The Croc Chronicles ~ Family Style

Have the best week!

BLAST Kids' Club ~ after school 4:00-5:30

Soccer Games ~ Heritage Park 5:00 & 6:10

Connerton Calypso Band ~ 9:00-9:30 in cafeteria

Art Club ~ 4:00-5:30 (4th & 5th Grades)

Wear Your Class Colors!

Chargers: Orange

Kindergarten: Black

First Grade: Yellow

Second Grade: Purple

Third Grade: Red

Fourth Grade: Green

Fifth Grade: Blue

Wind Down Wednesday ~ Join us for a live read aloud on our "Connerton Elem. School" Facebook page at 7:00 pm! We can't wait to surprise you with a mystery reader!

Happy Thursday!

3rd Grade MOSI Field Trip ~ All chaperones must be approved volunteers complete with fingerprinting and background check (cost is $41.25 and new this year) - be sure to apply sooner rather than later! See the link at the bottom of the S'more to get started.

Have a wonderful week!

Student of the Month ~ in cafeteria from 8:40-9:20 (rescheduled from 9/27)

BLAST Kids' Club ~ after school 4:00-5:30

Soccer Practice ~ after school 4:15-5:15

Pumpkin book reports ~ students can bring their pumpkins and book reports to the media center (see info letter that was sent home). Voting will take place at the Fall Festival on Friday.

Connerton Calypso Band ~ 9:00-9:30 in cafeteria

Art Club ~ 4:00-5:30 (4th & 5th Grades)

Wear Your Class Colors!

Chargers: Orange

Kindergarten: Black

First Grade: Yellow

Second Grade: Purple

Third Grade: Red

Fourth Grade: Green

Fifth Grade: Blue

Wind Down Wednesday ~ Join us for a live read aloud on our "Connerton Elem. School" Facebook page at 7:00 pm! We can't wait to surprise you with a mystery reader!

Whit's Night ~ Join us at Whit's between 5:00-8:00 for some delicious custard - proceeds to support our school! Please tell them you're with Connerton; thank you!

1st Quarter ends

Fall Festival ~ Join us for some fun and games this evening from 5:00-7:00! Tickets can be purchased with cash only. Be sure to check out our pumpkin book reports that will be out on display and vote for your favorite.

10/14 & 10/15 ~ No school for students

10/16 ~ Open House Primary 5:15-6:15 & Art Club (4th & 5th Grades) 4:00-5:30

10/17 ~ October Student of the Month & Open House Intermediate 5:15-6:15

10/18 ~ Soccer Games (@Heritage Park)

10/21-25 ~ Grade level competitions - vote for the teacher who will turn into a pumpkin on Halloween! Students can pay $1 to get 4 bingo dobs to create a giant pumpkin belly on the teacher they want to turn into a pumpkin!

10/22 ~ Soccer Practice 4:15-5:15

10/23 ~ Report Cards released

10/25 ~ Storybook Parade in the bus loop beginning at 10:30

10/29 ~ Picture Retake Day

Due to technical difficulties, we had to create a NEW Facebook page. Please like/follow the new one and remember to check it often. That's where you'll find all the latest info! Go check us out at "Connerton Elem. School" Thank you!

You can hop over and see the video from our first "Wind Down Wednesday." Last night, Mrs. Gillespie read "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers," a story about a brave daredevil named Phillipe Petit who walked across a wire he set up between the roofs of the twin towers back in 1974. It was a real nailbiter! You can look forward to these read-alouds on Wednesday nights at 7:00pm. The more the merrier!

Don't forget to log your minutes on Beanstack after listening to the story! Every minute with a book counts, and we want to beat our minutes from last year.

Grade level newsletters will be sent next Friday, October 4th. Please be on the lookout for information regarding homework in that newsletter. We have worked hard to ensure that homework is uniform across grade levels.

As always, be sure to have your child read frequently. Remember, readers are leaders!

Be sure to join us as we walk the bus loop dressed as our favorite storybook characters on Friday, October 25th! Check out the form that went home with all the guidelines for dressing up. It's going to be so fun!

WOW! Our first Croc Cart Shopping Extravaganza took place over the course of three days! Students got to shop for prizes and privileges/activities in our media center with the help of our PTA and Instructional Aids. A great big, heartfelt thank you goes out to all who helped - whether it was donating prizes, volunteering to run the event, or just by encouraging your Croc to be their best self every day!

Students will begin redeeming their coupons next week so stay tuned to hear about all the fun they will be having! Students purchased extra recess, game room, lunch with admin, teacher assistant, doing the morning announcements, reading to a younger class, helping with Mrs. Moore's coffee cart, Lego wall, and...wait for it...arm wrestling admin!

We are already thinking ahead to stocking our cart for the next go round so feel free to take a peek at our Wishlist and see if there is anything you might be interested in donating. The kids LOVED it ALL!!!

Families, you should have received your child's school pictures. If you still need to order, the NEW Code Lookup Tool is now available. Simply scan the QR code and follow the directions to access your child's picture ordering gallery. No need to contact Customer Service for an access code! *Student last name and Student ID number will be required for data security.*

Picture retake day is Tuesday, October 29th.

Check out these great pictures from the Special Olympics this month! We are so proud of every one of our participants!!

Last year we reached our goal of reading for 1,000,000 minutes and this year we are looking to increase that number to 1,500,000!! All students and staff can participate in this year-long, district-wide reading challenge called R.A.C.E. to Read Pasco!

The goal for Pasco County Schools is to collectively read 15-million minutes. This goal can be reached if we all remember to read and log our reading minutes. Reading just 30 minutes each day will help us achieve our goal. Logging your minutes is easy!

Step 1 - Find the Beanstack app on the myPascoConnect dashboard.

Step 2 - Select R.A.C.E. to Read Pasco!

Step 3 - Select “Log Reading” to start the timer or use the calendar to log past minutes.

Step 4 - Enter the book title and log your reading.

Learn more about R.A.C.E. to Read Pasco! (Link to https://bit.ly/467mSDg)

Now that the school year is in full swing, our car rider pickup line is moving much faster than it did those first few weeks. Please be sure you are in the car line by 4:15 each day. Our contracted time for staff ends at 4:20. To respect their time, we ask that all cars are in line no later than 4:15 pm. That will help us get our staff members out of the hot sun and back to their classrooms to finish up for the day before heading home. Once car line has ended, you'll need to park and come inside to show your ID and sign out your child(ren). Thank you so much for your attention to this matter.

The Pasco County School District is participating in a full-scale K-12 adoption of Science instructional materials aligned to the Florida’s State Academic Standards for Science. We would like to invite you to be part of the narrowing team, which serves to review and narrow the materials submitted by publishers during the adoption process. To submit your interest for an opportunity to serve on the narrowing team, please complete this form. There is an 8-10 evening commitment for this work. A detailed list of courses to be reviewed, dates, and times of narrowing team commitments are available on the instructional materials adoption website. The deadline to submit your interest is September 20, 2024. Parents/guardians selected through the randomized screening process will be notified by October 7 via email. We appreciate your partnership in this very important work.

Hello,

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Karen Allen and I am the youth librarian at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library of the Pasco County Library System. I would like to update you on what’s happening at the library.

September is National Library Card Sign Up Month! I encourage teachers, students and their families to get a library card to access our other many resources. There’s an easy way to get a virtual card for anyone who does not already have one. Just visit our webpage https://pascolibraries.org/ and click on Get a Library Card. This provides access to all our virtual resources.

In honor of Library Card Sign-Up Month, Pasco County residents can visit the library to receive a limited-edition Tampa Bay Buccaneers Library Card! Having the real card offers so much more. Not only can one borrow books with it, but they can also check out DVDs, video games from various platforms, Launchpads, toys, bird watching kits, knitting looms, ukuleles, mobile hotspots, museum discovery passes, seeds and more. I invite everyone to stop by the library to get a library card.

During September, there’s a Buccaneers Book Blitz Reading Challenge. Log your reading minutes and complete activities on the Pasco County Library System’s Beanstack. Complete the Buccaneers Book Blitz for a chance to win the grand prize of a signed football! Two additional winners, who completed the Buccaneers Book Blitz, will be selected to win a signed mini Buccaneers helmet. Tackle Reading with Pasco County Libraries and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers!

Also, on Saturday, September 28th, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Captain Fear and the street team will be at the Land O Lakes Library for Super Sized Storytime at 10:15 a.m.
I wanted to let you know that we are available to assist you and your students. Library staff are available for library card sign ups, present information about all of our great resources and how to access them, read a story, and more. We are ready, willing and able to visit for school events and meetings such as Great American Teach-Ins, PTA meetings, and staff meetings. We are also available virtually as well as to come out in person.

Please let us know how we can assist you and your students. I am available if you have any questions about the library or ways we can help you and your students.

Thank you,

Karen Allen
Youth Librarian
Pasco County Land O' Lakes Branch Library
2818 Collier Parkway
Land O' Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 929-1214
kallen@pascolibraries.org

Be sure to check out the list of Sunshine State Young Readers (SSYR) book lists for primary and intermediate grades at the links below. Students who read all the books and pass the quizzes will be eligible to participate in a fun event at the end of the school year to celebrate! Last year, our SSYR students went to Main Event and enjoyed an afternoon of pizza and games! You can check out these amazing books from your local library or our media center.

Welcome to our family! We are thrilled to have you join us at Connerton Elementary. To celebrate and show your school spirit, we invite you to visit our exclusive spirit wear page by clicking the link below. There, you’ll find a variety of items perfect for students, parents, and supporters alike.

Feel free to browse and order from our fundraiser – there’s something for everyone! From t-shirts and hoodies to hats and accessories, you’ll find the perfect way to show your Connerton pride. By purchasing spirit wear, you’re not only helping us raise essential funds for our school but also joining us in creating a unified and vibrant school community.

Your support allows us to continue funding important programs, resources, and events that benefit all our students. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or community member, your involvement and enthusiasm make a significant difference.

Thank you for being a part of our Connerton Elementary family. Together, we can look the part, feel the part, and be an integral part of our wonderful school community.

Dear Parents,

We are pleased to inform you that the results of the recent FAST testing are now starting to become available. Please check your child's assessment window to know when your child has taken the test. Students in grades 3-5 have completed both reading and math assessments. First grade has taken reading and will take math on Monday, September 16th (due to a change to the original testing schedule). Second graders have taken reading and will be done with math by Friday. Kindergarten classes will be done on Monday the 16th. These assessments provide valuable insights into your child’s academic progress and areas for improvement.

FAST is used to track student progress in reading and math in accordance with the state's Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards. The test is given on a computer and covers the entire year's lessons. In grades 3-5, each test has 35–40 questions, and students are given achievement levels from 1–5. A level 3 indicates that a student is performing at grade level. In grades K-2, each test has between 27 - 34 questions.

FAST results are used to identify areas that may need extra instruction and support. The test is designed to be quick and efficient and provides teachers with real-time data on their students' academic progress. This allows teachers to make immediate adjustments to their instruction.

Remember that students are tested on end-of-year expectations. It is expected that your child will receive a level one (particularly in math) at the beginning of the school year, as they have not been taught the standards for the entire year. You will see much growth during the next two windows.

More information will come at your child's Open House night!

Here is a link for more information:

https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/arm/page/fast-testing

Parent Edition

Our Mission- To enhance Algebra 1 outcomes for all students.

Our Vision- Empowering every Pasco County student to successfully apply mathematics in college, career, and life.

Current Reality- We have created a vision both as a district and as a math team that includes high expectations for all our students. The district vision has been ingrained within all aspects of work in our system. We continue to see more students accessing higher levels of math within their K-12 career. The goal of this work is to increase proficiency, provide opportunities for students to access higher levels of math and communicate a vision that includes high expectations for all students.

Our Current Math Identity- Starting in 2021, Pasco began looking forward to both the implementation of the B.E.S.T. Standards for Mathematics and new high quality instructional materials. A team was assembled to review the materials and craft a cohesive vision and framework for equitable mathematics instruction in Pasco classrooms.

Our Commitment

Pasco County’s Math Priority is to build teacher capacity to deliver high quality math instruction in K-8 resulting in greater student Algebra Readiness.

We will accomplish this by:

· Developing the belief of all stakeholders in the principles of growth mindset and that all students can learn and apply mathematics at high levels

· Providing a Parent Toolkit

· Feedback surveys and Focus Groups Structures for various stakeholders

· Consistent communication highlighting Algebra Readiness awareness

We define Algebra Readiness as: Demonstrating the foundational skills acquired to support proficiency at each grade level.

We define high quality math instruction as:

· Developing and implementing standards-aligned, grade level mathematical tasks

· Responsive to student needs

· Effective and intentional implementation of the math instructional framework

· Intentional and consistent integration of the MTRs

Expected Outcomes

· Enhanced Teacher Efficacy

· Improved Student Proficiency

· Increased Student Engagement and Ownership

Why is this necessary?

“Numerous studies show that algebra readiness is correlated with future academic success, including major benchmarks such as graduating from high school, attending college, and securing future employment.” Curriculum Associates https://www.curriculumassociates.com/about/press-releases/2024/03/new-curriculum-associates-

The communication between home and school is so important. It is our goal to keep that open line with you, our partner, in your child's education. It is the expectation that your child's teacher communicates any academic and/or behavioral concerns with you and conferences take place as needed. Progress reports will be released on September 20th. All students who will receive less than a C on their report card will be notified by the teacher before report cards come out.

We hope the grade level newsletters were helpful. Please expect these each month so that you can be informed about what your child is learning and how you can support her/him at school.

Here’s a brief overview of what data is collected during the year to gauge a student's success.

1. Classroom Assessments: These include quizzes, tests, projects, and collaborative participation. Teachers use these tools to gauge students' understanding and progress on a regular basis.
2. Standardized Tests: These are administered at the district, state, or national level to provide a uniform measure of student achievement. Standardized tests such as FAST do NOT count for grades. However, district module assessments do count for grades.
3. Progress Reports: These are issued midway through a grading period to inform students and parents about current performance and areas needing improvement.
4. Report Cards: At the end of each grading period, schools compile grades from various assessments and assignments to create report cards. These report cards provide a summary of a student's performance in each subject. Teachers will send home performance data on these assessments and assignments to let you know how your child is doing.

Each of these components plays a crucial role in providing a comprehensive picture of a student’s academic abilities and progress.

Please reach out to your teacher for further information on your child's progress.

Families, please be sure to double check your Parent Bill of Rights in the portal. There is a section pertaining to the clinic that allows our nurse to administer aid if your child comes to the clinic. Thank you!

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, parents are invited to join their child for lunch at a picnic table in our courtyard. Please click on the link below to sign up!

We love a good celebration! Please be sure to order any cupcakes/goodies from our cafeteria when treating the class. Unfortunately, we cannot allow any store-bought or homemade goodies. Please note that any orders must be placed 10 business days ahead of the event. The link can be found below. Thank you!

Please make sure students are wearing helmets when riding their bike to school. Students under sixteen must wear a helmet that meets safety standards. If your child needs their helmet properly fitted, bring to school and we can fit them. Thank you!

Any students needing to leave before the end of the school day must be signed out through the front office by 3:15 pm. After this time, students will be dismissed at our regular dismissal time of 4:00pm as we prepare for dismissal.

For safety reasons, transportation changes cannot be made through your child. All changes in transportation must be made through the front office by 3:15 pm. Thank you.

This is a reminder that we do NOT have park and pick up during dismissal. Please do NOT park on the grass across the street or use the Primrose neighborhood. This creates a safety issue not only for our students, but also for the neighborhood. Emergency vehicles cannot get in and out when cars are parked along the street. Thank you for helping keep our Crocs and our neighbors safe.

Charger families, please plan for pickup at the gates at 9:40 each morning. Due to teacher contact time in their contract, we had to adjust the time that teachers open their door for students each morning. Please plan for teachers to meet you at the gate at 9:40 to honor their contracts. Thank you.

The District is making several changes to our volunteer requirements and application process for the 2024-2025 school year. Effective 7/1/2024, all volunteers will be required to complete a Level 2 background screening every 5 years. This background check will review records in the state of Florida as well as the national FBI database. The cost for this screening is $41.25 and volunteers will be responsible for paying this cost. The District will pay the yearly monitoring fee for each volunteer. To keep your prints current, you must complete the Raptor application yearly. If you do not reapply by the deadline provided, you will be responsible for the cost associated with a new background screening.

Before you can be approved to volunteer for the 2024-2025 school year, you will need to complete a Raptor volunteer application and this background screening.

You can access the 2024-2025 Volunteer Application on July 1st, 2024. This application will be posted on the Volunteer Programs page of our website at the following link: https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/hreq/page/volunteer/.

The District partners with Fieldprint for fingerprinting appointments and processing. Fieldprint has locations throughout the county and many sites are open outside of regular work hours, including weekends. The code listed below is now active. We would encourage you to be printed as soon as possible to avoid any delays once the application opens. Please use the following directions to schedule a fingerprinting appointment:

1. Go to the following link: FIELDPRINT SCHEDULING.

2. Select “sign up” if you have never utilized Fieldprint before.

3. Select “I know my code” from the dropdown menu when prompted to do so.

4. Enter the following code, “FPPASCOVECHSVol”.

5. After selecting your appointment, you will be prompted to make the payment.

The following is a list of offenses that disqualify individuals from approval. Disqualifying Offenses.

Any other felony offenses, crimes against children, and/or violence will be reviewed in accordance with the District’s Professional Review Committee. This committee is responsible for reviewing background screenings for employees, vendors and volunteers.

Please note the average processing time for reviewing and approving background screenings is 30 days. We encourage you to complete your volunteer application and background screening early so that you can be approved to volunteer for upcoming events and opportunities for the 2024-2025 school year.

We know this additional background screening places a financial responsibility on our volunteers, but the District believes this step is necessary to ensure we have up to date background information pertaining to all adults that interact with students and staff on our campuses. Our students’ safety is always our first priority.