Ranch View Review - Naperville Community Unit School District 203

Ranch View
Review
Volume 29, Issue 4
May 22, 2015
From the Desk of the Principal Suzanne Salness
Dear Ranch View Families,
Another successful year is coming to an end here at Ranch View. We have so much to celebrate! Here is a review of some of the
highlights of our year and information regarding changes coming in 2015-2016.
We began the year welcoming over 50 new families at our Ranch View community during our New
Family Welcome Event. Our total school population grew to 530 this school year! We will
continue to provide an opportunity for new families to visit and get acquainted with Ranch View
this summer on August 13th.
Parents learned the importance of developing GRIT in their students from our own Dina Esposito and coworker
Josh Gage. This theme will continue in 2015-16 as we connect the characteristics of building GRIT with state
Social Emotional Learning Standards to ensure we are preparing students for the 21 st Century and beyond.
Annual celebrations such as the Autumn on Parade, the Veteran’s Day Celebration, and the Winter Program highlight our
connection to the community and ability to support the mission strand of Community Contributor, as well as our focus
on the diversity that is represented by our students and families.
Our Student Council continued our focus on supporting the community at large by adopting a Red Panda through their
support of the World Wildlife Fund, collecting over 1000 tooth brushes to support children in need across the world,
and by raising $650.00 via their Quarters for a Cause Campaign to put towards new recess equipment for Ranch View
students.
Students in grades 3-5 utilized Canvas to document their own growth within an e-portfolio format and were able to take
ownership of reporting their progress towards state standards as they facilitated their own parent conferences this past
spring.
Inside this issue:
In response to our parent survey, Ranch View and district staff provided parents with information
related to PARCC testing and the ever changing testing platforms utilized within our district
during a parent presentation in March. Additionally, students and their families had the
opportunity to learn about how iPad and web-based applications are utilized at Ranch View
during our “What’s APPening?” event in April.
Over 250 Parent Volunteers supported a variety of school-wide and grade level events this year
via our new system, signupgenius.com. We greatly value the role parent volunteers play in
supporting students and staff at Ranch View. Thank you to all our volunteers!
Ranch View’s Rising Star/school goals for 2014-15 included goals aligned to differentiated
instruction, the use of transformational technology, the support of culturally responsive
practices and social emotional learning, and the implementation of a push-in/coteaching model to ensure all students have equal access to core curriculum. Our Rising
FROM THE DESK OF
PRINCIPAL SUZANNE
SALNESS
1-3
PUPIL PERSONNEL
SERVICES TEAM
4
PARCC ASSESSMENT
DESCRIPTION
5-6
LRC UPDATES
7
HOME & SCHOOL
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
8-9
ART, MUSIC, P.E., K-5TH 10GRADE, &
22
ACADEMICALLY TALENTED
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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Ranch View Review
Continued… From the Desk of Principal Suzanne Salness
Star plan and related 16 action steps were successfully completed as documented by data and evidence of completion
which was submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education. We continue to “Move Ahead of the Herd” in many areas
which makes Ranch View the best place for students to learn and grow!
Ranch View Performance Series scores indicate that 97% of our students in grades 2-5 met or exceeded grade level
expectations for attaining math standards and 95% met or exceeded expectations for attaining grade level reading
standards! We are a high performing school!
Our Home and School Association supported several fundraising and community events throughout the year including
Saddlefest, the Ice Cream Social, the Roller Skating Party, Restaurant Nights, Spring Flower Sale, Manna, Art to
Remember, and the Lollies and Pops Dance. Fundraising through these events and many others has provided $15,000
towards the building of an outdoor classroom to be completed the summer of 2016 in honor of Ranch View’s 30th year.
Pat Webster, our school social worker for the past 12 years, is retiring after serving the district for over 30
years. Pat has supported hundreds of students here at Ranch View and will be greatly missed as an
expert in providing social/emotional support to students and families. Replacing Ms. Webster will be
Mrs. Erin Freeding. Mrs. Freeding comes to us with 13 years of experience as a school social worker with
expertise in social thinking curriculums and school-wide behavior systems aligned to Social Emotional Learning
Standards.
Lloyd Moncrief, our second shift custodian since 1993, is retiring in July. He will spend time traveling the country
enjoying his new red corvette! Mrs. Maria Ibarra, our current swing shift custodian, will replace Lloyd. Sergio
Castro joined our custodial team in early March. Sergio is our day shift custodian who works alongside our
head custodian Leslie Fromhertz to ensure our building is in tiptop shape to support learning!
Mr. Brian O’Dowd has accepted a position at Kennedy Junior High as a member of their eighth grade team.
Kennedy’s gain is Ranch View’s loss! Ms. Elizabeth Shabel is moving from fourth to fifth grade as a result of Mr.
O’Dowd’s new assignment at Kennedy.
Our current Assistant Principal, Mrs. Kristin Cummings, has been reassigned as the full time AP at Kingsley
Elementary School for the 2015-16 school year. Mr. Hugh Bogar, current AP at Kinglsey, will be joining the
Ranch View staff and splitting his responsibilities between Ranch View and Highlands Schools next year. I know
you join me in welcoming Mr. Bogar to our community.
Mrs. Mougette will provide three opportunities over the summer for students and their families to access the Ranch View
library. See her article for details.
WHEW… What a year! As always, it has been an honor and a privilege to be part of this Ranch View community and to
participate in the exciting learning that occurs within our building each and every day. Please continue to monitor Talk 203
messages, our district and building websites, our Ranch View Facebook Page, and Twitter for news and important information
throughout the summer. Thank you for your unending support!
Enjoy your summer break!
Mrs. Salness
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Continued… From the Desk of Principal Suzanne Salness
On April 24, Lisa Copeland was Principal for a Day. She had many jobs. Her first job was to
help in the carpool lane. Her second job was to hand out candies to the teachers. Then,
Principal Copeland assisted students in checking out books in the LRC. She helped in music
and gym. She did recess duty and taught a handwriting lesson to kindergarteners. Third
graders got her support in exploring owl pellets, and she used the iPad and Creative Book
Builder during a writing lesson in first grade. She treated her friends Brayden and Cailey to a
special lunch and then worked with our Reading Specialist, Mrs. Mullins, and her partner,
Mrs. Salness, in the afternoon. What a busy day for Principal Copeland!
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Ranch View Review
From the Pupil Personnel Services Team (PPST)
The teachers on the Pupil Personnel Services Team (PPST) support teachers and students at
Ranch View School. This past year, we collaborated with classroom teachers to co-teach the
curriculum within the general education setting. In addition, we also provided individualized
instruction for students in academic, social, and language skills. We look forward to
following the same instructional model next year.
Ideas for summer:
Children acquire skills through the school year, but they will lose ground if learning stops
during summer break. The PPST has put together a list of activities to keep kids reading,
writing, and learning this summer!
Keep a journal of summer highlights with family and friends, vacations, special activities,
sleep overs, cookies with grandma, etc…
Continue to use district-recommended websites and games that are listed on Ranch
View’s home page, under Research Resources.
For more summer reading & learning ideas: go to these websites to read about summer
reading programs, as well as other opportunities they offer to the public.
Naperville Public Library: http://www.naperville-lib.org/
Lisle Public Library: http://www.lislelibrary.org/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/summer-reading/379003570
Anderson’s Bookstore: http://www.andersonsbookshop.com/
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Ranch View Review
From the Desk of Mr. Buckley, Learning Support Coach
What is PARCC?
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is a group of states working together to develop
high-quality assessments that give teachers, students, and parents information they can use to improve instruction and meet the
needs of individual students.
PARCC will help ensure that all students - regardless of income or family background or geography - have equal access to a worldclass education that will prepare them for success after high school. New state standards set a consistent expectation in English
and mathematics for every student, and PARCC provides a valid and reliable evaluation of each student’s progress toward them.
Why do states need new assessments?
Most states voluntarily adopted new, more rigorous academic standards in 2010 and 2011, and teachers have been using them in
their daily instruction. States need high-quality assessments that test students of all achievement levels on what they are learning.
Many current state tests measure only lower-level skills. The new assessments serve as an “educational GPS system,” assessing
students’ current performance and pointing the way to what students need to learn by graduation so they are ready for college
and/or a career.
The PARCC assessments give schools and teachers more information to improve instruction. Moreover, PARCC lets parents know
how their child is progressing academically.
What subjects and grades are tested?
States decide which grades to test. The year-end assessments are available for grades 3 through 8 and high school and cover
mathematics and English language arts/literacy. Optional tools, such as diagnostic assessments and mid-year modules, also will be
available to schools and districts interested in using them.
What’s different and better about the new tests?
These tests are computer-based and use interactive questions to determine whether students have mastered the fundamentals,
as well as higher-order skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and analyzing sources to write arguments and informational
essays – skills not easily assessed by traditional multiple-choice tests.
These state tests serve students of all achievement levels – advanced, average, and struggling – by identifying where they have
areas of need, as well as where they are excelling.
In English language arts/literacy, many states only assess writing three times from kindergarten to high school. Few measure
critical-thinking skills. PARCC does both at every grade. In mathematics, PARCC gives students a chance to solve real-world
problems and show how they solved them.
For the first time, states will be able to compare results accurately. What it means to be ready for success in college or careers
shouldn’t vary from state to state. And, every student - regardless of zip code - should have the same expectations and
opportunities to succeed.
When will the tests be given?
The PARCC assessment at each grade is a single test, delivered in two parts. States and districts set their own schedules, but,
generally, the performance-based component will be given over several days at about the three-quarter mark of the school year.
It captures critical-thinking, reasoning, and application skills through extended tasks such as reading an excerpt from a book and
writing about it.
The end-of-year component will be given in late spring. It consists of innovative, short-answer questions and items to measure
concepts and skills, and it is administered shortly before the end of the school year. Each component is only part of the test.
Spring 2015 is the first year the PARCC tests will be given to most students, although the questions were “field tested" in many
schools in spring 2014.
Ranch View Review
Continued... from the Desk of Mr. Buckley, Learning Support Coach
Learn more about the two parts of the test.
How can my child get ready for PARCC?
PARCC looks at effective teaching practices and mirrors them in the assessments. The questions you’ll find on the PARCC state
test look like assignments teachers in effective classrooms give their students every day. So there isn’t anything special that
students need to do. And we discourage “prepping for the test.”
However, PARCC has released practice tests and sample questions so that students and families can become familiar with the
online format and the types of questions on the new tests. Families can also check with their child’s school to find out what they
are doing in advance of the tests.
How much time will the PARCC assessments take?
Most students will spend about four hours each on the mathematics and English language arts/literacy portions of the test,
working on writing exercises, reading real passages and solving real-world math problems. Those will be broken down into
smaller time blocks that will take most students 40 to 60 minutes, though schools will schedule up to 90 minutes for each unit to
make sure that all students have the time they need to show what they know and can do. That’s only fair.
Students with disabilities and English learners may have more time, if identified in an IEP, 504 plan, or an EL plan in states that
require them.
The testing “window” may be several weeks long, but most students will only participate in testing for an hour or two at most in
a day, and only for a few days during the window.
What types of accommodations will be allowed for students with disabilities?
PARCC is using universal design principles to make the new tests as accessible as possible to all students, including English
learners and students with disabilities. Universal design is rooted in a set of principles that give all students equal opportunity to
show what they know and can do on PARCC assessments. To learn more, visit the accessibility, accommodations and fairness
page.
The goal is for the PARCC state assessments to be given to all students, except those with the most significant cognitive
disabilities, who will be given an alternate assessment by the state. Some PARCC states are working with other consortia to
develop tests for those students, and other states are working to develop their own assessments.
What is PARCC doing to protect children’s privacy and secure test results?
The PARCC consortium will not share any personally identifiable information or student-level data with any outside entity,
including the federal government. This is the same as the 50 states’ current practice.
Data privacy and security are extremely important to the PARCC states, which have adopted a PARCC Data Privacy and Security
Policy and implemented a rigorous set of policies and guidelines to protect student privacy and the security of data. All
contractors must comply with this policy. Each PARCC state retains control over its students’ information. Neither the PARCC
consortium nor the federal government will have access to individual student information.
How quickly will assessment results be returned to teachers?
PARCC’s goal is to have results from the PARCC assessment returned before the end of the school year, except in the first year.
As with all tests of its kind, performance-level setting for a new test cannot occur until after the first set of students completes
them. For the spring 2015 tests, teachers and parents should expect results in the fall.
You may find this short video clip helpful as it builds on the foundation and history of PARCC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mAJ0CgOJ4Mk
Michael Buckley, Learning Support Coach
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Tales from the LRC
~ Mrs. Mougette
The LRC will be open three times this summer! Students are invited to
drop in with an adult to check-out books, relax for story time, or explore
on an iPad.
Monday, June 15th, from 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 15th, from 1-3 p.m.
Friday, July 31st, from 9-11 a.m.
Please bring a bag/backpack with you to carry home your books
and to keep them safe.
Is your child looking for a good book/series to read this
summer? Check out the LRC Canvas page for lists of books
appropriate for your child’s age/grade. Next year’s award book
lists and Battle of the Book list are also linked on that page.
On May 26th, the Naperville Public visits the Ranch to show all the
exciting events they have planned for the summer. Your child will be
given information on how to sign-up for their summer reading program.
This program is open to all Ranch View students.
Many thanks to all our LRC volunteers this year. Judy Koziol, Soumitraa
Ganguly, Wendy Puglielli, Melissa OShea, and Susan Pollack have
given many hours in the mornings to shelve library books. We couldn’t
have done it without you.
Niki Booth and her Publishing Center crew were busy all year typing
and assisting students in publishing their stories. Many amazing
stories were produced with their help. Thank you all for your time
and talents.
Let’s keep the Rangers reading and writing all summer long!
READ-DISCUSS-LEARN-GROW
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Ranch View Review
From the President of H & S, Sarah Cardwell
Home & School’s Year in Review….
A special thanks to those women that stepped up to Chair Ranch View’s 30+ Home & School
committees. They successfully organized and motivated hundreds of volunteers throughout
the year! And thanks to YOU who served under each and every committee to make it a
success.
Kicking off our year were Annette Larsen, Dina Espisito, and SFCP who jumped right in
and orchestrated a successful New Family Orientation and ended our year with a fantastic
Daddy/Daughter Dance. School spirit was never a problem
with Amy Masterson heading up our Spirit Wear Sale.
Audrey Minor, Kristina Springer, and Ellie Laneville were
up next coordinating and manning two great Book Fairs. Our
skate party would never happen without Kim Kedziora and
Stephanie Fiore. Winter wouldn’t be the same without
Saddlefest, one of our most volunteer-intensive activities, that
was orchestrated by Sarah Cardwell and Lori Gallagher
and numerous chair people. Our largest fundraiser, Silent
Auction, came through beyond our expectations under the fine
direction of Doreen Damge and Patty Cerney. To round
out the year, Jie Su and Lynda Cabrales brought together
our scientists for an incredible Science Fair, blending curriculum and fun. And, who can’t be
thankful for our Flower Sale chairs? Eileen Hall and Ann Bennington volunteer knowing
the weather has historically been rainy and cold on delivery day, and they still work the event
with a passion. Julie Lendzion and Wendy Galgano have those kids running like crazy on
Field Day.
Besides our “seasonal” committees, there are many committees that run continuously
throughout the year. Jill Wroble and Annie Gryzmajlo were the driving force behind the
Manna gift card program. Every Tuesday morning, Julie Lendzion and Wendy Galagno
were running our school store. Always reaching out for those direct donations was Faryal
Ahmed. Kirsten Haskell and Kristin Scamehorn worked through the year to create
memorable moments for our 5th graders including the Fifth Grade Program, Outdoor Ed., and
yearbook-signing parties. Protecting and taking care of our children with Health and Safety
was Jie Su.
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Continued… From the President of H & S, Sarah Cardwell
Heather Tritt was saving us all from cooking with so many great Restaurant Nights. Not
afraid to “run” with scissors, Elizabeth Breese snipped and collected too many Box Tops to
count!
Motivating all our children to become authors and great writers was Nicci Booth running the
Publishing Center. Putting this very newsletter together is Michelle Clark who edited and
compiled the very informative Review throughout the year. In appreciation for the staff,
Amy Masterson and Sigy Berry dished out fantastic luncheons and delicious breakfasts —
which is quite the undertaking when you’re feeding a “family” of 80. Audrey Minor did an
incredible job managing Market Day on a monthly basis.
In preparation for the upcoming year, Kristin
Scamehorn did a fantastic job setting up the H&S
Board in Nominations. Keeping the LRC volunteers in
check and coordinating our Sign-Up Genius was Judy
Koziol and Soumitraa Ganguly.
The successful classroom parties were attributed to the hard-working team of Dana
Umbenhower and Lynda Cabrales. Starting off our year and coordinating supply packets
was Kirsten Haskell and Andrea Saylan. Sandy Neuenkirchen and Stacy Maulsby
spearheaded the fundraising activities including the creative Art To Remember program.
And, thanks to Kirsten Haskell who compiled and coordinated the volunteers for each
committee. And, last but not least, our yearbook committee, headed up by Naomi
Deighton, Lauren Richardson, and Anne Onorati, which ties the school year all together
in our professional-looking yearbook.
What a great group of volunteers! Thanks for all you do.
Have a passion for writing and want to help our little “Rangers” publish their
own writing? Home & School is looking for someone(s) to run our
Publishing Center next school year. NO experience necessary. Hours can be
worked around you. Paid only in smiles and gratitude! If interested, please
contact Sarah Cardwell at [email protected].
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Art News by Mr. Arndt
All students at Ranch View have the wonderful opportunity
to work with the Fine Arts team. Students get the opportunity
to take Music, Physical Education, and Art Class. Kindergarten
students get 50 minutes every week for art where they focus on
basic visual art fundamentals, elements, principles, and fine
motor skills. Students are exposed to drawing, painting, and
sculpture throughout the course of the year. First and second
grade students get 50 minutes of art every week. During this
time, students continue to develop and tone their fundamental
skills laying the ground work for third, fourth, and fifth grade.
These students get 1 hour of art every week. Throughout the
year, these children participate in a variety of art projects
ranging from complex individual pieces to group collaborative
projects, including digital photography and computer projects.
The students are exposed to a variety of mediums with which
they are then encouraged to continue exploring their interests.
The Ranch View fine arts team is devoted to providing students
with a unique experience that enhances their classroom learning
and everyday lives.
Please note: Each student should have an art
shirt that they can keep in their classroom.
This can be an old shirt (from anyone in the
family) that can go over their school cloths to
avoid getting them messy during art.
-Mr. Arndt
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SEASONS of MUSIC
by Mrs. Sass, Vocal/General Music Teacher
SPRING 2015:
*May 7th - Ranch View’s 5th Graders and Chorus performed “Spiritual, Jazz, Blues, Rock-N-Roll” for a
captivated audience at 7 p.m. in Ranch View’s Gym. Congrats to the 5th Graders on a job well done!!!
*END of May - ALL 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students BRING HOME THEIR RECORDERS for safe keeping over the
summer. If students return to Ranch View in the Fall, they will need to bring back their recorders in FALL
2015 so that we can use them again.
SUMMER 2015:
*HAPPY SUMMER to ALL Ranch View Students & Parents.
*The Music Fun doesn’t have to end with the school year. There are many places in Naperville where
students can extend their musical learning: places like Kids Kabaret, Young Naperville Singers, The Naperville
Center for the Performing Arts - just to name a few. Please feel free to check out these places and see if
they are offering summer music programs.
FALL/WINTER 2015-2016 School Year:
*AUGUST – All 4th and 5th Graders will need to BRING THEIR RECORDERS BACK TO SCHOOL - we’ll be
playing these instruments again. If students need to order a new recorder for any reason, we can do that
in the Fall. I’ll have all that information for students/parents when we return in the Fall.
*ALL 3rd Graders, please note that we’ll begin learning about the recorders this year. ALL 3rd Graders will
need to bring in a recorder that they already own, or purchase one from Mrs. Sass in the Fall. More
information regarding this process will be handed out in the Fall.
*Concerts: In the 2015-16 School Year, we will again be performing an all-school program in Winter and a 5th
Grade Program in the Spring. (Dates: to be announced)
CONGRATS: To All the 2015 Graduating 5th Graders, & best wishes for your future! It has been
an honor to be your music teacher. You are truly talented students; you will be missed in
Ranch View Music.
~Best Regards,
Mrs. Sass
If you should need to reach band or orchestra teachers, their information is as follows:
Band= Mr. Brad Frendewey, [email protected]
Orchestra=Mrs. Shawnita McClure, [email protected]
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P.E. News
by Mr. Blondell
End of the Year Updates About P.E.
As the school year comes to a close, students in 3rd-5th grade are currently taking their final physical fitness
assessments. During this assessment period, students review their fitness goals for the mile run, Pacer test, and curl-ups that
they set during the winter months. They are also reminded about the importance of working toward improving their own
personal fitness and not comparing themselves to anyone else. Each student has their own unique level of
fitness. Students are taught to work hard so that they can improve on their personal fitness scores from the
past. This is one of my favorite activities during the year. The students work so hard to achieve personal best
scores on their fitness tests. I love watching them celebrate after they achieve success.
Students in grades K-2nd have gotten a little taste of fitness testing, as well. They were able to preview the Pacer test.
Even though scores are not recorded, the students get a chance to test their young strength. The students in the primary grades
have also been learning a variety of new field games that focus on teamwork, team strategy, and sportsmanship. All of the
activities also focus on improving cardiovascular endurance. The games provide them with an intense workout.
Field Day
Field Day is right around the corner for the RV students. Parents can be a part of the
fun by volunteering during the day’s activities. Please consider joining us for a fun-filled Field
Day 2015! You can register to volunteer using signupgenius.com.
Summer Camps
Summer is almost here! Parents, there are numerous opportunities for your children to stay active and healthy during
the summer months. Several sports and activity camps are offered through District 203 and the Naperville Park District. Please
visit the following websites for more information on camps that will keep your child active all summer long:
Naperville Central Summer Camp Directory - https://napervillecentral.8to18.com/dashboard/catalog
Naperville North Summer Camp Directory - https://napervillenorth.8to18.com/dashboard/catalog
Naperville Park District homepage - http://www.napervilleparks.org/
Ranch View Running Club
This fall, the RV Running Club will begin its 2015 season. Students who will be in 3 rd, 4th, and 5th grades are eligible to
participate in this fun and healthy activity group. Look for informational flyers when we return to school in August.
GLOW 5K Run
Kick off your summer with a healthy and fun activity for the whole family. Participate in the GLOW 5K run/walk event in
the evening of Saturday, June 6th at 5th Avenue Station.
Register as part of the Ranch View team on the following website: http://nicaricoliteracyfund.org/glow/index.cfm.
Participants will receive a shirt, glow gear, and food at the finish line. Registration is limited, so register today!
Have a fun, safe, and relaxing summer!
-Mr. Blondell
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by the Kindergarten Team: Miss Suleman, Mrs. Sheridan, and Mrs. Kolbe
Reading Workshop
As we begin our poetry unit, students will be able to:
Understand, interpret, appreciate, and enjoy the genre of poetry.
Experience the rhythm and beat as we enjoy a variety of poems.
Make connections, think deeply, and analyze poems for the author’s purpose and message.
Writing Workshop
As we begin our Unit 4: Opinion Writing, students will be able to:
Learn that opinion writers get their words out into the world.
Use mentor texts as inspiration, incorporating what they have learned into their own writing.
Include facts and reasons to support their opinion about a topic.
Math
For the remainder of the year, our focus in math is becoming familiar with partners of numbers through a
variety of learning activities. Student learning targets will be:
I can tell you partners of a number within 10.
I can tell you a teen number is a ten and some ones.
I can add and subtract fluently within 5.
During math we continue to see how your child is demonstrating the following math practice standards:
Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
Model with mathematics.
Use appropriate tools strategically.
Attend to precision.
Look for and make use of structure.
Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
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FINISHING FIRST GRADE
by Mrs. Crocket, Miss McGovern, Mrs. Meluch, & Mrs. Wszolek
Wow! It has been a busy year full of learning in first grade. Our first
graders have learned to work collaboratively as a team and have grown more
independent every day. All year we have been working hard to achieve our
reading goals, now that first graders are reading
independently, it is crucial to continue reading
daily over the summer. Our first graders have
become experts at writing narrative, opinion, and
informational pieces. Over the summer, it would
be helpful to keep a journal to continue writing skills learned in 1st grade. This
will allow students to practice and retain the skills and strategies they have
learned and allow for a smooth transition into 2nd grade.
First graders at Ranch View are adding and subtracting fluently within 20,
telling time, and thinking flexibly to solve math story problems. We have
worked hard to encourage students to use a variety of strategies
and strive for accuracy when completing math tasks. These math
skills and strategies should be continued over the summer.
Students have experienced science concepts: living vs.
nonliving, and life cycles of animals and plants. In social science
we have discussed family, community, and location.
The first grade teachers are incredibly proud of their students. It has
been a pleasure working with and getting to know all of the families.
Best of luck in 2nd grade!
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2nd Grade Notes
by Mrs. Dill, Mrs. Morrow, & Mrs. Ridder
Start the year out on the right foot! This summer you can do many
activities that will prepare your child for school next August!
Visit the public library often. Check out many wonderful books with your
child. You can read to your child and read together, or your child can read to you
and family members. Rereading books multiple times will build your child’s
fluency. It is a great idea to model and work with your child on reading
with expression and tone, as well. An exciting way to show
improvement in these reading skills is to tape your child reading a book
the first time and once again after they have practiced 4 or 5 times.
They will actually hear the difference! Our second graders can also
continue to read through the summer by reading from Raz-kids.com. This site
allows students to record themselves reading so they can hear how fluently they
are reading. It is also an excellent opportunity for the students to check for their
understanding by taking a comprehension quiz after reading and rereading a story.
Reinforce your child’s skills with time and money through real-life
situations. Have your child count his/her piggy bank, money for treats,
or admission to a special place. Expose your child to both analog and
digital clocks. Refer to the time related to specific events. (i.e., “We
leave in 15 minutes.”)
There are many educational websites and software programs
available. Some of our favorite software programs are: www.math.com and
www.funbrain.com for math and geography activities! The students can continue
on with Xtra math and IXL math. There are also many fun apps that students may
wish to use to review and maintain their math skills.
Brush up on those writing skills. Send postcards, letters, thank you notes, and e
-mails to friends and family. Your child could also plan a special day and
write out an itinerary for the entire family. Continue to practice reading
and spelling the second grade high frequency words.
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Ranch View Review
Continued… 2nd Grade Notes by the Second Grade Team
The Year Ahead… For incoming second graders!
Reading: In second grade the children continue reading fiction, non-fiction, and poetry genres. We spend a
great deal of time working on discussing fiction stories by having the children think about the characters,
setting, problem, solution, and ending to the story. We discuss the author’s purpose and the
author’s message. The children spend time working on retelling the story by telling the events
in sequence. In informational text, the children look for text features in the book and discuss
the vocabulary, the main idea, important details, and interesting facts that they learned in the
text. In poetry, the students learn about the elements of a poem, mental imagery, the rhythm,
the tone and the mood of the poem, and the poet’s message of the poem.
Writing: Second graders integrate reading and writing with the same genres. During the year we spend time
writing narratives, informational text and poetry.
Science
Sound: We will be sear ching for sounds, lear ning what makes sound, lear ning that sound tr avels
through many things, exploring pitch and volume, designing and building musical instruments, and
sharing our instruments. Sound energy will be explored using hands on experiments.
Life Cycles: We will obser ve tr ees, plants and insects thr oughout the year and the changes
they go through in their life cycles. We end the year by watching caterpillars as they make their
amazing change through the life cycle and become Painted Lady Butterflies.
Rocks and Minerals: We will lear n the pr oper ties of r ocks, pr oper ties of miner als, r ock types,
where rocks come from, and rocks are made from minerals.
Social Science:
Naperville Now and Then: Tr avel back in time to the days of the Potowatomi Native Amer icans and
the first settlers. We take a field trip to Naper Settlement to see how Naperville has changed.
Australia: Come with us as we visit the Land Down Under . See how different locations effect how
people live, work, play, learn, and worship!
Health
Germs: Lear n how to take car e of your body and battle those ger ms! We study
exercise, sleep, keeping clean, and brushing our teeth well.
For Your Information
 Please label all of your child’s school supplies (including art shirts, athletic shoes, headphones,
lunch boxes, and outer clothing).
 Sharpened pencils are always appreciated on the first day back.
 Send a second pair of athletic shoes to keep at school.
 Students get a healthy snack break in the morning to keep their energy level
high! Only healthy snacks will be eaten at this time. Water bottles are welcome as
long as they have a pop-up top that can be closed easily.
We would also like for the children to have their own set of headphones in a labeled bag for use with
technology.
Many exciting activities are planned for our 2nd graders. It is a year of tremendous growth.
We look forward to meeting everyone in August!
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Everything You Wanted to Know About THIRD Grade, But Didn’t Know Whom to Ask
by Mrs. Julie Groves, Mrs. Laura Meath, & Mrs. Chris Hayman
Incoming third graders, we welcome you and your family to our third grade pod! We have many new and
exciting educational adventures for your child to explore.
Our first adventure is LITERACY. We will continue utilizing the School-wide Curriculum and build on skills that the
children learned in second grade. Your student will use comprehension strategies and various reading skills paired with
metacognition (thinking about your thinking) to deepen understanding of text. This type of deep
thinking will enhance your child’s reading comprehension and help them to discover the love of reading.
These strategies will be practiced during shared, independent, and guided reading, as well as in strategy
groups. Your child will also have the opportunity to discuss books and reading strategies during one-onone conferencing with his or her teacher.
Another component of literacy is WRITING, which is carried into all subject areas. There are four
units of study: narrative, opinion, informational, and fairy tale writing. We are focusing heavily in writing
and making sure that children are able to understand the reading and writing connection. Some crosscurricular examples of third grade writing are: poetry, math problem solving with written explanations,
reading responses, and paragraph pieces. The study of grammar is also part of our curriculum.
A portion of the writing block is word study where students work in small groups at their level of spelling development.
Also, all third graders need to master 100 high-frequency spelling words by the end of third grade.
Equally important in third grade is the adventure in MATH. The curricular concepts that will be
addressed are: multiplication, division, measurement and graphing, number sense, addition, subtraction,
geometry, and fractions. Math Tasks, which are real-world applications of concepts, will challenge the
students to apply their math knowledge through exploring, observing, and connecting to real life.
Throughout the year your child will travel through the SOCIAL SCIENCE communities of Medieval Europe
and Japan. Students will be exposed to the components of communities and will study them in past and present
settings.
Our last journey takes us into the world of SCIENCE. Students will travel down the
path of: habitats, light, and the paths of the sun and the moon within the solar system.
Third grade journeys outside of the classroom may include a trip to Safety Town! All of the field trips will relate
to the curriculum and provide a different learning experience for the students. As well as the outside trips, there are
many exciting culminating activities that occur inside the classroom.
If you want your child to have a smooth voyage into third grade, we recommend daily reading, journal writing,
and practicing fluency of addition and subtraction facts to 100. Your child can continue to utilize the IXL subscription to
practice all second grade skills. This will enhance the comfort level of your child as he or she enters third grade.
Another resource for parents is to become familiar with the 3rd grade Common Core State Standards. They drive
our curriculum and our expectations for third graders’ learning.
The Third Grade Teachers look forward to meeting you and working with each of you throughout the year.
Have a safe and relaxing summer wherever your summer’s journey will take you!
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Fourth Grade Revealed
4th Grade News from: Ms. Atseff, Mrs. Ferro, Mr. Jay, and Miss Shabel
Here is a peek into what you and your family can expect to experience in fourth grade. We look
forward to seeing you in August.
Literacy
We will continue utilizing the new resources adopted by the district
to meet the demands of the Common Core. Last year, the district
studied and researched common core and the various resources
available to support student learning. This school year, 2014 –
2015, the district rolled out School-Wide Reading Fundamentals
and Lucy Calkins’ The Art of Teaching Writing - Units of Study in
Opinion, Informational, and Narrative Writing. Using mentor texts,
novels, primary resources, poetry and nonfiction texts, students will
learn about the structure of texts, text features, and author’s craft
as they comprehend with deeper meaning. These skills will be used
as students learn to develop their writing in narrative, opinion/
argument, informational pieces, and literary essays. “Reading as
writers and writing as readers.”
Fourth graders should be able to choose a book for reading that
is “just right”, which means that it is not too easy and not too
hard. Students should be able to read that “just right” book
silently for 30 minutes or more at home each night. Student
stamina in reading and writing is important as students engage
in longer and more difficult texts. Students should also be able
to talk and write about what they read using evidence from the
text to support their opinions and inferences.
Using Building Vocabulary from Word Roots, students will learn how to divide and conquer word
meaning by studying prefixes and root words.
Social Science
This is the year we journey across America! We begin with the northeast
region and work our way south and west. We focus on one guiding
question: “What defines a region?”. We explore various aspects of each
region, including place, location, movement, and human interaction. We
discuss what makes each region unique. We also focus on Illinois and
maps as separate areas of study.
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Science (Removed Watery Earth)
Our budding fourth grade scientists have a year of discovery ahead of them!
The fourth grade science program focuses on: Matter and The Human Body in
Motion. These two units share the common denominators of wondering about the
natural and physical world, seeking answers through exploration and
investigation, pursuing ideas in depth, observing carefully, communicating
clearly, collaborating/sharing in a group, and developing critical response skills.
STEM
One of our regular science units, Watery Earth, will be replaced this year with an opportunity for
students to participate in a highly engaging S.T.E.M. project. They will construct and maneuver
a robot through a series of challenging obstacles. In doing so, students will integrate their
Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics skills to work
collaboratively by problem solving,
building, programing, and recording
data using Lego Mindstorms.
Math
Our math program is designed to assist fourth graders in answering the
question, “How is mathematics used to help me understand my
world?”. Students will understand that mathematics is a language, that
order matters and that reasoning and proof create meaning. Students will
also understand that there are relationships amongst numbers. They will
discover that authentic problems can be solved using appropriate
computational strategies. Finally, they will ascertain that accuracy and
efficiency is essential to computation.
Testing
Fourth graders now participate in two online tests: PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of
Readiness for College and Careers) and Performance Series Assessments. In addition, all
students will take COGAT (Cognitive Abilities Test), while select students will participate in ITBS
(Iowa Test of Basic Skills).
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By: Mr. O’Dowd, Mr. Pinelli, Mrs. Porter, and Mrs. Roy
MATH
Our curriculum focuses on many units that review or maintain mathematic
knowledge, such as: multiplication, division, geometry and measurement.
We will also learn new concepts that consist of units on fractions, decimals,
ratios and percents, algebra, and problem solving skills.
SOCIAL STUDIES The year begins with the theme of Revolution, and we
study the American Revolution and the Industrial
Revolution. In the second trimester, we move to the study
of pluralism by focusing on the Civil War, immigration,
and Civil Rights. We finish out the year with the study of
Power, utilizing the case studies of World Wars I and II,
as well as global economy.
LITERACY
Our reading curriculum is based on models of best practices aligning with
the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Our balanced literacy
framework for instruction provides opportunities for using mentor texts,
shared reading and independent reading, with the materials and
instruction varying according to student ability and need. Students will
have experiences with various and increasingly complex texts for the
purpose of gaining a deeper understanding with fiction, nonfiction and
poetry texts.
Writing is based on a research-based curriculum and assigned types of
writing specified in the Common Core State Standards (narrative/memoir,
argument essay, and information essay). While authentically involved in
the writing process, students will continue to analyze, synthesize, organize,
reflect, and respond to information and ideas in their own writing.
Throughout the literacy curriculum and other content areas, students
engage in writing with journal responses, reading responses,
presentations/projects, creative writing pieces, and the assigned writing
tasks.
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Continued… Fifth Grade News
SCIENCE
Science consists of three hands-on units where students question,
collaborate, experiment, observe, and discover. We begin the year with
the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) Challenge Unit. I
n this unit, we focus on building a collaborative working environment in the
classroom where students take risks
together in solving a variety of problem
solving challenges with LEGO Mindstorm
robots. In the second trimester, we study the unit of Nature’s Recyclers.
We focus on how nature takes care of its own waste and the lessons
humans can learn from nature. Earth’s Changing Surface is our final unit of
study for the year. We study and discover the dynamic forces within the
earth and on the surface of the earth that help to constantly create,
shape, and change landforms.
OUTDOOR
EDUCATION
Outdoor Education is one of the highlights of the fifth grade year.
Students will participate in team building activities, such as: forest study,
disc golf, archery, orienteering, fishing, tree climbing, initiatives,
and paintball. More information will come on Curriculum Night
and during the Fall.
SUMMER TIPS
We encourage all incoming fifth grade students to get involved with the
Naperville Public Library summer reading program. Reading over the
summer, as well as practicing math facts, is very important. Basic Math
facts should be mastered prior to entering fifth grade. Writing in a daily
journal will also help students to maintain and improve their current writing
skills. In addition, try to visit museums and historical sites during the
summer. Trips like these will help to build great background knowledge
for students, as well as create family memories.
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Academically Talented Classes by Georgie Lukas
As our year comes to an end, it is time to reflect.
Students have worked diligently to increase their knowledge, apply their
skills, speak and listen to each other empathetically, while learning how to
problem solve as struggles and mistakes happen. My students continue to
show success in all of these challenges because of their GRIT.
Project IDEA (PI)
Fourth and fifth graders are working on a historical nonfiction unit. Objectives
include nonfiction text features, structures, summaries, main ideas/details, and research
with reliable sources. In groups of three or four, students are writing a
newspaper about one specific decade in American history. Students are
researching, writing, editing, and formatting their newspaper. Students are
also reading a historical fiction novel to bring history alive.
3rd Grade Honors Math
Students are working on their final units: fractions and measurement.
Fraction standards focus on: being able to generate equivalent fractions and comparing
fractions with the same numerator or same denominator.
Measurement standards focus on: measuring, estimating and solving problems involving
length, mass, volume, and time. Students will also work with area and perimeter.
4th Grade Honors Math
Students are working on algebra and enjoying it tremendously. Our standards
include:
Represent and solve problems with a symbol for the unknown.
Generate and analyze patterns that follow a rule.
Form ordered pairs from patterns and graph the ordered pairs on a
coordinate plane.
Students’ eagerness, enthusiasm and curiosity about algebra
makes this class exciting.
5th Grade Honors Math
We have just finished our geometry unit. Our final unit of the year is data analysis.
We will investigate various graphs and interpret data. Students will also complete their
investments in the stock market. How did they do on their investments?
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Calendar of Events
Current, 2014-2015 School Year:
Monday, May 25th – No School, Memorial Day
Friday, May 29th – Field Day
Monday, June 1st – All School Assembly
Tuesday, June 2nd – Fifth Grade “Clap Out” at 2:15 PM to send off our fifth graders
Tuesday, June 2nd – Last Day of School with Dismissal at 2:35 PM
Summer 2015:
LRC Open:
Monday, June 15th, from 6:00-8:00 PM
Wednesday, July 15th, from 1:00-3:00 PM
Friday, July 31st, from 9:00-11:00 AM
Do I have these
on my calendar,
yet?
2015-2016 School Year:
Thursday, August 13th – New Family Orientation from 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Wednesday, August 19th – Kindergarten Sneak Peek
Wednesday, August 19th – First Day of School Grades 1st – 5th
Thursday, August 20th – First Full Day for Kindergarten
Wednesday, August 26th – Picture Day
Thursday, August 27th – Ice Cream Social
Monday, September 7th — No School, Labor Day
Ranch View Rangers: Partnering to Build True Grit!
G-Goal Attainment R- Resiliency I- Integrity T-Twenty-first Century Skills
Greatness Requires Internal Toughness
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