The FORUM
A Newsletter from the Eric G. Norfeldt School
November 29, 2012
CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
Monday 12/3
Leisure Svcs-Morning Club, Volleyball
(Grades 4 & 5), 7:45AM
Tuesday 12/4
Grade 5 Orchestra, 7:45AM
BOE Meeting, Town Hall Room 314, 7:00PM
Wednesday 12/5
Choir, 7:45AM
First Wednesday- “Family Fun Night”-
No Homework
Thursday 12/6
Grade 5 Band, 7:45AM
Leisure Svcs-Morning Club, Volleyball
(Grades 2 & 3), 7:45AM
Saturday 12/8
Chanukah (Judaism) begins at sunset
through 12/16
Monday 12/10
Leisure Svcs-Morning Club, Volleyball
(Grades 4 & 5), 7:45AM
Tuesday 12/11
Grade 5 Orchestra, 7:45AM
Submissions due for The FORUM
Grade 5 Field Study to CT Science
Center, 9:00AM
Wednesday 12/12
Choir, 7:45AM
Winter Concert, 9:30AM for Students,
7:00PM for Families
Thursday 12/13
Leisure Svcs-Morning Club, Volleyball
(Grades 2 & 3), 7:45AM
The FORUM is published
Grade 3 (Forzley & Campagna) to Noah
Webster House, 9:00AM
PTO Holiday Bazaar, 5:00PM
Friday 12/14
Grade 3 (Thomson & Larson) to Noah
Webster House, 9:00AM
Monday 12/17
Leisure Svcs-Morning Club, Volleyball
(Grades 4 & 5), 7:45AM
Tuesday 12/18
Grade 1 Poetry Tea, 2:00PM
BOE Meeting, Town Hall Room 314, 7:00PM
Wednesday 12/19
Student Council Meeting, 7:45AM Library
Thursday 12/20
Leisure Svcs-Morning Club, Volleyball
(Grades 2 & 3), 7:45AM
Grade 2 Poetry Presentations, 2:00PM
Monday 12/24- Tuesday 1/1/13
Holiday Recess- No School
Tuesday 12/25
Christmas (Christianity)
Wall of Honor
The following students were recipients of Wall of Honor certificates for the period ending November 16, 2012:
Kindergarten
Séamus D., Preston G.
Grade One
Gabriella D., Ava K., Bella L., Dominic R.
Grade Two
Brigid B., Calleigh F., Jordan F., Arjun M., Maddie M., Blake P., Mercedes R., Seth S., Kellyann T.
Grade Three
Andrew C., Alex C., Sophie G., Sean M., Megan G., Logan M., Colin R., Ezekiel S.
Grade Four
Niija D., Josh L., Isaiah R., Sophia S., Oscar S.
Grade Five
Nicole A., Mia D., Aarik G., Jackson M., Josh P., Dawit T.
Picture Retake Day
Picture Retake Day is tomorrow Friday, November 30th. The photographers will be here for about an hour, starting at 9:00AM. Students who would like a retake MUST return their original Portrait Package to the photographer on this day.
From the Media Center
The fall book fair was a big success. Thanks to the many volunteers who helped, and especially to Laura Faga, chair of the Fair, who put in many hours to help make it run smoothly. Proceeds will be used to purchase books for the library as well as other equipment.
Here are a few WOW! facts about libraries that you might want to know:
v Research shows the highest achieving students attend schools with good library media centers.
v Americans spend nearly ten times as much money on home video games ($9.9 billion) as they do on school library materials for their children ($1 billion)
v Students make 1.5 billion visits to school library media centers during the school year.
v School library media centers spend an average of $10 per child for books, less than half the cost of one hardcover school library book
*Pamphlet: "Quotable Facts About America's Libraries", American Library Association, 2008
Enjoy your libraries!
Mrs. Bebe Billings
Library Media Specialist
From the Green
Team
THANK YOU to Mr. and Mrs. Kobelski for volunteering their time to stain the garden shed! They did a top-notch job! It’s now sealed and ready for the spring when Mr. A’s crew will paint the mural on it.
STUDENT COUNCIL
2012 Food Drive
Hello Norfeldt families!
My name is Jenna Z. and I am Norfeldt’s corresponding secretary. Our food drive started November 15thand ended November 23rd. We collected many different foods, such as soup, pasta, beans and many more. Our food drive was very successful, collecting 933 items! Norfeldt is a school with great participation and teamwork! Let’s keep up the good work!
Thank you very much to all the people who supported this food drive. An extra big thank you to the people who put in extra time to make this a successful food drive: Justin Kanachovski, who delivered the food to the food bank, Mr. Stratton and Mr. Hanson our hard working custodians, Ms. Krawciw and Mrs. Trial our awesome secretaries, and don’t forget about Mrs. Falvey our terrific principal.
Thanks again to the families & friends who supported our food drive. Good wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season.
P.E. Notes
This year’s Turkey Bowl was the most exciting contest yet! Fifty-four 5th graders made up four different groups. Both the staff and the students scored in each of the four quarters with excellent defense and offense on both sides. On the defensive side for the students, Patrick M. and Brennan R. each intercepted a pass and ran for touchdowns. A third pick was made by Jackson M.. Offensively, the students scored two touchdowns. The first was on a pass from Matt F. to Olivia D. and the second was from Liam S. to Pierce N..
Many other fifth grade students showed their school spirit by participating in off the field activities. Organizing cheers in the crowd were Marisa C., Nicole S., and Corina C. Members of the chain gang were Nina F., Ethel D., and Marley G. Timers were Alex C., Lexi F., and Jimena D.. And the scorekeeper for the game was Disha H..
Thank you to all the staff who played and organized the students on the hill. Also, to Mr. Bassett, Mr. Kriticos, and Mrs. Hedman for coaching the fifth grade team.
Mrs. Kathy Sweetland & Mr. Michael Joseph
Physical Education Teachers
Friday, December 7, 2012
9:30AM to 10:30PM
Panera Bread, Bishop’s Corner
Come meet with other parents whose children receive services through the West Hartford Public Schools. Look for the SEPTA sign on the table, usually in the back of the restaurant.Please contact Mary Lee Wakefield at .
West Hartford SEPTA Membership Forms are now available at our website at http://whsepta.org/membership.html. If you scroll down the page “Membership Form” is highlighted in green. You can click on those words and you will be brought to the Membership Form, which you can print and mail into the address on the form.
From the Health Room
ILL CHILD POLICY
Regular school attendance is necessary for optimal learning. However, a mere presence at school does not ensure effective learning. A child must be feeling well in order to maximize the learning experience. In addition, a child who is sick and comes to school may spread the illness to other students and staff. It is recommended that a child remain home if any of the following conditions are present:
1. Fever: Temperature of 100 degrees or higher. The child can return to school after he/she is fever-free for 24 hours, without fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol (Acetaminophen) or Motrin (Ibuprofen).
2. Vomiting/diarrhea: A child with vomiting and/or diarrhea should stay home and return to school only after being symptom-free for 24 hours.
3. Conjunctivitis (Pink eye): Following a diagnosis of conjunctivitis, the child may return to school 24 hours after the first dose of prescribed medication.
4. Rashes: Common infectious diseases with rashes are most contagious in the early stages. A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after a health care provider has made a diagnosis and has authorized the child’s return to school.
5. Colds: Consider keeping your child at home if he/she is experiencing excessive nose blowing and/or coughing.
6. Antibiotics: If your child has a contagious illness that requires antibiotics, he/she must be on the medication for 24 hours before considered non-contagious and able to return to school.
From the Music Room
Our winter concert here at Norfeldt is fast approaching. On Wednesday, December 12th the fifth grade orchestra and band, encore strings, jazz band, and choir will perform during the day for staff and students, as well an evening performance at 7:00 for family and friends. Please do not overlook these important reminders:
· Concert dress is black bottoms and white shirt/blouse.
· We strongly encourage students to bring a card game, a book for silent reading, or a word or number puzzle for silent play during “backstage time.” Please do not allow your child to bring electronic devices as we cannot be responsible if they are lost.
We can’t wait to share the results of your child’s commitment to music, hard work, and your early morning carpools!
Ms. Lisa Besman & Mr. Tony Rinaudo
Vocal and Instrumental Music Teachers
Special Notice to 5th Grade Parents
Bristow Middle School Enrollment Process
Bristow Middle School will be holding its enrollment for the incoming 6th graders in January. Bristow Middle School is a school of choice, drawing its diverse population from all neighborhoods in West Hartford. In the 2013-2014 school year, Bristow will enroll 420 students in grades 6 through 8.
All 5th graders who reside in West Hartford and are attending West Hartford Public Schools are automatically included in this process. Other 5th graders who reside in West Hartford and attend a private, parochial or inter district magnet school like The University of Hartford Magnet School are also eligible, although they need to apply to be included in the process.
Each 5th grader will receive a number randomly, which will establish the choice order. This number will be mailed home to parents on January 24, 2013. In order to help parents make an informed choice, two informational meetings will be held at Bristow Middle School on Monday, March 4, 2013 and Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 6:00 pm. Parents can choose to attend either of these meetings. Students are invited to attend these meetings with their parents. We recommend you attend one regardless of the number your child receives so you are prepared in case we get to your child’s number.
For information about Bristow and full details about how this enrollment process works, please visit the Bristow website at http://bristow.whps.org/
For more information about Bristow Middle School and its programs, please email or call the principal, Andrew Morrow, at or 231-2100 or visit our website at http://bristow.whps.org
From the Art Room
In the art room, your artists have been actively involved in the creating and responding processes of art. The following is a list of the artists, concepts, and vocabulary that your child is currently studying. I encourage you to utilize these resources as a means to enhance and maximize your child’s learning experience.
Kindergarten
Leo Leonni – author, illustrator, color mixing, secondary colors, seascape, collage
First
Mary Cassatt- Impressionism, facial proportions, markmaking
Second
Paul Klee- abstraction, inventions, warm and cool colors
Third
Vincent Van Gogh- Expressionism, emotion, line, warm, cool, & complementary colors
Fourth
Georgia O’Keeffe- composition, cropping, abstract, non-objective
Fifth
Rene Magritte & Salvador Dali- Surrealism, fantasy/dream state, realism, one-point perspective
“Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.” Salvador Dalí
Ms. Kim Monahan
Art Teacher
A Great Thank You Gift for
Your Child’s Teacher
Searching for just the right holiday gift for your child’s teacher? The Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools’ Teacher Thank You Gift program is a great way to acknowledge a wonderful and talented teacher.
Here’s how it works: A family makes a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation of $10 or more per teacher. The Foundation then sends the family/or the teacher a special certificate that says a gift has been made in the teacher’s honor. The funds raised from these Teacher Thank You Gifts go to our Teacher Mini-Grants program. Every donation will go back to helping teachers teach our students!
The Foundation is dedicated to raising money from the community to give back to the public schools. We are non-political and town-wide. For more information on the Foundation, visit our website at www.fwhps.org or call 860-561-8755.
Teacher Thank You Gift Order Form
I would like to acknowledge the great work of my teacher(s) this year through a donation to The Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools.
Enclosed is my gift of $______
Parent’s Name ______
Student’s Name ______
Address ______
Zip______Phone______E-mail______
Teacher’s Name (s)______
______
School______
¨ Send certificate to me OR ¨ Send to my teacher
Please make checks ($10 minimum per teacher) payable to Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools and send to 50 S. Main St., Room 420, W. Hartford, CT 06107. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent
allowable by law. DEADLINE: Friday, December 14,
2012.