CSA’S Corner: A Message from Dr. Maranzano November 18, 2016

LEBANON BOROUGH SCHOOL“Where great things are happening”

Wildcat Broadcast

Acceptance, Tolerance, and Diversity in Schools

(From The Quotable Teacher, R. Howe, 2003

From time to time I find myself counseling children on what appears abundantly obvious to educational leaders and teachers, but so elusive to a developing child:  The need to appreciate others and celebrate our differences.  Everyone brings gifts to the table of learning and in my opinion to recognize the attributes of others without prejudice or criticism is key.  Children need us to model good behaviors and praise them when they do good things.  Likewise, when children make bad choices it is our responsibility to correct these actions.  The following excerpt from The Quotable Teacher I believe is worth examining and considering.

“The Miracle Worker, Anne Sullivan, once said that, ‘The highest result of education is tolerance.’  Would you expect anything less from a special education teacher?  Tolerance is a lofty yet attainable goal; the rung that sits, I would imagine, just above love on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.  At its best, tolerance is a knowledge of others that can lead to a greater knowledge of self.  At its worst, a sympathetic smile.

The learning starts at home and continues as children grow out of the egocentric stage; as they become capable of not just acknowledging others but of helping them.  Very little, though, can be tolerated without first being understood.  This is where the teaching comes in.

The development of self-esteem is to the well-being of the individual as an understanding of diversity is to the well-being of a society.  The person that cares for her or himself, just as she cares for others, is more than empathetic.  She has learned acceptance. This is just one type of knowledge that we, as teachers, try to impart.

People also need wisdom and vocational skills to complement this altruism.  Without math, we would live in huts instead of houses. Without science, we would not understand the weather or how to vaccinate.  Without reading and writing, I would be telling stories to only those within earshot.  And without social studies, we would be even more susceptible to the adage of history repeating itself. Without the arts, without physical education, without foreign languages…

Without teaching, there can be no learning.  And without learning, there can be no advancement; not for individuals and not for society as a whole.”

The interconnectedness and collaboration of all people and all societies on this planet will determine the quality of life our children will experience when they become adults.  This is good reason to teach them such valuable and important lessons every day of the year.

Dr. Charles Maranzano, CSA

Lebanon Borough School

MAIN OFFICE MEMOTO: LBS FAMILIES FROM: MRS. DRISCOLLWednesday November 23rd is a 12:45 dismissal. Thursday November 24th and Friday November 25th

, school is closed! Enjoy the holiday!! I hope to see you at the Tricky Tray tonight!

Regards,Mrs. Driscoll

NURSE’S NEWS:

As colds, flu and other illnesses may occur during the school year, there are some simple things we all can do to stop the spread of germs. Here are some recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick. Cover your cough and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not

available, use alcohol-based hand rub. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home,

work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

For more info:www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/prevention/index.htmlwww.cdc.gov/flu/protect/stopgerms.htmlMrs. K

PTA News:PTA Hot Lunch Wednesday November 30th

Tricky Tray Tonight! Doors open at 6:45.

STUDENT COUNCIL

Please find your poinsettia and wreath order forms in your Friday folders. All orders MUST be in by Wednesday, November 30! We cannot accept any orders after this date. Thank you for your support!

Mrs. Dulovich & Mrs. Sarnoski

LEBANON BOROUGH SCHOOLClassroom News

PRE-SCHOOL : This week in Pre-School….In preschool our themes have been colors/color mixing and Farm.  In the early birds we shared things that were our favorite colors, we read Harold and the purple crayon and made drawings with purple crayons like Harold. We read the book Pumpkin Soup and mixed yellow and red food coloring in water to make our own “Pumpkin Soup” then we continued to mix colors to see what other colors we could make. During farm week we read farm themed books, listened to a video about tractors and a farm counting song. We began to learn about letter H and number 4. In the late birds we did a walking water experiment to see the colors mix in cups, we finger painted a color wheel showing the primary colors and what they make when they are mixed together.  During farm week we talked about the machines on the farm and what foods come from the farm (milk from cows, eggs from chickens, wheat from seeds).  We have been playing matching games during our units. We also learned the letter H and the sound it makes, and the numbers 4 and 5.

Ms. Anderson & Ms. Snedeker

KINDERGARTEN:We learned about Veteran's Day and how lucky we are to live in a country with so many freedoms! The children were so excited to meet the veterans that came to visit for our assembly and also see the ones that we Skyped! We are also busy learning about the first Thanksgiving, and comparing how life then and now can be the same and very different!

In reading, we are continuing to discuss how are animals and plants unique by reading non-fiction texts, Flowers and Nature Spy. We learned that non-fiction texts have different features than fiction books.

In math, we have wrapped up chapter 4 and will begin to learn about and understand addition! By the end of kindergarten the children need to know their addition and subtraction facts up to five, so we will begin practicing this on a regular basis.

Mrs. BaldoniFIRST GRADE:First grade has been busy learning about various holidays that we celebrate in the United States. So far we have learned about Ramadan and Diwali. For Ramadan, we learned that the fasting and praying lasts for an entire month following the cycle of the moon. It is followed by a big celebration with food and family and fun! We made our own “Ramadan moons” for the classroom. For Diwali we made Diya lamps, which people light at Diwali – a holiday also known as the Festival of Lights. We learned that during Diwali people decorate their homes and go to a shrine to pray. Like Ramadan, Diwali is celebrated with food, family and fun! We Next week we will be learning about the origins of Thanksgiving – Mr. Borzelli is coming in to talk with the class about what their family does for this very American holiday. Next month we will learn about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas!Mrs. Petty

SECOND GRADE:This week in second grade… In second grade we have been reading and writing about how people in history have worked with others for change. The students chose one of those people to write a biography about. They began reading stories about that person and organizing facts into a word web and then writing a short biography about the person they chose. The class was excited to present their Native American shelter projects. They all did a terrific job!! I’m very proud of their work. Thanks for your support at home with this project!

~Mrs. Adamaitis~

THIRD GRADE:In third grade….Where do multiplication problems eat breakfast? At times tables! I couldn't resist, because it’s all about multiplication in 3rd Grade!  We are continuing with repeated addition concepts, such as skip counting on a number line, designing bar models, and writing word problems that reflect adding equal groups. We are also connecting multiplication to area measurement. In Social Studies we learned all about the national elections. We created election year timelines, learned the pros-cons of being a President of the USA, we “registered to vote”, and held a mock election with class ballots. We also read a lovely story that opened our eyes to life and culture in Tanzania, Africa and compared it to our life in N.J. This week in reading we have focused on Emperor Penguins and how their structure helps them solve some extreme situations in the Antarctic. In writing we finished beautiful narrative pieces on our favorite season, and wrote heartfelt "Thank you's" to Veterans near and far. We also had a wonderful visit with our Senior Friends. We shared an American Sign Language holiday song, we read to them, and made adorable turkeys for them to decorate their Thanksgiving table with.~Mrs. Corradi~

FOURTH GRADE:This week in fourth grade….How is November flying by so quickly?? We are so busy learning, exploring, creating and problem solving that some days we forget to even change the calendar!

I am sure your student has shared with you the outcome of our read aloud, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. If you have not read this book, you should! It is such a touching book with several great themes. Your student will be able to share with you what themes we feel were present in the story and why. We are also craving for more so we plan on writing a persuasive essay (when we get to that unit) to the author! Meanwhile, each student created a trailer using imovie...our goal was to hook a reader to read the book by giving a sneak peak of the problem, main characters and the themes of the story. What until you see them!

Also in ELA, we have been practicing our comprehension skills with our weekly stories. Students are doing such a great job with finding evidence in the text to help them respond. We continue to work on using R.A.C.E when responding and we will be displaying and editing various sample responses to continue to do so. Additionally, we have just started learning about expository texts (texts that explain) and are learning how to write a 5 paragraph essay with a thesis statement! Wow!In Math, we are halfway through Chapter 3. We will have a Chapter test later in the week after Thanksgiving. We have started a Math Notebook. It will come home with your student each night to assist in Math HW and/or studying. In it we putting in sample problem, notes for reminders, vocabulary, etc. I think it will be a wonderful resource in addition to the reteach packet for each chapter. Students will need it each day, though, so it must travel back and forth with the Take Home Folder.We are immersed in a group project in Science about a system of the Human Body. Students are working on creating a graphic organizer, a poster displaying a model for reference and a Keynote presentation to teach the class about the System they are in charge of. The students are using our text as their guide and working together to extract notes and then create a product. We will then begin studying and practicing for a Science Test on this unit. Vocabulary cards and a study guide will come home shortly.(We will be transitioning to Social Studies once our Science projects are complete.)Have a great weekend and a restful Thanksgiving filled with making new memories with your families!

Mrs. Lawn

FIFTH GRADE:This week in fifth grade….The Fifth graders and I really enjoyed our Veterans Day program last week! We were honored by the presence of several local veterans, we enjoyed Skyping with a first grader’s father stationed in Qatar, and then something that really touched my heart---we Skyped with my son who is currently deployed in Mosul, Iraq. He very much enjoyed ‘seeing’ the students waving to him and talking to him. He took us on a tour of his living quarters and introduced us to some members of his team. This mama was happy! The students were all so kind and respectful, and a really good audience for all of our veterans!

It was wonderful meeting with parents during parent-teacher conferences. It is rare to have the opportunity to really connect and talk, and it’s always so helpful to hear about the students from the people who know them best! Today we completed Math assessment for Chapter 3, which began our study of decimals. The next chapter will continue with decimals and includes multiplying and dividing. In Reading, we just completed a wonderful story called “The Chi’-Lin Purse”. It is a Chinese folk tale with a wonderful theme/message. The students all seemed to enjoy it. It’s one of my personal favorites from the entire Reading book! I think your child would be happy to tell you something about the story if you ask! I hope you and your families have a wonderful Thanksgiving next week! I am thankful for being a part of the LBS community, for my family, and for all the things we enjoy in our wonderful country!

~Mrs. Gamberzky~

SIXTH GRADE:Thank you for attending Parent-Teacher Conferences. It was a pleasure speaking with all of you. Please make sure to check student’s agenda or google classroom daily for homework assignments! The student council did a wonderful job helping with The Veteran's Assembly!

In ELA, we read The Emperor’s Silent Army, and currently reading Stones, Bones, and Petroglyphs. We started a research project where students received a chance to pick an important/interesting person in history. They are to create an outline, cover page, 2 page typed paper, cite sources, and give a presentation using Google Slides.

In Science, we finished up Energy and just started talking about Electricity and Magnetism. Students have their current event projects due 11/18.

In Math, we finished Chapter 2 on Multiplying and Dividing Fractions. We will begin Chapter 3 which is Rational Numbers. We reviewed how to plot on a coordinate plane which will help us with determining Distance on the Coordinate Plane.

Enjoy your holiday break Nov 24-27!

~Mrs. Gibbs

SPECIAL AREA TEACHER UPDATE(S)

SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT SERVICES-Students have been so busy using logical thinking, problem-solving, and team-working skills in Enrichment, Technology, and A.T.!

In Enrichment, we continue to work on coding skills – they have learned and used the concepts of sequencing, looping, conditions (if…then), and de-bugging (finding a mistake and fixing it). I often have them working in pairs or small groups to share ideas and work cooperatively. The students in grades 1-6 have been using the app Scratch Jr. to code their own program, making characters move and talk, changing settings, and then sharing them with the class. They are super-coders!!! The

kindergarten students have been using Code-a-Pillar to learn basic coding concepts. PreK used the app RelationShapes and Ask Me to learn about shapes.

Before Election Day, I taught a lesson on Women and the Vote to grades 3-6, then took the fourth grade class with me across the street to vote. The voting process was explained to them as I was going through it, and they all understood the historical changes – from my grandmothers who couldn’t vote, to this historical election where a woman was running for President. Amazing!

In Technology, I enrolled all students in a math app called Front Row. They all signed up, took a pre-test, and began working on the math skills currently being taught in class. It’s an independent activity, which measures the student’s math ability and progresses at their own level, even teaching them higher-level concepts through imbedded videos. Students can also log in at home with their class code (ask your child’s teacher for this). Besides being a great educational tool, the students are all really enjoying this app! We will continue to use it all year. We continue to use the apps Typing Fun and Tap Typing to practice keyboarding skills.

In A.T., both groups are using Legos to enhance their learning. Grades 5-6 have finished their travel posters on European landmarks, and are beginning to build their Lego models of Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Trevi Fountain, and Leaning Tower of Pisa. Grades 3-4 have been making physics projects with Legos, following directions and completing simple machines.

I continue to enjoy working with students in all grades either in-class or in small groups in my room. I’ve been working with students on phonics, spelling and grammar, research and writing, and math skills. The needs of the classes might vary by subject, as well as day-to-day, but I’m always available to work with teachers as well as students to help everyone reach his/her potential!

Sue Ellen Turner

HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Please Check Mrs. Zanet’s website for updates on Health and P.E

MUSICMusic Notes from Mrs. Thompson The Winter concert is scheduled for Thursday December 15th at 7:00pm. The concert will include the 5th and 6th grade band followed by an all school musical revue entitled “Once On A Housetop”. The theme of the show features chimney sweeps, who will be hired to clean the neighborhood chimneys. While doing their jobs of cleaning the chimneys in the neighborhood, they will learn about many of the holidays that are celebrated in December. Each week, the students will learn songs and dances to that will be performed in this show. The students in 5th and 6th grade will need their instruments Every Monday and Friday. The band will rehearse on Monday afternoons and lessons will be held on Fridays. The students in the 4th grade are off to a good start with learning their new instruments. Their lessons will be every Friday. Anyone who still needs help with obtaining an instrument, please feel free to contact me dthompson@lebanonschool.org so that I can answer any questions you may have about the instrument rental programs available. Please encourage your child to practice about 20 minutes per day. Practicing at home is necessary for success in playing a musical instrument. Also, please remind your child to bring his/her instruments to school each week.

ARTSUCH TALENT at LBS….!

Please check out Mrs. Koop’s web page for regular updates!

~Mrs. Koop~