WOODSIDE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

The Hawk Eye News

February 2015

**REMINDERS**

Friday, February 13th – No School Monday, February 16th - No School

Friday, February 27th – Early Dismissal

Message from the Principal February 2015

2015

Dear WIS Families,

I hope you are all enjoying the winter weather! Science Fair Please join us for the Science Fair on Thursday, February 19 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the WIS gym. You should have already received information about how your child can participate.

Upcoming Assessments During the upcoming months, students will complete a variety of assessments. Here is a quick summary of which assessments will be completed.

March 5 - National Assessment Of Educational Progress (NAEP) – Some Grade 4 Students The NAEP assessment will be given to about half of our students in Grade 4. Students may be selected to take a mathematics, reading, or science assessment. First administered in 1969, NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subject areas. It is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. NAEP is different from state assessments because it provides a common measure of student achievement across the country. The results of NAEP are released as The Nation's Report Card, which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents, policymakers, and the public.

Beginning March 17 – Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) – Grades 3-5 WIS students will once again be participating in online testing from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium – better known as SBAC – during this spring. These assessments will begin March 17 and run into May. These assessments look very different than the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT). Students will complete the SBAC assessments on the computer in the computer lab. The testing periods will only be 45-60 minutes approximately 1 or 2 times per every other week during the period mentioned above.

Date TBD – Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) – Science - Grade 5 Students in grade 5 are the only ones who are required to take any part of the CMT test. They will participate in the Science Test on a date to be determined in March during our morning class periods. Please make every effort to have your child to school on time on this date.

Sincerely,

Mr. Chris Butwill WIS Principal

FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE

With winter’s arrival, please be sure to emphasize to your children the importance of NOT sharing hats, scarves, coats, (as well as brushes/combs, hair accessories, etc.) due to the risk of lice trans-mission. Be sure to check your children if you note an increase in scratching of the head &/or neck areas. If your child does have lice, remember to: 1. Contact your physician for proper instructions on treatment. 2. Contact the school nurse to make her aware (information will be kept confidential). 3. Use appropriate products as ordered and follow instructions carefully. 4. Vacuum house and car thoroughly. 5. Washable items need to be cleaned in as hot water as possible and put in the dryer. 6. Non-washable items may be put into the dryer or bagged for 7-10 days (i.e. stuffed animals Back packs, etc.) Together we can work to keep this “nuisance” out of the building!

Please remember that children must be symptom free (no temperature 100 degrees or greater, vomiting, diarrhea) for 24 hours before returning to school. Others may become ill from contact with your child or your child may be exposed to other viruses. Please encourage hand-washing with your children, especially during this winter season. Also, for use of cough drops, we need a PHYSICIAN’S ORDER as well as parent written permission. You may also bring in Chap Stick for your child. Remember that no food or candy is to be brought in for holidays or celebrations and given to the students. This means that there is to be NO candy sent in (even to be sent home) with students’ valentine cards. Thank you for helping keep WIS healthy! Gillian Hanson RN BSN WIS School Nurse

Important News from Grade 3 Third grade students are working hard to expand their knowledge of multiplication! The students will be working on filling in the rest of their multiplication facts. Students are continuing their understanding of mathematical vocabulary such as products, factors and the commutative property of multiplication. Students will also be demonstrating numerous ways to show mathematical equations such as with arrays, number lines, groups of, manipulatives and visual representations.

Grab those magnifying glasses and trench coats! Students are becoming reading detectives as we continue our mystery unit. By the end of the unit, students will be able to determine what the unique characteristics of this genre are. How can learning about mysteries help us understand ourselves, others and the world? What valuable life lessons does the author want the reader to take away? Students will be continuing to track their thinking by using sticky notes as they read appropriate level texts. Some new and interesting vocabulary words for this unit are suspicion, alibi, sleuth, motive, witness and suspect. Students are so excited about this unit and eager to read more to solve the mystery!

The poets will be wrapping up their poetry unit. Students will be writing many genres of poetry such as acrostic poems, haikus, couplets and free verse. Students will be creating their own patterns in their poetry writing. They will be working on not only writing poetry, but also presenting their original works. Students will practice presenting their poems with the emotion and mood of the poem, being fluent with their speaking and reading aloud with expression.

The cartographers will be continuing to study their map skills. Students will be able to identify and label a compass rose, map keys, map directions, scales and symbols. A true detective must know how to read a map! These maps skills may even be able to help lead the Third Grade Detectives to the Golden Treasure Box!

Miss O’Leary

Important News from Grade 4

Grade 4 students have been working on Multiplication for the past month. We are progressing into division. You may see your child completing long division problems using various strategies using place value. Many students still need to study their facts daily in order to complete the various activities we do in math. In writing, your child will be working on various types of stories. We could be working on Expository stories which are factual, Narrative stories are fiction and Persuasive writing where students try to influence others to do something. In reading we are working in our theme unit. In this unit students will be reading various genres. We will be looking at the message the author is trying to convey in the story. Students should continue to read for 20 minutes every night.

Mr. Trombino Important News from Grade 5 Fifth grade students are working hard within our Jamestown unit through the read aloud Blood on the River. Not only are students focusing on a theme of leadership, they are also learning about the lives of the early colonists in social studies. In this reading, we are focusing on identifying theme, comparing and contrasting information and inferring on a deeper level. Students are continuing to cite evidence from the text to explain their inferences.

In writing, students are completing their study of personal narratives. Beginning this month, we will start to work on argumentative writing. Students will practice researching skills, as well as how to support an opinion or perspective through evidence and author’s craft. In math, students are studying the order of operations. We are discussing how to write expressions with mathematical notation, evaluating expressions, and using grouping symbols to sequence an expression. They are also continuing to build strategies for solving complex CCSS, which involve mathematical modeling/application in real-world contexts and scenarios.

Miss Frohlinger

Important News from the Physical Education Department

Here at Woodside, we always work to keep our hearts healthy! However, during the month of February, we put more emphasis on this because February is Healthy Heart Month. Students will continue to learn about the importance of keeping their heart healthy and learning activities to lead a healthy lifestyle. During fitness classes, students will improve jump rope skills through various activities and stations. Woodside students will also join other schools across the country to support the American Heart Association research of heart disease by participating in the exciting Jump Rope for Heart event! Students will participate in the event during the week of February 17th during their scheduled fitness PE class. Please look for information that was sent home with your child. All donations will need to be returned by February 20th. Students are not required to donate to participate – all WIS students participate in this event. We thank you in advance for your support in helping in the research and fight against heart disease.

Stay Active, Have Fun, and KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY!!!

Miss Cassella Important News from the Library Media Center

This month students were introduced to the mystery The Great Connecticut Caper. Gillette Castle has vanished! Now it’s up to a couple of kids (and the students!) to scour Connecticut, piece together clues, and unravel the mystery of The Great Connecticut Caper. This is an exciting project by CT Humanities with a new chapter (each chapter of the story will be written and illustrated by a different Connecticut author and artist) being published every two weeks. It is fundamental that students learn Connecticut state history and this is a fun and exciting way to do so while supporting the CT Humanities Center for the Book program.

Amanda Newland Library Media Specialist

Woodside Intermediate School Mrs. Newland, LMS

The Art department is in need of volunteers. Volunteers should be able to commit at least half hour in helping mount, frame and labeling of art pieces. If you are available to volunteer your time for this amazing project please contact Mr. Segarra directly via email or phone. dsegarra@cromwell.k12.ct.us

860-632-3564

Music News

Fifth grade general music classes will be listening to selected examples of the music of

Bach and other composers to learn about form. We will be covering AABA, twelve bar blues, and similar song forms, Sonata form, and Theme & Variations and next will move on to form in vocal music. They will see/hear (on videotape and DVD) an orchestra and a jazz big band and live solo classical guitar music in class. Instrumental students are preparing for their second quiz (the first one on their instrument) and are learning the skills necessary to participate in an ensemble so that we may begin playing together as a band every Tuesday during recess starting on February 3rd. (For details see the notice they brought home or the copy of it which is on my teacher website on the WIS home page.) Third grade general music classes are reviewing singing and signing pitches that step, skip, and leap on Do, Re, Mi, Fa, and Sol to prepare for our next quiz. We’ve also been working on the skills necessary for good vocal production. We learned to use our head voice, to have good posture so our lungs can fill with air, to change our mouth shape with the different vowels, and to exaggerate our consonant sounds so that we have clear diction.

Mr. d’Alessandro

Mrs. Greenberg’s Third Grade Music classes are learning to read notes in the Treble clef and also are learning about instruments and their instrument families. Fourth graders are learning songs, reading notes in the treble clef and reviewing instruments of the orchestra. Fifth grade Chorus students are learning how to sing the Major scale in different variations and as a round. This grade is also learning to sing a Pop tune and a Jazz tune. Recorder players are learning to play the C Major Scale and are focusing on the note “F” which has a difficult fingering.

Mrs. Greenberg

THE READING CORNER

How to Read Nonfiction Text By: Reading Rockets Many kids love to read about science and nature as well as real people, places, and events. Nonfiction books present information in engaging and interesting ways. Find out how you can help your child learn to navigate all the parts of a nonfiction book — from the table of contents to the diagrams, captions, glossary, and index. Kids love to read about real people, places, and events. Nonfiction books present real information in engaging and interesting ways. However, most kids read a lot more fiction than nonfiction, so spend some extra time helping your reader learn how to navigate a nonfiction book. As natural learners, young readers are drawn to books that give information about something or explain something they've always wondered about. With a little help and guidance about reading nonfiction, you can feel good about introducing your child to a new world of information. Look at the parts Most good nonfiction books will have helpful features that are not a part of most fiction books. These parts include a table of contents, an index, a glossary, photographs and charts with captions, and a list of sources. Share the purpose of the features with your reader. Table of Contents: Located at the front of a book, the table of contents displays a list of the big ideas within the book and where to find them. Index: An index is an alphabetical list of almost everything covered within the book, with page numbers. Readers can use the index to look up specific terms or concepts and go right to the specific information they're looking for. Glossary: Located at the back of the book, a glossary contains key words that are related to the topic and their definitions. These definitions provide more information about new vocabulary words. Captions: Captions are usually right under photographs, figures, maps, and charts. Captions give a quick summary of what information is presented in the graphic.

Photos/Charts: A lot of information can be found by "reading" the charts and photos found within nonfiction text. Readers will first need to figure out what information is presented. Then they'll need to discover how to navigate the information. Some charts use clear labels, others require more careful examination. Help your reader learn more about the different ways information can be displayed. Mrs. Galatie

Future Problem Solving of Connecticut

“A problem well stated is a problem half-solved.”

Charles F. Kettering This quote accurately describes the work that Woodside Future Problem Solvers complete. After-school with Mrs. Daniels and Mrs. Lastrina, our FPS students research topics to gain knowledge and seek possible futuristic solutions to important problems. The topics this year are: The Impact of Social Media, Processed Food, Propaganda and Enhancing Human Potential. The students learn the six steps required to develop and write an Action Plan. The FPSP of CT State Conference will be March 27th & 28th.

Enrichment

Connecticut Invention Convention

Invention Convention is coming again to Woodside Intermediate School. Students learn how to “think like an inventor” to solve a problem with an invention. Then their creativity and imagination will help them to take their ideas and invent something new for Connecticut Invention Convention.

Mrs. Daniels

Fresh or canned fruit available daily MENU SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Breakfast price - $1.25 Reduced price - $ .30

Whole grain cereal Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

Whole grain breakfast bar Yogurt Fresh fruit or juice Milk

Whole grain cereal Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

Whole grain muffin Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

Whole grain cereal Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

Whole grain cereal

Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

Whole grain

breakfast bar Yogurt Fresh fruit or juice Milk

Whole grain cereal

Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

Whole grain muffin

Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

NO SCHOOL

PRESIDENT’S DAY

Whole grain breakfast bar Yogurt Fresh fruit or juice Milk

Whole grain cereal Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

Whole grain muffin Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

Whole grain cereal Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

Whole grain cereal

Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

Whole grain

breakfast bar Yogurt Fresh fruit or juice Milk

Whole grain cereal

Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

Whole grain muffin

Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

EARLY DISMISSAL

Whole grain cereal Yogurt Fruit choice Milk

m o n d a y t u e s da y w ed ne s da y t h ur s d a y f r i da y

Woodside Intermediate School

February 2015

Students who qualify for free lunch also receive free breakfast. Pre-pay your child’s breakfast at www.MyPaymentsPlus.com Choice of milk with each breakfast: chocolate or strawberry skim, lactaid, and 1% low fat white

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Choice of milk served with each meal: chocolate & strawberry skim, or 1% low fat white.

Prepay your child’s lunch account at: www.MyPaymentsPlus.com

MENU SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Baked chicken Mashed potatoes Steamed corn WG roll Fruit choice

Breakfast for lunch WG French toast sticks Turkey sausage Hash brown patty Juice or fruit choice

WG pasta w/ meat sauce Romaine salad Steamed broccoli WG roll Fruit choice

Cheeseburger or hamburger on a WW roll Baked beans Oven potatoes Lettuce & tomato Fruit choice

WG cheese pizza Veggie bites w/ hummus Black olives Raisins or fruit choice

WG chicken patty on a

WW roll Lettuce & tomato Oven potatoes Steamed carrots Fruit choice

Nacho Plate - seasoned

beef and cheese sauce over WG tortilla chips Steamed corn Lettuce Salsa Fruit choice

WG mozzarella sticks

w/ marinara sauce Steamed green beans Romaine salad Fruit choice

WG cheese pizza

Veggie bites w/ hummus Black olives Raisins or fruit choice

NO SCHOOL

PRESIDENT’S DAY

Toasted cheese on WW bread Tomato soup Romaine salad Fruit choice

WG pasta w/ meat sauce Romaine salad Steamed broccoli WG breadstick Fruit choice

WG chicken nuggets Oven potatoes Steamed corn WG roll Fruit choice

WG cheese pizza Veggie bites w/ hummus Black olives Raisins or fruit choice

WG popcorn chicken

Brown rice Steamed peas Fruit choice

Hot dog on a WW roll

Oven potatoes Baked beans Fruit choice

WG mozzarella sticks

w/ marinara sauce Steamed broccoli Romaine salad Fruit choice

WG cheese pizza

Veggie bites w/ hummus Black olives Raisins or fruit choice

EARLY DISMISSAL

WG mini pancakes w/syrup Turkey sausage Hash brown patty Juice or fruit choice

Woodside Intermediate School

February 2015

t u e s da y w ed ne s da y t h ur s d a y f r i da y

Alternate lunches available: Bagel with cream cheese or butter, yogurt, cheese stick, carrot sticks, & apple Choice of tuna, ham, or turkey sandwich on WG bread with veggies & fruit Students have the opportunity to choose one or two fruit choices, one or two vegetable choices, and a low fat or fat free milk to complete their meal. m o n d a y

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