Simis Scoop
October 3, 2024
A Note from Mrs. Murray
Hi Simis,
As we reach the end of the first quarter, I want to take a moment to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and families over this first quarter. This has been a fantastic start to the school year, and we’re excited to continue building on this momentum.
We look forward to meeting with all parents/guardians during our upcoming conferences. For our 1st-4th grade families, you can access grades through PowerSchool. Kindergarten teachers will be reaching out to share how report cards will be sent home.
Conference sign-ups were sent out on September 27th, and each family will have one conference with their child’s teacher. Virtual conferences are available if needed, especially if attending in person isn’t feasible, or if two households cannot attend in person simultaneously. This ensures everyone receives the same important updates about student progress. If there are specific questions you hope to have answered at conferences, please let the teacher know in advance so she can prepare appropriately.
As we approach fall break next week, I hope you enjoy a relaxing time together and enjoy the nicer weather as a family. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on October 14th as we kick off the second quarter!
In partnership,
Mrs. Murray
Literacy: Scarborough’s Rope
Scarborough’s Rope is a helpful model for understanding the complexity of reading comprehension. Teachers use this information to plan lessons that include all of the 5 pillars of literacy on a daily basis. This concept illustrates how skilled reading involves two intertwined components: Word Recognition and Language Comprehension.
Word Recognition includes:
Phonological Awareness: Recognizing sounds in words.
Decoding: Linking letters to sounds.
Sight Recognition: Instantly recognizing familiar words.
Language Comprehension includes:
Background Knowledge: Understanding topics.
Vocabulary: Knowing word meanings.
Language Structures: Understanding grammar.
Verbal Reasoning: Making inferences.
Literacy Knowledge: Understanding different text types.
Each strand of Scarborough’s Rope contributes to reading success.
Here’s a structured list of specific activities families can engage in at home to support each component of Scarborough’s Rope for literacy mastery:
Word Recognition Strategies
Phonological Awareness
Sound Games: Play rhyming games or clapping syllables in words.
Songs and Chants: Use songs that emphasize sounds and rhythms.
Decoding
Phonics Practice: Work with phonics flashcards or apps that focus on letter-sound relationships.
Word Building: Use letter tiles or magnetic letters to form words together.
Sight Recognition
Sight Word Lists: Create flashcards of common sight words and practice them regularly.
Labeling: Label objects around the house with their names to enhance recognition.
Language Comprehension Strategies
Background Knowledge
Discuss Topics: Talk about current events, nature, or history to build context for reading material.
Field Trips: Visit museums, zoos, or cultural events to expand understanding of various subjects.
Vocabulary
Word of the Day: Introduce a new word each day and use it in sentences throughout the day.
Reading Aloud: Choose books with rich vocabulary and discuss unfamiliar words.
Language Structures
Grammar Games: Play games that involve identifying parts of speech or sentence structure.
Story Retelling: After reading, ask your child to retell the story, focusing on proper grammar.
Verbal Reasoning
Inference Questions: After reading, ask your child questions that require them to make inferences about the text.
Predicting Outcomes: Encourage them to predict what might happen next in a story and explain their reasoning.
Literacy Knowledge
Explore Genres: Introduce different genres (poetry, fiction, non-fiction) and discuss their characteristics.
Reading Various Formats: Provide access to comics, magazines, and digital content to broaden their reading experiences.
By incorporating these activities into daily routines, families can effectively support their child's development in both word recognition and language comprehension, ultimately enhancing their overall literacy skills.
Understanding Math Practice 2: Reason Abstractly and Quantitatively
As a parent of an elementary-age student, it’s important to know how your child is learning to think about math. One key part of math learning is the ability to "reason abstractly and quantitatively." This means helping students understand numbers and how they relate to real-life situations.
What Does This Mean for Your Child?
Decontextualize: Your child learns to take a real-life situation and represent it using numbers or symbols. For example, if they’re sharing a pizza, they might use fractions like 1/4 to show how many slices they each get.
Contextualize: After using numbers, your child brings the situation back into real life. They think about how their calculations apply to the actual pizza and how it looks when they share it.
What Teachers Are Doing in Class
Teachers help students build these skills in various ways:
Understanding Fractions: A teacher might ask students to think about what the parts of a fraction represent, helping them connect symbols to real-world ideas.
Problem-Solving Strategies: Another teacher could have students discuss different ways to solve a problem and decide which method is best, encouraging critical thinking.
Measurement Activities: Students measure classroom items in both inches and centimeters, converting measurements and discussing the differences.
Estimation Exercises: Teachers present problems where students estimate sums or products before calculating the exact answers.
Geometry Exploration: Students identify and classify shapes based on properties (like number of sides) and discuss their reasoning for classifications.
Pattern Recognition: Students create and extend patterns using colored beads (e.g., red, blue, red, blue) and explain what comes next.
How You Can Support Your Child at Home
Here are some simple ways to help your child strengthen their math reasoning skills:
Talk About Real Life: When cooking or shopping, discuss numbers. For example, ask, “If we buy 3 apples at $2 each, how much will that be?” This connects math to everyday activities.
Encourage Estimation: Before solving a math problem, have your child guess the answer. For instance, if they’re figuring out how many candies to share, let them estimate first. This builds their number sense.
Create Patterns: Use toys or everyday items to make patterns (like colored blocks). Ask your child to describe the patterns and then represent them with numbers.
Ask Questions: Encourage your child to explain their thinking. Questions like “Why do you think that worked?” or “What if we change this number?” help them think more deeply.
Play Games: Board games or card games that involve counting or strategy can improve math skills. Talk about the strategies they used and how numbers relate to each other during the game.
By engaging with your child in these ways, you are helping them develop important math skills that will benefit them now and in the future. Let’s work together to make math enjoyable and relevant in their daily lives!
October Skill of the Month: Stop-Walk-Talk
At Madison Simis school, we prioritize a safe and supportive environment for all students. One effective method we use to combat problem behavior and bullying is the Stop-Walk-Talk technique. Here’s how it works:
Stop: Students are encouraged to recognize when they feel uncomfortable or unsafe. They should firmly tell the person to stop, using assertive but calm language.
Walk: If the situation doesn’t improve, students should walk away from the negative interaction. This helps them to remove themselves from the environment and avoid escalation.
Talk: Finally, students should talk to a trusted adult, such as a teacher or social worker, about what happened. This step is crucial for ensuring that the issue is addressed appropriately.
Supporting Your Child
As parents, you can play a vital role in reinforcing these concepts at home. Here are some ways to support your child in advocating positively for themselves:
Role-Playing: Practice the Stop-Walk-Talk steps with your child. Use role-playing scenarios to help them feel more comfortable responding to bullying situations.
Encourage Open Communication: Foster an environment where your child feels safe sharing their feelings. Let them know that you are always there to listen without judgment.
Build Confidence: Engage in activities that boost their self-esteem. A confident child is more likely to stand up for themselves.
Empowering Questions to Ask
Encourage your child to think critically about their experiences and solutions. Here are some questions you can ask:
How did that situation make you feel? – Helps them articulate their feelings.
What did you do in response? – Encourages them to reflect on their actions.
What do you think you could do differently next time? – Promotes problem-solving skills.
Who can you talk to at school if something happens again? – Reinforces the importance of seeking help.
What would you like to see happen next time? – Encourages them to think about positive outcomes.
By collaborating with us and fostering these skills at home, we can work together to create a safe and respectful environment for all our students. Thank you for your continued support!
Understanding International Mindedness in the PYP
International Mindedness is a key component of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years
At our school, international-mindedness is key to preparing students for a globalized world. This concept means recognizing our interconnectedness and taking responsibility for each other. We focus on developing essential skills like curiosity and empathy through our Learner Profile and Approaches to Learning.
Our classrooms celebrate diversity by showcasing work in multiple languages and incorporating various cultural perspectives. This helps students feel respected and enriches their learning experience. We also encourage students to engage in discussions and projects on global issues, fostering a sense of responsibility and positive action.
By promoting multiple viewpoints and respectful dialogues, we help students understand and appreciate different perspectives. In today’s world, our students will interact with people from various cultures and backgrounds, whether in their future careers or personal lives. By fostering international-mindedness, we’re equipping them with the skills and attitudes necessary to succeed in a globalized world. They’ll be able to work collaboratively with diverse teams, approach problems from multiple angles, and contribute positively to society.
Be an Upstander!
What is an Upstander?
An upstander is someone who sees when something isn’t right and decides to help. Instead of ignoring problems, upstanders support their friends and make sure everyone feels included and safe.
Why is Being an Upstander Important?
When kids stand up for each other, it makes our school a better place for everyone. It helps everyone feel happy and accepted.
Ways We See Upstanders at School:
- Helping a Friend: If a student sees someone sitting alone, they might invite them to play. This simple act can mean so much!
- Telling a Teacher: If kids notice someone being teased, they can let a teacher know. It’s important for them to feel they can speak up.
- Joining Together: Many kids participate in fun activities and clubs that celebrate kindness and teamwork, showing that everyone belongs.
How You Can Encourage Upstanders at Home:
- Talk About Kindness: Share stories about times when you or someone else stood up for someone in need. Kids love hearing real-life examples!
- Ask Questions: Create a cozy space for your child to talk about their day. Ask about their friends and if they saw anything that made them feel happy or sad.
- Practice Together: Role-play different situations where they might need to be an upstander. This way, they’ll feel more confident when the time comes!
- Celebrate Acts of Kindness: Whenever your child shows upstander behavior, celebrate it! A simple “I’m proud of you” goes a long way.
By encouraging our kids to be upstanders, we can help them feel powerful and make our school a wonderful place for everyone. Thank you for being such supportive partners in this journey!
Notes from Nurse Megan
Please do not send medication to school in your student's backpack. Students should not hold onto their own medication at school. Administer medications before or after school. If your student requires medication administration during the school day, please contact the health office for assistance.
Please return any clothing (washed) that your student has borrowed from the health office. We rely heavily on these items and don't want to have to send students home when they need clothes.
Health Office reminder
Your student must stay home for a full 24 hours after fever, vomiting or diarrhea. For example, if your student is sent home with a fever on Monday, they will automatically be excused from school on Tuesday. We will welcome that back to school on Wednesday if they are symptom free without the use of medication. Thank you for being considerate of our school community and keeping your child home when sick.
Contact Nurse Megan at 602-664-7322 or mbefort@madisoned.org with any questions/concerns. Thank you!
Please help your students return their library books so they are able to check out new books each week! If books are lost or damaged beyond repair, you can:
1) Pay the replacement cost with cash (exact amount, please) or check made out to 'Madison Simis.'
2) Provide the library with a replacement copy of the same book (used and in good condition is acceptable).
We want to thank all the awesome library volunteers who keep our library books circulating and Simis students reading! Your time and help is so appreciated.
Looking for a specific book or want to browse and see what’s available in our library? You can search the Destiny Discover website to see all the selections!
60 Day Book Review
We’re excited to let you know that we’ve added new books to our library. To keep you in the loop, we’ll be listing these titles on our website for the next sixty (60) days. The review period will start on October 4, 2024 and end on December 3, 2024.
Steps to Locate New Book Lists
Step 1- Log onto madisonaz.org
Step 2- Click on Families and then Family Resources
Step 3- Click on Library Resources
Step 4- Click on Parent Access to Library materials
Step 4- Select the school
If you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We appreciate your involvement and support!
Thank you,
Mrs. Sarmiento & Mrs. Brandstatter
What is Site Council:
Site Council reviews school data, discusses school procedures and practices, makes decisions about tax credit allocation, and helps inform the principal in decision making.
Recent Highlights: Site Council overview, School Goals and Data
Discussed: Tax credit approval for field trips
Next meeting: Governing Board Q&A
Did you know?
Each year there is an activity fee of $50 for each student. Our Simis Site Based Management Council determines how all Tax Credit resources will be used at Madison Simis. This year we will use these funds to pay for our grade-level field trips, assemblies, and character education.
Process
Parent/Guardian:
https://az-madison.intouchreceipting.com/
The online portal page instructs guardians to login to POWERSCHOOL.
Guests can create an account and login directly through the online portal page.
Once logged in, parents can PAY Fines/Fees that are posted on their student's account or self select Items at Schools. For example, Activity Fees have already been posted on student's accounts and can be paid through Pay Fines/Fees. Please email receipts to simisoffice@madisoned.org.
Native American students may have their activity fees paid by grant funds if they have proof of Tribal membership. Please have interested families contact Martha Sullivan for information.
Families can contact simisoffice@madisoned.org for a scholarship form.
After School Vendors
If you are looking for a fun activity to engage your student after school dismisses, don't forget to look at our vendor offerings at Madison Simis!
THRIVE Parent Information Series
Madison School District has modules available to families in the THRIVE section of the Madison website. These short and informative videos with experts in the field provide families with resources to approach and support their child in ways that align with the students of the Alpha and iGeneration.
Volunteering at Simis
Click here to register as a school volunteer! All adults must be approved volunteers through the District to volunteer at Simis. Please remember when you volunteer that you are approved for a specific area of school during your visit. To avoid distractions in the learning environment, we ask that volunteers come to school to volunteer and then exit the school following their volunteering, not going into other classrooms to visit with students.
School Lunch Visitor Registration Form
Sign up for a lunch visit here! Please read the details on the sign up form for more information.
As a reminder, we ask that all parents sit with their child at the visitor's table in the cafeteria and say goodbye as students head out to recess. Siblings cannot attend with parents/visitors. Friends do not join the lunch visit.
If you have a student who struggles with separation, please consider not coming to lunch as a visitor until later in the school year. This will help prevent challenging good-byes after the visit.
