FES Knightly News
Weekly Family Newsletter
Week of April 1st- April 5th
New and Important Information
SBDM Parent Nominations are Open
If you or someone you know would like to serve on the Florence Elementary School Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council, please complete this nomination form. The SBDM council is made up of teachers, parents and administrators. Their job is to set school policy and make decisions outlined in statute, which should provide an environment to enhance student achievement.
Members are asked to attend monthly meetings and stay informed about current topics regarding the programs and policies of Florence Elementary. This is a great way to have a say in decisions that are made about the education provided to the students of Florence Elementary.
iReady Stretch Growth Goal Parties
Over 50 students were invited to our iReady Stretch Growth popcorn and popsicle parties on Friday! These students received party invitations because they met their Stretch Growth Goals in reading and/or math in our iReady computer program.
Stretch Growth is a goal that is set for each individual student after they take the initial diagnostic assessment at the beginning of the year. This goal is an achievement level that students should reach if they can be expected to make MORE than 1 year's academic growth. Reaching this goal signifies that these students have learned more than a typical student will learn in a year. We have one more diagnostic assessment to take, so students have one more chance to reach their Stretch Growth Goal. If you have any questions about how your student in progressing in iReady, please reach out to their classroom teacher or to our instruction coach, Sarah Nunn. Ms. Nunn can be reached at sarah.nunn@boone.kyschools.us.
Congratulations to these students on their hard work this year! See the photos below.
iReady Parties
Each student received a ticket if they reached their Stretch Growth Goal
iReady Parties
K-2 graders who met their Stretch Growth in reading
iReady Parties
3-5 graders who met their Stretch Growth in reading
iReady Parties
K-5 students who met their Stretch Growth in math
iReady Parties
Maycin plays darts at the iReady party
iReady Parties
Penny hockey at the iReady party
iReady Parties
Darts at the iReady party
iReady Parties
Mariam, Annie, Lily and Laylah work on a puzzle at the iReady party
iReady Parties
iReady Parties
Basketball at the iReady party
iReady Parties
Hunter soundly defeated Mr. Burch in checkers at the iReady party
iReady Parties
Checkers at the iReady party
Spring Break Spirit Week
To help us stay focused on our last week of learning before spring break, we are having spirit week! See the image to the right for details!
Boone County Schools Job Fair
Boone County Schools is excited to announce their career fair at Boone County High School on Thursday, April 25th from 4:00-7:00 PM. School administrators and department directors will be on site to meet with your to discuss open positions at each Boone County school. Mark your calendars so you don't miss this hiring event for Boone County Schools. We can't wait to meet you!
Spring Break
Just a reminder- Spring Break is April 8th -April 12th. Florence Elementary will be closed during this time. The front office will be open 7:30-3:30, but teachers will not be present.
Reminder about Dress Code
Our dress code allows for students to wear shorts of appropriate fit and length AFTER SPRING BREAK. Please click here for the full dress code.
F.I.E.S.T.A.
FIESTA (Families, Inclusion, Educaiton, Society, Tradition and Access) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the needs of the fast-growing immigrant population in Northern Kentucky. They can provide assistance with food, clothing, shelter, stable employment, utilities assistance and healthcare.
For more information about FIESTA and their services, visit their website at fiestanky.org.
Repeats from Last Newsletter
Reminder about Cell Phones
Jolly Plumbing Teacher Award
Does your child's teacher deserve some special recognition? Nominate him or her for the Jolly Plumbing Teacher Award at the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc971BfcdTmxbsuCWTgKa2wIXZTWwzZy84574dNPW-btjTXkQ/viewform
Knights of the Week
The Knights pictured below were chosen as Knights of the Week because the ROCK! They consistently RESPECT themselves and others, OWN their actions, make the CHARACTER count, and KEEP expectations for themselves high!
Here's What We're Learning this Week
Kindergarten
Reading/Writing- We are starting our information writing and will be doing our animal research during this.
Math- We are starting our money units. What is a coin and what is it used for?
Science- Forces in motion
Social Studies- Communities
First Grade
Reading/Writing- Students will continue to read along with the Wizard of Oz. They will finish it up before spring break.
Math- Students will begin to learn how to tell time using an analog clock.
Science- Students will finish up the weather unit, specifically looking at the water cycles and the 4 seasons.
Second Grade
Reading/Writing- Students will take the third round of the MVPA assessment this week. It is scheduled for Tuesday. We will break up the assessments into parts and it will take the whole day. The rest of the week, we will be doing makeups for the assessments as well as catching up and reviewing standards already taught in class.
Math- Students will take the third round of the MVPA assessment this week. It is scheduled for Wednesday. We will break up the assessments into parts and it will take the whole day. The rest of the week, we will be doing makeups for the assessments as well as catching up and reviewing standards already taught in class.
Science- Students will continue their unit on seed dispersals.
Other Information from 2nd Grade-
Second Grade field trip to the zoo is on April 3rd. Please make sure to turn in your permission slip and $20. We go rain or shine.
Third Grade
Reading/Writing- In reading we are still working on identifying and citing information to determine the central idea of a nonfiction or fiction text. We will be reading books about challenges. In writing, we will be identifying evidence and answering questions about a text.
Math- We will still using rulers marked with halves and fourths to measure length.
Science- We will be practicing for the KSA during this time by reading passages and answering questions.
Social Studies- We will be practicing for the KSA during this time by reading passages and answering questions.
Fourth Grade
Reading/Writing- Students will continue learning text structure, specifically compare and contrast text structure.
Math-Students are learning how to compare fractions with unlike denominators.
Science-Students are learning the structure and function of plants and animals.
Fifth Grade
Reading/Writing-Students will be learning how to integrate information from several texts.
Math-Students will be dividing fractions by fractions, fractions by whole numbers, and solving real world problems involving dividing fractions.
Science-Students will be continuing their animal habitat project.
Social Studies- Students will be discussing the United States economics.
Other Information in 5th Grade: Students will be bringing home a permission slip for the museum. It needs to be returned by April 1st.
Art
Kindergarten and 1st grade are making art all about flowers. 2nd and 3rd are drawing robots and then making a robot collage. 4th and 5th are creating a new shoe based on their favorite candy!
STEM
Kindergarten, First grade, and the Critical Needs Unit are all learning about what plants need in order to grow. Second grade is learning how seeds disperse to find what they need to grow, and how bees help pollinate plants. Third grade is learning about how living things get their traits. Fourth grade is learning about how landforms are created by tectonic plate movement, as well as by weathering and erosion. Fifth grade is learning about how robots work.
Gym
K-2 Are learning to dribble a basketball continuously with 1 hand. Pass the ball to the wall target using a force that is safe for everyone. 3-5 Learning to dribble the basketball using the skills cues learned in class. will use the cues for shooting in order to give my shots a high rainbow arc
Music
All grades will observe and interact with new instruments daily. Participation includes briefly playing the instrument, learning about the history of the instrument and the related cultures, and clapping/dancing along with the performance. Instruments that will be discussed: (Mar.4-Apr.1) Kalangu (West African Talking Drum) Reco Reco (Brazilian scraper instrument) Djidunun (West African Water Drum) Kalimba (African Thump piano) Cuica (Brazilian Monkey Drum). Students will also collaborate musically through singing songs, drumming on pads to notated rhythms, learning dance choreography, listening and analyzing music of different styles, and playing fun music related games.
Photos from Around the Building Last Week
Happy Birthday!
Birthdays this week and over Spring Break include:
Students
- Sadie Mae C.
- Myles B.
- Musab I.
- Jayden B.
- Alexis D.
- Kaedyn T
- Jalena B.
- Adeline E.
- John Michael C.
- Olivia T.
- Leah G.
- Courtney G.
- Abdirahman A.
Staff
- Ms. Fernandez (World Language)
- Ms. Kappes (preschool)
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 the graduating class of Florence Public School in 1947.
From the Cafeteria
These menus are accurate at the start of the week, adjustments may be required due to supply issues. If you have any questions about meals or food service, please contact the FES cafeteria manager at Melody.Linneman@boone.kyschools.us.
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).
Click here to view the February minutes. At the March meeting, the council began discussions on a homework policy for FES. They also approved the teacher exchange day vote for the 24-25 school year. They also approved a change to the FES master schedule. The full minutes of the March meeting will be available after the April meeting.
The April meeting will be on Monday, April 1st at 4:15 in the Florence Elementary library. Click here for the April agenda.
All of our SBDM policies are available on the FES school website.
On the Calendar
Important April Dates
- April 1st; SBDM Meeting, 4:15
- April 1st; PTO Meeting, 5:30
- April 4th; Board of Education Meeting, 7:00
- April 8th-12th; Spring Break
- April 18th; MadCap Puppets Wizard of Oz Family Event, 5:30-6:30
- April 23rd; Boone's Beginners at Florence Elementary, 5:30-7:00
- April 26th; Spring PTO Dance (parents must attend with students), 6:00-8:00
Click the calendar above to see the schedule of all events throughout the year.
Important Links
iReady Parties
Checkers at the iready party
iReady Parties
Hunter soundly defeated Mr. Burch in checkers at the iReady party
iReady Parties
Basketball at the iReady party