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Volume 3, Issue 21; February 2, 2020
Welcome to February!
Happy Palindrome Day!
Just like the groundhog, our teachers promote curiosity and wonder at Flint Hill!
Read our DedicatED section below to find out more about what it means to support cognitive rigor through questioning.
Student Mental Health and Resiliency
Many students struggle with emotional and behavioral issues that can affect their learning and overall wellness. If you have any concerns about anxiety, peer relationship problems, depression, or other social and emotional issues your child may be experiencing, please contact your school psychologist, school social worker, or school counselor. They are available for consultation and support.
Visit the Mental Health and Resiliency and Student Wellness: Tips and Strategies web pages to learn about mental health resources and fostering resiliency in your child.
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“Empty Bowls” is an international project to fight hunger, personalized by artists and art organizations on a community level.
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Please join your child for lunch on Valentine’s Day as we celebrate our community through the sharing of food, conversation, and art. Every child will enjoy a popcorn treat using their very own handcrafted bowl. Bowls will be sent home with students at the end of the day or can go home with a parent after lunch. We also ask that our families help fill bowls that may be empty in our community by donating canned and nonperishable goods during this event. Donated goods can be dropped off in the cafeteria or in the main office.
We look forward to seeing you on Valentine’s Day!
Lunch Schedule:
3rd grade: 10:30-11:00 am
1st grade: 10:55-11:25 am
K: 11:30-12:00 pm
4th grade: 12:00-12:30 pm
6th grade: 12:30-1:00 pm
5th grade: 12:45-1:15 pm
2nd grade: 1:15 pm (*time change due to field trip)
Tech Talk
Every Minute Counts with Lexia/PowerUp!
Recently, school leadership spoke with our Lexia implementation specialist, and we thought you might be interested in learning a little about what we garnered from our conversation.
Introduction to the Program:
Lexia Reading Core5 or PowerUp is an evidenced-based online reading program that provides targeted literacy practice and instruction to help our students develop their reading skills. While this program does not take the place of good teaching (e.g., guided reading, book clubs, word study, etc.), consistent use has shown improvements in many aspects of literacy development. During the school day, students are provided the opportunity to log-on to Lexia Core5 or PowerUp during Language Arts. Please remember, while at home, students can also access Core5 and PowerUp allowing them an additional opportunity to maximize this program and its impact. As students master their targets in Lexia, certificates are sent to the classroom teacher for students to take home. Celebrate these achievements when you find a certificate in your child's take-home folder!
We ask that you continue to monitor your child’s online activity, as well as set parameters for usage that are not excessive. Please allow your child to work independently and at his or her own pace. This allows teachers the opportunity to gauge valid academic progress. The program tracks your child's needs and adjusts accordingly.
Findings:
A recent study conducted by Lexia concluded that “For students who showed strong usage (met their targets 75–100% of weeks of use), 55% reached their EOY, grade-level benchmark. In contrast, only 2% with weak usage reached their EOY, grade-level benchmark.” We have observed a direct correlation between students who use Lexia/PowerUp to its fullest potential and their overall iReady scores. While we don't have enough years of data to suggest causality, we do notice this positive trend! This is why we have invested in this program for two years thus far. As we make decisions regarding the efficacy of this program, we will continue to keep you informed. We greatly appreciate our PTA's financial support in partially funding this program for all students.
To learn more, click here!
Counselor Corner
Time Management
Our students lead very busy lives. They are in school for seven hours a day, participate in after school activities, have family obligations, as well as nightly homework and assignments to complete. For many students, this schedule can become overwhelming. Teaching children how to manage their time efficiently will not only facilitate greater independence, but also a sense of control.
Here are some easy ways that parents can help foster time management skills at home:
- Set a reasonable bedtime.
- Create a checklist for your child’s routine.
- Have your child create his/her own calendar to keep track of all activities and deadlines.
- Teach your child to plan ahead to be ready for things they need to do and places they need to go.
- Establish firm rules for electronics time and follow-through with these expectations.
- Designate a study zone with resources that support assignment completion.
- Allow your child to take ownership for the things they need to get done by stepping back and having your child share his/her plan for follow-through.
Helping your child acquire time management skills at a young age will help them to be successful as they transition throughout elementary school, to middle school, and beyond!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions regarding this topic!
Mrs. Williams & Ms. Tran, Flint Hill School Counselors
DedicatED:
It's the Rigorous Twenties!
We want you informed about our instructional practices that support Portrait of a Graduate attributes, in addition to inquiry-based instruction!
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What Is Cognitive Rigor?
"Cognitive rigor has received increased attention primarily due to instructional shifts in K–12 education that place importance on developing 21st century skills, which are generally agreed to be skills that prepare students for college and career success. As a result, greater expectations are now placed "on education systems around the world to teach in ways that produce the knowledge workers and innovators businesses need to compete in the 21st century knowledge economy" (Trilling & Fadel, 2009, p. 61). Students still need to acquire and apply knowledge accurately. However, they must also be able to analyze and articulate knowledge authentically through critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and communication, and creativity and innovation."
For the entire article, click here!
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Bridge to Kindergarten: Year 3!
We are excited to share with you our plans for a two-week kindergarten induction program held here at Flint Hill! This program will run from July 13th-24th, and from 9 am-12 pm. During this two week window, students become acclimated to Flint Hill, learn kindergarten expectations, and participate in a variety of games and other endeavors that support social emotional growth and the development of friendships. If you are interested in enrolling your son or daughter, please complete this Google Form. In addition, we hope you will share this information with families who may be new to the Flint Hill community!
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 Twitter was on fire this week!
We continue to highlight learning experiences that support the acquisition of Portrait of a Graduate attributes and skills across our classrooms.
Our kindergarten students hosted a toy museum this past Friday. It was an exciting event where students demonstrated how magnets were used in their unique creations. This learning opportunity illustrates critical and creative thinking in spades!
For more information on Portrait of a Graduate, ask your child how they are a communicator, collaborator, critical and creative thinker, goal-directed and resilient individual, or ethical and global citizen. Or, click here!
Please click on our hashtag, #FHESfamily, for more awesome highlights from Flint Hill! There are just too many to highlight them all!
Tweet, tweet, Flint Hill family!
In Other News...
 What an incredible Junior Spelling Bee! Thank you to Mrs. Eckerman and our PTA for chairing such an incredible learning experience for our students!
All our participants demonstrated that they are goal-directed, resilient learners and are winners!
Champion
#33 Cole Urwongse (winning word: menthol)
1st Runner-up
#25 Bryce Blinstrub
2nd Runner-ups (4 way-tie)
#3 Jackie Singer, #5 Tiago Smith, #6 Teddy Major, #38 Ishan Kumar
Thank you to Natacha Moore, Melissa Molivadas, and our second grade families for the "Souper Hero" luncheon this past Friday! It was delicious!
Please Mark Your Calendars!
Great news! Flint Hill Elementary School's events are now easily added to your own personal calendar. To find out how to download our calendar feed, please go here.
February 14th: Empty Bowls, Full Hearts (*See above for the schedule.)
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Falcon Feedback
To provide feedback directly to Ms. Hertzberg, please use the QR code, or click on this link. Thank you, in advance, for sharing your thinking!
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