A publication of the Ball-Chatham School District

Ball
Elementary School
A publication of the Ball-Chatham School District
May 2016
On the Cover
Kindergartner Spring Sing
T
he Ball Elementary Kindergarten classes had a wonderful Spring Sing
evening on Wednesday, April 20th. They learned several spring songs
in music class with Mrs. Wallner, and each class sang a song on their own
too. Kindergartners decorated the building with flowers and butterflies. The
classes celebrated spring and sang to the many families who attended the performance.
We also welcomed in the season of spring by planting flowers by the Ball Elementary vegetable garden. We planted Celosia, Salvia, Snapdragons, Verbena, and Marigolds with our own
master gardener, Viv Held. Our flowers will attract the bees that are needed to pollinate our
vegetable plants. Spring has sprung at our school!
Ball Elementary students have
had a busy spring planting the
Summer Fruits and Vegetable
Garden and the schools’ Butterfly Garden. Read more on
the next page!
First Grade Embryonic Study
T
he first grade classrooms at Ball Elementary completed another
successful unit of embryology study. With great patience we cared
for and observed incubators full of chicken eggs. Our smart First
Graders can tell you all about the required incubator temperature,
candling eggs, turning eggs, the egg tooth chicks use to hatch out,
and how to feed, and hold them , as well as the chicken life cycle. This
is always the highlight of First Grade - one that creates memories for
life! Many thanks to the U of I Extension Office for providing incubators, supplies and eggs!
Looking Ahead...
May
20 Last day for Pre-K
25 Last day of school for students
27 Report cards posted online
July
18 Online registration begins
August
1 Office reopens
2-3 Call-in for Pre-K screening
4 Walk-in registration, 11-6 p.m.
5 Online registration ends
10 Pre-K Screening at BE
11 Pre-K Screening at BE
15 Meet Your Teacher, 6-7 p.m. for K-2nd; 6:30-7:30 p.m. for 3rd-4th (Bring school supplies)
17 First day student attendance
17 Deadline for K, 6, 9 physicals,
immunizations
23 K-4 Pizza fundraiser begins
Summer Slide?? Please, NO!!!
T
he “summer slide” is a very real thing! Don’t let it happen to your soon - to - be second grader! The boys and
girls have worked VERY hard all year to become proficient
readers. They know how to decode tricky words, and how
to comprehend a wide variety of texts. Don’t allow your
first grader to slide backwards this summer and regress in reading levels. Take a little time
EVERY DAY to do some reading. Challenge your almost second grader to read packages, magazines, and (appropriate) news articles. Look for opportunities to read while riding in the car,
shopping, or laying on the beach. Visit the Public Library and bookstore. Ask your reader LOTS
of questions (“Why did that happen?, Does that remind you of anything?, What was the most
important event?, What is the main idea?, What lesson can you learn from this book?”) Start
second grade off on the right foot - with the “confident reader foot”! STAY OFF THE SLIDE!
2nd Graders Blast Off into Space Unit
S
econd graders at Ball Elementary are blasting off into our space unit which will lead us to
third
grade and beyond. As we zoom into the last few weeks of school, we will be focusing on the
comprehension strategy: questioning. This important strategy plays a vital role in our day to day reading.
We have
been learning that great readers should be asking questions before, during, and after they read. Space
is such a
wonderful unit to help us discover how questions keep us engaged in our reading and learning
Students are also learning about the importance of using context clues to discover the meaning of “out of this world”
vocabulary. As the students embark on their future, we look forward to their new and meaningful adventures!
3rd Graders “Weather the Weather”
T
hird grade students here
at Ball Elementary have
been working so hard on
their performance of “Weather
the Weather”. They have
learnedsongs and choreography in music class for the past
several months and have
worked on their speaking
parts with their classroom
teachers. All of their hard
work paid off when they presented their performance on
May 12th at the GHS School
auditorium. Friends and
family all filled up the room
to watch this amazing show!
The students shared lots of
knowledge about the weather and how to be prepared
for those dangerous tornados! The 3rd graders want
to thank Mrs. Wallner for preparing them to present this
awesome musical and their
3rd grade teachers for helping put it all together. What a
memory that these students
will carry with them forever!
Great job 3rd graders!
4th Grade Fun Finish
W
ith the finish of fourth quarter, several special events are taking place in fourth grade. The annual
BES State Fair is in the works. All 50 states will be represented while other grade level students
take part in this experience. Not only are display boards creative and informative, the students will
share facts and treats in interactive ways.
In addition, fourth graders are exploring current issues harming our environment. These issues
include global warming, landfills, endangered species, water pollution, and energy depletion. As each
team of children synthesizes information about the problems facing the environment, persuasion
becomes an important technique. Each team will convince and explain which issue is the most serious
threat to our environment and how we can address the problem.
How Do Our Gardens Grow?
Mary, Mary, Quite Un-contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow? Through teamwork and fun, many hands and sun, wouldn’t you know!
T
his spring has seen a lot of
activity in Ball Elementary’s two outdoor classrooms.
Ball’s Summer Fruits and
Vegetables Garden is located
by the fourth grade wing in
the back of the building while
Ball’s Butterfly Garden is located right by the main entrance.
In late April, Kindergarteners
planted beautiful flowering
plants in the flowerboxes by
the Summer Fruits and Veggies Garden. Second graders followed
suit by planting an assortment of sunflowers, fruits and
vegetables – some from plugs
and some from seed. Girls
on the Run finished up at the
Butterfly Garden by planting nine more native prairie
plants after sprucing up
the garden by weeding and
adding artistic touches.
To help keep these new
plantings healthy and ready
to greet our students in the
fall, families are encouraged to
adopt the gardens one week at
a time over the summer months.
The flowers attract pollinators
and help create waystations
for the endangered monarch
butterflies. Produce grown over
the summer is donated to the
Chatham Food Pantry and, once
school returns, can be enjoyed
by the same students who
planted the plants – but but a
year older instead. Your help
is needed with all aspects of
these outdoor classrooms – so
please get involved by sending
an email to TheNatureKINNetwork@gmail.com.
Message from the Principal
S
aying goodbye has
always been one of my
greatest challenges. Like
many others, leaving the
comfort of the known for the
uncertainty of the unknown
yields some anxiety and apprehension. For the past six
years, Ball-Chatham has been
my home away from home.
Never did I imagine that a
year into my administrative
career, I would leave the
world of middle school, the
only educational world I had
ever known, to begin a five
year journey into elementary school. Being named
principal of Ball Elementary
has been one of my greatest
honors. Serving the staff,
students, and families at BES
has been a pleasure. I’ve
loved getting to know our
students and their families
and have been amazed at
the friendships that I’ve
developed in my time at Ball.
Working in an elementary
school helped me better un-
derstand the educational
progression. Elementary students want to do well, they
want to please their teachers,
and they for the most part,
like the principal. When I’m
not feeling my best, there is
nothing better than walking
into a PreK or Kindergarten
classroom and being greeted
with smiling faces and hugs.
When they are having an off
day, I’m always glad to be a
constant that they can rely
on here at school. It has always been my goal to ensure
that Ball is a safe place for all
students and where every
student is treated fairly and
with respect each and every
day. I hope that most families and students feel that is
true.
As I trade in my red and
white, for orange and blue,
I think fondly of my years in
BCSD. I want to thank the administration who entrusted
me with leading a building,
particularly when blending
staffs was of utmost importance. Together we have
continued the culture of
excellence that our families
and students deserve. I
want to thank the hundreds
of families of which I have
worked with during my time
here. They have helped me
understand that each family
gives us their best each and
every day and that we are all
here for the same reason. I
want to thank the students I
have seen come and go over
the years. It’s been amazing
to watch their development
as my first group of students
will be seniors at GHS in the
fall. Lastly, I want to thank
the staff I have worked alongside for five years. Everyone
brings their own uniquenesses to the building and it
is the combination of everyone’s individual talents that
make the BES a special place.
I will miss their dedication
Principal
Joe Viola
and passion to teaching.
Most of all, I will miss their
friendship. It is this group of
people that deserve credit
for making Ball great.
I have no doubt that Ball
Elementary will remain an
amazing place to work and
learn for many years to come.
While the finality of goodbye
is beginning to sink in, I think
of the lasting memories and
try to cherish the continued
memories from now until the
end of the year. In our small
community, I know that I
will see many of you out and
about and hope to maintain
the friendships that have
developed over my time in
Ball-Chatham. In that regard,
I try not to think of this as
goodbye, but rather, see you
later.
Message from the Assistant Principal
“
How lucky I am to have
something that makes
saying good-bye so hard.”
With this quote Winnie the
Pooh summed up perfectly
about how I feel leaving Ball
Elementary. The past five
years have been amazing, to
put it simply. I honestly don’t
have the perfect words to describe the appreciation and
love I have felt while working
with the amazing students,
parents, and staff at Ball.
When I look back at my
time here I am reminded of a
lot of special memories and
learning experiences. I have
fallen in love with every child
who walks the halls and fills
the classrooms with laughter.
I have appreciated every parent as they volunteer within
the school or show support
of their child. I have learned
so much from the dedicated
staff members that put their
heart and soul into making
Ball Elementary a perfect
school for every student. I
am lucky…Lucky to have
landed at Ball Elementary.
Thank you to everyone
that has supported me and
made this such a memorable
experience.
BCGPTO Update
W
e are wrapping up our
year and what a year it’s
been!!! I have to first thank
all the volunteers that have
helped make this amazing
year possible through their
numerous donations and the
invaluable contributions of
their time, effort, and talent.
We have had an overwhelming response to this year’s
spirit wear, especially the
wordle T design shirt that
incorporates several core
values that all Titans should
have: character, pride,
respect, kindness, responsibility, integrity, and safety.
Students are not only taught
these values through activities and lessons, but by
example everyday by observing actions of the teachers
and staff. The BCG PTO is
has been especially excited
to show our appreciation to
all staff and teachers with
the Super Heroes theme of
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. We also coordinated with the other two
PTO’s to express our gratitude to the administration at
the district office, the
grounds and maintenance
crew and employees over
in the bus barn for striving
every day to provide a safe
learning environment for all
the students.
Gardens are underway at Ball
Elementary. Kindergarten
and 2nd grade are planting
the gardens and first and
third grade will care for them
when school resumes this
fall. Families take care of the
garden over the summer and
donate anything harvested
to the local food bank. The
gardens are a unique experience for the students who
will have participated in each
stage of the growing cycle
from the planting and the
care to the harvest and enjoyment of eating something
that they took part in grow
ing. For more information
contact TheNatureKINNetwork@gmail.com.
Don’t forget to purchase
your school supply kit! Online ordering is open until
May 27 at www.schooltoolkit.com. Pick up will be on
August 4 at the GIS Field
house. We will have extras on
hand for purchase on a first
come first serve basis.
Thank you for your continued
support of the BCG PTO. I
hope everyone has a fun and
safe summer!
Angie Wiser
BCG PTO President
Every Little One Counts
We have finished the year strong, easily crossing over the $108,000 money earned mark
since 2009. Your involvement over the years has really helped out. Thank you! Please keep
collecting over the summer months. Encourage friends, family, and neighbors to do the
same. The classroom contests start back up the first day of school. Have a safe and fun
summer!
Little Italy’s Proof of Purchase Seals
Little Italy’s graciously donates 50 cents per proof of purchase seal. The seals are on the upper right hand corner of the advertising flyers glued to the box cover. Collect over the summer and send them in with your Box Tops when school starts again.
Remember to Collect
Box Tops
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Pop Tabs
•
Campbell’s Soup Labels
•
Gently Used Elementary Science-based books
Instructional Insight
By Aimee Sutton , K-12 Literacy Instructional Coach; and Traci Kimball, K-12 Numeracy Instructional Coach
Professional Philosophy
O
ur professional philosophy is that the goal of coaching is to guide vision, urge excellence, and empower the Ball-Chatham School District teachers to
unlock his or her true potential, by raising awareness, inspiring ideas, and encouraging creativity. We work toward building a culture of coaching in
the district, where teachers collaborate and lead one another, and espouse a philosophy of continuous improvement to grow from good to great.
Reminder: What is an Instructional Coach?
An Instructional Coach…
• has conversations with colleagues (identifying issues or needs,
problem solving, setting goals)
• develops and provides materials for/with colleagues to meet
students’ individual needs
• collaboratively develops, enhances, and adjusts curriculum with
colleagues
• participates in professional development with colleagues
• leads or participates in study groups
• assists with assessing students and interpreting the assessments
• assists in instructing students to learn about their strengths and needs
LITERACY
Five Ways to keep literacy alive over the summer!
Rainy Day “Chopped” - On rainy days over the summer choose tasty
recipes to try out. Gather all of the ingredients and have your own
episode of “Chopped.” Be sure to read the ingredients carefully, and write
about your culinary experience. You could write an article as a food critic,
rewrite the recipe, or be creative and write a narrative that involves what
you made in the story; being sure to use details that describe the culinary
process and taste of the food that you made.
Summer Passport - Collect mementos, take pictures, create collages,
and generate a passport of information that timelines your summer
travels in a personal journal.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors - Create a leaf or flower collection to broaden
your research practices. Become a travel agent and plan a destination
vacation somewhere with “Great Outdoors” activities. Or plan a camping
trip with a friend and list all of the things you would need to survive for a
week in the “Great Outdoors.”
Publish Something
•
Create and write your own joke book.
•
Write your own historical fiction story.
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Or build your own comic book or magazine.
Visit Fun Local Events
•
Visit the Lincoln Sites
•
Visit the Zoo
•
Go to a Springfield Slider’s Baseball Game
•
Go to the Farmer’s Market
•
Go to the Waterpark
•
Go to the County Fair
•
Go to the Chatham Homecoming Celebration
•
Go to the Chatham Sweetcorn Festival
There are so many great things to do in the summer here in Sangamon
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co-plans lessons
holds/joins team meetings
analyzing student work
helps teachers interpret and use assessment data for making decisions
has individual discussions with colleagues about teaching and learning
makes professional development presentations for teachers
researches and communicates guidelines established by the
district or program
• spends most of their time working with teachers
County! Enjoy the wonderful weather and your time off from school, but
be sure to read about the great things that are happening right here in your
community, and write about your adventures.
Have a fantastic Summer Break!
MATH
What can I do to foster a love of mathematics this summer??
Online Math Games - Most kids love playing online games – what a great
way to entice your children to work on their math skills while having some
fun! There are so many game sites on the ‘Net, and many of them are free.
Here’s a few games sites that have math-specific sections (each of these
sites also has games covering different academic areas as well):
•
Funbrain’s Math Arcade (Grades K through 8): This popular site from
Pearson Education features 25 different math games, customized to
your skills level (grade).
•
FunSchool Kaboose Math Games (Pre-K through Grade 6): 33 Math
Games here. Click on over and check out Action Fraction, Farm Addition, Fishing for Numbers, Monster Numbers, and more.
•
Sheppard Software’s Math Games (Grades K through 8): A couple dozen games here, grouped into 8 sections including: Basic Operations,
Fractions, Telling Time, and Pre-Algebra.
Attend a Summer Camp
In the Chicago Area
Summer STEM near Chicago
LLCC College for Kids
Discover Engineering
At University of Illinois
Women in Engineering (GAMES)
At University of Illinois
Illinois Aerospace Institute Summer Camp
At University of Illinois
Have a fantastic summer break!
a benefit for titan fuel
Shrimp Boil
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JUNE 16, 5-8 PM, PIPER GLEN CLUBHOUSE
$50 PER PERSON
(INCLUDES CASUAL DINNER, 2 DRINK TICKETS, & ENTERTAINMENT)
5 TO 6 P.M. MINGLE ~ 6 P.M. WELCOME
5:30 TO 7:30 P.M. - DINNER SERVED CONTINUOUSLY
SHRIMP BOIL AFTER-PARTY AT WIN, LOSE OR DRAUGHT IN PIPER GLEN!
Titan Fuel is a food assistance program that provides kid-friendly, non-perishable food for Ball-Chatham elementary age students to eat over the weekends
and breaks when school is not in session. Thanks to an initial grant secured by
the Chatham United Methodist Women, the District was able to assist struggling
families for the 2015-16 school year. Our community’s help is needed to sustain the
program, and expand to the other schools in the Ball-Chatham School District.
Get tickets before June 10 at Scoop Du Jour (1029 Jason Place in Chatham) or
Modern Woodmen of America (7036 Kingsmill Ct. in Piper Glen)
Like our facebook page - TitanFuelBCSD! ~ Sponsorships still available!
BOX TOPS 2015-2016 • BOX TOPS BLAST OFF
RACE INTO SPACE!
TAPE one Box Tops over each picture. Return the completed form to your teacher at least once during the month. Additional
collection sheets are available at your school’s office or on the PTO website. Please, no expired Box Tops or Box Tops with
the date accidentally cut off. Questions, please contact bcgboxtops@gmail.com. Thank you for your efforts!
Student’s Name:_____________________________________________ School and Grade:_______________________ Teacher’s Name:__________________
wrightsman
musso
ltd.
for all your real estate needs
Box Tops Printing sponsored by Wrightsman Musso, Ltd. / www.wmlrealty.com
Todd Musso, Managing Broker · REALTOR ® / ph: 217-725-5458
BOX TOPS HIGH COUNT COLLECTION SHEET
Tape one Box Top over each number. Return the completed form to your teacher as soon as possible. Additional collection sheets are available at
your school’s office, on the PTO website, or by emailing bcgisboxtops@gmail.com. Please, no expired Box Tops (i.e. it is expired if the expiration
date is before the date you return the completed collection sheet) or Box Tops with the date accidentally cut off. Thanks for playing “The Game”!!
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Student’s Name:_____________________________________________ School and Grade:_______________________ Teacher’s Name:__________________