TALON TIMES - JC Ellis Elementary
Transcription
TALON TIMES - JC Ellis Elementary
JC ELLIS K-8 SCHOOL ELLIS EAGLES ARE: peaceful positive respectful responsible TALON TIMES Jan 2016 Newsletter Volume 15 Issue 5 At J. C. Ellis Elementary School we will provide a consistent teaching and learning environment that focuses on academic excellence for all children. Isaac Joseph, Superintendent Viola Callier, Region 3 Director Marion “Coach” Bonura, Sch. Bd. Rep - District VIII Julie Berner, Principal Christi Rome, Asst. Principal 801 Brockenbraugh Court Metairie, Louisiana 70005 Phone: (504) 833-7254 Fax: (504) 833-9378 [email protected] http://ellis.jpschools.org From the Principal’s Desk... Happy New Year to all!! January is always about fresh beginnings and positive change. I love the promise of the New Year and all the possibilities that exist for our children here at JCE and their future. One of Ellis’ greatest strengths is our powerful family and community support. As parents, guardians and family, you are your child’s first and greatest teacher. Together as a loving school community—family and school—working as a mutually trusted and respected team, we exemplify our belief and philosophy that “it takes an entire village to raise and educate a child!” Upcoming Events The return from winter break provides us with a great opportunity to review and rework routines and procedures in order for young adolescents to be more successful in school. Here are suggestions to support your child’s continued success: Make a renewed commitment to help your child get to school on time in proper uniform each day. Prior to the holiday vacation, we noticed a marked increase in tardy and absent students. Have your child organize belongings the previous evening; mornings are too busy and rushed. As the principal of JC Ellis K-8 School, my door is always open to you. Educating children through exceptional school programs is our business and our passion. Your child is important to us. You are important to us. Together as a school family let us enjoy and relish every moment of this school year with our students because it passes by so quickly as if ‘in the blink of an eye”! By working together to ensure a successful second half of the school year, everyone wins and our partnership between home/school is strengthened! Thank you for your continued support and interest! Julie Berner, Principal ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! T – Feb 2 - Groundhog Day W- Feb 3 - Interim Reports Issued W –Feb 3 - Kinder – My Heart Belongs to Mommy – 9:00 -9:45am TH – Feb 4 – Jefferson Dollars for Scholars Super Bowl Dress Day - $1.00 – Jeans and Favorite Team shirt F – Feb 5 - Mardi Gras King Cake or Valentine Parties or Chinese New Year Parties – 2:30 – 3:30pm – K – 5 F – Feb 5 - Mardi Gras Mambo Gr. 6, 7& 8 -2:00 – 3:15 pm – cafeteria M-F - Feb 8-12 - Mardi Gras Break TH- Feb 18 - Spring Pictures TH – Feb - PBIS Eagle Emporium – K-3 F – Feb 19 - PBIS Eagle Emporium – 4-8 M – Feb 22 - Early Release Day -1: 45pm M – Feb 22 - Parent Conf – 1:45-4:45pm T - Dress Down Day -$1.00 - Jefferson Dollars for Scholars F – Feb 26 - FEB Student of the Month celebration 9:30 am- library M – Feb 29 - LEAP DAY - Free Dress Day STATE TESTING: Gr 3 - 8 LEAP (ELA & Math) – April 25-29 LEAP (Science) – April 25-29 http://www.louisianabelieves.com/res ources/library/family-support-toolboxlibrary 1 Important Reminders for Parents and Students Help us keep the focus on learning versus spending time reminding your child to. be in the proper uniform. Our students do know what they should be wearing, and we have not changed our policy on dress code. Help us by not allowing your child out of the house in the morning wearing inappropriate clothing. UNIFORM GUIDELINES: Research proves that when we are dressed neatly and appropriately, we feel better and do better school work. Our emphasis at Ellis is neatness and pride in our uniform, both to reflect our attitude to the school and our pride in ourselves. The word uniform comes from two Latin words, unus and forma, which mean “one form.” Our uniform sets us apart from other schools. Wear the uniform with pride! We are asking parents/guardians to become more conscientious in following the uniform policy. Look smart. Act smart. Be smart! Any sweater, sweatshirt or jacket that is worn inside the building must be clean and plain navy blue, white or green. No logos. No Disney. No Saints. No sports. No Hello Kitty. No Ninja. No college. No shawls. No denim. No bomber jackets. No JPRD. No, no, no, etc. No pictures on the front or back. No nothing…just a clean, plain sweater, sweatshirt or jacket. A clean, plain sweater, sweatshirt or jacket can be purchased for as little as $5.00 from Walmart, Sears, Target, Kmart, Sam’s, etc. The plain sweater, sweatshirt or jacket does not have to have the Ellis embroidered logo...just plain and clean…plain navy blue, white or green! Print your child’s name on the tag. The school uniform shoe is a tennis shoe. Tennis shoes MUST be worn every day. No boots, no high heels, no sandals, no flats, no flip-flops, no slides, no mules, no sequined dance shoes…just plain tennis shoes—for safety reasons!! The uniform pant is blue for K-5. The uniform pant is khaki for grades 6-8. Lately, we have seen our boys wearing sweat pants and Sprinter Jogger Pants in khaki with elastic cuffs and waistband, water-repellent and stain-resistant stretch twill. THIS IS NOT THE UNIFORM. If students are not in the correct uniform, they may receive a detention. Look smart. Act smart. Be smart! Lately some of our students have arrived at school unkempt and disheveled and out of uniform. Some uniforms are faded, ripped, torn, and sometimes dirty. Let’s replace this raggedy look with fresh, clean, clothing. ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! 2 [email protected] Newsletters will also be sent via email. Our Facebook page is updated as needed. JC Ellis WE NEED YOU!!! JC Ellis is strong because of the many volunteers who partner with us in critical areas. Whatever time you contribute will leave you with a better understanding of our learning community and the magic that takes place at the JCE K-8 School. Volunteering makes a big difference. Research consistently shows that kids whose parents are involved in their schools do better. Volunteering offers tangible ways to be part of things. Sometimes we might mean well, but our busy lives get in the way of committing. Joining a parent group will provide concrete ways to get involved, whether at events, in the classroom, or on a committee. It feels great to participate! Your child spends a lot of time at school, and it’s great to share some of her school-related experiences with her. You’ll get to know other parents. It’s powerful to create a circle of adult friends around a school, and having a shared interest is a good place to start. What’s more, it can help foster connections between families in your community. EPO 2014-2015 Board Members President Hollie Dumars Vice President Stacey Autin Secretary Thereza Walker Treasurer Angie Berggren Room Mother Coordinator Hollie Dumars Fundraising Coordinator - Stacey Autin Box tops/ Couponing - Thereza Walker Join the EPO [email protected] Newsletters will also be sent via email. Our Facebook page is updated as needed. JC Ellis Lord Citron and Liz Lemon cannot decide if they should celebrate Mardi Gras or Valentine’s Day. What say you? Researchers Say ‘Grit’ is Key to Your Child’s School Success What do spelling champions and West Point cadets have in common? It’s a quality known as grit— the ability to stick with something even when it’s hard. Current research shows that grit is important. People who persist when a task gets challenging are most likely to be successful. To promote grit: • Teach your child to focus on how good it feels to finish a tough task. “You did your homework. Now you can relax and enjoy yourself.” • Emphasize starting. People with grit don’t put off unpleasant tasks. So help your child develop the habit of getting started. “You work on homework and I’ll clean these drawers. Let’s see what we can finish in 15 minutes.” • Stress effort over ability. Tell your child that success requires dedication and effort as much or more than intelligence. Notice every bit of hard work your child does and every small step of progress he makes. Source: A. Duckworth and others, “Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, American Psychological Association. ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! 3 JANUARY STUDENTS of the MONTH Each month JC Ellis recognizes "Outstanding" students in each grade. Actually all our students are outstanding; however we especially honor these students. These students are chosen for their contributions to the school and the community and for also being caring, energetic students who have shown to be good role models for other students. JC ELLIS STUDENTS of the MONTH JANUARY 2016 KINDERGARTEN Allisson Andrade Ariella Galvan Vincent Garcia Sophia Rosa-Gomez 3rd GRADE 1st GRADE Laith Amour Clover DeFraites Daniel Gonzales Hannah Greenwell 4th GRADE Haleigh Falati Martha Lazaro Ava Marie Nathan Martinez 6th GRADE Lein Amawi Deyfren Avila Imane Medjkane Ahmad Ahmad Timothy Seymour Leyla Ajin Kimberly Lopez 7th GRADE 2nd GRADE Xanielle Baylon Martyne Boutte Brandyn Greenwell Kiren Heim Anaya Kent 5th GRADE Sophie Fowler India Williams Dylan Zuniga 8th GRADE Garrett Koch Juliet vanVliet ELLIS EAGLES ARE: Peaceful Positive Respectful Responsible ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! 4 Congratulations to the following students who have performed outstanding academic work during the Second Quarter of 2015 -2016 and are hereby given recognition and honor as indicated. We are very proud of our students!! JC Ellis 2nd Nine Weeks 20152015-2016 A Honor Roll 1st GRADE 2nd GRADE 3rd GRADE 4th GRADE Kennedi Arana Kendalyn Banks Yara Benedetto Isaac Netters Clover DeFraites Emily Chen Taraneh Doust Morgan Netters Jeremy Dvorin Jacob Dantin Serena Mbeky Layla Gilboe Noa Hern Yishayah Harrison Elvin Lobo-Hernandez Alayna Madden Kailyn Madden Isaac Martinez Savannah Magee Kynnedi Morris Lamara Meda Maliyah Robichaux Mario Rosales Jacob Sartalamacchia Nikita Williamson 5th GRADE Israel Netters 6th GRADE Ahmad Ahmad 7th GRADE 8th GRADE Christina Brown Karma Williams Good grades are life's way of saying that there is a bright future in store for you. ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! 5 2 nd 1st GRADE Maheen Ahmed Gabriella Alexander Adnn Ali Naiya Anthony-Pongracz Arianna Augustus Summer Breath Matheus Cristofori Ximenes George DeForrest Wilson Diaz Ciara Godwin Daniel Gonzales Jayla Hardy Lee Emyre Harris Cyan Hughes Angelia Koch Obed Lobo Ryan Martinez Ethan Meda Angie Merino-Munoz Mia Monge del Cid Sophia Morris Molayzain Moulayazain Kajal Patel Alison Recinos Dylan Reyes Maliyah Robichaux Cruz Rodriguez Laila Schnyder Domanick Tejeda Tatyanna Tejeda Robinay’ Ulmer Asante Williams JC Ellis Nine Weeks 20152015-2016 A/B Honor Roll 2nd GRADE Nora Aitiddir Jayson Anseman Xanielle Baylon Lorenzo Benedetto Tyrone Brown Isabelle Camenzuli Kiara Carbajal Aldo Cardona Genesis Carrasco Taj Chassion Amaya Cooks Bryan Diaz-Robles Stephanie FernandesDaniels Aaron Flota Caleb Fogarty Anslyn Godrey Brandyn Greenwell Kevin Guifarro Kevin Guo Kiren Heim Jesenia James Nadia Jenkins Rainie Jiang Kamila Kazmi ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! Anaya Kent Wolfgang Labranche Amelia Layus Tristan Letellier Jared Linn Jonathan McMillan Alan Miller Alex Miller Caroline Muller Curry Muller Scott Muller Aidan Plummer Jurem Rodriguez Maliha Shah Caleb Statham Dean Trethaway Ashlee Viianueva-Agurcia Marco Vado Cody Williams Jamarri Williams Jay Williams Jordan Williams Kain Williams Tiffany Zhang 3rd GRADE Antwan Bell Ashly Bonilla Gabriella Brent Manuel Contreras-Zavala Adam DePoorter Roman Dominach Dylan Donalson Jake DuMars Haleigh Falati Nina Jarrell Destinee Jenkins Ra'laysia Jones Martha Lazaro Bryce Loewenstein Daniel Maldonado-Alvarado Brinley Muller Sophia Pesses Hermyoni Puderer Kaleb Ricciardo Carelia Saint Louis Elizabeth Trombley Chloe Weathersby Samyre Wicker Eildon Wilkinson 6 2 nd 4th GRADE Lein Amawi Morgan Bradburry Mya Cooley Cypress Dares Mirialys Diaz-Robles Payton Drumm Riley Gaitan Andy Garcia Deimy Garza Kristopher Kuhn Wyn Landry Daniel Miller Talor Perry Mario Lobo Israel Pizarro Illick Ponce Ricardo Saif-Colon Kristofer Santiago Areeba Shah Cheyenne Seur Hazel Tao Elizabeth Van Damme Diana Vela Neil Verma Troy Williams JC Ellis Nine Weeks 20152015-2016 A/B Honor Roll 5th GRADE Myla Baxter John Becker Zhybelle Billiot Avery Brent Emma Bui Valeria CalderonArenales Daniel Crump Mark Curry Elijah Dantin Grant DeJesus Dane DePoorter Andres Diaz Dana Dimaria Aiden Dominach Alyssa Eames Lillie Engolia Miraya Francis Jarius Gipson Ra'Shon Harris Haley Kirtland Mia Laudun Isabella Loyacono 7th GRADE Sabrina Allred Bryson Armstrong Brianna Crabtree Sophie Currenti Catherine Galindo Samantha Ricciardo Jose Roman Rachel West Katelin Williams Jiaxin Ye Carlos Zelaya ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! 6th GRADE Massiel Martinez Hazel Mejia Alejandra Morales Shikha Patel Ankit Phadke Ankur Phadke Morgan Pierre Laila Ponce Gabriella Resendez Tamar Ricks Yisenia Roby Alexis Rude Kevin Santiago Kevin Schnyder Munifa Shah Kiara Smith Ulyssa Tejeda Emily Trombley Calbea Williams Jasmine Williams Dylan Zuniga Amyrie Brown Hannah Dantin Davell Dixon Reyssell Espinoza Taylor Falgout Bella Fenger Tonara Gordon Aja'Laia Hamilton Jack Lee Vitoria Mbeky Vanessa Nguyen Yasmine Porter Audrey Raudales Jason Sartor Sara Tujague Gregory White Cici Zhang Yi Mei Zhang' Jack Zhao-Andrade 8th GRADE Ava Evans Garrett Koch Danika Kolai Gabriella Moreno Niah Saleem Reagan St. Germain 7 The Sprouts’ Little Eagles’ Garden! Ms. Pohlman’s Sprouts – Ellis’ third grade garden club –were able to enjoy their hard work with a Garden Harvest Party! We enjoyed a delicious salad made of red leaf and butter lettuce, as well as radishes courtesy of our school garden! We added tomatoes and carrots for a healthy snack. The remaining lettuce and radishes that were not used were donated to the New Orleans Mission to help people in need. We are looking forward to planting our Spring/Summer crops soon! To celebrate the winter season, kinder students watched the movie Frozen and had a pajama party complete with all the trimmings to end the 2015 year with a icy blast! Mrs. Keith’s class made Sven’s antlers, enjoyed melted snow (water), snowballs (popcorn), antlers (pretzels) , Olaf’s noses (carrots) and many other Frozen treats.. Together they sang “Let it Go!” A happy time was had by all!! ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! 8 GIRLS TRACK TEAM Leyla Ajin Corinne Breath Brianna Crabtree Hannah Dantin Breiona Eskinde LaMonica Howard Antonia Neveaux Sa’Myriah Prater Tamar Ricks Bailey Robinson Italy Robinson Azari Ruffin Reagan St. Germain Alexis White Katelin Williams The only place success comes before hard work is in the dictionary. This is one lesson learned by the JCE Girls’ Track Team. This season was phenomenal because the girls worked hard and practiced, practiced, practiced. As a result, the JCE Girl’s Track won the JPPSS East Bank Track Championship. At the Fall Athletic Awards, the girls received this Championship banner to be displayed at Ellis. Kudos to Coach Ryan and Coach Marks for excellence in coaching!! Congratulations!! Way to go!!! Nathanuiel Jeffcoat - 1st in the Mile Run, 1st in the 800 M Run, 3rd in the 4 X 400 relay Alexis White - 1st in the Mile Run, 1st in the 400 M Run, 1st in the 4 X 400 Relay, and 2nd in the Long Jump ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! Jarren Daigre - 1st in the Shot Put At the Fall Athletic Awards, Nathanuiel, Alexis, and Jarren were presented with school jackets recognizing them as JPPSS Track Champions. Great Accomplishment!! 9 FOURTH GRADE CHAMPIONS CHEETAH GIRLS: Mya Cooley – Cpt. Talor Perry Neha Aji Morgan Netters Victoria Hebert Laila Knoten Morgan Berryman Aniyah Alexander Evelyn Boh 5th /6th GRADE CHAMPIONS NINJAS Shika Patel Taylor Falgout Erika Canales– Cpt. Isabella Loyacono Emma Bui Raquel Morales Shika Patel Maria Garcia Sara Tujague Raguel Morales Gabriella Resendez 5th /6th GRADE CHAMPIONS -BB Jami Quintanilla, Ahmad Ahmad, Abdel Mohamed, Davell Dixon, Landon Gordon ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! 10 7th/8th GRADE CHAMPIONS –BB Monty Waters, Michael Rodriguez, Oscar Tejada, Hunter Langley, Garrett Tucker KULLMAN’S COMMENTARY GROWTH MINDSET Self suggestions are a form of conditioning that includes that includes self-talk and imaging. It is the process of choosing what thoughts you want to put in your mind. Whatever you have thought now in your life is the result of what you have thought, felt, and done up until this time. If you want things to be different, to be better--change what you think, feel, and do. Unfortunately, thinking "I am rich and gorgeous" just won't do it. Your thoughts must be realistic, not magical. Every action we take and every thought we think has an effect on us. This is also called the "self-fulfilling prophecy." How many times have we thought, "I'm not good enough," or "I'll never be able to do it," or "Bad luck always happens to me." Your mind hears these statements and believes them. It is important to deliberately think about and picture the positive side of life. Here are some suggestions to get you started. Focus on your strengths and what you can do well. Don't verbally "beat yourself up" when you make a mistake. Use it as a learning opportunity. At the end of every day, write a list of your accomplishments for the day. Keep a journal of your successes. Read them when you are feeling low. See yourself as being successful and expect to succeed. Remember how you are blessed. Do something nice for someone else. Smile and enjoy every day. As we enter 2016 with all of our hopes and dreams, I wonder: ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Has there ever been a perfect year? One without disappointments and tears? Who knows? The perfect year may now be here. As always, please call me, 831-0628, with suggestions or concerns. Lynne Lynne Kullman, LCSW ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! 11 TOO SICK TO GO TO SCHOOL?? When your children are sick, keep them home from school. This not only benefits your children but other children and staff in the classroom at school. WHAT ARE IMPORTANT SIGNS OF ILLNESS Some important signs of illness are: 1. A temperature of more than 100 degrees orally 2. Nausea or vomiting 3. Stomachache 4. Diarrhea 5. Pale or flushed face 6. Headache 7. Persistent cough 8. Earache 9. Thick yellowish discharge from nose 10. Sore throat 11. Rash or infection of the skin 12. Red or pink eyes 13. Loss of energy or decrease in activity WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILDREN HAVE ANY OF THESE SIGNS? If your children have any of these symptoms when it is time for school, it is best that they stay home. Most childhood illnesses are over soon and no cause for worry. But if the symptoms are severe or persist for more than 24 hours, you should contact your private source of medical care. Children sometimes use illness as an excuse to miss school. On the other hand, some children force themselves to go to school even though they are sick. There may be times that your children do not show signs of the above-noted symptoms but may be ill. It is up to you to be alert to your children's health and to decide when it is best to send them to school. WHEN MAY MY CHILDREN RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER AN ILLNESS? Generally, your children may return to school when they are free of signs of illness. However, there may be times when it is necessary for your children to see your source of medical care before returning to school. Please call your school nurse if you have any questions regarding a specific condition. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MY CHILDREN BECOME ILL AT SCHOOL? If your children complain of being sick or do not look well after they reach school, we will contact you. Therefore, it is important that you provide the school with up-to-date information and phone numbers in case it is necessary to contact you. I am at the school most Tuesdays and Thursdays and some Fridays. My direct line is 484-4110 but email is easiest method to contact me. [email protected] Nurse Ashley CLASSROOM SNAPSHOTS KINDERGARTENERS Ms. Porteous/Ms. Laurenzano: I Can See, I Can Hear, I Can Smell! This month Ms. Murphi and Mrs. Porteous’ class is learning about our senses. We will use our senses to learn about things all around us. The students will read I Use My Senses and Hear It… See It…Taste It…At School! The letters for this month are Short Vowel i and Consonants b, f, l. The shape of the month is Rectangle, and colors are Orange and Blue. The students enjoyed using their senses to complete different hands-on activities. The students learned about their sense of smell by using their noses to smell the scents of vanilla, peppermint and lemon. Each student voted on their favorite scent and the class created a picture graph to display the results. The students also had a blast using all five senses to learn about popcorn. They especially enjoyed using their sense of taste to snack on the yummy popcorn!! Senora Milton, Ms. Morris, Madame Megan , Mrs. Keith: December & January were exciting months to learn in the Kindergarten Hallway! Fairy tales served as the texts from which students learned to re-tell stories. Using major events, students identified the beginning, middle and end from favorite stories such as the Goldilocks and The Gingerbread Man. As this skill was mastered, students then actively engaged in reading activities with purpose using these texts in “Readers Theatre.” Students re-told the stories by playing the ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! characters from these stories. Students did a magnificent job and they had fun bringing these stories to life! In math, Students learned to compose and decompose numbers to 5. Students evidenced this skill using objects, drawings, number bonds and creating math stories. Students continued to build their counting knowledge skills by 1s, 2s, 10s and forward from a number in a sequence. To celebrate the holiday season, students enjoyed the movie Frozen and a party complete with all the trimmings to end the 2015 year with a bang! FIRST GRADERS Ms. Meehan: We are reading informational texts and determining how to ask and answer questions from that text. We are being introduced to research this month. It is important to understand the difference between fact and opinion, which we are busily working on each day. Please work on Lexia and code.org at night, both great tools to enhance our learning. We started a new Math unit of measurement. We can place objects in order by length and measure using different tools in our classroom. Math facts should be completed every night. Ms. Cook : Ms. Cook's class is comparing direct length to indirect length, where the length of one object is used to compare the lengths of two other objects. They are given the opportunity to use standard, as well as non-standard, units for measuring. In our next topic, the students will organize, represent, and interpret data. Math fact drills continue to be a part of our daily routine with fluency being our goal. We continue to work on correct sentence formation, nouns and verbs. Some of the new skills that we are learning are: alphabetical order, identifying syllables, identifying base words and endings, and identifying the main topic of a story. We are enjoying the informational stories we are reading in our current reader, The Green Fern Zoo. 12 Mrs. Kent: Happy New Year to you and yours ! As we begin 2016, our students continue to aim high for their star ! In ELA we began Unit 4 The Green Fern Zoo. It's awesome to read and learn about the many things one can see at a zoo. It's wonderful to see the students’ excitement as we explore the many animals and sea creatures! In the story Things that Swim we learned the amazing reef shark is always swimming near a reef looking out for its dinner such as squid, crabs, shrimp, and wee fish. Swish,swish,swish, look out here it comes ! We are excitedly looking forward to The Red Barn Farm field trip on campus where we will see and learn about so many more animals! In Math we are learning about length measurement. We are using many hands on activities and using centimeter cubes to measure. Did you know that our Math book is 27 centimeters in length using cubes and it is 11 big paperclips in length? I wonder what our measurements will be when we measure our desk, feet, and other objects? As you can see we are off to a great New Year filled with amazing new learning. Please continue to read every night and continue to practice flash cards. May 2016 be a happy and successful year for our children and for your family! Laugh for the day; I told my class that Monday, January 18th is Martin Luther King Day. One child replied “Mrs. Kent, do we get King cake that day ?” The other child said “Mrs. Kent, my Dad is taking me to the BURGER KING PARADE on Monday!! Their confusion led to a wonderful teachable moment wherein we discussed Dr. King and his struggle for equal rights for all people. Sra. Vicario: Math: Students started the Module 3, where they explore measurement with standard and non-standard units. They will compare lengths of two and three objects using same and different tools. They will collect data and answer questions about it. We continue working with addition and subtraction strategies and word problems. ELA: We started "Mooncake." We will learn factual information about the moon and how light creates shadows. Noting that authors at times use their imaginations to create stories, we will explore how misconceptions and misunderstandings can often be cleared up by gaining knowledge through observations or reading about others people’s findings. We will use evidence to investigate what is real and what is imaginary in various tales about the moon. Mme Miriam –1st Grade French Immersion: We began our new year with classroom jobs- "les responsabilités" t hat change each week. The first graders have taken ownership of their classroom and their community by working as "les distributeurs"and "les facteurs." They are also responsible for taking care of "les portes,""le calendrier," "la météo," "les toilettes,""le tableau," "la pause à penser," "le tableau comportement,""la poubelle," and "le nettoyage classe." Along with our new jobs, we are also learning about the different cycles of the earth -- we spent one week learning about night and day (le jour et la nuit) and we will soon be learning about our seasons. In math, we finished up our last module with ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! base ten operations. Now we are excited to be learning about measurement and gaining tons of new French vocabulary! Mrs. Bunnell: We are learning about The 5 Senses! We enjoy listening to sounds in the classroom and outside, using our eyes to see colors and describe our surroundings. We read recipes to make healthy snacks, taste them, and write a response answering questions like "Was the snack salty or sweet? Crunchy or soft?” All of our students participated in Special Olympics bowling and had a blast! We are also practicing our sight words for early reading, letter blends and word families, handwriting practice, double digit addition, telling time, spatial sense, and much more. We are enjoying the chilly weather but look forward to a beautiful Spring, when we can use our 5 senses to see and smell beautiful flowers, feel the warm sun, and enjoy a sno-ball! Ms. Tallo: Ms. Tallo's students had a wonderful time participating in the Special Olympics Bowling competition at Colonial Bowling Lanes on January 15th. A special thank you to Ms. Rhonda Lauland, our Adaptive P.E. Teacher, for preparing the students for this awesome event! The students knew the terms "strike" and "spare" and showed awesome sportsmanship and team spirit as they cheered for each other. This month we are reading Fables in 1st grade and profiles of kids who excel in various academic and sports activities in 2nd grade. The students are focusing on close reading and how to respond to text dependent questions. In math, we are learning to order and compare length measurements. We will also learn to interpret numbers by collecting, sorting, and organizing data. We will graph the data points and students will learn to ask and answer questions about the data sets. . SECOND GRADERS Ms. Castle: Mrs. Castle's class has a busy month ahead. We are doing Fountas & Pinnell testing and learning about non-fiction text features, such as the index, glossary, headings, captions, etc. Our phonics skill is long and short vowel sounds and we are starting the long i sound this week which is denoted by /ie/. Math is adding and subtracting using the "Vertical Method". In Science we are learning about States of Matter, The Water Cycle and Weather! Please continue to read with your children nightly for 15-20 minutes. It makes such a difference and gives you a chance to spend quality time with your child! Ms. Dupree: The students enjoyed sharing their animal projects before the Christmas break. We learned so much from each other's reports! In Miss Dupree's Reading class, we are learning about the water cycle and weather. We also recently read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and the students got to create their own "wacky weather" story. They can't wait to use their compare and contrast skills after hearing the book and watching the movie! In English we are continuing to work on plural noun spelling rules and writing sentences correctly. Also, we are learning long and short vowel spellings and sounds in our CKLA unit with our "spelling trees." In Math, we are learning how to subtract 2 and 3 digit numbers with and without regrouping. The more we practice, the better we get! 13 Mrs. Morgan: Mrs. Morgan's class has enjoyed learning about the water cycle and how it affects our weather. We also learned how to write a friendly letter. We all wrote a letter to a classmate that moved to another school and are anxiously awaiting a reply from her. In math class we are learning two digit subtraction with and without regrouping. The class is learning how to solve word problems. Soon we will be writing our own word problems for our classmates to solve. Ms. Pyburn: The students in Mrs. Pyburn's class had a great holiday break, and are feeling re-energized and ready to learn again. For the last month, we have been studying the water cycle. The students have had so much fun watching our cup of water evaporate from the Sun's energy. In Math, we have just finished adding with regrouping, and we are now subtracting with regrouping. To wrap up with our Weather Unit, we read Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, which the students loved! The students compared and contrasted the movie with the story. In English, we have been working on plural nouns and how to write a friendly letter. Sra. Irizarry: Math we are doing Module 4: Addition and Subtraction within 200 with Word Problems to 100 . Science we are doing the weather including the different clouds. Social Studies Studying the life of Martin Luther King. ELA we are working on pronouns and Lexia. Also the students compare and contrast between the book and movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Espanol - numeros y colores . Mme Miriam – 2nd Grade French Immersion: In second grade, we are acquiring many strategies for subtracting numbers within1000. We have been learning about the vertical method, as well as how torepresent our operations with disks, drawings, and other tools. Thestudents are becoming more and more fluent in describing numbers, theiroperations, and their properties. Along with all of our work in math, wehave supplemented the students' unit on the water cycle with French words. If you come by our classroom, you will see our raindrops (nos gouttes de pluie)decorating our bulletin board with explanations of “le cycle de l’eau.” Ms. Martin’s ESL ClassOur 1-3rd grade ESL students are making strides in their English language development. We continue to improve our English skills through the use of the CKLA language program. Our 1stgrade students have been on an adventure with Nat and Beth as they travel through Great Britain in the reader Snap Shots. We’ve seen some awesome sights and learned some different words like, pub, grub, posh and kilt. Our 2nd and 3rd grade students have immersed themselves in Bedtime Tales learning about folktales and legends, and the different elements of fiction and non-fiction. THIRD GRADERS Ms. Pohlman: Students are starting Unit 4 of Core Knowledge Language Arts program. The content focus of Unit 4 is the ancient Roman civilization. Students will build upon their knowledge of other ancient civilizations studied in earlier grades, such as ancient Greece. Fictional students and Mrs. ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! Teachwell deliver "reports" on various topics. We will also continue learning dictionary skills, such as using guide words. In grammar, students will review verb tenses and the verbs to be and to have. They will also learn about subject-verb agreement, learning to change the spelling of verbs to match various subjects. Mrs. Stutzenbecker: In third grade math, we have been working on many different multiplication and division strategies. We finished our Eureka Math Module 3 book. We started geometry in our Module 4 books and are studying area. In Social Studies, we are learning about landforms and reading maps. We created our own island map that included a map key, a compass rose and landforms. In Science, we are studying the importance of electricity. Ms. Busot: We created Polygon Pals. These creatures had to be a polygon (a closed figure made with line segments). Students then used the pals to practice finding area by counting the square units inside their Polygon Pal. In social studies class, students reviewed map skills. Students used these skills to create maps of imaginary islands. When learning about adjectives in English the students will use the maps to write descriptive paragraphs. FOURTH GRADERS Mrs. Bertucci & Mrs. Bordelon - ELA: Aye! Our 4th graders are continuing to learn about the Medieval Times through varied readings from informational text and the novel, The Whipping Boy. The two main characters of The Whipping Boy, Jemmy and Prince Brat, are on an adventure filled with mystery and surprise. As a culminating activity to our adventure/mystery module, students will select a novel in this genre and complete a project. Students are encouraged to put forth their best effort and creativity in redesigning a cereal box to reflect the elements of their book. Please continue to encourage your child to read every night. Log on to iReady --clever.com/in/jppss Ms. Crider -Math: In 4th grade math, we are rocking and rolling. We finished learning about factors and multiples and are now onto our big fractions unit. We will learn how to add, subtract, and multiply fractions. We will also learn how to find equivalent fractions using our knowledge of common factors and multiples. During our long Mardi Gras break, please have your child go onto I-ready at home if you have computer/Internet access to practice reading and math skills. Log on to iReady --- clever.com/in/jppss Happy Mardi Gras! Ms. Ridgley - SC: We are very excited to be learning about Electricity! Using batteries (a power source), wires (connectors) and light bulbs (the load), we are discovering the differences between Open & Closed and Series & Parallel 14 Circuits. Following the Electricity Basics lesson is Transforming Energy lesson. It describes electromagnets, generators & turbines. We completed the Electricity Unit by studying how electricity gets to our homes. Knowing this information will allow us to begin to understand the basics of electricity as well as develop a healthy respect for the power and possible dangers of electricity. FIFTH GRADERS Mr. Chaze - Math: Bonne Année - Happy New Year everyone! It is nice to be back in school after a long winter break. Work has resumed in fifth grade, and there is no time to waste! In mathematics, we are wrapping up our Unit 3 on addition and subtraction of fractions. We have learned different strategies to compute fractions and we are applying them to the real world. Next week, we will begin our work on division and multiplication of fractions. We are very excited by the idea of using manipulatives and working in small groups. In social studies, we are following the steps of the early British colonists on northeastern coast. In science, we are focusing on the fascinating world of ecosystems and we are becoming aware of the importance to protect plants and animals. In 2016, we are becoming data-driven students! We are learning how to track our progress on IReady and Interactive Achievement tests. It is very interesting to visualize our learning and to set personal goals. Our benchmark tests have shown impressive improvement in mathematics. Great job, girls and boys! Log on to iReady --- clever.com/in/jppss Mrs. Hazelwood - ELA: The students in Ms. Hazelwood's ELA classes are looking forward to completing our reading of The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich. The novel has been a journey through the life of a Native American tribe, including both the hardships and times of growth. As we continue to dive into the novel, we look for literary devices that enhance the text. We have found all kinds of ways the author spices up her writing through the use of alliterations, similes, metaphors and personification. Look for more wonderful stories by this author! Log on to iReady --- clever.com/in/jppss Ms. Williams: Hello - I am the new 5th grade teacher here at J.C. Ellis. I am very excited to join such a great school with fabulous staff members. The students are well behaved and eager to learn. In the month of January, we have been discussing colonizing North America and we are about to begin discussing Jamestown and eventually moving into the American Revolution in Social Studies. In Science, we are discussing ecosystems and animal adaptations. In reading and writing, we are finishing up The Birchbark House and will begin reading The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. We are also working on how to cite evidence and reading many informational texts to prepare for spring testing. The students have done very well with all of the subjects thus far and I'm looking forward to a positive last stretch of the year. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have concerns or just want to introduce yourselves to me! ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! SIXTH GRADERS Mrs. Krieger - ELA: 6th Grade ELA will begin the new year with a new novel! As we read "The Witch of Blackbird Pond", we will consider why we judge others before getting to know them, the consequences of jumping to conclusions, and the perils of arrogance and ignorance. In English, we are focusing heavily on how to unravel the complicated maze of a writing prompt. Ask your student to explain these steps (looking at his or her notes is ok! The more often your student sees, hears, and repeats these steps, the more successful he or she will be.): 1. Unpack the question 2. Find the evidence 3. Explain! 4. Don't forget your FUMS As a parent, the most crucial step you can participate in is Step 3: Explain. As your student answers questions or completes tasks in any subject, ask him or her WHY or HOW he or she chose that answer. Don't be discouraged if your student cannot spout out a perfect answer right away or responds with "I don't know." Encourage your student to use academic vocabulary (words that are specific to a subject, like 'cell division' for Science or 'dependent clause' for ELA) as they explain. Let them sketch out an idea, use a small dry erase board to write out sentences or math problems before writing an answer on paper, or play word-association games (ex: tell me everything you think of when you hear 'figurative language'). Often times, if a student is allowed to play around with an idea first, he or she is much more eager to move on to the serious work! Mrs. Viosca - Math: In sixth grade math classes we are continuing our study of decimals using all four operations. We recently began working with division and multiplication of fractions. Please make sure your child is completing homework each night. It is an integral part of the learning process. We are picking up the pace and are FULL STEAM AHEAD!! Mrs. Viosca has also introduced the 6th graders to prodigy, make sure your child has registered with the class code they were given. In the evening, have them hop online and they can compete against others in the 6th grade at the same time. Just another fun way to learn about math and reinforce the skills they are learning in class. Students should always complete an I-Ready lesson before going on to prodigy. I would love nothing more than to see an I-Ready lesson completed nightly for those with internet access. Log on to iReady --- clever.com/in/jppss In science class, we have begun a new unit. We are studying elements, compounds, and reactions. Students will be given an element project to work on at home, which will count for a test grade. Parents, please be on the lookout for this!! In Mrs. Viosca's history class, students were given a 6th grade survival guide highlighting the GLEs that will be tested on LEAP 2016. Students were given access to our class quizlet account in order to use to study these words. A set of words is tested each week. Parents, if you haven't seen this yet, ask your 6th grader to show you. 15 SEVENTH GRADERS Ms. Byrd: 7th grade science students are studying about DNA and genetics and how traits passed from parents to offspring. They learned that Mendel is known as the father of genetics and discovered that some traits have simple pattern of inheritance dominant or recessive. In studying the DNA and genetics we related the lesson to real-life situation in the medical field. Some of the students discovered DNA to Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) from the television show. Students were amazed with Mendel’s using plants to model cross – breeding and plants traits that are dominant and others are recessive. Some of the activities done in class were Punnet square and how codes are used to determined traits. Students discovered how traits are passed from parents to offspring. 7th grade and 8th grade science, 8th grade social studies classes are preparing for Benchmark test. Use iReady at home - Log on to clever.com/in/jppss Ms. Terranova- Math: We have been studying the area of circles and other irregular figures lately. This week we will explore ways that volume can be represented. Next week we will move into module 4 and study real-world percent situations. Remember to review and practice class notes with your children every night. Please also check to see that homework assignments are completed. Ms. Bejma - ELA: We have been working very hard on creating a vocabulary PowerPoint and an individual grammar structure book based on our novel, The Giver. Since completing The Giver, we also wrote a compare and contrast essay using the book and the movie. Prior to seeing the movie, the students wrote their own ending to The Giver. We decided that the book was much more enjoyable than the movie, and our endings would have made a great improvement to the film. Ultimately, it was very evident that sometimes a movie falls short of our expectations because directors take liberties rather than stick to the original story. We are currently learning more about the life and work of Charles Dickens and how his writing has influenced us for over 170 years. How can something written in the Victorian Age still influence us today? We will answer these questions as we learn about imagery, characterization, staves, and plot diagrams. Our objective is to delve deep into Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to help us understand that writers use stories and distinctive characters to teach us lessons. The students will come to understand that redemption can be found in selflessness and valuing people over materialistic ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! possessions, but we will also improve our writing ability by studying how to add imagery and descriptive details. Finally, we took a short break and had a blast celebrating “The King.” Two of our seventh graders won first place in the costume contest! Congratulations Ja’Shaun Jarrell and Victoria Starnes for your school spirit and participation. 7th Grade Social Studies: Ms. Bejma and Ms. Terranova As we study American History, we recently learned about the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War and the struggles that occurred as our forefathers fought for our new nation. We are now reading about our early government called the Articles of Confederation and why it had to change to become the Constitution of the United States as we know it. Along with this, we will discover more about the compromises and disagreements of what the government should be to best represent its people. We will also examine our rights and responsibilities as citizens of this great country. MIDDLE SCHOOL FRENCH IMMERSION- Mme Staub French Immersion - 6th and 7th In addition to their immersion classes, students in both grades are now studying French language. On Mondays, students have decided to study grammar, and they are really excited about it! C'est bizarre et merveilleux! On Wednesdays, we will concentrate on conversation and incorporate some short readings. ESL – Ms Villalva 7th Grade Social Studies: After a well deserved Christmas break we're back in class working on our reading and writing skills. We are reading a lot of texts and learning techniques to be able to have a better understanding of the text and therefore be able to answer questions about it accurately. We are reading a lot of non fictional texts and learning a lot of other things from them. On the writing area we are working on writing longer texts. We have started writing texts stating the main idea and three important details so that we get used to using several paragraphs. We are now going to add some difficulty by writing descriptive texts still following the same paragraph structure. Let's sharpen our pencils and get to work! EIGHTH GRADERS Mrs. Byrd- SS: 8th grade social studies students just finished studying Louisiana Government. This was an interesting lesson. Students learned a lot. They did a role playing of how a bill become a law. We discussed Jefferson Parish and we focused on our school district, so at that moment that was everybody district was , JC Ellis in class. We did oral discussion on voter qualification in Louisiana. Students compare the Louisiana Constitution to the US Constitution. We were amazed that Louisiana has had 11 constitutions since it was admitted to the union in 1812. Its present constitution (1975) replaced the constitution of 1921, which had been amended more than 500 times. Ms. Terranova- Math: We have been busy exploring the relationship of linear equations and how they can be represented as tables and graphs. We will begin module 5 this week as we connect linear relationships to functions. Then finally, we will finish modules 4 and 5 with systems ( or simultaneous equations). It won't be long before we check out 16 nonlinear situations. Remember to review and practice class notes with your children every night. Please also check to see that homework assignments are completed. Ms. Vansant-ELA: In ELA, 8th graders have been working diligently to analyze text in our “circle groups,” and through this process, we are growing as readers, writers, critical thinkers, and communicators. We are learning to find the deeper meaning behind the written word. We have also enjoyed reading and learning about Elvis Presley and how he impacted segregation through his music, and we have also enjoyed learning about how Martin Luther King Jr. also impacted segregation and changed the world with his diction and eloquent persuasive speaking ability. We have been improving in our inference skills and ability to analyze literature through written response, so we will be prepared for our next round of testing after Mardi Gras. We are working towards our goal of finishing 20 independent novels this year in our reading homework before the end of the year, so please take us to the bookstore or the library, so we can keep reading!! Use iReady at home clever.com/in/jppss Mrs. Byrd – SC: 8th grade science students are exploring about fossils, different kinds of fossils, and what can they tell from the past. They are observing from by modeling trace fossils and draw conclusion about the behavior of ancient organism. We are molding and casting fossils by using water, sand, clay, models of plastic dinosaurs and other small creatures. They are observing rocks to identify the relative age or the absolute age of a rock and the geologic time scale. Kudos to my 8th grade students who are studying fossils, you are now paleontologists. PHYSICAL EDUCATION and HEALTH Grades K-3 – Coach Christine & Coach Browning – In Physical Education classes in Kindergarten, First, Second and Third Grades, we have been working on “Oppositional Overhand Throwing”. We used size appropriate footballs to teach how to properly throw a football, overhand, with opposition. We also tried to implement throwing a football with spin. We taught them to use the “T” position as a starting position. We have also used games, such as, “Corral”, “Snowball” and “Elimination” to allow the students to practice this skill. Hopefully, students will practice this skill at home. Throwing a football around with family members is a great way to create an exercise opportunity for the entire family. In Healthy Lifestyle Choices, our Health series, we are finishing a unit on Substance Abuse Education, which focused on alcohol, smoking and properly taking medicine, both overthe-counter and prescription. I feel sure your children have started discussions with you about these topics. We appreciate you taking an interest in what your child is learning! ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! Grades 4-8 – Coach Marks & Coach Ryan: Boys are developing our basketball skills leading to intramurals and a championship game. Girls are developing our soccer skills leading to intramurals and a championship game. We are also participating in Fuel Up to Play 60. Fuel Up to Play 60 is a national in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Football League and National Dairy Council, founded by America’s dairy farmers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Dairy foods are a safe, wholesome and delicious source of essential nutrients — available at a reasonable cost. Combined, milk, cheese and yogurt contain high-quality protein, calcium, potassium, vitamin D and more, making dairy foods an important part of overall health. Encorage your child to eat healy and exercise more. GIFTED/TALENTED Mrs. Alford: GT - As the winter time brings chills and cold weather, just the right time to snug up and read your favorite books, the gifted students are completing a winter time novel study with the Newbery Honor book, My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George. This award winning book is a classic and a way to escape to the outdoors for some exploration into the naturalistic side of our intelligences. As a final activity students will enjoy the movie. Most evidence from the student viewpoint thus far has been that the books are always the best. Ms. Layton: DRAMA –Talented Theatre students are practicing and applying acting techniques such as substitution and sense memory. We apply substitution when we use our own life experiences to put ourselves in our character's situation. Sense memory is when we make our senses remember how something looks, sounds, tastes, smells or feels even if we are not actually seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, or feeling something. Acting techniques help us be believable on stage. Ms. Weathers: TVA – Talented Visual Art students are creating their ideas through three dimensional design. Student are picking their favorite sketch to develop into soft sculpture. Felt is hand crafted together to make these ideas come off the table. Elllis' artists are recreating animals, unicorns and aliens. Each sculpture is as unique and creative as the artist. SPEECH: Ms. McAdams: The speech students are working towards generalizing speech sounds and/or language skills within the classroom and at home. After the holiday break, lessons included the topics of winter and Martin Luther King, Jr. Each student enjoyed learning more about American history while continuing to build their speech skills. Currently, we're expanding our vocabulary while learning about the upcoming holiday Mardi Gras. 17 Ex LIBRIS……...Ms. Boh: Great things are happening in the Ellis library in January! Kindergarten is looking forward to March when they will begin checking books out to use in the classroom. 1st grade is exploring storytelling and putting events in the correct order. This week we learned all about helping with the Little Red Hen! 2nd grade is completing Dictionary People all while learning about how to use a dictionary. 3rd grade is playing with data using charts and graphs. This past week we held an imaginary bake sale fundraiser and calculated which items earned us the most money. 4th grade has been looking at the World Almanac and learning all kinds of information that may one day help them win on Jeopardy! 5th grade continues to delve into the world of research, learning the process from developing a topic to presenting a final product. We are spending the next few weeks refining our research questions and practicing narrowing down a topic. 6th grade is preparing to learn how to create great Powerpoint presentations, Word documents, as well as practicing their computer skills. 7th grade is still exploring genre. This month they are working with memoirs and biographies while spending time creating their own 6-word memoirs. 8th grade continues to learn about effective research skills, using computer programs to streamline the process, and improving their writing skills. Keep up the great work!! Ellis STAR Readers: 1. Cruz Rodriguez 4. Sasha Lankford 7. Julissa Ramos 2. Isis Brown 5. Nicholas Becker 8. Emily Fernandez 3. Adam DePoorter 6. Ahmad Ahmad ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!! 18
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