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Vol. 4 - Issue 5

February

2011-2012

HARMONY HIGHLIGHTS For Wildcat Families

From the Principal, Anne Marie Keskonis

Dear Harmony Families,

Can you believe it... we are halfway through the school year. Have you taken notice of your child's progress so far? A good rule of thumb is to pay attention to the factors that impact learning and achievement. One of the most important is your child's attitude toward school. Many families kick off the school year by talking to their child and setting firm schoolwork routines at home. By this time of year, many of these schedules and routines become a bit more flexible. If your child tends to be self-motivated and is showing great progress, flexibility can be a good thing. If he or she is faltering, it is time to re-establish that sched-ule and stick to the plan for the remainder of the school year. February 27 and 28 we will have parent conferences. This conversation will be a good opportuni-ty for a verbal check-up with your child and his or her teacher. As parents, it is important to communicate to your child that you take their education very seri-ously. Show them that you are supportive and you believe in his or her abilities to achieve. I am a firm believer that all students can thrive if they take ad-vantage of their educational opportunities. Together, we make a great team that can prepare our students for a very bright future.

Warmly, Anne Marie Keskonis

Wil

dc

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Ho

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Of

Th

e BOOK SWAP

We collected almost 900 books for the book swap this year!

WAY TO GO!

Thank you to Coach Leatherware

Mall Of Georgia for providing volunteers

during this event.

From the Assistant Principal - Emily Keag

Attendance Requirements Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors in school success. A pattern of

absences may put students at risk of not achieving the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) for

their grade level, not feeling a part of daily school activities, or unable to enjoy a consistent rela-

tionship with peers.

Therefore, it is essential that parents are aware of attendance requirements. Certain absences are

necessary and considered to be excused according to state guidelines. They include:

Personal illness or attendance in school endangering a student’s health or the health of others

A serious illness or death in a student’s immediate family requiring absence from school

A court order or an order by a governmental agency

Observation of religious holidays, necessitating absence from school

Conditions making attendance impossible or hazardous to student health or safety as

determined by state/county officials

A student, whose parent or legal guardian is in the U.S. military or the National Guard,

and such parent or legal guardian has been called to duty for (or on leave from)

overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be granted

excused absences, up to a maximum of five school days per year, for the day or days

missed from school to visit with his or her parent or legal guardian prior to deployment or

while on leave.

Please remember if your student is absent from school, you need to send a note to the homeroom

teacher stating the reason for his/her absence. Should the reason be one noted above, your

child’s absence will be marked excused rather than unexcused.

A state truancy law (O.C.G.A. Section 20-2-690.2) defines truant as “any child subject to compul-

sory school attendance who during the school calendar year has more than 5 days of unexcused

absences.” According to the federal No Child Left Behind Act, one factor that determines Ade-

quate Yearly Progress (AYP) is attendance. Students who miss 15 or more days in one school

year (including excused and unexcused absences) not only put themselves at risk academically,

but also put our school at risk for not meeting the attendance requirement of AYP.

In addition, prompt school arrival is also one of the factors of school success. When students are

consistently tardy to school or check out early on a regular basis, they are at risk for missing in-

struction and often spend a significant part of their time trying to catch up.

As always, Harmony administrators and teachers appreciate your support in helping us make the

most of your child’s education at Harmony Elementary. One important way we can achieve this

together is for your child to be present and on time at school every day possible this school year.

Thank you for your support! Emily Keag, AP

Feb 2 Dairy Queen Spirit Night 4:-9:

5th gr. Parent Preview Sexual

Abuse Prevention Lesson (5:30-6:30)

3,4,5 Parent Workshop on Writing (6:-7:pm)

Feb 3 Snow Day Centers (2nd grade) 9:- 12:30

Family Night BINGO (6:15-7:45)

Feb 10 Capital Field Trip (3rd grade) (7:30am– 1:30 pm)

Sybil Deacon Visit (K,1st,2nd)

Feb 11 Laser Tag of Buford Spirit Night

Feb 14 Happy Valentine’s Day

Feb 16 Papa John’s Spirit Night

Feb 17 Student/Staff Holiday (Priority 1 Snow Day) Feb 20 Student/Staff Holiday

(President’s Day)

Feb 21 Subway Spirit Night

Feb 27 EARLY RELEASE 12:45

Feb 28 EARLY RELEASE 12:45

February 2012

From Harmony’s Literacy Team

Word Study - Different Spelling Assignments As a parent, you remember spelling lists which you memorized for a test and then easily forgot. The true goals of Word Study are to understand how words (whole and parts) work together orally and written, integrate reading words and writing words, and generalize from what is known about words to solve unknown words. Today Word Study is about learning skills to be able to use and understand words, not just memorize words. We will answer a FAQ in each Harmony News-letter to help parents become more familiar and comfortable with Word Study. Check out last month’s for the answer to: How are phonics and spelling related? I thought vocabulary was about learning definitions. Has this changed?

As a parent, what differences can I expect from the usual spelling assignments and tests? As we study patterns and roots of words this year, you will see examples of these as part of your child’s word lists. The expectation is for students to be able to read and spell new words containing these patterns or roots. For example, the teacher may send home a word list with two new patterns or roots. The class will partici-pate in a variety of activities in which they read, write, and study some of these words. The teacher may assess for mastery in many dif-ferent ways, all of which are designed to ensure stu-dents know how to read, spell, and understand words with these patterns or roots. On a regular basis, new patterns or roots will be introduced while those previ-ously taught may be included as part of ongoing assessment. Teachers will also monitor writing progress for evidence that your child is applying this new skill as he or she writes.

Bedtime Stories

Bedtime Stories and the Book Swap were a lot of fun! We had a good turnout and everyone enjoyed the stories and books. If you weren't able to come, please plan to join us next year in January.

Book Fair

Our next Book Fair will be March 8 - 16. Please be aware that Scholastic is now requiring us to charge taxes on the books that we sell. As always, you are invited to come with your child when he or she comes to the Book Fair. If you would like to help us dur-ing Book Fair, please call 770-831-4857. Marie Kennedy & Dolores Craven

March Dates to

Post on Calendar:

Mar 8 - 16 Spring Book Fair

Mar 16 School Dance

Mar 22 Science Night

Gwinnett Online Campus – “Goes on the Road” Gwinnett Online Campus is a charter school within the GCPS system. Families who are interested in learning more about the full-time online school for grades 6-12 should look on the web-site ... http://www.gwinnettonlinecampus.com/goc/ The registration window for all full-time students in grades 6 -12 is open from February 1 through February 29, 2012.

Teaching Children about Good Behavior

Parents and Teachers Working Together

As Harmony’s School Counselor, I regularly speak to students about the reasons there are rules at school: (1) to ensure the

safety of staff and students, (2) to create an environment where children can learn and (3) to ensure school is a place where we treat each other with respect. It is im-

portant that students know the expectations of them and that at Harmony, we want our school to be the best possible place for students to learn.

The most important teacher of your child though is you, the parent. Your child loves you and you are your child’s first teacher. It’s important that chil-

dren learn first from parents about appropriate behavior. Here is a tip about teaching children to follow rules at home and at school: Teach children to follow

the rules by creating a process where children learn that their behavior is associated with consequences, good or bad.

Clearly tell children what you expect (your rules) and if they don't respond or re-member, allow a reasonable consequence to follow. When they complain, simply

say, "Not to worry, I'm sure your listening will get better." Parents who run their home this way will get many rewards in the future, as will their children.

Parents who use warnings and threats when their child misbehaves soon may

have children that ignore them and others such as their teachers. Kids who ig-nore the advice of teachers soon fall behind in school. But why should they lis-

ten to others? They don't have to listen to their parents.

It's easy and convenient to threaten in the hopes that it will work. And occasion-ally it actually does. With an occasional payoff, we are tempted to continue to play the game. Unfortunately, kids usually learn to ignore hollow threats.

To add to the problem, kids don't win in the long run. They become conditioned

to either require more and larger threats, or they learn to simply ignore us. What a shock it must be for kids who grow up like this to discover that their bosses

don't give a lot of reminders and warnings. Remember, the important reason we use consequences in life is because we love our children and want them to be able to handle the real world and be successful and happy as grown-ups. WARNING! It’s

Not Always Easy! But the payoff is enormous!

As always, if you have personal, social, academic concerns or any other concern that you need to discuss, please contact me at school. School Counselors work to support

children, teachers and parents so that students reach their highest potential. tina_byrne@gwinnett.k12.ga.us 770-271-4891

I am available to meet with you upon request

Check out my website at http://www.harmonywildcats.org/ Click on Counselor Info Tina Byrne, M.Ed. School Counselor

Counselor’s Corner

Students in Kindergarten - 3rd grade at Harmony have been hav-

ing a blast playing instruments, hearing stories, singing, moving, dancing, and ice skating to winter songs! YEP, you read that right! We went "ice skating" in Central Park! Here's a picture!

We also learned some really cool songs about Martin Lu-ther King, Jr. We are looking forward to learning about the instruments of the orchestra, and many more fun top-ics in February!

Students in 4th and 5th grade are finishing up Recorder Karate! Stu-dents need to practice a lot at home these last few weeks because we will be done with recorders soon! Wonder which class can earn the most black belts in Recorder?!!! Ms. Hower

The new year is a busy one in the art classroom. We are finishing up some "Star Clown" paintings in Kindergar-

ten and getting ready to get down and

dirty with some clay as we make me-dallions with the student initials on them. First grade has been studying

the art of Piet Mondrian who invented a style of art know as "Neoplacticism." Ask your child to tell you the characteristics and re-strictions of this type of art. Second grade has

learned to draw with black glue and are prac-ticing blending techniques as they add pastels to their designs. Third,

fourth and fifth grades are putting

some finishing touches on some fiber arts where we have been learning how to stitch. Zane Brock

Physical Education Greetings! Hopefully this finds you and your family doing well and coming off a very enjoy-able winter break. We have been working on our floor hockey unit with 3rd - 5th grades throughout January and will be finishing up in February with some modified games. We will also begin

our soccer unit with 3-5 this month. We have been work-ing through a gymnastics unit with Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades. In Febru-

ary, we will be finishing up gymnastics and starting a soccer unit as well.

Attention: Please be on the lookout for Field Day t-shirt forms to go home in February. Students will have rough-ly 2 weeks to submit their money AND their form to Mr. Corley. PLEASE NOTE: For organizational purposes, MEALPAY WILL NOT be accepted for Field Day t-shirts. Thanks in advance for your understanding. Cam Corley

Reminder: CRCT on-line testing is now available. Web site is

https://georgiaoas.org/servlet/a2l . Your child’s teacher sent home the

log-in IDs in Friday folders before Christmas 2011 and Jan 20, 2012.

Everyone’s password is learnit.

There are 2 types of tests available. All tests are created from the same

database of test items.

CRCT On-line Practice Testing

Student Tests are tests created by the

state. There are tests for each subject area.

Each test is about 25 questions.

Teacher-Assigned Tests are tests created

by the county, school, or teacher and as-

signed to students. There are multiple 10

question tests for each domain/strand of

each subject area for each grade level.

Encourage Creativity

FOCUS NEWS

SCAMPER is an excellent classroom activity which encourages students to think creatively. As par-ents you can also use SCAMPER at home with your children. In this activity the student looks at an object and develops original ideas about the object and differ-ent uses of the object. SCAMPER is an acronym which helps direct students in this process.

Substitute some aspect of the object Combine elements of the object with something else Adapt or alter an aspect of the object Maximize, modify, or minimize an aspect of the object Put some part of the object to other uses Eliminate or elaborate an aspect of the object Reverse or rearrange an aspect of the object

Vicky Arnette

Harmony Clinic

Kids Need Clean Hands!

Clinic

Is Open

You can help your children avoid getting sick by

insisting that they wash their hands properly

and frequently. To get kids into the habit,

teach by example. Wash your hands with your

children and supervise their hand washing.

Place hand washing reminders at your childs

eye level. Make sure the sink is low enough for

children to use, or place a stool

underneath so they can reach it.

Tell your children to wash their

hands for as long as it takes them

to sing their ABCs, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

or the “Happy Birthday” song. This works espe-

cially well with younger children, who may rush

when washing their hands. Prima Simmons

HARMONY MATH NEWS

Math in Your Home Your home is full of opportunities to explore math with your

child and, at the same time, build his or her self-confidence and understanding of mathe-

matical ideas. This is a chance for you and your child to "talk math". That is, to communi-

cate about math while discovering relationships between numbers. Being able to describe

mathematical patterns and relationships, such as those between "addition and subtraction"

or "odd and even numbers," is important to later success in math. An understanding of math

and a sense that math is enjoyable will help children develop skills that they will need for

success their entire lives. Try these activities at home.

Tracking Time Supplies: Clock or watch, newspaper, blank paper, and graph paper (can be hand-drawn) What to do:

Together with your child, keep track of the time he or she spends watching television

as well as doing homework. Make a table listing the 7 days of 1 week. Keep two col-

umns, one for television and one for homework. At the end of the week, see if to-

gether you can make a graph comparing the two different activity columns.

While watching television, make a chart showing how much time in every hour is used

for commercials compared to how much time is used for the actual show. Do this for

every half-hour of television you watch. Then make a bar or

pie chart showing the two amounts. Time the minutes care-

fully.

Together with your child, keep track of how he or she spends time

in one 24-hour period: time spent sleeping, eating, playing, reading,

and going to school. Measure a strip of paper that is 24 inches

long. Let each inch represent 1 hour. Color in the number of hours

for each activity, using a different color for each activity. When

finished, make the strip into a circle and place it on a blank piece

of paper. Trace around the circle. Then make lines from the center of the circle to the end

of each color. Your child has just made a circle (pie) chart of how he or she spends 24

hours. Compare this with how other people in your family spend their time.

Parent Pointer

Statistics includes collecting information, analyzing it, and describing or presenting

the findings in an organized way.

These activities are from math.com. Check out this website for more

ideas and activities that you can do at home.