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Vol. 4 - Issue 7

April

2011-2012

HARMONY HIGHLIGHTS For Wildcat Families

From the Principal, Anne Marie Keskonis

Dear Harmony Parents,

In the next few months we begin planning for the next school year. Each year we offer our families the opportunity to provide input on class placements for the following year. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining class lists. The teachers and the administrative team work together in an ef-fort to plan for the groupings of children for the next school year. We look to balance the number of boys and girls in each class while considering ability levels and compatibility, learning styles and teacher expertise. Research shows convincingly that parent involvement has a critical effect on children’s learning, attitudes about school and aspirations. Parents have a deep understanding of their child’s strengths and types of opportunities they feel are appropriate for their child’s education. Harmony takes great pride in making ap-propriate connections for students and teachers. Please provide information about your child’s learning needs that might be helpful as we prepare class lists for the fall. Turn it in to your child’s teacher or the front office no later than April 30, 2012. As always, we request that you do not list specific teachers. Please include your child’s name and current grade lev-el. Our intent is to provide the best learning environment for every student and your input is appreciated. Together we will make an unbeatable team and we look forward to a great 2012-2013 school year! Sincerely, Anne Marie Keskonis

From the Assistant Principal - Emily Keag

Apr 2 - 6 SPRING BREAK

Apr 9 Special Olympics/Redner (9:30)

Apr 10 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast (8:50)

Bus Safety Puppetry Program (K - 1st)

District Area Board Mtg. (7:00 pm)

@ Collins Hill H.S.

Apr 12 High Touch High Tech (1st)

Dairy Queen Spirit Night (4-9)

Apr 13 Sybil Deacon Visit (K,1st,2nd)

Apr 16 Earning For Learning Contest Begins

Apr 17 5th gr. Parent Orientation (7:00pm)

@Jones M.S. (for rising 6th graders)

Skate Country Spirit Night (6:30)

Apr 19 Tanner’s Grille Spirit Night (4-10)

Apr 20 CRCT Prep Ralley (2:00)

CRCT Testing 3rd, 4th, 5th Monday, Apr 23 - Friday, Apr 27

Apr 26 Papa John’s Spirit Night

5th gr. Gifted Parent Orientation (7:00)

@Jones M.S. (Rising 6th grade FOCUS)

Apr 30 CRCT Make-Ups

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

Apr 30 - May 4

April 2012

May Dates To Post:

Kindergarten Registration - May 3rd 12:00 - 5:00 Field Days [7th– K/1st] [8th– 2nd/3rd] [9th-4th/5th] Kindergarten Round-Up - May 10th 9:30 - 11:30 Last Day of School - Wednesday, May 23rd

Harmony Elementary Kindergarten Online Registration Starts April 9th

We are offering our Kindergarten parents early registration prior to May 3rd

How To Complete ...

1. Go to the Harmony Website at www.harmonywildcats.org. Click on Kindergarten Registration.

2. Follow the directions listed to complete the form. Once you have completed the form, you will click submit.

3. When you arrive on May 3rd, all you will need to do is bring us the required docu-ments to complete your child’s registration. We do ask that you also bring your child for a quick kindergarten screening.

4. You will also get more information on May 3rd regarding Kindergarten Round-Up and our summer Wildcat Week.

We Look Forward to Seeing You and Your Rising K Student On May 3rd from 12:00 - 5:00 pm.

Dear Parents of Rising Kindergarten Students,

Many of you have a child currently enrolled at Harmony, and you are getting ready to enroll their sibling at our school. This is an exciting time for us all. In preparation of your child's first day of school on August 6, 2012, please attend our Kindergarten Registration. Below you will find specific directions for this process. Your involve-ment now and throughout your child's academic career is essential. Please sign up for the Parent Portal so you are informed about our school, class happenings, and your child. We look forward to seeing you on May 3rd from 12:00-5:00 PM at our Kin-dergarten Registration. My best, Emily Keag

HARMONY MATH NEWS

As a school, we have followed the Gwinnett County AKS which means we have

been preparing our students all year for the CRCT test next month. As we

get closer to testing, the students begin to get a little nervous. Now is a

good time to get involved and run “interventions” on those nerves. Try asking

your students questions about their homework, get them to explain their an-

swers, and point out their good thinking. A little praise will go a long way.

Get them involved in the everyday math you are using at home, such as

cooking with a recipe. Doing this helps them apply their school

math in the real world. Knowing you are involved will

relax some of those pretest nerves.

Helping Your Child

PREPARE

for the Math CRCT

A great way to prepare for the CRCT Testing that begins April 23rd!

Web site is https://georgiaoas.org/servlet/a2l . Your child’s teacher

sent home the log-in IDs in Friday folders before Christmas 2011 and Jan

20, 2012.

Everyone’s password is learnit.

There are 2 types of tests available. All tests are created from the same

database of test items.

CRCT On-line Practice Testing

Student Tests are tests created by the

state. There are tests for each subject area.

Each test is about 25 questions.

Teacher-Assigned Tests are tests created

by the county, school, or teacher and as-

signed to students. There are multiple 10

question tests for each domain/strand of

each subject area for each grade level.

From Harmony’s Literacy Team

Word Study - Better Reader and Speller As a parent, you remember spelling lists which you memorized for a test and then easily forgot. The true goals of Word Study are to understand how words (whole and parts) work together orally and written, integrate reading words and writing words, and generalize from what is known about words to solve unknown words. Today Word Study is about learning skills to be able to use and understand words, not just memorize words. We will answer a FAQ in each Harmony Newsletter to help parents become more familiar and comfortable with Word Study. Check out last month’s for the answer to: How are phonics and spelling related? As a parent, what differences can I expect from the usual spelling assignments and tests?

How will I know that my child is becoming a better reader and speller?

Ask yourself these questions: Is my child applying knowledge of patterns and roots as he or she

encounters unknown words while reading? Is my child recognizing patterns in words outside the

school day (at home, at the grocery store, at the mall)? Is my child spelling new words correctly

in his or her writing? And, is my child using these words and

knowledge of what they mean in conversations? As a parent, what can I do to help my child learn how to read and spell new words?

Make a note of the patterns your child is studying (or has studied re-

cently). At home and away, listen for words in conversation or watch

for them in things you read and share those examples of now familiar

word patterns with your child. Read to and with your child. Include

your child in all the things you do with a reading or writing component,

such as leaving messages for family members, writing emails, and

making lists of errands to run or things to buy when you shop. This will

help your child understand that reading and writing is part of everything we do in our lives. The

more your child practices reading and writing with you, the more he or she will realize the im-

portance of literacy.

Book Fair

Thank you to our Harmony parents for helping make the Book Fair a success! Our students and parents always show us their love of reading by buying books at the Book Fair. Thank you also to all our great volunteers. You know we could not have done it without you!

Media Festival

We had groups of students who created five live action videos and two sequential stills for Media Festival. We are proud of all the stu-dents who participated in these creative projects. Marie Kennedy & Dolores Craven

Family Meetings

Build Family Connections

and Improve Behavior

Occasionally, I run class meetings in order to allow students to express their thoughts about friend-

ship problems, to give compliments or to solve a class problem. Like class meetings, family meetings are

a good way to start giving kids more of a voice in household operations. You can use it to discuss not

only discipline, but also issues like laundry, allowances, bedtimes, renting movies, vacations, food,

fights, etc. A good time to start is when the kids are in elementary school. Don't try this when the

children are three or four years old, because it will probably just aggravate you and confuse them.

KIDS WILL COOPERATE BETTER As kids get older— and hopefully more rational—it is more appropriate that they have a bigger voice in

the issues that affect them. Kids also will cooperate better when they have a say in what's going on.

HOW TO RUN A FAMILY MEETING The format of the meeting is very simple. Mom or Dad (not both at the same time) is the chairperson

and has responsibility for keeping order and staying on task. Older children can take a shot at running

the meeting themselves from time to time. The chairperson sees to it that the agenda is followed and

that each person gets a chance to speak without being interrupted.

EVERYONE CAN BRING A PROBLEM THEY WANT TO RESOLVE Each person in the family can bring to the meeting a problem that he or she

wants resolved. Then the chairperson guides the group through the follow-

ing steps:

1. One person describes the problem to be discussed. 2. Every other per-

son gives their thoughts and feelings about that problem. 3. Next, the

floor is opened for proposals for solutions; anyone can speak, but one at a

time. To help with this you could use a talking stick and allow only the person

with the stick to speak. 4. A solution is agreed upon to be tried out. It may

combine different aspects of the suggestions from different people. If there are disagreements, Mom

and Dad have the final say. 5. The agreed‐upon solution is written down on a piece of paper that is

posted on the refrigerator, or it can be written in a Family Meeting journal, notebook or computer.

6. The next person brings up his or her problem, and steps 2‐5 are repeated. All solutions are consid-

ered experimental. If they don't work too well, they can always be reviewed at the next meeting and

new solution can be discussed. Solutions should be concrete, specific and practical, but don't be afraid

to make them flexible and imaginative!

WARNING! It’s Not Always Easy It's a good idea to keep meetings under an hour so you don't go crazy. Family meetings may be one of

the most aggravating AND effective things you can do with your kids. It sounds contradictory, but if

you can get through the process, kids will have a greater tendency to follow through with the agreed

upon solutions. It's also nice that everyone has a chance to be heard and to learn some negotiation

skills—an excellent skill for life. tina_byrne@gwinnett.k12.ga.us 770-271-4891

I am available to meet with you upon request Check out my website at http://www.harmonywildcats.org/

Click on Counselor Info Tina Byrne, M.Ed. School Counselor

Counselor’s Corner

The 2nd Annual Fun Run

Was A Success!

Girls 1st Melanie Collet 2nd Alexis Figures 3rd Tinsley Newton

Boys 1st Michael Martin 2nd Bailey Bass 3rd Payton Kesselring

It is a pleasure to teach music here at Harmony while Mrs. Hower is on maternity leave. It has been a joy getting to know all the students, and I am very

impressed with the amount of talented children that attend Harmony Elementary. We have been very busy expanding our knowledge of musical elements in each grade level. Kindergarten has been working on singing games that encourage keeping a steady beat. We have also explored songs with high and low pitches. In first grade, we are currently learning about fast and slow sounds and notating various rhythmic patterns. Second grade has been exploring instruments that belong to the woods, metals, and skins percussion families. Last week we read a book called "The Very Stormy Night" and we used the percussion instruments to imitate the sounds in the book. The last two weeks, third grade has been experiencing songs in minor. We have also learned about singing songs in rounds and performing simple ostinato patterns. This week, we worked on a song "Engine, engine no.9" that combined all these elements together. Fourth grade has been working on folk songs. This week we are learning the song "Cedar Swamp" and we will be adding Orff accompaniment and a folk dance. In fifth grade

we began working on the song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." This song was written during the civil war by an army band master whose daughter was engaged to a soldier named Johnny, who was fighting in the war. This song became very famous among the

soldiers, and today it is considered to be one of the most famous patriotic songs. I look forward to working with each grade level further and continuing to explore and expand our knowledge of music. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me by e-mail at Mihaela_gherghel@Gwinnett.k12.ga.us Sincerely, Mihaela Gherghel

As spring has sprung our projects in art are also blossoming. Kindergarten just

finished up a mosaic and are studying the symmetry of insects in order to make a painting of a real or imaginary

one. First grade and second

grades will be doing this also.

Third grade has studied the

kuna culture of the San Blas islands near Panama and their folk art such as molas. We have created our own mola here on dry land. Fourth and

fifth grades are

studying the measurements and characteris-tic of the human face by creating one out of clay. Soon we will move on the perspective drawing. Zane Brock

Harmony Clinic

IS IT A COLD OR AN ALLERY ?

Clinic

Is Open

COLD: a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract (nose, sinuses, throat, and upper

airway). It is not caused by drafts or being outside in the rain.

ALLERY: a congestive condition of the nose caused by exposure to indoor or outdoor

airborne allergens, such as animals, dust, mold, and pollen.

Symptoms of a Cold:

Fatigue, aches and pains, weakened senses of taste and smell, congest-

ed or runny nose, weepy eyes and a dry hacking cough with little

mucus production, fever, vomiting and loose stools are likely in

younger children, but are possible at any age

Symptoms of an Allergy:

Nasal congestion and sneezing attacks, itching of the nose and eyes, red or

watery eyes, clear/watery nasal drainage, repeated throat clearing, cough,

noisy mouth breathing, popping of the ears, dark circles under the eyes

If your child has a fever, they need to stay home and be fever free (without

the use of fever reducing medications) for 24 hours before returning to school.

Prima Simmons

Physical Education Greetings! Throughout March all grades have been working on our soccer unit. We are cur-rently working on a juggling unit with Kindergarten through 3rd grade while 4th - 5th grade complete their FITNESSGRAM fitness testing for the year. After these units we will

finish out the year with a bowling unit for all grades, reviewing sports we have learned about this year and preparing and practicing for Field Day.

Field Day Thank you to all who ordered a t-shirt. The ordering process is complete and shirts will be delivered prior to Field Day.

2012 Harmony Field Day Schedule

Kindergarten ---May 7 (AM)/makeup May 10 (AM) 3rd grade—May 8 (PM) /makeup May 11 (PM)

1st grade—May 7 (PM) /makeup May 10 (PM) 4th grade—May 9 (AM) /makeup May 14 (AM)

2nd grade—May 8 (AM) /makeup May 11 (AM) 5th grade---May 9 (PM) /makeup May 14 (PM)

Volunteers are still needed!!!! Field Day would not be a success without parent volunteers. If you can help out during your student's Field Day or any other, please return the form below to Mr. Corley. We will accept any and all parent volunteers all the way up until Field Day, but please let us know as soon as you can! http://www.harmonywildcats.org/Teacher%20Web%20Pages/Other%20Instructors/Cam_Corley/pdf/

HES_Field_Day_2012_Volunteer_Form.pdf Cam Corley

Rising 6th Grade - Summer Reading Program This reading program is for rising 6th graders going to Jones Middle School. Students will receive: 1) a letter that requires a parent signature indicating awareness of the summer reading requirement for Jones stu-dents and 2) a form listing the titles with the option of ordering from Barnes and Noble through Jones Middle.

Friday, April 13 - Packets will be sent home in Friday Folders. Wednesday, May 2 - Parent letters and order forms due back to 5th grade teachers. Orders must be paid with checks only made out to Barnes and Noble. Friday, May 4 - Order forms and parent letters will be picked up from Har-mony. The pre-paid books will be delivered to Harmony between May 14th and May 21st.

Brain Strain Websites

Note: While these websites have been reviewed and recommended by teachers,

please note that students’ time on the Internet should be supervised by an adult. Also,

please note that links/websites may change without warning.

http://Puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com - Crosswords, word finds, mazes,

word jumbles, cryptograms, etc. http://school.discoveryeducation.com/brainboosters/ - Activities to sharpen thinking in categorization, logic, reasoning, spatial awareness, word play and

lateral thinking http://www.clickmazes.com/newtilt/ixtilt.htm - Tilt puzzles and mazes will

challenge spatial thinking http://www.puzzles.com/PuzzlePlayground/PuzzlesHome.htm - Math, visual,

and logic mindbender puzzles http://pnahay.home.sprynet.com/games/games.htm - Unique puzzles that will puzzle you!

http://www.enchantedmind.com/index.html - Creativity, spatial thinking and critical thinking building activities

http://www.iriddler.com/java/bridges/index.htm - Challenging bridge build-ing game http://www.brainbashers.com/today.asp - Crosswords, word finds,

mazes, word jumbles, cryptograms, etc. Vicky Arnette

FOCUS