FES Knightly News
Weekly Family Newsletter
Week of January 8-12
New and Important Information
ACCESS Testing for English Learners
Dear Florence Elementary Community, We hope this newsletter finds you well and ready for the upcoming ACCESS testing period, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 8th and will run until February 16th. During this time, students identified as English Language Learners will be participating in the ACCESS test—a crucial assessment that evaluates their proficiency in English across four key areas: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.
The ACCESS test provides a valuable opportunity for our students to showcase their understanding of the English language, demonstrating growth and progress in their language skills. We encourage all students to approach this assessment with a positive mindset, aiming not only to meet but exceed their previous performance.
One of the primary goals of the ACCESS test is for students to achieve a score of 4.5 or higher. This benchmark allows students to exit English language services, marking a significant milestone in their language learning journey. However, it's important to note that we are not only looking for students to meet this benchmark but also to exhibit continuous growth in their English language proficiency.
To ensure the best possible testing experience, we recommend the following assessment tips for all students:
- Get a Good Night's Sleep: Adequate rest is crucial for optimal cognitive function. Encourage your child to get a good night's sleep before each testing day to help them stay focused and perform their best.
- Be On Time for School: Punctuality is key. Arriving to school on time ensures a smooth start to the testing day and helps reduce any unnecessary stress. Please make every effort to ensure your child is at school promptly.
Thank you for your continued partnership in our students' educational journey.
Best regards, English Language Team
Repeats from Last Newsletter
Archery Club Sign Up
The archery club is open to students in grades 3-5. Meetings will be once/week on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 (this time may change to 5:30 on some weeks).
Playground Fencing
Our School Based Decision Making Council has been working to improve student and staff safety over the last couple of years. Last year, council approved the purchase of 10 additional security cameras throughout the building. This year, the council prioritized fencing the entire perimeter of our playground. This work was completed over break. Our playground is now fully fenced, which will keep our students safer during recess.
The cost of this project was about $14,000. FES paid for half of it with SBDM funds, and the district facilities department paid the other half. Thanks to the parents and teachers on our SBDM council for prioritizing our students' safety and allocating the funds to make these projects possible.
Reminder about Pokemon Cards
Please do not allow your child to bring Pokemon cards into school. They cause a lot of problems that disrupt the learning environment when students trade them or when they get lost.
Spring Sports Leagues from i9 Sports
i9 Sports offers organized soccer, t-ball, baseball, and flag football leagues for boys and girls ages 3-14. Spring seasons start April 20th. They offer:
- Age-appropriate instruction for each division
- Coaches background checked and certified
- All skill-levels welcomed; No tryouts!
- One day/week; practice held before game
Boone County High School Princess Tea Party
See the flyer below for more information about this event.
Here's What We're Learning this Week
Kindergarten
Reading/Writing- We are working on 3 star writing using an uppercase letter, finger spaces and punctuation.
Math- We are working on finding different numbers to use to make 10.
Science- We are talking about changing temperatures.
Social Studies- We will learn about monetary incentives and scarcity.
First Grade
Reading/Writing-This week we will be reading about journeys near and far! This text set will be a mix of fiction and nonfiction books.
Math- We will be learning to analyze data! Students will be looking at graphs and comparing data.
Social Studies-We are reviewing geography, and discussing how region directly correlates to the lifestyles people live.
Second Grade
Reading/Writing- Students will be exploring different cultures through folktales and determining the author's message and moral of each story.
Math- Students will be working on comparing three-digit numbers.
Social Studies- Students will begin a unit on what defines North America. We will begin focusing on landforms.
Third Grade
Reading/Writing-In reading students will be identifying and citing information from a summary to help them determine the moral, theme, and/or lesson. Students will also be reading folktales and learning the characteristics of folktales.
Math- In math students will be learning how multiplication and division are related. They will also be fluently multiplying and dividing within 100.
Fourth Grade
Reading/Writing- Students will be learning about poetry, and point of view.
Math- Students will review previously learned standards and begin to learn long division.
Science- Students will learn about weathering and erosion.
Fifth Grade
Reading/Writing- Students will be working on an opinion piece that goes along with their volume zoo project.
Math-Students will be learning how to find volume and they will be starting to work on their volume zoo project!
Science- Students will be researching their endangered species that they chose for they zoo project.
Social Studies-Students will be learning about the reasons for revolution.
More Important 5th Grade Info- Students will be starting their volume zoo project. This project consists of the students making animals out of cardboard boxes, so if you have any boxes that could be donated it would be greatly appreciated.
Gym
Kindergarten is learning to follow a rhythmic activity leading up to a dance.
First grade is learning to move in various pathways and levels during a dance.
Second grade is focused on aerobic activities and Cardiovascular.
Third grade has started a learning a dance sequence and pattern leading to a dance.
Fourth grade is working on muscular endurance using plyometric
Fifth grade is learning how flexibility and muscular endurance can be beneficial in their daily life.
Photos from Around the Building
Ms. Timmerding's Class
Ms. Dalton's Class practices vowel sounds
Academic Team Match at Walton-Verona
How to Build a Snowman
Academic Team Match at Walton-Verona
Academic Team Match at Walton-Verona
From the First Aid Room
Information from health services regarding Covid:
If your student tests positive for Covid and have no sick symptoms, please contact your primary care provider to obtain guidance and determine when your child can return to school. If your child is sick and tests positive for Covid please contact your primary care provider for guidance on care and when to return to school. Students should not return until they are recovered, and symptoms resolved.
Pictures from Our Past
This week's photo is of Ms. Combest's 1st grade class from the 1967-1968 school year.
From the Transportation Department
From FES Lead Bus Driver, Mr. Dave Burton (Bus 137)
With the cold/wet weather here, it is encouraged that the students that ride the bus keep their coats on during the ride to and from school.
From the Cafeteria
SBDM Update (UPDATED FROM LAST WEEK)
The School Based Decision Making Council at FES is made up of the principal (Ryan Burch), three teachers (Alicia Bachman, Abbigail Supe, and Megan Timmerding), and two parents (Alicia Coulter and Vee Miller). This group makes policy decisions and approves some of the school's financial and instructional activities. Meetings are usually held on the first Monday of each month at 4:15 in the FES library. Meetings are open to the public (except for occasional closed sessions).
The next meeting is on Monday, January 8th at 4:15 in the library. Click here for this month's agenda.
All of our SBDM policies are available on the FES school website.
On the Calendar
Important December Dates
- January 8th- SBDM Meeting; 4:15-5:15
- January 8th- PTO Meeting; 5:30-6:30
- January 11th- Board of Education Meeting; 7:00
- January 15th- Martin Luther King Jr. Day; No School
- January 23rd- Boone's Beginner's @ Burlington Elementary; 5:30-7:00
- January 25th- Grandparent's Math Bingo Night (other family members invited as well); 5:30-7:00
Click the calendar above to see the schedule of all events throughout the year.