Principal’s Penguin Post

Reading is a VERY important subject at Page ES!  Two of our School Improvement Plan (SIP) action items in the area of reading are:  “to enhance parent involvement and confidence in supporting their child’s reading development” and “to improve students’ attitudes towards reading by engaging them in fun reading activities with their family members at home and at school”.

Out-of-school reading habits of students has shown that even 15 minutes a day of independent reading can expose students to more than a million words of text in a year (Anderson, Wilson, & Fielding, 1988). Independent reading is the reading students choose to do on their own.  It reflects the reader’s personal choice of the material to be read as well as the time and place to read it.  Independent reading is done for information or for pleasure.  No one assigns it; no one requires a report; no one checks for comprehension.  Independent reading is also called voluntary reading, leisure reading, spare time reading, recreational reading, and reading outside of school.  Various studies have concluded that the amount of independent reading done outside of school has consistently been found to relate to growth in vocabulary, reading comprehension, verbal fluency, and general information.  Students who read independently become better readers, score higher on achievement tests in all subject areas, and have greater content knowledge than those who do not.  Finally, students who reported having these types of reading materials (books, magazines, newspapers, access to computer) in their home scored, on average, higher than those who reported having fewer reading materials.

We have implemented many things in our building including the reading charts that demonstrate reading at least 20 minutes per day (or 750 or more minutes per grading period).  So remember:  we want you to help us motivate and encourage your child to read.  The 3^rd and final reading chart for the third marking period will be due by Friday, March 26^th.  In order to be eligible for the next reading reward of extra recess and other prizes, students must turn in 3 charts at 250 minutes each (or 750 minutes total) to meet the 3rd quarter goal.  We have many students who regularly surpass this amount so we know it can be done!  Please help your child by signing their reading chart TODAY—thank you.

MSA testing is coming along….

Don’t forget that we have begun MSA testing for grades 3, 4, and 5.  Please ensure that your child gets a good night’s rest, eats a good breakfast and leaves the house with your full support.  Also remember to schedule any appointments after lunch or preferably, after school; this will allow your child to fully participate in the assessments and help prevent a lot of make-up sessions—we are striving for perfect attendance this year.  Thank you for your help in this!  This is an extremely important time of the year and we need to assist our students every way we can.  Please call your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns regarding the assessment process.  **Don’t stress your child out--stress their success by being positive and encouraging!**

 Quote for the Week:  “If a child lives with praise, he/she learns to appreciate.”   — Dorothy Nolte

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The W.T. Page Elementary PTA would like to encourage you to volunteer your much-needed time and talents at PTA-sponsored events from which all of our children benefit.  You do not need to be a member in order to volunteer and you do not need to volunteer for the entire event. 

 For more information, contact Amelia McGhee  at 240.463.1272 or acmcghee@verizon.net.

BOOK FAIR

WRAP-UP

 Thanks to all who participated in the Spring Book Fair.  And a very special thank you to the staff for their support and to our wonderful volunteers, without whom we couldn’t have done it.

YEARBOOK COMMITTEE  get the order form here

Basic Yearbook with a personalized message - ONLY $26.00   **DEADLINE MARCH 5**

Kindergarten Orientation for 2010-2011 School Year

On Friday, April 30th we will once again be holding our Kindergarten Orientation for our incoming kindergarten students for the 2010 - 2011 school year.  If you have a child or know of a child who lives in our school area, who will be turning 5 years old on or before September 1, 2010, please call Mrs. Snapp in the office at (301) 989-5672 to add your child's name to our list of new Page Penguins.

Are You a Stay at Home parent with a child with ADHD or Sensory Processing Disorder?

 For Our Kids, For Ourselves, a Jewish support group for parents with children with ADHD, Sensory Processing, Mild Mood disorders and other related diagnoses will be meeting Thursday, March 18 in Kemp Mill from 9:15am-11:30am.  This is a newly created DAYTIME support group for Stay/Work-at- home parents.

 For more information and address location, please email Jaime at ADHDParentsForum@ yahoo.com, or Rachel at rachelwyler@ gmail.com.

Enrollment continues throughout the year for the George B. Thomas Learning Academy.  Parents need to register in person and must provide the $30 registration fee per student and their child's most recent report card. Parents and students should arrive by 8:15 to register. Every Saturday opens with a motivational session from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m.; parents are encouraged to attend.

Important Dates