Gurney Tiger Tales

Gurney Tiger Tales
Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools
December, 2011
Principally Speaking…
Contents
Principally Speaking
1
Super Staff Member
2
Plain Dealer Crystal Apple
3
Show DVD Order Form
4
Gurney Holiday Show
5
Nurse’s Notes
6-7
Counselor’s Corner
8
Spanish Class News
9
Art Class News
10-11
Tiger Tutor
13-14
Gurney Calendar
PTO Thank You
15
16-17
DELAYED START!
Tuesday,
December 13,
2011
Gurney Start Time:
10:05 a.m.
WINTER BREAK
December 22January 2
School Resumes
Tuesday,
January 3
As we head into December, we hope to see all of our families at the
Holiday Show on December 16th! We do have a few reminders related to this
special event:
1. Your admission into the show is a canned good! We will have collection boxes
at the doors and all donations will go to the Geauga County Meals on Wheels.
2. Parking is limited and can be very difficult so carpooling is appreciated!
3. There is NO PARKING on Sugarbush Lane across from the Gurney driveway. It is
a private drive and the residents do not allow parking on that street.
th
4. Our make-up day for the Holiday Show is Tuesday, December 20 . We will use
th
this day if school is canceled on the 16 or if we have school canceled 2 or more
th
days during the week of Dec. 12 .
Thank you in advance for the donations from PTO, Dads’ Club, and
Music Lovers that make our show so amazing every year! As always, our Dads’
Club volunteers set up/take down all the chairs in the gymnasium and
orchestrate our parking prior to each show --- we appreciate your time and
energy in doing this for all of us!
Northeast Ohio winter is unpredictable! Please remember to dress your
child appropriately each day as we try to go outside for recess each day. If your
child wants to play in the snow or sled ride, the Big 5 is needed: Coat, Hat,
Gloves, Boots, and Snow Pants! This is a lot to keep track of and it easily gets
mixed up in our hallways so, please check our lost and found frequently – it fills
up fast!
Winter vacation is a great time to relax, visit with family, and play. It’s
also easy to keep up academic skills in fun, simple ways. Teachers have links on
their websites for great educational sites that your child can enjoy on the
computer at home. The simplest website that reviews math facts or sight words
is all it takes! Your child will enjoy the game aspect of it and benefit from the
skill review at the same time. If you have an iPod Touch or an iPad at home,
check out our list of educational apps on our website. Our students use these in
the classrooms at Gurney and would love to show you how. Writing thank you
cards is also a great activity to do over the winter break! It’s a nice way for
your child to thank family members for gifts and get a little writing practice in
as well. If you see a movie together, simply ask your child to retell the
beginning, middle, and end of the plot for a little comprehension practice!
These brief activities will keep your child’s academic skills fresh and ready for
when it’s time to jump back into the school year!
On behalf of the entire Gurney Staff and myself, I wish you all good
health and happiness over the winter vacation!
Sincerely,
Dr. Rachel Jones., Principal
LOOK WHO HAS BEEN SUPER
STAFF MEMBER OF THE WEEK!
WEEK OF
NAME, POSITION
10/31
Mrs. Czerr,
Kindergarten Instructional Aide
10/31
Mr. Wise,
1 Grade Teacher
11/7
11/7
11/14
11/14
st
NOMINATED FOR…
She created amazing posters, graphs,
charts, and maps for the Tiger Tour
Challenge! She also kept great energy
as she added up thousands of miles
that our students walked!
-Mrs. Dugach
He is a team player – willing to try
anything new and is always helping
someone! He is just a super nice
person who goes beyond the call of
duty!
-Mrs. Albrecht
Mrs. Matecjik,
Multi-Age Instructional Aide
She is so kind and thoughtful about her
students. I can tell she loves her job
and loves children.
-Mrs. Mynchenberg
Mrs. Todaro,
3 Grade Teacher
She is a fantastic grade level leader!
She makes sure everything is planned
to perfection. She is always available
to answer my questions!
-Mr. Ritz
Mrs. Kehrier,
2nd Grade Teacher
She is a great mentor teacher and has
helped me make the jump to the
second grade team!
-Mr. Rose
Mrs. Butler,
Math Interventionist
She has been super helpful with the
Aimsweb activities, helping in our
rooms, and aiding our team any way
she can! Thank you!
-Mrs. Todaro
rd
GURNEY SCHOOL
HOLIDAY VIDEO ORDER FORM
“Goin Green for the Holidays”
December 18, 2011
Arrow Video Service will tape both morning and afternoon
performances of the Holiday Show. The tapes will then be
edited and mixed to produce one final DVD of this year’s
show. All classes will be included on the final DVD. The
cost of a DVD is $18.00. Please complete this form and
return it to the office with a check made payable to:
Gurney Elementary School
Student’s Name________________________________
Grade________________________________________
Teacher______________________________________
Number of DVD’s x $18.00=Amount Due ___________
Total Amount Due $____________________________
*****Please turn in all orders and money
by Friday, January 13, 2012.
Gurney Holiday Show Parent Schedule
Friday, December 16, 2011
“Goin Green for the Holidays”
(Makeup Date if Needed: Tuesday, December 20th)
*Below are the recommended times for parents to attend
their child’s holiday performance.
9:30 a.m. Performance
1:30 p.m. Performance
Albrecht
Tressler
Andreas
Todaro
Cantor
Wise
Fishman
Kehrier
Malley
E. Jones
Halagan
Langer
Pelsozy
Riccelli
B. Jones
Polien
Zdolshek
Ritz
Rose
***IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE:
We would appreciate families sticking to this schedule if at all
possible because seating is very limited for both show times. Also,
as you know we do have both shows professionally video-taped for
your purchase as a keepsake, so bringing your young children or
toddlers who may not be able to sit through the entire show is not
recommended.
Remember…
NO Parking on
SUGARBUSH LANE!
Nurse’s Notes
Hand Washing 101
Cold and flu can spread all too easily through touch-especially after touching hard surfaces like
tables and door knobs, where viruses can survive two to eight hours. What to do???
Keep your fingers away from your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible.
Master the ‘art’ of hand washing!
o Soap and water are the best. Germs can grow on bar soap, so pump soap dispensers or handsfree soap dispensers are best.
o Choose regular soap over anti-bacterial (the overuse of which may contribute to the development
of antibiotic-resistant germs).
o Lather for a solid 20 seconds (sign Happy Birthday twice!) and dry thoroughly.
Alcohol based hand sanitizers or wipes are a good alternative when you are on the go. Be sure to use one
that is alcohol-based and that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but
sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.
Hand sanitizers are not effective when hands are visibly dirty.
How do you use hand sanitizers?
o Apply the product to the palm of one hand.
o Rub your hands together.
o Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.
For more information, check out http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/.
District Nurse, Pam Hoover, RN, in the Gurney Clinic Monday and
Wednesday mornings, 7:30 – 11:00 am. Tomika Wiley, Medical
Assistant, is in the Gurney Clinic daily from 10:30 - 1:30 pm. Please
feel free to contact the District Nurse cell 330-998-3350; email
pam.hoover@chagrinschools.org with any questions or concerns.
Grade Level News
Nurse’s Notes - Continued
Counselor’s Corner
Mr. Tschappat
December 2011
Friendship skills were the topic of the November guidance lessons. It is
common for parents to be concerned that their child is struggling with
making friends. Sometimes experience, maturity, and time is all that is
needed for children to develop stronger friendship skills. Other children
need additional coaching and practice. Here are a few suggestions.
1.
Teach, emphasize, and model good manners. Polite, respectful, and friendly children tend to
attract friends and build solid relationships.
2.
Teach and model communication skills such as eye contact, listening, complimenting,
cooperation, honesty, and loyalty.
3.
Help your child achieve mastery in an activity, game, sport, skill, etc. Confidence and self-esteem
are invaluable traits.
4.
Teach and model empathy.
NOUNS
While most 3rd graders can recite that a noun is “a
person, place or thing” in Spanish class the concept becomes
more complex! En español nouns are divided into two
categories; masculine nouns and feminine nouns. It is
important for students to know how to identify the two types
of nouns which is why we have been spending a lot of time
practicing! We looked at the nouns used in Skippyjon Jones,
Class Action, we looked at classroom nouns around us and we
looked at nouns related to the holiday of Thanksgiving. So,
ask your child how they can identify a noun, how they can
determine what type of noun is it and how to make that noun
plural!
¡Feliz Día de Acción de Dar Gracias!
Ice sculpture
Welcome to the Art Room Dec.
Newsletter
KGD are observing the beautiful changes of the trees here in
Ohio. They have gathered up leaves to create an autumn painting of a
tree. They will trace around their fore arm and fingers to create the
trunk and branches then with real leaves print on the many beautiful
colors of fall.
First grader s are learning how to make a pinch pots using
the pinch modeling techniques. Students will learn how
our Native Americans took clay from the earth to create
beautiful and functional object for daily use. Students will
also, observe the designs, patterns, and textures on these
vessels and create designs, patterns and textures on their
own pinch pots.
Second graders will study the art of quilt making through the eyes
of famous African American Artist Faith Ringgold. She is the
author and illustrator of children’s books, such as, Tar Beach, If the
Bus Could Talk, and many others. Students will learn the historical
purposes of quilts and how artistic use quilt to tell a story as well as
artistic expression. They will recycle wallpaper to create a quilt
pattern, while identifying elements in quilts, such as, contracting
colors, shapes, patterns, and symbols. www.faithringgold.com
Third Graders “EATS OR FRUITS AND VEGTABLES!!”
Students are discovering how Arts and Science comes together
for Renaissance artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo. We will discuss
how he used fantasy and realism to create his famous portraits
using objects from nature, such as, fruits and vegetables and
how he inspired the Surrealist movements some 400 years later.
Also, explain how Renaissance artists studied the science
aspect of the objects in order to draw them as realistic as
possible. Students will examine real fruits and vegetables in
order to show detail in their Aricimboldo portraits.
2010 Juried Show: Best of Show
Be sure to take the family to the Chagrin
Valley Art Center.
Congratulations to both Amy Fenton and Ken
Hetzel (High School Art Teachers) for their entries. Way to
go!!!
November 5 – December 14, 2011
“When there’s a will there’s a way!” Be sure to click onto
the following site www.mouthart.com Where you can see the
in creditable art work of Jackie Kruyne’s cousin Doug Landis.
He is a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the waist down. He
defiantly has the “Don’t Quit” Gurney Spirit!
How did they do that!?
I took this picture at this year’s Pumpkin Festival in
Circleville Ohio. Check out the pumpkin head. I want
some of those sends!
Help is needed for this year’s Holiday Show
scenery. We will pick a date where volunteers will
glue down all of the art work our third graders
have created for the backdrops.
If you would like to volunteer please e-mail Danica
Chapic at danicachapic@gmail.com. And as always
your support of the arts is very much appreciated!
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
A reminder…we try to have the students
go outside for recess every day. It is
important for the students to be outside
for fresh air and exercise during recess.
All students must have the
“BIG 5”: BOOTS, HAT, SNOW PANTS,
COAT, and GLOVES! Please help your child
to remember to have the “BIG 5”
during the winter weather months.
PICTURE
RE-TAKE DAY IS …
Thursday,
December 1, 2011
The Gurney School Clinic welcomes
your gently used clothing donations
(sweat pants, jeans, t-shirts, etc. for both boys and girls use).
Attendance
When your child is ill, going to be late or going to be out due to a trip, please notify the
office by 9:00 a.m.
Attendance Line:
440-893-4033
Leaving a message on this line is sufficient.
Reminder:
Students may enter the building at 8:25 a.m.
BE A TIGER
TUTOR!
WHAT: A Tiger Tutor is a volunteer who comes to Gurney during the school day
to work with students one on one with some extra reading activities.
WHO: A Tiger Tutor can volunteer one time a week or more! Tiger Tutoring will
run November through May this school year.
HOW: A Tiger Tutor does not need to have any teaching experience, but must love
working with kids! Tiger Tutors will be trained on all of the reading activities by
Mrs. Rachel Gebler.
WHEN: First Grade Tiger Tutors must be available to work between 9am-10:30am.
Second Grade Tiger Tutors must be available to work between 1pm-2:30pm.
Third Grade Tiger Tutors must be available to work between 9am –10:30am.
If you sign up, please email Mrs. Gebler to set-up your
training session date and time.
If you would like to be a Tiger Tutor, complete the information on the following
sheet and return to the Gurney Office as soon as possible!
If you have additional questions, feel free to call/e-mail Mrs. Rachel Gebler at
440-893-4030 x4117 / rachel.gebler@chagrinschools.org
TIGER TUTOR VOLUNTEER FORM
-to be returned to Rachel Gebler
(Please clearly print the information below)
Name ________________________________
Phone Number ________________________
Email Address
__________________________________________________________
(E-mail will be our main form of communication so please check often)
Please circle your choices below:
The grade level(s) with which you are available to work:
1st (9:00-10:30am)
2nd (1:00-2:30)
3rd (9:00-10:30am)
How often are you able to volunteer during each week:
1 day
2 days
The day(s) that you are interested in tutoring:
Mon.
Tues.
Wed.
Thurs.
Fri.
Are you comfortable working with your own child’s class?
YES
NO
Your child(ren)’s name _______________________________________
Their Teacher(s) _____________________________________________
GURNEY CALENDAR
December 1………………………………………………….Gurney Picture Re-Take Day
December 13………………………………………………*Delayed Start for Students
(Gurney - 10:05 a.m. Start Time)
December 16………………………………………Gurney Holiday Show – Grades 1-3
(December 20 – Holiday Show Make-Up Date –
In the event of a calamity day)
December 19………………………..CF Board of Education Meeting – 5:00 p.m.
December 21………………………………………………………..Gurney Holiday Parties
December 22-January 2………………………………………………….Winter Vacation
*UPCOMING:
January 3…………………………………………………………………………School Resumes
January 10………………………………………………….*Delayed Start for Students
(Gurney – 10:05 a.m. Start Time)
January 20…………………………Gurney Report Card Sent Home in Backpacks
January 27…………………..Gurney Night @ the CFHS Boys Basketball Game
Goal of Chagrin Falls Exempted
Village Schools
“To Improve Student Learning”
THANK YOU SO
MUCH!!!
Your support of our PTO district
fundraiser helped raise over $18,000!
*Proceeds from our fundraiser support requests from teachers
and staff for equipment, supplies and programming. All
students in our school district, grades K – 12, benefit from your
support!
This year’s top sellers are:
**
**
**
**
High School : Victoria Sampsel & Clay Karlovec
Middle School : Skylarr Beckel & Clara Young
Intermediate School : Nick DiSanto & Team Beg/Miralia
Gurney : Ben Streicher & Craig Chasteen
The High school and Middle School winners won
restaurant.com gift cards and the Intermediate and Gurney
winners won Kalahari tickets and various gift cards.
We also held a raffle for all sellers and were able to award
various gift cards to over 40 sellers!
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!
The Gurney PTO would like to thank everyone for helping
to make this year's Coat Drive & "Big 5" Outerwear
Collection a HUGE success! On Thursday, Nov. 3 a group
of volunteers delivered over 300 coats and other warm
weather items to the children of Mary Bethune School in
Cleveland. Every student K-5 that came through the gym
doors left with a coat! We were also able to leave quite a few
coats for the 6-8 graders as well as the preschoolers! Thank
you to all of you for the donations and the committee of
volunteers that helped to make this event so memorable! The
staff and students of Mary Bethune were thrilled!
This year's class contest winners for the extra sled riding
recess: Mrs. Gebler (K); Mr. Wise (1st), Mrs. Polien (2nd)
and Mrs. Halagan (3rd)
Have a great holiday season! Stay warm!
Holly O'Connor (co-chair) & Connie Mazelsky (co-chair)