Eglin Elementary ChronicleMr. Dennis Samac, Principal

Visit our website: www.okaloosa.k12.fl.us/eglinQuestions? Call 833-4320

EGLIN ELEMENTARY VISION STATEMENT:Eglin Elementary School will be a community of learners where everyone is responsible and committed to preparing our students for tomorrow’s challenges.

Hello from Kindergarten,

The Kindergarten students have been working hard and having a lot of fun so far this school year!

In Language Arts, Kindergarten students are learning foundational skills such as letters, sounds and sight words. Many of the students are beginning to read and participate in the Accelerated Reader Program. Students are also being introduced to a variety of fiction and nonfiction text as well as poetry. Students are engaged in activities that go along with these texts on a daily basis.

In Math, Kindergarten students are becoming mathematicians. Students are working on problem solving skills in the area of addition and subtraction.

In Social Studies, Kindergarten students have been learning about U. S. symbols such as the flag and bald eagle. Kindergarten students are now gearing up for Thanksgiving and learning about the pilgrims and Indians. Students and parents will be participating in the Thanksgiving lunch together.

In Science, students will be learning about forces and motion. Students will be participating in fun experiments where they explore the concept of gravity. Students will also be identifying things that are pushed and pulled.

In October, Kindergarten students celebrated the 50th day of school by dressing up like the 1950’s. Students learned about life in the 1950’s and compared it to their life now. Students even enjoyed root beer floats!

The beginning of the year has been filled with lots of learning and fun and we look forward to watching our Kindergartners grow throughout the rest of the year!

Respectfully,

Courtney MolonyKindergarten Grade Level Chair

Character Trait Word for NovemberThankfulness

Self-Respect & Respect for Others: Our key to Success!

Remember the 3 B’sBe SafeBe ResponsibleBe Respectful

Lunch MenuLunch menus are online @www.okaloosa.k12.fl.us/foodservices/index.htm

To create a payment account, please go to schoolpaymentsolutions.com.

Reminder: If you have not already done so, you may go to applyforlunch.com to fill out free/reduced lunch applications.

If you have any questions about your child’s account, please contact Ms. Judy Terry @ 833-4322.

Happy Holidays!!!Early Release

Dec. 19th @ 1:55 pm

Parents:For the safety of our students and to help increase traffic flow, please observe the following when picking up or dropping off children on the car ramp:1. Pull all the way to the end of the ramp before dropping off or picking up students.2. Children should exit from the right side of the vehicle only.3. Please do not block the car ramp crosswalk.4. Please use the car ramp cross walk when walking.5. Please put the card with your child’s name on it in the right side window of your car.

For the safety of our students, please watch out for them as they walk to and from the school age program each day. Please be especially cautious as they cross the street at the intersection of Gaffney and Hatchee Roads.

School Office Hours:7:15 am -3:15 pm

Safety First!

Parents, Please use the car rider ramp and the parking area in front of the school for dropping off and picking up your students. We have staff at these locations

to supervise the safe drop- off/pick-up of ALL students. Cars are not allowed to use the areas

behind the school for dropping off or picking up as this is a safety concern! We do not have staff in

these locations to supervise and to ensure that your students are safe. Please help us make this part of

our day as safe as possible. Thank-you for your cooperation in this matter.

Mr. Dennis SamacPrincipal

Eglin ElementaryHome of the Eagles

Set your AR Goal!Nov. 2013

Important Dates/ Holidays

Dec. 5, 2013 The Pro Kids Show @ 9:00 am and 5:30 pm in the cafeteriaDec. 9-Dec.13, 2013 PTO Santa Shop @ 9:00 am-2:00 pm in the Computer Lab Dec. 11, 2013 PTO meeting in the cafeteria @ 1:30 pmDec. 16, 2013 Volunteer Orientation @ 1:45 pm in the Media CenterDec. 18-19 Jingle Bell Jog during your child’s P.E. timeDec. 19, 2013 Holiday meal in the cafeteriaDec. 19, 2013 Christmas Sing-A-Long program in the cafeteria @ 8:45 amDec. 19, 2013 Early dismissal @ 1:55 pmDec. 20, 2013-Jan. 3, 2014 Winter Break HolidaysJan. 17, 2013 Teacher workday/Student holidayJan. 20, 2013 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Jan. 21, 2013 Volunteer Orientation @ 1:45 pm in the Media CenterJan. 24-31, 2013 Book Fair in the Media Center

Calendar DatesEarly Release Time 12:10 pm

Early Release Dates2013-2014Jan. 9, 2014Feb. 6, 2014Mar. 6, 2014Apr. 3, 2014May 1, 2014

December and January Tutoring Dates:

3 rd Grade: Monday, Dec. 2nd and 9th

Monday, Jan. 13th and 27th4 th Grade: Wednesday, Dec. 4th and 11th

Wednesday, Jan. 15th, 22nd,& 29th

Dec. 19 Holiday meal in the cafeteria. Cost for parents is $3.75.

Ice Cream!!!The cafeteria will be selling ice cream ala carte on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The price is75 cents. Students will need to bring additional money. If you do not wish your child to be able to purchase ice cream from his/her lunch account, please contact Ms. Judy Terry @ 833-4322, or send a letter saying that they may not use their lunch account for ice cream.

Pro Kids Show!Starring Scott Humston

Magic, Music, and Fun for Everyone!There will be 2 different shows on

Thursday, Dec. 5th. One is at 9:00am, and the other is at 5:30 pm.

Santa’s Secret ShopDec. 19-Dec. 13

Parent notification: If you wish to view the School Public Accountability Report (SPAR), it will be available in the front office.

Out of Field Teachers: In compliance with Section 101.42 Florida Statues, the following teachers, Mrs. Ellen Gilmer and Mrs. June Whiting-Cobb are out field because they do not have an ESOL endorsement, and they have an ESOL child in their classroom. They all do hold a valid teaching certificate issued by the State of Florida and are working on courses to satisfy the requirements for an ESOL endorsement.

Congratulations to Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Carol Kotulan, on being Eglin Elementary’s Teacher of the Year!!! Mrs. Kotulan has taught children for over 10 years. Prior to teaching, she was a certified Social Worker. She became a teacher in order to have a more lasting impact on children’s lives.

Music classes include experiences with singing, playing instruments, moving, listening and creating. The musical concepts that are studied include rhythm, melody, harmony, form, expressive qualities and style. Children will experience traditional American folk songs in addition to a variety of world music, and pieces in many styles. Lessons will lead toward note reading and music literacy.

Music lessons are fast-paced and fun, and students will need to wear comfortable clothing in order to participate fully. Primary students do a lot of moving in order to internalize the steady beat and the intermediate students will need to sit on the floor to perform on the mallet percussion instruments.

November: Song of the Month: America the BeautifulPeriod: RomanticComposer: Peter TchaikovskyNutcracker BalletFocus: Melody

Ask your student what they are doing in Music Class!

Mrs. DayMusic Specialist

Christmas Sing-a-LongDec. 19, 2013 @ 8:45 am in the

cafeteria.

 P.E.  Notes Tennis shoes are required each day for P.E.. Some students are stilling wearing flip flops to P.E. Flip flops are not safe for any P.E. activities. Students will need to have jackets during the cooler weather as P.E. activities are held outside. Please remind your child to wear the proper attire to P.E. for both their safety and their comfort. Parents are always welcomed and encouraged to come out and participate during your child’s designated P.E. time!

Pumpkin Fun RunOn your mark, get set,

go!!!

Results!Kg:Graedin Follmar-10:20 Abbie Desporte-10:251st:Aydin Ozdogru-8:12 Nia Crawford-10:412nd:Peyton Harless-8:16 Eylene Miller-10:033rd:Tyler Resurreccion & Corban Follmar-8:36 Jasmine Dereje & Nevaeh Davis-10:134th: Diego Alegria-7:57 Brianna Beauchamp, Kiyana Gallagher, & Maeleigh Hoover-9:16

Jingle Bell Jog Dec. 18 & 19All parents are welcome to come out and join the fun!

Coaches will be selling Freeze Pops for 50 cents each on Fridays. Proceeds will go to purchase fitness equipment for the gym.

Congratulations to Coach Robbins for participating in the New York City Marathon!!!

50’s Day Mrs. Molony, Mrs. Buck, Mrs. Kotulan, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Negley, and Mrs. Pinckard’s classes had a wonderful time on Oct. 29th celebrating the fiftieth day of school. Students and teachers alike came dressed in clothing styles from the 50’s. Mrs. Pinckard’s class enjoyed Coke floats and learned to do the Hand Jive and the Twist at their Sock Hop. They danced to old rock and roll classics such as Chantilly Lace, Shake, Rattle, and Roll, and Rock Around the Clock. The students had a wonderful time and so did the teachers!!!

Pictured here: Dancing at the Hop in Mrs. Pinckard’s class!

Pictured here: Mr. Samac joined Mrs..Pinckard’s class for a Coke float.

First grade students held their 3rd annual Read-A-Thon on Nov. 5th. First grade teachers held the Read-a-Thon to promote the love of reading, to expose students to a variety of reading materials, and to help raise funds for classroom materials and activities. They raised a total of $1293.50 by getting sponsors for the event. Students rotated through 6 first grade classrooms that had different reading stations such as guest readers, big books, make-and-take books, flashlight reading, magazine and word searches, and fairy tales. At the guest reader station, students were excited to discover that members of the Northwest Florida State College basketball team were there to read to them. A great time was had by all!

Pictured here: Flashlight reading

Pictured here: Read-a-Thon guest readers- Northwest Florida State College basketball players.

Eglin Elementary students honored our veterans both past and present on Nov. 8th in a special program presented by fourth graders and under the direction of Mrs. Sandy Day. The students led the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of The Star Spangled Banner. They sang songs and read the President’s Proclamation as well as telling the significant meaning behind America’s White Table. Col Todd Canterbury was the special guest speaker. We were also honored to have Okaloosa County School Superintendent, Mrs. Mary Beth Jackson, join us for this wonderful salute to veterans.

Pictured here: America’s White Table

Pictured here: A class of Uncle Sams joined us for the program.

Pictured here: Eglin’s Stars Hall of Fame that Eglin’s Military Family Life Counselor helped students create. Stars with each family’s veterans were made at home and

then displayed. If you haven’t seen it, make sure to stop by the school. It is beautiful!

Pictured here: Mrs. Day leads the fourth graders in a song.

Pictured here: Carl Winters reads the President’s Proclamation.

Pictured here: Mrs. Kotulan’s kindergarten class created special projects thanking our veterans for their service. The projects were taken to Bob Hope Village and given to the veterans there.

Pictured here: Sophia’s thank you note to veterans.

Pictured here: Mrs. Buck’s class wrote thank-you notes to veterans and created a special display for Veterans Day.