Eglin Elementary Chronicle
Mr. Dennis Samac, Principal
Visit our website: www.okaloosaschools.com/eglin
Questions? Call 833-4320
EGLIN ELEMENTARY VISION STATEMENT:
Eglin Elementary School will be a community of learners where everyone is responsible and committed to preparing our students for tomorrow’s challenges.
Hello from First Grade,
First grade students have been actively learning, growing, and developing the skills needed to be successful! We are excited about the learning opportunities that the second semester of the year will bring and have transformed our classrooms into learning laboratories filled with engaging learning experiences!
In English Language Arts, our teachers have provided students with challenging and complex texts to enhance fluency, academic vocabulary, and comprehension skills. First graders have also been developing close-reading skills, through the use of high-quality literature and focused instruction. Through close- reads, we have been examining the meaning of words, analyzing text, and completing meaningful performance tasks. In addition, students will continue to work on foundational skills, such as phonics, phonemic awareness, and correct grammar usage. During Writer’s Workshop, students have been exploring their creativity through various writing assignments. Students have engaged in interactive writing lessons and have learned about effective writing traits. To celebrate our love for reading, students participated in our first grade’s annual Read-A-Thon fundraiser! First graders circulated through 7 first grade classrooms and participated in fun and exciting literacy activities. The activities included, flashlight reading, interactive plays, making books, and much more!
In Math, students have been developing an understanding of whole group numbers with an emphasis on extending a counting sequence and understanding place values. During the upcoming months, students will focus on comparing numbers and two-digit addition and subtraction. Students have been modeling “talk moves” which include wait time (allowing students adequate time to think about the problem), restating (repeating what was said in their own words), re-voicing (the ability to articulate what others stated), prompting (adding information onto an existing problem or solution), and applying reasoning (students justify their reasoning). Our little mathematicians give their very best every day!
In Science, we have been exploring the world around us using our inquiry skills. During the first semester of school, student studied how scientists work, objects in the sky, Earth’s resources, and most recently matter. Our science experiments have included, observing rocks, finding out how objects move, which objects sink and float, and comparing living/non-living things. In addition, our science teacher Mrs. Gilmer has also provided us with many hands-on science experiments that have sparked our interest and love for science!
In Social Studies, students have learned about the historical aspects of holidays such as Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas celebrations around the world, and the influence and impact of brave men and women such as Martin Luther King Jr. and other historical figures.
First grade teachers would like to thank our parents for your continued support and look forward to the remainder of a great school year!
Learning together,
Laurren Seegars
1st Grade, Grade Level Chair
Character Trait Word for January
Self-Respect & Respect for Others: Our key to Success!
Remember the 3 B’s
Be Safe
Be Responsible
Be Respectful
Tutoring Dates:
3rd Grade:
Feb. 2, 4, 11, 18, 23, 25
4th Grade:
Feb. 3, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26
School Office Hours:
7:15 am -3:15 pm
Safety First!
Parents,
For the safety of our students and to help increase traffic flow, please observe the following when picking up or dropping off children on the car ramp:
· Pull all the way to the end of the ramp before dropping off or picking up students.
· Children should exit from the right side of the vehicle only!
· Please do not block the car ramp crosswalk.
· Please use the crosswalks when walking to school.
· Please put the card with your child’s name on it in the right side window of your car.
· In addition, please be especially cautious of our students as they cross the street at the intersection of Gaffney and Hatchee Roads.
·
Thank you for your cooperation.
Mr. Dennis Samac
Principal
Lunch Menu
Lunch menus are online @www.okaloosa.k12.fl.us/
foodservices/index.htm
To create a payment account, please go to
schoolpaymentsolutions.com.
Reminder: If you have not already done so, you may go to applyforlunch.com to fill out free/reduced lunch applications.
If you have any questions about your child’s account, please contact Ms. Judy Terry @ 833-4322.
Eglin Elementary
Home of the Eagles
Set your AR Goal!
Jan. 2015
Important Dates/ Holidays
Feb. 9, 2015 Children’s Dental Health event @ 8:30 am
Feb. 9, 2015 1st Grade Awards assembly @ 9:30 am in the cafeteria
Feb. 10. 2015 Children’s Dental Health event @ 8:30 am
Feb. 10 MFLC- Coffee Talk @ 8:30 am in the Media Center
Feb. 10, 2015 2nd Grade Awards assembly @ 9:30 am in the cafeteria
Feb. 10, 2015 Robotics class @ 3:00 pm
Feb. 10, 2015 SAC meeting in the Media Center @ 3:15 pm
Feb. 11, 2015 Spring pictures and Class photos
Feb. 12, 2015 3rd/4th Grade Awards assembly @ 9:30 am in the cafeteria
Feb. 13, 2015 Kg. field trip to Mattie Kelly Arts Center and Niceville Children’s Park @ 8:45 am
Feb. 16, 2015 Washington’s Birthday holiday
Feb. 17, 2015 Volunteer orientation @ 1:45 pm in the Media Center
Feb. 17, 2015 Robotics class @ 3:00 pm
Feb. 24, 2015 Robotics class @ 3:00 pm
Calendar Dates
Early Release Time 12:10 pm
Early Release Dates
2014-2015
Mar. 5, 2015
Apr. 2, 2015
May 7, 2015
Attendance Reminder:
Students will have five school days, including the day they return, to bring in written verification for an excused absence. The absence will be considered unexcused if the school does not receive written verification for the excused absence in that time frame. After the ninth absence (excused or unexcused) per semester, a letter will be sent to parents or legal guardians notifying them of the necessity of a doctor’s excuse or excuse from an official agency in order for the make-up work to be provided.
Ice Cream!!!
The cafeteria will be selling ice cream ala carte on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The price is75 cents. Students will need to bring additional money. If you do not wish your child to be able to purchase ice cream from his/her lunch account, please contact Ms. Judy Terry @ 833-4322, or send a letter saying that they may not use their lunch account for ice cream.
Parent notification:
If you wish to view the School Public Accountability Report (SPAR), it will be available in the front office.
Out of Field Teachers:
In compliance with Section 101.42 Florida Statues, the following teachers, Mrs. June Whiting-Cobb, Ms. Vaneesa Harrington, Mrs. Jones-Urena, Mrs. Renee Laney, and Mrs. Carol Kotulan are out of field because they do not have an ESOL endorsement, and they have an ESOL child in their classroom. They all hold a valid teaching certificate issued by the State of Florida and are working on courses to satisfy the requirements for an ESOL endorsement.
Boost your day!
Drop off your child & stay for coffee & conversation with other military parents
Tuesday, Feb 10th at 8:30am
Join Us for Refreshments at 8:15am
New Time!
Same Place! Eglin Elementary’s Media Center
MFLC’s do not keep written records
*Sponsored by Eglin Elementary School’s PTO & facilitated by the Military Family Life Counselors
Kindergarten fundraiser:
Don’t throw away your old laser or ink jet cartridges!! Kindergarten is collecting them as a year-round fundraiser. Please do not send in toner cartridges from copiers as these are not part of the fundraiser.
Thanks for your support.
Music classes include experiences with singing, playing instruments, moving, listening and creating. The musical concepts that are studied include rhythm, melody, harmony, form, expressive qualities and style. Children will experience traditional American folk songs in addition to a variety of world music, and pieces in many styles. Lessons will lead toward note reading and music literacy.
Music lessons are fast-paced and fun, and students will need to wear comfortable clothing in order to participate fully. Primary students do a lot of moving in order to internalize the steady beat and the intermediate students will need to sit on the floor to perform on the mallet percussion instruments.
November and December:
Song of the Month: This Land is Your Land
Unit: Rhythm-Melody-Melody is the tune of the song. Step, skip, leap, repeat/Tone Color-the sounds of instruments/voice
Composer: Leroy Anderson
Link-up program for 3rd grade –Orchestra Moves
Link-up program for 4th grade-Orchestra Rocks
Ask your student what they are doing in Music Class!
Mrs. Day
Music Specialist
P.E. Notes
Tennis shoes are required each day for P.E.. Some students are stilling wearing flip flops to P.E. Flip flops are not safe for any P.E. activities. Students will need to have jackets during the cooler weather as P.E. activities are held outside. Please remind your child to wear the proper attire to P.E. for both their safety and their comfort.
Parents are always welcomed and encouraged to come out and participate during your child’s designated P.E. time!
Coaches will be selling Freeze Pops for 50 cents each on Fridays. Proceeds will go to purchase fitness equipment for the gym.
Jingle Bell Jog Results:
Kindergarten:
Jacob Bary-10:06
Chasitie Bowers 10:59
Jamal Archer-12:12
Vionna Haertelt-13:20
1st Grade:
Aiden Ballesteros-8:26
Vinson Reed-8:26
Laila Leggett-9:12
Kyra Bowen-9:14
Matthew Ewing-9:24
Jolie Albertson-9:25
2nd Grade:
Aydin Ozdogru-8:12
Ryan Saffo-8:16
Nia Crawford-9:36
Jennifer Moor-9:48
3rd Grade:
Tristan Thompson-7:48
Keylan Hicks-8:23
Jasmine Woods-10:00
Charlee Gonzales-10:16
4th Grade:
Cosner Harrison-7:25
Nevaeh Davis-7:47
Thomas Marion-7:47
Sienna Hilland-9:55
Cards for Troops
Mrs. Kotulan’s class made cards for deployed troops at Christmas. Pictured below are the students and the cards they made.
Gingerbread houses!
Many of our kindergarten and first grade students made gingerbread houses for the holidays. As you can see by the pictures, they had a wonderful time creating their very own gingerbread house.
Pictured here: Makayla from Mrs. Buck’s kindergarten class prepares to attach a graham cracker to the side of her house.
Pictured here: Caleb from Mrs. Anderson’s class, added a garage to his gingerbread house.
Pictured here: Lilly is all smiles as she works on her gingerbread house.
Pictured here: In Ms. Clemmons’ kindergarten class, Shaelyn works with her mother to begin decorating her gingerbread house.
Pictured here: A beautiful work of art!
Christmas Around the World
Mrs. Johnson’s 2nd grade class had fun learning about holiday traditions in different areas of the world. Students made a handwoven mat called a mkeka for Kwanzaa. They made picture frames and shell bracelets from Figi, and Christmas cards and ornaments from the United States.
Pictured here: Kylie with her picture frame.
Pictured here: Kylie and Landon with the Christmas ornaments they made.
Pictured here: Braylon with his Christmas ornament, card and mkeka.
The Littlest Christmas Tree Play
On Dec. 16th, Mrs. Sandy Day and the second grade, performed the Littlest Christmas Tree play for both students and parents. As always, it was a wonderful production. Following the play, Mrs. Day led the student body in a Christmas song sing-a-long. Mr. Samac surprised students when he came out dressed as Rudolph. Mrs. Gunderson and some of the teachers also surprised students by coming out dressed as reindeers and performing adance routine.
Pictured here: Santa played by Talan Schmidt, the littlest Christmas tree played by Tyeson Ball, and Lauren Bary as Mrs. Claus.
Pictured here: Some of Santa’s elves decorating the littlest Christmas tree.
Pictured here: Mr. Samac as Rudolph.
Pictured here: All of the other reindeer-Mrs. Day, Coach Robbins, Mrs. Gunderson, and second grade teachers.
On Dec. 9, students were treated to two performances of the Pro Kids Show starring Scott Humston. Mr. Humston uses humor, magic, and puppets to teach character education. He told students that character is who you are when no one is looking. The Pro Kids Show is always lots of fun and is eagerly anticipated each year!
Pictured here: Brett Horton assists Scott Humston in a magic trick.
Pictured here: Scott Humston always brings one of his puppet friends to his show. Elroy T. Raccoon had the children roaring with laughter.
Congratulations to Mrs. Donna Konefal, Eglin Elementary’s Support Person of the Year!!
Pictured here: Mr. Samac, and Mrs. Konefal