January 2008 Newsletter

Welcome 2008! It is hard to believe that it is January. Time goes so quickly. We at George Washington are looking forward to the New Year with much enthusiasm. We hope you had a wonderful vacation and are looking forward to this year as much as we are.

New York State English Language Arts Assessment for Grades 3, 4, and 5
During the week of January 7th, our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students will be given the New York State English language arts assessment. This test is taken over a two or three-day period, involving reading comprehension, writing, and listening skills.
       ·Here are a few test-taking tips:
                    o Eat a good breakfast!
                    o Rest up! Be sure to go to bed on time.
                    o Smile and do your best!

       ·The testing schedule is as follows:
                   o Grades 3 & 5          Monday and Tuesday
                   o Grade 4                   Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Fifth grade
Congratulations to all our students who completed the NYS Social Studies Assessment on November 14th and 15th. We are proud of all their hard work and effort to do their best! Starting this month, the students will begin their "Information Literacy" unit in the computer lab and library, which delves into differentiating between reliable and questionable resources on the Internet.

Gallery One
George Washington Elementary student artists had their work displayed throughout central office during its Gallery One opening on December 18, 2007. Parents and students visited to view and enjoy the works of many students in first grade through fifth grade. Students’ work varied in many mediums such as pencil drawings, collages, mixed media, and oil pastels. The works were exceptional, great job students. Congratulations to Mrs. Knapp for all her hard work with the students and the art projects.

Toys in School
Please remind your children that toys of any kind are NOT allowed in school, especially electronic toys such as: iPods, gameboys, etc. these items are costly and we can’t be responsible for these items. In addition, cell phones are not allowed in elementary school.

Introducing the Lakeland Staff Tribute Program
The Lakeland Education Foundation and the Lakeland Federation of Teachers of the Lakeland School System are excited to announce a new initiative as a way to recognize and to thank the dedicated professionals in the Lakeland School System. Parents often want to say a special thank you to the teachers, aides, and specialized instructors who make such a difference in our schools each day. Many parents elect to write heartfelt notes or send gifts around the holidays or at graduation. This year, we would ask that you take a different approach and consider The Lakeland Staff Tribute Program.

      · The program allows anyone to make a tax deductible gift to the Lakeland         Education Foundation in the name of the person you want to recognize.
      · The honoree will receive a card from the Foundation congratulating them         for their efforts that make a difference and providing the name of the         donor. (You can remain anonymous if you wish).
      · Each gift will be acknowledged in writing in a form acceptable for tax         purposes
      · Your personal donations may qualify for a corporate matching gift if your         employer offers such a program.

The Lakeland Education Foundation is a registered 501C3, non-profit organization. The Foundation is a coalition of parents, residents, local businesses and friends of education in the Lakeland Central School District. We actively provide grants (more than $250,000) to teachers and students within the Lakeland school system for a wide variety of projects and initiatives to enhance your children's education.

Parent Learning Styles Workshop
During the evening of December 10th, approximately twenty-five parents participated in our first parent learning styles workshop. Thank you to all who attended and participated. It is our hope that each parent walked away with valuable information about learning styles. The information shared during this night is posted on the George Washington School website. We welcome any feedback and further interest. Thanks again for participating. Please join us for our next meeting on January 14th at 6:30-8 p.m. Details will follow.

Benchmarking and AIMSweb®
During late January, students in grades kindergarten through grade two will participate in AIMS Web benchmarking. AIMSweb® is a scientifically based, formative assessment system that 'informs' the teaching and learning process by providing continuous student performance data and reporting improvement to parents, teachers, and administrators to enable evidence-based evaluation and data-driven instruction.

Mark your calendar:
January
Monday 1           Winter Recess, School Closed
Thursday 3        Extended Day, No After School Activities
Mon-Fri 7-11      Grades 3-5 NYS English Language Arts Assessment
Tuesday 8          PTA Meeting 7:30 p.m.
Monday 14         Second Parent Learning Style Workshop, 6:30-8 p.m.
Monday 21         Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, School Closed
Friday 25            Grade 3-5 Activity Night 7:00 –8:30 p.m.
Friday 25            End of Second Quarter