Reading Notes by Marilyn Nepps

Kindergarten and first grade teachers have completed the first benchmark DIBELS testing. The data from this testing was used to determine which students would benefit from additional support in reading. Weekly progress monitoring of at-risk students will assist teachers in focusing their instruction on specific areas of need.

The first reading and math 4 Sight tests were administered to fourth graders scoring below basic on the third grade PSSA reading and/or math tests. The results of these tests were reviewed in grade level meetings. Teachers will be using this data to plan instruction that will meet the demonstrated needs of the students.

Author and illustrator, Bruce Van Patter’s October 2^nd visit generated a lot of enthusiasm among students, staff, and parents. Mr. Van Patter encouraged students to embrace creativity. He taught several techniques to assist students in creating their own stories. He also created multiple illustrations using the students’ story ideas. These illustrations are now hanging in the hallways of Brooke to remind students to “get creative”!

Media Center by Jean Novis

The Media Center has been a very busy place throughout the last several months. During October all students were engaged in author/illustrator lessons as preparation for Brooke’s annual Author Day with guest visitor Bruce Van Patter. Brooke students are enthusiastically participating in the Media Center’s designed reading clubs and are working hard toward their reading goals.

During the month of November students will be exposed to literature and author appreciation through the presentation of books and websites centered around various themes such as Thanksgiving, Autumn, and popular children’s authors such as Norman Bridwell of the “Clifford” series, Marc Brown of the “Arthur” series, and Paulette Bourgeois of the “Franklin” series. The intermediate students will be working hard on encyclopedia and almanac research both in print and electronic forms. They will be focusing on using the “Encarta” and “World Book” online encyclopedias as well as the “World Book” print encyclopedia for their research. They will also be busy learning to do computer searches in order to independently locate their favorite books in the Media Center’s new Destiny electronic search system. We will also find some time during classes to do some oral reading of classic books and authors.

Nursing Notes by Betsy Smith

Health screenings were started - height, weight, and vision starting with fourth graders including hearing screens with the learning skills students. BMI calculations and percentiles were completed and charted on the paper file and in Skyward. Parents of immunization negligent students were sent reminder letters as were kindergarten students needing completed physicals or dental forms. The state immunization form was completed on line. Dental form reminders were also sent to delinquent third grade parents.

This month on Wellness Wednesday presentations we concentrated on fire prevention, what to do for a cold, how to prevent the spread of germs and eating a healthy choice lunch. On October 31^st we will review Halloween Safety Tips. I presented “Alexander the Elephant Who Couldn’t Eat Peanuts” a video about food allergies to the first grade classes and scheduled several Department of Health Presentations for the future for first grade.

My monthly newsletter reminded parents to get their delinquent dental and physical forms completed and encouraged, as always, a healthy lifestyle with family exercise and trips to the grocery store. We will again celebrate the Great Apple Crunch on October 24 with apple slices served in the cafeteria and maybe Nurse Smith will dress up again as the “big Apple”.

Physical Fitness Notes by Nancy Kodish

Fourth graders will start a field/floor hockey unit while third graders will be working on soccer skills. The students in Kindergarten, first and second grade have been working on fundamental movements.  These activities include hopping, jumping, galloping, sliding, skipping and leaping.  They have put these skills into practice in games of low organization.

All students in grades one through four have been practicing for the curl-up test.  It is the first of the five Presidential Physical Fitness tests.  Testing will begin the last week of October.