FES Knightly News
Weekly Family Newsletter
Week of March 25th- March 29th
New and Important Information
New Language Arts Curriculum Public Review
Boone County Schools’ elementary teachers and administrators have spent the last school year learning more about structured literacy and improving foundational instruction in our elementary classrooms. After nearly a year of professional learning together and in consultation with our K-5 teachers, leaders, and SBDM councils, our elementary schools have recommended that the Superintendent select Core Knowledge Language Arts by Amplify (CKLA) to be the District elementary literacy program.
This program comes highly recommended by the Kentucky Department of Education and contains high-quality instructional materials grounded in the Science of Reading. You can find more general information about CKLA Amplify HERE.
The Superintendent makes the final selection and before that time, we wanted to provide an opportunity for stakeholder review and input. To review, here is a video specifically for families as well as a Public Review Curriculum Map Organizer CKLA with links to all the curriculum maps for each grade level K-5. Upon your review, we would like your feedback! You are welcome to leave any comments or feedback for us HERE.
If you have any further questions or would like to review samples of the CKLA materials in person, please reach out to Dr. Jenny Watson- jenny.watson@boone.kyschools.us by March 29, 2024.
Thank you for supporting the Boone County Schools!
For 5th Graders attending RA Jones Middle School Next Year
The RA Jones annual 6th grade parent orientation will be on Wednesday, March 27th, 6:00-7:00 at Jones Middle School (8000 Spruce Dr. in Florence). Click the link below for more information:\
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1scHKGuEpn9fVf3lZ8-dEUy823ECutFplovk2RK-6dvg/edit?usp=sharing
Circus Mojo Family Night
Please join us on Thursday, March 28th from 5:30-6:30 for juggling, acrobatics, and other circus fun (minus the animals). No need to RSVP, the more the merrier! The event is free of charge but the PTO will be offering popcorn, drinks, and candy bars for purchase!
Reminder about Cell Phones
Repeats from Last Newsletter
Book Fair is Coming!
The week we've all been waiting for...Book Fair Shopping! Students that have money or an e-wallet will shop at the beginning of their UA (specials) time. We had lots of fun playing Bingo and Trivia-those who won received a free book from the Book Fair. Be sure to join us during Family Night Thursday-4:30-7:30, shopping and raffle entry for those who make a purchase Thursday evening. We will be closed during Circus Mojo.
Students will shop during Unified Arts time the week of March 25. Family night will be Thursday, March 28th from 4:30-7:30 (during the Circus Mojo family event, although the book fair will be closed during the show).
Don't forget to set up your student's eWallet account for cashless,
stress-less shopping. Friends and family can even contribute funds! Set oneup here: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/fesrocks
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- This week and next we will be reading a classic, The Wizard of Oz! We will do character analyses and really look into the plot and setting of the story!
Math- Students will continue to work with 2D and 3D shapes.
Science- Students will continue to learn about weather, specifically different types of severe weather.
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.
Other information from 3rd Grade- We will be taking the Reading and Math MVPA this week.
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: (Jan.29-Mar.1) Djembe (West African Hand drum) Darbuka (Turkish Hand drum) Lekgodilo (South African Flute) Egg Shaker (America) Steel Pan (pitched percussion instrument from island of Trinidad) Students will also collaborate musically through singing songs, drumming on pads to notated rhythms, learning dance choreography, listening and analyzing music, and playing fun music related games.
Photos from Around the Building Last Week
Kindergarten Animal Research
Merseigne researches turtles in Ms. Oppen's class.
Bus Evacuation Drills
Being prepared keeps us safe!
Ms. Ballard's Class
2nd grade learns about seed dispersal
Ms. Ballard's Class
2nd grade learns about seed dispersal
Ms. Ballard's Class
2nd grade learns about seed dispersal
Ms. Ballard's Class
2nd grade learns about seed dispersal
Ms. Ballard's Class
2nd grade learns about seed dispersal
Ms. Ballard's Class
2nd grade learns about seed dispersal
Ms. Ballard's Class
2nd grade learns about seed dispersal
Happy Birthday!
Birthdays this week include:
Students
- Leo P
- Ezra D.
- Hunter H
- Karmen T.
- Mario L.
- Kevin M.
- Maria M.
Staff
- Ms. Vater
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 comes from September of 1969. It shows the passengers on Tom Bonar's bus no. 55. The route had as many as 115 pupils at times on a bus designed to carry 55.
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).
CClick here to view the January minutes. At the February meeting, SBDM approved the hiring of two special education para-educators for the remainder of the year. They also reviewed and approved the family engagement policy for next school year. The full minutes of the February meeting will be available after the March meeting.
The March meeting has been rescheduled from it's original date of March 4th due to kindergarten registration. The meeting is now March 11th at 4:15 in the library. Click here for the March agenda.
All of our SBDM policies are available on the FES school website.
On the Calendar
Important January/February Dates
- March 26th; Boone's Beginners, 5:30-7:00, Burlington Elementary Cafeteria
- March 26th; Cooking and Baking Club; 3:45-5:30, Ms. Vater's Room
- March 28th; Circus Mojo, 5:30-7:30, FES Gym
Click the calendar above to see the schedule of all events throughout the year.