Killian Chronicle

Killian Cougar Chronicle

Killian Elementary January / February 2009 A National Blue Ribbon School Susan Halliday , Principal A California Distinguished School Mary Jane Peterson , Vice Principal

News from 1st Grade Santa Visits Killian

Happy New Year! There are many Apparently Killian exciting things going on in first students and staff had grade. We have been learning been good throughout the year, because the about penguins, polar bears, and writing about jolly ole elf again took snowmen. In writing, we are continuing to time and came down work on using adjectives, commas in a series, from the north to see and sequencing events. We have started to all the folks here. The study long vowels in reading. We are activities began on continuing to work on retelling story elements. Wed. Dec. 10 th , with the exceptionally In math, our first graders are mastering talented Rowland addition and subtraction facts using different High School Choir strategies. First grade has learned about Dr. entertaining the large gathering on the playground. We like to schedule pictures with Martin Luther King, Jr and his contributions Santa, just in case he is able to drop by in Dec. We just are never sure if he will to society. We all watched and discussed the actually arrive, or HOW he will arrive. historic presidential inauguration. In Social After the excellent Studies, we are studying mapping and performance from RHS choir, American symbols. For Science, we are Mrs. Halliday addressed the learning about matter and plants. Our students students, parents, and staff have successfully learned the new Accelerated that she had not heard from Reader program and are having fun taking Santa. As 650 students and quizzes that test and reflect their growing approximately 50+ staff members and parents comprehension skills. First grade welcomes anxiously awaited, a beautiful Ms. Mejia, a student teacher in Ms. Abe’s class, Mustang convertible cruised from California University State Fullerton. onto the school playground. The first vehicle, upon CALENDAR inspection, was empty. However, shortly after inspecting the car, a loud honking school bus arrived. Again, February 3 Multicultural Day upon inspection, it was empty. The driver stated that she thought Santa had been in February 4 KSCA Meeting 2:55pm the back of the bus. The crowd showed genuine disappointment. Then, what to their wondering eyes should appear?... but a huge motor home, which parked alongside February 5 Student of the Month the bus! Mrs. Halliday carried the microphone with her throughout the motor home, assemblies - 2nd, 5th, & 6th and could not find Santa. As she was exiting the place, a long white stretch limo Grades pulled up. The anxiously awaiting students and staff could hardly contain themselves February 6 Student of the Month because they just knew that Santa was inside the darkened - windowed vehicle. assemblies - Kinder, 1st, 3rd When Santa again did not appear, Mrs. Halliday & 4th Grades attempted to help the crowd understand that perhaps they could have their picture taken February 16 Lincoln’s Birthday beside a large picture of Santa instead of the live NO SCHOOL person. Some of the kindergarteners actually had February 23 President’s Day tears in their eyes. The crowd sang a few NO SCHOOL Christmas songs and were ready to dismiss when February 25 SSC Meeting 2:55pm the loud sirens of a fire engine pulled everyone’s attention back to the double gated area. As the March 13 Jog-a-thon Fundraiser huge red sparkling engine whirred onto the March 16-20 Parent Conference Week playground, who was hanging on the back? Why April 13-17 Spring Break NO SCHOOL it was Santa!

Killian School’s common vision is: Commitment to excellence for all and by all students and staff, through our dedication to provide a strong support system for students; provide a rigorous instructional program delivered with high expectations for academic achievement; provide parent training and encourage parent participation.

Make Sure You Know The Ways Encourage Your Family To Meet to Keep In Contact With School New Goals in Four Simple Ways

Parents and schools must communicate January is a time for taking stock and setting goals. Most people make about countless issues, from grades to some type of New Year's resolution. Then two weeks later, they discipline to illness. Sometimes it's hard to realize they haven't followed through. know when, who or if you should call! In fact, some staff prefer using email when Kids are no different. Why not try to make this the January that possible. To get the most out of contact with everyone in the family takes action to meet some new goal? Here are your school: four ways to encourage that change:

• List people you may need to reach. For example, your child's 1. Pay attention. Suppose your child has decided she wants to do her teacher, the school secretary, the principal and PTA leaders. homework without nagging. The first time she sits down without Phone numbers and email addresses may be on the school being reminded, pay attention. A short, "Grace, you're meeting your website or in a school directory. goal for the day. Good work!" is all it will take.

• Read paperwork the school sends home. Memos and 2. Don't wait. We all get caught up in newsletters contain key information, such as staff changes, what we're doing. But there is nothing when the school must be contacted (if a child is sick, for that works as well as immediate instance), and how to communicate in an emergency. feedback. "Kylie, thanks so much for taking the dog for a walk," you'll say. • Learn about new ways that schools stay in touch. Many use Kylie will be much more likely to take special phone systems to receive and send out messages. the dog for a walk tomorrow. Teachers, the PTA and others may use email to reach big groups. Make sure your email address is included. 3. Reinforce the small steps. She wants to pull her spelling grade up to an A. This week she's not quite there--but she made some • Be patient when problems arise. It's tempting improvement. Remind her of the fable of the tortoise and the hare. to make a call or send an email right away when Slow but steady really does win the race. you're upset about something. If possible, take time to calm down. Then make your contact as 4. Be specific. Your child is trying to bring up her math grade. So productive as possible. after she does her homework, she takes time to check her answers. Don't just say, "Good job." Tell her, "You checked your work. That's • Consider a general rule: Start with the person closest to a a good way to catch little mistakes that can lower your grade." problem. If your child has trouble in math, talk with his math teacher. That may be all you need to do. If that doesn't work, Reprinted with permission from the January 2009 issue of Parents make the difference! ® however, move on to other staff. (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2009 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Susan B. Wilson & Michael S. Dobson, Goal Setting: How to Reprinted with permission from the January 2009 issue of Parents make the Create an Action Plan and Achieve Your Goals , ISBN: 10-8144-0169-4 (American difference! ® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2009 The Management Association, 1-877-566-9441, www.amacombooks.org). Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: GreatSchools.net Staff, "Communicating With Your Child's School," Great Schools.net, www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/64 .

A Special Thank You to Killian’s Community Partners

Acapulco Restaurant Nolan’s Aquarium Benihanas Restaurant Office Depot Black Angus Restaurant Pizza Hut California Arborist Rainforest Café Chick-fil-A Red Robin Restaurant Chili’s Restaurant Sam’s Club Costco Speed Zone Design Plus Signs Superior Chrysler Elephant Bar Restaurant T.G.I. Fridays Hot Dog on a Stick Target IHOP Topline Services In N Out Washington Mutual Mimi’s Café

Page 2 Round Up an Excellent Year!

News from 2nd Grade... Kindergartners LOVE their New Playground Equipment As we begin 2009, Second Grade is busily learning many When Killian kindergartners returned to school in January they new skills and concepts in The could barely contain themselves as they viewed their new M.I.N.D Institute. We have playground climbing wall. More than 20 students immediately been practicing and learning began climbing up, down, around, through, between and under the our piano skills on keyboards two times a week. Learning exciting apparatus. Ever seen ants on a cube of sugar?? how to count quarter notes, half notes, and whole notes while playing on the keyboard can be a bit of a challenge. In fact, Our students and staff THANK ALL OF YOU for your fundraising Second Grade is even working on playing both hands at the efforts throughout the year. It is through your efforts that KSCA was same time! We have learned what harmony, melody and able to purchase the equipment. The cost of the equipment was intervals are in music. Just ask your Second Grader to show slightly over $5,000 and the installation, concrete curbs, and you a fifth, third or even a second on their fingers. Learning padded surface was just over $18,000. As you can see, playgrounds to read notes and music can be a bit of a challenge, but luckily are quite expensive and must meet California criteria and safety Killian has Mrs. Kim, our own piano instructor, teaching requirements, but they do last a long time and provide lots of fun and skill building for our students. keyboarding skills to all students in grades 2-4.

Besides all the music training going on in Second Grade, we also have Jiji math games to learn math skills and concepts twice a week. Jiji is a penguin in all the games that wants to cross from one side to the other and the only way to do that is to have the player correctly solve the math problem. Luckily, the computer games have lots of picture clues to help us learn the concept along the way before having to solve the problem with only numbers. Learning to add, subtract, count coins, and make 3-digit numbers are only some of the concepts that Jiji teaches in Second Grade.

In November, Second Grade was fortunate to attend a theater Are You Teaching Your production of Amber Brown Is Definitely Not A Crayon at Child How to Handle Failure? Haugh Performing Arts Center in Glendora. Thanks to KSCA for providing funds for all the 2nd and 3rd grade students to Some parents want to wrap their children in a protective bubble so see a book brought to life on stage. Another highlight of the they never experience failure. Others know the positive lessons that day was being able to go to a local park in Glendora and join can be learned from overcoming disappointments. Are you helping your child learn from failure? other kids climbing and playing on the equipment. Answer yes or no to each question below:

Finally, as we get further into the school year, Second ____1. I don't jump in right away if my child has a Graders will be busily learning how to write a friendly letter problem. I give him a chance to solve it on his own. for our second district writing assessment. We will not only ____2. I try to be a good role model. If I have failed learn the form of a friendly letter, but also at something, I talk about it and about how I plan to fix it. continue to work on adding details to our writing to make it more exciting and ____3. I try to help my child keep things in perspective. "You didn't interesting for the reader. Learning to win the game. But you got a hit." write synonyms, adjectives, and to begin ____4. I know that my child will learn from failure. and end each sentence correctly can be a bit difficult. Luckily, we have lots of weeks ____5. I encourage good sportsmanship. Whether we are playing a to practice with these writing skills so that board game or a sport, I help my child be a gracious winner and a good loser. our writing will become more interesting and exciting for our reading audience. How well are you doing?

Each yes means you're helping your child learn to bounce back from defeat and disappointment. For each no, try that idea in the quiz.

Round Up an Excellent Year! Volume 7, Issue 3 Page 3