Now that electricity has been restored and our schools and your homes have heat, we are focusing again on educating the children of the community.
Your child has brought home the results of the NWEA assessment taken in September. If you have not seen it, please check the backpacks. Your child's teacher will be able to discuss the results with you during parent-teacher conferences.
Our email notification and One Call proved to be invaluable during the storm. Many of you have asked how to update your contacts in One Call. You will be able to do this during your child's parent-teacher conference. We are looking into the possibility of being able to send short text messages about school closings or delays. We will keep you posted.
Our district's word of the month for November and December is 'Persistence,' the quality of continuing steadily despite problems or difficulties. To put it simply, persistence means to keep on trying even if the task or the learning is a bit difficult. Our district's strategy of the month is 'Practice.' We all know that the more you repeat a task, the better you learn. Students improve their math fluency by practicing and memorizing the math facts. Students improve their reading ability by spending time practicing new words and reading more. Continue to provide your child with time to read and write. Spend time reading as a family. This short vacation provides opportunities for your children to write they are thankful for and share this with friends and family.
Many of you have asked about the school calendar. A school district is required to be in session for 180 days a year, which may include two Superintendent Conference Days. Our 2012-13 calendar has 184 days, which includes two Superintendent Conference Days. We have used 7 emergency closing days when there was no school for all students and staff, which means under current circumstances we will need to make up three days. The Commissioner of Education has the ability to waive up to five days due to adverse conditions. In order to qualify for this waiver, a school district must demonstrate that it was unable to meet the 180 days of session requirement by using scheduled vacation days during the school year. There is currently a bill proposed in the State Legislature to extend the waiver to more than 5 days. As soon as we receive clear direction from the state, we will look at any changes that may be necessary for the remainder of our 2012-13 calendar beginning with the February recess.
If you have any questions, please email me at arobb-fund@valleystream13.com.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Adrienne Robb-Fund, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Valley Stream UFSD Thirteen
585 North Corona Avenue
Valley Stream, NY 11580
Phone: 516-568-6100
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Your child will be learning many new vocabulary words during the school year. In addition to the words your child will be learning in class, we will be having a District Word of the Month. Teachers will provide a variety of lessons about the word of the month. We are hoping that you will join us in helping our children increase their vocabulary and comprehension.
The word of the month for September is, "CURIOUSITY." This was selected because children are naturally curious. Please talk with your children about what they are curious about, where they have seen the word and synonyms for curiosity. You can also talk about the Mars Rover, Curiosity, and space exploration.
Each month we will also be highlighting a learning strategy. Your child will learn many different strategies in school. The strategy for the month of September is "SETTING." Talking about the setting will help improve your child's reading comprehension. At home you can discuss the setting of a story, a television program, a movie and places in your home. While reading to or with your children, have them close their eyes and describe the setting of the story. Ask your child to provide details about the setting.
Tomorrow, September 11th, is Patriot Day. A brief remembrance ceremony will take place in each of our schools. Patriot Day is also the National Day of Service and Remembrance. The day will provide an opportunity to talk with your family about service and remembrance.
Please remember to register for the parent workshops about the NWEA assessments at NWEA13@valleystream13.com. You can choose either workshop. The workshops are for the District and are designed for all parents. We will schedule additional workshops if needed. The workshop presentation will also be posted on our website.
Thank you for being a part of this initiative and making your child's education a number one priority.
Dear Families,
It is October. Your children have settled into the routine of school and homework. Please be sure your child is doing his or her homework and is reading for at least twenty minutes per night. Research indicates that children who read or are read to for at least twenty minutes a day have higher achievement rates.
The word of the month is 'Explore.' Speak with your child about what he or she wants to explore. When going to the park or playground, ask your child to explore the playground for different textures and patterns. Explore the changing colors of the leaves. Read books about scientists, engineers and others whose explorations have influenced our lives today.
The learning strategy of the month is 'Building Fluency.' Remember when you learned to ride a bicycle or drive a car? At first you had to think about the different steps; now these tasks and so many others seem to happen automatically. Children need to build fluency in reading and math.
Fluency is one of the strategies incorporated into the Common Core Learning Standards. The National PTA published excellent grade level guides to the Common Core. These have been posted on our website. Here is the link: http://www.valleystream13.com/district/parent_resources.asp.
Building Math Fluency
The skills for math fluency change as students mature. Kindergarten students need to know how to count to 100 by ones and tens and add numbers within five. First graders need to know the addition and subtraction facts. Students who know their facts fluently learn multiplication and division more easily. Upper grade students need to have memorized the multiplication and division facts in order to be able to be successful with higher-order mathematics.
How can you help build math fluency at home?
- Practice.
- Work with your child to memorize the math facts taught in school.
- Review the appropriate grade level math facts with your child. Play games that require quick math. For instance, play 'Go, Fish with a Twist.' Have your child ask, "Do you have any two cards that when multiplied equal ____?"
- Put the number facts to a song.
- Use flash cards.
Building Reading Fluency
Reading fluency is the ability to read quickly, accurately and with expression. Fluent readers are able to recognize words quickly, thereby spending more time decoding the meaning of the text they are reading, resulting in higher levels of comprehension. Strategies used to develop reading fluency can include oral repetition, phonetic awareness and sight word recognition. It is best to build fluency on texts that are at your child's independent reading level - texts and books that are a bit easier than the ones your child's teacher is using for instruction. Older children enjoy reading to younger children. This helps build fluency.
How can you help build reading fluency at home?
- Practice.
- Children should read or be read to at home for at least twenty minutes per day.
- Is your child reading books that come in a series? These types of books help build fluency for readers.
- Reading plays helps build fluency.
- Does your child like to read the same book again and again? This, too, helps build fluency.
- If your child is already reading and you want to check for fluency, have your child first read the passage silently and then read it aloud.
- Always be sure your child understands what he or she is reading.
If you have any questions about your own child's math and reading fluency, please contact your child's teacher.
Sincerely,
Where Children Come First
