your children this

year!

Second Grade Teachers

W HI TE HOUSE NEWS

Second Grade



The weather is getting colder, but things are really heating up in third grade! Our morning is

packed full of exploration and discovery. Citizenship has been the third grade focus during

social studies. We have learned about rights, responsibilities and ways to be a good

citizen. After celebrating Constitution Day on September 17, each class created their own

“Class Constitution” which established the framework of rules by which a positive learning

environment is maintained within the classroom. Throughout the year, our third graders will

continue to work for the common good of our Whitehouse School community. Third graders

will be periodically visiting a kindergarten classroom to work on special projects or “buddy

read”. All students are learning from this leadership experience.

If you have noticed your child having a sudden interest in collecting rocks, we are to

blame! Third grade scientists are now investigating earth materials as we study rocks and

minerals in class. Through hands-on experiences, the study of geology has come to life in the

third grade classrooms and STEM Lab at Whitehouse School. In addition, all third grade

classes will travel to the Lost River Cavern later in November. Our students will pan for

gems, tour an authentic cave, and enrich their understanding of the rock cycle. Third grade

science “rocks”!

Moving on to math workshop, students are using problem solving strategies such as proof

drawings, equations, and explanations to “express their thinking” and validate their answers

with extended responses. Building multiplication and division fact fluency is currently at the

forefront of our lessons. Student will continue to practice with the goal of mastering the

0-10 facts by the middle of March. Many resources are in place within the classroom to help

our students achieve this goal. At home, students are encouraged to regularly log onto their

student accounts in Reflex Math and iXL.

Each day following lunch and recess, students are actively engaging in literacy. The beginning

of our year focuses on building routines and stamina in both reading and writing. Students

are independently reading and writing for longer periods of time. During Reading Workshop,

students are learning how to effectively talk with partners and share their thoughts and

ideas within a discussion group. Students are fine tuning reading comprehension skills using

strategies such as Check for Understanding , Back Up and Reread, and Expanding

Vocabulary. In Writer’s Workshop, our students’ pencils are always moving. We are so proud

of our third grade authors! Students are working hard to publish their first personal

narratives. In these stories, students are incorporating higher level writing components such

as dialogue, internal thinking, show-don’t tell, and expanding vocabulary with stronger word

choices.

Third Grade


My name is Dana Pierro and I am so excited to be back teaching art at Whitehouse School

this school year! We started off making a collaborative art wall with all grade levels creating

self-portraits. We will revisit this project later in the year to see how more advanced their

self-portraits will be.

Our youngest artists, the kindergartners, learned how to mix primary colors to make

secondary colors. With this knowledge, they created “blotter paint squares” and had turned

them into “bugs”. We are currently busy creating patterns and learning a little trick to help

us cut circles out of squares, as we shape patterned caterpillars. Ask them to show you the

trick...it’s quite useful!

The first graders kicked-off the year with a colorful project as well. We read Elmer Takes

Off by David McKree and created our own patchwork elephants. We learned how to make

realistic leaves out of oil pastels and also a really cool “wind” background made from

watercolor painting with glitter watercolor paints. Their next venture will be a collage.

After reading Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae, the kids will be drawing Gerald in one

of his famous dance moves and painting a moon lit background using tempera paints. They will

be blending colors and learning another cool technique with “hidden” paint.

The art of Zentangle is flourishing and has recently become immensely popular. It is an

easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured

patterns. Our second graders have learned the basics, but have taken to it quite well in

creating zentangles within a kite shape. Their next challenge will be drawing zebras and

painting them with complementary colors. They will also need to come up with their own

“compliments” as their zebras greet each other in the hallway.

Our third graders have started on a rather large project, which will incorporate many art

standards. If their final paintings are anything like their preliminary drawings, get ready to

frame this one! It will be a pen & ink and watercolor painting of a Rainforest Bird. We are

learning to draw from photographs and I’ve been guiding them in how to “look” at an image

and replicate it realistically.

~Mrs. Pierro

W HI TE HOUSE NEWS

ART



Hello, my name is Mrs. Yukniewicz. I am the computer teacher for this year! I am so excited to

be a part of your child’s education and I wanted to let you know what the students are current-

ly working on in Computer class. Each grade started the year off with projects and activities

designed to refresh and/or establish students’ basic computer skills.

In Kindergarten, students explored using the mouse, touch pad and the new touch screen

computers. Students are mastering the mouse and touch screen by playing interactive games

and activities on the computer. We are also exploring fonts and colors in Google Docs as they

type their weekly sight words.

First graders mastered logging onto their computers with their new usernames and passwords.

They are doing well with this challenge. Students have been learning and improving their mouse

skills in every activity we accomplished. They have been introduced to Google Classroom and

have been accessing each assignment through their Google Classroom Homepage! First graders

are also exploring the different fonts and colors in Google Docs as they practice typing their

weekly sight words.

In second grade, we are also accessing each assignment through Google Classroom. Students

are working on reading and writing skills as they master their computer skills. Students are

working with partners as they create Google Slides presenting the elements of stories. They

are exploring backgrounds, transitions and images while creating their slides. Students are also

working on typing their own narrative stories they have started in their classroom. Students

are practicing important Keyboarding skills as they begin the challenge of typing stories.

Students in third grade brushed up on their computer skills by creating a Wordle about them-

selves. All third graders created an All About Me Google Slide Show. We are also accessing

each assignment through Google Classroom. Students are working on reading and writing skills

as they master their computer skills. Lastly, they have started Type to Learn. Students start

each class with 10 minutes of typing practice. Please encourage your child to practice at home.

You can find instructions on how to download Type to Learn to your personal computer in the

Parent Portal section of the district’s website.

To access Google Classroom from home: https://classroom.google.com

Email- [email protected]

Password— Student Computer Password ending in 11111

Computers


W HI TE HOUSE NEWS

Library



During Music class at Whitehouse School, we expose the students to a wide variety

of musical styles and genres. It’s a bit like encouraging a child to try many different

kinds of vegetables…something initially perceived as being “yucky” just might turn

out to be a big hit! Here are some suggestions for expanding your child’s “musical

palette” at home.

Have family listening time, with each person choosing his or her favorite music. Be

receptive to what each person selects. Internet music streaming services, such

as Pandora or Spotify, are an easy way to try this out.

Encourage your child to share songs he/she learned at school.

Plan a special outing to a ballet, concert, musical or festival. These can be local or

perhaps a larger trip into NYC.

Read a musical story with your child, such as Carnival of the Animals or Peter and the Wolf.

Experiment with your child to see what instruments you can create using

household items. A quick google search (“make your own instrument”) yield lots of

interesting ideas.

Encourage your child to listen to movie soundtracks. Many of these feature the

classical and musical theatre genres. Examples include the music from Star Wars,

Superman, Batman, Cars, Frozen and other animated films.

-Mrs. Laurie Levesque and Mrs. Elissa Bowen

Music


Fall Fitness Fun We are getting back into the “swing of things” here in the Whitehouse

gymnasium. Your children have been very busy moving their bodies and learning that

being “fit is fun”! During the month of September, students learned the proper ways

to throw overhand and underhand. Their skills were put to the test during our game

of “Wall Ball”. The students also started learning single jump rope fundamentals such

as the Basic Bounce, Side Swing, Jumping Jax, One Foot Hop, and the Full Twist.

At the beginning of October, the children started the Fitness Gram Testing. It’s

a comprehensive fitness assessment test for youngsters. Each student is tested in six

different areas to measure flexibility, muscular strength/endurance, and

cardiovascular endurance (sit and reach, curl ups, pull ups, push ups, and modified snake run), the testing is done twice a year, fall and spring. After spring testing,

students have the opportunity to see if they improved on their score.

The students are learning exciting warm-up games like “Rock, Paper, Scissors,

Run” and “Card Tag Relay.” The games involve cooperative learning.

If you would like more information on the Fitness Gram Test, you may visit

www.fitnessgram.net

Physical Education Website:

You may also check out our website for more information about our class, the

Fitness Gram, and other information of interest to you!

Teacher information:

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Karen Kozal Greg Gormly

[email protected] [email protected]

(908) 534-4411 ext. 4135 (908) 534-4411 ext. 4335

Don’t Forget to Have Your Child Wear Sneakers on PE Days!

W HI TE HOUSE NEWS

Physical Education



Dear Parents,

It is very rewarding seeing how much Spanish your children remembered from last year. First graders

surprised me by being able to introduce themselves and state how they are feeling, using a complete sentence.

They could also count up to 10 and sing some Spanish songs (without a review.) Second and third graders

astonished me by writing words and sentences without a review as well. Second grade came up with 67 words

and third grade with 115. I am very proud of all my students.

Kindergartners have shown a great capability for learning Spanish. They are already able to say their name in a

sentence, count up to 10 and sing two Spanish songs: “Chocolate” and “With my Little Finger.” Also, they are

learning the colors and practicing basic commands in Spanish such as sit down (siéntate), stand up (de pie),

stop (para), slow (despacio), and fast (deprisa.) In the coming weeks, we will focus on enlarging numbers and

colors vocabulary.

First graders have learned about their age, the weather, days of the week, and the body parts. They have

been practicing how to write the colors and numbers (up to 10) in Spanish. In addition, first graders have

been working in small teams and doing some other activities. They had an awesome time learning new songs

about the days of the week and weather; playing off and online to reinforce the learned vocabulary and

reading Eric Carle’s book “Oso Pardo, Oso pardo, ¿Qué ves?” (Brown Bear Brown Bear, What do you see?) to

review the colors.

In second grade, the students have been practicing the vocabulary in small groups by reading the questions to

each other and answering them, sorting flashcards with the questions and the answers, and asking them to

each other. They have been focused on learning the months, seasons, date, sharing their birthdays and

clothes. They have written down the new vocabulary, read it and practiced it in mini-conversations with their

peers. Also, second graders have learned about Hispanic Heritage Month and what the Spanish-speaking

countries are.

Third graders have been using the vocabulary from last year (greetings, name, age, how do you do, colors,

numbers, days of the weeks and weather), and practicing it in each class, in addition to the new units. They

have started the year learning more about the date, the alphabet, and school materials. They should feel very

proud to be able to tell and write the date for yesterday, today and tomorrow. They can also recite the

alphabet and spell their name. They love to sing the alphabet song! Moreover, third graders have been gaining

knowledge about Hispanic Heritage month and the Spanish-speaking countries. They have colored the flags

from Spanish-speaking countries and can locate some of these countries on the map.

To increase students’ retention of the lessons learned and to continue to foster their excitement in Spanish,

it is suggested they practice the learned and new vocabulary at home. You can find the theme vocabulary and

websites to practice it on the world language website below:

Linguascope: http://linguascope.com/

Username: whitehouse

Password: whs5678

Saludos,

Señora de los Santos

Spanish Class

Spanish Class

http://linguascope.com/


Hello! My name is Monica Rito and I will be filling in for Mrs. Schmidt as the

Enrichment Teacher! I previously taught Gifted and Talented students in South Carolina.

Last year, I took over an 8th Grade Language Arts class at Readington Middle School for a

teacher on maternity leave. I’m very excited to be at Whitehouse School! I am happy to

announce that Sunshine Math is back this year! The Sunshine Math Program will run from

September to January for the kindergarten and first grade classes. Second and third grade

classes will begin the program in January.

Sunshine Math is a part of our Schoolwide Enrichment Program. It is a ten week

program designed to complement the regular math curriculum. Students receive challenge

worksheets each Friday and work on them at home. The problems require students to think

critically. Parents are encouraged to talk through the problems with students and may offer

strategies, but please don’t give them any answers! Students should return their worksheets

in the following Thursday to their classroom’s “Sunshine Math” folder. I will meet with

students the next day to discuss the problems. The challenge worksheets are also posted

online so students can access multiple levels of challenge.

If you have any questions regarding the Sunshine Math Program, please do not

hesitate to contact me! I can be reached at [email protected] or (908) 534 - 4411

ext 4127.

W HI TE HOUSE NEWS

Sunshine Math

is Back!

mailto:[email protected]


WHAT IS THE INTERVENTION & REFERRAL SERVICES (I&RS) COMMITTEE?

The Intervention and Referral Services Committee (I&RS) is a team of professionals within the school

who come together to problem solve and network. When a teacher has a concern about a student, the

committee convenes and develops an action plan. Concerns that are presented vary, and may involve

academic, behavioral, social, or emotional functioning. They may also be health-related. The core

group of the I&RS team consists of the guidance counselor, referring teacher, intervention teacher,

and the Child Study Team case manager. Other staff members are invited, as needed. The goal of the

committee is to help teachers develop interventions to improve student behavior and/or academic

achievement.

HOW IS A STUDENT REFERRED?

If a teacher has a concern about a student, the teacher may request an I&RS meeting to be held.

I&RS meetings are held on a regular basis.

Staff members fill out a, “Request for Intervention and Referral Services” form, and submit it to

the guidance counselor. Teachers document the frequency, duration, and outcome of each

intervention already tried.

The guidance counselor sets up all I&RS Committee meetings. Parents are informed of the

meeting by the referring teacher.

WHAT ARE SOME STRATEGIES THAT MAY BE RECOMMENDED BY THE I&RS COMMITTEE?

Behavior modification charts/motivators

Study carrels and quiet areas to limit distractions

Preferential seating

Differentiated assignments

Use of checklists

Consultation with school nurse

Observation and feedback provided by the occupational therapist

Observation and feedback provided by the school psychologist or school counselor

Social skills counseling with school counselor

Consultation with Literacy Intervention services

Small group instruction

Visual signal for the student to gain assistance

SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING I&RS:

At the meeting, interventions are developed and written down on the I&RS Plan of Action form. A

copy of this action plan is given to the parents and all involved staff members. Follow-up meetings are

scheduled, as needed.

W HI TE HOUSE NEWS

WHITEHOUSE SCHOOL

INTERVENTION & REFERRAL SERVICES

november 2015 from the principal€¦ · welcome to a new school year! just a few reminders and...

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