August 28, 2015

The Swift Flyer

Please look for this "Swift Flyer" each week.  We use this space for updates on curriculum, parent meetings, field trips and other activities happening around WCS and Williston.  While we do send out additional reminders via e-mail (especially around field-trips!), we try to consolidate the bulk of our communication here.  In short, please take note of dates and announcements provided in the Flyer.  The blog automatically archives itself so you can always refer back to the news from previous weeks.  Thanks for reading!

First Week of School

We had a wonderful first week of school with your children!  Everyone came in ready to learn and work together.  Fifth graders did an amazing job of adjusting to a new schedule and of jumping right in to team activities.  Eighth graders received a carnation from our administrators to acknowledge their final year at WCS.  Everyone was excited to see familiar faces.  Our highlights included:

• Math Class:  We focused on what makes a "Good Mathematician."  We are learning from a Standford Education professor through an online course that good mathematicians persevere and make mistakes, they don't just get the answers!

• Campout Planning: Eighth (and some seventh) graders took leadership of their campout groups and began planning for next weeks' overnight trip.  They worked on food and equipment assignments and even started practicing their skits.  Yes, believe or not, they do practice these.

• Literature Sign-Ups: Students selected their top choices for literature groups.  There will be more selections offered in our next round as we get more facilitators ready to lead books.

• Team Building Activities: The Birthday line-up, Captain's Coming, the Playdough Challenge.  Our team building activities help to begin building essential relationships among students and facilitators to build a safe learning environment for all.

Captain's Coming

Captain's Coming

Playdough Challenge

Playdough Challenge

• Silent Reading: We provide silent reading time daily, after lunch and recess.  Students should always have a book to read, whether it is a literature book or something from home or the library.  We will be providing each student with a reading log to track their pages read each trimester with a focus on reading at least 20 minutes a day at home and personal goals for pages read.

• Chromebook "Roll Out." See details below.

We will launch into our "regular" schedule starting on Monday.  For details on class times, please see our Swift House Master Schedule.  Please note that our "Life Studies" block represents both science and social studies, which alternate on a blue/gold schedule.  

The Williston Central School Music Program

Any student interested in band or chorus at WCS should attend the band/chorus kick-off on Tuesday, September 1st at 11:50 pm.  Rehearsals will start on Wednesday, however they know that Swift House students will be in Grand Isle.  Music students should plan on attending rehearsals on Friday, September 4th.  To see the days and times that different groups meet, please refer to the Swift House Master Schedule here.  Any fifth graders attending both band and chorus will have one day of band and one day of chorus.  

Three Items Students Brought Home on Friday...

1) Greensheets: Students complete "Greensheets" each Friday to show that they have completed their school work for the week.  If you see a signature next to the class name, then all of the work is complete.  If there is a circle and a note, then work is missing.

Students should focus on completing missing work over the weekend.  If the work does not get done, students will make a plan with their core teacher about how to get it done.  Tools we use are after-school time, recess time, restricted core time and more.  Please sign the Greensheet and send it back in on Monday.


2) Campout Planning Form:  The personalized campout planning form has details about what food and equipment students are responsible for in their groups.  Please contact us if you do not have this form.  The groups are depending on each other to bring these items in.


3) Technology Contract: See details below.  Please review, sign and send in on Monday.

Chromebooks

"When are we getting our Chromebooks?"  We heard that question many times the past three days.  It is wonderful that students are looking forward to using this tool again!  Before passing out technology we had work to do as a team.  We reminded students that we provide these tools in hopes of transforming their education, not just to replace paper.  We shared videos such as "A Sincere Compliment" to show the power of technology.  And we couldn't help but share what not to do with technology, too... 

We asked students to think about why we use technology and how we use it responsibly.  They submitted their responses online to generate a team "word cloud" representing the big ideas.  Please see our results below:

Why do we use technology?

What makes a good digital citizen?





How do we take good physical care of our Chromebooks?




After brainstorming our own guidelines for technology use, students reviewed and signed the school-wide "Student Personal Learning Device Contract."  Students have brought this contract home for your signature.

Personal Technology

Phones for music with permission; video and camera for school projects only (with permission); no texting during school hours (use the landlines); keep phones in backpacks or secured in project room. If misused, phones will be taken until the end of the day, locked in project room

Final Campout Planning

*NO DOGS, PLEASE*  We have a student who is truly afraid of dogs.
*Background Checks Needed?  See Liz Neeld (lneeld@cssu.org)
*Tent Groups- See the spreadsheet here for details.  Thank you so much if you signed up to chaperone!  We would still love more.  If you are listed on the spreadsheet as a chaperone, please bold you name to confirm that we have the correct times.

Morning Arrivals

If students arrive before the school buses, we ask them to wait in the lobby or cafeteria.  If a student would like to come in earlier, they may contact the core teachers ahead of time.  We are happy to let in anyone ready to work!  Students should not wander the halls before school starts.  Thank you for helping to reinforce these expectations if you are sending your child in early.

After School and Snack Donations

We have facilitators after school Monday-Thursday to support homework completion.  We will start this after the campout.  We also love to provide snacks, too.  We would love any snack donations that store easily, such as granola bars, fruit snacks, goldfish crackers, pretzels, etc.  Thanks for thinking of us the next time you're shopping!