FEBRUARY 2014 VOLUME 7

Principals Corner
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Parent Involvement Survey Your child recently brought home a notice regarding the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) parents survey. The results will be used to determine how well your child's school is communicating with you and promoting engagement in your child's education. Your opinion matters! Make your voice heard! The web-based survey opened on January 13, 2014 and remains active until March 21, 2014. You can complete the survey online for each child enrolled in the Medford Public Schools. Web address is: http://maparentcohort2.com Please contact Ms. Kay if you want to access to a computer at the Columbus to complete this survey.

field test experience. The Columbus Elementary School has been randomly selected to participate in the End-of-Year Assessment (EOY), computer-based format, with our fourth grade. For the EOY, students will demonstrate their acquired skills and knowledge by answering machine-scorable questions. The two, randomly selected, 4th grade classes chosen to take this assessment are Mrs. DiPersios and Mr. Platis classes. This EOY Assessment is scheduled to take place on May 19th and 20th. Each session will be approximately 85 minutes. Your childs teacher will send home more information as the testing window approaches.

Columbus News

COLUMBUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 37 HICKS AVENUE, MEDFORD, MA 02155

PTO, Enrichment Committee is planning for the next session of After School Clubs. They need your input! Please send ideas and suggestions for workshops to EC Chair - April Watkins-Doeg at watkinsdoeg@gmail.com If you have any talents/hobbies you can share with a small group of students, we need your help. Also if you know any local organizations or other parents willing to lead a club, please inform Mrs. Watkins-Doeg. Bonus: Your child attends for free if you are a parent volunteer! Also please remember, volunteers at an after-school club or those who chaperone a field trip need to submit a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) form with the school. Please request a copy of the form from your child's teacher or at the front office. Kathleen Kay kkay@medford.k12.ma.us

WWW.MEDFORD.K12.MA.US

PARCC Assessment Field Test

The primary purpose of the PARCC Field Test is to evaluate test items (i.e., test questions) and tasks among different sample groups of students. Information from this administration will be used for scoring and scaling studies, other research studies, and for constructing operational test forms. The Field Test will produce no results for individuals, schools, or Local Education Agencies (LEAs). The PARCC Field Test will include two separate test administration windows. The first window will be for administration of the Performance-Based Assessment (PBA) component and the second window will be for administration of the End-of-Year (EOY) component. Both components will be administered in paper-based and computer-based formats. As a Race to the Top school district, Medford Public Schools are required to participate in this

* IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS * TELEPHONE : 781.393.2177 * FAX : 781.393.2187 * NURSE : 781.393.2175 * ABSENCE LINE: 781.393.3503

February 5 February 6

Early Release Day, 1:30am Dismissal Kindergarten Parent/Teacher Conference Night, by appointment February 11 Dental Program - Kindergarten & Grade 1 February 12 Release Day, 1:30am Dismissal February 14 Happy Valentines Day! Spirit Day - Random Acts of Kindness - Perform a Random Act of Kindness for another. Bring Food for the Food Pantry School Store Fund Raiser Kicks Off February 17-21 NO SCHOOL Winter Vacation February 24 School Resumes Scholastic Book Fair - Sneak Peek Preview, Columbus School, 6:00pm-8:00pm February 25 School Council Meeting, 7:00pm, Columbus Conference Room February 25-27 Scholastic Book Fair - Students will attend with their teacher State mandated ACCESS and MCAS Assessments have been scheduled. Please keep these dates in mind when scheduling appointments: ELL - ACCESS Assessments: February 2014 ENGLISH ARTS MCAS Assessments: 4th Grade ELA Composition - March 18th, 5th Grade ELA March 20th & 21st , 4th Grade ELA March 24th & 25th, 3rd Grade ELA - March 27th & 28th, 4th Grade ELA Composition (Make-Up Date) - March 27th. SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY MCAS Assessment: 5th Grade - May 6th & 7th. MATH MCAS Assessments: 4th Grade MATH May 8th & 9th, 5th Grade MATH May 12th & 13, 3rd Grade MATH - May 15th & 16th. PARCC Field Test Assessments - Mrs. DiPersios & Mr. Platis Classes ONLY May 19th & 20th
FEBRUARY Page 2

BOOK

REVIEWS
Valentine's Day Disaster (Geronimo Stilton #23) by Geronimo Stilton. Ages 7 and up. Enter the world of Geronimo Stilton, where another funny adventure is always right around the corner. Each book is a fast-paced adventure with lively art and a unique format kids 7-10 will love. It was Valentine's Day in New Mouse City, and I couldn't wait to celebrate! I had sent valentine cards to all my friends and family members.

But when I opened my mailbox on the morning of February 14th, it was empty! Had everyone forgotten about me? Was I destined to spend Valentine's Day alone in my mousehole, sobbing, with only my pet fish to console me? It was starting to look like a true Valentine's Day disaster! ~ Review from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/799804.Valentine_s_Day_Disaster

Where Do Presidents Come From?: And Other Presidential Stuff of Super Great Importance, by Michael Townsend. Ages 8 12. From the author of the popular Amazing Greek Myths of Wonder (Dial, 2010) comes another educational book in graphic-novel format. Covering political history from the mid-1700s to the present day, this brightly colored volume uses humor and fast-paced panels to teach readers about how the office of the presidency was formed. At the start of the book, there is some (slightly superfluous) "pre-content content" designed to hook youngsters and prepare them for what they are about to learn. Topics include "How Does a President Get Elected?," "What Do Presidents Actually Do?, and "Why Is the White House So Awesome?" Fun, cartoon illustrations work with the text to provide clarity and additional information, and frequent text boxes highlight important facts. There is no index, making the book less a research tool than a pleasure read, but it is so chockfull of interesting tidbits and anecdotes that kids will no doubt find it useful to supplement their American history studies. An engaging and informative addition to most collections.-Rita Meade, Brooklyn Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.
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Museum Treasure Hunt

A trip to a museum may be part of your to do list in the winter vacation days ahead. Museums are educational, but can also be a strain on younger children. If your child cannot read, or is struggling with advanced reading, a treasure hunt can be a great way to ease the strain and introduce them to the cultural and educational lessons museums have to offer. If possible, choose a museum that isnt too far from home. Gather information from the Internet or library. Make a checklist of each item that you will search for in the museum and give a copy to your child (ren.) Add symbols and signs so the hunt is easy for younger children. Check off each item as it is found, and continue until all are located. Implementing a treasure hunt can be done in five easy steps:

lightning, a handicap entrance, etc.;

Take the kids to the museum; Enjoy the hunting and learning! Kids will learn about the museum in more ways than you could imagine if you have a plan before you arrive.

Pick a museum to visit; for example, the Science Museum;

Gather information and familiarize yourself with the After completing the hunt, museum. relax, discuss and share the www.google.com is a good rewards! place to start; Plan a treasure hunt list. For example, include items such as rocks from the center of the earth, the name of a scientist, art created by a child, a clay pottery object, the discovery of

Tips for Finding More Time

Some people seem to fit more things into a day than the rest of us. No, they havent found a way to stop the clock - theyve just learned to use their time more efficiently. Here are some ways you can get control of your time: USE TIME IN THE CAR WITH CHILDREN of any age, or even bath time with young children, to squeeze in a little more learning. Of course, your child cant read library books in the tub but he can repeat addition facts. He cant write an essay in the car - but he can talk about what hes going to write or perhaps review spelling words. SET PRIORITIES. Decide what is really important to you then consciously decide how to spend your time. Make sure decisions reflect what matters. Given a choice between cooking a fancy dinner or reading with your child, order a pizza and read the book. SPEND ONE-ON-ONE TIME. Kids need both quality and quantity time. But, theres nothing like spending time alone with a parent to make a child feel special. Every week, make an appointment to spend some alone time with each child. Get out your calendar and write it in. Treat that appointment as seriously as you would an important business meeting. REMEMBER THE 80/20 RULE. Businesses often use something they call the 80/20 rule. Simply stated, it means that 80 percent of the results of any job come from just 20 percent of the effort. Use this rule as you decide how to spend your time.