BIG THOMPSON ELEMENTARY Newsletter

February 7th, 2014

Students  at  Big  Thompson  Elementary  School  of  Nature  and  Science    obtain  a  well-­‐rounded,  In-­‐depth  relevant  educa?on  integra?ng  basic  skills    

through  a  broad  curriculum  with  a  science  and  nature  focus.  

Telephone: 613-5600 Fax: 613-5620

Web site: www.bigthompsonelementary.org

Notes from the Principal: Hope  you  are  all  staying  warm  and  having  fun  in  the  snow!    According  to  the  ground  hog  we  have  six  more  weeks  of  this  weather  so  we  might  as  well  make  the  best  of  it!!      On  a  personal  note,  thank  you  so  much  to  all  of  you  for  the  support  and  posi>ve  energy  you  have  shown  my  family  and  me.    Words  cannot  express  my  feelings  or  gra>tude!    While  I  am  away  from  Big  T,  Rhonda  Richer  will  be  covering  for  me.    She  is  the  former  principal  of  Ivy  Stockwell  and  has  served  the  Thompson  School  District  for  many  years  prior  to  re>ring  in  2013.    I  am  thrilled  that  she  will  be  joining  Big  T  for  awhile.    If  you  have  a  chance  stop  by  the  office  and  give  her  a  “Big  T  Welcome”.      I  con>nue  to  be  pleased  with  our  student  growth  and  achievement.    The  mid-­‐year  tes>ng  shows  students  are  making  growth  and  mee>ng  expecta>ons.    Thanks  for  your  con>nued  support  at  home.    Together  we  achieve  more  and  it  does  take  a  village!      Reminders:      Please  read  newsle/er  thoroughly  as  there  are  many  important  dates  and  events  coming  up.        Parent/Teacher  conferences  will  be  March  5th  and  6th.    Your  child’s  classroom  teacher  will  send  home  schedule  informaCon.      TCAP:  See  the  tesCng  schedule  in  this  newsle/er  so  that  you  are  aware  of  Cmes  and  dates  of  this  year’s  tesCng  window.    Please  arrange  appointments  around  this  window.    We  appreciate  you  cooperaCon.      Thank  you  as  always  for  sharing  your  children  with  us.      Please  call,  email,  or  stop  in  if  you  have  ques>ons,  concerns,    or  comments  you  would  like  to  share.      Sincerely,    Sarah  Walgast  Principal  

Cafeteria  changes  –  Effec>ve  Feb.  3,  2014    To  ensure  student  safety,  some  changes  have  been  made  to  cafeteria  procedure.    When  students  enter  the  lunchroom,  they  will  be  siXng  at  the  tables  in  a  boy,  girl,  boy,  girl  paYern.    Students  know  that  if  they  behave  throughout  the  week,  then  Friday  will  be  a  “Free-­‐Sea>ng”  day  (within  their  class  table).    The  Colored  Traffic  Cones:  When  students  are  at  the  table  the  cones  will  represent  the  following:  •  Yellow  –  means  to  keep  voice  levels  below  a  level  2,  stay  seated,  and  raise  their  

hand  if  they  need  something.    They  are  NOT  supposed  to  get  up  from  the  table  without  permission.  

•  Red  –  if  their  table  has  a  red  cone,  it  means  that  they  are  not  in  control.    They  WILL  NOT  be  dismissed  from  the  cafeteria  if  they  have  a  red  cone  on  the  table.    If  they  lower  voice  levels  and  stay  seated,  the  cone  will  be  changed  back  to  a  yellow.  

•  Green  –  a  green  cone  indicates  that  it  is  >me  to  sit  QUIETLY,  make  sure  their  area  is  clean  and  wait  to  be  dismissed.    They  need  to  make  sure  to  clear  ALL  of  their  trash  when  they  are  dismissed.  

Please  remind  students  of  lunch  rules:  •  Walk  in  the  cafeteria  at  all  >mes  •  Keep  voice  levels  at  a  level  2  •  Use  good  manners  and  be  respecdul  of  others  •  Keep  hands  and  feet  to  yourself    •  Sharing  lunches  is  not  allowed  •  Stay  seated  at  assigned  table  at  all  >mes  –  if  you  need  something,  or  need  to  

get  up  then  raise  hand  for  permission  •  When  ready  to  be  dismissed  –  sit  quietly.  

Please  remind  your  child  to  check    Lost  and  Found  for  missing  items.      

Lost  and  Found  area  will  be  cleared  out  again  on  February  21st.  

What  is  a  meal  train?  There  are  >mes  in  our  lives  when  friends  and  family  ask,  "What  can  I  do  to  help  out?"  The  answer  is  usually  to  help  them  with  a  meal.  When  many  friends  give  a  meal,  this  is  a  meal  train.    Please  visit  the  Big  Thompson  Elementary  Facebook  page  to  access  the  Meal  Train  for  Mrs.  Walgast  and  her  family.  

Big T Winners! Blades for Grades

   Big  T  hosted  a  wri>ng  contest  for  our                                      4th  and  5th  grade  students.          The  students  were  to  write  an  

essay  on  “Why  they  deserved  to  be  chosen  to  go  to  a  hockey  game.”    Winners  were  awarded  with  dinner  at  Johnson’s  Corner  and  box  seat  >ckets  at  an  Eagles  hockey  game!    Congratula>ons  to  our  winners:    Cassidy  Young,  Tyler  Johnson,  and  Rosalie  Curran.  

Newsletter for Physical Education  Schools  on  the  Move  is  a  challenge  offered  by  the  University  of  Colorado  Health  System  –  our  local  hospitals.  They  found  that  healthy  lifestyle  factors  that  reduce  incidence  of  disease  including  ea>ng  5  fruit  and  vegetable  servings  each  day;  screen  >me  of  2  hours  or  less;  1  hour  of  play  >me  or  more;  and  0  sugary  drinks.  We  are  asked  to  par>cipate  in  this  research  project  during  the  month  of  February  by  comple>ng  the  calendar,  signing  it,  and  answering  the  ques>ons.  One  ques>on  is  about  whether  your  family  enjoys  opportunity  with  Free  and  Reduced  Lunch,  which  is  private  informa>on.  Please  answer  honestly.    Research  indicates  that  students  on  FRL  lead  unhealthy  lifestyles  by  ea>ng  few  vegetables,  watching  lots  of  TV,  geXng  liYle  exercise,  and  drinking  lots  of  full  calorie  soda.  Our  hospital  system  is  interested  in  changing  the  research  to  show  that  regardless  of  FRL  designa>on,  ALL  of  our  students  and  families  in  the  local  hospital  area  are  leading  healthy  lifestyles  and  the  calendar  is  proof.  Their  next  step  will  be  to  publish  the  results  for  other  states  to  emulate  the  SOM  program  and  change  the  lifestyle  habits  of  their  popula>on.  Please  join  the  research  program  and  homework  assignment  for  your  child.  Go  on  line  (www.healthykidsclub.org)  or  copy  your  child’s  calendar  for  your  copy  to  hand  in.  60  checks  out  of  a  possible  112,  and  you  can  earn  a  t-­‐shirt  too  and  extra  credit  for  physical  educa>on.        

Happy healthy heart month.

Schools on the Move begins February 1, 2014. Our first assignment for all students, K-5 in physical education with grades being given for handing in the assignment! Parents are vital to a high grade for your child. Please oversee the project and SIGN your child’s sheet.

Each day, check what you earn – it represents a 5210

healthy lifestyle. 5 fruits or veggies; 2 hours or less of

screen time; 1 hour of active movement; 0 sugary drinks.

All family members can join by printing a sheet from

www.healthykidsclub.org

I am giving grades this year for the commitment students and families make to a 5210 healthy lifestyle. 60 or more boxes checked will earn the child a T-Shirt and an A. Family members can join and hand in their sheet with the student’s – Extra Credit. Let’ have fun and win prizes!

Dates to remember: •  Schools on the Move Challenge

•  100 Mile Club – Count your miles weekend •  NO SCHOOL •  PAPA Murphy Day •  3rd Annual “Family Read Night” •  3rd Grade Writing TCAP •  Read Across America – Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

•  Parent/Teacher Conferences •  TCAP Testing

February Feb. 8-9th Feb. 17th Feb. 21st

Feb. 25th Feb. 26-27th

March 3rd March 5-6th

March 10 – 21st

TCAP We wanted to remind you that we will be taking our state tests (TCAP) during February and March. The 3rdgraders will take their reading TCAP on February 26thand 27th. The rest of the reading, writing, and math tests will take place from March 10th-March 21st.  We ask that you try your best to avoid any vacations during testing dates. The students will do better when they take the tests with their peers.  There will also be a few changes. Students in fourth grade will now take a Social Studies standardized test online in April. This will test them over 4thgrade Social Studies standards only. During this same window, our fifth graders will take an online version of the Science test. This test will no longer test them over all K-5 science standards, but will instead focus on only 5thgrade standards. Please be sure to help your child do his/her best. Make sure they get plenty of sleep, eat a good breakfast, and show up to school on time.

Tuesday, February 25th, 2014

6:00 – 7:30 pm

Big Thompson Elementary

Big T’s 3rd Annual Family Read Night

Camp Activities  

Begin in the gymnasium at 6:00 pm for a camp story read by our special guest!

Visit the stations to complete your punch card! Choose from these fun activities:

Puppet Pals ………………………….. Art Room Build a puppet from the story

Story Retelling Cube ………………. Mrs. Wynkoop’s Create a cube to retell any story Room

Building Words ……………………… Library Make as many words as you can

S’Mores Station …………………….. Big T Gym Follow directions to make a S’More! *ticket only

Reading under the Stars – don’t forget to stop at the tent for information and tips on activities you can do with your child at home!

Don’t forget to enter to win awesome prizes!

           Read  Across              America  Day  Monday,  March  3,  2014  

 Many people in the U.S., particularly students, parents and teachers, join forces on Read Across America Day. This nationwide observance coincides with the birthday of Dr Seuss, who is known for writing children’s books.

Dr. Seuss was born Theodor Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 2, 1904. Geisel published his first children's book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, in 1937, after 27 publishers rejected it. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1984, an Academy Award, three Emmy Awards, three Grammy Awards, and three Caldecott Honors, Geisel wrote and illustrated 44 books. While Theodor Geisel died on September 24, 1991, Dr. Seuss lives on, inspiring generations of children of all ages to explore the joys of reading.

Come in during the week of March 3rd

and check out all of the fun projects your students have worked on to celebrate

Dr. Seuss’ Birthday!

GREAT JOB! District Science Fair We are very proud of the Big T students that competed in the District science fair on January 11th.   They are: Chance Hill, Sam and Wyatt Malara, Joey and Ava Perko, and Alysa Arhens.   Great job! District Spelling Bee We are also very proud of the Big T students that competed in the District Spelling Bee on Jan. 24th. They are: Adam Cagnina, Carson Schmidt, Ellie Grodi, Kelly Clingan, Nathan Woo, and Emily Rollins.

GREAT JOB BIG T!

Looking for educational websites to help your student with Math, Reading, Science, and Spelling? Try Big T’s Symbaloo Webmix! Visit Big T’s school website and click on “Symbaloo Webmix” in Quick Links. It’s fast, easy, and all of these great websites are in one easy-to-find location!

Technology News

We  are  selling  the  Big  T  RAMS  water  bo/les  to  fund  the  100  Mile  club  next  year!  

For  only  $5  you  can  get  a  20  oz.  green  metal  reusable  water  boYle  with  Big  T’s  logo!      Students  can  stop  by  with  their  cash  or  check  made  out  to  Big  T  any>me  in  the  copy  room.      These  make  great  gips  AND  support  a  great  team!  

More Health & Wellness News

Big T Club News��

There are Track Your Mile Weekends coming again on February 8 & 9! �Keep up the good work! �

Did you know…�If you have around 40 miles logged so far you are �

RIGHT ON TRACK�To hit 100 Miles by the end of the school year!! �

Updates! �The following members have recently made 10 miles: �

Ava P., Ginger F., Liam C. ��

The following members have recently made 25 miles: � ���

The following members have recently �made 50 miles: �

Taylor T., Charlotte W.��

Little Shop of Physics 23rd Annual Open House

Saturday, February 22, 2014 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Engineering Building and Lory Student Center Colorado State University

Hands-On Science Fun for All Ages!

This Year’s Theme: Science…Get Curious!

Over 300 Hands-On Experiments

Bigger and Better Than Ever!

FREE and open to the

public!

For more Information: http://littleshop.physics.colostate.edu

Interactive Presentations

Little Shop of Physics 23rd Annual Open House

This Year’s Theme: Science…Get Curious!

Join CMMAP Scientists to explore weather and climate

Including: The Million Volt Tesla Coil + Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream

+ Science…Get Curious!

Printed  in  all  black  on  back  of  shirt  

Printed  in  all  black  large  on  front  of  shirt  

BIG THOMPSON ELEMENTARY

Big  Thompson’s  Relay  for  Life  Team  is  taking  Pre-­‐orders  for    t-­‐shirts.  

The  shirts  will  be  pink,  short  sleeved  with  the  following  print:                          **  you  do  not  have  to  join  the  team  to  purchase  a  shirt.                  any  proceeds  go  to  Big  Thompson’s  Relay  for  Life  Team    

Available  in  Youth  S  (6-­‐8)  M  (10-­‐12)  L  (14-­‐16)  XL  (18-­‐20)  And  Adult  Small  -­‐  XLarge  Please  fill  out  below  and  turn  in  NO  LATER  than  Feb.  10th.                                                                                                                                                        Addi>onal  Qty.                Size                                                  Adult/Yth              $/each              Dona>on                                  Total  

Make  checks  payable  to:  Big  T  

$  7.00  

Only  $7