Parent - Teacher Conferences

Parent - teacher conferences are scheduled on

September 6 and 10 from 3:15 - 6:15.

Please make plans to attend!

Open House

You are invited to attend

Open House

at

Gordonsville Elementary School

September 5, 2012

3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Read Tennessee

Thanks to Kandy Smith for her presentation about Common Core Standards during our meeting yesterday.  She recommended the following website:

http://www.readtennessee.org

This is from the site's description-

Thank you for visiting the home of Read Tennessee, a joint project designed to allow teachers, families and community members to work together for the benefit of young children throughout the state of Tennessee. We encourage you to explore our Reading and Math toolkits to take advantage of the information provided to help accelerate the learning of Tennessee's most important resource, our children.

Within this site is a listing per grade level on what your child will be learning and ideas for you to help.

Back to School!

Now that the schoolwide testing is completed, we are ready for the extras!

• registering for the 'Weather Around the World' year long project for our fifth grade students 
• Edmodo for fifth and sixth grade.. this will be for classroom projects and the enrichment book club
• By September, we will have our typing program.. Thank you to the Smith County Board of Education!  Be ready for keyboarding!
• 2nd grade students will enjoy learning Microsoft Word

We Give Books

I came across the following site from a blog posting-

http://www.wegivebooks.org

There are many free e-books available to read online.  Titles include:  Goodnight iPad; Llama, Llama Misses Mama; Squish Rabbit, The Snowy Day; LadyBug Girl, and.... my all time favorite- Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon.  With every book read, the foundation will donate a book to a literacy partner.

Parental notification under No Child Left Behind

Parental Notification Under No Child Left Behind (NCLB) The Smith County School System is committed to providing the best education possible for each student. We realize that parents play a vital role in the accomplishment of this mission so we encourage their involvement and strive to keep them informed of their rights.

•  Smith County School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, age, religion, or handicap in the provision of educational opportunities, activities, or other administered programs.
• A parental involvement policy and parent-teacher-student compact will be distributed to parents by each Title I school. A copy of each document may also be obtained by contacting the school office. In schools eligible for Title I funds, a written parental involvement policy will be developed jointly with and distributed to parents of children participating in Title I programs. Each Title I school will also hold at least one annual meeting for parents to inform them of the school’s participation in programs funded under the No Child Left Behind Act.
• Parents have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of classroom teachers who instruct their children. If students are provided services by paraprofessionals, parents may also request information regarding the qualifications of paraprofessionals. Teacher certifications can be found by accessing the Tennessee Department of Education Teacher Licensing website (www.k-12.state.tn.us/tcertinf) or by contacting the school principal or the school system’s federal projects director.
• Parents must receive notification if their child has been assigned or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified.
• Parents will be notified of their child’s eligibility for service in migrant, homeless, or Limited English Proficiency programs.
• Parents will have access to system and school report cards as developed by the State Department of Education (usually available in late fall of each year) through the website (www.state.tn.us/education) or at the school and/or system office. Results will also be publicized through local media.
• Parents must receive information on the achievement level of their child on each of the state academic assessments as soon as practicably possible after the test is taken. Assessment results will be distributed by the child’s school.
• Parents may visit the State Department of Education web site (http://tennessee.gov/education/ci/standards/index.php) or visit the school to access a description of the Tennessee Curriculum Standards, assessment information, and proficiency levels students are expected to meet.
• Parents must be notified if their child is enrolled in a school identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring. Currently no school in Smith County has been identified as in need of improvement.
• If a school fails to make adequate yearly progress, parents will be informed regarding the availability of school choice options and supplemental education services.
• Under the Tennessee State Board of Education’s Unsafe School Choice Policy, any public school student who is the victim of a violent crime as defined under Tennessee Code Annotated 40-38-111 (g), or the attempt to commit one of these offenses as defined under Tennessee Code Annotated 30-12-101, shall be provided an opportunity to transfer to another grade-level appropriate school within the district. • Parents of a student identified as having limited English proficiency (ELL – English Language Learner) must be notified in a timely manner of the child’s participation in the ELL program, details of the program, right to waive participation, and specific information on the child’s level of English proficiency.
• Parents must be informed of and involved in violence and drug prevention efforts including program content and activities. Parents may request in writing their child’s exemption from participation in such activities.
• Parents will be notified regarding their rights before any third-party surveys are distributed to students.
• Schools in which at least 40% of the children are from low-income families have school-wide program authority under which schools may consolidate funds from federal, state, and local sources to upgrade the entire educational program of the school.
•  Parents of secondary school students have a right to request that their child’s name, address, and telephone number not be released to a military recruiter without their prior written consent. Requests should be made by contacting the school principal or the school system’s federal projects director.
• Federal law affords parents and students over 18 years of age certain rights with respect to educational records. School Board Policy relating to student privacy and parental access to information is available in the School Board Policy Manual located at each school and at the central office. Notification of Rights and Release of Directory Information under FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) will also be conducted through local media announcements.
• The individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require our district to take steps to find all children, including preschool-age children, with disabilities who live in our district, screen them to determine their disabilities, and provide them with appropriate special education services. Also, Part C of IDEA requires our district and state to notify the community of services available for children with disabilities under age 3 and take steps to find and screen these children so that they can receive appropriate special education services.

Smore Site

Students can easily design fliers for events, a person, newsletters, products, or a business.

 New Site

A Year in Review

I have already changed the students' names for blogging and glogster to the 2012-2013 school  year.  For once, I am ahead of the game! After completing the end of year reports and all of my paperwork for RTI, I had a time of reflecting on this school year.  What were my favorite moments from the 2011-2012 School Year?

• 2nd Grade Skype sessions with our Joliet, Illinois partners
• Grades 3-6 blogging and commenting.. you guys have improved!!!
• Learning to cite our sources... giving credit where credit is due!
• Grades 3-6 glogs .. much more impressive (and enjoyable) than the old white posterboard and magazine cutouts!
• Kindergarten painting
• Creating documents in Microsoft Word 2nd grade and above
• Google Earth lessons

      And my all-time.. proud of my students moment... was when some of the second graders were asked to participate in a skype session for an inservice day with a group of Illinois teachers. Our students were willing to leave the playground on a beautiful spring day and answer questions relating to our Flat Stanley project.  They did so well and were not intimidated speaking to a room full of teachers. 

      What is planned for the upcoming school year?  We will definitely have more project based learning incorporating what we have learned this year and adding Edmodo, wikispaces, and animoto..just to name a few.  Grades 1 and 2 will have more keyboarding lessons.  Our 7 new iPads will definitely be utilized by the students.  Fun, fun!!!!  Until then, I will enjoy my summer vacation!

Smith County Field Day Champions K - 4

GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!

Smith County Field Day Champions Grades 5-8

GO TIGERS!!!!!!!

Show My Street

Students,
 Click on the following site and type in your home address. This site is an alternative to Google Earth.

Show My Street

The Power of 5

GES Families,
I read the following in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine:

5--- The number of books kids need to read over vacation to prevent summer learning slide, according to Reading is Fundamental.

Remember to keep the reading ongoing throughout the summer vacation.

Also, there are several keyboarding sites on my symbaloo (found under the computer links) to help your typing skills.

"My Words and Me"

How cool is this site (youandyourwords.com)!!! I see new lessons for grades 2-6 after the TCAP test!

First Grade Art Class

National Zoo Site

The fifth grade class informed me this morning, "You can look at cheetahs, lions, and pandas.. all sorts of other animals on this site."  Check out for yourself!

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/

Committment

     I closed the GES Needs Assessment Survey yesterday.  This morning, a second grade student brought the survey in.  I looked at all the answers (which were positive).  Question 20 asked for parents to list the strengths they see at our school.  There was a one word answer:  commitment.  I thought, how true.
     This was on another survey answer:  The commitment the teachers and parents have in helping students reach their potential.

Commitment from the GES families to help their children/grandchildren with homework, get them to school ready for a good day, and support our faculty and staff any way they can.  When we have a program, you come... along with extended family and friends! (over 2,000 signatures for our events throughout the year)  When the PTO has a walkathon, you send in money (over $35,000- for a school of 429 students).  When we need volunteers for anything, you sign up.  Thank you for your commitment.
Commitment from our administrators who see that we are supported, encouraged, and helped with any of our needs.
Commitment from our students to do and be their best.
Commitment from teachers and staff... long hours of teaching and preparation, using different teaching strategies to reach all learners, hands-on lessons, and incorporating technology into our classrooms.

Several of our survey respondents listed the following:
GES strives for each student's education to be the best it can be
GES has wonderful, caring teachers who go the extra mile for their students
Teamwork used by the teachers and personnel (this was mentioned by several parents)

     Commitment to the goals of the school.  That's the bottom line.  That is one of the many reasons I am thankful to be teaching at Gordonsville Elementary.

Mr. Bennett's Reading Class

I copied and pasted this from Mr. Bennett's Class Jump page.  I have really enjoyed watching these.  You all did a great job!

Readers Theater

Click the link below to watch the Readers Theater plays:
Bennett Homeroom doing "Hallo-wiener"
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52099537/Hallo%20home%20room.mp4
Mrs. Lacy's Homeroom doing "Click, Clack, Moo, Cows that Type."
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52099537/Video%20Mar%2016%2C%202%2013%2018%20PM%20%281%29.mov
Mrs. Lankford's Homeroom doing "Hallo-wiener"
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52099537/Hallo2.mp4

5th Grade Glogs

Adam and Austin:

Tony and Maija:

Jack and Maggie:

Lillie and Erin:

Braylon and Sean:

Barrett and Beth:

Hannah and Joshua:

Shyenne and Jim:

Joey and Nathan:

Joseph and Annie:

Taylor and Lauren:

Piper and Nick:

Madison:


Sam and Owen:

Sydney and Riley:

Gracie and Zac:


Mike and Hunter Dawn:


Kolby and Destiny:
































Jeffrey and McKaiely:



Braxton and Dakota:




Julian and Zack:

Patricia:

Picture Day at GES

Reasons why we like spring picture day at GES (according to Ms. Ann's second grade class):
1. Cause it's pictures of you dressed up
2. We can make buddy pictures
3. Class picture time
4. Have fun because we get out of class- so no work at that time!


Reasons why we like spring picture day at GES (according to sixth grade):
1. You get to make pictures with your friends
2. get out of class
3. you have awesome backgrounds

My personal reason: We know that in 9 more weeks, we will be out of school for the summer!

Congratulations Mrs. Walker!!!

Congratulations to Mrs. Walker, the Smith County Teacher of the Year for grades 4-8!

She is a wonderful and caring teacher. This was a much deserved award.