PFC Meeting January 2017

Quote of the week “Things will happen. You can't stop them from happening, but you can control your reaction from making things worse. React Positively. Live Happily."     ~Written in 2014 by RVM --- India As I reflected on this quote I was challenged because I often find this easier said than done. but it is true, responding positively when things happen out of our control will definitely make for a better life. How often do we catch ourselves frustrated or angry when these types of things happen. How do you fair with this quote?

Quick Notes Welcome Mrs. Dianne Fitzgerald – Mrs. Homka’s class Welcome Ms. Stephanie Zalalas – Building substitute Teacher Tech Time: Students are learning how to use the app Scratch Jr. to write code.  They will continue learning how to use this app to animate digital stories and complete complex tasks requiring code (they will use logic and problem- solving).  We are also learning about Code Writing using an online tool called Lightbot. Drama Club- up and running Fresh Fruits & Vegetable Grant Safeties: So far, the safeties have learned 3 of the 7 habits of highly effective students: Be Proactive Begin With the End in Mind Put First Things First

Research Kindergarten-Our kindergarten students will be researching arctic animals. Students will compile the information they learn about arctic animals into an informational writing piece. Students will learn about the animals' appearance, diet, habitat, family, and any other interesting facts. At the completion of the research project, each student will present what they learned about the animal with their peers. 1st Grade- First grade will be researching various animals (land/ocean). The students will observe differences in physical characteristics by classifying animals.

Research 2nd Grade- Language Arts: Sharks, Helen Keller and the Rainforest Science: Science fair projects (i.e. plants, senses, etc.) Dinosaurs & The Scientific process. Social Studies: Branches of government 3rd Grade- science fair projects, famous African Americans, specifically baseball players, scientists, and public speakers, Dr. Martin Luther King and his role in our country's history. Next month: Sunflowers, natural disasters, South America, the life cycle of a tree, and animals that depend on trees to survive. The Wonders group is researching Abraham Lincoln and the Earth. 4th grade- 4th Grade is currently working on their science fair projects, researching Famous Black Americans to create a culminating project: a live history museum and researching Dr. King and Ruby Bridges.

Upcoming Events 1/16 – No School 1/18 – January Birthday Celebrations 1/20 – Spirit Day: Twin Day 1/20 – Snowball Dance 6:30 – 8:00 pm 1/23 – Jump Rope for heart kickoff assembly 1/24 – Food trust school-wide event 1/26 – Dream box Parent workshop 9:15 – 10:00 am 2/2 – February PFC meeting 2/3 – Spirit Day: PVF spirit wear or Blue & White 2/6 – safeties leadership meeting 2/8 – PVF Science Night 5:30 – 7:00 2/10 – 100th Day of School & Bingo Night

Future events 2/15 – District Science Fair 2/15 – spring Pictures 2/24 - Chuckie Cheese night (3 – 9 PM) 3/16 & 3/17 – Parent conferences (afternoon)

Dream Box Students can now access Dream Box from home. How to access Dream Box Through Norristown School District Website or https://play.dreambox.com/login/x7nw/u9s4 Enter student login (first initial + Last Initial + Student id) Enter Password: Nasd123

PVF Science projects The Norristown Area School District Science Fairs are conducted for the purpose of encouraging and motivating students in grades prekindergarten through four to embrace scientific inquiry. Each participant is challenged to use the scientific method to conduct a controlled investigation.

Elementary Grade Requirements GRADES PK-2 Students will complete one class project. One display board will be created per class. Shared small/whole group writings will be used to create a Class Science Journal of the experiment.

Elementary Grade Requirements Students may work in small groups or individually to complete a science fair project. One display board will be created per group or individual. Oral presentations will be done individually or by group. Each student is responsible for completing their own research paper, whether they worked in a group or not.

Elementary Grade Requirements Students must work individually to complete a science fair project. Each student will be responsible for creating their own display board and for doing their own oral presentation. Each student is responsible for completing their own research paper