Anderson Angle

Dear Anderson Families,

As we approach the final stretch of the academic year, it's remarkable to see how far we've come together. In the next month, our Building Leadership Team will be hard at work, shaping schedules for the upcoming year and fine-tuning class lists. With brighter days on the horizon and the school year winding down, I am incredibly proud to witness our dedicated teachers maintaining focus and being committed to delivering quality education to your children until the very last day.

Starting April 7, our third and fourth-grade students will be taking the Iowa Assessments (ISASP). We strongly encourage all students to be present during the first full week of April to minimize the need for retesting. A good night's sleep and a nutritious breakfast can significantly contribute to your child's readiness for these assessments, ensuring they start their day on the right foot, especially on ISASP testing days.

Lastly, I extend my gratitude to everyone who participated in our recent Parent/Teacher conferences. Your overwhelming attendance, with 97% of conferences being attended, speaks volumes about our strong partnership in your child's education.

As always, my door is open, and our staff is here to support you. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s education. We value your partnership and are grateful for everything you do to make Anderson Elementary a special place.

Respectfully,

Mel Hewitt

Principal, Anderson Elementary

Anderson Elementary on Social Media

Twitter: @AndersonBFCSD, #AndersonJays

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andersonbfcsd

21 - No School - Professional Development

May

26 - No School - Memorial Day

30 - Last Day of School - 1:00 Dismissal

A friendly reminder: If your child misses school due to a medical appointment, please provide the office with a doctor's note to medically excuse the absence. Thank you.

You may have noticed a new addition to the second-grade pod during conferences: our Jungle-Themed Case! This vibrant new display is designed to showcase the success of our students in meeting the monthly positive behavior goal. Each month, students will be able to see their progress through a percentage chart and a bar graph, helping them track their achievements and understand how they are doing. This is calculated based on the number of referrals our entire school receives at Anderson, so it reflects the collective efforts of all students. This system helps us achieve and support positive behaviors by rewarding all students with fun activities such as playing bingo, having a hat day, and more. Along with celebrating positive behavior, we will also be doing a fun monthly craft that will be displayed in the case for all second graders to enjoy and take part in. We hope this new feature will inspire and encourage our students to continue working hard toward their goals!

It's one of our favorite times of the year — our 3rd graders are officially published authors! This year's class book, "A ___ is What I'd Like to Be," showcases each student's dreams for the future. From chefs and ballerinas to internet stars and engineers, our students wrote about the careers they'd like to pursue when they grow up and brought their ideas to life with colorful illustrations! Throughout this project, students experienced the entire writing process — brainstorming, drafting, editing, peer revising, and publishing — turning their hard work into something truly special. Their creativity and dedication shine on every page! The completed book will soon be sent to a publishing company, and we can't wait to receive the final copies next month! This project is a treasured third-grade tradition, and we couldn't be prouder of our young authors!

In science class, fourth-grade students have been working to complete a Project Lead the Way unit. The project is focused on energy and is tied to the Next Generation Science Standards. Project Lead the Way follows an APB approach, meaning there are activities, projects, and problems to work through. Students are faced with real-world problems and will learn how the skills they develop will apply to their everyday lives.

In our energy conversion unit, students will participate in various activities to ultimately design and model a system to use renewable energy to meet a need in our community. Students will work through the design process to create their solutions in small groups.

Before designing their solutions, students will gain background knowledge on energy. Students will learn that potential energy can be stored in many ways and released as kinetic energy through hands-on centers and demonstrations. They will also know that there are six primary forms of energy: light, thermal, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and nuclear. Students will understand that energy can be converted from one form to another to meet a human want or need. Students will read books and watch videos to learn more about how others have used renewable energy to meet a need in their community. Students will also learn about hydroelectric power and wind energy.

The fourth-grade science teachers are excited about the opportunity to use Project Lead the Way in class and encourage students to have a hands-on approach to learning science this year!

It is hard to believe it is almost spring, and we will go outside for physical education. Your sons and daughters have been fantastic in PE this year. Everyone is trying hard and having fun. I've had many smiles and red faces at the end of every class. Some units that we just completed are scooters and the parachute. The parachute is everyone's favorite! Even when the "BIG GUY" comes out of the closet. (You'll have to ask your student about that!!) Another activity that we are finishing up is our fitness testing. We have completed the first four: speed/agility, arm strength, core strength, and flexibility. After spring break, we will do our endurance run. I'm looking forward to warmer weather and getting outside.

Please contact Mrs. Sarah Teeselink with any questions you may have regarding TAG. Her email is: teeselinks@bfschools.org.

Greetings from the Anderson Library. It was another successful book fair. Thank you to PTO for sponsoring and staffing the fair. We received a number of new books added to our fun collection including graphic novels, chapter books, and non-fiction books.

Have you ever wondered about the benefits of reading a graphic novel? Students love to read graphic novels and sometimes we, as adults, don’t always see them as anything more than a comic book.

Here are some wonderful benefits of reading graphic novels:

1. Visual and Textual Learning: Graphic novels combine imagery and text, which can enhance comprehension, particularly for visual learners. The art helps contextualize the story and can provide cues about characters’ emotions, settings, and themes that go beyond the written word.

   
   

2. Improved Reading Skills: The visual nature of graphic novels can be especially helpful for readers who are reluctant or struggling. The combination of images and words can make reading less intimidating and more engaging, helping to improve vocabulary, fluency, and reading comprehension.

   
   

3. Engagement and Entertainment: Graphic novels often tell compelling stories in a dynamic, visually appealing format. The artwork and layout add another layer of immersion and excitement, making reading a more engaging experience.

   
   

4. Broad Range of Genres and Themes: Graphic novels cover a wide array of topics and genres—from fantasy and sci-fi to memoirs, historical fiction, and social commentary. This variety can appeal to diverse interests and even offer new perspectives on complex issues.

   
   

5. Fosters Critical Thinking: The interplay between images and text requires readers to interpret and analyze both, fostering deeper critical thinking. For example, readers might have to consider how the visual elements relate to the plot or how the pacing of the panels affects the flow of the narrative.

   
   

6. Cultural Literacy: Many graphic novels explore diverse cultural experiences and can serve as a window into different societies, values, and histories. They often provide insights that might not be present in traditional novels.

Overall, graphic novels offer a multidimensional reading experience that blends art and literature, making them a great medium for enhancing literacy, creativity, and cultural awareness.

1. Transitions - Learn more about how we are jumping into transitions for next school year!

2. Second Step Coping Skills - We are working on managing strong emotions in Second Step during Guidance. Here are the coping skills we learn together!

3. SAP - As we continue into Spring, please remember the resources provided to all families in our district. Feel free to ask a School Counselor for more information!

Medication Reminder!

The end of the school year will be here before we know it! For those students with any medications at school, please remember that any remaining medication MUST be picked up by parents or an authorized and approved adult by the last day of school May 30, 2025. School policy also requires that ALL medications, either prescription or over-the-counter, must be picked up by a parent or other authorized and approved adult. Absolutely no medications are to be transported to/from school by any student. All medication not picked up by 3pm June 2, 2025 will be disposed of in an appropriate manner in accordance with medication disposal guidelines as set forth by the FDA.

Julie Hall, Secretary

Anderson Elementary

hallj@bfschools.org

515-967-7494