Week 14 November 5, 2016

One more Issue 58 Community Meeting Left
Monday, November 7 at Station Sixth Grade at 7:30pm.  If you are unable to attend, we want to make sure that every family understands the facts about this important local issue on the November 8 ballot.  So, what’s on the ballot – Hilliard City Schools is seeking voter approval of a combined 4.5-mill operating and a $50 million bond levy.  These are two separate issues that are combined into a single vote.
Why is it needed – Operating levies fund the day-to-day operations of the district, paying for things like teachers, supplies and utilities.  The last levy was approved by voters in 2011 and was expected to last three years.  Thanks to strong fiscal management and a great collaboration with our employees, the district has stretched those funds to last for five years.  
Also, the district is expecting 1,000 new students in the next five years.  Additional classroom space will be needed.  This is why a new middle school is planned for district owned property next to Hilliard Bradley High School.
What are the options – This levy request is about maintaining the excellence in our classrooms and ensuring adequate space to keep up with growth.  If the levy passes, it means we can maintain our high quality of education.  If voters do not approve the levy then the district will enact cuts that are already approved by the board of education.  This includes cutting 60 staff members.  These are not threats, this is the reality of how school funding works.  We cannot pay for what we cannot afford.

Please take a few minutes to make sure you know the facts about Issue 58.  Thank you for your continued support of our schools!  Please visit our website for details on this important ballot issue.

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​Readers Workshop:
This week we began learning more about choosing books that help us grow as readers. 
WE know we read LOTS of books! Some books are Read to Me, Read With Me, or Read By Myself.  
As we read we are quickly noticing:

Read to Me  (books we will need another reader to read to us) Have lots of words,  few or no pictures, the print is tiny, and we can't solve the words even when we use our strategies. These are books I think of as lap books, cuddle your little one in your lap and enjoy the book together!  

Read with Me (books I can read mostly by myself and figure out tricky words but might need help with a few words when my strategies fail.) Are books we are highly interested in, the pictures support our reading, we know most of the words or can figure them out. This is a good place for a reader to be! You will still want to sit down with this reader and enjoy all they've learned to do! Remember to talk about the story too! Reading is about finding the message and learning not saying words! 

Read By Myself (books I can read all by myself) Are books I can read, think and talk about ALL BY MYSELF!  Consider recording these readings, calling someone special to read too, reading to a pet, or a sibling.

Look for a reading graph to start this week! Yep, I found a way to combine the student's LOVE of graphs with a purpose! We will do the graphing at school; you won't need to do anything with the graph! Feel free to talk about it as you see appropriate. 

While our the focus of lesson has moved from word solving we are still practicing these skills in our reading AND students are accountable for using these strategies to solve unknown words. As I confer with readers in small groups, individual conferences, or work with the whole class, I will be supporting needs as they arise. So, as we pack this tool in our tool box we are learning (adding) another.   

​Writer’s Workshop: 
We have entered into GOAL SETTING and allowing the writers to take ownership over their writing development. We began as we were all gathered on the carpet for writing workshop.  I asked the writers to reflect on our learning thus far in writing workshop.  After giving the kids a few minutes to reflect I grabbed a sheet of paper and asked them, "Writers, what would you expect to see in a piece of writing?" They looked at me and paused, no hands shooting in the air and no shout outs. Finally, a brave soul said, "Pictures and words."   I turned to my paper and drew a tree in green and wrote tree with the same green marker.  "How about this? I have words, and I have an illustration."

Immediately, the kids began to add ideas, " NO, you need a sentence and more than one thing in your picture and you used only one color."  

I grabbed a second piece of paper and wrote a sentence and added a few things to my illustrations. I turned to the class and asked, 

"Ok, how's this?" " It's better Mrs. Frazier (first graders are so compassionate) but, you still need more."
"We can do like three sentences and three illustrations to match our words." 

So, I gave them just that, three illustrations and three sentences.  They paused, and began again, 

"Well, we can still do more." I replied, "YOU CAN! So, what would it look like if we tried one more time?"  
"We would write lots of sentences, with matching pictures to help our reader."

"I think we should have feelings in our writing and lots of colors. One color is kind of boring."

"We need punctuation marks too, and we can write ideas from our mentor authors." 

"WOW! You know a lot about writing! 

I grabbed my final paper and began creating just what they'd asked me to do. When I finished, I taped each sample on a piece of chart paper and labeled each with a number for easy reference. 

Next, I asked the writers to think about their writing reminding them they could be anywhere on this chart.

"We are all working hard to grow, and each one shows us a step in growing as a writer."  

Before sending the students off to write, I asked them to envision the writing they were planning for today. Then, I handed each writer a pre-cut piece of a post-it-note ( The super sticky notes to ensure it's power to stick.) and requested they place their name with the writing they would aspire to do today. 

I have been so impressed with the grit the kids have been applying to their work since setting goals!  On Friday, as we were packing up for the day one student said, "When are we going to make a five?  I am writing one now we can use." I guess Monday; we are making a five!

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We have completed our dream statements and they are hanging proudly in our room. We refer to them daily. When we have an opportunity to make a students dream come to fruition, we do. For example, Mason W. has a dream that we are a classroom that takes care of people outside of our classroom and inside. (the son of a healthcare professional, can you tell?) As we are learning about the meaning of Veterans Day, being a Veteran, and showing respect to our Veterans we are realizing Mason's dream.  As we fill the tub with donations for our Veterans, we are realizing Mason's dream and learning to be compassionate. 

Help us realize Mason's dream and support our veterans! 

#1 BRING IN ITEMS  for care packages that will be sent to men and women all over the WORLD!
It’s easy!  Just bring in items and place it in the Blue collection container by your classroom door.   A Synergy member will pick up from your classroom daily and keep a count of items.  A running total will be kept on the Synergy Bulletin Board.  Each item will count towards your class total.  On November 11th, the class with the most points will get a COOL award! WE NEED TO WIN THIS!!!
We are collecting Care Package items like:
Travel size- shampoo, lotion, hand sanitizer, individual tooth brushes, small toothpaste, Q-tips, cotton ball, deodorant, decks of cards, boot cut sock, hand/foot warmers, water bottle flavoring, pop tarts, individual cereal boxes, ziploc bags all sizes, and many more.
Go to www.hilliardvetparade.com and click on “HELP FILL A TRUCK” tab for a full list of items to collect.
#2 HELP US COVER THE BULLETIN BOARD WITH VETERAN PICTURES!
Bring in “COPIES” of Veteran pictures from your family or friends.  Make sure it includes their name, branch and years in the service.  Place pictures in the container by the bulletin board by the gym.
#3 WE NEED LETTERS!- WE ARE DOING THIS ONE IN CLASS, but letters from home are welcome too! 
Write letters to a Veteran.  They can be as simple as “Thank You” or include questions.  If you ask questions in your letter make sure you place your first name, teacher’s name and Darby Creek Elementary on it so the Veteran will have a place to send a response to if they desire.  Our SYNERGY CLUB GOAL is to have at least one letter per student at Darby Creek by November 10th.  Letters will be distributed to Veterans at Darby Creek and at the Veterans Day Parade in Hilliard on 11/11/16 at 7:00pm.  Place all letters in the container by the bulletin board by the gym.
#4 VETERANS DAY PARADE- I will be there! Lets try to meet to in front of the Dairy Queen and show our support as a class! 
Come to the parade.  It is on Friday November 11th at 7:00 pm in Hilliard.  It starts at the Fairgrounds, goes through Old Hilliard and ends up at the park by the West pool.  The Veterans would appreciate our support!  If you go to the parade, you will see us collecting more items for care packages from other people in the community.
MORE PARADE INFO CAN BE FOUND AT www.hilliardvetparade.com.


Monday         10-31 A Day -Music     PLEASE SEND IN ITEMS FOR OUR VETERANS
Tuesday        11-01 B Day- Art  PLEASE SEND IN ITEMS FOR OUR VETERANS
Wednesday  11-02 C Day- Gym        PLEASE SEND IN ITEMS FOR OUR VETERANS
Thursday      11-03 A Day-Music      PLEASE SEND IN ITEMS FOR OUR VETERANS
Friday            11-04 B Day- Art   PLEASE SEND IN ITEMS FOR OUR VETERANS

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
11/4- Election Day- Hilliard U- teacher professional development no school
11/7--7:00 p.m. PTO meeting--3rd grade to attend
11/8--TEACHER INSERVICE/ELECTION DAY--NO STUDENTS
11/11  at 7:00 pm veterans parade  in Hilliard​
11/16--Steve Harpster will visit DCR students for the day!
11/19--6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. DCR Rummage Sale
​11/23--Conference Comp Day--NO SCHOOL
11/24-11/25--THANKSGIVING BREAK--NO SCHOOL
12/5-12/9--PTO Holiday Shop for students during the day--more information to come
12/13--7:00 p.m. 3rd grade winter music program
12/20--1:45 Winter Sing-A-Long; 2:00 Winter Parties--remember healthy balance please!
​12/21-1/3--WINTER BREAK--NO SCHOOL
1/4--RETURN FROM BREAK

Veterans Day Celebration at Darby Creek Elementary School
9:00am – 12:00
​On Friday, November 11th, the SYNERGY Club at Darby Creek Elementary School would like to invite Veterans to a Town Hall celebration honoring men and women who have been in the military as well as some of our outstanding caring students.  The doors open for Veterans at 9:00 (Coffee and light refreshments) with the Town Hall meeting beginning at 10:10 in the gym. After the meeting this year we have added some socialization time for veterans in the media canter as well as some Veteran classroom visits for “Veteran story time” if desired.  The students at Darby Creek are excited to welcome and thank Veterans for their service.  This event is a Darby Creek Favorite!
The SYNERGY Club needs your help to spread the word and invite any veterans that you know to Darby Creek Elementary School on Veterans Day for a Great Celebration!
PTO UPDATE:
There are lots of PTO events going on this month!
​•     November 7th - 7pm-  PTO MEETING @ Darby Creek Media Center
•     November 17th - 6am-8pm - SPIRIT DAY @ COFFEE CONNECTION HILLIARD   No Flyer Necessary. Click here for details: http://www.darbycreekpto.com/spirit-night-dates.html 
•     November 19th - 8am-12pm - RUMMAGE SALE   Donate your gently used items now! Click here for details: http://www.darbycreekpto.com/rummage-sale.html
December 10th - 8am-12pm - SANTA RUN (5K/FUN RUN)  Join us on this fun day of fitness, cookies, and Santa! Click here for details: http://www.darbycreekpto.com/5k.html