Tuesday, December 31, 2013

January 1 Announcements

Happy New Year.  We finished 2013 in grand fashion with lots of great improvement in our learning and excellent parent involvement.  Before we know it, the semester will end on January 17.  Wow!

Parent Night - Tuesday, January 14 from 6:00 - 7:30

All parents are invited to see the great things the kids have done in their music, art, science and social studies specials classes and meet with their child's homeroom teacher to learn what students will be learning in the spring semester.  3rd and 4th grade parents will learn important information about the STAAR test and what students will need to do to pass the tests.  More information will come out next week.


What do Reading Levels Mean?

By the end of the semester, I want to show you where students should be at this time of the year in respect to their reading level.  Before you look at the table below, please know that reading growth differs from child to child.  The most important thing we must consider in reference to reading is that growth is just as important as the reading level.  If your child is below level, the question that must be asked is whether or not your child is making growth each six weeks.

Grade Level
2nd 6 Weeks Reading Level
Range
Growth from previous 6 Weeks
if reading level is below level
K
 0 - 1

1st
6-8
 Students should make 3-4 levels growth
2nd
18-20
Students should make 1-2 levels growth 
3rd
23-24
Students should make 1-2 levels growth 
4th
27-28
Students should make 1-2 levels growth 
* Special Note - 30 is the highest reading level possible.

How can parents help their child improve in their reading?


  • PK - 1st grade 
    • Work with your child to help them know their letters, the sounds that they make, and be able to identify them quickly wherever you are. (grocery store, signs, cereal boxes, etc.)
    • Students should practice reading every day for 10-20 minutes.
    • Sight words are taught every day.  Ask your child's teacher for a list of sight-words.
    • Use a wide range of vocabulary in regular conversation.  Vocabulary exposure is  key component to improving reading.
    • Encourage your child to write.  Writing reinforces reading and vice-versa.
  • 2nd - 4th grade
    • Students should practice reading every day for 15-30 minutes.
    • Spelling words are taught every week.  Ask your child's teacher for a list of spelling words.
    • Use a wide range of vocabulary in regular conversation with your child.  Vocabulary exposure is a key component to improving reading.
    • Encourage your child to write.  Writing reinforces reading and vice-versa.

Upcoming Events



Date

Event  

Information
Mon, Jan 6
School  Resumes
Thu, Jan 9
Buckeye Book
Club
Ms. Hooton, Mrs. Henry, and Ms. Scott’s classes, boys only, will meet in the Library from 4:00-5:15.
College Day

Progress Reports
Wear your college attire.

Progress reports will be sent home.
Tue, Jan 14
Benchmark Week

Parent Night
All students will be taking benchmark tests

We will have a parent night from 6:00 - 7:30.  
Thu, Jan 16
Early Release  
Students will be released at 12:30 on this day. 
Staff will work a full day.
College Day
Wear your college attire.
Fri, Jan 17
Early Release
Students will be released at 12:30 on this day.  Staff will work a full day.
Mon, Jan 20
Martin Luther King Day
No School for students and staff
Tue, Jan 21
School Resumes
All students and staff will return to school.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Gilmer Elementary School Cafeteria Receives Superior Rating

This past Tuesday, Michael Olivas, a State monitor for the Texas Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Division for School Operations visited our campus.  During his visit, he audited all of our cafeteria functions from food preparation all the way to the end of the line when students throw their trash away.  His audit evaluates our adherence to federal and state food laws, and we are excited to report that Gilmer Elementary School received a perfect 100%.

Mr. Olivas said that a perfect score is rarely given to schools.  He also said that we would be receiving a congratulatory award from Texas Department of Agriculture for having an excellent review.  

Congratulations to Roberta Jones, GISD Food Director, Genise Maberry, GES Cafeteria Manager and all of our cafeteria workers for their commitment and dedication to providing all students and staff the healthiest meals in the cleanest cafeteria in East Texas.  Job well done!


Sunday, December 1, 2013

December 2 Announcements

Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is around the corner.  I sincerely hope that each of you had a great week off from school with your friends and family.  Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all the great things in our lives, and Christmas is a time show our thanks with our gifts and glad tidings.  We have a busy 3 weeks ahead and it will be very exciting for the kids and the staff. Some of the events for the next 3 weeks are listed below.  There will be additional dates listed.

Wed,
Dec 4
Buckeye Store
The Buckeye Store will be coming to the PreK-1st classrooms.
Thu,
Dec 5
Buckeye Store
The Buckeye Store will be coming to the
2nd-4th classrooms.
Report Cards go home
Fri,
Dec 6
CHAMPs Assembly
There will be a CHAMPs Assembly in the gym on this day.
PreK-1st     8:15 (starting time)
2nd-4th        2:40 (starting time)
Parents are invited to attend.
Mobile Dentist
“Smiles of Tomorrow” mobile dentistry
will be performing dental exams in the Staff Development room from  8 a.m. –
3 p.m. 
Tue,
Dec 10
Dental Cleaning
“Smiles of Tomorrow” hygienist will be performing dental cleanings in the Staff Development room.
Wed,
Dec 11
College Day
Wear your college gear.
Thu,
Dec 12
Dental Cleaning
“Smiles of Tomorrow” hygienist will be performing dental cleanings in the Staff Development room.
Fri,
Dec 13
Dental Cleaning
“Smiles of Tomorrow” hygienist will be performing dental cleanings in the Staff Development room.
Tue,
Dec 16
Dental  Cleaning
“Smiles of Tomorrow” hygienist will be performing dental cleanings in the Staff Development room.
Thu,
Dec 19
Dental Cleaning
“Smiles of Tomorrow” hygienist will be performing dental cleanings in the Staff Development room.
Fri,
Dec 20
Dental Cleaning
“Smiles of Tomorrow” hygienist will be performing dental cleanings in the Staff Development room.
Christmas Parties
11:30 – 12:15 PK & 2nd grade
12:15 – 1:00   1st & 3rd grade
1:00 – 1:45   K & 4th grade
Mon,
Dec 23-
Fri, Jan 3
Christmas Break
Have a wonderful Christmas!
School resumes Monday, January 6, 2014
Mon,
Jan 6
Students and staff return to school.