November 1st, 2013

Digital Citizenship~ Peer Leadership

We are proud to introduce an inaugural group of Digital Citizenship peer leaders in Swift House.  "Digital Citizenship" refers to our on-line behaviors, whether they are socially or academically focused. These peer leaders are teaching Digital Citizenship lessons to core classes using curriculum from Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization whose mission states:

We exist because our nation's children spend more time with media and digital activities than they do with their families or in school, which profoundly impacts their social, emotional, and physical development . As a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization, we provide trustworthy information and tools, as well as an independent forum, so that families can have a choice and a voice about the media they consume. ~Common Sense Media

The scope and sequence (click here to view) includes lessons about our digital lives, on-line scams, bullying, copyright laws and more.  There are many great tips for parents on this website as well, such as this article: Rules of the Road in the Digital Age.   This is a great resource for us all in this ever-changing digital world!

Williston Wins

If you have not already done so, please make your contribution to Williston Wins.  Your tax-deductible donation goes directly to funding our field trips.  We no longer ask for cash for each field trip and instead take the money from this fund.  Field trips funded by Williston Wins include: Grand Isle Campout, the Flynn, and our Sand Bar State Park.  Donate to Williston Wins here.

 

 Picture Retakes

Picture retakes are available Monday morning at 9:05 am.  If you child needs their picture taken or retakes please send them in with the correct forms and have them check in with their core teacher Monday morning.  Thank you!

 

Scholastic Book Fair 

The Book Fair comes to WCS next week.  Ms. Laberge's and Mr. Hunt's cores will head there as a class on Tuesday, November 12th.  Ms. Donnelly's and Ms. Skapof's cores will go on Thursday, Nov. 14th.  Please send money in with your child that day if they wish to purchase a book.

Homework Slips/Greensheets

Greensheets serve as our regular contact between home and school.  Please ask to see your son or daughter's Greensheet every Friday.  If there are homework slips attached, they indicate that an assignment was late during the week.  If the homework slip is signed, this indicates that the work has been completed.  The expectation for unfinished homework slips and circles on Greensheets is that students complete the work over the weekend, bring their Greensheet back to school Monday, turn in the missing work and obtain signatures for those assignments that they missed.   In short, Greensheets and Homework Slips are filed away until all missing work is accounted for.

Of course, in a perfect world all work would be done on time.  However, we all make mistakes or fall behind from time to time.  If a student is still struggling to complete missing work after these reminders, then a plan between student, core teacher and parents is in order.  It is this home/school connection that helps students establish successful routines.  Thank you for all of the work you do in supporting your children at home!

Vermont and Math Achievement on a Global Scale

Julie Longchamp shared this chart which our math achievement globally using the NEAP and TIMSS.  There are four countries, then Massachusetts and Vermont.  We often hear how poorly we are doing.  This presents a very different picture.  Again, it is only one measure, but it is nice to paint a measure that shows our kids in a positive light.  This was in Education Week this week.