Mrs. Lindblom's Friday Note

Mrs. Lindblom will be sending a note home with her kindergarten students every Friday during the school year. If your child did not bring the note home or if you would like to view it now, you can click on the link on the left side of the page to download it in .pdf format.

All newsletters are saved in .pdf format. You can read them using the free program Adobe Reader. If you do not have Adobe Reader on your computer, you can download it for free by clicking on the link on the right side of the page.

May 2, 2008

Read Mrs. Lindblom's note here

Dear Parents:

We have finished the first week of our thematic unit on plants. We have learned that plants are living things and that they need water, sun, soil and air to live and grow. The students have leaned that many plants grow from seeds. They also have learned the four parts of plants: roots, stems, leaves and flowers or seeds. They have planted seeds and are observing them daily.

The Teacher Read Aloud Book was Spring Is Here. The Social Science link book was What Season Is It?  The Kinder Friends book was Growing Flowers. The Phonics Library story was Get Set! Play!

The Barbara Saul book was Tommy Bear for a special reason. This week we celebrated Bear Day. The students practiced their oral language skills by talking to the class about the stuffed animal they brought to school. They practiced their writing and art skills by writing and illustrating a story about their stuffed animal. We practiced math skills by measuring the teddy bears.

I have recently noticed that some of the children have become fussy; more easily frustrated and seem tired. I am wondering if some children are staying up later with the recent time change where it is staying lighter for longer in the evening. I know from personal experience it is very hard to put a child to bed when it is light outside. Try darkening the room and spending time reading together. A good night’s sleep is very important to being ready and able to learn.

Research study finds board games build math skills. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (3/26, Smydo) reported, "Beyond serving as a pleasant pastime, some children's board games may help raise the math skills of disadvantaged pre-kindergarten students, according to a study at Carnegie Mellon University" that was reported in the journal Child Development.

Researchers found that "preschoolers from low-income homes made significant advances in counting and other skills after playing a game that required them to move markers along a horizontal path consisting of numbered squares."  Further, the "participants maintained the achievement gains nine weeks after they stopped playing the game -- an important point given the thorny problem of retention in public education."  One of the researchers, Dr. Robert S. Siegler, was also a member of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, which last week "issued recommendations for improving the nation's math performance."  Siegler suggested that "one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to" improve preschool mathematics skills "is to provide board games to Head Start centers, child-care centers serving low-income populations and perhaps individual parents."

Mrs. Twibell's Third Newsletter

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Mrs. Twibell will be sending a newsletter home every month during the school year. If your child did not bring the newsletter home or if you would like to view it now, you can click on the link on the left side of the page to download it in .pdf format.

All newsletters are saved in .pdf format. You can read them using the free program Adobe Reader. If you do not have Adobe Reader on your computer, you can download it for free by clicking on the link on the right side of the page.

March, 2008

Read Mrs. Twibell's note here

It is hard to believe that daylight savings time is already here!  This makes it difficult to get up in the morning but wonderful to have light late in the day.  Time is passing quickly and we are in a rapid move towards the end of the year.  Spring is here and summer close behind.
COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY!
One of our goals for students at South Bay Elementary is for them to learn good communication skills.  Families play the most important role in building communication skills.  Here are some tips on developing quality communication between yourself and your child:
Listen:

• Let your child now that what he/she has to say is important to you
• Listen to your child daily
• Look, act and be interested without being distracted
• Show respect for your child’s feelings, and opinions without being judgmental
• Ask your child to do all of the above when you are talking

Reflect:

• Make sure you understand what your child means by repeating back what you think you have heard
• Ask your child to do the same when you are expressing yourself

Share:

• Communication is a two-way street, your feelings and opinions and those of your child must be stated without criticizing or lecturing

Discuss:

• Talk about issues and if you don’t agree, you simply can agree to disagree
• Define the problem:
• Set up options
• Look for the pros and cons of each option and possible consequences
• Make a decision
• Plan to reexamine the decision after time has passed

Dell’ Arte Youth Academy

            Starting this month until the end of May, all our students  are participating in physical theater classes one hour each week.  The classes are sequential, standards-aligned performing arts instruction.   This is an extraordinary opportunity for all students to learn about creative movement, dynamic physical character development and improvisation as a source for script creation.

SPELLING BEE WINNERS

Skyler Means, and Asia Scarfia are going to the Region I Spelling Bee at Grant School on March 14th.  Electra Redd will be attending as an alternate. GOOD LUCK!           
           
SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS
2008
4th Grade
3rd Place                                    Kelli Scott
2nd Place                                    Saw Xiong
1st Place                                    Tianna Darby
5th Grade
3rd Place                                    Nathan Thomas
2nd Place                                    Geraldo Manzo
                                    Connor Horn
                                                Haley Russell
1st Place                                    Roshawn Yehle
6th Grade
3rd Place                                    Vanessa Manzo
2nd Place                                    Brooke Pirkle
1st Place                                    Lorenzo Abeto
Those students going to Humboldt County Science Fair (those who earned the most points by the judges)
Tianna Darby
Lorenzo Abeto
Brooke Pirkle
Roshawn Yehle
Vanessa Manzo
Abby Maxwell-Gift
Asia Scarfia
Austin Emerson
Saw Xiong

NUTRITION FAIR/WRITING NIGHT—Wednesday, April 9th at South Bay

This is a great school/community event held at South Bay School.  Come out and taste some delicious and nutritious food.  Ms. Maschmeier and her staff have planned an evening of fun and food.

SPRING BREAK APRIL 14-18 (not connected to Easter)

OPEN HOUSE WEDNESDAY—MARCH 26th 7- 8 p.m.

BOOK FAIR IN SOUTH BAY LIBRARY AT 6:30 P.M

            E-SCRIP DRIVE—GIVE US YOUR Name, Safeway Card # and Address----We enter you with Power Enrollment.  Our school earns money through E-Scrip-when you shop at Safeway! EASY  WAY TO SUPPORT SOUTH BAY ELEMENTARY!

Principal's Message

August 23, 2007

To All Students, Staff, Parents/Guardians and Friends of the South Bay Elementary School Community:

I want to take this opportunity to welcome you back for the 2007-2008 school year.  I am looking forward to getting to know you and your child this year.  We are all very excited and want to welcome some new staff members to the South Bay Elementary School team.

Mason Clark, Food Service Manager
Rachael Trump, Food Service Assistant
Porsha Jett, Food Service Assistant
Phyllis Weiderman, District Library Clerk
Corrina Pope, Bus Driver/Custodian/Maintenance

I also want to welcome the new EXPLORE and support staff that are joining our school.  Each of you is vitally important to provide the high quality education that is our focus and mission.

Strong communication between home and school is necessary to maximize your child’s success.  I encourage you to be involved in your child’s learning and all school related activities.  We have an open-door policy and encourage you to visit your child’s classroom and/or school.

Working together ensures a successful school year for our children.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Welcome back to the new school year!

Sincerely,

Marie Twibell
Superintendent/Principal