Note from Mr. Rathbun Please be sure to check our story in WCPS e-News about the use of LEGOS in the classrooms. Students are building with LEGOS and then explaining what they have constructed with the use of reflective language. The construction is related to the subject area that is being covered and engages students in higher-order thinking. We are excited that we are able to offer experiences and opportunities such as this to our students. We have great students who love to learn, and that love for learning grows even more when they can have so much while doing so.

Sincerely,

Mark J. Rathbun

Students at Alvaton Elementary have been expanding their learning with LEGOS in the classroom. Build To Express is a teaching process that engages students in higher-order thinking by combining LEGO model building with open-ended, nonjudgmental questions. The students are challenged with building tasks related to a subject area and then use reflective language to explain what they have

built and how it applies to the topic at hand. This process of hands-on building combined with dialogue and reflection enables students to develop a deeper understanding of what they are learning. The Build To Express process helps engage students with multiple learning styles. Students in grades second through sixth will have the opportunity to work with this program.

BUILD TO EXPRESS with LEGOS

BLUEBIRD BUZZ

ALVATON ELEMENTARY-OCTOBER 19, 2012

TEST ACCOUNTABILITY HELP AND INFORMATION As we gear up for test score release under our new accountability system, the Kentucky Department of Education has several helpful bits of information on the KDE website. One of these is a beneficial video that can assist in understanding the changes in Kentucky’s testing system since it moves the state from a focus on just proficiency to one of college and career readiness. Follow these links below for more information. http://education.ky.gov/AA/Pages/default.aspx http://media.education.ky.gov/video1/on-demand2012/Doc_H_parents-10-8-2012.mp4

Title One Fall Open House

October 24th 3:30 – 5:30 Room 135

Alvaton Elementary School

Drop in before or after your conference with your child’s teacher. I will have available examples of the programs your child may be using when working with his or her Title One teacher. Please make sure to sign in and put your child’s name in the drawing for a gift

certificate!

I look forward to meeting you and sharing with you all the wonderful things happening in our Title One classrooms!

Laura Halcomb

Title One Teacher Alvaton Elementary School

*If you have scheduled a different conference time during the week of 10/22-10/26, please

let me know. I will do my best to be available each afternoon to meet with you. 1st Grade News Mrs. Gifford and Mrs. Reiter’s students are going to be published writers. The students are

working hard to create writing that will be published. Make sure you look for the information in your child’s folder about purchasing their work!

1st Grade is also gearing up for the Veteran’s Day parade! It’s not too late to let your

teacher know if you will be participating! Finally, encourage your student to read at home and complete AR tests at school for AR

points. Students must earn 10 points for the AR incentives!

S SHOW A POSITIVE

ATTITUDE

O OWN YOUR ACTIONS

A ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST

R RESPECT OTHERS

AND YOURSELF

COMPUTER LAB NEWS 1st Quarter Computer Lab

Kindergarten friends started out learning computer rules and expectations along with some computer lab vocabulary words such as keyboard, mouse, headphones, safari, dock, desktop and icons. They have been working on following step-by-step instructions to open safari and from Alvaton Elementary’s iKeepBookmarks page, they have worked and played on a website called Starfall.com or Earobics.com/GameGoo Educational Games. 1st Grade friends started out the year reviewing computer lab rules and expectations they learned last year in addition to the vocabulary words as listed for the kindergarten students. First grade friends have taken Star Assessment online tests, played and worked in the Earobics.com/GameGoo Education Games site and have been learning the proper way to type/keyboard by using the program Dance Mat Typing!! It’s so fun to see these little fingers make “home row” work!!! First quarter activities for 2nd Grade friends began with a quick review of computer lab rules and expectations along with some computer lab vocab. Their first big lesson was over connecting and disconnecting to our student server. They will utilize the student server throughout the remainder of their time as AES students for their writing pieces and any other projects their homeroom teachers have for them. They have also opened Word and worked on a short letter to their homeroom teacher, taken AR tests and practiced keyboarding skills in Dance Mat Typing! Last week they were introduced to a math program we use called FastMath! 3rd Grade friends have also reviewed lab rules, expectations and vocabulary. They have had the student server lesson, opened Word and typed a letter to their teacher, practiced keyboarding skills using home row and have completed the placement activity in the FastMath program. 4th Grade students have not accomplished as much as some of my other students since this period usually hosts monthly tornado/fire drills and school assemblies; however, they have reviewed computer lab rules/expectations and vocabulary, along with practicing proper keyboarding skills, connecting and disconnecting to the student server and typing a letter to their teacher and saving to their own server file! 5th Grade and 6th Grade friends have followed suit with review of computer lab rules/expectations and vocabulary. They all have had the student server lesson, opened Word, typed and saved letter to their teacher, practice proper keyboarding skills and have started FastMath. The first quarter of this 2012-2013 school year has zipped right by and I have hopes that your child/ren have very much enjoyed what they are learning in computer lab! Mrs. Tammy Miller Alvaton Elementary Computer Lab

FROM THE LIBRARY • • •

Congratulations to Hunter Jo Brady for winning the donut-eating contest. Mrs. McIntire's class enjoyed their popcorn party this week for being the first class to fulfill their teacher's wish list during the book fair.

8 NEW EBOOKS We now have 8 new eBooks that are accessible to our students from school and home. To access these resources visit http://my.abdodigital.com from any device with internet capabilities and enter the username alvaton and password bluebirds. Select eBooks, and then select one of the eight new books available. A book description will appear, and you will need to click "Open eBook." There is no audio; they are just eBooks. Students click the right hand corner to turn the page. The left corner has a bar for magnifying the books.

FROM THE HEALTH ROOM

A huge "shout-out" goes to the 36 Alvaton staff members that participated in the Vaccinate Your Staff flu shot contest on Friday, Sept. 28, 2012. This is

the 4th year Alvaton Elementary and Warren County Public Schools has participated in this program. It is sponsored by the L.I.V.E. Coalition. (Let's Immunize Very Early.) Our school nurse and WCPS District Health Coordinator, Grecia Wilson, RN serves on this coalition and helps coordinate this event for Alvaton Elementary and the school district each year. WKU Institute for Rural Health Development and Research provides the vaccine and South Central Area Health Education Center provides the prize money. We are thankful to have such a great group of health conscious, proactive faculty and staff! THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING AND BEING HEALTHY ROLE MODELS FOR OUR STUDENTS!!!

IN OTHER NEWS...

POPPY THE RACCOON Students at Alvaton Elementary got a refresher course on bus safety from Poppy and the Warren County transportation department. While many students may not ride the bus to and from school, every student must know expectations on the bus. Students ride the bus for field trips and must know what is expected.

BOB EVANS COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER

DINE IN AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE AMERICAN CANCER

SOCIETY!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

6:00 AM-9:00 P.M.

Present the certificate that was sent home with your student and 15% of sales will go to the American Cancer Society! THE FLYER MUST BE PRESENTED at

the TIME OF CHECKOUT!

ALVATON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BLOOD DRIVE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23

2:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M.

Located at the Old Alvaton Gym

To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and

enter sponsor code: AlvatonElementary

Beginning in November, JC Penney Salon will offer by appointment only, FREE

Kid's Cut haircuts on Sundays. This service is

available only for students in Kindergarten through 6th

grade!

Call 270-781-2626 to schedule an appointment.

VOLUNTEERS

Reminder-Anyone wishing to attend a field trip (either on the bus or following) must complete the Volunteer Training and a background check. If you have any questions, please contact Jill McClard at 270-846-1231.

There are teachers in need of volunteers to make copies, laminate, read with students, and assist with other activities in the classroom. If you are interested in helping, please call or e-mail Jill McClard-270-846-1231 or jill.mcclard@warren.kyschools.us.

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

The Family Resource Center collects donations throughout the year of food, clothing, cleaning supplies, and shoes to assist as needs arise in our Alvaton families. If you have any of these items that you would like to donate, please contact Jill McClard at 270-846-1231 to coordinate drop off or pick up.

Christmas Assistance Donations-

If you would be interested in sponsoring a child or helping with Christmas, please let Jill McClard know. The list from the Salvation Army signups will be sent to her shortly and she will be searching for families to assist with those needs.

FRC EVENTS

Coats for Kids Coat Drive-

October 8-October 31

Food Drive-

October 15-October 26

Red Ribbon Week-

October 22-26

7 HEALTHY HABITS OF

HIGHLY EFFECTIVE

KIDS

1. Be Proactive 2. Begin with

the End in Mind

3. Put First

Things First 4. Think Win-

Win 5. Seek First to

Understand, then to be Understood

6. Synergize 7. Sharpen the

Saw

BRING NEW OR GENTLY USED COATS TO ALVATON FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

FOR THE COATS FOR KIDS CAMPAIGN

OCTOBER 8-NOVEMBER 20

New coats will be directly dispersed to students at Alvaton Elementary in need.

Gently Used Coats will be cleaned by Big “B” Cleaners and will be returned to Alvaton to serve the students at YOUR school.

Students donating a coat will receive a gift from the treasure box and a SOAR

ticket for their kind donation.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT JILL MCCLARD AT 270-846-1231 OR BY E-MAIL AT JILL.MCCLARD@WARREN.KYSCHOOLS.US

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

The Alvaton Family Resource Center Food Pantry is in need of restocking to provide emergency supplies to our families and to provide Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for our families. To help with these needs, The Family Resource Center and Alvaton Pride Pals are sponsoring a food drive from Monday, October 15-Friday, October 26. While any non-perishable items are appreciated, for a good variety, it would be helpful to use the following suggestions: Preschool and Kindergarten Students: Dry goods such as crackers, cake mixes, pasta, flour, rice, etc. First and Second Grade Students: Paper goods such as toilet paper, paper towels, etc., and hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. Third and Fourth Grade Students: Canned meats, vegetables, and soup. Fifth and Sixth Grade Students: Canned fruits and peanut butter and dish washing soap and laundry detergent.

Alvaton Elementary Celebrates

RED RIBBON WEEK OCTOBER 22-26

The National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign in 1988. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children. TO OBSERVE RED RIBBON WEEK, THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS/STAFF ARE

ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FOLLOWING DRESS-UP ACTIVITIES:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 22- “I choose to be DRUG-FREE!”

Wear Red

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23- “Don't let drugs turn you INSIDE-OUT!”

Wear your clothing inside out.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24- “Don't get roped by drugs!” Wear cowboy/western attire

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25-

“Keep your future bright-Don't do drugs!” Wear sunglasses

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26-

“Achieve your DREAMS and be Drug-FREE!” Dress in your “DREAM Career/Professional Dress

COMMUNITY EVENTS 10/18 - 11/14: Blood Money PTK Mainstage Theater Phoenix Theater Thurs 7pm, Fri/Sat 8pm, Sun 3pm 270-781-6233 www.ptkbg.org 10/18: Letters to a Bullied Girl (Performance) Main Library, 6pm all ages 10/18: Bullying: Help for You and Your Child First Christian Church, 6-8pm RSVP by 10/17, FREE childcare (first 15 kids) Contact Denise Lambrianou at 270-781-6714, ext 3 10/19: Bluegrass World Cup SKYMAC Stahl Field, 8am - 6pm www.skymacrc.com 10/20: Get the Led Out "The American Led Zeppelin" SKyPAC, 7:30 pm 270-904-1880 www.theskypac.com 10/27: All Aboard Series: Railroad Folklore/Ghost Stories Stephanie Baker, speaker Historic Railpark and Train Museum, 8:30 am 270-745-7317 www.historicrailpark.com 10/27: Girls Day Out Sloan Convention Center 10 am - 4pm 10/27 - 28: Kick or Treat Lovers Lane Soccer Complex www.sokysoccer.org 10/27: Museum Monster Mash Corvette Museum, 1 - 3pm 270-781-7973 www.corettemuseum.org 10/28: Expectant Parent Fair The Medical Center Auditorium, 1 - 3 pm 270-745-1543