Jefferson Elementary School
140 Horse Plain Road, New Britain, CT 06037 860.223.8007
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From the FLIGHT DECK
Miss Hill, Proud Principal w Mrs. Amenta, Secretary
Oh My Goodness!! The first few months of school have flown by so quickly!
We are so thankful to have the best students in the whole city attending our
school! We know that your children are working hard to meet and exceed
their goals and for this we are so proud! FAMILIES – please remember it is
very important to support learning at home during the Winter Break while
school is not in session! MATH FACTS are a must along with taking the time
to READ EVERY DAY/NIGHT! This will help your children reach their goals
and prepare for future learning! We are looking forward to our second leg of
Flight 2015-16 with great anticipation! Please remember, your children will
have the opportunity to ‘show what they know’ during our Winter NWEA
Assessments, just around the corner scheduled for the end of January.
Thank you all for attending school events and for volunteering your time to
make our school the ‘happiest place on earth’ for our students! Wishing you
and your family a Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday, a fun Winter Break & A
Happy New Year! See you all back at school soon!
Q t Kindergarten
Miss Dulla w Mrs. Lighty w Mrs. Morello (ELD) wMiss Staufer
Hello from the kindergarten team! In language arts, we continue to practice
letter sounds and sight words. Please ask your child what words he or she
has learned at home. uIn math, we have begun addition and subtraction
fluency using strategies such as counting on our fingers. Help your child
practice this important skill at home! uOver the holiday break, continue
reading with your child every day! Check your child's folder for activities that
will keep them learning over the holiday break! Happy Holidays!
Q u FIRST GRADE
Mrs. Dastoli w Mrs. Dufresne w Mrs. Lucas (ELD)
In Grade 1, the students continue to improve their ability to independently read
fiction and non-fiction text. They have identified the main idea and details of a
reading, as well as discussed why an author wrote a particular story. During
vacation, please have your child practice reading and talking about stories. uIn
Math, students have been solving story problems using math mountains, circle
drawings and equations. Practicing addition and subtraction math facts every
day is an important way to help your child be successful in math.
Q v SECOND GRADE
Mrs. Casasanta w Mrs. Esernia w Miss Kamens (ELD) w Miss Reis
Happy holidays! We hope that you enjoy the time with your loved ones. We
are learning about how holidays are celebrated around the world.uWe have
completed our unit on animals and will be moving onto a unit on weather.
uWe are working on double-digit addition and understanding money. uWe
are continuing to work on fiction and non-fiction in reading. Please read and
practice math facts with your children over the winter break. We will be
holding classroom math fact competitions throughout January. We look
forward to seeing your children in the new year!
Q w THIRD GRADE
Mrs. Boschi w Ms. Byrnes wMr. Kupiecw Miss Kamens (ELD)
In Math we are learning multiplication and division facts 1’s through 10’s and
units of measurement in liquid volume, distance, and time. Please practice
how to tell time with your child at home! We are adding and subtracting 3-4
digit numbers. u In Reading we are building our fluency (reading at a good
pace with expression – no robot reading), looking for the main idea and details
of paragraphs, reading a text closely to find the steps in a sequence, looking
for story structure (characters, setting, problem, etc.), how to make inferences,
judgments and predictions about a text and reading independently for at least
DECEMBER
2015
RESPECTFUL 30 minutes by finding a good fit book. uWe are writing opinions, responding
to questions about a story in written sentences, summarizing a story, writing
in complete sentences and checking our work closely for errors. uIn Science
we are learning how to make observations and how to ask science
questions, make/follow a plan to investigate. We are setting up experiments
and making measurements. uIn social studies we are learning about
communities, local and around the world - geography and maps. uWe will
continue to write in our planners every day to ensure our homework is
complete with first name, last name and date written on it and handed in
every morning. uOver the December break, students should continue
reading for at least 20 minutes every day, practice telling time on an analog
clock (non digital) and practice their math facts.
Q x FOURTH GRADE
Mrs. Badecker w Mr. Bilger w Miss Pensiero wMrs. Ruiz (ELD)
The 4th graders are learning methods in math for multiplication of multi-digit
numbers. They are multiplying into the thousands place. To be successful,
students need to continue practice of multiplication facts. We also are
working on mastery of addition and subtraction of large numbers. They are
beginning to work on division and will use all of this when they solve word
problems. uIn reading, students have used strategies of using graphic
sources along with sequencing of events in a story to help them understand
what they have read and to be able to answer questions about the story. We
are reading about interesting science topics such as; hurricanes,
earthquakes, and a story about the early radio broadcasts. uStudents
should be writing complete sentences in the correct verb tense and using
punctuation on all writing samples at this point of the school year. uSocial
studies topics include the 5 regions of the United States. Some students are
learning all 50 states by singing a song with all the states in alphabetical
order. uOur focus in science includes interesting topics on plants and
animals. uAs the cold weather comes upon us, the 4th graders had the idea
of leading a food drive at Jefferson. We are proud of your children and how
they are working during the food drive. They have communicated to each
classroom about the food drive and every day they put on some elf hats and
become the “food drive elves.” We collected 1,344 items!!
Q y FIFTH GRADE
Mrs. Cho w Mrs. Granger w Mrs. Powell wMrs. Ruiz(ELD)
The fifth graders want to send a big "thank You" to Mrs. Siharath for cutting
up our math flash cards. Please look for them in your child's backpack &
create a select time for them to practice these facts. uWe are using models
& real world situations to solve problems involving multiplication of fractions..
In reading our focus is reading about animal behaviors. uIn Reading, we are
identifying main ideas & details along with other strategies for reading
informational test. These strategies will Social Studies and Science texts.
uWe enjoyed our trip to CCSU to watch a production of "The Nutcracker"
presented by The Albano Ballet. We want to thank all of our chaperones that
joined us on this trip. uDuring our Winter Break, all students have math and
reading practice packets to complete at their own pace. These review skills
previously taught. Students can set goals for themselves as to how much
they want to complete.
Q tuvwxy MUSIC
! Mr. Lepak
The music world at Jefferson is moving along at a rapid pace. Sometimes
students don’t know how much they are learning or how much they have
grown because time goes by so quickly. The students at Jefferson have
grown enormously. Grade 5 has discovered a music composition technique
called Theme and Variations. Students learned a theme and are learning to
perform two different variations on that theme using different techniques.
Our mission at Jefferson Elementary School is to create and sustain an emotionally and physically safe, supportive
learning environment, where all students can engage in meaningful learning and work to reach their full potential.
Grade 4 is learning to put pitch and rhythm together using the notes of two
chords. They have begun to write on the music staff using traditional notation.
Grade 3 is excited to start the recorder. All recorders were received and
primary lessons have begun. This process includes music reading. They just
completed an assessment on the lines and spaces of the treble clef. They will
be receiving instrumental instruction and will be playing well soon. Grade 2 is
singing. They are learning to think and sing at the same time. They are being
recorded for assessment and are enjoy singing the song Rocky Mountain. Let
them sing it for you! Grade 1 is singing a call and response song, creating
ABA form compositions with animal names, singing their name in tune and
clapping and sounding out rhythms. They are joy to have in class and are
eager to learn. Grade K is experimenting with high and low pitch and using
their voice in different ways. They are singing their name and learning to
become independent singers. They are also responding to a call and
response song on their own. Go Kindergarten. It is such an honor to teach
your child in the General music classroom and I look forward to finding
more musical treasures inside of all my students as time passes by.
THANK YOU for attending our Winter Concert!
Q tuvwxy
ART
Mrs. Buccheri
Colors are everywhere! For Quarter 2, our focus is Color Theory. All grade
levels will focus on the vocabulary and color groups and apply this knowledge
to art projects. Congratulations to Zofia Usmail (2) and Julianna Jurkowski (4)
our Art Students for the month of October. For November the students were
Callie Greene (K) and Adriana Gutowska (5). Enjoy the festivities of the
holiday season and time off from school with your children and encourage
them to color and draw over the break. This activity is great for fine motor
skills and a great relaxation tool, as well! Happy New Year!
Q tuvwxy GYM
Mr. Defronzo
The goal of our physical education program is to help students develop skills
that they can use to be physically active throughout their lives. Research
shows that children who take part in daily physical activity get better grades,
are more attentive, develop greater self-confidence, and become healthier
adults!! SNEAKERS, SNEAKERS!!!! Please be sure to send your child to
school with sneakers for physical education class. Boots and other types of
shoes are slippery and may cause safety issues for your child in the gym.
Students may bring their sneakers to school and change in their classroom
prior to P.E.. It is important to be prepared and sneakers are part of this! If
students are not prepared with proper shoes – it could impact their grade and
limit their participation. Over the last several months, Grade 3-5 students have
been working hard to complete the Connecticut Physical Fitness Test. The
test measures muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility. The students
completed their testing in mid-November and have moved on to units on
soccer and flag football skills. Grade K-2 students have been learning about
teamwork, cooperation, personal space and all of the different loco motor
movements they can use to move their bodies. Loco motor movements are
things like walking, running, skipping and hopping. When your kids are playing
at home ask them to show you some of the different loco motor movements
that they know.
Q tuvwxy MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY
Mrs. Pierpoint-Grayson wMrs. Aiudi
We have been having a very festive season in library learning about how
different cultures celebrate. We have also been working hard to be helpful
members of our community by taking lessons from the Grinch! Over break,
please
encourage
your
students
to
utilize
our
website
[www.mrspgs.library.weebly.com], if possible, for their reading and learning
needs! Have a wonderful break!
Q
BAND
!
STRINGS
!
CHORUS
Mr. Vacca w Mrs. Raymondw Mr. Lepak
The Grade 4 and 5 violinists did an awesome job at our Winter Concert! We
hope you were able to enjoy it. All JETS attended the concert and those who
are not currently playing a strings instrument may express an interest! Violin
classes that take place every Wednesday at Jefferson! I would love to have
more students join our strings group! u Please encourage your children to
practice their instruments (band and strings) over the break!
FROM THE NURSE
Mrs. Badum
u
Mrs. Oshana (our substitue nurse)
A few reminders from our nurse: u Children must be fever-free without the
use of medication for 24 hours before returning to school. u Children who
are vomiting must remain home until they are no longer vomiting, and are
able to tolerate a “b.r.a.t.” diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and tea).
u Children who are coughing or are exhibit excessive nose blowing, sore
throat, earache accompanied by a fever should remain home until symptom
free. Cough drops are only permitted in school with a doctor’s note.
uPlease dress your child appropriately for the cold weather. u If you have
any questions, please feel free to contact me!
Q tuvwxy PTA
PTA has been busy this month! Thank you to all families who participated in
our Gingerbread House night! We loved seeing all of you having fun! We
would love to have your involvement as our PTA Team continues to grow!
We are always in need of volunteers for fundraising, event ideas and
planning, parents who are able to volunteer their time preparing for events or
helping support an event! Please call our front office if you are able to serve
our students in some capacity! PTA will be hosting the Ugly Sweater Day
($1) and providing Cocoa and Cookies for our JETS! It’s never to late to
show up and assist!
Q
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
Mrs. Riccio w Mrs. Maroun w Mrs. Poplawski
The Jefferson FRC is now offering the class “Parenting for Academic
Success” from 9:15 -11:00 on Wednesdays . Also, we are recruiting parents
who are interested in taking a series of parent trainings. The first series
offered is People Empowering People; also known as PEP and the second
offering is Parent SEE, Parents Supporting Educational Excellence. For
more information, please call the FRC at 860- 224-3193 or visit us.
Q tuvwxy INTERVENTION TEAM
w Ms. Cormier w Mrs. Ray w Mrs. Nevico w Mrs. Perez w Mrs. Roohr
Just as reading nightly is important to maintain skills, writing is equally
important. Finding meaningful ways to write is simple! Writing thank you
notes to loved ones after any celebration is one example. If you will be
traveling over the break or taking day trips, have your child keep a journal of
all their activities. During this busy time of year, give your child the
opportunity to help you write shopping lists, cards, letters, etc. Reading
aloud to your child, partner reading, and discussing books can turn into a
writing activity as well. Here are some ideas for writing before, during or
after reading; write a new ending to the story, if you were the character how
would you solve the problem, rewrite the story from another point of view,
write an all about book, something you wondered or predicted, or a
connection or what reminded you about the book. Keeping skills sharp
during the break, will help your child start the new year strong. Of course,
keep reading every day!!
Q UPCOMING . . . plan ahead J
Dec 22nd thru Jan 6th – NO SCHOOL
Jan 7th – RETURN TO SCHOOL
Jan 7th – December Attendance Incentive
Jan 11th- Badecker/Pensiero - NBMuseum of Art (chaperones needed)
Jan 13th – HALF DAY! School Dismisses at 1:20 J
Jan 18th – NO SCHOOL – Martin Luther King
Jan 22nd – Feb 5th – NWEA Benchmarks (Math, Reading, Language)
January (more information to come) – Kids At Hope For Parents