August, September, October, November

August, September, October, November
Principal’s Message
Morrow Elementary School Families,
Things at Morrow ES are moving along nicely as we gear up for our
final two months of 2013! Classroom instruction is strong, parent /
teacher conferences allowed all of you to obtain a complete view of
your child’s progress this school year, and PTA is always working
hard to provide both resources and activities that we all need and
enjoy. This is my third year as principal of Morrow ES and I can
honestly tell you that this is one of the most incredible
environments in CCSD. I am so appreciative of the staff members,
students, and parents that contribute.
Sue H. Morrow
Elementary School
Reece Oswalt,
Principal
Brodie Christian,
Assistant Principal
1070 Featherwood Avenue
Henderson, NV 89015
As always, please know that if I can ever be of assistance, you are
always welcome to stop by, email me at [email protected],
or call me at 799-3550.
(702) 799-3550
Office hours:
7:30 am—4:00 pm
Sincerely,
Dr. Oswalt
AP Message
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Inside this issue:
Principal / AP Message
1
It is my honor and privilege to be Assistant Principal of Sue Morrow
ES. I am beginning my fourth year here at this wonderful five star
school! I want to thank each of you for being involved in your child's
lives and keeping informed on their academics and behavior. We
are all here for the same purpose, to ensure that the next generation
is prepared, and that preparation begins here at Sue H. Morrow ES!
Each individual student is important, therefore we focus on the
needs of each individual student. We are all accountable for doing
what is best and right for each child that attends our school. Doing
what is right isn't easy. Good communication and strong collaboration between all of us is paramount so that we aren't working harder,
just smarter. If at any time throughout this school year you have
questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Your child's
teacher is the first person you should contact with any questions or
concerns. If you should require further assistance, then please
contact the office.
Kindergarten
2
First Grade
3
Second Grade
4
Library
14
Sincerely,
Mr. C
Upcoming Events
15
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
5, 6
7
8, 9
Counselor / PE
10
Art
11
Music
12, 13
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Morrow Moments 2013
Kindergarten
Kindergarten has been busy the last two months adjusting and conquering the procedures expected
in school. They have progressed tremendously and the teachers are happy with their progress. We
enjoyed visiting with all the parents during parent/teacher conferences and hope that we can all
work together in the coming months to help our kindergarten students grow and learn even more.
We have been busy studying Fall (Autumn) pumpkins, bats, skeletons, the Trophies units Around
the Table, and Silly Business. In math we have been practicing counting to 100, recognizing and
writing numbers 0-20, 2-D and 3-D shapes, and positional words. The kindergarten students are
also working hard on writing complete sentences using all the sight words they have learned and
sounding out other simple words. We look forward to the upcoming months with many more fun
activities and subjects to study.
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Morrow Moments 2013
First Grade
The first grade students are off to a great start! They are making new friends and are adjusting
well to the first grade routine. We have been working on sight words, decoding short vowel
words, and writing stories. In math the children have been working on adding and subtracting to
ten. This month we have been learning about apples, pumpkins, and fire safety. The boys and
girls really enjoyed our recent field trip to the Smith Center.
Please ensure to check your child's backpack and homework folder daily. Nightly reading and
logging on to Lexia at home will benefit your child. First grade teachers would like to thank all
parents that attended parent/teacher conferences. We appreciate all the support that you give
your child at home with their homework and reading.
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Morrow Moments 2013
Second Grade
This year in second grade we have been practicing all sorts of things. In math, we are working on
basic addition and subtraction. We have started working on place value. We are currently working on
two-digit addition and subtraction and have begun learning how to regroup. Please continue to have
your child practice math facts at home. It is extremely important as we begin moving into harder skills
that they recall their basic math facts. If you need assistance on where to find resources, our second
grade teachers are available to help out. In writing, the students have reviewed the basic conventions
of writing and have moved into the writing process. Recently, we have focused on how to write
informative and explanatory papers. We created a monster and wrote an informative paper about
what it looked liked. Currently, we are finishing up an explanatory bat report. We did research about
different types of bats and wrote a paper about what we learned. Second grade teachers have sent
home the information for the students to login and practice their reading skills using the Lexia
program. We have had a great year so far in second grade! We look forward to watching your child
grow and learn this year!
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Morrow Moments 2013
Third Grade
Third grade is leaping into second trimester! Students will learn many new concepts across all subject
areas. In reading, novels will be utilized. Students will recount stories, including fables, folktales and
myths from diverse cultures. Students are learning many new reading strategies, such as
comparing and contrasting various selections written by the same author.
In March, the third grade students have the opportunity to attend Peter Pan, a Walt
Disney play, featured at UNLV Ham Hall. This event ties in quite nicely with our reading
standards.
In math, students are diligently studying multiplication and division related concepts and
facts. Place value and rounding will also be reviewed and mastered throughout the
second trimester. Students will use relevant strategies and algorithms to fluently add and subtract
within a thousand.
In writing, students will publish expository essays and conduct research assignments. The five writing
traits are continuing to be observed, which are: Ideas, Conventions, Organization, Voice and
Sentence Fluency. In the near future third grade students will be using FOSS science kits to conduct
experiments.
In Social Studies, our students thoroughly enjoyed creating the tri-oramas in recognition of Nevada
Day. Time for Kids is another insightful resource used in Social Studies to help our students understand current events in our society and world. We are still accepting a $5 donation to continue
receiving this subscription.
We want to thank all of our parents and families for attending parent/teacher conferences and for
their continued support. We look forward to another positive trimester in third grade!
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Morrow Moments 2013
More
Halloween
Fun!
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Morrow Moments 2013
Fourth Grade
The fourth grade teachers are loving our new students! The students are settling into their routines,
and we high expectations of each of them. Here are the skills we have been working on:
Reading - We have learned the following skills this trimester. Story Elements which include
character traits, setting, plot, and theme. We have learned to find the main idea or summarize a
passage. Furthermore, we have learned to answer higher level questions using inferencing
strategies. Learning how to use Context Clues has been very beneficial in understanding how
to find the definition of unknown words. Each class has enjoyed a class novel along with our
weekly articles that are read in the magazine, StoryWorks.
Writing - The students have been focusing on writing constructed responses. They have been
using the acronym RAPP to help remember the steps to responding to literature. This includes:
restating the question, answering the question, proving it with the text, and proofreading and
editing. Finally, we have begun writing our first personal narrative which will be displayed on our
hallway bulletin boards.
Language - The students have been working hard on the following skills. First, we worked on
figurative language. This includes similes, metaphors, personification, alliterations, hyperbole,
onomatopoeia, idioms, proverbs, and adages. It was a ton of fun learning about formal language
versus informal language. We are currently working on using thesauruses to help us find interesting
word choices or synonyms for average words.
Word Study - This program consists of learning the English language through the use of phonograms and the understanding of the English rules. This program includes phonics, decoding,
spelling, and vocabulary skills.
Math – The students have been focusing on these skill units: place value, rounding , patterns,
geometry, multiplication memorizations, and problem solving.
Science - This trimester the units being taught are Investigating Water taught by Mrs. Welbourne.
and Mrs. Ewing is teaching Investigating Magnetism and Electricity.
Social Studies – This years unit of study consists of Nevada History. Mrs. Naumu and Mrs. Hoover
are concentrating on map skills and archaic people of Nevada.
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Morrow Moments 2013
Fifth Grade
Fifth grade is off to a great start and having an outstanding first trimester! In reading, we have
focused on analyzing the components found in pieces of literature, such as theme and elements of
a story plot. We will begin looking at point of view in the next few weeks. Students will learn to
analyze text to see how point of view affects the way an author presents information. Please
continue to read at home! Students have the opportunity to work on the computer program,
Reading Plus, to help improve comprehension and fluency. This is a wonderful program that helps
your child learn at their own independent reading level. Students will greatly benefit from
additional practice time at home.
In writing, students are learning how to use the writing process to produce high quality stories.
Students are also learning how to enhance their stories using strong, vivid verbs in place of “dead”
verbs they ordinarily use.
In math, students have been studying whole number and decimal place value, as well as reviewing
the multiplication and division algorithms. We are beginning to investigate fractions, relate them to
decimals, and use models to show addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions
with like and unlike denominators.
In social studies, students have just finished conducting an in-class research project on Native
American tribes and civilization.
In science, the students have been participating in the D.R.E.A.M.S. (Decision, Responsibility,
Education, Achievement, Motivation, and Self-Esteem) program with Officer VanBeveren. This
program allows students to evaluate their decisions, good or bad, and to see how these decisions
can affect their lives. We are looking forward to attending Pali Institute Camp in January! Keep up
the amazing work fifth graders!
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Morrow Moments 2013
Fifth
Grade
Dead
Verb
Funeral
Page 10
Morrow Moments 2013
COUNSELOR
BE KIND…AMAZING THINGS WILL HAPPEN! Sue Morrow ES is excited to be a part of the
“Kindness Revolution” that The Josh Stevens Foundation has created in honor of Josh and his kind
heart and unique brand of kindness. The purpose of our “Be Kind” program is to remind children
that there is a whole world in need of more acts of kindness. We want children to know that people
really do appreciate their kind actions. The teachers and staff have been catching students being
kind at school and in the community. The first Monday of every month, during the outside morning
assemblies, we will spread awareness by recognizing children and rewarding their genuine acts of
kindness with a “You’ve Been Caught Being Kind Card” and bracelet. Our hope is that our whole
community will embrace this message of kindness. Be Kind T-shirts are for sale in the office or from
Ms. Stewart. They are $10 each--cash only please. EVERY MONDAY is designated BE KIND t-shirt
day at Sue Morrow Elementary! Kindness is here! Be a part of it today!
Students
caught being
kind from our
first assembly
in October
PE
The Physical Education Department for the month of October was focused on assessing students
with a Physical Fitness Challenge. Students were assessed in five areas.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Sit and Reach (flexibility)
Shuttle Run (agility)
Sit Ups (abdominal/back)
Pull Ups (upper body)
Fifth grade—one mile run
Fourth, third, and second grades—1/2 mile run
First grade—1/4 mile run
Students received their scores and will be assessed again in March. Students that score in the top
15th percentile in all five events will receive a gold medal and certificate. Those students who score
at the 50th percentile will receive a silver medal and certificate as well.
Finally, the week of November 11th is Multicultural Week for students as they attend their speciaists’
classes. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, students will go as a grade level to the MP room
during their specialists’ time. Art, Library, Music, and Physical Education will all be presenting
different activities from around the world for students to learn from and enjoy.
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Morrow Moments 2013
Art
Welcome back to the 2013-2014 school year! I’m glad to be working with our new and returning
art students. Your child will be experiencing drawing, painting in watercolor and tempera, printmaking, collage, ceramics, and mixed media. We will be learning about the elements and
principles of design and how to successfully use them in our work. Throughout the year your
child will learn about the history of art and famous artists.
In September, the school celebrated National Peace Day by
making pinwheels. Students wrote their thoughts about war
and peace, tolerance, and living in harmony with others on
one side of the pinwheel and on the other side, they
decorated their pinwheel to visually express their feelings.
The pinwheels were placed in the front of the school. As
they were spinning in the wind, their thoughts and feelings
about peace were spread throughout the world!
Students have been
studying about Op Art
which is a style of
visual art that makes
use of optical illusions.
When the viewer looks
at the artwork, the
impression is given of movement, hidden images, flashing
and vibration, patterns, swelling, and warping. They really
loved this project and created some great illusions! We’ve
been experimenting
with watercolors to
create beautiful sunsets
and winter scenes.
Students have created beautiful flowers in the style of
Georgia O’Keefe and Vincent Van Gogh. Fifth graders have
been working on designing the yearbook cover and one lucky
student will have the honor of having their art featured on
the cover! In January, Sue Morrow’s student artwork will be
on display at St. Rose Dominican Hospital-Siena Campus.
Their work will be on display for three months. Be sure to
view these wonderful masterpieces!
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Morrow Moments 2013
MUSIC
We have a very busy schedule this season in Music! November 12-14, Mr. Janosik from PE, Ms.
Weir from Art, Ms. Van Beveran from Library and Ms. Bain from Music will be hosting "MultiCultural Week" with all students. We will focus on activities from many different cultures while
team teaching. It's a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn about different people from
different places and be with their entire grade level at the same time!
Our Choir Concert is on Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. in the multipurpose room.
Select and Combined Choir will be performing. All are welcome to attend! Join us for some
holiday favorites as well as some new and festive tunes!
Sing For Santa is BACK! All fourth and fifth graders are invited to participate! This event will take
place during the Las Vegas Wranglers game on Friday, December 6, 2013. Students will perform
holiday tunes on the ice during the first period intermission. It is an amazing experience! We will
sing with several other schools and then go back up to our seats to continue watching the game.
Tickets for family and friends to attend are only $10! That's nearly HALF the cost of normal ticket
sales! In addition, $2.50 from each ticket sold goes back to our music program. Information
packets have been sent home with your child already. We hope to see you there!
We also owe a big "thank you" to the Henderson Police Department for visiting Sue Morrow on
Halloween! They brought candy for the kids and talked about safe trick-or-treating. They were
"sweet" to stop by!
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MORE FUN IN MUSIC !
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Morrow Moments 2013
LIBRARY
Hello from the library! We’re off to a great start this year and things are running smoothly . If
I haven’t had the chance to meet you yet, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Vicki Van Beveren and I’ve been teaching in the Clark County School District for eleven years. I’ve taught first,
second and fifth grades, and am so excited to be the librarian at Sue H. Morrow Elementary
School!
In September we kicked off our first Book Fair for the 2013-2014 school year. (This being my
first book fair, I was a little nervous about book sales). But to my great surprise, we surpassed
sales from the last three book fairs! Wow! Thank you! Thank you! Due to the success of the
book fair, we (Mrs. Pezario and myself) have been busy ordering, and putting new books on the
shelves for our students. My goal in the library is to put as many new books in our students’
hands as possible. Thank you for all your support!
Thank you to the families who have participated in the Birthday Book Club thus far. For those
of you new to Morrow ES, the Birthday Book Club is another way to get new books into our
library through the help of you, the families! Each month letters go home to the students who will
celebrate a birthday that month. If a student wishes to participate, they will return their envelope
with $10, and the student gets to choose a book from our special ‘Birthday Case’. The book will
then be on loan to the student, then he/she will return it so other students may have the
opportunity to check it out. It’s a wonderful way for students and parents to donate books
to our library.
Mrs. Van Beveren has also posted student names on the “Buggy For Books” bulletin board. These
students are those who have been reading (and returning) the Apple Core Reading Bookmarks.
So keep reading, and bring back those bookmarks!
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Morrow Moments 2013
Upcoming Events:
November 28-29—Thanksgiving Holiday, No School
December
December
December
December
December
December
January
January
January
January
4—Colt of the Month 2:00 p.m.
5—Mustang of the Month 11:00 a.m.
5—Choir Concert 6:00 p.m.
6—Report Cards go Home
7—Breakfast With the Grinch 9:00 a.m.
23—January 3—Christmas Break
6—Welcome Back to School!
20—Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School
29—Colt of the Month 2:00 p.m.
30—Mustang of the Month 11:00 a.m.
February
February
February
February
14—Staff Development Day, No School
17—Presidents’ Day, No School
26—Colt of the Month 2:00 p.m.
27—Mustang of the Month 11:00 a.m.