Chelsea Intermediate School News - February 2015
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e ls e a I n t e r m e d ia t e School
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2015
News — February
Note from the Main Office
Dear Parents,
We’ve had a great kick off to the new year here at Chelsea Intermediate School. Our Student Ambassador Program,
which is supported by the FSP, has been meeting on a regular basis this fall. The students have provided us with some
excellent feedback and support regarding our Jump Rope For Heart fundraiser and Writer’s Workshop. We very much
appreciate the efforts of our student ambassadors and will continue to incorporate their feedback into decision making at
the building level. February is our Jump Rope For Heart month. Last year our school was the 6th highest fundraising
school in the Nation, raising over $50,000. Our PE teachers will be leading this effort again this year and we expect and
are doing a remarkable job! The generosity of our students and community members is inspiring. This event assists us
in meeting our goal of instilling a greater sense of giving to those in need, which connects directly with the Citizenship
Pillar in our CHARACTER COUNTS! Program.
Our students are entering into the fourth and final unit of Writer’s Workshop. We have collected writing samples at the
beginning and at the conclusion of each unit of writing to assess student growth towards grade level expectations in writ-
ing. There is much to celebrate regarding the excellent progress our kids are making in the area of writing. You should
notice that your child’s writing is increasing in length and that their writing includes more details to support their ide-
as. Our staff is evaluating the data from each unit of writing to determine which areas of writing need more instructional
attention, and they will be building a plan to revisit those specific skills in April and May.
Just as a friendly reminder, please check your child’s classroom newsletter for guidelines regarding the classroom Val-
entine’s Day parties. Our goal is to ensure that everyone has the necessary information to send their child with the ap-
propriate Valentines on February 14 . Each classroom has pre-designated parent volunteers to assist with the par-
th
ty. We hate to turn anyone away, but we will only be able to allow parents into the building who are on the list as identi-
fied volunteers for the party. We suggest that you confirm your role as a parent volunteer with your classroom teacher
prior to February 14th. We strongly encourage all parents who are volunteers on Valentine’s Day to visit our school prior
to February 14th in order to have their license scanned. Given the fact that over 120 parents enter the building at the
same time during school parties, we want to ensure that there is no delay in getting all of you to your
child’s classroom in time to assist with the events you have helped to coordinate for the afternoon. We
also want to thank the FSP for their support in providing our students with an assembly on Valentine’s
Day!
Thank you so much for your continued support of our schools. Your participation as parents is what
makes this joint venture such a success. The winter months can be challenging for kids, especially as the curricular ex-
pectations continue to grow. As always, we encourage you to let us know if we can provide additional support for you or
your child as we progress throughout the year.
Sincerely, Mrs. Kristin Simpkins, Principal Ms. Dorian Woods, Assistant Principal
Below is a section of our handbook that discusses electronic devices. Many students received a variety of electronic devices
Reminders as gifts and are asking to use them in school. We do not encourage this, and we strongly recommend that all electronic devic-
es stay at home. However should you choose to send your child to school with a cell phone, e-reader, or any other gaming
device they must secure permission from an adult in order to have that item out and in use. Please review the policy below
with your child and contact the school with any questions you may have.
Electronic Device Policy
Students are not to bring electronic devices to school, any school sponsored activity, or on school buses without prior approval from the Principal, Assistant Princi-
pal, Dean of Students, teacher, coach or sponsor. However, any items brought with permission that become disruptive to the educational environment or are used
at inappropriate times will be confiscated. Those devices include, but are not limited to, radios, tape recorders, iPods, MP3 players, electronic games or
toys, digital players, PDA’s electronic pagers, portable TV’s, laser pens, or compact disc players. Electronic devices often are a great distraction to other
students. If this regulation is violated, the electronic device will be kept until the parent can pick it up. The school is not responsible for any lost or stolen
items of this nature. Additionally, students who are found using devices with inappropriate content can be subject to disciplinary action up to and includ-
ing suspension. Inappropriate content includes, but is not limited to, any music, written word, drawings, photos, or movies that are deemed as not ap-
propriate.Page 2 Chelsea Intermediate School News — February 2015
Reminders, continued
Just a reminder for our morning car riders—students must be in their classroom when the bell rings
at 9:15 AM, so please allow sufficient time in the morning for your child to get to class. When they
arrive at or after 9:15, they are given a tardy slip.
Absentee Reporting Procedure
1. Call your child’s school each day he/she will be absent or tardy. If more than
one of your children will be absent or tardy it is necessary for you to notify each
school of attendance. For your convenience, a telephone answering service has
been installed at each school to receive your call. Your call should be made be-
tween 6:00 A.M. and 8:00 A.M. the day of the absence or tardiness.
2. Please provide the student’s name, grade, reason for absence or tardiness,
and the name of the person calling. (If the student is absent due to illness, please include the symp-
toms – specify illness.)
3. Calls should only be made by parents or guardians.
4. For longer absences, such as vacations or extended illnesses, it will not be necessary for you to
call each day. In these instances, please contact your child’s building office to make the necessary
arrangements.
Art News Fifth grade
Fifth grade students were recently introduced to Optical art and the work of Victor
Vasserely. Now they are creating their own optical designs. In February, students
will draw their names and paint them using a value scale of color. These names will be added to the optical
backgrounds.
Fourth grade
Students have been learning about perspective or an artist’s point of view. They
are currently making an abstract design with the illusion of shapes getting smaller
as they get further from the eye. In February, we will be adding pattern and color
to these designs.
Third Grade
Chelsea third graders are having a great time using water color pencils to paint the
symmetrical design they made in January. Later in February students will begin some very interesting por-
traits using their photographs.
Art Classes
Young Rembrandts New Winter Session will begin soon!
For more information or to enroll,
please contact the Frankfort Park District at 815-469-9400.Chelsea Intermediate School News — February 2015
Page 3
Character Counts
February’s Character Counts Pillar of the Month is “Respect.” When we discuss respect or
being respectful at Chelsea, our students are quick to state “it is the golden rule.” Chelsea
students define respect as “treating others the way that you would like to be treated.” This
month the Encore Team will focus on showing respect for our mind and body through Jump
Rope for Heart in PE.
Please continue to go over the pillars of the month with your students. Just as a reminder, a
person who is respectful:
Treat others the way they would want to be treated ( The Golden Rule)
Are polite and courteous
Solve disagreements peacefully
Considerate of other people’s feelings
Use good manners
Are tolerant of differences
Quote of the month:
Men are respectable only as they respect.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Music News 5th grade students will finish up their unit on Baroque composers and
musicians. Students will participate in various listening activities. They
will compare and contrast music from this time period with more re-
cent listening examples. They will then study the form of a contemporary piece of music and accom-
pany it with boomwhackers.
4th grade students will be learning the fundamentals of recorder playing throughout the month of
February. Students will bring the recorders home to practice once they have learned how to play
complete songs in class. Students will have the ability to earn belts for the songs that they play.
3rd grade students will finish up their unit on Harmony. Students will be singing rounds and partners
songs as a way to create harmony. They will also be writing a rhythmic ostinato in small groups and
will perform it for the class. Towards the end of the month, students will begin to learn about tone
color and the instruments of the band or orchestra.Chelsea Intermediate School News — February 2015
Page 4
Physical Education News Jump Rope for Heart
It’s that time of year again! Our 19th Annual Fundraising Event is underway! Jump Rope
for Heart is a big hit at Chelsea and our collection envelopes went home in January. Our
collections make a big impact on saving lives as we donate to the American Heart Associa-
tion. Chelsea was # 6 in the nation last year out of 33,000 schools who participated in
Jump Rope for Heart. Students collected over $52,000!
Students participating in Jump Rope for Heart are collecting donations for the American
Heart Association this year by using their collection envelopes and also making their own websites at home with
parent/guardian permission. If you need help in making your child’s website, go to www.heart.org/jump and sign up
under Chelsea Intermediate School. For additional help call 1-855-229-4424 to talk to a representative. Thank you for
your continued support for this great cause.
Our Jump Event will be held Wednesday and Thursday, February 11th & 12th. All collection envelopes are due by Friday,
February 13th. On-line donation reports should be printed out and turned in with your child’s envelope. Parents will be
invited to help at our event – watch for the Parents in P.E. flyer coming home with your child.
The 5th grade had a day where a representative from Will County presented an Earth recycling program. The 3rd and
4th graders also discussed what it means to “Be Green” and what we do at Chelsea to save the earth.
Students have started our annual Dance unit, learning a variety of line dances. All of the favorites are a
hit: Cotton-eyed Joe, Jump on It, Aaron Carter dance, Cha Cha Slide, 5-6-7-8, Cupid Shuffle, and the 16-
Step to Fire Burning. Looks like the students will be a hit on the dance floor in the future!
Keep saving box tops! Chelsea earns free money with each top collected which is used to purchase a
variety of equipment for the students use.
Note from the Nurse
Reminder for 5th Grade parents:
BEAT THE RUSH AND SCHEDULE YOUR PHYSICAL NOW
When entering 6th grade, a physical exam with immunization form and a completed
dental examination form are required by the first day of school. There has been an
addition to the immunization requirement: all 6th grade students will need to
show proof of receiving one dose of the Tdap vaccine and one dose of Meningo-
coccal vaccine on or after their 11th birthday . Call your physician now to book
your appointment, we will start accepting completed forms.
Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs!
Good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs
and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and
prevent the flu.
1. Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your dis-
tance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
2. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, public gatherings, and errands
when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
3. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It
may prevent those around you from getting sick.
4. Clean your hands. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Al-
cohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something
that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6. Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink
plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.Chelsea Intermediate School News — February 2015
Page 5
Technology Time With Ms. Plestina
All grade levels will learn and use the technology
tools on the PARCC Mathematics practice tests.
These tools include: calculators, rulers, protrac-
tors, graphs. When I am not actively teaching or evaluating your child on those skills, she or
he will work on increasing the amount of Words per Minute (WPM) earned in Type to Learn
4.
Please continue to have your child practice typing at home. You can find the typing
websites and practice test links on our district’s home page http://www.fsd157c.org/ near the
bottom.
Taking time to work through problems on the practice tests with your children will help
them feel more comfortable when they take the official test. Working a problem or two per
day would be beneficial so as not to cause stress but confidence.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you to the parents
who had their children practice typing over winter break!
dplestina@fsd157c.org
The next general meeting for PLASE will be held on Tuesday, February
PLASE 12. Time, location, and topic to be determined. For more information you
may call (815)806-4600 and ask for Julie Egan.
February Chelsea Dates to Remember
2/3 Band Booster Hot Lunch
2/3 FSP General Meeting @GP 9:30 AM
2/7 Market Day Pick Up @GP 10 AM
2/9 Board of Education Meeting 7 PM
2/10 Athletics Booster Hot Lunch
2/10 Foundation Meeting @ GP 9:30 AM
2/11-2/12 Jump Rope For Heart
2/13 Band Booster Meeting @ CH 1:00 PM
2/13 Valentine’s Day Parties
2/16 NO School—President’s Day Holiday
2/17 FSP Hot Lunch
2/20 Family Fitness Night @ Chelsea 5:30-8:00 PM
2/25 Fifth Grade Band Concert 6:30 PM
2/27 NO School—Institute Day
March
3/02 NO School– Casmir Pulaski Day
3/03 Book Fair BeginsYou can also read
