Forestdale School News
October 2023
📝 April 2024 Notes from Mr. Dintino
Welcome to April...Happy Spring! It is currently 35 degrees with a windchill feeling of 22 degrees at the time of this writing.
Spring is here and we are starting to plan for next school year. Class placement will take place in May for students rising from kindergarten to 1st grade and grade 1 to grade 2. We will also place our grade 2 students in classrooms transitioning to Oak Ridge.
Class placement is a complicated process as we attempt to create balanced classrooms both academically and social/emotionally. There are many elements involved that don't just involve the classroom teacher's input. There are elements such as academic services, general education intervention, and social fits with peers. That becomes a collaboration of many staff to ensure each child is in the best situation for academic and social/emotional success.
As we have gathered much information on your student throughout the year, I would like to get some information from you about your child. For current students in Kindergarten and Gr. 1 please fill out the following survey: Student Information Sheet
*If you have multiple children at Forestdale please complete a form for each child.
For students currently in Grade 2, transitioning to Oak Ridge next year, please fill out this survey from Mrs. Hill, Principal of Oak Ridge School:
https://forms.gle/NyzTiJY3Wek4vNmh9
*Complete a form for each child you have in Oak Ridge next year.
For your general information: I do not accept teacher requests, except for those families who have had a classroom experience with a sibling with teacher being requested. This would need to be mutually agreed upon by both the teacher and the family. I will consider avoidances of teachers or peer requested by families. I don't keep peer avoidance requests on file from year to year. Academic services needed will be the priority of a student's placement.
Mrs. Perdigao's pre-k classroom going through pre-pledge of allegiance ritual
Intervention Breakfast/April 3rd
On Wednesday, April 3rd @ 8:00 am, our Math and Literacy Interventionists will host a breakfast for families and students in the Forestdale Library. Families will experience math and literacy intervention programs with interactive activities that families and students can participate in.
If attending, please check-in the building through our front office with your student.
Solar Eclipse/April 8th
On Monday, April 8th, Forestdale students and staff will receive glasses compliments of the K-6 Elementary PTA. All classrooms will be in the back school field, with glasses on, to view the solar eclipse (95% totality) with their classrooms. This will occur from 3:00 pm until the beginning of dismissal at 3:20 pm. Let's hope for no clouds! The next total solar eclipse will occur August 23, 2044.
Inside Forestdale
Read Across America Guest Readers
During the week of March 4th-8th Forestdale School welcomed in guest readers from the community to read to classrooms. Each day of the week had it's own theme encouraging students to read. On Friday, the week ended with a Character Parade throughout the building. Students dressed up as their favorite book character.
Wellness Day/ March 29th
On March 29th, a 1/2 day of school, Forestdale School celebrated our 3rd Wellness Day of the school year. Students and staff were involved in a variety of activities that promote holistic development by fostering emotional regulation, social skills, and cognitive abilities.
Regular participation in wellness activities such as yoga, mindfulness exercises, and play enhances children's self-awareness and self-esteem while teaching them valuable coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety. Additionally, these activities encourage teamwork, cooperation, and empathy, nurturing positive relationships with peers.
I have received and observed positive feedback from both students and staff regarding structure of Wellness Day activities. It is unfortunate that weather didn't cooperate leading to the cancellation of Friday's Bunny Hop run/walk.
Mrs. Morgan/Ms Tarantino's 1st grade room showing off stuffies and eggs
Ms Litchman's 2nd grade classroom having a cozy moment w/ a movie
Spring Pictures/April 9th
Spring pictures for all student will be on Tuesday, April 9th through Geskus Photography. Families will be getting more information through Geskus.
PTA Book Fair
The K-6 PTA is sponsoring the Spring Book Fair in the Forestdale MPR/Cafe later in thew month. Friday, April 26th from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm will be 'Family Shopping' with an ice cream social. Monday and Tuesday, April 29th and 30th students will have an opportunity to visit the book fair with their classroom.
REACH Award Winners March 2024/Kindness
Kindergarten REACH Award Winners
Grade 1 REACH Award Winners
Grade 2 REACH Award Winners
📚Here's What's Happening in Other Parts of the Building
Social Workers Scoop
The Social Work Team
Alyssa Pestilli- school social worker- PreK, Kindergarten and First Grade
Rachel Darsch- school social worker - PreK, Kindergarten and Second Grade
Teddy Biron - social work esp
Social Work Scoop
Social Worker’s Scoop
~ April is a reminder that life is a beautiful,
ever-renewing cycle ~
E.E. Cummings
Kindergarten
Our students will be learning all about Flexible and Stuck Thinking this month. ‘Being flexible’ means we can think about what other people need, change our thinking, and change our plans. Others around us have comfortable thoughts and feelings when we have flexible thinking. ‘Stuck thinking’ is when we are unable to change what we are doing or thinking based on what is happening around us. When this happens, others around us have uncomfortable thoughts and feelings and sometimes the fun stops. Forestdale students are learning to have flexible thinking when schedules change and during play with friends.
Grades 1 & 2
Our students will be learning about empathy in April. This is an important skill for students to learn and it is the perfect time in their development, as they are beginning to look at the world from a less introspective lens. They will learn that their feelings and perspectives may be different from other people's and the importance of recognizing and honoring all feelings. This will help them build stronger relationships with other children and family members.
Specialist Spotlight
PE w/ Mr. McRae and Mrs. DeNardo
During the month of April we will be continuing to play cooperative games and working in stations, practicing a variety of skills. We have been focusing on teamwork and good sportsmanship this session.
Thank you again to all of our Forestdale Heart Heros. Together, we raised a grand total of $3,769.94 for the American Heart Association to help children with special hearts!!! Thank you families for contributing to a great cause.
Health w/ Mrs. Crosby
April Health and Wellness News
Specialists Night was definitely the highlight of this month. I so enjoyed meeting so many families and catching up with others. We made mood meter bracelets as an activity and 163 were made. The mood meter is a tool we use here at Forestdale to help us be aware of our emotions and the emotions of others. We recognize that all emotions matter which empowers us to label our feelings. For the rest of the school year we will be learning various coping strategies to use when we want to shift to a different quadrant on the mood meter. We will also be using the meta-moment to help us to regulate when we are having big feelings. How can we be our “best-self” when we are faced with a challenging situation.
Mood Meter Link … Open and Read
Cisco is loving her job!
REACH NEWS
Throughout the year we have worked on all the character traits of REACH. Respect and Responsibility, Empathy, Assertiveness, Courage, and Honesty. All of these traits help us to be our Best Self. This month we are putting all those traits together and working on kindness. We will be having our REACH assemblies on Friday, March 29th as it is our wellness day.
Science Lab w/ Mrs. Beers
During Term 3 Grade 2 students return to exploring local habitats with a focus on soils. Each class will make connections between Term 2’s investigation of weathering and erosion and how these Earth processes impact soils. Students examine and compare soil samples from a local forest, freshwater wetland and saltmarsh. We explore live earthworms, their life cycles and how they contribute to soil development. Students move on to seed explorations. We create models of seeds to understand how seeds travel and disperse. Science ends with labs on properties of matter and friction.
Grade 1 students become material engineers. We will explore properties of materials through a Museum of Science Kit. Lab groups investigate common Earth materials using the scientific method to determine which would be the best choice to build a strong wall to protect a garden from rabbits.
Grade K students investigate thermometers, schoolyard areas where the temperature is shady and cool or hot and sunny. Using a Grade K kit from the Museum of Science, lab groups explore, design and test different materials to select which would be the best choices for constructing a cool outdoor place for a pet.
Music w/ Ms Tofteroo
Library w/ Mrs. Scott
In library special we continue to use the PebbleGo database in all grades for an introduction to research. Kindergartner's have been sharing facts they learn with their class in short presentations and grade 1 and 2 have been making creature books as a culmination of their animal research.
We will continue in term 3 to use the SORA ebook collection to explore visual settings that can help readers. If you haven't seen either of these resources please use my Clever page to access them from home. There's also a link for Encyclopedia Britannica if your child has curiosity about any topic and you'd like them to use a trusted and appropriate tool to learn more. In the coming weeks overdue library book notices will be emailed followed by paper copies sent home so that we can get many of the long overdue items returned to school. In early May book checkouts will cease for this year as I attempt to get all books or replacement/ money to our school library. Make sure the weekly checkout email on Friday afternoons is not going to your SPAM folder so you can easily keep track of library books/ due dates
Technology w/ Mr. Birmingham
Kindergarten: Brickyard Blocks engineering station. “Code-a-pillar” on ipads. “Pop the Bubble”
on Chromebooks.
Gr. 1: Creating movies with Toontastic iPads
Gr. 2: Learning to type with Typetastic
Art w/ Mrs. White
April’s Earth Day serves as inspiration in the art room. Using recycled materials, Kindergarteners will learn about sustainable West African paper crafts and make their own bowls. First grade students will study the drawings of naturalist John Audubon and build birds out of donated newspaper, cardboard and paper-mache. Second grade artists will design and create whimsical masks in the Oaxacan tradition of cartoneria (paper and paste sculptures).
Health Office
Mrs. Lopes and Mrs. Nardone
Here are a few updates/reminders from the health office:
We have received updated guidelines from Massachusetts Department of Public Health regarding Covid 19
1. COVID/Flu/RSV - all being referred to under the umbrella of respiratory viruses
2. People diagnosed with any of these should remain home if they have a fever and may return 24 hours after fever has resolved without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms are improving
3. People diagnosed with any of these should mask when indoors with others for the first five days
If your child had difficulty with the vision or hearing screening at the start of the year you would have received a referral to follow up with a specialist. Please return documentation that your child was seen by an eye specialist at your earliest convenience along with any recommendations for school
Polished Dental will be returning May 6th. If you returned the yellow folder in the fall with parent consent to have your child's teeth cleaned you do not need to send in additional consent, your child will be seen again. If you did not, and you would like for your child to have their teeth cleaned at school let us know and we will send home information about the Polished Dental Program and consent to participate.
Environmental allergens will soon be in full bloom, if your child has allergy induced asthma, please be sure we have an inhaler in the health office
Project 351/Cradles to Crayons
Please help support economically disadvantaged families by donating 'like new clothing' to Cradles Crayons sponsored by students at Sandwich Middle High School. The drive runs until April 5th. There is a donation bin in our main foyer.
📅 Important Upcoming Events/Dates:
Public Forum/Rt. 130 Intersection
Tuesday, April 2nd @ 6:00 pm in the multi purpose room
Intervention Breakfast
Wednesday, April 3rd @ 8:00 am in the Forestdale Library
Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, April 3rd 2:45 pm-4:45 pm
Spring Picture Day
Tuesday, April 9th
April Vacation
Monday, April 15th thru Friday, April 19th/Students return to school on Monday, April 22nd
PTA Book Fair
Friday, April 26th 5:30 pm -7:30 pm Family Shopping/Ice Cream Social. Monday and Tuesday, April 29th and 30th during the school day.
Arbor Day
Friday, April 26th/Triple Crown Tree Assembly
Sandwich Elementary PTA
Sandwich Elementary PTA serves the children and families of Forestdale and Oak Ridge schools by providing events and fundraising opportunities to support the educational needs of the children of those schools. Please consider joining!
2023-2024 PTA MEETINGS
Tuesdays at Forestdale School Library
- April 9th 6pm
- May 14th 6pm
- June 4th 6pm