Highlights

September-October 2011

Pivik Elementary School

The students and staff at Pivik have spent the month getting to know each other and settling into a

routine that best meets the needs of all of our learners. Every student completed the first of three STAR tests.

Kindergarten and 1st grade students completed the “Early Literacy” component that helps teachers understand

how they are emerging as readers. Second through sixth grade students took both the Reading component and

Math component of the STAR assessment. The instant results provided teachers with information about the

students’ strengths and important information about the skills each student needs to work on. Teachers are

using these test results to guide their planning for classroom lessons. Teachers and students have also been

busy preparing for Open House and are excited to show off all of their new learning. Lastly, we are continuing

to promote our theme this year: Effort Creates Ability. Every grade level has set expectations for students to

work hard and put forth their best effort. And, we are incorporating this into our Red Ribbon Week activities.

Look for more information to come in the near future. Below are some grade levels that are being highlighted

this month.

Kindergarten Highlights

The Unity Volunteer Fire Department visited Kindergarten!

Kindergarteners learning to work cooperatively in centers.

First Grade Highlights

First graders are enjoying their introduction to their new reading books.

Second Graders Working with Miss Savko

During Literacy Special, second graders have been rotating to centers which review concepts that were learned

throughout that week during reading. The grammar center, this week, has students playing a game where they

need to decide if a sentence is a question or a statement.

At the Writing Center, students make text connections. This week, students are writing about why they like or

do not like walking through leaves during the fall.

Fourth Grade Highlights

As we are study ecosystems, students develop posters of various ecosystems. Each poster displays the

characteristics of that type of ecosystem such as the climate, the types of plants and animals that can be found

there, and where the ecosystem can be found.

Fifth Grade Highlights

Pivik’s fifth graders have been busy learning about landforms and practicing their research skills. Each group

chose a U.S. landform and researched facts about the landform to share with the class. Their projects were both

colorful and informative!

Each week as part of our Literacy Block, the fifth

graders work in centers. After reading “Elisa’s Diary,”

the students worked on activities to reinforce paragraph

writing, identifying theme, finding details in text, and

using the computer to learn about the Paralympics.

They had fun working cooperatively with their groups

to complete these assignments!

Physical Education Class – First graders