Dear Howe Hall AIMS Families!
As we embrace the month of October, I want to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful progress our students have made as we approach the end of the quarter. It is inspiring to see their enthusiasm for learning and their engagement in the arts.
This month, we will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week, which focuses on promoting a drug-free lifestyle. Our students will participate in various activities that encourage healthy choices.
I am also excited to announce the kickoff for the Booster Run, which will support our Artist in Residence program for all grade levels. This initiative will provide our students with unique opportunities to engage with art and creativity throughout the year.
We will also host the PTA Trunk or Treat event for families. This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together in a fun and safe environment.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. Together, we can create a nurturing environment where our children can thrive.
Warm regards,
Ashley McAlister
Ways to help your student read!
Greetings parents! Each month I will be sharing some strategies and activities that you can do to enhance and support your child’s achievement in reading and writing. When we study the science of reading we learn that reading is not a natural process like speaking is. It is complex and something that must be systematically taught and practiced. In this first session I will be addressing some simple reading strategies and activities that parents can do at home to help emergent or beginning readers. You can do many of these activities easily in the car, on a shopping trip, while cooking dinner, or during any day to day routine.
1. Say a sentence out loud. Have your child count the words in the sentence. If this is difficult for your child, use blocks to represent each word. Have them push one block up for each word said. Have them “read” the sentence (repeat it back to you) as they touch each block.
2. Clap the syllables in words.
3. Have your child change the beginning, middle, or ending sounds in words. For example: change the beginning sound in pig to a /b/. What is the new word? (big) Change the ending sound to a /n/ (bin). Change the middle sound to an /e/ (Ben). Start with beginning sounds. When your child can easily do that, move to ending sounds, and then middle sounds.
4. Point out printed words wherever you go (in the car, at the grocery, around the house).
5. Read to your child every day. Turn off the TV and have a family reading time. Make it a priority every day.
6. If your child is already reading, listen to him/her read every day. Just like any sport, the more your child practices, the more improvement and success you will see.
If your child is struggling in reading, and you need further assistance with things that you can do to help at home, please feel free to contact me. I will be happy to set up a conference with you. My email address is rayburna@bcsdschools.net .
1st Grade Infusion
3rd Grade Infusion
Students in 3rd grade practiced their rhythms AND the world’s continents and oceans. We reviewed the 5 oceans and the 7 continents and then the students broke into groups of four. We handed out blank world maps and one student in each group clapped the rhythms of a continent or ocean. The remaining students had to look at the rhythms and pick which one was being clapped. Then they found that location on the world map. Students took turns clapping the locations and then we did some as a whole class. The students had fun and really knew their maps!
2nd Grade Infusion
Students will be able to retell a personal narrative in the form of a monologue, incorporating appropriate body language, voice modulation, and character development.
I can retell a story and include story elements (character, setting, action). I can sequence events and use temporal words to move the story along. I can retell a story with a clear beginning, middle and end. I can use my body and voice to retell the story.
In September our Digital Citizenship lessons in the library focused on what AI (Artificial Intelligence) is and how we have and will be using it in both our daily lives and in school. BCSD has provided guidelines for both students and staff to utilize AI in appropriate ways. Students watched a video provided by the office of technology and had discussions about ways AI can be useful, and ways that it can be used the wrong way. For a brief overview video from Common Sense Media on what AI is, click here.
Embedded in our discussions on AI were reminders about ways to be safe when we are online. Students are encouraged to always first consult the adults in their home before using the internet and to never give out personal identifiable information online. Common Sense Media offers some great tips about being safe online that we will share here:
Common Sense Media: Help Boost Kids' Safety, Privacy, and Security
When kids start to go online, whether they're playing multiplayer games, using educational apps, or just following their curiosity on Google, it's important that they understand the basics of online privacy and safety. With some general guidelines around what information is and isn't OK to share, and some help from parents when they're unsure, kids can have fun and learn a lot in the digital world.
Check out these 5 tips
Discuss personal vs. private info.
Talk about the difference between what's OK to share online (favorite color) and what's not (home address).
Use privacy settings.
Together, go through the settings on all new apps to make sure you both know what information your kids are sharing. Especially in the beginning, it's better to share very little.
Avoid location tracking.
Location-aware apps can be super helpful. But apps that use a device's location to help people find your kid or offer them ads for nearby businesses should be used with caution. Turn them off if you can.
Power up passwords.
Work together with kids to help them come up with complex passwords. Think outside the dictionary. Use phrases and special characters that make passwords hard to guess but easy to remember. Remind kids to keep passwords private and change them regularly.
Skip quizzes.
Help kids identify and avoid clickbait, quizzes, special offers, and anything that asks for personal or private information. This helps keep information secure and devices safe.
For more tips and information, visit Common Sense Media.
From the Desk of Nurse Foiles
School-wide vision screening will take place on Thursday, October 17th. The Lion’s Club will be assisting and using a Spot Vision Screener which provides quicker, more accurate results than a traditional eye screening. Opt-out forms will be going home in the Tuesday folders soon so you if you choose for your child NOT to have their vision screened using the Spot Vision Screener, please sign the form and return it by October 11th. All students will be screened regardless of participation on Thursday, October 17th at a later date by Nurse Amber using a traditional eye chart.
If you have something at home that arises with your child that you would like to share with me, please email me at FoilesA@bcsdschools.net or give me a call during the school day.
