DECEMBER 2016
Tavelli
Elementary
Mission
Statement
Tavelli Elementary
is a school of
academics,
character and
wellness.
Our mission is to
ENGAGE
students for
academic and
social success.
We will
INSPIRE
a community of
diverse learners
through
collaboration and
accountability
it’s a note from the principal . . .
The staff at Tavelli is constantly
looking for ways to improve their
craft. Each year our classes change
and so do the strategies that we use
to engage students and inspire
learning. Our Specials Teachers
received a $14,000.00 STEAM Grant
from Otter Cares which will be used
to advance Science, Technology,
Engineering, Art, and Math in their
classrooms. This grant will be used to support our 3D printing by
recycling the unused plastic that is used for printing. This process melts
the plastic so that it can be reused for printing. The grant will also
provide our students with increased maker space activities, audio-visual
system in the gym, and a 3D scanner. Thank you to Otter Cares for their
continued support.
so our children will
SUCCEED
in a global society.
Advertising in this newsletter does not imply endorsement by Poudre School District.
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Tavelli Elementary School Newsletter
A Note From the Principal
DECEMBER 2016
continued
Thank you to PTO and all our parent and community volunteers for a
successful Fall Festival. Many families attended this totally free event in which
students could trick-or-treat, dance, and participate in fun activities. It was
wonderful watching our Tavelli Community spend time together while
enjoying treats and popcorn.
Congratulations to our Fifth-Grade Students and the Encore teachers for their
STEAM program. What an awesome compilation of Artwork, Music,
Technology and Movement. It is always fun to watch our students shine and
showcase their hard work and talent.
I wish you a Joyful Thanksgiving.
Christine Hendricks
Principal, Tavelli Elementary
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Tavelli Elementary School Newsletter
Art and STEAM
Our 4th and 5th grade art students are creating
paper lanterns that light up! We are designing
tetrahedrons and installing paper circuits with
copper tape, batteries and LED lights! This brings
science into the art room in a new and fun way,
integrating and reinforcing classroom science
lessons on circuitry.
DECEMBER 2016
DECEMBER
2016
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Tavelli Elementary School Newsletter
DECEMBER 2016
Tavelli Celebrates the New Multi-Use Path
Thanks to the City of Fort Collins, CDOT and PSD for partnering to build our
new multi-use path for students to get to and from school. The new path
has increased the number of students that walk or ride their bikes to
school. Students report that they feel safer and don’t have to worry so much
about the traffic. The historic tiles bring character and style to our new
path. Our students are very appreciative of our multiuse walkway.
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Tavelli Elementary School Newsletter
Walk-a-thon Prizewinner Gets a “Limo Lunch”
Olivia Ward, a third grader was one of our top money earners in our
October walkathon. For her efforts, she earned a “limo lunch” with a friend.
Here she is with her friend Abi enjoying a luxurious ride to get pizza for
lunch. Congratulations and thanks for your hard work Olivia!
DECEMBER 2016
DECEMBER
2016
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Tavelli Elementary School Newsletter
DECEMBER 2016
First Grade Math Club Fun!
At 2:30 each school day our first graders may
stay in homeroom, head across the hall to
another first grade teacher, or even stride
down to Mr. Pearson or Ms. Vasquez for what
we call Math Club. This is our first math club
session of the year, but math club is a time to
focus on concepts specific to each student in
differentiated math groups.
The math we tackle in math club or in
homeroom math isn’t new math; it is the same
math we have been doing for years. We are
just looking at math a bit closer. For example,
think about how you add 3 + 2. Is that the only
way to get to 5? Could you get there with 4 +
1? Or 0 + 5? How do you think about 5? Can you count by 5’s? Why would
you do that? Hmmmm…
We may also be looking at 10’s much closer. If you have a pile of leaves,
how could you organize these leaves so that they can be counted quicker or
more efficiently? Could you group them by twos and count 2, 4, 6, 8…okay,
is there a quicker way? How about 5’s? 5, 10, 15, 20, 25…What about 10’s?
10, 20, 30, 40, 50…or even off decades: 7, 17, 27, 37, 47…
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Tavelli Elementary School Newsletter
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First Grade Math Club Fun! continued
Structuring numbers is another
great strategy we are all working on.
Let’s look at this addition problem
for a minute.
25 + 7
We talk about place value, how a
number like 25 has two tens and 5
ones. We also look at the number 7,
for instance, and say to ourselves, I
could take apart 7 to make a 5 and a
2…this might help me add a five on to another number quickly and then
bump up 2 more. I could say 25, 30, 31, 32. Wow! That was pretty easy, and
efficient, and I got it all by myself.
So, we are not doing new math in first grade. We are just digging deeper,
looking for strategies that work with our own brain, making sure we can
explain our thinking (explain your brain), and trying really hard to understand
numbers. This is fun stuff, happening at 2:30, and we call it Math Club Fun.
DECEMBER 2016
DECEMBER
2016
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Tavelli Elementary School Newsletter
DECEMBER 2016
What is Wrong With This Picture?
What is wrong with this picture? There may be many things you don’t agree
with, but think about it from a science point of view. What is wrong with this
picture that science says can’t be the case? Are you up for the challenge?
When you think you have figured out the scientific error, come to the
Science/Engineering Lab, after the first bell at 8:50 and before the second, to
explain your solution to Mrs. Musante to earn a prize.
Tavelli Elementary School Newsletter
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DECEMBER 2016
DECEMBER
2016
Creative Encounters Art Show
24 Tavelli Third Graders will be displaying their artwork at the Creative
Encounters Art Show. Please take some time to stop by the Mall from now
until January 18th to view their amazing work.
Lunch
Menus
Click here to
view the
December Lunch
Menu
Tavelli Important Dates to Remember
Dec. 26-Jan. 6 No School for PSD Students, Winter Break
Jan. 27
School of Choice Deadline, 6-12 Students
Feb. 10
School of Choice Deadline, K-5 Students

Chess Cub meets Tuesday mornings at 7:45 in Room 1

K-2 Running Club meets Wednesdays from 3:45-4:30 3-5 Running Club
meets Thursdays from 3:45-4:30—permission slips are needed in order to
participate, please go to the Tavelli Wellness Page on the Tavelli Website
Denotes a PTO-sponsored Event
Denotes a Tavelli Wellness Event
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Tavelli Elementary School Newsletter
DECEMBER 2016