TALON TIMES - JC Ellis Elementary

JC ELLIS
K-8 SCHOOL
ELLIS EAGLES
ARE:
peaceful
positive
respectful
responsible
TALON TIMES
Jan 2016 Newsletter
Volume 15 Issue 5
At J. C. Ellis Elementary School we will provide a consistent teaching and
learning environment that focuses on academic excellence for all children.
Isaac Joseph, Superintendent
Viola Callier, Region 3 Director
Marion “Coach” Bonura, Sch. Bd.
Rep - District VIII
Julie Berner, Principal
Christi Rome, Asst. Principal
801 Brockenbraugh Court
Metairie, Louisiana 70005
Phone: (504) 833-7254
Fax: (504) 833-9378
marion.bonura@jppss.k12.la.us
http://ellis.jpschools.org
From the Principal’s Desk... Happy New Year to all!! January is
always about fresh beginnings and positive change. I love the
promise of the New Year and all the possibilities that exist for our
children here at JCE and their future. One of Ellis’ greatest
strengths is our powerful family and community support. As
parents, guardians and family, you are your child’s first and
greatest teacher. Together as a loving school community—family
and school—working as a mutually trusted and respected team,
we exemplify our belief and philosophy that “it takes an entire
village to raise and educate a child!”
Upcoming Events
The return from winter break provides us with a great opportunity
to review and rework routines and procedures in order for young
adolescents to be more successful in school. Here are
suggestions to support your child’s continued success:
Make a renewed commitment to help your child get to
school on time in proper uniform each day. Prior to the
holiday vacation, we noticed a marked increase in tardy and
absent students.
Have your child organize belongings the previous evening;
mornings are too busy and rushed.
As the principal of JC Ellis K-8 School, my door is always open to
you. Educating children through exceptional school programs is
our business and our passion. Your child is important to us. You
are important to us. Together as a school family let us enjoy and
relish every moment of this school year with our students because
it passes by so quickly as if ‘in the blink of an eye”! By working
together to ensure a successful second half of the school year,
everyone wins and our partnership between home/school is
strengthened! Thank you for your continued support and interest!
Julie Berner, Principal
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
T – Feb 2 - Groundhog Day
W- Feb 3 - Interim Reports Issued
W –Feb 3 - Kinder – My Heart Belongs to
Mommy – 9:00 -9:45am
TH – Feb 4 – Jefferson Dollars for
Scholars Super Bowl Dress Day - $1.00 –
Jeans and Favorite Team shirt
F – Feb 5 - Mardi Gras King Cake or
Valentine Parties or Chinese New Year
Parties – 2:30 – 3:30pm – K – 5
F – Feb 5 - Mardi Gras Mambo Gr. 6, 7& 8
-2:00 – 3:15 pm – cafeteria
M-F - Feb 8-12 - Mardi Gras Break
TH- Feb 18 - Spring Pictures
TH – Feb - PBIS Eagle Emporium – K-3
F – Feb 19 - PBIS Eagle Emporium – 4-8
M – Feb 22 - Early Release Day -1: 45pm
M – Feb 22 - Parent Conf – 1:45-4:45pm
T - Dress Down Day -$1.00 - Jefferson
Dollars for Scholars
F – Feb 26 - FEB Student of the Month
celebration 9:30 am- library
M – Feb 29 - LEAP DAY - Free Dress Day
STATE TESTING: Gr 3 - 8
LEAP (ELA & Math) –
April 25-29
LEAP (Science) –
April 25-29
http://www.louisianabelieves.com/res
ources/library/family-support-toolboxlibrary
1
Important Reminders for Parents and Students
Help us keep the focus on learning versus spending time reminding your child to. be in the proper uniform.
Our students do know what they should be wearing, and we have not changed our policy on dress code. Help
us by not allowing your child out of the house in the morning wearing inappropriate clothing.
UNIFORM GUIDELINES: Research proves that when we are dressed neatly and appropriately, we feel better
and do better school work. Our emphasis at Ellis is neatness and pride in our uniform, both to reflect our
attitude to the school and our pride in ourselves. The word uniform comes from two Latin words, unus and
forma, which mean “one form.” Our uniform sets us apart from other schools. Wear the uniform with pride!
We are asking parents/guardians to become more conscientious in following the uniform policy. Look smart.
Act smart. Be smart!
Any sweater, sweatshirt or jacket that is worn inside the building must be clean and plain navy blue, white or
green. No logos. No Disney. No Saints. No sports. No Hello Kitty. No Ninja. No college. No shawls. No denim.
No bomber jackets. No JPRD. No, no, no, etc. No pictures on the front or back. No nothing…just a clean,
plain sweater, sweatshirt or jacket. A clean, plain sweater, sweatshirt or jacket can be purchased for as little
as $5.00 from Walmart, Sears, Target, Kmart, Sam’s, etc. The plain sweater, sweatshirt or jacket does not
have to have the Ellis embroidered logo...just plain and clean…plain navy blue, white or green! Print your
child’s name on the tag.
The school uniform shoe is a tennis shoe. Tennis shoes MUST be worn every day. No boots, no high heels,
no sandals, no flats, no flip-flops, no slides, no mules, no sequined dance shoes…just plain tennis shoes—for
safety reasons!!
The uniform pant is blue for K-5. The uniform pant is khaki for grades 6-8. Lately, we have seen our boys
wearing sweat pants and Sprinter Jogger Pants in khaki with elastic cuffs and waistband, water-repellent and
stain-resistant stretch twill. THIS IS NOT THE UNIFORM. If students are not in the correct uniform, they may
receive a detention. Look smart. Act smart. Be smart!
Lately some of our students have arrived at school unkempt and disheveled and out of uniform. Some
uniforms are faded, ripped, torn, and sometimes dirty. Let’s replace this raggedy look with fresh, clean,
clothing.
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
2
ellisepo@hotmail.com Newsletters will
also be sent via email. Our Facebook
page is updated as needed. JC Ellis
WE NEED YOU!!!
JC Ellis is strong because of the many volunteers who partner with us
in critical areas. Whatever time you contribute will leave you with a
better understanding of our learning community and the magic that
takes place at the JCE K-8 School.
Volunteering makes a big difference. Research consistently shows that
kids whose parents are involved in their schools do better.
Volunteering offers tangible ways to be part of things. Sometimes we
might mean well, but our busy lives get in the way of committing.
Joining a parent group will provide concrete ways to get involved,
whether at events, in the classroom, or on a committee. It feels great
to participate! Your child spends a lot of time at school, and it’s great to
share some of her school-related experiences with her.
You’ll get to know other parents. It’s powerful to create a circle of adult
friends around a school, and having a shared interest is a good place
to start. What’s more, it can help foster connections between families in
your community.
EPO 2014-2015 Board Members
President Hollie Dumars
Vice President Stacey Autin
Secretary Thereza Walker
Treasurer Angie Berggren
Room Mother Coordinator Hollie Dumars
Fundraising Coordinator - Stacey Autin
Box tops/ Couponing - Thereza Walker
Join the EPO
ellisepo@hotmail.com Newsletters will also be sent via email.
Our Facebook page is updated as needed. JC Ellis
Lord Citron and Liz Lemon cannot decide if
they should celebrate Mardi Gras or
Valentine’s Day. What say you?
Researchers Say ‘Grit’ is Key to Your Child’s School Success
What do spelling champions and West Point cadets have in common? It’s a
quality known as grit— the ability to stick with something even when it’s hard.
Current research shows that grit is important. People who persist when a task
gets challenging are most likely to be successful.
To promote grit:
• Teach your child to focus on how good it feels to finish a tough task. “You
did your homework. Now you can relax and enjoy yourself.”
• Emphasize starting. People with grit don’t put off unpleasant tasks. So help
your child develop the habit of getting started. “You work on homework and I’ll
clean these drawers. Let’s see what we can finish in 15 minutes.”
• Stress effort over ability. Tell your child that success requires dedication and
effort as much or more than intelligence. Notice every bit of hard work your child
does and every small step of progress he makes.
Source: A. Duckworth and others, “Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals,” Journal of Personality and
Social Psychology, American Psychological Association.
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
3
JANUARY STUDENTS of the MONTH
Each month JC Ellis recognizes "Outstanding" students in each grade. Actually all our
students are outstanding; however we especially honor these students. These students
are chosen for their contributions to the school and the community and for also being
caring, energetic students who have shown to be good role models for other students.
JC ELLIS STUDENTS of the MONTH
JANUARY 2016
KINDERGARTEN
Allisson Andrade
Ariella Galvan
Vincent Garcia
Sophia Rosa-Gomez
3rd GRADE
1st GRADE
Laith Amour
Clover DeFraites
Daniel Gonzales
Hannah Greenwell
4th GRADE
Haleigh Falati
Martha Lazaro
Ava Marie
Nathan Martinez
6th GRADE
Lein Amawi
Deyfren Avila
Imane Medjkane
Ahmad Ahmad
Timothy Seymour
Leyla Ajin
Kimberly Lopez
7th GRADE
2nd GRADE
Xanielle Baylon
Martyne Boutte
Brandyn Greenwell
Kiren Heim
Anaya Kent
5th GRADE
Sophie Fowler
India Williams
Dylan Zuniga
8th GRADE
Garrett Koch
Juliet vanVliet
ELLIS EAGLES ARE:
Peaceful
Positive
Respectful
Responsible
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
4
Congratulations to the following students who have performed outstanding
academic work during the Second Quarter of 2015 -2016
and are hereby given recognition and honor as indicated.
We are very proud of our students!!
JC Ellis
2nd Nine Weeks 20152015-2016
A Honor Roll
1st GRADE
2nd GRADE
3rd GRADE
4th GRADE
Kennedi Arana
Kendalyn Banks
Yara Benedetto
Isaac Netters
Clover DeFraites
Emily Chen
Taraneh Doust
Morgan Netters
Jeremy Dvorin
Jacob Dantin
Serena Mbeky
Layla Gilboe
Noa Hern
Yishayah Harrison
Elvin Lobo-Hernandez
Alayna Madden
Kailyn Madden
Isaac Martinez
Savannah Magee
Kynnedi Morris
Lamara Meda
Maliyah Robichaux
Mario Rosales
Jacob Sartalamacchia
Nikita Williamson
5th GRADE
Israel Netters
6th GRADE
Ahmad Ahmad
7th GRADE
8th GRADE
Christina Brown
Karma Williams
Good grades are life's way of saying that
there is a bright future in store for you.
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
5
2
nd
1st GRADE
Maheen Ahmed
Gabriella Alexander
Adnn Ali
Naiya Anthony-Pongracz
Arianna Augustus
Summer Breath
Matheus Cristofori Ximenes
George DeForrest
Wilson Diaz
Ciara Godwin
Daniel Gonzales
Jayla Hardy Lee
Emyre Harris
Cyan Hughes
Angelia Koch
Obed Lobo
Ryan Martinez
Ethan Meda
Angie Merino-Munoz
Mia Monge del Cid
Sophia Morris
Molayzain Moulayazain
Kajal Patel
Alison Recinos
Dylan Reyes
Maliyah Robichaux
Cruz Rodriguez
Laila Schnyder
Domanick Tejeda
Tatyanna Tejeda
Robinay’ Ulmer
Asante Williams
JC Ellis
Nine Weeks 20152015-2016
A/B Honor Roll
2nd GRADE
Nora Aitiddir
Jayson Anseman
Xanielle Baylon
Lorenzo Benedetto
Tyrone Brown
Isabelle Camenzuli
Kiara Carbajal
Aldo Cardona
Genesis Carrasco
Taj Chassion
Amaya Cooks
Bryan Diaz-Robles
Stephanie FernandesDaniels
Aaron Flota
Caleb Fogarty
Anslyn Godrey
Brandyn Greenwell
Kevin Guifarro
Kevin Guo
Kiren Heim
Jesenia James
Nadia Jenkins
Rainie Jiang
Kamila Kazmi
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
Anaya Kent
Wolfgang Labranche
Amelia Layus
Tristan Letellier
Jared Linn
Jonathan McMillan
Alan Miller
Alex Miller
Caroline Muller
Curry Muller
Scott Muller
Aidan Plummer
Jurem Rodriguez
Maliha Shah
Caleb Statham
Dean Trethaway
Ashlee Viianueva-Agurcia
Marco Vado
Cody Williams
Jamarri Williams
Jay Williams
Jordan Williams
Kain Williams
Tiffany Zhang
3rd GRADE
Antwan Bell
Ashly Bonilla
Gabriella Brent
Manuel Contreras-Zavala
Adam DePoorter
Roman Dominach
Dylan Donalson
Jake DuMars
Haleigh Falati
Nina Jarrell
Destinee Jenkins
Ra'laysia Jones
Martha Lazaro
Bryce Loewenstein
Daniel Maldonado-Alvarado
Brinley Muller
Sophia Pesses
Hermyoni Puderer
Kaleb Ricciardo
Carelia Saint Louis
Elizabeth Trombley
Chloe Weathersby
Samyre Wicker
Eildon Wilkinson
6
2
nd
4th GRADE
Lein Amawi
Morgan Bradburry
Mya Cooley
Cypress Dares
Mirialys Diaz-Robles
Payton Drumm
Riley Gaitan
Andy Garcia
Deimy Garza
Kristopher Kuhn
Wyn Landry
Daniel Miller
Talor Perry
Mario Lobo
Israel Pizarro
Illick Ponce
Ricardo Saif-Colon
Kristofer Santiago
Areeba Shah
Cheyenne Seur
Hazel Tao
Elizabeth Van Damme
Diana Vela
Neil Verma
Troy Williams
JC Ellis
Nine Weeks 20152015-2016
A/B Honor Roll
5th GRADE
Myla Baxter
John Becker
Zhybelle Billiot
Avery Brent
Emma Bui
Valeria CalderonArenales
Daniel Crump
Mark Curry
Elijah Dantin
Grant DeJesus
Dane DePoorter
Andres Diaz
Dana Dimaria
Aiden Dominach
Alyssa Eames
Lillie Engolia
Miraya Francis
Jarius Gipson
Ra'Shon Harris
Haley Kirtland
Mia Laudun
Isabella Loyacono
7th GRADE
Sabrina Allred
Bryson Armstrong
Brianna Crabtree
Sophie Currenti
Catherine Galindo
Samantha Ricciardo
Jose Roman
Rachel West
Katelin Williams
Jiaxin Ye
Carlos Zelaya
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
6th GRADE
Massiel Martinez
Hazel Mejia
Alejandra Morales
Shikha Patel
Ankit Phadke
Ankur Phadke
Morgan Pierre
Laila Ponce
Gabriella Resendez
Tamar Ricks
Yisenia Roby
Alexis Rude
Kevin Santiago
Kevin Schnyder
Munifa Shah
Kiara Smith
Ulyssa Tejeda
Emily Trombley
Calbea Williams
Jasmine Williams
Dylan Zuniga
Amyrie Brown
Hannah Dantin
Davell Dixon
Reyssell Espinoza
Taylor Falgout
Bella Fenger
Tonara Gordon
Aja'Laia Hamilton
Jack Lee
Vitoria Mbeky
Vanessa Nguyen
Yasmine Porter
Audrey Raudales
Jason Sartor
Sara Tujague
Gregory White
Cici Zhang
Yi Mei Zhang'
Jack Zhao-Andrade
8th GRADE
Ava Evans
Garrett Koch
Danika Kolai
Gabriella Moreno
Niah Saleem
Reagan St. Germain
7
The Sprouts’ Little Eagles’ Garden!
Ms. Pohlman’s Sprouts – Ellis’ third grade garden club –were able to enjoy
their hard work with a Garden Harvest Party! We enjoyed a delicious salad
made of red leaf and butter lettuce, as well as radishes courtesy of our
school garden! We added tomatoes and carrots for a healthy snack. The
remaining lettuce and radishes that were not used were donated to the New
Orleans Mission to help people in need. We are looking forward to planting
our Spring/Summer crops soon!
To celebrate the winter season, kinder students watched the movie Frozen and had
a pajama party complete with all the trimmings to end the 2015 year with a icy blast!
Mrs. Keith’s class made Sven’s antlers, enjoyed melted snow (water), snowballs
(popcorn), antlers (pretzels) , Olaf’s noses (carrots) and many other Frozen treats..
Together they sang “Let it Go!” A happy time was had by all!!
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
8
GIRLS TRACK TEAM
Leyla Ajin
Corinne Breath
Brianna Crabtree
Hannah Dantin
Breiona Eskinde
LaMonica Howard
Antonia Neveaux
Sa’Myriah Prater
Tamar Ricks
Bailey Robinson
Italy Robinson
Azari Ruffin
Reagan St. Germain
Alexis White
Katelin Williams
The only place success comes before hard work is in the dictionary. This is one lesson learned by the
JCE Girls’ Track Team. This season was phenomenal because the girls worked hard and practiced,
practiced, practiced. As a result, the JCE Girl’s Track won the JPPSS East Bank Track Championship.
At the Fall Athletic Awards, the girls received this Championship banner to be displayed at Ellis.
Kudos to Coach Ryan and Coach Marks for excellence in coaching!! Congratulations!! Way to go!!!
Nathanuiel Jeffcoat - 1st in
the Mile Run, 1st in the 800
M Run, 3rd in the 4 X 400
relay
Alexis White - 1st in the Mile
Run, 1st in the 400 M Run, 1st in
the 4 X 400 Relay, and 2nd in
the Long Jump
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
Jarren
Daigre - 1st
in the Shot
Put
At the Fall Athletic
Awards, Nathanuiel,
Alexis, and Jarren
were presented with
school jackets
recognizing them as
JPPSS Track
Champions. Great
Accomplishment!!
9
FOURTH GRADE CHAMPIONS
CHEETAH GIRLS:
Mya Cooley – Cpt.
Talor Perry
Neha Aji
Morgan Netters
Victoria Hebert
Laila Knoten
Morgan Berryman
Aniyah Alexander
Evelyn Boh
5th /6th GRADE CHAMPIONS
NINJAS
Shika Patel
Taylor Falgout
Erika Canales– Cpt.
Isabella Loyacono
Emma Bui
Raquel Morales
Shika Patel
Maria Garcia
Sara Tujague
Raguel Morales
Gabriella Resendez
5th /6th GRADE CHAMPIONS -BB
Jami Quintanilla, Ahmad Ahmad, Abdel Mohamed, Davell Dixon,
Landon Gordon
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
10
7th/8th GRADE CHAMPIONS –BB
Monty Waters, Michael Rodriguez, Oscar Tejada,
Hunter Langley, Garrett Tucker
KULLMAN’S COMMENTARY
GROWTH MINDSET
Self suggestions are a form of conditioning that
includes that includes self-talk and imaging. It is the
process of choosing what thoughts you want to put in
your mind. Whatever you have thought now in your life
is the result of what you have thought, felt, and done
up until this time. If you want things to be different, to
be better--change what you think, feel, and do.
Unfortunately, thinking "I am rich and gorgeous" just
won't do it. Your thoughts must be realistic, not
magical.
Every action we take and every thought we think has
an effect on us. This is also called the "self-fulfilling
prophecy." How many times have we thought, "I'm not
good enough," or "I'll never be able to do it," or "Bad
luck always happens to me." Your mind hears these
statements and believes them. It is important to
deliberately think about and picture the positive side of
life.
Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Focus on your strengths and what you can do well.
Don't verbally "beat yourself up" when you make a
mistake. Use it as a learning opportunity.
At the end of every day, write a list of your
accomplishments for the day.
Keep a journal of your successes. Read them
when you are feeling low.
See yourself as being successful and expect to
succeed.
Remember how you are blessed.
Do something nice for someone else.
Smile and enjoy every day.
As we enter 2016 with all of our hopes and dreams, I
wonder:
☺
☺
☺
☺
Has there ever been a perfect year?
One without disappointments and tears?
Who knows?
The perfect year may now be here.
As always, please call me, 831-0628, with suggestions
or concerns.
Lynne
Lynne Kullman, LCSW
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
11
TOO SICK TO GO TO SCHOOL??
When your children are sick, keep them home from
school. This not only benefits your children but other
children and staff in the classroom at school.
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT SIGNS OF ILLNESS
Some important signs of illness are:
1. A temperature of more than 100 degrees orally
2. Nausea or vomiting
3. Stomachache
4. Diarrhea
5. Pale or flushed face
6. Headache
7. Persistent cough
8. Earache
9. Thick yellowish discharge from nose
10. Sore throat
11. Rash or infection of the skin
12. Red or pink eyes
13. Loss of energy or decrease in activity
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILDREN HAVE ANY
OF THESE SIGNS?
If your children have any of these symptoms when it
is time for school, it is best that they stay home. Most
childhood illnesses are over soon and no cause for
worry. But if the symptoms are severe or persist for
more than 24 hours, you should contact your private
source of medical care.
Children sometimes use illness as an excuse to miss
school. On the other hand, some children force
themselves to go to school even though they are
sick. There may be times that your children do not
show signs of the above-noted symptoms but may be
ill. It is up to you to be alert to your children's health
and to decide when it is best to send them to school.
WHEN MAY MY CHILDREN RETURN TO SCHOOL
AFTER AN ILLNESS?
Generally, your children may return to school when
they are free of signs of illness. However, there may
be times when it is necessary for your children to see
your source of medical care before returning to
school. Please call your school nurse if you have any
questions regarding a specific condition.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MY CHILDREN BECOME
ILL AT SCHOOL?
If your children complain of being sick or do not look
well after they reach school, we will contact you.
Therefore, it is important that you provide the school
with up-to-date information and phone numbers in
case it is necessary to contact you.
I am at the school most Tuesdays and Thursdays
and some Fridays. My direct line is 484-4110 but
email is easiest method to contact me.
ashley.solano@jppss.k12.la.us
Nurse Ashley
CLASSROOM SNAPSHOTS
KINDERGARTENERS
Ms. Porteous/Ms. Laurenzano: I Can See, I Can Hear, I Can
Smell! This month Ms. Murphi and Mrs. Porteous’ class is
learning about our senses.
We will use our senses to
learn about things all
around us. The students will
read I Use My Senses and
Hear It… See It…Taste
It…At School! The letters
for this month are Short
Vowel i and Consonants b,
f, l. The shape of the month
is Rectangle, and colors are
Orange and Blue. The
students enjoyed using their
senses to complete different
hands-on activities. The
students learned about their
sense of smell by using their
noses to smell the scents of
vanilla, peppermint and
lemon. Each student voted
on their favorite scent and
the class created a picture
graph to display the results.
The students also had a blast using all five senses to learn
about popcorn. They especially enjoyed using their sense of
taste to snack on the yummy popcorn!!
Senora Milton, Ms. Morris, Madame Megan , Mrs. Keith:
December & January were exciting months to learn in the
Kindergarten Hallway! Fairy tales served as the texts from
which students learned to re-tell stories. Using major events,
students identified the beginning, middle and end from favorite
stories such as the Goldilocks and The Gingerbread Man. As
this skill was mastered, students then actively engaged in
reading activities with purpose using these texts in “Readers
Theatre.” Students re-told the stories by playing the
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
characters from these stories. Students did a magnificent job
and they had fun bringing these stories to life!
In math, Students learned to compose and decompose
numbers to 5. Students evidenced this skill using objects,
drawings, number bonds and creating math stories. Students
continued to build their counting knowledge skills by 1s, 2s,
10s and forward from a number in a sequence.
To celebrate the holiday season, students enjoyed the movie
Frozen and a party complete with all the trimmings to end the
2015 year with a bang!
FIRST GRADERS
Ms. Meehan: We are reading informational texts and
determining how to ask and answer questions from that text.
We are being introduced to research this month. It is important
to understand the difference between fact and opinion, which
we are busily working on each day. Please work on Lexia and
code.org at night, both great tools to enhance our learning. We
started a new Math unit of measurement. We can place
objects in order by length and measure using different tools in
our classroom. Math facts should be completed every night.
Ms. Cook : Ms. Cook's class is comparing direct length to
indirect length, where the length of one object is used to
compare the lengths of two other objects. They are given the
opportunity to use standard, as well as non-standard, units for
measuring. In our next topic, the students will organize,
represent, and interpret data. Math fact drills continue to be a
part of our daily routine with fluency being our goal.
We continue to work on correct sentence formation, nouns and
verbs. Some of the new skills that we are learning are:
alphabetical order, identifying syllables, identifying base words
and endings, and identifying the main topic of a story.
We are enjoying the informational stories we are reading in our
current reader, The Green Fern Zoo.
12
Mrs. Kent: Happy New Year to you and yours ! As we begin
2016, our students continue to aim high for their star ! In ELA
we began Unit 4 The Green Fern Zoo. It's
awesome to read and learn about the many
things one can see at a zoo. It's wonderful
to see the students’ excitement as we
explore the many animals and sea
creatures! In the story Things that Swim we
learned the amazing reef shark is always
swimming near a reef looking out for its
dinner such as squid, crabs, shrimp, and wee fish.
Swish,swish,swish, look out here it comes ! We are excitedly
looking forward to The Red Barn Farm field trip on campus
where we will see and learn about so many more animals! In
Math we are learning about length measurement. We are
using many hands on activities and using centimeter cubes to
measure. Did you know that our Math book is 27 centimeters
in length using cubes and it is 11 big paperclips in length? I
wonder what our measurements will be when we measure our
desk, feet, and other objects? As you can see we are off to a
great New Year filled with amazing new learning. Please
continue to read every night and continue to practice flash
cards. May 2016 be a happy and successful year for our
children and for your family! Laugh for the day; I told my class
that Monday, January 18th is Martin Luther King Day. One child
replied “Mrs. Kent, do we get King cake that day ?” The other
child said “Mrs. Kent, my Dad is taking me to the BURGER
KING PARADE on Monday!! Their confusion led to a
wonderful teachable moment wherein we discussed Dr. King
and his struggle for equal rights for all people.
Sra. Vicario: Math: Students started the Module 3, where
they explore measurement with standard and non-standard
units. They will compare lengths of two and three objects using
same and different tools. They will collect data and answer
questions about it. We continue working with addition and
subtraction strategies and word problems.
ELA: We started "Mooncake." We will learn factual
information about the moon and how light creates shadows.
Noting that authors at times use their imaginations to create
stories, we will explore how misconceptions and
misunderstandings can often be cleared up by gaining
knowledge through observations or reading about others
people’s findings. We will use evidence to investigate what is
real and what is imaginary in various tales about the moon.
Mme Miriam –1st Grade French Immersion: We began our
new year with classroom jobs- "les responsabilités" t hat
change each week. The first graders have taken ownership of
their classroom and their community by working as "les
distributeurs"and "les facteurs." They are also responsible for
taking care of "les portes,""le calendrier," "la météo," "les
toilettes,""le tableau," "la pause à penser," "le tableau
comportement,""la poubelle," and "le nettoyage classe." Along
with our new jobs, we are also learning about the different
cycles of the earth -- we spent one week learning about night
and day (le jour et la nuit) and we will soon be learning about
our seasons. In math, we finished up our last module with
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
base ten operations. Now we are excited to be learning about
measurement and gaining tons of new French vocabulary!
Mrs. Bunnell: We are learning about The 5 Senses! We enjoy
listening to sounds in the classroom and outside, using our
eyes to see colors and describe our surroundings. We read
recipes to make healthy snacks, taste them, and write a
response answering questions like "Was the snack salty or
sweet? Crunchy or soft?” All of our students participated in
Special Olympics bowling and had a blast! We are also
practicing our sight words for early reading, letter blends and
word families, handwriting practice, double digit addition, telling
time, spatial sense, and much more. We are enjoying the chilly
weather but look forward to a beautiful Spring, when we can
use our 5 senses to see and smell beautiful flowers, feel the
warm sun, and enjoy a sno-ball!
Ms. Tallo: Ms. Tallo's students had a wonderful time
participating in the Special Olympics Bowling competition at
Colonial Bowling Lanes on January 15th. A special thank you
to Ms. Rhonda Lauland, our Adaptive P.E. Teacher, for
preparing the students for this awesome event! The students
knew the terms "strike" and "spare" and showed awesome
sportsmanship and team spirit as they cheered for each other.
This month we are reading Fables in 1st grade and profiles of
kids who excel in various academic and sports activities in 2nd
grade. The students are focusing on close reading and how to
respond to text dependent questions. In math, we are learning
to order and compare length measurements. We will also
learn to interpret numbers by collecting, sorting, and organizing
data. We will graph the data points and students will learn to
ask and answer questions about the data sets.
.
SECOND GRADERS
Ms. Castle: Mrs. Castle's class has a busy month ahead.
We are doing Fountas & Pinnell testing and learning about
non-fiction text features, such as the index, glossary, headings,
captions, etc. Our phonics skill is long and short vowel sounds
and we are starting the long i sound this week which is
denoted by /ie/. Math is adding and subtracting using the
"Vertical Method". In Science we are learning about States of
Matter, The Water Cycle and Weather! Please continue to
read with your children nightly for 15-20 minutes. It makes
such a difference and gives you a chance to spend quality time
with your child!
Ms. Dupree: The students enjoyed sharing their animal
projects before the Christmas break. We learned so much from
each other's reports! In Miss Dupree's Reading class, we are
learning about the water cycle and weather. We also recently
read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and the students got
to create their own "wacky weather" story. They can't wait to
use their compare and contrast skills after hearing the book
and watching the movie! In English we are continuing to work
on plural noun spelling rules and writing sentences correctly.
Also, we are learning long and short vowel spellings and
sounds in our CKLA unit with our "spelling trees." In Math, we
are learning how to subtract 2 and 3 digit numbers with and
without regrouping. The more we practice, the better we get!
13
Mrs. Morgan: Mrs. Morgan's class has enjoyed learning
about the water cycle and how it affects our weather. We also
learned how to write a friendly letter. We all wrote a letter to a
classmate that moved to another school and are anxiously
awaiting a reply from her. In math class we are learning two
digit subtraction with and without regrouping. The class is
learning how to solve word problems. Soon we will be writing
our own word problems for our classmates to solve.
Ms. Pyburn: The students in Mrs. Pyburn's class had a great
holiday break, and are feeling re-energized and ready to learn
again. For the last month, we have been studying the water
cycle. The students have had so much fun watching our cup of
water evaporate from the Sun's energy. In Math, we have just
finished adding with regrouping, and we are now subtracting
with regrouping. To wrap up with our Weather Unit, we read
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, which the students loved!
The students compared and contrasted the movie with the
story. In English, we have been working on plural nouns and
how to write a friendly letter.
Sra. Irizarry: Math we are doing Module 4: Addition and
Subtraction within 200 with Word Problems to 100 . Science
we are doing the weather including the different clouds.
Social Studies Studying the life of Martin Luther King.
ELA we are working on pronouns and Lexia.
Also the students compare and contrast between the book and
movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
Espanol - numeros y colores .
Mme Miriam – 2nd Grade French Immersion: In second
grade, we are acquiring many strategies for subtracting
numbers within1000. We have been learning about the
vertical method, as well as how torepresent our operations with
disks, drawings, and other tools. Thestudents are becoming
more and more fluent in describing numbers, theiroperations,
and their properties. Along with all of our work in math,
wehave supplemented the students' unit on the water cycle
with French words. If you come by our classroom, you will see
our raindrops (nos gouttes de pluie)decorating our bulletin
board with explanations of “le cycle de l’eau.”
Ms. Martin’s ESL ClassOur 1-3rd grade ESL students are making strides in their
English language development. We continue to improve our
English skills through the use of the CKLA language program.
Our 1stgrade students have been on an adventure with Nat
and Beth as they travel through Great Britain in the reader
Snap Shots. We’ve seen some awesome sights and learned
some different words like, pub, grub, posh and kilt. Our 2nd
and 3rd grade students have immersed themselves in Bedtime
Tales learning about folktales and legends, and the different
elements of fiction and non-fiction.
THIRD GRADERS
Ms. Pohlman: Students are starting Unit 4 of Core
Knowledge Language Arts program. The content focus of Unit
4 is the ancient Roman civilization. Students will build upon
their knowledge of other ancient civilizations studied in earlier
grades, such as ancient Greece. Fictional students and Mrs.
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
Teachwell deliver "reports" on various topics. We will also
continue learning dictionary skills, such as using guide words.
In grammar, students will review verb tenses and the verbs to
be and to have. They will also learn about subject-verb
agreement, learning to change the spelling of verbs to match
various subjects.
Mrs. Stutzenbecker: In third grade math, we have been
working on many different multiplication and division
strategies. We finished our Eureka Math Module 3 book. We
started geometry in our Module 4 books and are studying area.
In Social Studies, we are learning about landforms and reading
maps. We created our own island map that included a map
key, a compass rose and landforms. In Science, we are
studying the importance of electricity.
Ms. Busot: We created Polygon Pals.
These creatures had to be a polygon (a
closed figure made with line segments).
Students then used the pals to practice
finding area by counting the square units
inside their Polygon Pal. In social studies
class, students reviewed map skills.
Students used these skills to create maps
of imaginary islands. When learning about adjectives in
English the students will use the maps to write descriptive
paragraphs.
FOURTH GRADERS
Mrs. Bertucci & Mrs. Bordelon - ELA: Aye! Our 4th graders
are continuing to learn about the Medieval Times through
varied readings from informational text and the novel, The
Whipping Boy. The two main characters of The Whipping Boy,
Jemmy and Prince Brat, are on an adventure filled with
mystery and surprise. As a culminating
activity to our adventure/mystery
module, students will select a novel in
this genre and complete a project.
Students are encouraged to put forth
their best effort and creativity in
redesigning a cereal box to reflect the
elements of their book. Please continue to encourage your
child to read every night. Log on to iReady --clever.com/in/jppss
Ms. Crider -Math: In 4th grade math, we are rocking and
rolling. We finished learning about factors and multiples and
are now onto our big fractions unit. We will learn how to add,
subtract, and multiply fractions. We will also learn how to find
equivalent fractions using our knowledge of common factors
and multiples. During our long Mardi Gras break, please have
your child go onto I-ready at home if you have
computer/Internet access to practice reading and math skills.
Log on to iReady --- clever.com/in/jppss
Happy
Mardi Gras!
Ms. Ridgley - SC: We are very excited to be learning about
Electricity! Using batteries (a power source), wires
(connectors) and light bulbs (the load), we are discovering the
differences between Open & Closed and Series & Parallel
14
Circuits. Following the Electricity Basics lesson is Transforming
Energy lesson. It describes electromagnets, generators &
turbines. We completed the Electricity Unit by studying how
electricity gets to our homes. Knowing this information will
allow us to begin to understand the basics of electricity as well
as develop a healthy respect for the power and possible
dangers of electricity.
FIFTH GRADERS
Mr. Chaze - Math: Bonne Année - Happy New Year
everyone! It is nice to be back in school after a long winter
break. Work has resumed in fifth grade, and there is no time to
waste! In mathematics, we are wrapping up our Unit 3 on
addition and subtraction of fractions. We have learned different
strategies to compute fractions and we are applying them to
the real world. Next week, we will begin our work on division
and multiplication of fractions. We are very excited by the idea
of using manipulatives and working in small groups.
In social studies, we are following the steps of the early British
colonists on northeastern coast. In science, we are focusing on
the fascinating world of ecosystems and we are becoming
aware of the importance to protect plants and animals.
In 2016, we are becoming data-driven students! We are
learning how to track our progress on IReady and Interactive
Achievement tests. It is very interesting to visualize our
learning and to set personal goals. Our benchmark tests have
shown impressive improvement in mathematics. Great job,
girls and boys! Log on to iReady --- clever.com/in/jppss
Mrs. Hazelwood - ELA: The students in Ms. Hazelwood's ELA
classes are looking forward to completing our reading of The
Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich. The novel has been a
journey through the life of a Native American tribe, including
both the hardships and times of growth. As we continue to dive
into the novel, we look for literary devices that enhance the
text. We have found all kinds of ways the author spices up her
writing through the use of alliterations, similes, metaphors and
personification. Look for more wonderful stories by this author!
Log on to iReady --- clever.com/in/jppss
Ms. Williams: Hello - I am the new 5th grade teacher here at
J.C. Ellis. I am very excited to join such a great school with
fabulous staff members. The students are well behaved and
eager to learn. In the month of January, we have been
discussing colonizing North America and we are about to begin
discussing Jamestown and eventually moving into the
American Revolution in Social Studies. In Science, we are
discussing ecosystems and animal adaptations. In reading and
writing, we are finishing up The Birchbark House and will begin
reading The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the
Wardrobe. We are also working on how to cite evidence and
reading many informational texts to prepare for spring testing.
The students have done very well with all of the subjects thus
far and I'm looking forward to a positive last stretch of the year.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have concerns or
just want to introduce yourselves to me!
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
SIXTH GRADERS
Mrs. Krieger - ELA: 6th Grade ELA will begin the new year
with a new novel! As we read "The Witch of Blackbird Pond",
we will consider why we judge others before getting to know
them, the consequences of jumping to conclusions, and the
perils of arrogance and ignorance.
In English, we are focusing heavily on how to unravel the
complicated maze of a writing prompt. Ask your student to
explain these steps (looking at his or her notes is ok! The
more often your student sees, hears, and repeats these steps,
the more successful he or she will be.): 1. Unpack the question
2. Find the evidence 3. Explain! 4. Don't forget your FUMS
As a parent, the most crucial step you can participate in is Step
3: Explain. As your student answers questions or completes
tasks in any subject, ask him or her WHY or HOW he or she
chose that answer. Don't be discouraged if your student
cannot spout out a perfect answer right away or responds with
"I don't know." Encourage your student to use academic
vocabulary (words that are specific to a subject, like 'cell
division' for Science or 'dependent clause' for ELA) as they
explain. Let them sketch out an idea, use a small dry erase
board to write out sentences or math problems before writing
an answer on paper, or play word-association games (ex: tell
me everything you think of when you hear 'figurative
language'). Often times, if a student is allowed to play around
with an idea first, he or she is much more eager to move on to
the serious work!
Mrs. Viosca - Math: In sixth grade math classes we are
continuing our study of decimals using all four operations. We
recently began working with division and multiplication of
fractions. Please make sure your child is completing homework
each night. It is an integral part of the learning process. We are
picking up the pace and are FULL STEAM AHEAD!! Mrs.
Viosca has also introduced the 6th graders to prodigy, make
sure your child has registered with the class code they were
given. In the evening, have them hop online and they can
compete against others in the 6th grade at the same time. Just
another fun way to learn about math and reinforce the skills
they are learning in class. Students should always complete an
I-Ready lesson before going on to prodigy. I would love
nothing more than to see an I-Ready lesson completed nightly
for those with internet access.
Log on to iReady --- clever.com/in/jppss
In science class, we have begun a new unit. We are studying
elements, compounds, and reactions. Students will be given
an element project to work on at home, which will count for a
test grade. Parents, please be on the lookout for this!!
In Mrs. Viosca's history class, students were given a 6th grade
survival guide highlighting the GLEs that will be tested on
LEAP 2016. Students were given access to our class quizlet
account in order to use to study these words. A set of words is
tested each week. Parents, if you haven't seen this yet, ask
your 6th grader to show you.
15
SEVENTH GRADERS
Ms. Byrd: 7th grade science students are studying about
DNA and genetics and how traits passed from parents to
offspring. They learned that Mendel is known as the father of
genetics and discovered that some traits have simple pattern
of inheritance dominant or
recessive. In studying the
DNA and genetics we
related the lesson to real-life
situation in the medical field.
Some of the students
discovered DNA to Crime
Scene Investigation (CSI)
from the television show. Students were amazed with Mendel’s
using plants to model cross – breeding and plants traits that
are dominant and others are recessive. Some of the activities
done in class were Punnet square and how codes are used to
determined traits. Students discovered how traits are passed
from parents to offspring.
7th grade and 8th grade science, 8th grade social studies
classes are preparing for Benchmark test. Use iReady at home
- Log on to clever.com/in/jppss
Ms. Terranova- Math: We have been studying the area of
circles and other irregular figures lately. This week we will
explore ways that volume can be represented. Next week we
will move into module 4 and study real-world percent
situations. Remember to review and practice class notes with
your children every night. Please also check to see that
homework assignments are completed.
Ms. Bejma - ELA: We have been working very hard on
creating a vocabulary PowerPoint
and an individual grammar structure
book based on our novel, The Giver.
Since completing The Giver, we also
wrote a compare and contrast essay
using the book and the movie. Prior
to seeing the movie, the students
wrote their own ending to The Giver.
We decided that the book was much
more enjoyable than the movie, and
our endings would have made a
great improvement to the film.
Ultimately, it was very evident that
sometimes a movie falls short of our
expectations because directors take
liberties rather than stick to the
original story. We are currently learning more about the life and
work of Charles Dickens and how his writing has influenced us
for over 170 years. How can something written in the Victorian
Age still influence us today? We will answer these questions
as we learn about imagery, characterization, staves, and plot
diagrams. Our objective is to delve deep into Charles Dickens’
A Christmas Carol to help us understand that writers use
stories and distinctive characters to teach us lessons. The
students will come to understand that redemption can be found
in selflessness and valuing people over materialistic
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
possessions, but we will also improve our writing ability by
studying how to add imagery and descriptive details. Finally,
we took a short break and had a blast celebrating “The King.”
Two of our seventh graders won first place in the costume
contest! Congratulations Ja’Shaun Jarrell and Victoria Starnes
for your school spirit and participation.
7th Grade Social Studies: Ms. Bejma and Ms. Terranova
As we study American History, we recently learned about the
Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War and
the struggles that occurred as our forefathers fought for our
new nation. We are now reading about our early government
called the Articles of Confederation and why it had to change
to become the Constitution of the United States as we know it.
Along with this, we will discover more about the compromises
and disagreements of what the government should be to best
represent its people. We will also examine our rights and
responsibilities as citizens of this great country.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FRENCH IMMERSION- Mme Staub
French Immersion - 6th and 7th In addition to their immersion
classes, students in both grades are now studying French
language. On Mondays, students have decided to study
grammar, and they are really excited about it! C'est bizarre et
merveilleux! On Wednesdays, we will concentrate on
conversation and incorporate some short readings.
ESL – Ms Villalva 7th Grade Social Studies: After a well
deserved Christmas break we're back in class working on our
reading and writing skills. We are reading a lot of texts and
learning techniques to be able to have a better understanding
of the text and therefore be able to answer questions about it
accurately. We are reading a lot of non fictional texts and
learning a lot of other things from them. On the writing area we
are working on writing longer texts. We have started writing
texts stating the main idea and three important details so that
we get used to using several paragraphs. We are now going to
add some difficulty by writing descriptive texts still following the
same paragraph structure. Let's sharpen our pencils and get to
work!
EIGHTH GRADERS
Mrs. Byrd- SS: 8th grade social studies students just finished
studying Louisiana Government. This was an interesting
lesson. Students learned a lot. They did a role playing of how
a bill become a law. We discussed Jefferson Parish and we
focused on our school district, so at that moment that was
everybody district was , JC Ellis in class. We did oral
discussion on voter qualification in Louisiana. Students
compare the Louisiana Constitution to the US Constitution. We
were amazed that Louisiana has had 11 constitutions since it
was admitted to the union in 1812. Its present constitution
(1975) replaced the constitution of 1921, which had been
amended more than 500 times.
Ms. Terranova- Math: We have been busy exploring the
relationship of linear equations and how they can be
represented as tables and graphs. We will begin module 5 this
week as we connect linear relationships to functions. Then
finally, we will finish modules 4 and 5 with systems ( or
simultaneous equations). It won't be long before we check out
16
nonlinear situations. Remember to review and practice class
notes with your children every night. Please also check to see
that homework assignments are completed.
Ms. Vansant-ELA: In ELA, 8th graders have been working
diligently to analyze text in our “circle groups,” and through this
process, we are growing as readers, writers, critical thinkers,
and communicators. We are learning to find the deeper
meaning behind the written word. We have also enjoyed
reading and learning about Elvis Presley and how he impacted
segregation through his music, and we have also enjoyed
learning about how Martin Luther King Jr. also impacted
segregation and changed the world with
his diction and eloquent persuasive
speaking ability. We have been improving
in our inference skills and ability to analyze
literature through written response, so we
will be prepared for our next round of
testing after Mardi Gras. We are working
towards our goal of finishing 20
independent novels this year in our reading homework before
the end of the year, so please take us to the bookstore or the
library, so we can keep reading!! Use iReady at home
clever.com/in/jppss
Mrs. Byrd – SC: 8th grade science students are exploring
about fossils, different kinds of fossils, and what can they tell
from the past. They are observing from by modeling trace
fossils and draw conclusion about the behavior of ancient
organism. We are molding and casting fossils by using water,
sand, clay, models of plastic dinosaurs and other small
creatures. They are observing rocks to identify the relative age
or the absolute age of a rock and the geologic time scale.
Kudos to my 8th grade students who are studying fossils, you
are now paleontologists.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION and HEALTH
Grades K-3 – Coach Christine & Coach Browning – In
Physical Education classes in Kindergarten, First, Second and
Third Grades, we have been working on “Oppositional
Overhand Throwing”. We used size appropriate footballs to
teach how to properly throw a football, overhand, with
opposition. We also tried to implement throwing a football with
spin. We taught them to use the “T” position as a starting
position. We have also used games, such as, “Corral”,
“Snowball” and “Elimination” to allow the students to practice
this skill. Hopefully, students will practice this skill at home.
Throwing a football around with family members is a great way
to create an exercise opportunity for the entire family.
In Healthy Lifestyle Choices, our Health series, we are
finishing a unit on Substance Abuse Education, which focused
on alcohol, smoking and properly taking medicine, both overthe-counter and prescription. I feel sure your children have
started discussions with you about these topics. We appreciate
you taking an interest in what your child is learning!
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
Grades 4-8 – Coach Marks & Coach Ryan: Boys are
developing our basketball skills leading to intramurals and a
championship game. Girls are developing our soccer skills
leading to intramurals and a championship game.
We are also participating in Fuel Up to Play 60. Fuel Up to
Play 60 is a national in-school nutrition and physical activity
program launched by the National Football League and
National Dairy Council, founded by America’s dairy farmers, in
collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The program encourages youth to consume
nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free
dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains)
and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical
activity every day. Dairy foods are a safe,
wholesome and delicious source of essential nutrients —
available at a reasonable cost. Combined, milk, cheese and
yogurt contain high-quality protein, calcium, potassium, vitamin
D and more, making dairy foods an important part of overall
health. Encorage your child to eat healy and exercise more.
GIFTED/TALENTED
Mrs. Alford: GT - As the winter time brings chills and cold
weather, just the right time to snug up and read your favorite
books, the gifted students are completing a winter time novel
study with the Newbery Honor book, My Side of the Mountain,
by Jean Craighead George. This award winning book is a
classic and a way to escape to the outdoors for some
exploration into the naturalistic side of our intelligences. As a
final activity students will enjoy the movie. Most evidence from
the student viewpoint thus far has been that the books are
always the best.
Ms. Layton: DRAMA –Talented Theatre students are
practicing and applying acting techniques such as substitution
and sense memory. We apply substitution when we use our
own life experiences to put ourselves in our character's
situation. Sense memory is when we make our senses
remember how something looks, sounds, tastes, smells or
feels even if we are not actually seeing, hearing, tasting,
smelling, or feeling something. Acting techniques help us be
believable on stage.
Ms. Weathers: TVA – Talented Visual Art students are
creating their ideas through three dimensional design. Student
are picking their favorite sketch to develop into soft sculpture.
Felt is hand crafted together to make these ideas come off the
table. Elllis' artists are recreating animals, unicorns and aliens.
Each sculpture is as unique and creative as the artist.
SPEECH: Ms. McAdams: The speech students are working
towards generalizing speech sounds and/or language skills
within the classroom and at home. After the holiday break,
lessons included the topics of winter and Martin Luther King,
Jr. Each student enjoyed learning more about American history
while continuing to build their speech skills. Currently, we're
expanding our vocabulary while learning about the upcoming
holiday Mardi Gras.
17
Ex LIBRIS……...Ms. Boh: Great things are happening in the Ellis library in January!
Kindergarten is looking forward to March when they will begin checking books out to use in the classroom.
1st grade is exploring storytelling and putting events in the correct order. This week we learned all about
helping with the Little Red Hen!
2nd grade is completing Dictionary People all while learning about how to use a dictionary.
3rd grade is playing with data using charts and graphs. This past week we held an imaginary bake sale
fundraiser and calculated which items earned us the most money.
4th grade has been looking at the World Almanac and learning all kinds of information that may one day
help them win on Jeopardy!
5th grade continues to delve into the world of research, learning the process from developing a topic to presenting a final
product. We are spending the next few weeks refining our research questions and practicing narrowing down a topic.
6th grade is preparing to learn how to create great Powerpoint presentations, Word documents, as well as practicing their computer
skills. 7th grade is still exploring genre. This month they are working with memoirs and biographies while spending time creating their
own 6-word memoirs. 8th grade continues to learn about effective research skills, using computer programs to streamline the process,
and improving their writing skills. Keep up the great work!! Ellis STAR Readers:
1. Cruz Rodriguez
4. Sasha Lankford
7. Julissa Ramos
2. Isis Brown
5. Nicholas Becker
8. Emily Fernandez
3. Adam DePoorter
6. Ahmad Ahmad
ELLIS EAGLES – AIM for YOUR STAR!!
18