December 2, 2016 Volume 5, Issue 3 November/December newsletter

-Elementary News-

Your Principal : Mr. Drew R. Wagner

What an arduous adventure it has been up to this point in the school year. It has been full of relationship building, collaboration, problem-solving and of course learning. This month in particular included Election Day, Donuts with Dad, and our famous Thanksgiving Feast. All events that have been actively supported by you! We appreciate it!

What a great time to be in school during an election year. The students and staff were all so excited to be a part of history. To celebrate Election Day all students were provided an opportunity to vote for their next president. In this process all students were presented age appropriate information on each presidential candidate. Then, after the general information was provided to all classes appropriately, they were able to vote for the next president. This was a really cool event to be a part of. This process was all about the student. All staff members’ political views/beliefs were not part of this process. Students were excited! I sure hope they mentioned something to you during this time.

Donuts with Dad and Morning with Mom each had historical turnouts. The best yet! These events could not run so smoothly without the support from the PFE, community members, and of course the generosity from our families. I sure hope everyone had the opportunity to enjoy this atmosphere with his or her child. If you missed it this time around, don’t worry. There is another opportunity this coming year. Dates coming soon.

Wow! The Thanksgiving feast was amazing. This is just another reason why we are unique. Providing this experience distinctly reflects back to why the students are so successful here at the FORT. What I mean is students see their family in the school setting, which prioritizes the importance of school. That alone will ensure student success in life. Understanding that we all are life long learners, in whatever environment that might be, is priceless. Thank you for your continued support.

That wraps it up. Let’s make December as productive as November. Each day is an experience for each child to take on. Let’s continue to make this experience one they will never forget. Please remember the responsibilities are shared with you, school, and one we tend to forget-your child. Our adventure continues!

Thank you all for your continuous support of your child’s education and letting us assist! Be thankful, stay positive, and encourage a growth mindset. Take care! Go PIONEERS! Respectfully, Drew R. Wagner Your proud elementary principal

Fort Calhoun Elementary 402-468-5714 1120 Monroe St Fort Calhoun, NE 68023 Your Principal: Mr. Drew R. Wagner dwagner@ftcpioneers.org

Engaging  +Learning  +Achieving  =Productive  PIONEERS!  

  What’s going on in classrooms?

Early childhood-Mrs. Royuk

Kindergarten-Miss Hall & Mrs. Clausen

Reading The first graders have been focusing on short e, short u, and ending blend sounds as well as consonant digraphs th, sh, ng. They are also focusing on the inflectional endings –ed, -es, and –ing. We continue to introduce new vocabulary words that go along with our essential question each week. The students are using their comprehension strategies to identify the main topic, characters, setting, and events in a story. Grammar The students have been working on nouns. We have then extended their learning to singular and plural nouns. We are still working on the writing process, as we become better writers each and every day! Math In math, the students have been working on counting by ones and tens to 120. They are also working on place value. Science The first graders have been delving deeper into the different parts of plants and the purpose each part serves. We have also been looking at how plants grow and change from a little seed into a plant or a flower. Social Studies The students have started a geography unit. We have been comparing and contrasting different areas such as towns, cities, and suburbs. We are also learning how communities and transportation are changing.

1st grade-Miss Juranek & Mrs. Gross

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Social/Emotional: -Talk about how to be a good friend -Initiate, join in and sustain positive play interactions -Establish friendships Math: -Identify shapes and describe them -Use one-to-one correspondence when counting a specific number of objects - Sort objects by different characteristics - Identify and write numbers (AM- #’s 1-6) (PM-#’s 1-15) Literacy: -Work on identifying and producing the sounds for letters B, G, S and N -Retell The Gingerbread Man -Identify beginning letter sounds -Identify concepts of print -Write our name using the correct letter formations Science and Social Studies: -Make muffins- taste and compare two different types -Sequence the steps to make muffins -Learn about Hanukah, Kwanzaa and New Year’s celebrations *We will also be going on a Gingerbread Man hunt around the school!!

A  Peek  at  Reading… A  Peek  at  Math… Concept of the Week: Rules to go by Sounds around us The places we go Time for work Meet your Neighbors Pitch in Essential Question: What rules do we follow in different places? What are the different sounds we hear? What places do you go to during the week? What do people use to do their jobs? Who are your neighbors? How can people help to make your community better? Category Words: action, sound, sequence, jobs, kinds of food, position words Vocabulary Words: cooperate, rules, listen, volume, routine, neighborhood, equipment, uniform, cultures, appreciate, community, and improve Phonics: i, n, c, o, d, High Frequency Word: to, and, go, you, do Comprehension: Key details, character, setting, events, key

details in sequence

Focus: 6-10 Numbers count, read, and write numbers 6-10 Focus: Comparing Numbers 0-10: Vocabulary: greater than, less than, equal Focus: Classify and Count Data: Vocabulary: category, classify, chart, tally marks Focus: Understand Addition: in all, join, addition sentence, add, plus sign (+), equal sign (=), more = 11 (ways to say 11-20)

Language Arts *Comprehension skill – Ask and Answer Questions, Main Idea & Key Details *Long Vowel Combinations *Vocab strategies – finding text evidence, synonyms/antonyms *Action Verbs, Present and Past Tense Verbs *Genre – Narrative Non-Fiction & Expository Text Math *Subtraction within 100 – open numberlines, break apart numbers, hundreds chart *Starting Subtraction with regrouping *MEMORIZE FACTS – Practice Flashcards Social Studies * Different Types of Weather and Storms * Earth’s Natural Resources Science *Animal habitats – Rainforest & Desert In 2nd grade we had the opportunity to have a special Science presentation with Animals on the Go! Thank you to the PFE and Mrs. Benoit for organizing and allowing us this opportunity! Also a big thank you to all the parents and family members who made the Thanksgiving Feast a huge success. What a wonderful school community we have! We are very thankful here in 2nd grade!

2nd  grade-­‐Mrs.  Benoit  and  Mrs.  Hallberg  

“The Adventure Awaits” Math: We can multiply numbers using different strategies We can memorize our multiplication facts Reading: We can tell the main idea and details in a reading passage We can answer questions about informational texts. We can make predictions while reading We can retell what we have read We can read about Native Americans. Grammar/Writing: We can combine sentences We can write the correct verb tense We can write possessive and plural nouns Social Studies: We can take care of our earth We can define different landforms Science: We can tell about animals and their habitats We can tell about the ecosystem

3rd grade-Mrs. Leishman & Mrs. Szlachetka

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Why did the turkey cross Monroe St.? To join the delicious elementary Thanksgiving meal!! Fourth graders wrote vocabulary sentences and haiku poetry on a festive turkey to help decorate the hall for our annual feast. Fourth graders have been working diligently to learn more information about vertebrates and invertebrates. Next weʼll be tackling their life cycles and learning more about ecosystems. In Social Studies students have finished studying the Northeast Region of the United States, including the geography, economy and cultures of those eleven states. Now we are investigating the Southeast Region! Animals in literature have been the theme in Reading Wonders, Unit 2. Now in Unit 3, fantasy and realistic fiction have been our focus. Lyric and haiku poetry have kept us busy with descriptive writing. Remember that Lexia is available to work on at home! This fabulous program reinforces what is taught in class. After learning new multiplication strategies, long division is our next goal in math. We also continue to review previously taught skills. Please check how your child is progressing on the weekly timed tests. The students who spend the most time studying basic facts are acing their timed tests and feeling successful!

Math--Students will finish division of decimals. They will then begin learning how to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers. Grammar--Students will continue working with verbs. Spelling--Students will be spelling words based on different syllable patterns. Reading--Students will develop comprehension skills: summarizing, determining theme, determining main idea and details, and identifying author’s point of view. They will explore realistic fiction, fantasy, expository text, and persuasive articles. Social Studies--Students will explore the development of the English colonies in America. Science--Students will complete a study of earth’s resources, including rocks and minerals, soil, fossil fuels, and alternative energy sources.

4th  grade-­‐Mrs.  Pemberton  &  Mrs.  Schleifer  

5th grade-Ms. Carlson & Mr. Joslin

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. We are preparing for that mad dash to finish the semester. The last day of the 2nd quarter is Dec. 22, so encourage your student to keep working hard and finish the semester strong. The Winter concert is coming up on Dec. 8th at 7pm, and we look forward to seeing the students dressed up and enjoying all the parent support that our students continue to receive. NWEA testing round 2 will be the week of Dec. 12 - 16. Encourage your student to get plenty of rest, eat right, and do their best. Good advice anytime! Math: We will be finishing chapter/topic 4 (represent and solve equations and inequalities) and that will get us through volume one of the book. Which means bright and shiny new math books again. Reading: As before, we are continuing to do the weekly story quizzes and vocabulary sheets along with the cold reads. You can be having discussions at home about what the reading skill of the week is along with what they are currently reading for pleasure. The more they are encouraged to read outside of school the stronger reader they will become. Language Arts: We had an early taste of the new NeSA Reading-English Language Arts testing which now involves text dependent analysis of writing prompts assessing grade level reading skills. The students gave us good efforts, and we will continue working to improve the quality and stamina evident in our work. Science: Early in December, we'll move from the microscopic world of genetics and the rules of heredity (Have you been thanked for passing on an X or Y chromosomes?) to understanding the macrocosm of Earth's ecosystems. We began slowly getting our aquarium ready for the 2017 arrival of rainbow trout eggs! Social Studies: After finishing our Ancient Greek unit, we have moved onto our last unit for the semester-Ancient Rome. We will be covering the beginnings of how Romulus and Remus founded Rome, moving on to the Roman Republic, and rounding out the semester with the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire. There will be little assignments added throughout this time so please be sure to check in with your student by looking into their agenda for what is happening in the world of Social Studies. Spelling: We are chugging along with our spelling words rapidly. We will be ending our second unit here in the next few weeks. To prepare for the Unit Two Spelling Test, I would recommend you quiz your child whether by having them spell the words verbally for you, practice writing the words, or creating their own sentences encompassing the word itself.

6th grade-Mrs. Larsen & Mr. Teeter

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march Newslette5 of 7

From  the  Guidance  Counselor:   We have been very busy with our unit the 2nd graders have renamed Anger Control. We continue to emphasize throughout the unit that anger itself is a feeling that is not a problem. It is the choices we make that sometimes causes anger to become a problem. As we explore many different approaches in order to understand anger and ways to calm down, we have been singing songs, reading books, and creating role plays. As usual, the kids' creativity in this has been phenomenal! Mrs. Adams

 

What’s  going  on  in  HAL?   Math HAL: I hope you have had time to check out the Computer Science website. We are getting closer and closer to creating new APPS. This site is very educational and works on step by step commands, which helps tremendously in creating problem solvers. They are working on a new hour of code that will come out on December 5. There are already many different themes involved with the hour of code. These themes include Stars Wars, Minecraft, Flappy Code, Frozen, Artist, Classic Maze, and Play Lab. Have fun exploring!

Website: https://studio.code.org/ L.A. HAL: The first HAL Art Show is coming soon! These students will be displaying their art on Friday, December 16. They have been working extremely hard to create their best art! Each art display will include artwork, display cards, brochures, and critique cards. These students are extremely excited to share information they have gathered and to showcase their own skills.  

The Elementary Holiday Concert is just around the corner, and WOW do the kids sound GREAT!! Here is one last reminder about what to expect! WHAT? 2016 Elementary Holiday Concert WHO? All Kindergarten through 6th Grade students WHEN? December 8, 2016 @ 7pm (all students need to arrive between 6:20-6:30pm) WHERE? The High School New Gym Appropriate attire for the concert is listed below. We are trying to avoid sweatpants and jeans if at all possible. If this is a problem for your child/family, please don’t hesitate to contact me! Boys: Dress pants/khakis and a nice shirt Girls: Dress pants/khakis and a nice shirt, dress, or skirt/shirt combo See you at the concert! Ms. Bryan

News from our Music Teacher

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Thank you for all that came to the PFE Family Movie and Pizza Night. We had a great turnout and hope to do this event again next year. If you missed our meeting this month, feel free to catch up by looking at the PFE meeting minutes on the Fort Calhoun School website PFE page. Much thanks to Anna Gepson, Tilden Nottleman, Jenna Robinson, Eva Hansen, and Alayna Prunty for volunteering their time to provide childcare at our November meeting. Your help was greatly appreciated! The PFE is currently selling orange FC Pioneer water bottles. Order forms will be coming home soon so we can get water bottles to you before winter break. Winter Basket Raffle is coming up quickly!! Raffle tickets can be purchased at the elementary Winter Concert - Dec 8th, at the Fire Station during Christmas in Calhoun - Dec 10th, and the high school Winter Concert - Dec 13th. We will also be sending home a raffle ticket order form in an upcoming Thursday folder. Raffle tickets can be purchased that way, as well, if you are not able to attend the other events. We have some GREAT baskets ready for you!! Our next PFE meeting will be Jan 18th from 6:45pm-7:45pm at the Jr/Sr high school. We still have many opportunities for those wanting to volunteer. Please email us at pioneersforeducation@gmail.com if you are interested in helping out or have any questions. Thank you! Robyn Lammers,-President Amy Melville -Vice President Dara Waters –Treasurer Melanie Bonacci -Secretary

PFE NEWS

Winter Weather Information

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It's getting cold out! As winter weather comes in with the wind, we wanted to send you some information how you will be contacted if there is no school or early/late dismissals. You will receive an automated phone call message from Dr. Johnson, our superintendent of schools, letting you know of this information. Please do not respond. Our main priority is to make this decision as early as possible for the safety of all. We understand that some families have to be moving a little earlier in the morning than others. So it has been a common practice to make the decision the night before or by 6:00am that morning. With that said, if you have changed your phone number recently, please contact the office to ensure we have the correct information. If you have any other questions on this topic, please contact the office. Thank you!

Fort Calhoun Elementary

December 5-9: K-2 NWEA Testing December 8: Winter Music concert; 7pm (High School) December 12-16: 3-6 NWEA Testing December 21: 3:00 dismissal December 22-January 4: No School January 5: School Resumes Happy New Year-2017 January 27: Wee Screen February 13 and 15: Parent-Teacher conference-Early out; 1:15pm dismissal February 17: No school February 27-March 3: Book Fair in the Library March 17: Malcolm Band Contest March 20: Preschool Enrollment opens April 13: Talent Show (TBD) April 24: Spring Music concert; 7pm (High School) April 28: Band Concert; 7:30pm (High School) May 5: Field Day May 12: Field Day in case of inclement weather May 17: Last day of school; 11:15am dismissal **All dates are subject to change.

**All Fridays during the year are early outs. The Elementary will dismiss students at 1:15pm.

December  21  is  our  last  day  of  classes  before  the  Holiday  Break.    It  is  a  full  day  with  a  3:00  dismissal.      

Reminder

Upcoming events:

Foster Learning in an inspiring and caring environment, provide

Opportunities For All students to be successful, instill the attributes of

Respect and Responsibility among staff and students alike, and present students with the

Tools to Succeed in life.

O u r P u r p o s e :

Engaging + Learning + Achieving = Productive PIONEERS!

O u r M i s s i o n a t F o r t C a lh o u n S c h o o l s :

1120 Monroe St. Fort Calhoun, NE 68023 Phone: 402-468-5714 Fax: 402-468-4516 E-Mail: dwagner@ftcpioneers.org

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