Kenmore Elementary 2475 Singerly Road Elkton, Maryland 21921 Phone (410)996-5060 Fax (410)996-5467

Rose Clark, Principal
George Whisner, Local Support Teacher

Kenmore Cubhouse News

November 2007

A Message from Ms. Clark…

November brings cooler weather, family celebrations, report cards and parent conferences. The month can bring wonderful moments as well as worrisome ones. I try to remind myself to take a deep breath, go for a quiet walk or head for my garden when I am feeling overwhelmed. I encourage each of you to think of what you do best when you need to take a moment just to slow down, refresh and gear up for the next task or conversation at hand. Remember, you can always find something that brings to you a smile and a good feeling. With that in mind, I would like to prepare you for meeting with your child’s teacher to review their current report card. The majority of the children’s report cards will be full of positive grades and comments; however, there will be some areas needing attention. The good news is we all continue to learn and grow every day of our lives. To help you and your child accept, appreciate, celebrate and refocus after receiving the first marking term progress report, I offer you the following message:

Dear Mom and Dad,
     I’ve brought home a “snapshot” of myself. This picture is an exposure of me that’s been developing during the past weeks. Considering my many likes and dislikes, my mood changes from day to day, I think it’s a pretty good likeness
of me.
     When you see my snapshot, remember this is a report of someone near and dear to you. So, please don’t get too uptight if you see a blemish. I hope you will accept me as I am.
     Please do not picture me as being better than all of the other children. Remember that all children do not learn to talk or walk at the same time, nor do they learn math and reading at the same rate. I ask you not to compare me with my brother, my sister, or the kid next door. You can set realistic goals for me, but please be careful not to push me to succeed at something that is beyond my ability.
     I want you to understand that my report card is a picture of my school progress. When you meet with my teacher, you will learn many things about my life at school, even some things that might surprise you.
     My teacher knows me as I am at school. You know how I am at home. The “real” me is somewhere in between. When these two pictures become blended with acceptance and understanding, I hope my “snapshot” will be a shining portrait.


                                                                                                Love, your child’s name

Thought for the month…

“Children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.”
           Lady Bird Johnson

A Word from Mr. Whisner

At Kenmore ES, we recently began a school-wide initiative that is called The Umbrella of Character.  It is an effort to promote the use of the following character traits in all parts of the school, buses, and at home:  Caring, Cooperation, Respect, and Responsibility.  Please talk with your child about the meaning of these traits.  In order to recognize students when they make good choices and demonstrate good character, teachers will give out “Caught You Being Good” slips.  Students will then become eligible to spin a prize wheel and win prizes such as having lunch with a teacher, borrowing from a Disney movie collection, coupons for the school store, and face/body art.  Teachers, students, and parents will be able to recognize good choices and good character by completing a Kenmore Cub-Gram.  I have included copies of the Cub-Gram in this newsletter.  As you see your child demonstrate good character, fill out this form and send it to school to be depostied in the appropriate box.  Cub-Grams are selected daily and read over the morning and afternoon announcements in order to share the good news about good choices that your kids are making.  Let me know if you need more Cub-Grams at home.  The research on school environment is clear—achievement levels rise in schools that are characterized by positive culture and positive relationships.  Thank you for your support as we take cover under the Umbrella of Character!



Counselor’s Corner

Monthly Character Trait

This month’s character Trait is Caring

You may show how you care by doing the following…
-  giving to others
-  thinking of another person's feelings
-  helping others in need
-  being kind, even when others are not
-  including others in activities

I wanted to take a minute to familiarize parents with a spectacular website I have found. It is an amazing educator resource as well as a parental resource. This website contains many good articles and good advice on topics from Sibling Rivalry to the latest on the recent medical issues involving children. They not only write articles geared toward parental advice but they also write articles intended for children at the Elementary, Middle, and High School levels to read. The counselor’s favorite pick for this week is an article about Sibling Rivalry and how to help our children get along and when to get involved. You may also check out other articles on this website by visiting our Kenmore web page and clicking on the link under the School Counselor. If you are unable to obtain access to a computer and you would like me to print out my pick for the week please feel free to call me or write me and I will print it out for you and send it home. As always thank you for your support.

Kudos to Ms. Lee – a parent in Ms. Malinowski’s class!
Ms. Lee has created an innovative way to help her daughter learn her vocabulary words. She writes a new vocabulary word that her daughter needs to practice that week in class on a napkin and places it in her lunch. She also puts this word in a sentence. For example she wrote “Soap, What a great thing! It keeps you clean and not smelly. Love, MOM.” What a great idea!—Mrs. Poteet

Parent Advisory Council (PAC)

Four years ago the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Carl Roberts, created the Parent Advisory Council. The Council came about as an attempt by the Superintendent to increase effective communication between school system parents and the system administration regarding matters or topics of a “system” nature.

Each of the twenty-nine schools in the Cecil County Public School System is invited to send two representatives to five meetings per year. Kenmore’s parent representatives are Jeff Sopa and Michael Venters. These two parents work very closely with Ms. Clark and the PTO to ensure that effective communications exist between the school and home as well as the school system administration.

The topics or issues appropriate for the PAC are those associated with the operation of school or school system. Parent questions/concerns associated with an individual child should be directed to the teacher or school administration.

Look for information in the school newsletter and on the school website on how you can learn more about the role of your two PAC representatives.

NEWS from MEDIA

Greeting everyone! We are excited to announce that the BOOK FAIR is coming to Kenmore! It will be here the Week of November 5-12, 2007.
Between in school days and conference days both students and parents should have time to browse and buy!

Anyone who is interested in helping out in the running of the Book Fair would be greatly appreciated!!!! Just contact me!!!!

Thank you for your time and attention! I look forwarding to seeing you at the Book Fair!
                                                                      
-Joan Kluge
  Media



News from the Third Grade

The third grade had an exciting spelunking adventure at Indian Echo Caverns last week.  The children were excellent visitors and the chaperones did an awesome job of supervising. Thanks for volunteering! 

We are moving into Unit 3 in Math, Measurement and are halfway through the second theme in reading.  We will be finishing up our Social Studies map skills and Cecil County units and will soon begin a unit on a community far, Australia. 

Please check out Mrs. Repole's webpage on the Kenmore website.  Spelling lists and the powerpoint presentations we use are posted there.

Music News

As summer turns to fall, music kicks into gear here at Kenmore!  With two months under our belt, each and every grade level is getting "with the program" and working harder as quarter one ends and quarter two begins! 

Ms. Malinowski's third grade class has begun to play recorders with Mr. Moon.  Please help your child to remember to bring their recorders to school EVERY FRIDAY we have school.  Playing the recorders is FUN but very tricky and challenging as we begin and having YOUR recorder with you will be much easier to play on.

SAVE THE DATE:  MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2007!  Monday, December 10th @ 7:00 p.m. will be the annual KES Winter Concert in the KES Cafeteria featuring the KES Cubs Band and the KES Cubs Chorus!  We hope to see you there!

Lastly, we congratulate Mrs. Brandi Vogeley, our music colleague, who gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby boy.  While she is out we welcome Mr. Monty Cullum who will be teaching music in her place.

Physical Education and Integrated Arts

In November grades 4-5 will be working to improve on Fitnessgram scores.  Look for your child’s Fitnessgram assessment to come home with their report card.  Third grade is learning about the fitness components (cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, muscular strength and muscular endurance) too.  Everyone's favorite cooperative activity, Titanic, will also be in November.  For grades K-2 in November students will be working with manipulatives (hula hoops, beanbags) and throwing and catching skills.  In Integrated Arts all students will be learning about the concepts of force, time, and directions.  All grades will be preparing for and participating in the Turkey Trot on Friday, November 16th.  Look for more information in this newsletter.

---Mrs. Roy and Ms. Treese

Notes from the Nurse

Remember parents, it is flu season and now is a good time to talk to your children about the importance of hand washing and covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing.  Remember the proper way to cover your mouth is to use the bend of your arm, instead of your hand, to limit the spread of germs. You may also want to explain the importance of good dental hygiene and healthy eating habits to maintain proper nutrition for growth and development.

SAFETY ALERT

If you bring your child to school in the morning you must remain in the car loop and follow it around the entire path. We have had several people allow their child(ren) to leave their vehicle before they reach the drop-off area. Then, they make an unsafe turn in our parking lot. It would be unfortunate for anyone if a child was hit by a car or if a small fender-bender occurred. This would not be a pleasant start for anyone’s day. Please help us keep our morning procedures safe for everyone!!!

BABY NEWS!!

Congratulations to the family of Mrs. Paula Webster on the addition of their new son, Trevor.   More congratulations are offered to the family of Mrs. Brandi Vogeley on the addition of their new son, Jackson.  We wish them well as both families embark on their journeys together.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES – Please mark your calendar.

“Our Mission: to provide an excellent Pre-Kindergarten through graduation learning experience that enables ALL students to demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required for lifelong learning and productive citizenship in an ever-changing, global society.”