Eglin Elementary ChronicleMr. Dennis M. Samac, Principal

Visit our website: www.okaloosa.k12.fl.us/eglinQuestions? Call 833-4320

EGLIN ELEMENTARY VISION STATEMENT:Eglin Elementary School will be a community of learners where everyone is responsible and committed to preparing our students for tomorrow’s challenges.

Greetings from the new guy, It has been an exciting start to the school year getting to know the staff, students and parents of the Eglin community. These past five weeks I have had the pleasure of settling in and meeting the outstanding students of Eglin Elementary. I can honestly say that I have truly enjoyed it. I hope the first thing you feel when you visit our school is the welcoming atmosphere that encourages everyone to do their best. My favorite part of the day so far has been my daily visits to the lunchroom to mingle with your children. I have become much more adept at opening juice packages, milk cartoons, candy packages and answering questions like “Are you the principal?”, “Are you taller than my dad?”, and “Do you know how many puppies I have?” They are so vibrant and it is very enjoyable and refreshing for me.Many changes have taken place with eleven new teachers along with a new principal and school counselor. Recently, we have welcomed a new ESE teacher, Mrs. Toussaint who has joined us and is a military spouse. Mrs. Toussaint brings ten years of ESE experience with her and has previously taught in the Philadelphia, PA school system. We are excited that our students and teachers will benefit from her expertise. Other new staff positions include Mrs. Ferri, our Military Family Life Counselor representative and Mrs. Fry, our ISS Monitor. Both of these ladies have proven to be very beneficial to our staff and students with their human relation skills while working with the students and parents. We started the school year with 496 students, and are now hovering around the 490 mark. This year we have eight Kindergarten classes, six 1st grade and seven 2nd grade classes. We have room for more students in our five 3rd grade and three 4th grade classes. Our first grade is completely full, and there is very little room left in Kindergarten and 2nd grade. Friday October 18th is our FTE date for class size compliance. Eglin Elementary prides itself on being class size compliant in every classroom. Please help us publicize this, and the many other benefits of attending Eglin Elementary School to those new families that move into your neighborhood. Instructional changes for the year include a new reading series for all grade levels and the continued assimilation of the Common Core Standard’s shifts and best practices into daily lessons. Mrs. Gilmer, Ms. Seegars and our Instructional Coach Mrs. Spicer have scheduled the Professional Development for our Early Release meetings to provide additional staff support for all the changes noted.A new grading system has been initiated by the Okaloosa County School District. The grading system for Grades 1-4 and is based on three categories of tasks, each with a different weighting of the final grade.

Category 1 (Short Term= 15% of the grade) and will include class work and weekly testing. Category 2 (Ongoing Assessment= 55% of the grade) and includes work assessed after roughly 2-3 weeks of instruction. Category 3 (Long Term Assessment= 30% of the grade) and is an assessment to determine mastery of skills covering a longer period of time. This would include unit tests, cold reads and end of quarter exams. Plan of Care (POC) tutoring will begin on October 9th and will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays until FCAT testing begins. The Jr. Minority Council under the leadership of Ms. Harrington will begin their afternoon tutoring on Thursday afternoon, October 10th. Several grade levels are scheduling grade level tutoring for students who need some additional help. More information will be sent home from the individual grade levels. We thank those teachers for going the extra mile in working with our students.Our School Advisory Committee (SAC) met for its initial meeting and Mr. Justin Cassidy and Mrs. Jennifer Thompson have been selected as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of SAC. We appreciate them volunteering their time and efforts to lead our advisory group. Mrs. Courtney Cruson has accepted the leadership of our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and would welcome your assistance in supporting the school and staff this year. Meetings for both the SAC Committee and PTO are open to all parents.Thanks for your continued support of our school and staff. Together, we will have an outstanding year.

Respectfully,

Dennis M. Samac, Principal

Character Trait Word for SeptemberCooperation

Self-Respect & Respect for Others: Our key to Success!

Remember the 3 B’sBe SafeBe ResponsibleBe Respectful

Lunch MenuLunch menus are online @www.okaloosa.k12.fl.us/foodservices/index.htm

To create a payment account, please go to schoolpaymentsolutions.com.

Reminder: If you have not already done so, you may go to

applyforlunch.com to fill out free/reduced lunch applications.If you have any questions about your child’s account, please contact Ms. Judy Terry @ 833-4322.

Parents:For the safety of our students and to help increase traffic flow, please observe the following when picking up or dropping off children on the car ramp:1. Pull all the way to the end of the ramp before dropping off or picking up students.2. Children should exit from the right side of the vehicle only.3. Please do not block the car ramp crosswalk.4. Please use the car ramp cross walk when walking.5. Please put the card with your child’s name on it in the right side window of your car.

School Office Hours:7:15 am -3:15 pm

Eglin ElementaryHome of the Eagles

Set your AR Goal!Sept. 2013

Important Dates/ Holidays

Oct. 9, 2013 PTO Meeting in the cafeteria @ 1:30 pmOct. 18, 2013 End of 1st grading periodOct. 21, 2013 Teacher Work DayOct. 22, 2013 Volunteer Orientation in the Media Center @ 1:45 pmOct. 22, 2013 1st Grade field trip to the Pumpkin Patch @ 10:15am-1:30 pm-Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Wright, and Mrs. Pelham-RogersOct. 23, 2013 1st Grade field trip to the Pumpkin Patch-Ms. Seegars, Mrs. Crawford, and Mrs. BillOct. 24, 2013 Kindergarten field trip to the Pumpkin Patch @ 10:15 am-1:30 pm - Mrs. Negley, Mrs. Pinckard, Ms. Fuller, and Mrs. JonesOct. 28-29, 2013 Pumpkin Fun Run during your child’s P.E. timeOct. 30, 2013 Kindergarten field trip to the Pumpkin Patch @10:15 am-1:30 pm –Mrs. Buck, Ms. Clemmons, Mrs. Kotulan, and Mrs. MolonyOct. 31, 2013 Storybook Character paradeNov. 5, 2013 Fall Picture make-up dayNov. 8, 2013 Veterans Day Ceremony in cafeteria @ 9:00amNov. 11, 2013 Veterans Day holidayNov. 13, 2013 PTO meeting in the cafeteria @ 1:30 pmNov. 18, 2013 Volunteer Orientation in the Media Center @ 1:45 pmNov. 20-21, 2013 Turkey Trot during your student’s P.E. timeNov. 25-Nov. 29, 2013 Thanksgiving holidays

Calendar DatesEarly Release Time 12:30 pm

Early Release Dates2013-2014

Sept. 5, 2013Oct. 3, 2013Nov. 7, 2013Dec. 5, 2013Jan. 9, 2014Feb. 6, 2014Mar. 6, 2014Apr. 3, 2014May 1, 2014

Welcome Back!!!We’ve missed you, and welcome to our new principal, teachers,

students, and families!!!

First day of school

Pictured here: Trinity Earle and her dad are all smiles the first day of school.

Pictured here: Brand new kindergarteners

in Ms. Clemmons class.

Pictured here: Students arriving by bus on the first day of school.

Pictured here: The crosswalk was full as parents and students come to school on the first day.

Notes from the Nurse

Welcome to a new and exciting school year.  Parents, I urge you to read the

parent/student handbook regarding student illness and medication procedures.  NO student can carry medication to or from school without a doctor’s order provided to the nurse.  We suggest that all children that are ill need to be fever, vomiting, and diarrhea free for 24 hours before returning to school.  It is allergy season, so if your student takes allergy medication, please make sure it is given to provide your student with the best possible chance for a productive learning day.  Always feel free to call the clinic with any questions @ 833-4323.  Keeping kids healthy,Erika TurovskySchool HTEglin E.S.

Ice Cream!!!The cafeteria will be selling ice cream ala carte on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The price is 75 cents. Students will need to bring additional money. If you do not wish your child to be able to purchase ice cream from his/her lunch account, please contact Ms. Judy Terry @ 833-4322, or send a letter saying that they may not use their lunch account for ice cream.

Scholastic Book Fair:Our first Book Fair of the year will be held Oct. 10th-18th from 8:30 am -4:00 pm daily. You can also order books from the On-line fair Oct.5-Oct.25, 2013 @

http://www.bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/eglinelementaryschool/.

******************************************Volunteers are needed to help with the Book Fair Oct. 10-Oct 18. If you would like to help, please call Mrs. Davis @833-4318 or e-mail her at Davist2@mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us

CelebrateHispanic Heritage Month!

Sept. 15-Oct. 15

Music classes include experiences with singing, playing instruments, moving, listening and creating. The musical concepts that are studied include rhythm, melody, harmony, form, expressive qualities and

style. Children will experience traditional American folk songs in addition to a variety of world music, and pieces in many styles. Lessons will lead toward note reading and music literacy.

Music lessons are fast-paced and fun, and students will need to wear comfortable clothing in order to participate fully. Primary students do a lot of moving in order to internalize the steady beat and the intermediate students will need to sit on the floor to perform on the mallet percussion instruments.September: Song of the Month: Star Spangled Banner

Unit: RhythmStyle: Baroque

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

Ask your student what they are doing in Music Class!

Mrs. DayMusic Specialist

   P.E.  Notes Tennis shoes are required each day for P.E.. Please remind your child to wear the proper attire to P.E. as a lot of children have been complaining about their feet hurting while doing the activities. Flip flops are not safe for any P.E. activities! Parents are always welcomed and encouraged to come out and participate during your child’s designated P.E. time! Running Club for all grades will be at the BIG TRACK.

Coaches will be selling Freeze Pops for 50 cents each on Fridays. Proceeds will go to purchase fitness equipment for the gym.

Coming soon!Pumpkin Fun RunOct. 28th and 29th

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Pictured here: Ms. Seegars and her band of pirates pose next to the ship mast in their classroom.

Ms. Seegars class had a blast on Sept. 19 during Talk Like a Pirate Day. They came to school dressed as pirates and spoke like pirates all day. Their pirate lessons went across the curriculum as you can see from the activities below:

Writer’s Workshop: Students wrote about what kind of treasure they would like to find.Reading: They read the stories How I Became a Pirate and Pirates Don’t Change Diapers. The students completed graphic organizers (beginning, middle, end, setting, plot, and characters.)Math: The students completed pirate addition and subtraction problems.Science/Social Studies: The class researched why pirates actually wore eye patches (to be able to help their eyes adjust quickly above and below deck) and famous pirates. They ate pirate snacks-Cannon Balls (meatballs), Fresh Catch of the Day(pirate themed gold fish), Pirates Sailing the Seven Seas Cupcakes, and Pirate Peg Legs (corn dogs.)Most importantly, the students had fun as they learned pirate vocabulary and talked and dressed like pirates all day!

Paper Airplane Lesson!

Mr. Wilson’s third grade class is learning how scientists conduct investigations. The question they wanted to answer was “which type of paper airplane will fly the farthest?” They used designs from http://www.10paperairplanes.com/ , and the students chose whether to create their own design or use one from the website. They then formed a hypothesis of which type would fly the farthest. Each table group had a “recorder” whose job was to make sure that the pilot’s name and the type and distance of his/her plane were written down. There was one scientist whose job was to measure the distance traveled using a rolling meter tool. As the students went outside, there were F-35-s, F-16’s, F-15’s, and even an F-18 roaring overhead. The students set their launch point with the wind at their backs and proceeded to test their designs. Most of the student’s planes traveled between 3-6 meters, but one traveled an impressive 10 meters! The students then made a bar graph of all the data to further extend into math and to show their conclusions. Mr. Wilson’s class really enjoyed this activity and learning more about the scientific process.

New Playground Equipment!!! Thanks to Coach June Robbins and Principal, Mr. Dennis Samac, Eglin Elementary is now the proud owner of new

playground equipment generously donated by the 96 Service Squadron. The equipment had formerly been utilized by the base CDC. When they moved to their new facility, they no longer had need of it. Coach Robbins met with base officials and was able to secure the equipment for Eglin Elementary where it will be put to good use by lots and lots of military dependents. Some of the equipment is located adjacent to the blacktop, and the remainder is out at the track. Students love the new equipment!!!

Math Question of the Week:

Several Eglin students are shown here hard at work creating a math problem to go along with the math answer that they were given on Monday during morning announcements. At the end of each week, there is a drawing, and one student is chosen from each grade level who submitted a correct question for the math answer of the week. Winners of the drawing receive a “3 B” ticket that goes into a drawing for a prize. This week the answers are 18 for K-2nd graders and 121 for 3rd and 4th graders.

Storybook Character ParadeOn Oct. 31, Eglin Elementary is hosting a school-wide Storybook Character Parade @ 9:00-9:30 am. Please encourage your students to dress up as their favorite storybook characters, and they can bring a book to accompany their costume. Each class will walk in the parade, and parents are welcome to attend. Students may choose any character from a book that they enjoy following the guidelines in the letter that went home. To support students’ feelings of safety and security, violent or frightening costumes are unacceptable. No weapons or dangerous-looking items are permitted.

Happy Fall!

Out of Field Teachers:

In compliance with Section 101.42 Florida Statues, the following teachers, Mrs. Ellen Gilmer, Mrs. Joy Jones, Mrs. June Whiting-Cobb, Mrs. Patricia Chavers, Mrs. Susan Crawford, Mrs. Marilyn Jones-Urena, Mrs. Carol Kotulan, Mrs. Courtney Molony, and Mrs. Sherry Pelham-Rogers are out of field because they do not have an ESOL endorsement, and they have an ESOL child in their classroom. They all hold a valid teaching certificate issued by the State of Florida and are working on courses to satisfy the requirements for an ESOL endorsement.

Renaissance Home Connect:

First through fourth grade students are utilizing a software program called Renaissance Place at school. The program has a special feature called Renaissance Place Home Connect that is fun and easy to use. It allows you, the teacher, and your student to share information on the student’s progress in Accelerated Reader, Accelerated Math, and Math Facts in a Flash. You can log in to Renaissance Home Connect from any computer with an internet connection and compatible browser. You will need to know your student’s user name and password. To log in to Renaissance Home Connect, please use the following website:https://Hosted121.renlearn.com/61489/HomeConnect.If you would like to receive e-mails showing your student’s quiz or test results, click the Email Setup link in Renaissance Home Connect and follow the directions. To be sure these emails reach your inbox, add homeconnectautodelivery@renlearnrp.com to your address book. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.