Ms. Heineberg's Class - Learning Community B Assembly on Nov. 17th

Dear Families,
Mark your calendars! Our next Learning Community Assembly will be on Friday, Nov 17th, at 8:10 am! Students will perform a song they are learning in Portuguese class.

Ms. Keane's Student Led Conferences

Student Led Conferences were a great success. I know the children were so happy that they got to show you their learning. Thanks to all those that attended. Here are a few pictures of their time with you.

Curriculum Update: What's Going on in First Grade

Literacy: The next unit in writing is called "Non-Fiction Chapter Books." Students will be learning how to write teaching books on topics that they are experts in. For their pre-assessment in this unit, students were asked to bring in items about the topic they are experts in and write all about them.

Math: Students have continued skip counting forwards and backwards. They have been introduced to the frames and arrows pattern. Finally they have been learning time to the half hour.

Science: Students wrapped up the Magnet Unit and applied of all their knowledge during various visits to Inventor's Workshop Studio. Students created amazing inventions that used magnets.

Social Studies: The next Social Studies Unit will be "Community Family" where we will learn about all the people that help us at school.

Portuguese PLA: Os alunos continuam fazendo atividades para refletir sobre os sons em português a partir das cantigas "O sapo não lava o pé" e "O Jipe do padre".

Portuguese PAL: In PAL, students are learning the alphabet in Portuguese through different songs. Then, they will do activities that will make them compare and contrast the sound of letters in Portuguese and English.

Lower School Update - October 30, 2017

Conference Feedback

Thank you parents for attending conferences last week. Just a reminder to please complete this brief survey to give feedback and help us in planning future conferences.

Halloween Parade - November 1

We will have our Halloween Parades on Wednesday, November 1. For half day students (full day Pre-Primary students also participate) the parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. For full day students (K5 to 5th grade) the parade will begin at 2:00 p.m. We encourage children to dress in fantasy costumes that are creative and fun, but discourage violent and horror costumes. Pre-Primary students may come dressed in their costumes from home. First through Fifth grade students should bring costumes to change into at school in the afternoon.

The Eagle Way

Last week, your children shared their personal learning goals with you during Student-Led Conferences.  As they work to achieve their goals, they are likely to experience moments of challenge .  You can help them follow The Eagle Way and embrace their challenges by providing them ways to think about approaching their work.  Here are 25 sentences you can share and use with your children instead of “I don’t know” or “I can’t”.   

Thanksgiving

Join us on November 11 for our annual PTA Thanksgiving Celebration! If you are interested in volunteering, please sing up here.

Linda Sue Park is Coming to Graded!
Your Graded Libraries are thrilled to be hosting award-winning author, Linda Sue Park, the week of Nov 27-Dec 1. Ms. Park is the author of more than 20 books, from picture books to novels. While at Graded, Ms. Park will talk with students in PK5-grade 12. She will also offer a parent presentation on Tuesday, November 28 from 8:15-9:00 am. Students in grades 4-8 who would like to meet Ms. Park in a smaller setting to talk with her about her books and about writing are encouraged to participate in our Essay Contest. Twenty-five students will be selected for a special lunchtime event. Ms. Park's TEDx Talk, Can A Children's Book Change the World?, will give you a glimpse into her thoughtful approach to reading and writing. Livro Facil will have copies of Linda Sue Park’s books available for sale. Students will have the opportunity to have books autographed.

Upcoming Important Dates

November 1	Pre-primary Halloween Parade 10:00 am K5 to 5th Grade Halloween Parade 2:00 pm
November 2	Dia de Finados Holiday (no school for students)
November 3	No School for Students
November 10	Community A Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium)
November 11	PTA Thanksgiving Celebration
November 13 & 14	5th Grade Salesópolis Trip
November 14	PTA Coffee PTA Bookclub
November 15	Proclamação da República Holiday (no school for students)
November 17	Community B Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium)
November 20	Dia da Consciência Negra Holiday (no school for students)
November 22	LS Musical: The Phantom Tollbooth Jr. 5:30 pm (auditorium)
November 23	Community C Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium) Thanksgiving (students dismissed at 11:30 am)
November 24	Thanksgiving Holiday (no school for students)
November 28	Visiting Author Linda Sue Park Parent Coffee 8:15 am (auditorium)
December 1	Community D Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium)

Around the Lower School

Student Led Conferences

Student-Led Conference Guidelines

To ensure smooth and productive conferences, here are some guidelines for parents and students to follow.

Parents

• Please silence your cell phones
• Listen to your child and provide positive feedback.
• Feel free to ask questions to further understand your child’s learning.
• If you have another child present, they can go to the playground.
• If you need to talk to the teacher in private, schedule a conference for a later time.

Students

• Keep a lively pace, but don’t rush.
• Keep the materials at each station organized.
• You’re in charge of the conference, so be prepared to explain the activities.
• Smile and have fun!

Lower School Update - October 23, 2017

Student-Led Conferences

Student-Led Conferences will take place this week during the afternoons of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 am each of those days and conferences will take place in the afternoons (parents of our youngest children in K3 and K4 will have parent-teacher interviews). Trimester 1 report cards are available on Veracross. Please review the report card with your child prior to the conferences.

Parent Coffee: Reviewing MAP Test Results

Please join us on Tuesday morning at 8:30 to learn more about how to interpret the MAP assessment and how we use it at Graded for instructional purposes. There will be an opportunity to ask questions if you are unsure about your child’s results. Please note that this is the best time to discuss the MAP assessment, and not during Student-Led Conferences.

Visiting Author:  Linda Sue Park

The Graded Libraries are super excited for our upcoming author visit with Newbery Medalist, Linda Sue Park. Ms. Park will be working with with all students, PK5-Grade 12, the week of November 27-December 1. In addition to working with students, Ms. Park will offer a presentation for parents and a professional development session for our staff. We are delighted to announce that Linda Sue Park will autograph copies of her books during her visit. Livro Fácil will have copies of books available for purchase.  To get a sense of which titles to order and how many copies, please complete this brief survey by Tuesday, October 24. Check out Linda Sue Park's website to review her available books http://www.lindasuepark.com/books/books_novels.html. When you click on each book, you will find a synopsis and reviews.

The Eagle Way

The essence of the Eagle Way is to positively support our children in their behavior, reactions to events, and their overall social emotional development.  This week brings all of our students report cards and student-led conferences and parents a chance to practice providing positive support.  Here are a few tips about how to have a positive and supportive conversation with your child about his/her report card and conference:

• Begin by asking your child how he/she feels about his/her accomplishments. Stimulating an awareness of good feelings that are tied to specific behaviors is always a good way to reinforce similar behavior in the future.
• Pay attention to the things that matter most when your child shares his or her report card with you. If you only focus on the grades received it will only accentuate evaluation and competition. A better alternative is to concentrate on the learning process and ask questions such as - What did you learn this grading period (in science, math, art. etc.)? What was most enjoyable to you? What came easy to you this time? What do you think you could have changed or done differently? What will your strategy be for the next grading period? What assistance do you need to accomplish these goals?
• When responding to a job well done remember to be specific in your praise.  Remember that being too general or vague with your praise does little to guarantee a repeat performance. Show your pride by giving your child very specific comments that focus more on effort than on intellect or achievement.

For more information and tips, read this article.  

Halloween Parade - November 1

Following a long tradition here at Graded, we will have our Halloween Parades on Wednesday, November 1. For half day students (full day Pre-Primary students also participate) the parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. For full day students (K5 to 5th grade) the parade will begin at 2:00 p.m. We encourage children to dress in fantasy costumes that are creative and fun, but discourage violent and horror costumes. Pre-Primary students may come dressed in their costumes from home. First through Fifth grade students should bring costumes to change into at school in the afternoon.

Child Protection Coffee

Thank you to those parents who were able to join us for our parent coffee on child protection at Graded last Tuesday. Here are the slides from the presentation.

Upcoming Important Dates

October 24	Parent Coffee: Reviewing MAP Test Results 8:30 am (Auditorium)
October 24-26	Student-Led Conferences (11:30 am dismissal for students, conferences in the afternoons)
November 1	Pre-primary Halloween Parade 10:00 am K5 to 5th Grade Halloween Parade 2:00 pm
November 2	Dia de Finados Holiday (no school for students)
November 3	No School for Students
November 10	Community A Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium)
November 14	PTA Coffee PTA Bookclub
November 15	Proclamação da República Holiday (no school for students)
November 17	Community B Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium)

Around the Lower School

Ms. England's Inventor's Workshop

Inventor's Workshop

We are officially inventors!! We have created some very interesting, thoughtful and unique toys using magnetic forces. Some of us had to really learn to preserver when our original ideas did not work, but in the end we all had success! Please look to SeeSaw for our reflections on how our toys work.

A HUGE THANK YOU to all the moms and dad who came out and supported us during our learning journey!! I meant so much to extra help so we could use the hot glue gun when we needed and have an adult to help us think through our ideas. Your support means a lot!!

Student Led Conferences

Also, parent please don't forget that we have student led conferences this week. We will have half days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (11:30 dismissal) so that in the afternoon we can bring you into our classroom to see our work! If you have not done so already, please be sure to sign up for a time slot (we still have a opening on Wednesday and several openings on Thursday). 

Ms. Keane's Inventor's Workshop

Students did an excellent job with their inventions. They showed creativity, problem solving, and worked on presentation skills. Check out some pictures below:

Happy Birthday, Nina!