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FES Knightly News
Weekly Family Newsletter
Week of December 18th, 2023
New Items and Important News
What is iReady?
You may have heard your child or their teacher refer to "iReady". FES uses several components of the iReady program from a company called Curriculum Associates. iReady is a computer-based learning and assessment program that all of our students utilize in the classroom. iReady not only drives what we teach in the classroom, but also helps us to personalize instruction for each student. Please take a look at all of the different components of iReady and how we are using them to move all students forward in their learning.
Reading and Math Diagnostics and Personal Pathways
All FES students take an iReady assessment three times a year (beginning, middle and end). The assessments allow us to track growth and progress across the entire year. Each student is given a goal to reach that shows at least a year’s growth. A benefit of this assessment is that it is an adaptive assessment. This means that it keeps varying the difficulty of questions to determine each student’s exact placement, strengths, and next steps for instruction. Teachers then use this information to plan explicit instruction in the areas of growth. These assessments also create an online pathway for each student. This becomes part of their independent work in the classroom. The online pathway teaches students specific skills based on the areas for growth from their diagnostic assessment. Every student in the building has his/her own personalized pathway and no two are the same. Students are required to complete 15 minutes/day each in math and reading on their pathway.
iReady Classroom Mathematics
This component is the main instructional curriculum that we use for all math instruction. Students are instructed on their grade level standards. Every student has a math workbook that is their record of learning. Units are centered around a standard. Each lesson builds upon the previous lessons. All lessons encourage the students to problem solve, think critically and discuss their thinking with other students. Students explore not only the correct answers, but explore different ways to solve problems. Teachers also have access to additional resources and assessments online to monitor student achievement.
Magnetic Reading
This is a new addition to the iReady line-up here at Florence. This is used in our Kindergarten through second grade classes. Magnetic Reading is a comprehensive reading program that focuses on reading foundational skills and fluency through connected texts. This program works with phonics (letters and sounds) and fluency. Students are explicitly taught the different letter/sound patterns in the English language in order to read accurately and with fluency as well as to accurately spell and write. It is a great supplement to the other reading resources that we are currently using.
If you have any questions about any of the components of iReady, please contact Mr. Burch at ryan.burch@boone.kyschools.us or Sarah Nunn at sarah.nunn@boone.kyschools.us.
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.
School Improvement Plan
Florence Elementary is committed to continual improvement of our instruction and programming. Each year, we develop and submit to the Kentucky Department of Education a Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) with feedback from teachers, site-based council, and families. Here are some highlights from this year's plan:
- One of our CSIP goals is to increase the reading proficiency of our students from 41% to 46.2%. We have implemented several changes to accomplish this. These include: hiring an additional interventionist at the kindergarten/1st grade levels, implementing a new phonics program (Magnetic Reading) and training teachers in its use, and revising our master schedule to include specific time for academic interventions in reading.
- Another CSIP goal is to increase the math proficiency of our students from 39% to 47.6%. We have implemented several changes to accomplish this. These include: continuing education for our teachers in implementing the iReady Classroom Math program, hiring an additional interventionist at the kindergarten/1st grade levels, and revising our master schedule to include specific time for academic interventions in math.
The CSIP also includes plans to improve our students' proficiencies in writing, social studies, science, and non-cognitive areas (SEL). More information about the CSIP will be included in future newsletters.
If you have any questions about the CSIP, please contact Mr. Burch at ryan.burch@boone.kyschools.us.
Reminder about Pokemon Cards
Please do not allow your child to bring Pokemon cards into school. They cause a lot of problems that disrupt the learning environment when students trade them or when they get lost.
Spring Sports Leagues from i9 Sports
i9 Sports offers organized soccer, t-ball, baseball, and flag football leagues for boys and girls ages 3-14. Spring seasons start April 20th. They offer:
- Age-appropriate instruction for each division
- Coaches background checked and certified
- All skill-levels welcomed; No tryouts!
- One day/week; practice held before game
Repeats from Last Week
Boone County High School Princess Tea Party
See the flyer below for more information about this event.
Join our Countdown to Winter Break Theme Days!
We would like to have a little fun in the days leading up to winter break. See the image below for our themes.
Knights of the Week
Congratulations! These students and staff were nominated by teachers because they ROCK!
Preschool – Tianah R. (Ms. Lobenstein AM)
Kindergarten – Harry H. (Ms. Oppen/ Ms. Howard)
1st – Amari M. (Ms. Speagle)
2nd – Jaxon F. (Ms. Groeschen)
3rd – Khloe W. (Ms. Shaw)
4th – Trevor P. (Ms. Bodenbender)
5th – Wyatt M. (Ms. Colby/ Ms. Riffe)
Staff – Ms. Chappell
Pictures from this Week at FES
Kindergarten Gym Class
Ms. Bachman's students "feed the reindeer"
Cheerleaders
5th Grade Work
Ms. Gambrel's students describe what respect looks like
Here's What We're Learning this Week
Kindergarten
Reading/Writing- We are working on 3 star writing using an uppercase letter, finger spaces and punctuation.
Math- We are working on finding different numbers to use to make 10.
Science- We are talking about changing temperatures.
Social Studies- We will learn about monetary incentives and scarcity.
First Grade
Reading/Writing-These next two days before break we will continue to read fun winter stories and write our own fun winter stories!
Math- We are continuing to spiral review content from the first half of the school year.
Social Studies- We are closing up our goods and services unit!
Science- We are learning about winter/holiday science topics!
Second Grade
Reading/Writing- Students will be reviewing skill taught so far this year. Skills include long vowels, using illustrations to help understand the text, discuss characters, setting and plots, etc.
Math- Students will work on comparing numbers and reviewing skill taught so far this year.
Science- Students are finishing their unit on Earth's Surfaces.
Third Grade
Reading/Writing- Students are finishing up their opinion writing.
Math- We are reviewing all math standards as students participate in an escape room!
Science-The students are understanding that force is a push or pull that cause a change in motion and involves an interaction between two objects.
Other Info from 3rd Grade- 3rd grade is having our Winter Celebration on Tuesday, December 19th. If you would like to send in any drinks, snacks, or goodies it would be greatly appreciated. The only restriction is that it must be store bought with an ingredients label.
Fifth Grade
Reading/Writing- In reading, students are learning about figurative language. In writing, students are learning verbs and shifts in verb tense.
Math- Students are learning about order of operations.
Science- Students will be learning about how we can protect Earth’s environments.
Social Studies- Students are exploring what influenced the founding of the United States and exploring the lives of two early presidents and the 4th of July.
Pictures from Our Past
This week's picture shows the construction of the new Florence Elementary School. This image is from 2000 or 2001.
From the Transportation Department
From FES Lead Bus Driver, Mr. Dave Burton (Bus 137)
With the cold/wet weather here, it is encouraged that the students that ride the bus keep their coats on during the ride to and from school.
Meet our Bus Drivers!
Ms. Rebecca Henry has been driving bus 98 for Boone County Schools for the last year and a half. She grew up in Mt. Healthy, Ohio, and attended Jane Hoop Elementary School. She has worked in the restaurant industry and for the transportation department of another school district. She is working to finish up her degree and become a sonogram technician. Ms. Henry has 3 BIG dogs (a German Shepherd, a Cane Corso, and an English Mastiff). She enjoys reading and baking, and runs a small business baking specialty cakes. Thanks for getting our Knights to and from school safely, Ms. Henry!
From the Cafeteria
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).
The next meeting is on Monday, January 8th at 4:15 in the library.
All of our SBDM policies are available on the FES school website.
On the Calendar
Important December Dates
- Student Council Meeting- December 18th; 7:45 AM
- Winter Break- December 20th- January 2nd
Click the calendar above to see the schedule of all events throughout the year.