Fall is here!!! A Special Thank You to YOU our parents, students, teachers and PTO for a successful Jog-A-Thon. It was so much fun and the weather was absolutely beautiful. Mr. Agostino and Mr. Remondino did a PHENOMENAL JOB!!!

Students love going out for recess, please dress them for the change of weather with cool crisp days upon us. On another note, students must have on closed toe shoes that secure their feet. Many of our students are wearing slides and crocs they pose a safety concern in the event we have a Safety Drill or an actual evacuation, they must have on shoes or sneakers to move quickly through the hallways without tripping. As a safety measure, parents will be called to bring in shoes, if students come to school with these shoes on.

Thank you to the parents who joined us on the Parent Pop Up last week to learn about the Stamford Public School required assessments that help us provide needed interventions for struggling students.

Next month, we will begin talking about science fair project and meeting with UCONN's Engineering students. Also, November 26, we will have our Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Luncheon from 11am-1pm, it will be RSVP only to ensure that we plan for the number of families who wish to join us. We will advertise in the week s to come, please let us know if you will be joining us.

Attendance is important for our students to be present and powerful. We expect students to be in school everyday if they are well. Parents, please schedule vacations and traveling trips for school breaks.

We appreciate all of the support that you have provided this school year. Remember, we are in this together.

In partnership-

Principal Brooks

file:///C:/Users/sbrooks/Downloads/SPS%20Nutrislice.pdf

[Social emotional learning (SEL) isn’t just something that should be practiced and taught at school. SEL skills are life skills, of course! These include skills like empathy, self-control, and decision-making. It’s important to mention that you don’t have to be an expert with social emotional skills to teach and practice them with children. Even small activities, like reading books and playing games, can strengthen social skills and teach children important skills along the way. This matters!

To teach your child empathy and perspective taking, spend some time watching a show or movie together. At any given time, pause and discuss how the characters are feeling. You might ask: “How are they feeling?” and “How would you feel if that happened to you?” Use this conversation to build on considering how others feel, discussing social cues, and caring about their emotions.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1trXUne30AetqF0y91LnrDk5u9MP2K6bpEFRElOw3gnA/edit?usp=sharing

KINDERGARTEN:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dbQTrG2-YOErWbj5uvV5t68rOATL_DvhGwfeZHcK-gA/edit?tab=t.0

FIRST GRADE:

Dear Families,

We’ve been having so much fun learning this fall! As always, we encourage you to get involved and stay connected. Your support truly makes a difference in helping Toquam be the best it can be!

Literacy: This month, students are deepening their understanding of the five vowel sounds and learning the most common spelling for each. They are also continuing to build their knowledge of nouns and how to use them in sentences.

Math: We are jumping into Unit 3, focusing on patterns and counting. Students are identifying and creating patterns using objects and numbers, while continuing to strengthen their counting skills.

Knowledge: Different Lands and Similar Stories is a unit that explores how people from different parts of the world share similar stories even though their location, cultures and traditions may be different. Students will identify common themes as well as comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences.

Important Dates:

- Field Trip: We are thrilled for our upcoming trip to SoundWaters on 10/28 and 10/31! Please ensure your child dresses in weather-appropriate attire and dressed to mess! Students may pack a lunch or order one from school. Please send in a water bottle. We can't wait for this exciting adventure!

- Diwali: 10/31 – Happy Diwali to those who celebrate!

- Halloween: 10/31 – Please note, no costumes in school.

Warm regards,
The First Grade Team

SECOND GRADE:

Hello 2nd Grade Families! Fall is underway and so are fun learning experiences in our 2nd grade classrooms. In math, we are continuing to work on unit 2. This unit focuses on reviewing and extending addition facts while linking subtraction to addition. Students are also using their knowledge of addition and subtraction facts to solve number stories. In CKLA Skills, students have been reading and spelling words with consonant digraphs and learning tricky spelling patterns. In CKLA Knowledge, we are continuing our study of Early Asian Civilizations. This domain introduced students to the continent of Asia and its two most populous countries, India and China. Students are learning about the early civilizations in India and China and how they were both able to form because of mighty rivers. In social studies, we are finishing our unit on communities and we will shift our focus to science. In science, we will begin studying the different states of matter and their characteristics. Please continue to encourage your child at home by having them read and practice their math facts daily. We appreciate your support!

THIRD GRADE:

Dear Families,

Our third grade scholars will be traveling to Whittingham Discovery Museum on October 28th. This is the first school trip for our students. They will get the chance to walk around and explore nature and animals. It will be a great supplement to our science unit on animals. Our third grade scholars are learning about verbs, nouns, adjectives, subject, predicate, root words, suffixes, and prefixes. Grammar is an essential component in writing and speaking. They are also learning about text features and the importance of highlighting and taking notes. In math, our scholars are learning to draw arrays to solve multiplication problems, mathematical language/vocabulary, measuring line segments to the nearest inch, half inch, and centimeter, and solving multi-step problems. In CKLA students are reading non-fiction texts on animals. They are learning about mammals, vertebrates, invertebrates, reptiles, fish, and amphibians. They are learning to become researchers and observe animal behavior. We are also studying animals in science. During CKLA, we read about the various animals and in science we observe and ask higher level thinking questions. Thank you for your support!
Third Grade Team

FOURTH GRADE:

🙋Hello 4th Grade Families! We had a crisp morning on Friday for our 🏃Jog-A-Thon🏃 and the students jogged and walked to exercise their muscles and support Toquam! We are continuing our work in Reading/Writing with a continued focus on the components of writing a well developed 📝personal narrative, including character traits, cause and effect, sensory details, dialogue, transition words, supporting details, and conclusions. We are starting Chapter 2 in EveryDay Math which will focus on square arrays, factors, multiples, prime/composite numbers, symmetry, and categorizing quadrilaterals. EM Games Online offers a wide range of math games to reinforce those skills learned in the classroom and the kids LOVE to play them! Study,Study, study those times tables so your child knows them automatically! The students have enjoyed playing the EveryDay Math game Factor Captor which reinforces factor pairs. A simple ten minute a night practice session of multiplication facts is so important and helps greatly with understanding current math skills! We are continuing our 💡Energy Works Science unit and the students have been experimenting with ping pong balls and how potential energy is affected when the distance from the ground is increased. In addition, the students are using marbles to record what happens when two objects collide and how that energy is transformed. 🎃October tips: Please remember to ask your child about their daily homework assignments and to check them over each night. Our classrooms would appreciate any donations of Kleenex boxes as the colder months are right around the corner and hand soaps to keep us all healthy. Miles of smiles from the 4th grade team.😊

FIFTH GRADE:

Hello Fifth Grade Families!
We’re excited to update you on what your children have been working on in class! Here’s a quick overview of our current learning:

Math: Whole Number Place Value and Operations
In math, students are exploring whole number place values and operations. They’re strengthening their skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and understanding how large numbers work in different contexts.

Social Studies: Learning About the First Settlers
For this part of the year, we are transitioning from science to social studies. Our focus will be on the First Settlers, where students will learn about the early groups that shaped the foundations of our country.

CKLA: Moving to Early American Civilizations
We’ve just wrapped up our unit on personal narratives in CKLA. Now, we’re shifting gears to study Early American Civilizations, where students will explore the fascinating histories of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca cultures.

Reminders
Please continue to check and sign your child’s planner every night. This is a great way to stay connected with their homework and school responsibilities. They should also be reading for 20-30 minutes each evening. Many students have been checking out books from the media center to use for their nightly reading.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher. Your support is greatly appreciated as we continue our learning journey!

Warm regards,
The Fifth Grade Team

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HnaA-p8ZdlvuTdv5oKtwenZ0L6wQbeWyPSpI0E3vTWM/edit?usp=sharing

Hello Toquam Families,
Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade: The Importance of Name Writing and Letter Recognition
As we settle into the school year, we want to share some important aspects of your child’s learning journey in kindergarten, first, and second grade.
1. The Importance of Writing Names and Letter Recognition
One of the foundational skills we focus on in kindergarten is teaching children how to write their names and recognize letters. Knowing how to write their names fosters a sense of ownership and pride in their work, while letter recognition is crucial for developing reading and writing skills. When children can identify and write the letters of their names, they begin to understand that letters have distinct sounds and meanings, setting the stage for future literacy development.
2. Learning Letter Sounds
In addition to writing their names, we are also teaching children the sounds that each letter makes. Understanding letter sounds is essential for phonetic awareness, which is a key building block for reading. We encourage you to practice these sounds at home. You can help your child by using fun activities, such as pointing out letters in books or signs, and encouraging them to say the sounds out loud. Remember, the way we teach letter sounds includes "mouthing" the sounds, which helps children understand how to form the sounds physically.
3. Homework Assignments
Our kindergarten teachers and your child’s EL/ML teacher are assigning work that reinforces these skills. Please be sure to check your child’s homework folder regularly. This work will include activities that focus on name writing and letter recognition, as well as exercises related to letter sounds. Your involvement in this process is vital for your child’s success, so we encourage you to engage with them during homework time.
Tips for Supporting Your Child at Home:
Practice Writing: Encourage your child to practice writing their name daily. Use fun materials like sand, playdough, or chalk to make it engaging.
Read Together: Spend time reading with your child and point out letters and sounds as you go along.
Sound Games: Play games that involve identifying letter sounds, such as “I Spy” with letters or rhyming games.
Remind for your child’s ML Teachers: Please connect to your child’s EL/ML teacher’s Remind, so they can share important updates on your child’s learning and progress. Letters and invites have been sent to your phone and in your child’s Homework folder.


Thank you for your continued support in your child’s learning. Together, we can foster a love for learning and set a solid foundation for their future education.


Warm regards,

The ML (formerly EL) Team
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ML Newsletter #4