Dear Parents,

I would like to begin with a big “Thank you” to Darci Militello, our volunteer coor-

dinator, for her efforts in coordinating and recruiting our parent volunteers this

year. We are continuing to get our parent volunteers connected with classroom

teachers, as well as training our volunteers for the many up and coming jobs and

activities at our school with the children and staff. If you would like to volunteer,

please contact us and we will connect you with Mrs. Militello.

We have received notification that we have won the Blue Ribbon Award for volun-

teerism. Thank you, parent volunteers, for all your devoted hours and time spent

at our school and at home. Without your help many activities and programs

wouldn’t happen at Sandown Central School!

We are sending many drug –free messages during Red Ribbon week. The

children are participating in many activities aimed at the prevention

and awareness of staying drug free! Parents can further reinforce these

important messages by talking with their children about the dangers of

drugs and alcohol. We give a big “Thank you” to Mary Hatton, our

school nurse, for coordinating Red Ribbon Week!

We have completed our NECAP assessments and we would like to thank you for

your support in encouraging your children to do their best! The children are back

to full swing with their school work. I urge you to talk with your children every

day about their successes and challenges at school. The staff continues to be com-

mitted to answering, discussing, and communicating with you about your children.

Working together creates a successful learning experience for your child.

It is great to see so many parents coming in for the October parent-teacher confer-

ences.

Parents, a quick reminder that November brings changing temperatures with cold

mornings and warmer afternoons. I would recommend dressing your child in lay-

ers during this time of year.

Happy Halloween!

Cordially,

Douglas E. Rolph

Principal

Sandown Central School

douglas.rolph@timberlane.net

Principal’s Notes

October, 2012

Sandown Central School News

November

Calendar

Nov. 1, 7:30 PM: TRSD School

Board Meeting, Board Room,

Superintendent’s Office, 30

Greenough Road, Plaistow.

Nov. 6: No school. Profes-

sional Development Day.

Nov. 8, 7 PM: TRSD Budget

Committee Meeting, SAU

Boardroom, 30 Greenough

Road, Plaistow.

Nov. 12: Veteran’s Day ob-

served. No school.

Nov. 14, 6:30-8:00 PM: San-

down PTA Meeting, Sandown

North School.

Nov. 15, 7:30 PM: TRSD

School Board Meeting, Board

Room, Superintendent’s Office,

30 Greenough Road, Plaistow.

Nov. 20, 7 PM: TRSD Budget

Committee Meeting, SAU

Boardroom, 30 Greenough

Road, Plaistow.

November 21: Thanksgiving

Break begins. Students return

on Nov. 26.

Nov. 27, 7 PM: TRSD Budget

Committee Meeting, SAU

Boardroom, 30 Greenough

Road, Plaistow.

Nov. 29, 7:30 PM: TRSD

School Board Meeting, Board

Room, Superintendent’s Office,

30 Greenough Road, Plaistow.

It’s hard to believe that we are nearly through October, and the holidays are just around the corner. We

have been in school almost eight weeks and have accomplished so much. We have completed two units

in Everyday Math, our first unit in Reading Street, and two weeks of NECAP testing. Your children have

been hard at work!

Fifth grade is beginning the third unit in Everyday Math—Geometry Explorations. Your child will be re-

viewing and exploring new uses for the protractor and compass. We will learn more about the properties

of polygons. Look for the Everyday Math newsletter in the Sandown Express. This will explain, in greater

detail, the concepts that your child will be learning.

“Doing the right thing” is the theme of our next Reading Street unit. Be sure to read the Family Times

newsletter that your child brings home. This will help you be aware of the reading skills, strategies and

vocabulary that your child is learning each week.

We are approaching a very busy time of year. Halloween is nearly here. The fifth grade team is planning

a fun activity to celebrate the occasion. If your child’s teacher needs anything for the activity, he/she will

contact you.

In conclusion, it was wonderful to meet with so many parents during conferences. Please feel free to

contact your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns that you may have. Such communication is

important to your child’s continued success in fifth grade.

On November 5, 2012 Sandown Central will be honoring our veterans and learning more

about these citizens that protected our American way of life.

The event will feature a Pledge of Allegiance assembly to kick off the day. The

New Hampshire Historical Society will host Redcoats and Rebels (an interactive battle

simulation game). In addition to these programs, the students will participate in distance

learning programs, connecting with experts throughout the country to learn more about

our veteran heroes. These programs include a conversation with a veteran of America's

military forces, as well as programs on medicine, spies and life in battle during wars in our

American history.

As part of the event, local veterans have been invited to join the students for a soup and

salad luncheon. This will be an exciting opportunity to thank these brave men and women

who fought or are still fighting for our freedom.

Dave Ciarla

Enrichment Specialist

Military Salute Enrichment Day

Grade 5 News

The fourth grade students started the month by working very hard on their NECAP tests. There were three sessions in reading, which included writing in re-sponse to what they read. Then they had three math sessions which covered several areas of math such as geometry, algebra, problem solving, etc.

In literacy we have completed our first unit in Reading Street called This Land is Your Land. This unit incorporated social studies as we “traveled across America”. We started in the southeast with an excerpt from Because of Winn Dixie. Then we jour-neyed west with a Lewis and Clark story. Next we learned about the Japanese immi-gration to California as we read Grandfather’s Journey. We learned about the south-western region of the United States when we read a modern fairy tale about a horned toad. Letters Home from Yosemite shared information about one of America’s amaz-ing National Parks. In addition, each class had the opportunity to Skype with a ranger from Yosemite National Park.

Students have been doing a great job getting used to Spelling, Grammar, and Math homework nearly every night. The spelling lessons help students review their phonics and the grammar helps them with their writing skills. Thank you for your sup-port in getting this homework in on time as well as helping your child study for his/her Spelling and Vocabulary tests!

Please remember that it is the district’s expectation that all fourth graders will demonstrate fluency with basic math facts such as addition, subtraction and multipli-cation. There are various online sites that are great for kids and are fun. Keep prac-ticing on a regular basis!

Classes are continuing their science unit on rocks and minerals. We are per-forming experiments on rock and mineral specimens to help us identify them.

Parent/teacher conferences have been taking place throughout the month. We’ve enjoyed the opportunity to strengthen the home-school connection.

Grade 4 News

The Holiday Shop will be held at North on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday,

Dec. 4, 5, & 6, with inventory and setup on Monday, Dec 3.

The Holiday Shop will be held at Central on Tuesday, and Wednesday,

Dec. 11 & 12, with inventory and setup on Monday, Dec. 10.

We are looking for volunteers, whether you have a little time or a lot!! Any help is appreciated.

If you are interested in volunteering-please contact me at norine.gerhard@gmail.com or call my

cell: 630-945-5781. (Yes, that is 630 area code. )

Thank you so much for your help.

Norine Gerhard

Fourth and Fifth Grade Strings continue to work on our Winter Concert pieces. Sandown

Central Strings, along with Sandown North Strings, and the Central Band and Chorus, will

present the FIRST of the district’s December concerts on MONDAY, DECEMBER 10th, at 7

pm at the PAC. Strings arrive at 6:15 pm to tune.

Please give your son or daughter a gentle reminder to practice his pieces at least four

or five days a week, and have them perform for the family at Thanksgiving! Mark your

Calendar NOW! Concerts are so much fun when we are prepared!

Thanks,

Marjorie Nelson

Students will be participating in Red Ribbon Week activities Oct.22nd-26th.

Children will learn about the importance of being drug free and saying “No”

to drugs, alcohol, and smoking.

Students also attended classroom presentations on Oct. 19th by Children’s

Dental Network on good dental hygiene, the importance of good oral health

and being seen by a dentist regularly.

With the start of cold and flu season upon us, please remember that children should not come

to school if they have a fever over 100 degrees during the night or morning before school.

Students should be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications

such as Tylenol or Advil before returning to school. For fevers over 101 degrees a call to the

doctor may be necessary. Children with coughs and sore throats should be evaluated by a

health care provider if they persist for more than a few days or if symptoms worsen. Stu-

dents who have coughs and/or sore throats accompanied by a fever should not come to school

until they are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications.

Good hand washing remains the best defense to prevent the spread of germs!

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

Mary Hatton

887-3648 ext. 309

Strings

Band: Holiday Concert Reminder

Sandown Central Band, String and Chorus members will be performing at our first concert of the season on

Monday evening December 10 at 7 PM at the Timberlane Performing Arts Center.

I only see the band members 6 more times before the concert and there is no way we can prepare for a con-

cert in the equivalent of 3 hours so…. each band member will need to find time at home to play the concert

songs so that we sound awesome! Help the kids find a special time and place where they can play at home.

Remember, PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!

Thanks for your help and be sure to save Dec. 10 for an exciting evening of top 40 Holiday Hits!

Thanks,

Mrs. Lincoln

As we embark upon another exciting year, we would like to congratulate all of the students who

ran for Student Council and who were committed to working on their speeches during lunch

and recess. Nice job!

Counselor’s Corner

Student council members represent the students of Sandown Central as a form of student gov-

ernment. These students were elected by their peers to represent their classes this year as part

of the Student Council.

Student Council meetings are held every Thursday during lunch and recess. It is the responsi-

bility of the representative to attend the meetings and to represent their class in organizing

events and making decisions on behalf of their peers.

The Student Council Alternates fill in for the representative if he or she is absent. These alter-

nates also help out with the weekly recycling program as well our yearly trip to the Foxden

Retirement Home. We are looking forward to another great year and to hearing the ideas of our

students!

Diane LaRose and David Ciarla

Student Council Advisors

Grade 4 Representatives

Autum Brooks

Madeline (Maddy) Zambrowicz

Ian Price

Morgan Lewis

Grade 4 Alternates

Samantha Moore

Emma Antkowiak

Jack Noyes

Riley Militello

Grade 5 Representatives

Madison Takesian

Sierra Goodwin

Aiden Wells

Emily Beaudet

Grade 5 Alternates

Bradley Buteau

Kira Mazur

Kaitlyn Mazur

Phoebe West Geary

Congratulations to all of the representatives and alternates!

President

Emily Augusta

In an ongoing effort to share information regarding the Common Core State Standards with our

community, we have included the following article this month entitled “Why the Common Core

State Standards Are Good for New Hampshire”. This document was created by our NH Department of Educa-

tion.

Also, as promised in our previous newsletter, we have attached a copy of the National PTA Grade Level Guide

for Fifth Grade. These standards will be implemented over the next few years across America in 48 states, in-

cluding NH.

Why the Common Core State Standards Are Good for

New Hampshire

The Common Core State Standards allow New Hampshire and the nation to focus on how to

teach effectively, rather than debating what to teach.

The Common Core State Standards are not significantly higher or lower than New Hampshire

standards, making the transition and alignment process easier than in many other states.

The Common Core State Standards allow us to utilize the many resources that will be devel-

oped to support one set of national standards – supports that will be developed for teachers,

students, and families – something that NH cannot do by itself.

Adopting the Common Core State Standards allows NH to have a voice in the new assess-

ments being developed to measure the CCSS. This should result in a cost sharing/saving to

NH, similar to NECAP, but with a much more robust and 21st century assessment system.

The Common Core State Standards are generally clearer and easier to understand than the cur-

rent NH standards, including the format.

In mathematics, the CCSS put an emphasis on automaticity of facts and mastery as well as

building a solid foundation in number sense before moving on. This is a positive step that will

move NH students forward. Analysis of NH data confirms this.

The Common Core State Standards support NH’s current emphasis on the importance of infor-

mational reading and writing at all grades, and especially at high school.

The Common Core State Standards support the goal of having more mathematics for all stu-

dents in high school.

The Common Core State Standards include reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language,

and will allow NH to test in some of the areas that were lost to budget restraints.

At kindergarten and grade one, the CCSS are much more specific and helpful to teachers and

parents. This fills a gap in the NH standards that were written before kindergarten was manda-

tory.

21st century technology and media skills are integrated throughout the Common Core.

The Common Core State Standards allow K-12 educators and higher education to work to-

gether to hold ALL students accountable for the same standards.

The Common Core State Standards allow us to support families that move during the school-

age years – some 46% of all American families. (2000 census)

Mary Youngblood

Literacy Specialist

Literacy