Leesville Rd. Elementary School From the Desk of the Principal
Leesville Rd. Elementary School From the Desk of the Principal
Leesville Rd. Elementary School From the Desk of the Principal
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>Leesville</strong> <strong>Rd</strong>. <strong>Elementary</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
<strong>From</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Desk</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Principal</strong><br />
December 7, 2012<br />
8401 LEESVILLE ROAD<br />
RALE IG H, NC 27613<br />
PHONE: 919.870-4200<br />
FAX: 919.870-4188<br />
Dear Parents/Guardians:<br />
You probably received your child’s interim by now. This serves as a mid-point average <strong>of</strong> your child’s academic<br />
performance for quarter two. If you have any surprises, please let your child’s teacher know so <strong>the</strong>y can share what<br />
data <strong>the</strong>y used to determine <strong>the</strong> grade.<br />
We are busy with delving deeper into <strong>the</strong> Common Core. Students are involved with some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> best instructional<br />
practices <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Common Core. They are participating in interactive read alouds by turning and talking to <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
neighbor about vocabulary, short summaries, or predictions. Students are citing text to show where <strong>the</strong>y found <strong>the</strong><br />
answer to <strong>the</strong> question. Students are explaining <strong>the</strong> how and why when asked higher level quality questions. The<br />
integration <strong>of</strong> technology is observed in all classrooms. Writing is a major part <strong>of</strong> reading. Non – fiction texts are<br />
used.<br />
We have eight standards <strong>of</strong> ma<strong>the</strong>matical practice. All students are problem–solving using:<br />
1. Make sense <strong>of</strong> problems and persevere in solving <strong>the</strong>m. A good example <strong>of</strong> this is when <strong>the</strong> student<br />
explains his/her answer and collaborates to understand <strong>the</strong> different approaches used by o<strong>the</strong>rs in <strong>the</strong><br />
problem – solving process.<br />
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively. A student uses math to represent real world situations and applies <strong>the</strong><br />
concepts <strong>the</strong>y learned to <strong>the</strong> problem – solving process.<br />
3. Construct viable arguments and critique reasoning <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs. Students can justify <strong>the</strong>ir thinking using<br />
words, objects, and drawings as <strong>the</strong>y hear arguments <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs and decide if <strong>the</strong>y make sense.<br />
4. Model with ma<strong>the</strong>matics. Students use multiple representations to show <strong>the</strong>ir thinking and alter models as<br />
needed throughout <strong>the</strong> process.<br />
5. Use appropriate tools strategically. Students know <strong>the</strong> tools appropriate for <strong>the</strong>ir grade and make decisions<br />
about which ones will be helpful. They compare estimates to actual answers to see if <strong>the</strong> tool was effective.<br />
Some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tools are technological.<br />
6. Attend to precision. Students use ma<strong>the</strong>matical vocabulary appropriately while calculating accurately and<br />
efficiently.<br />
7. Look for and make use <strong>of</strong> structure. Students use patterns to make rules about math and to gain conceptual<br />
understanding <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> procedures. Students use properties to solve problems and share ideas with o<strong>the</strong>rs to<br />
develop general methods for problem solving.<br />
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. Students apply mental math strategies and<br />
continually evaluate whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>ir answer makes sense.<br />
Using <strong>the</strong>se eight standards has been a huge shift in <strong>the</strong> instruction <strong>of</strong> our students. They appear to be doing quite<br />
well. As I said before, <strong>the</strong> biggest shift with <strong>the</strong> Common Core is to refine <strong>the</strong> thinking process <strong>of</strong> all students.<br />
Thank you for your continued support.<br />
DATES TO REMEMBER:<br />
12/11 – LES Open House: Two sessions for interested parents – 10:30am and 6:30pm<br />
12/13 – LES Practice Spelling Bee<br />
12/14 – Red Herring Puppets Cultural Arts Program (funded by LES PTA!)<br />
12/21 – Early Release Day 1:15pm<br />
12/24 through 1/1/2013 – Holiday Break – no school<br />
1/7/2013 – Kindergarten Registration – volunteers are needed. Contact Ellen Dupre at emdupre@wcpss.net<br />
W E B S I T E : W W W . W C P S S . N E T
LES Open House – volunteer tour guides needed<br />
Tuesday, December 11 - Two sessions: 10:30am and 6:30pm – LES Media Center<br />
Contact Ellen Dupre, LES Data Manager, at emdupre@wcpss.net with questions.<br />
LES will <strong>of</strong>fer an Open House for prospective new families as an opportunity to tour our school. Tours will be led<br />
by members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> LES Student Council and we are looking for about 6 parent volunteers to assist with tours at<br />
each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two sessions. If you are able to volunteer for an hour at ei<strong>the</strong>r 10:30am or 6:30pm, please contact<br />
PTA volunteer coordinator, Amy Brown at ncsuamy@nc.rr.com.<br />
Want to see your PTA contributions in use? Join us for <strong>the</strong> Red Herring Puppet Show on 12/14/12!<br />
The times for each grade level to attend <strong>the</strong> Red Herring Puppet show are 1:00pm - Kindergarten, 4th grade, and<br />
2nd grade ; 2:15pm - 1st grade, 3rd grade, 5th grade. The show is about 40 minutes long with a Q&A session after.<br />
Please join us!<br />
Out to Eat Night Winners Announced! – from Golden Corral on Glenwood Avenue<br />
Thank you for coming out on 11/29 for Out to Eat Night! Thank you to Kim Latta, Liz Taylor and Kim Ply and her<br />
team for setting up <strong>the</strong> booth to sell spirit items as well! Each student in our top two classes will receive a coupon<br />
for a free Kid’s Meal from Golden Corral AND our top class also wins a Popsicle party!! #1 in attendance: Mrs.<br />
Lloyd’s 3 rd Grade class; #2 in attendance: Mrs. Wilson’s 2 nd Grade class.<br />
Box Top Winners – we will combine November and December<br />
Due <strong>the</strong> short weeks in November and a shorter month <strong>of</strong> school in December, we will combine <strong>the</strong>se two and<br />
announce a combined winner for Box Tops – keep saving and sending <strong>the</strong>m in! Thank you!<br />
Special Order Spirit Wear Update -<br />
The Fall Special Order Spirit Wear orders are in! They were distributed to classrooms this week and should be<br />
coming home with your child. Since <strong>the</strong>se were special order printed shirts <strong>the</strong>re are no returns/exchanges, but if<br />
you have any o<strong>the</strong>r questions please feel free to contact Spirit Wear chairperson, Kim Ply at kimaply@yahoo.com.<br />
The LES Silent Auction: To be held April 26 – We would love your help!<br />
We are in <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> forming our committee for our Silent Auction that will take place in <strong>the</strong> spring. Preeti<br />
Waas is <strong>the</strong> chairperson for this event (yay Preeti!). If you are interested in co-chairing or would like to participate<br />
in any way please contact Holly Cruikshank (LES Fundraising Chair) at hollyw1214@yahoo.com. This event is a<br />
GREAT way to get involved and meet o<strong>the</strong>r LES parents.<br />
These parent volunteers are PAWsitively Awesome! Do you know <strong>the</strong>se folks? You should!<br />
Many thanks to Amy Crawford, Kim Ply, Carrie Alvis, and Emily Erickson for serving on <strong>the</strong> Carpool Board<br />
Committee – <strong>the</strong>y update <strong>the</strong> useful information posted in <strong>the</strong> front driveway! It is an important responsibility that<br />
takes place weekly to keep everyone informed. Thank you!<br />
You may contact <strong>the</strong> LES PTA board at start<strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>pride@gmail.com or by visiting <strong>the</strong> school website at<br />
www.les.wcpss.net. Monthly events are posted on <strong>the</strong> school calendar.<br />
Enjoy your weekend with your children.<br />
With warmest regards,<br />
Cecelia