Beech Hill Elementary … A Palmetto`s Finest School

3.18.15
Beech Hill Elementary … A Palmetto’s Finest School
Beech Hill will lead the way to lifelong learning through excellence, leadership and empowerment.
2014-2015 Theme: Sand… Sea… Sky… stronger than you think, bigger than you know, higher than you can imagine
March
19
20
23
25
26
27
April
6
7
8
9
10
14
15
17
18
22
Important Dates to Remember
Terrific Kids-7:45-8:45 a.m.
Tied to Brightness Breakfast 8:00 a.m.
(For Fifth Grade Boys and Their Male Mentors)
Early Release Day 11:00 a.m.
Operation Get Smart 8:30 a.m. (4th Grade)
Spring Registration
Report Cards Go Home
Spring Registration
Chick-fil-A Spirit Night 5:00-8:00– Dorchester Rd.
Spring Registration
WERD Clubs 7:45–8:30
Palmetto’s Finest Anniversary
Eggs-ploration Field Trips (K & 1st Grades)
Last Day of School Before Spring Break
Beacons return from Spring Break
Spring Pictures
Special Olympics
3rd Grade Quiz Bowl
Spring Pictures
Media Specialist Day– Shine on, Ms. Nix
Book Fair Opens
4th Grade Quiz Bowl
Spring Pictures
5th Grade Quiz Bowl
Wear Spirit Shirts
Volunteer Appreciation– Drop-In– 5:30–6:30
PTA/SIC Meeting 6:00–6:30
Community Fitness Fair 6:30–7:30
WERD Clubs 7:45-8:30
Early Release Day 11:00 a.m.
Book Fair Ends
Strands on the Beech Tea– 5th Grade Girls 12:00
District Math Competition– SHS
Secretaries Appreciation Day
IMPORTANT CALENDAR UPDATES
Friday, March 20 is an Early Release Day.
Students will be dismissed at 11:00.
Due to state testing, Wednesday, April 29 will not
be an Early Release Day.
There will be no school from Monday, March 30–
Friday, April 3 for Spring Break.
Parents… We Need Your Feedback.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PV29TGT
More Exciting News About the Micro-Chicks
The team was scheduled to attend the Razorback
Open in Arkansas. The state chairman made a compelling appeal and the girls will now compete in San
Diego at Legoland against 72 teams from around the
world. WOW!!! The Beacons are going global.
At the Helm– I Yield My Time and Space
So many great things happening at “the Beech.” There was not room for a
slice of life story. I’ll be back next week. I value your input and can be
reached by email at rharris@dorchester2.k12.sc.us or by phone at 843-8213970 . Join me at Remind for up-to-the-minute news flashes and messages.
René Wyatt Harris, Proud and Grateful Principal
Congratulations!!!
Summerville Sertoma Heritage Award Winners
THERE’$ ONLY A FEW
WEEK$ TO GATHER
THO$E CITGO RECEIPT$.
PLEA$E VI$IT ANY LOCAL
CITGO AND RETURN THE
RECEIPT$ TO $CHOOL.
A QUALIFYING RECEIPT I$
AT LEA$T $10 IN FUEL OR
IN $TORE PURCHASE$.
Each winning recipients received $50.00.
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$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Carmen Gonzalez—essay winner
Averie Mahnen-essay winner
Gabrielle Poulakis—essay winner
Elle Haas—art winner
Paige Madgwick—art winner
Mary O’Brien—art winner
Staying Current
Did you receive a couple of emails from Beech Hill recently with Boosterthon information? If so, you are right on track. If not, please email Susanne Loving at
sloving@dorchester2.k12.sc.us with your updated email addresses. We are exploring the process of using email to distribute our weekly school newsletters. We
want to be good stewards of our earth’s resources.
Congratulations to Our Academic Teams
Quiz Bowl Competitions
Math Competition
Ashley Ridge High School
April 17
Summerville High School
April 20-3rd Grade Team

Nathaniel Harris

Caitlyn Fortner

Grace Summerhill

Haylee Knoppe

Ben Perez
April 21-4th Grade Team

Eric Banks

Trey Bass

Grant Quartuccio

Ethan Williams
April 22-5th Grade Team

Matt Cannavaro

Joshua Traylor

Jocelyn Rutelonis

Riley Bennett

Olivia Sisson
4th Grade Team

Joshua Walker

Ethan Williams

Grant Quartuccio

Patrick Key

Collin Berghoff
5th Grade Team

Tyler Breaux

Ethan Hearn

Nicholas Kovacs

Om Patel

Jocelyn Rutelonis
Academic Coaches
Jen Wilde

Shayne Whitaker

Erin Query

Karen Thompson

Brittany Richardson
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Look for additional information on our website: http://dorchester.bhe.schoolfusion.us
State Testing Information
This spring students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will take a new state assessment in math and English/Language Arts. The new test, ACT Aspire, will
test our current state standards and will be formatted differently than the previous SCPASS assessments. One of the main changes is that
the test will be timed.
Students will have 30 minutes to produce a composition. In 3rd grade, narrative writing will be the focus. Students in 4th grade will write an
expository essay and students in 5th grade will write a persuasive essay in the same amount of time. In addition, the math and English/
Language Arts assessments will feature both multiple choice (MC) and constructed response (CR) questions. These sections will also be
timed.
Our teachers are working hard to prepare students for these assessments. They are providing students with strategies for taking timed
assessments and opportunities to experience timed assessments.
Students in 4th and 5th grades will also take SCPASS for Science and Social Studies. Testing dates and details are below. Please save these
dates for our state testing. Please do not schedule appointments and trips during these testing windows.
We want our Beacons to be ready to shine. While our teachers are working hard to ensure that students master the skills needed for successful completion of grade level goals and objectives, there are many ways that parents can support the process as well. More than a
specific academic focus, explore helping your child develop GRIT. Over the next few weeks (for the rest of the year), strengthen your
child’s capacity for GRIT.
Grit has been defined as “raw endurance, perseverance and passion that keep you going despite obstacles.” Research provides evidence that grit is a better predictor of success above traditional measures of intelligence. Highly successful people have two qualities: 1)
unyielding perseverance and 2) sustained passion toward long term goals, in other words – grit. How can we teach our children grit?
Emphasize that mistakes and failures are normal parts of learning.
Help them focus on the process rather than the outcome.
Together, practice resilience in overcoming obstacles.
Help children become comfortable with struggle.
Praise your children’s efforts more than their achievements.
Instill a growth mindset, abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.
Model grit for them every day. Let them see you work through problems.
Additional resources on grit can be located on the school website http://dorchester.bhe.schoolfusion.us/
Students New to Dorchester School District Two for School Year 2015-2016
4K/Child Development, Kindergarten, and First Grade registration will be held Wednesday through Friday March 25, 26, 27 from 9:00 a.m.
until 1:00 p.m.
Age Requirements
 4K/Child Development – 4 yrs. old on or before September 1, 2015
 Kindergarten – 5 yrs. old on or before September 1, 2015
 First Grade – 6 yrs. old on or before September 1, 2015
Parents registering a child for school must bring all of these:
Child’s Legal Birth Certificate
SC Certificate of Immunization (before beginning of school)
Proof of Parent’s Residence* (current utility bill that includes service address in parent/guardian’s name)
STUDENTS SHOULD REGISTER AT THE SCHOOL THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ATTENDS
*Updated Proof of Residency will also be required during Facts and Fees prior to school opening.
Palmetto’s Finest ~ 2012 ● Federal Accountability Grade– 97.7– A: 2012, 98.1– A: 2013, 97.1-A: 2014
PBIS– Ribbon School: 2010 & 2011 State Report Card: Absolute Ratings~ Excellent: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014;
Growth Ratings~ Excellent: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 ● Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards: Overall Performance: Gold -2009, 2010,
2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014; Closing the Achievement Gap: Gold - 2011, Silver - 2010, 2012, 2013 & 2014