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Elementary School News

November 13 2018

Dear Parents,
At our last parent representative meeting, we discussed ways in which families can get involved in expressing gratitude, shared traditions that support our children’s growth as empathetic and global citizens, and reached some agreements regarding upcoming celebrations and the holidays.  Each Parent Representative will coordinate the holiday celebration in each grade level with their homeroom teacher.  Parents agreed to focus the celebration on gratitude and to stay away from material gifts for children.  For older children (Grades 1 to 5), parents suggested that each student write or draw a note for each member of the class which parents will organize.  These notes will be gifted to each student.  For PK and K, parent representatives will coordinate with their homeroom teachers and may modify the activity.   Here is a link to a gratitude video that we viewed together at our November meeting.  We encourage you to view it as you engage in conversations around giving thanks and the happiness that gratitude brings.

About progress reports and documentation of learning in SeeSaw
Since the beginning of the school year, your children have been learning, and observing their growth is a true privilege.  Your children take ownership for their learning and are proud of their accomplishments.  On November 14, you will have an opportunity to interact with your child’s teachers during parent teacher conferences.  And this week, you will receive special messages through your child’s SeeSaw accounts with narratives about their learning.  

This is the first year that we are using SeeSaw for progress reports and are excited to include information through this venue.  Throughout the year, you have had the opportunity to interact with your child’s showcase of learning through the posts on each student’s journal.  Now, we will use SeeSaw as the venue for progress reports for the first year.  Here’s how it will work:

November 12:  Specialists (Art, Music, PE) will include a general description of what students have been learning from the beginning of the school year.  Please note that this is not a personalized report of progress.  They will be able to expand on each child’s learning during conferences on November 14.  On Parent Teacher Conference day, please visit the specialists.  Report Cards (January and June) will have individual comments from specialists.

November 13:  Homeroom teachers will include your child’s personal progress report.  Spanish teachers, learning support specialists and English language learning teachers will also include personal narratives as appropriate.  Please find a special place in your home to read the reports with your child, make this a special time together and applaud their growth!

Here are the instructions on how to access your progress reports:
ELEMENTARY PROGRESS REPORTS INSTRUCTIONS

This is how conferences will work… - November 14, 2018
You will receive a link so that you can pick the time that works for you.  If you have more than one child, you will receive links for each child.  Please plan on being on campus for about an hour for each child.  Students do not attend these conferences as this is the time for you to speak to your child’s teacher.  Yet, see below if you want to bring your child to volunteer for a special project on November 14 for an hour.  You must register your child in order to participate.

Gift-bags for holiday drive
There will be a group of parents who will be making gift bags for our holiday drive in the elementary office.  If you like to sew, cut fabric, or want to learn...you are welcome to spend more time at school on November 14 and help us make fabric gift bags between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Student volunteers welcome
On November 14, we welcome children (PK - 5th) who would like to help set-up the books that were collected from the summer reading program.  These books will be donated to Extreme Response to open a library for children from families who work at the Garbage/Recycling Center in Zambiza.  Extreme Response is one of the foundations that was selected to receive funds from last year’s International Festival with the expectation to provide service learning opportunities. Children will help to organize the books, make bookmarks, mark books and place library card holders.  If you would like to bring your child to participate, please sign them up at this link.

Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or me if you have any questions.

Inquiry Corner
This week, with progress reports and conferences occurring I invite you to look at your child’s learning with a balanced approach.  The PYP defines being BALANCED by placing importance in different aspects of our lives—intellectual, physical, and emotional—to achieve well-being for ourselves and others.  What growth does your child showcase within different aspects of their life? How can we be role models of being balanced?

Warm regards,
Paola de Pereira
Elementary Principal