Garden City Elementary School

March 2010

“BEE” A STAR (SHINE) At Garden City

 

Be Involved in Your Child’s Education

The second grade performance of the musical A Child of the World was magnificent.  The program focused on the character traits that we endeavor to instill in our boys and girls daily.  We were entertained and given a gentle reminder of what’s needed, character wise, to make our world a wonderful place.

Thank you for your involvement in your children’s school.  Please plan to attend the remaining monthly family involvement activities. 

Mar. 9                      Kindergarten Program

Apr. 13                     Arts Showcase

May 1                       Grade 3 Program

 

 

We would like to thank the Winn Dixie Corporation and the Lem Turner McDonald’s for their support as we prepare for testing.  Winn Dixie Corporation, donated ready visors, which is their store’s logo, for each of our third, fourth and fifth grade students.

McDonald’s donated stickers with their motto –  double check for accuracy.  We are encouraging our students to utilize the test taking strategies, including check your work,

that they’ve been taught.

 

·        Ms. Bias’ kindergarten students are working on the report writing genre.  They are becoming experts on topics such as wolves, penguins and tornadoes.  They will celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2, 2010. 

·        Ms. Broughton’s and Ms. Turner’s kindergarten students are studying fantasy and realism during Readers Workshop.

·         Ms. Deckert’s kindergarten students will be integrating reading, writing and science with their study of wild animals.  They will read about all kinds of wild animals, write reports on them and learn more about wild animals in Science.

·        Ms. Short’s kindergarten students will study communication and transportation in Social Studies.

·        Ms. Walsh’s kindergarten students love report writing.  They have been gathering facts about many topics and people to write about.

·        First grade students will begin learning about life cycles in Science in preparation for their fieldtrip to the Jacksonville Zoo. 

·        Ms. Alexander’s second grade students are working on animal habitats in Science.

·        Ms. Cook’s second grade students reading theme will be “Family Time” this month.  The focus in Science will be on Earth Structures.  An experiment involving earthworms is forthcoming.

·        Ms. McCray’s second grade students will compare fiction and non-fiction text during Readers Workshop.

·        Ms. Prophitt’s and Ms. Washington’s second grade students will continue their study of report writing.  They will complete informational reports on “People Who Make a Difference in the Lives of Others.”

·        Ms. Small’s second grade students are already working on FCAT reading strategies!

·        Ms. Blaylock’s and Ms. Sheffield’s third grade students are reviewing all skills and strategies in Reading and Math.  They are .ready to tackle the FCAT.

·        Ms. Cooper’s and Ms. Naccarato’s third grade students will delve deeper into the Science curriculum.  They will have weekly labs and learn about the scientific method.

·        Ms. Rollins’ third graders will study energy – what it is and how it’s used – this month.

·        Ms. Bliss’ and Ms. Herbert’s fourth grade students will study the human body systems in Science.

·        Ms. Joseph’s fourth grade students will learn about famous women and their contributions to society this month.

·        Ms. Peterson’s fourth grade students will begin a new unit in Social Studies – Colonization. 

·        Ms. Wilder’s fourth grade students are preparing for the FCAT by perfecting their test taking strategies.

·        Mr. Betts’ and Ms. Young’s fifth graders will study the revolutionary war in Social Studies.

·        Ms. Britt’s and Dawson’s fifth grade students will review for the Reading, Math and Science FCAT

·        Ms. Greenfield’s fifth graders will study data analysis, graphing, and algebraic thinking in Math.

·        Ms. Fraser’s media students in grades 3, 4 and 5 will continue researching the 50 states and map skills.  They will begin their study of biographies this month.  Students in grades 1 and 2 will continue to read and respond to literature.  Kindergarten students are studying the parts of a story – beginning, middle and ending.

·        Ms. Gibson’s first grade art students will work on Florida bird paintings.  Third graders will be working on realistic self-portraits.

·        Ms. Hampton’s primary music students are learning about call and response form.  Fourth and fifth graders are working on reading rhythms and melodies.

·        Ms. Karpus’ PE students will work on tennis skills.

·        Garden City students are required to read at least 20 minutes every night.  Reading is important!  Remember to log your reading.

·        Stay informed about your school…The Parent Portal is located at https://dcps.mygradeportal.com.   You can use your parent username and password to monitor your child’s grades, assignment completion and attendance.  You may also visit your child’s teacher’s webpage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be There is a research-based, multimedia campaign designed to get parents more involved in their children’s education.  One hundred percent of the research studies compiled by The Parent Institute* indicate that parent involvement has a significant impact on student success.  The statistics show that with as little as a one-third increase in parent participation, school achievement scores increase dramatically.  It only takes a small increase in parent input to see measurable results in student output!

Here are six key research facts from some of the most important research findings: (Reprinted with permission from The Parent Institute.)

1. The family provides the child’s primary educational environment.
2. Involving parents in their children’s formal education improves student achievement.
3. High scoring schools and districts have high levels of parent involvement.
4. The benefits last a lifetime, they are not confined to early childhood or the elementary level; there are strong effects from involving parents continuously through middle and high school.
5. Minorities have the most to gain. Children from low-income and minority families benefit greatly when schools involve parents. Parents do not have to be well educated to help.
6. School and home are connected. We cannot look at the school and the home in isolation from one another; we must see how they interconnect with each other and with the world at large.

When you connect with your child every day, your child benefits for life.  When he or she knows you care and are concerned about education, the following occurs:

• Achievement in school improves; students earn higher grades and test scores and enroll in higher-level programs
• Children want to go to school
• Courses are passed, credits earned and students are promoted to the next grade
• Self-confidence improves
• Children have better social skills and behavior at home and at school
• Students graduate from high school and go on to postsecondary education

 

 

Kindergarten

Elliot Karpus

Trevon Whaley-Smith

Cierra Taylor

Isamarie Valentin

Brenae Watkins

Jaylan Webster

Courtney Williams

 

Grade 1

Lauren Favroth

Darian Kierce

Ayanna Lang

Anna Schaar

Laila Thomas

Camar’ron Washington

 

Grade 2

Kailee Bush

Natividad Diaz

Dartagnan Griggs

Michael Hudnall

Kory Linwood

Kierra Powell

 

 Grade 3

Jalarrica Degraffread

Carlos Diaz

Jessica Edwards

Joseph Hopkins

Jonee Jenkins

Teddy Pagan

KiArie Richards

 

Grade 4

Amari Hopson

Tamia Muller

Peter Sok

Nikkeria Tyson

Elijah Wilcox

 

Grade 5

Davontay Brown

Indie Collier

April Harris

Titianna Mills

Gabrielle Williams

 

 

 

 

·        Marco Ingram, kindergarten, completed an excellent report about Harriett Tubman.

·        Michael Mayhams, first grade, has mastered the addition facts up to 20.  Way to go!

·         Ciani Dacres and Jaden Washington, fourth grade, were escorted to the Father/Daughter Banquet at the magnificent Hyatt Hotel on the Riverfront.

·        Willaye Daisy and Jamey Turner, fifth grade, scored 100% on Science Scrimmage 6!

·        Jamey Turner’s artwork has been selected for the Christmas greeting card sponsored by the Cathedral Arts Foundation.

·       We are very proud of students who achieved the reading benchmark standard for the second grading period.

 

 

·        Parents who sent in wish list items and Valentine’s Day treats

·        Parents who attended a family involvement activity

·        Parents/families who have joined the PTA

·        PTA Board Members

·        Gardenview Baptist Church

·        Open Arms Christian Fellowship (Men’s Ministry)

·       Winn Dixie Corporation

·       McDonald’s (Dunn Avenue & Lem Turner Rd.)

·        Ms. Brenda Simone Clark        Ms. Helen Corning

·        Ms. Jacquenee Wynn              Ms. Deborah Hopkins

·        Mr. Scott Karpus                    Ms. Quanta Hatch

·        Ms. Jade Guevara                   Manigault Family

·        Mr. Charles Altendorf              Ms. Venus Brenton

·        Mr. & Mrs. Chestnut      Ms. Lynn Hancock

·        Ms. Sylvia Ramirez       Ms. Latrell Middleton

·        Ms. Sylvia Powell                    Ms. Tiffany Johnson 

·        Ms. Tanieca Citizen       Ms. Charayma Medina

·        Ms. Brandi Hopkins      Ms. Laticia Bennett

·        Ms. Carol Perry

·        Ms. Trell Wlder

·        Ms. Olivia Murray

·        Ms. Cynthia Williams

·        Ms. Carrie Thrift

·        Ms. Katana Brown

·        Ms. Frances Strickland

·        Ms. Lena Dunbar

·        Ms. Stacey Lowery

·        Ms. Katrina Duncan

·        Ms.  Michelle Robinson

 

 

·        Chaperones for the second grade fieldtrip to the Zoo – March 4, 2010.  A volunteer card is required.

·        Chaperones for the first grade fieldtrip to the Zoo – March 22, 2010.  A volunteer card is required.

·        Tutors are always needed.  Call Ms. Tarkington at 924-3130 if you can assist.

Wish List         

                                                                                              

·        Ms. Bias wishes for donations of snacks

·        Ms. Broughton and Ms. Turner wish for donations of hand sanitizer, Lysol spray and snacks.

• Ms. Deckert wishes for donations of glue sticks.
• Ms. Short wishes for donations of hand sanitizer, tissue and juice boxes.
• Ms. Walsh wishes for donations of tissues and copy paper.
• Ms. Carley and Ms. Frison wish for donations of pencil top erasers.
• Ms. Lampkin wishes for donations of tissue and Lysol spray.
• Ms. McCray wishes for donations of pencils, snacks and hand sanitizer.
• Ms. Prophitt and Ms. Washington wish for a donation of an electric pencil sharpener.
• Ms. Small wishes for donations of pencils, cap erasers, hand sanitizer, tissue and Fun Friday treats.
• Ms. Atkins and Ms. Tompkins wish for donations of copy paper and pencils.
• Ms. Blaylock and Ms. Sheffield wish for donations of notebook paper.
• Ms. Cooper and Ms. Naccarato wish for donations of copy paper, pencils and erasers.
• Ms. Rollins wishes for donations of tissue, anti-bacterial wipes and copy paper.
• Ms. Bliss and Ms. Herbert wish for donations of pencils, cap erasers, tissue and hand sanitizer.
• Ms. Peterson wishes for donations of tissue and pencils.
• Ms. Wilder wishes for donations of tissue, notebook paper and copy paper.
• Mr. Betts and Ms. Young wish for donations of pencils, tissue, and clean-up wipes.
• Ms. Britt and Ms. Dawson wish for donations of hand sanitizer, tissue and copy paper.
• Ms. Greenfield wishes for donations of tissue, copy paper and snacks for FCAT week.
• Mrs. Sapp wishes that all families would join the PTA ($5.00 per family) and attend our monthly Family Involvement activities!

 

 

 Family Involvement Activities

March 9…PTA/Kindergarten Program…6:30 p.m.

March 25… Students of the Month Reception

1:45 p.m.

March 29…PTA Cookie Dough Fundraiser