March 2008
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It was a hair raising event! On March 5th, Mrs. Mayle finally cut her hair! She had been growing it for several years just so she could donate it to an organization called Wigs for Kids. Joining Mrs. Mayle for this event were Miss Kim Lamphear, three 5th grade students, and a parent. Students also raised money for Cassidy’s Hope Foundation. This group is out of Valley City. They assist families financially when children are being treated for cancer. The classes raising the most money had an opportunity to have a name drawn from their attendance list. The name drawn got to cut a braid from Mrs. Mayle’s hair. Mrs. Mayle donated 14 inches of hair! Altogether the group donated 82 inches of hair!
Special thanks also to Robin Faughner stylist at Creative Cuts and Kids Hope Volunteer for styling the kids hair after moms and Mrs. Mayle chopped their locks. Great going girls!
Pasta for Pennies
Thank you to all of the Towslee students, families, and friends for making this year’s Pasta for Pennies campaign a huge success. We have collected $1,600.00 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Northern Ohio Chapter. A special thank you to the Belaska and Sprok families for their generous donation in memory of Austin’s grandfather.
Kindergarten News
We've been working really hard in Kindergarten on the sight words and word family words and are so excited to be readers!! We can read simple books by ourselves now! Please visit the local library and explore the easy reader section of books. The more your child gets to practice reading, the better he or she will get. In Math, we are beginning to talk about addition and we will soon be measuring objects using different measuring tools (ex: paperclips, cubes, and rulers.) We are currently learning about zoo animals for the letter Z and Science and Social Studies. We have become researchers for the week and will be writing our own mini report to show the class.
Spring is coming...Happy Spring!
Miss Mason and Mrs. Jesse
1st Grade News
The
month of March roared in like a lion and we hope it leaves like a lamb. We are
continuing to work on contractions, compound words, and suffixes. We have also
begun testing on quarter 3 sight words due to the rapid nature of the end of the
grading period. Please practice reading with your child on a nightly basis and
include word practice as well. If it is desired, word rings can go home on a
nightly basis. In math, we recently introduced the quarter and touch counting.
We are headed towards studying attributes, symmetry, and 2-D and 3-D shapes.
We are working on mapping skills this month. We are all looking forward to
hopefully a warm spring break and recharging our batteries for the rest of the
year.
Thank you,
Mrs. Sinko, Mrs. Braun, Mrs. Radabaugh, & Mrs. Barbarotta
2nd Grade News
Second grade is busy getting ready for spring! We are finishing up our third quarter I CAN statements. We are working on making change. This is a difficult concept so please make sure you practice at home. Just a reminder that the field trip to the Western Reserve Historical Museum is Tuesday, April 1st. We are planning another special Earth Day event. More information will come home after break about this fun trip. We hope everyone has a warm and sunny spring break. Happy Easter from all of us to you and your families.
Mrs. Dick, Miss Boyer, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Popa
3rd Grade News
The third graders have been very busy getting ready for the Ohio Achievement Tests that will be during the last week of April. We continue to "perfect" our test taking skills for the big event.
In reading, we have been reviewing all benchmarks. We continue to work on vocabulary skills which is a big part of reading. The children continue to use the context clues to help them figure out vocabulary while reading. We are also working on main ideas, supporting details sequencing events, inferencing and drawing conclusions.
During our writing time, we are working on editing our work for spelling capitalization and punctuation problems. The children had fun writing their own stories. They are learning how to add details to their stories to create a vivid picture for the reader. The children are getting better at their cursive writing skills!
Studying Brunswick history has been fun in social studies! We are learning about the growth and changes of our community from the time it was settled to present day. We will be using local maps and timelines in this unit.
We finished our animal and insect life cycle unit in science. We learned about animal survival, growth and life cycles.
Finally, in math we continue to work on improving our math skills and getting ready for the OAT. Continue to work on multiplication facts nightly. We will start Unit 8 on fractions during this month. We will be reviewing data analysis and measurement too!
Mrs. Velic, Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Reisinger, Mrs. Werner
4th Grade News
Reading
Our
reading from now until OAT testing time will focus on getting ready for the OAT
test. We are practicing from old tests and other books that help students see
what types of questions to expect and then we practice and discuss how to answer
these questions to maximize their points. Each Wednesday we take an OAT
practice test, then we discuss how we can do better. On Friday, we take an old
proficiency test, which again gives the idea of what types of questions to
expect and what types of stories we are expected to read. These two activities
are being used as guides and also count towards their green squares and activity
Friday. During the rest of the week we are still using our text book and other
practice sheets to continue our learning journey in reading. Please make sure
your child is still using and reading at home and answering the Reading Log.
Have a great Spring!
Mrs. Arnold
Math
The students are becoming more confident with their math skills now. Continue to practice 2 and 3 digit multiplication at home. We are working on minimizing errors and careful checking. We continue to practice division with single digit divisors (with, and without, remainders). Your child would benefit from frequent practice in this area (and check the division with multiplication).
Another topic we've been working on is problem solving. Students know the "PEPSE" method of solving problems: read the PROBLEM (twice), EXPLORE the problem by underlining important facts and circling the question, PLAN how you will use the numbers and what steps will be needed to solve it, SOLVE the problem, label everything with words, and circle the final answer, and EVALUATE to see if everything was completed correctly and if the answer matches the question. The extended response questions on the achievement test will require this type of detailed response to get full credit. Please review any graded problem solving papers sent home with your child and help him/her correct errors. Because problem solving involves reasoning and multi-step solutions, many children are struggling with this. We go over examples frequently in class.
Our next skills in math will include area and perimeter, ordered pairs (coordinate grids), fractions, and more measurement (volume, capacity). We are working on specific skills now to prepare for April achievement testing, so we are not working page-by-page through our math journals. We will continue working through the math journals as review and practice after instruction is completed.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I will probably send home a practice packet for students to complete sometime during the spring break. It will be some review and preparation for our next unit. Thank you for encouraging your child to complete the packet and return it to school after the break.
Have a wonderful Easter,
Mrs. White
Writing
Students are focusing on one writing application each week. Thus far students have learned how to write formal letters, personal narratives and responding to a book or poem.
Next week the focus will be on report writing. Students need to be able to group like concepts in order to form paragraphs. This is a difficult task.
At home your child can strengthen writing skills by composing stories or letters to friends and family. Responding to their A.R. book will benefit both reading and writing.
Thank you for all the support with writing homework this month.
Mrs.Holdash
5th Grade News
Science
The students enjoyed our Physical Science unit. We did many experiments and the children now have a much better understanding of energy. They loved the experiments which involved electricity. Each student has successfully built a simple electric circuit. Next, we will move to our last unit of the year which is life science. Our content focus is the diversity and interdependence of life.
Mrs. Nelson
Language Arts
We are wrapping up our Voices of the Revolution theme very soon. The culminating activity will be reading a chapter book and doing a report on it, which will be due after Spring Break. Next, we will be drawing conclusions, making judgments, making generalizations, and reviewing all other skills we have struggled with like cause and effect, main ideas, and summaries. Please continue reading daily, about 25-30 minutes, and recording it on the reading log. Also, we are going to be taking Ohio Achievement practice tests on Fridays for exposure and in April really start hitting hard with practice tests. Please be sure to save these for review for the actual test at the end of April. Remember reading is fun!
Miss Lamphear
Hiram House
Fifth graders should have turned in the forms packet to their home room teachers. They were due on March 7th. Please be sure to do this if you haven't already. Volunteer information is coming soon. The parent volunteer meeting will be scheduled for a Wednesday night in April. We are working on getting finger printing information together and more. Miss Lamphear has many names of volunteers, but feel free to keep them coming. The third payment is due April 1st. Balances will be given out by Mrs. Cozzens - she is handling our finances. If you have any questions regarding Hiram House, please e-mail Miss Lamphear at klamphear@bcsoh.org.
Thanks!
Miss Lamphear
Junior Marketing Club
Thank you to those students who ran the school store this school year. Your work is appreciated. The school store will be open still on Thursdays with the money going to Hiram House. Thanks for your support!
Miss Lamphear
Video Club
Video announcements are up and running! The announcers are doing a great job and keeping the school informed of our daily announcements. Thanks for all your hard work announcers!
Miss Lamphear
Math
The students are looking forward to our Pi Day Celebration which will be on March 13th (3.14). They will be investigating the relationship between the circumference of circle and the radius. We will also be looking at the first 100 digits and organizing the data. Thank you to all of you that sent in donations for our special day. We have also been working on short and extended response answers as well as reviewing skills.
Mrs. Schweisthal
Social Studies
We just took our test on the American Revolution. This was by far our best effort as a fifth grade so far. I think the kids are starting to understand how to study. Let's hope we can keep it up. The reports will be handed back after break. 87 reports take some time. Please be patient. Our next unit is on the Constitution. This is a tricky unit so make sure we are studying in small sections. Our test will not be until after break. I'm pretty excited about the kids learning the basics of our government. Hopefully they are too. Have a great spring break and hope for warm weather.
Mr. Hunter
If you feel like this school year is flying by, you’re not alone! While we’re experiencing all of this cold, icy weather, it’s a perfect time to supply your child with magazines, poems, stories on tape, high interest books, and stories that are at your child’s instructional level. Reading teachers have the advantage of finding a student’s reading level with the assistance of research-based assessment programs. Parents can do it the old fashioned way, using the “five finger test”. If your child makes at least five reading errors per one hundred words, then the material is probably too difficult. We are in the process of finishing our reading assessments for the third quarter, and we’re gearing up for our final stretch of the school year!
Mrs. Pollick
Grades 1-2
News from Title 1
3rd Grade
Students in Mrs. Wright’s and Mrs. Burke’s class have been working on prefixes, suffixes, and extending vocabulary. Students in Mrs. Velic’s and Mrs. Reisinger’s class have been working on the genre of fables and extending vocabulary. All classes finished learning about abbreviations and comparing and contrasting stories using graphic organizers. We will continue to expand vocabulary and review skills and strategies.
4th Grade
Students have been working on non-fiction text selections. Non-fiction can be difficult so we will be spending more time with this.
5th Grade
Students have been learning about the genre of fables and answering multiple choice, short answer and extended responses. We will begin working on cause and effect.
Fourth and fifth graders worked very hard on increasing their fluency through repeated readings and some had the opportunity to perform a skit for third graders. They learned that fluency consists of reading smoothly with expression and proper phrasing and rate. They also worked on abbreviations and fact and opinion.
After the break, we will be reviewing many concepts, skills and strategies in preparation for the achievement tests.
Mrs. Jan Kellar
Grades 3-5
Physical Education
It’s hard to believe that spring break is right around the corner and the fourth quarter is almost here. We concluded the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser earlier this month and the students raised $3,000. The Jump Rope for Heart event was also a success. Students were able to celebrate their hard work and complete jumps for people who made contributions. All prizes for the fundraisers will be delivered to the school in 6-8 weeks.
In class, we are in the middle of March Madness. The kids are really doing a great job with teamwork and cooperation. After spring break, we will hopefully be able to head back outside more often and learn some outdoor activities!
Mr. Harrington
Brushing Up on Art
The students are becoming very creative in their pottery, painting, model cars and drawings. Please remember to keep some of your favorite art pieces to be part of the Towslee Spring Art Gallery in late April. You may submit one to three art pieces that you have done in art class at Towslee this school year. Some of our students have their artwork selected to be on display at the Medina Hospital's fifth floor gallery. If you are there, look for our students' work.
Keep drawing!
Mrs. Hunt
Music
During "Seuss on the Loose" week the music classes had the opportunity to study how a musical is put together. They learned that it takes acting, singing, reading, and props. All classes read a short skit adapted from Seussical the Musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, and sang some simple songs. The story line was based on Horton Hears a Who and the greatest hit to be sung was of course, Green Eggs and Ham! The students were surprised that Dr. Seuss stories could be sung and with so much fun. It was interesting to find out that anything is possible, even catching fish in McElligot's pool.
We found some sleepy "Who's" atop the paper towel dispenser. Some students were given one to take care of for the week. Kari let her "Who" ride on her wacky hair-do on Wacky Hair Day and watched it play soccer, but CJ's "Who" had the time of his life. CJ claimed that his "Who" was driving around in his small matchbox car!
March 17th is the Strings Concert at the Pac. All are welcome!
Mrs. Walker
C. R. Towslee Ambassadors
Our Ambassadors are busy bringing in cans of food for the annual can food drive, as well as Boxtops for Education. They are working hard at volunteering to do things for others
"Can't Hide That Towslee Pride!"
Mrs. Hunt
C.R. Towslee Ambassador Moderator
Towslee Patriot Patrol
Our weather has kept our Patriot Patrol from flying the flags everyday but their patriotic spirit is still very evident, especially while saying the Pledge of Allegiance each day. Next month, we will be selecting a new group of Patriot Patrol members from the fourth grade class to prepare them for next year. More information will come out after Spring break.
"Towslee...Home of the Patriots!"
Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Study
Library Highlights
Happy Spring! Our students are really enjoying reading. First graders are now taking out two books. Most of our students are reading on a daily basis. Thank you parents for all your help with our readers. Our students are asking me to save certain book titles for them which is a very good sign of a good reader. When your child's birthday arrives, a book is a great gift. By the time they reach high school, they have a library collection of their own. Also, thank you so much for supporting our Book Fairs. The Library receives all the profit for new books.
Happy Reading!
Mrs. Zeigler
Cafeteria News
Looking forward to spring in Towslee Cafeteria!
Our special lunch this month is on Friday, March 14th. Every student will receive a plastic Easter egg with their lunch. Inside may be a coupon redeemable for one of many special prizes. Have fun and good luck! Have a safe, happy and healthy Easter Break!
P.S. Parents, if your child owes money to the cafeteria, please send it in as soon as possible. Thanks!
Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Crouse, and Mrs. Theobald
Perfecting Parenting:
Tips from your School Counselor, Mrs. Lalos
Grow a Garden with Your Child, Teach About Values
As the weather gets warmer, you can help your child plant a garden. While you are both learning about what makes plants grow, you will also have a great chance to talk about values together.
A small seed won’t grow very well on its own. The care of a gardener helps. Too much or too little water or sunlight and the seed won’t grow into a plant. Take your child to a nursery. Look at the plants that are growing. Buy a small packet or two of seeds. When you get home, plant a small garden. If you can’t plant an outdoor garden, buy a few small plants you can grow in pots.
As you and your child water and care for the growing plant, here are some questions you can ask:
As the garden grows, you and your child will find many other things to talk about. You’ll help your child see that with proper love and care, people and plants can bloom and grow.
Source: Kenny Luck, 52 Ways to Nurture Your Child’s Natural Abilities, 1994.
Teach Your Child How to Think Through Problems
What can parents do when their child is stuck on a homework problem? Here are questions you might ask a child who seems to be stumped:
Source: Nancy Paulu, Helping Your Child With Homework, 1995 (U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement).