Hi Everyone!
Georgetown fourth and fifth grade ELL students have been working on learning and illustrating idioms in both English and their native language. We illustrated both the literal meaning and the idiom, and then on the inside told the meaning and gave some examples how you could use the idiom. Our students are going to share these with their classes and teach their peers some examples. Great work fourth and fifth graders!
-Mrs. Cooley
Hi Parents,
We want to make you aware of an academic program available through Grand Rapids Public Schools. The program is called GRASP, and there are currently 20,000 students from all over the United States that are enrolled! The program follows common core curriculum in math and reading and lasts for 9 weeks. You can choose to do the program online (grades 4-8) or mail the lessons with the provided packets. Students receive rewards for the number of lessons completed.
If you are interested in this great program, please click here for more information.
Enjoy the sunshine! -Mrs. VanHaitsma and Mrs. Cooley
Hello Everyone!
The Calvin Theatre Company (Calvin College) is presenting a play called “Grains of Hope”. ”Grains of Hope” is about refugees who have settled in West Michigan. So far, this play has had great reviews and many people are talking about their new perspectives gained from attending these performances.
We highly suggest you see it! The play has several show times at different locations. You can find more information here:
Have a great weekend! -Mrs. Van Haitsma and Mrs. Cooley
Dear Students,
Are you looking for a new website to try? Click here to try TurtleDiary, a new website with tons of educational games and activities! We think this site is a lot of fun! We hope you enjoy it– let us know your favorite part!
Love, Mrs. VanHaitsma and Mrs. Cooley
P.S. We’ll add this link to our “Links for Students” on the right side of this page!
Hello Families,
Are you staying in Michigan for Spring Break? If so, this link has tons of great ideas for family fun right here in West Michigan. After looking at this list, we think staying home for Spring Break looks like a great plan! Continue to visit the site as Spring Break approaches, as it sounds like they are adding to the list quite frequently.
Enjoy!
Mrs. Van Haitsma and Mrs. Cooley
Dear Parents,
In the upcoming weeks, our ELL students will be taking the ELPA test. The ELPA stands for “English Language Proficiency Assessment” and is created by the State of Michigan. Each student completes 4 parts: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Students will receive a proficiency score on each section of the test, as well as an overall proficiency score.
Students in grades K-2 will be taking the test with paper and pencil. Students in grades 3-12 will be taking the test on computers. This is our second year using the computers for the test, and students really enjoyed it last year!
Results and scores from the ELPA test usually get sent out to schools in June. Parents should expect to see the results at the beginning of the new school year. Teachers and administrators will use the results to determine the best class placement and what type of ELL support will be best for our students the following school year.
During these next weeks, students will be pulled out of class during their regularly scheduled ELL time to complete the test. Usually students will need extra time (the test is un-timed), so some students may be out of the classroom slightly longer than normal. Most of the ELPA testing should be complete by Spring Break.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!
Mrs. Van Haitsma and Mrs. Cooley
Hi Everyone!
February is Black History Month. One of our ELL students chose to study about Michelle Obama to celebrate. Click on the link below to see how much we’ve learned!
Dear Parents,
This workshop invitation came through our email today and we thought you would be interested. If you or anyone you know is interested in going, please pass on the information and register today!
-Mrs. Van Haitsma and Mrs. Cooley
Join us Saturday, March 2nd at Kent ISD, for the LEAP conference: Lead/Empower/Assist Parents
Kent ISD, Early On, Grand Valley State University and Kent County Health Dept.-Children’s Special Health Care Services are partnering to bring a day long workshop designed with parents and providers in mind!
Chris Klein, a West Michigan resident and adult user of Augmentative Communication will provide a morning keynote – not to be missed! Exhibitors from local community agencies will be available all day. And, you will have access to 24 breakout sessions on a wide range of topics including:
-Family Friendly Assistive Technology to Enhance Daily Communication
-Reading & Writing Strategies for the Struggling Student
-Positive Discipline for Children with Special Needs
-Free and Cool Web Tools for Studying and Homework
-Learning with pictures! Free and Low Cost Resources and Strategies for Visual Supports
-What do I do with this iPad? (Built in features you need)
-Minding Your Marriage or Sibling Relationships?
-Fabulous! Fun! iPad Apps Review
-Assistive Technology and Social Interactions
-Positive Discipline for Children with Special Needs
-Therapeutic Massage
-700,000 Apps-Where Do I Start?
-Low Tech Solutions in a High Tech World
-Transitions
-Wills & Trusts
You can register online at: http://bit.ly/LEAP3-2-13
*Registration is $15, however scholarships are available by calling 616-365-2384
*Free childcare provided by the YMCA.
*Lunch is included
*Free parking
*And of course….door prizes!
Don’t miss this fabulous opportunity!
Dear Readers,
Our second graders have been working on comic strips, with a focus on adding captions. We had a lot of fun creating these at school, but you can create them at home too! Go to this link to try it!
What do you think of these? Aren’t they fun?
Dear Parents,
ELL Report Cards will be sent home in the next few weeks. ELL report cards are sent home in January and June. The reason we wait until January is that many of our students with low English proficiency need time before getting an official report card grade. Report cards will only be sent home with the students currently receiving ELL services on a weekly basis. If your student is being monitored, he/she will not receive a report card for ELL. Each report card has 3 levels on it– your student is only graded on one level based on their language proficiency (determined from the ELPA test taken in the spring). Therefore, one level will have grades on it, and the other 2 levels will be left blank.
If a standard is blank on your student’s graded level, do not worry. That just means we did not work on that standard together during ELL time, or it was never noticed when working with your student. Hopefully by the end of the year, all of the standards will be met and graded. The scores on the report card are from 1-3, with 3 being at mastery level.
If you have any questions, please let us know! We are so excited about the progress our students are making!
-Mrs. Cooley and Mrs. Van Haitsma
