2015

From Mrs. Matz

Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year at Fostoria Intermediate! The

Intermediate staff has truly enjoyed these past couple of weeks welcoming
students back to school and preparing to provide them with the promise of a
quality education.
I would like to share one major change in the area of curriculum and
instruction we have made for the 2015-2016 school year our district is
implementing the McGraw-Hill Everyday Math 4 math series for all students
K-6. This new series is based on the Common Core standards. Part of the
change is that all students now have access to both their Everyday Math and
Reading Wonders textbooks and assignments online. If you do not have
internet access at home please be sure to notify your childs teacher so that
they may supply a hard textbook as needed. All students should have
received a login for their Connect Ed account.
I would like to recognize the important role that parents play in the
education of their children and the need for an active partnership between
home and school. I encourage you to be an active participant in your childs
education. Please assist us by reviewing school work daily, staying in contact
with teachers, joining our Elementary P.T.O., or volunteering whenever
possible. If you have not yet returned your volunteer form, please consider
doing so as we would like to begin contacting our volunteers soon!

Important Dates
9/2 Fundraiser Kickoff
9/7 No School
9/9 Parent Technology Night
9/15 Fall Pictures
9/16 Fundraiser Ends
9/18 Midterms Home
9/21 PTO Meeting @ 6:45p
10/5 Camp Willson Meeting (6th gr.)
10/19 PTO Meeting @ 6:45p
10/20 Trick or Treat BINGO
10/22 Fundraiser Delivery
10/26 Red Ribbon Week Begins
10/27 Picture Retakes
10/28-10/30 6th Grade Camp

Follow Us
Communication between home and school is an
essential component in childrens education. The
Intermediate School offers several options for you to
keep up to date with the happenings in our building. If
you have not already liked our Facebook page
Fostoria Intermediate School I encourage you to do
so! This page is regularly updated with important
information and pictures! I will also continue to use
Remind and encourage all students and parents to
sign up for notifications. Remind is a free, safe, and
simple messaging tool that helps schools share
important updates and reminders with students &
parents. Subscribe by text, email or using the Remind
app. All personal information is kept private. You can
join via SMS by texting 937-595-0684 the correct
class code in the message based on your child(ren)s
grade level (@fiesgrade3 @fiesgrade4 @fiesgrade5
@fiesgrade6 ). To join via email send a message
based on your childs grade to @mail.remind.com
(ex: fiesgrade3@mail.remind.com). You may leave the
subject blank. If you have questions or concerns
please do not hesitate to contact me!

New Assessments

The Ohio Department of Education will

develop new tests in mathematics and
English language arts for 2015-2016. The
department will use its existing contract
with the American Institutes for Research
(AIR). AIR currently provides Ohios science
and social studies tests. The new tests will
be:
-administered online
-shorter than those given last school year
-given during one testing window
-given during the second half of the school
year, close to the end of the school year
-approximately three hours and will be
divided into two parts.
- grade 3 English language arts test will be
given the week of Dec. 7.

Focus onThe
Seven Habits

Habit #1
Be Proactive- You are in Charge
What this means:
Take charge of your own life. Make it
happen. Don't wait for someone else to
do it.
How can I do this in my life?
1. If you do something wrong, say you
are sorry before someone asks you to
apologize.
2. When you get mad and want to say
something mean or rude, stop, think, and
ask yourself- Why am I getting so angry?
Make a good choice in a good way.

Habit #2
Begin with the End in Mind- Have a Plan
What this means:
Have a mission, a clear sense of where
you want to go. Think about the end firsthow are you going to get there?
How can I do this in my life?
1. Write down your goals. It is said that "A
goal not written is only a wish".
2. Lay out your clothes for tomorrow the
night before.
3. Write down 3 goals you want to
accomplish.

We will be par?cipa?ng in two dierent ways to earn cash and

prizes for our school. We will be collec?ng both Box Tops and
Labels for Educa?on (formerly Campbells Soup Labels). Just
clip Box Top coupons from hundreds of par?cipa?ng products
and send them to school. Box Tops coupons are worth 10
each when our school redeems them from Box Tops for
Educa?on. Labels for Educa?on allows us to earn materials and
equipment for our school. Simply place the coupons/labels in
an envelope or baggy with your childs name and teacher on it
and turn it in to your childs teacher. Please turn them in
separately, as these are being turned in to dierent
organiza?ons.

We would like to take the time to tell you about some exciting new things we will be
doing this year. As you may have already noticed, there are some new things to see
and some new words you may have heard. We are proud to say that we are now a
Leader in Me school. What exactly does that mean? The Leader in Me provides our
schools with the vision and language to lead the schools in a way that addresses all
areas of development. As each child discovers and develops his/her unique gifts and
talents, they are given opportunities to lead. As leaders, they become active, engaged
partners in their own education and their self-confidence, responsibility, and initiative
grows. The children quickly understand the benefits of different gifts and talents; they
learn to listen to new ideas, work together to achieve results, and motivate one
another to be their best. We look forward to sharing these new opportunities with you.
Together, we will watch each and every child grow throughout the year. If you would like
to learn more about The Leader in Me, you can go to www.theleaderinme.org. Please
watch for more information coming regarding what the 7 Habits are and how we are
incorporating them into Fostoria Intermediate School!

Elementary PTO

Picture Day

Please join us! We invite all PreK-6 parents to become

involved in their childs Parent Teacher Organiza?on. The
Elementary PTO meets regularly following the monthly Board
of Educa?on mee?ng held at FJSHS. The PTO mee?ngs begin
at 6:45pm and will last about an hour.

Picture Day: Tuesday, September 15

Picture Day ID:KR505031Y0
Simplify Picture Day by ordering online
at mylifetouch.com.
Students must be dressed in Campus
Wear for Fall Pictures!

Books to Support The Seven Habits

Habit #1- Be Proac0ve:
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
Just the Way I Am by Sean Covey
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad
Day by Judith Viorst
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
The LiAle Engine that Could by WaQy Piper
Amazing Grace by Mary Homan

Habit #2- Begin with the End in Mind:

The BFG by Roald Dahl
When I Grow Up by Sean Covey
Click Clack Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
LiAle Bunny on the Move by Peter McCarty
The School Story by Andrew Clements
Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto