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Together Achieving Educational Success

Holiday Fun at Home

By: Amanda Kurtz, Early Childhood Principal

As the holiday season moves into

full swing, students, staff and parents look

forward some much-deserved academic

downtime. Kids can still keep their minds

sharp on school vacation days, and they

can have fun while doing it! Reading doesn't

have to mean sitting at a table with a boring

school book for a set amount of time each day.

Instead, try and include them in preparations

and activities that reinforce their reading with

some of these suggested daily activities.

Have your children read holiday cards when they are received in the mail, and let

them write a message in outgoing cards.

Let children read, measure ingredients and help prepare holiday recipes while

you bake together. It's a great way for them to learn measurements and

temperatures.

Set aside time for kids to "show off" their new reading skills to visiting relatives.

Children love being the focus of attention, and grandparents are usually more

than willing to see (and hear) their progress.

Make special holiday readings a tradition. Find a special book for Hanukkah or

Christmas, and have each member of the family read from it at the same time

each year.

Even if no books make your child's gift wish list, make sure you give at least one,

and encourage them to read it. Find books that focus on your child’s interest.

For example if they ask for a bike, find a book on Lance Armstrong, or a

children's book that includes a bicycle adventure. There are books out there to

suit every interest imaginable–it just takes a little browsing.

Blessings from our Tyrone Elementary school family to yours.

We hope you can spend some time each day during this special time of

year doing something fun and memorable with your children.

It is the policy of the Tyrone Area School District not to discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, race and national origin in its educational and vocational programs, activities, or employment as required by Title IX, Section 504, and Title VI. Please direct questions about tnot to discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, race and national origin in its educational and vocational programs, activities, or employment as required by

Title IX, Section 504, and Title VI. Please direct questions about this policy to Cathy Harlow, Superintendent of Schools, at 814.684.0710 Ext. 4123.

IMPORTANT DATES

November 2014

Nov 26 In Service Exchange:

No School

Nov 27 & 28 Thanksgiving Vacation:

No School

December 2014

Dec 12/01 Buck Day:

No School

Dec 12/23 One-Hour Early Dismissal

Dec 12/24-31 Christmas Vacation:

No School

January 2015

Jan 1 & 2 New Year’s Vacation:

No School

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By: Sarah Ciampoli, 1st Grade Teacher

What’s happening in first grade? The hallway has

been filled with writings and crafts that have to do with

America! The Statue of Liberty was a popular symbol

this month. Did you know her foot is stepping forward

to symbolize the progress that happens in society and

our government? The students read passages, did

research, had a virtual tour, drew her and also

investigated the question-why is she GREEN with a

simple science experiment of a penny, salt, vinegar,

and a wet paper towel.

Mrs. Ciampoli’s class also researched another

American symbol the bald eagle. They researched the

following birds: turkey, bald eagle, and golden eagle.

Their class had a vote to see which would be their

class bird. They had to write a persuasive piece of

writing to attempt to persuade their classmates into

choosing their bird before the big vote.

Mrs. Black’s and Mrs. Whited’s classes have

been learning about Veteran’s Day. Students wrote

cards, made patriotic crafts, and read about the men

and women that sacrifice so much to keep our

freedom.

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With all of the children back together in school, it creates the opportunity for the spread of head lice. The

presence of head lice is a very common occurrence. The primary responsibility for the management and

treatment of head lice belongs with the parents. Please read carefully the following Fact Sheet about head

lice from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

FACT SHEET—HEAD LICE

What are Head Lice? Head lice are tiny wingless insects that live on the head and scalp of people, especially children. They are 1/16 to 1/8 inch in length which is about the size of a sesame seed and vary in color from tan to grey/white.

Remember These Key Points: Anyone can get head lice Lice require blood to live Off the scalp, head lice rarely survive beyond two days Lice crawl very quickly Lice do not jump, fly or hop Lice spread through direct contact, mainly head to head contact Sharing combs, brushes, hats, barrettes, etc. can also spread lice Pets cannot get or spread human head lice Lice is a nuisance but not a health hazard

What are Nits? Nits are lice eggs that are very tiny and difficult to see. They vary in color from yellowish-brown to pearly white and are teardrop shaped.

Additional Key Details: Nits are firmly attached to the hair shaft close to the scalp, at the back of the head, and behind the ears with a waterproof glue-like substance. The glue-like substance is so strong that the nits cannot be washed or flicked off with a fingernail. Nits hatch in 7-10 days and become adult lice in 9-12 days. As long as nits remain alive, head lice can be spread. Nits must be removed daily

What are the Symptoms? Itching, Tickling feeling of something crawling in the hair, Scratch marks or red bite marks behind ears or back of the neck, Irritability and sleeplessness because head lice are active at night

Steps to treat Head Lice: Check every member of the family for live lice and nits / Treat family members who have head lice with a lice-killing product. Products are available at stores that carry hair care products. Ask the pharmacist if you need help in choosing or locating a product. / It is important to follow the label directions on the product EXACTLY. / Remove all lice and nits with either a lice comb or by picking them out. / Check hair everyday for at least 14 days for any missed lice and nits and remove if present. / Repeat treatment according to package directions, usually 7-10 days. / Remind individual not to share combs, hair barrettes, hats, scarves, helmets or coats with other people. / If problems with lice persist, call your health care provider.

Steps to Clean the Home: Wash all pillows, bed sheets, stuffed animals, and clothing that the individual has used in hot water (at least 130 degrees). / Place items in the dryer at the hottest setting for at least 20 minutes. / Dry clean items that cannot be washed. / Place items that cannot be cleaned or run through the dryer (i.e. stuffed animals and toys) in a tightly sealed plastic bad for 10-14 days. / Wash all hair care items (combs, brushes, hair clips, etc.) in hot water (130 degrees) for 20 minutes. / Vacuum the entire house including rugs, furniture, floors, mattresses, and car including car seats to get rid of any hairs that may have viable nits attached. / After all individuals with head lice have been treated and the entire house has been cleaned, then bedding can be reapplied to the beds. / Sprays should not be used in the home. Sprays can be toxic. They are not safe for humans or the environment. Sprays can also be a trigger for individuals with breathing conditions such asthma.

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health; Head Lice: The Facts; www.health.state.pa.us

Important Message From School Nurse—Brenda Cowger, RN

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A Special Message from The Tyrone Elementary School Title 1 Team

Help Us Make a Difference . . .

BE A PART OF THE “GREAT BEDTIME STORY PAJAMA DRIVE!”

Dear Tyrone Elementary Families:

In the spirit of the giving season, Tyrone Elementary School is taking the

opportunity to join with Scholastic Books and a wonderful nonprofit organization-

”Pajama Program “—in giving brand-new pajamas to children living in homeless

shelters. For every pair of new pajamas that our school collects, Scholastic will donate

a brand-new book to help these children have a warm and cozy bedtime.

Since 2009, caring classrooms across the country have donated nearly 350,000

pairs of new P.J.’s to kids in need, while Scholastic Reading Club has matched those

numbers with nearly 700,000 new books. That’s a big WOW!

Our school wants to be a part of this very special drive this holiday season.

Together we can help the “Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive” reach even more

kids with pj’s and books.

If your family is able, please have your child bring a new pair of pajamas to

school during the week of December 8th-12th. Following the morning

announcements each day, children will have the opportunity to drop off their jammies

in the main lobby and receive an official Pajama Program Certificate. We will also

accept monetary donations. We know for some people it is easier to donate money

instead of shopping for pj’s. Please know that any amount is greatly appreciated.

Here are some simple guidelines for the pajamas:

Pajamas must be brand new.

Pajamas in all sizes are needed-from newborn to adult.

Pajamas must be complete sets or nightgowns.

At the conclusion of the Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive, everyone at Tyrone Elementary

School will celebrate and take part in a Pajama Day on Monday, December 22!

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TEACH CHILDREN THE VALUE OF GIVING AND THE POWER OF READING.

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Preschool Celebrates 50th Day

--by: Ms. Ingram, Preschool Teacher

The preschoolers at Tyrone Elementary school recently celebrated their 50th day of school with a 50’s-themed day. Students dressed in 50’s style clothing and attended a “sock hop” where they learned and practiced different dances from this era. It was a fun day full of various activities—they even had milkshakes as a nostalgic 50’s treat! Our preschool students really enjoyed celebrating this special occasion. For this month’s technology tidbit, we recommend families visit the Sheppard Software website

[www.sheppardsoftware.com]—It’s a great resource to use at home for learning letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and animals.

--by PSU student teacher Miss Toub, with Mrs. Sharbaugh, Second Grade Teacher

Students in second grade completed a fun take home project this month. With Thanksgiving coming up students were told they would be working on a project at home where they would be disguising a turkey. The idea was for the students to help the turkeys hide on Thanksgiving! The project was meant to allow the children to be creative so they were encouraged to use many different

materials such as paper, cereal, magazines etc. In addition to creating the turkey in disguise they had to create a writing piece to convince the readers that their project was in deed not a turkey! Some of the questions they were given to write about included, “What is your non-turkeys name?” "How old is your turkey?" and "Where does your non-turkey live?” Students had a lot of fun creating their very own turkey in disguises and are enjoying looking in the hallway at what their peers have created. Here is a picture of some of our second graders creative turkeys in disguise!

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Exploring Art By: Mr. Fernandes, Elementary Art Teacher

Elementary Art students at Tyrone use our classroom as a flying ship of the imagination, finding strange places and

creatures that help us to learn about art.

Recently, first graders were learning about lines at the imaginary line city known as Lineus. Everything in the city

was made of lines, even the people. Students focused on learning about vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines.

They also studied the work of the artist Piet Mondrian. Piet Mondrian used a lot of vertical and horizontal lines in

his work, and sometimes chose to restrict his use of color to just the primary colors (red, yellow, and blue). We

looked at several of his works, but focused on one of his most well-known, Composition with Red, Y ellow, and

Blue. Students created a computer artwork that was influenced by this piece.

We didn’t want to simply copy Mondrian’s work, so students decided what would be similar to his work and what

would be different. They had the option of making the lines in their work vertical and horizontal (like Mondrian)

or diagonal (different). Depending on the choice they made with the lines, students could then choose colors

(different) to fill the spaces with or they could use red, blue, and yellow (like Mondrian) to fill the spaces with.

Be sure to check out our Elementary Art website for more pictures, project information, and resources.

http://taesart.wikispaces.com/

Rolling into Winter with Rocks and Minerals

O ur third graders recently began to study rocks and minerals as part of their science curriculum. Their enthusiasm was evidenced as they took on the

role of geologists to explore where rocks come from and how minerals are used in everyday life. Students tested minerals using lights, streak plates, and water droplets to observe various properties. After reading informational texts, they could identify minerals based on the properties they observed. What great lessons in teamwork, safety, and scientific exploration. When asked what they

enjoyed most about the rocks and minerals unit so far, our students had this to say:

“I really like to look at the rocks because they always look cool”- Andrew Weaver

“I like that you get to learn about these cool rocks. You can teach touch them and they are different shapes.”- Makyra Wachter

“I think the lessons are cool and fun to learn.”- Jade Novak

—from the Third Grade Teaching Team

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Kindergarten has been very busy learning about Community Helpers. At the end of

October, we went on a Community Helper Field Trip. We visited Penn England Farm in

Williamsburg, the Fire Station, Post Office, and Library in Tyrone. At the farm, students visited

the milking parlor, the calf barn, and went on a hayride. The students had a lot of fun and

learned many facts about these Community Helpers.

In November, we invited parent’s to come in and share about their jobs! We learned

from many different parents including: a 911 Dispatcher, a chef, a nurse, a dairy farmer, a

cabinet maker, and an EMT just to name a few! It was great to hear from parents and all

that they do to help our community!

By—Lindsey McCracken, Kindergarten Teacher

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December is a month for good times with family,

enjoyment of the holidays, and making new memories.

It can also be a stressful time, however, with the hustle

and bustle that holidays can bring. From running

around in stores, to making travel plans with family, as

well as the gift giving, it’s no wonder that some people

breathe a sigh of relief when January rolls around! The

guidance department at TAES would like to offer you

some simple, but useful strategies to help you reduce

holiday stress:

Don’t Over Commit - Know that it is okay to say no and don’t agree to too much!

Exercise Daily – Even a 20 minute walk can be stress relieving!

Rest – Take some time to catch up on rest and relaxation

Eat Healthy – Eating healthy contributes to overall mental wellness

Break it Down – Have a huge task on your hands? Break it down into smaller pieces – it will seem more manageable that way!

Talk or journal about your stressors Avoid negativity Be realistic – The holidays don’t have to be perfect! Plan ahead – This will help prevent last-minute

scrambling that adds to stress Create a Budget – Decide ahead of time what you

can and want to spend. Then stick to it. Some alternatives to traditional gift giving may be to give a home-made gift, or start a new tradition of a family gift exchange.

Reducing Holiday

Stress

By—Mrs. Zorger, Guidance Counselor

Wait, Wait!

I’m Not A Turkey! —by: Mrs. Davis, 4th Grade Teacher

When you visit the Elementary building, be

sure to check out the work of our budding

artists! Students in the fourth grade family

adorned the lobby and the Board room with

personalized versions of ‘Tom the Turkey’—

each disguised with its own unique attire in

hopes that it would not be captured for a

Thanksgiving feast.

The students also wrote persuasive writing

pieces to accompany their creations. Pictured

are samples of the turkeys. The kids did a

“turrrkey”rific job on this grade-level project!