Transcript Shaffer Times March 2010 Principal’s Perspective This is the month of major preparation for our upcoming PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) tests.

Shaffer Times
March 2010
Principal’s Perspective
This is the month of major preparation for our upcoming PSSA
(Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) tests. We have
been working very hard to ensure that all of our students are
well-prepared for the test. We have provided PSSA Coach
books and set up PSSA Saturday Coach Sessions for our
students. Our reading specialists and our teachers are
working hard to address individual students and customize
lessons. I have every confidence that we will make “adequate
yearly progress” and reach our academic goals for this school
year. More to follow.
Principal Leonard
TAMBELLINI’S SECOND CHANCE
Due to a great response, your PTO will be giving Shaffer families
a second chance to order from Tambellini’s Gourmet Frozen
Foods. Please use the order form in this Shaffer Times to
place your order. ORDERS AND MONEY are due NO
LATER than Wednesday, March 17th. Orders must have
a phone number for each family.
PTO Meeting
New School Board Director, Mr. Bob Rinsma, will be attending
our March PTO meeting on Tuesday, March 9th at 7pm.
We will be discussing field trips, FUN Day and are anxious
to hear from our teachers and parents! As always, children
are welcome and feel free to bring a snack to share.
Teacher Time
Kindergarten is hard at work blending sounds together, making
words and putting words together into sentences. In Mathematics, we
are learning about time and money. Parents, please continue reading
take home books and counting by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s nightly with your
child. It makes a big difference!
Mr. Meredith’s 4th Grade class will be using a new system for
teleconferencing to talk to schools from other places in Pennsylvania
to discuss Pennsylvania history and geography in May. Also, this
spring, his class will be forming construction companies and building
toothpick bridges. Through this activity, this class will learn
cooperation, teamwork, geometry, and balancing a checkbook. In
preparation for this activity, we are also asking for donations of
toothpicks and liquid glue for the companies. We really appreciate
any donations!
Social Time
Fifth and sixth grade students will be bringing home
information about our first Social! It will be in the school
gym on Wednesday, March 17th from 6:30pm-8:30pm.
Please check backpacks for permission slips and ticket
information.
Scholastic Book Fair Time
It’s that time of year again! The Scholastic Book Fair will be hitting
our Library from Tuesday, March 23rd through Thursday, March
25th. Students will be able to shop during their Library classes.
Our Family Night event will be on Tuesday, March 23rd from
6:30pm-8:00pm. Check backpacks for book fair fliers the week of
March 15th!
FUN Day
FUN Day 2010 is just around the corner and planning is
already underway! Heroes are welcome and needed to
staff the many events and activities we have for the
students. FUN Day will be on Friday, May 28th from 9am3pm. Don’t miss it!
Guidance Time
As we approach springtime I am excited once again to begin preparing for
Career Day at Shaffer. This is a fun and educational day for all students to
be able to hear from parents and community members about various
careers. I will be looking for parents and family members who are
interested in presenting and I will also be contacting businesses and
community leaders to take part in this day. Career day will be held on
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 between 9:00a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Individuals
who would like to receive more information and set up a time to come to
the school should call the guidance office at 412-371-4535 ext.2230.
Refreshments will be served and it is a great opportunity to get to know
Shaffer Elementary better. I appreciate the support and this day has been a
great success each year. Also during the month of March students will be
working on the theme of “self-esteem.” Please encourage your child to do
his/her best and believe in what he or she is accomplishing in school. It is
important to try even when the assignment is difficult. There will always
be support given during the school day if needed.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Jessica Cohen
PSSA DATES
Testing dates are as follows:
Reading & Math for Grades 3-6: April 7-16
Writing for Grade 5: April 19-23
Science for Grade 4: April 26-30
Thanks to those who sent in labels so far this year. Our winners for
the February contest were: Mrs. Cole’s class (1st place: 284 labels)
and Mrs. Gable’s class (2nd place: 248 labels). Each label was
counted as one regardless of value, including labels from earlier in
the year, if name/classroom was noted.
March contest: Send in your labels by March 31st! We are giving
everyone another chance. Please mark envelope or baggie with
student name and teacher/classroom. Besides the classroom contest,
each student bringing in 20+ labels this spring will be awarded a
small prize.
Please save: Box Tops for Education, Labels for Education
(Campbell’s, etc.), and Tyson’s Chicken A+ Labels. Please trim off
excess box or label portion - - a few minutes of trimming by each
contributor can save hours for our labels hero! For Campbell’s, we
no longer need the front of the label; please save UPC
barcode with Campbell’s kid or new Labels for Education
logo. Thanks!
Keep Clipping!
Your PTO appreciates your contributions!
RIF
Our next distribution of free books from Reading Is Fundamental will
be held this month. Each Shaffer student is entitled to one book to
keep. Funding is provided by the national organization and your
PTO. We are also pleased to announce the receipt of hardback
multicultural books for the classrooms from RIF & Macy’s. Go to
www.rif.org to find out reading suggestions and activities for your
children or how to encourage legislators to support this program.
PSSA Tests Coming in April
March Events: PUT ON FRIDGE!!
6th
9th
12th
PSSA Coach Session from 8am-10am at Shaffer
PTO Meeting at 7pm in Library
Underground Railroad and Heritage Celebration at
1pm
16th
Uniform Public Hearing at Admin. Bldg. 6:30pm8pm
17th
Tambellini’s Orders Due with Payment
17th
Fifth/Sixth Grade Social 6:30pm-8:30pm
18th
NO SCHOOL – Teacher In-Service
19th
NO SCHOOL – Parent/Teacher Conferences
20th
PSSA Coach Session from 8am-10am at Shaffer
23rd-25th Scholastic Book Fair during Library Classes
29th
TAMBELLINI’S FUNDRAISER DISTRIBUTION
ORDERS READY FOR PICKUP AT 3PM
** Also, coming in April, a fundraiser for our students
with great hoagies from Fox’s Pizza Den in Turtle
Creek!
Nurse’s Time
WE ARE COMING INTO THE HOME STRETCH FOR THE 2009-10 SCHOOL YEAR.
Believe it or not, it’s time to start planning for the 2010-11 school year!
Attention 6th grade parents:
All 7th grade students must have the following immunizations to begin school for the 201011 school year:
•
4 doses of tetanus (1 dose after the fourth birthday)
•
4 doses of diphtheria (1 dose after the fourth birthday)
•
3 doses of polio
•
2 doses of measles
•
2 doses of mumps
•
1 dose of rubella
•
3 doses of hepatitis B
•
2 doses of varicella or written statement from physician indicating month &
year of disease or serologic proof of immunity
All students entering Grades 7-12 must have
1 dose of tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap)
1 dose of meningitis vaccine (MCV4)
ALL 7TH GRADE STUDENTS MUST HAVE:
A mandated dental examination. Your private dentist or the Smile Dental Program
at school can do dental examinations. Private dental forms can be downloaded
from the Shaffer website. Smile Dental Program forms will be provided by the
school nurse.
5th Grade Parents, it is time to start making your doctor appointments for the mandated 6th
grade physical exam for the 2010-11 school year.
2nd grade parents, it is time to make dental examinations for the up-and-coming school
year. 3rd grade is the time set aside by the state for dental check ups. The Smile Dental
Program will provide school dentals, October 19, 2010. Forms will be provided in September
for that exam. All Private doctor forms will be sent home at the end of the year for the
2010-11 school year.
6th Grade Physical examinations are mandated by the state. Some 6th grade students are
not up-to-date with this mandated requirement. Physical examination forms can be
downloaded from the nurse section of the Shaffer website or call Mrs. Walter @ 412.371.4535
ext. 2250.