Newsletter 5 March/April 2018

State Street School Proudly Presents…

State Street Scoop

Principally Speaking………………………………………

Dear Parents/Guardians:

It’s coming….Spring! I know, officially, it is on the calendar that spring has sprung but I’m waiting rather

impatiently for it to feel like spring in New England! Do you know what else is coming….state assessments!

Rhode Island will be administering the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) in grade

3-8 in English Language Arts and Mathematics. While this is a new assessment, several important

attributes remain the same as the previous PARCC test. The standards of instruction have not changed.

The RICAS is aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Instruction in our classrooms is

aligned to these standards in English language arts and mathematics.

The RICAS schedule for State Street School is as follows: Thursday April 5 Grade 4 ELA 2 hours Friday April 6 Grade 4 ELA 2 hours Wednesday April 25 Grade 3 ELA 2 hours Thursday April 26 Grade 3 ELA 2 hours Wednesday May 9 Grade 3 Math 1.5 hours Thursday May 10 Grade 3 Math 1.5 hours Tuesday May 15 Grade 4 Math 1.5 hours

Wednesday May 16 Grade 4 Math 1.5 hours

The CCSS taught to all students in grades encourage students to be active participants in their learning, often setting their own goals and tracking their progress. Students read, research, and write making claims that they can justify from texts they have read. They are able to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. Students are prepared to listen to diverse experiences and perspectives, understand point of view and learn to work together with people of varying backgrounds and beliefs. This is an exciting time in education and it is my pleasure to be State Street School’s educational leader during this season of spring!

Sincerely, Audrey Faubert, Principal

State Street School’s Mission Statement: State Street School inspires lifelong learners and productive citizens by working collaboratively with families and the community. We are committed to academic excellence while fostering social development in a safe learning environment. From the Desk of the SSS Parent Liaison

9 Things Every Parent With an Anxious Child Should Try

1. Stop Reassuring Your Child Your child worries. You know there is nothing to worry about, so you say, “Trust me. There’s nothing to worry about.” Done and done, right? We all wish it were that simple. Why does your reassurance fall on deaf ears? It’s actually not the ears causing the issue. Your anxious child desperately wants to listen to you, but the brain won’t let it happen. During periods of anxiety, there is a rapid dump of chemicals and mental transitions executed in your body for survival. One by-product is that the prefrontal cortex — or more logical part of the brain — gets put on hold while the more automated emotional brain takes over. In other words, it is really hard for your child to think clearly, use logic or even remember how to complete basic tasks. What should you do instead of trying to rationalize the worry away? Try something I call the FEEL method: • Freeze — pause and take some deep breaths with your child. Deep breathing can help reverse the nervous system response. • Empathize — anxiety is scary. Your child wants to know that you get it. • Evaluate — once your child is calm, it’s time to figure out possible solutions. • Let Go - Let go of your guilt; you are an amazing parent giving your child the tools to manage their worry. 2. Highlight Why Worrying is Good Remember, anxiety is tough enough without a child believing that Something is wrong with me. Many kids even develop anxiety about having anxiety. Teach your kids that worrying does, in fact, have a purpose. When our ancestors were hunting and gathering food there was danger in the environment, and being worried helped them avoid attacks from the saber-toothed cat lurking in the bush. In modern times, we don’t have a need to run from predators, but we are left with an evolutionary imprint that protects us: worry. Worry is a protection mechanism. Worry rings an alarm in our system and helps us survive danger. Teach your kids that worry is perfectly normal, it can help protect us, and everyone experiences it from time to time. Sometimes our system sets off false alarms, but this type of worry (anxiety) can be put in check with some simple techniques. 3. Bring Your Child’s Worry to Life As you probably know, ignoring anxiety doesn’t help. But bringing worry to life and talking about it like a real person can. Create a worry character for your child. In GoZen we created Widdle the Worrier. Widdle personifies anxiety. Widdle lives in the old brain that is responsible for protecting us when we’re in danger. Of course, sometimes Widdle gets a little out of control and when that happens, we have to talk some sense into Widdle. You can use this same idea with a stuffed animal or even role-playing at home. Personifying worry or creating a character has multiple benefits. It can help demystify this scary physical response children experience when they worry. It can reactivate the logical brain, and it’s a tool your children can use on their own at any time. 4. Teach Your Child to Be a Thought Detective Remember, worry is the brain’s way of protecting us from danger. To make sure we’re really paying attention, the mind often exaggerates the object of the worry (e.g., mistaking a stick for a snake). You may have heard that teaching your children to think more positively could calm their worries. But the best remedy for distorted thinking is not positive thinking; it’s accurate thinking. Try a method we call the 3Cs: • Catch your thoughts: Imagine every thought you have floats above your head in a bubble (like what you see in comic strips). Now, catch one of the worried thoughts like “No one at school likes me.” • Collect evidence: Next, collect evidence to support or negate this thought. Teach your child not to make judgments about what to worry about based only on feelings. Feelings are not facts. (Supporting evidence: “I had a hard time finding someone to sit with at lunch yesterday.” Negating evidence: “Sherry and I do homework together—she’s a friend of mine.”) • Challenge your thoughts: The best (and most entertaining) way to do this is to teach your children to have a debate within themselves. 5. Allow Them to Worry As you know, telling your children not to worry won’t prevent them from doing so. If your children could simply shove their feelings away, they would. But allowing your children to worry openly, in limited doses, can be helpful. Create a daily ritual called “Worry Time” that lasts 10 to 15 minutes. During this ritual encourage your children to release all their worries in writing. You can make the activity fun by decorating a worry box. During worry time there are no rules on what constitutes a valid worry — anything goes. When the time is up, close the box and say good-bye to the worries for the day. 6. Help Them Go from What If to What Is You may not know this, but humans are capable of time travel. In fact, mentally we spend a lot of time in the future. For someone experiencing anxiety, this type of mental time travel can exacerbate the worry. A typical time traveler asks what-if questions: “What if I can’t open my locker and I miss class?” “What if Suzy doesn’t talk to me today?” Research shows that coming back to the present can help alleviate this tendency. One effective method of doing this is to practice mindfulness exercises. Mindfulness brings a child from what if to what is. To do this, help your child simply focus on their breath for a few minutes. 7. Avoid Avoiding Everything that Causes Anxiety Do your children want to avoid social events, dogs, school, planes or basically any situation that causes anxiety? As a parent, do you help them do so? Of course! This is natural. The flight part of the flight-fight-freeze response urges your children to escape the threatening situation. Unfortunately, in the long run, avoidance makes anxiety worse. So what’s the alternative? Try a method we call laddering. Kids who are able to manage their worry break it down into manageable chunks. Laddering uses this chunking concept and gradual exposure to reach a goal. Let’s say your child is afraid of sitting on the swings in the park. Instead of avoiding this activity, create mini- goals to get closer to the bigger goal (e.g., go to the edge of the park, then walk into the park, go to the swings, and, finally, get on a swing). You can use each step until the exposure becomes too easy; that’s when you know it’s time to move to the next rung on the ladder. 8. Help Them Work Through a Checklist What do trained pilots do when they face an emergency? They don’t wing it (no pun intended!); they refer to their emergency checklists. Even with years of training, every pilot works through a checklist because, when in danger, sometimes it’s hard to think clearly. When kids face anxiety they feel the same way. Why not create a checklist so they have a step-by-step method to calm down? What do you want them to do when they first feel anxiety coming on? If breathing helps them, then the first step is to pause and breathe. Next, they can evaluate the situation. In the end, you can create a hard copy checklist for your child to refer to when they feel anxious. 9. Practice Self-Compassion Watching your child suffer from anxiety can be painful, frustrating, and confusing. There is not one parent that hasn’t wondered at one time or another if they are the cause of their child’s anxiety. Here’s the thing, research shows that anxiety is often the result of multiple factors (i.e., genes, brain physiology, temperament, environmental factors, past traumatic events, etc.). Please keep in mind, you did not cause your child’s anxiety, but you can help them overcome it. Toward the goal of a healthier life for the whole family, practice self-compassion. Remember, you’re not alone, and you’re not to blame. It’s time to let go of debilitating self-criticism and forgive yourself. Love yourself. You are your child’s champion.

Find more of Renee’s work and programs at www.gozen.com

Mary-Kay Patten Parent Liaison

State Street School’s Family Engagement News! Reading Week February 26th – March 2nd Students had another exciting week! During the week of February 26th students celebrated Every Day Heros. This year we had a Fire Safety Presentation assembly on Tuesday. It was very exciting for them. Our community readers came in on Wednesday. The students learned how each reader was a hero every day. Thursday we had Madison Pellegrino, a student at Dunns Corners School come in and gave us a presentation on how she raises money as a student for Easter Seals. Our Literacy Night was also a huge success on Thursday night. We had nearly 80 families! Lastly, the whole school watched the movie “Wonder” together to finish off our week.

Fire Safety Assembly February 27th

Community Readers – Our Everyday Heroes Feb. 28th:

Miss Betsy Mrs. Thompson Mr. Optiz

Mrs. Banks Dr. Fair Mrs. Nardone

Literacy Night- March 1st:

STEAM Week March 19th – 23rd Students had another exciting week! During the week of March 19th students celebrated science, technology, engineering, art and math. This year we had a Bubbleology assembly on Monday for all the students who were able to interact with the presenter. It was a lot of fun to watch. Wednesday was our Music Challenge. Mr. Johnson put together may activities for our students to do in each grade. It was great. Thursday was our Community Speaker Day. Seventeen members of the community came in to each classroom and spoke about how they used science, technology, engineering, art or music in their profession. The students always enjoy time with community members. STEAM Night was on Thursday. We had a fantastic turn out. All our families enjoyed all the activities, projects and displays. Lastly, on Friday our students had fun doing a math scavenger hunt. All who completed the challenge received a STEAM Spirit Stick!

Bubbleology Assembly

Community Speakers

Notes From Music

Kindergarten: Kindergarten students are back to exploring rhythms, adding the half note into their arsenal of rhythmic knowledge. We will use all learned notes to play along with some new songs! We have also been exploring tempo (the speed of the beat) and dynamics (loud or soft). These topics combined can be confusing, so we have been testing our knowledge by changing music around and talking about how the changed sounded....(Octopus's Garden very slow, or too fast, does not sound quite right!) - half notes are long - Ta-a....they look like a ta, only not colored in. - Songs to Sing: The Tempo Marches On, See the Pony Galloping, Grizzly Bear, Hop Old Squirrel, Shake Your Sillies Out

1st Grade: 1st grade students are also reviewing their rhythm basics and are clapping and playing along as they read rhythm! We are also exploring the subtle differences of tempo and dynamics, making some interesting changes to songs we know. - many songs are "medium" tempo, not too fast or too slow. But when a song is fast or slow, it makes you feel a certain way. - Songs to sing - Little Johnny Brown, See the Pony Galloping, We Are Dear little Birdies, Bluebird Bluebird

2nd Grade: Second graders are embarking on a journey exploring train songs. Train songs are a unique american folk traditional, many originating as work songs as the train workers sang to pass the time. We have even started composing our own train beats to use as accompaniment for the songs. - Ti-ri-ti-ri (16th notes) - 4 sounds that fit into one beat - very fast! They also have two lines across the top, instead of the 1 line found across the top of ti ti's - Songs to sing: Chika Hanka, Paddy Works on the Railway, Down at the Station

3rd Grade: 3rd Graders continue to play recorder, mastering G, A and B, now working towards some new notes, C and D. Many recorder players continue to chip away at the recorder challenge. Check out my website below to view songs from all 3 recorder challenges. - C: play an A, pop up the pointer.....D: like a C, but Don't cover the thumb hole. -Songs to play: New World Symphony (Link Up Book), Bought Me a Cat (Link Up), This Land is Your Land (Link Up), Ode to joy (Link Up)

4th Grade: Students did amazing work on ukulele, learning 3 chords: C, F and G. We used those chords to play along with Bought Me a Cat and Simple Gifts. As we move into the spring, we will get back to recorder, learning songs for the link up program. The ukulele will make a grand return at some point later in the year. Way to go grade 4! - Ukulele is a string instrument. You press down the strings behind the frets. They are inexpensive and easy to play and sing at the same time! - songs to sing: New World Symphony, Simple Gifts, Bought me a Cat, This Land is Your Land.

*Link Up Program is a special opportunity to Westerly Schools, afforded by the Royce Foundation, giving students access to a recorder, song book and opportunity to perform with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra at the Vets Auditorium in Providence. We will be going Thursday, May 24 to share our hard work in learning some classic music. More information to come!

*Mark Your Calendars! 4/10 - Tuesday - RECORDER MAYHEM 2. Ward Auditorium at Westerly HS, part of the district K-12 STEAM event. We must retain the GOLDEN RECORDER!!!!

5/24 - 3rd and 4th grade field trip

5/24: Evening - 1st and K Concert/Art show at State Street School (more info TBA)

5/31: Evening - 2nd, 3rd and 4th Concert/Art show at State Street School (more info TBA)

- Check out my NEW web page: westerlyelementarymusic.weebly.com - Don't forget the FinCast, "The Podcast that celebrates the learning community of State Street School!" sssfincast.weebly.com - Also, follow me on twitter to see great samples of what we work on in music class!!!! @stevejohnsonjr

Steve Johnson, Music Teacher johnson.sss.westerly.k12.ri.us

The FinCast: the State Street School Podcast. A podcast is a downloadable audio program. The FinCast is a program for all members of the State Street School community. Episodes are coming out monthly, exploring topics like life at SSS, the teachers and staff, report cards and much more. To download, visit Mr. Johnson's School Fusion Pages, accessed through the State Street School Webpage.

From the Street Street Library Library News – Ms. Grant Media Specialist

State Street students are reading!!!!

According to statistics from the Accelerated Reader program and our library circulation, students in grades K-4:  Have taken and passed 3,854 quizzes about the books they read.  8,271 books have been circulated out of the library.  52,270,171 words have been read!!! A note of community awareness: For the last few years, we have received monies for the Library Media Center through an organization called Community Crusades. The funds are raised from the sale of donated clothes. The bins to donate are located in the parking lot of Benny’s. Please let family and friends know about this organization. Our school and students have truly experienced the benefits from other people’s generosity.

In the Gym

In March/April grades K-4 will be learning the fundamental skills of Volleyball as well as improving teamwork and sportsmanship. VOLLEYBALL SKILLS THAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN:

 Underhand/overhand serve  Bump pass (underhand pass)  Set pass (overhead pass)

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING CLASSES ON WINNING THE 2018 BOWLING

CHALLENGE!!!  Mrs. Troupe (grade K)  Mrs. Richmond (grade 1)  Mrs. Burke (grade 2)  Mrs. Alicchio (grade 3)  Mrs. Roberts (grade 4) Angelo Luzzi, PE Teacher Miss Fox, Student Teacher

FLES News: ¡Hola amigos!

I am excited to share with students and their families that FLESS has a new website for classroom updates, learning resources and information about early language learning:

Sraconnell.weebly.com (this address has changed from last month...)

Please take a moment to take a look and send me any feedback and/or ideas for what you would like to see added! I would love to hear from you! This site is officially under construction and will grow throughout the year so check back periodically for new updates.

¡Gracias! Sra. Connell [email protected] In the Art Studio Here in the Art Room, we are excited that Spring is coming and we are getting ready for all of the upcoming Spring Art Shows! Please save the dates for the big STEAM show on April 10th from 2-7at the Ward Building at WHS and the State Street School Art & Music Extravaganza's! The SSS Art & Music Night will be on May 24th for grades K & 1 and May 31st for grades 2, 3 and 4. The Evenings with begin with music performances and will have Art on Display from 5:45-7pm.

This month, Kindergarten Artists have been learning how to draw people starting with stick figures and building up to simple shapes.

First Graders, have been learning about the Illustrator Eric Carle and his artistic process. Artist's are making their own imaginary animal collages using Eric Carle's collage techniques.

Second Graders read the book Where the Wild Things are by Maurice Sendak and have designed their own wild things and where they live. Then, they added textures to their wild things and will be painting them using new watercolor techniques.

In honor of Literacy week, Third and Fourth Graders have used the theme everyday heroes as an inspiration in the Art Room. Third Graders have been learning how to draw and sculpt people using simple shapes and foil and have drawn and sculpted them doing something heroic.

Fourth Graders have been learning how to draw their hero using foreshortening and have illustrated their background using symbolism to show how they have changed their life.

Thanks for taking a look at whats happening in the Art Room and I hope to see you at some of our upcoming shows! Christine Lonergan, Art Teacher: SSS

Feinstein News:

We have concluded our eighth Pennies for Patients campaign. We did amazingly well. The Feinstein Jr. scholars and Feinstein leaders at State Street School collected just shy of $1800.00! What a difference a penny makes! Kai donates $55.00 to Pennies for Patients. I would like to share the latest news from Mr. Alan Shawn Feinstein. He has established a large number of scholarships at local colleges for Feinstein Jr. scholars who want to be teachers. It is Mr. Feinstein’s intent that any Feinstein Jr. Scholar with financial need who qualifies for college and wants to major in education at either the University of Rhode Island, R.I. College or Roger Williams University will receive a scholarship from the Feinstein Foundation every year he or she is there. What an awesome proposition! So, be sure your child saves his/her Feinstein Jr. Scholar cards every school year. Furthermore be sure to tune in to the PBS special, “Our Great Kids” featuring good deeds from all leadership schools the first Saturday of every month at 10:00 am. Some of our good deeds may be featured! Lastly, The 2018 Imagine Walk will be held Sunday, April 29th. Let us know if you would like to join SSS’s team. To support our team and The Autism Project of RI donations can be made online at: http:/www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/JennFlamand/16th-annual-imagine-walk-and-family- fun-day Laurie Dunn, Feinstein Coordinator

From the Nurses Corner – Katie Zieglemayer:

SHARK Beads went to the following students:

Ava D., Blake R. Kimberly W. Kaelin M. Jayden V. Reed H. Lilly Jae L. Payton J. Joseph S. Logan K. Jace S. Aniyah V. Kylie T. Ella M. Grady V. Logan M. Jason S. Christian B. Tyler K. Zachariah C. Penelope J. Sophia C. Lily S. Emma M. Skylar C. Emma J. Joseph G. Isabella M. Cayden G. AJ D. Kingston G. Olivia S. Robert P. Sam T. Alison M. Hunter H. Ethan D. Abraham L. Grayson B. Tristain M. Meghan M. Isabella W. Julian H. Kareem Q. Kierra H. Davio G. Julian N. Jason B. Gabriella L. Nicholas G. Devin O. Marcus C. Gabriella L. Jadin B. Paige V. Arianna F. Smantha S. Jayden V. Lylah G. Jocelyn B. Luke C. Henry H. Alexandrea L. Carter S. Jayden H. Cameron D. Annalize R. Jayden M. Noeliyah V. Valentina L. Grant T. Catherine G. Lucy C. Ava W. Frankie A. Seth C. Lorenzo A. Jace K. Neveah R. Abirami V. Joe G. Elise B. Christopher M. Sterling S. Danica J. Antonia U. Addison G. Calyiah N. Summer M. Alex D. Kaiden K. Madelyn S. Eva G. Mercy P. Ryelin K. Sophia C. Kylie T. Daniel O. AJ K. Britton R. Kayla M. Blake P. Avery H. Noel W. Scarlett L. Addison M. Nataliyah V. Jack M. Travis N. Kamden K. Carter S. Aydan S. Malyasia V. Landon H. Chloe D. Michael M. Jason S. Taylor D. Noah W. Declan B. Drayton S. Riley T. Mason M. Mia R. Kendalynn L. Sienna DD. Justin L. Kai B. Christian B. Brooke V. Ava PC. Ellie R. Frank B. Nyha G. Isabella M. Emerson F. Calla B. Olivia S. Kasey B. Annabelle F. Felicity O. Peyton F. Rosie S. Ronnie S.

Community News:

Community News Continued: Teacher Assistant Training Fridays, April 6th – June 15th from 9:30AM-12:30AM RI Department of Education Approved 30 hour Paraprofessional Pre-Employment Program Tuition: $300 includes course and materials Register online at EdExRI.org For more information call 401-783-0293

Child Outreach Screening FREE Child Outreach screening for ALL children ages 3-5 provides information about your child’s development and resources that are available in the community. Call 401-315-1582 for information.

Citizenship and Immigration Services Monthly every 3rd Tuesday from 6:00PM-8:30 PM Offered in partnership with Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island

The Supper Table Every Thursday from 4:30PM – 6:30PM Families are invited for a hot, nutritious and FREE supper served in a comfortable dining environment. Prepared weekly by guest chefs.

This year’s Imagine Walk will be on Sunday, April 29th. I will be there representing State Street. If anyone would like to join me please let me know.

If you would like to make a donation in support of our team and the Autism Project of RI here is our page. http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/JennFlamand/16th-annual-imagine-walk-and-family- fun-day.

Feinstein Good Deed Name of Feinstein Jr. Scholar______Description of Good Deed______State Street School SHARKS are always kind and willing to help others.

Cut out and return to your teacher

Ideas on How You Can Help State Street School: Stop & Shop A+ Bonus Bucks:

Parent Volunteers: We are always looking for volunteers to help with many facets of the school. A background check is required by the district if you would like to serve as a volunteer. Please contact Mary-Kay Patten, [email protected], 348-2398 or your child’s teacher.

Child Advocates: A child advocate is a person who would be willing to take on one child each week for a designated period of time. This child will need support in target areas such as homework, reading or math. You could also spend time with the child at school for breakfast, lunch or just to talk. Many children need positive role models in their life. This is a very rewarding opportunity for only one hour a week. If you think you could be that special volunteer, please contact me at [email protected] or call me at 348-2398. I look forward to talking to you and answering any questions you may have.

7 14 21 28 2:00 - S Duck Race Duck 2018 11:30 11:30

6 13 27 20 F

5 12 19 26 $$$ $$$ T Banking Day! Banking Day!

4 11 18 25 12 - 7:00 - W Talent Talent Show 6:00 Pictures Pictures 9 Lifetouch Spring 3 17 10 24 7:00 SPRING BREAK!!!!! SPRING - T 6:00 SSS library PTO PTO Meeitng 2 9 16 23 30 M April 1 8 15 22 29 S

PTO Officers: Joodie Symington – President Heather Gray – Vice President Meredith Hurley – Secretary Jan Robidoux – Treasurer Joel Hurley – Public Relations

PTO Contact Information: [email protected]

Parent Liaison: Mary-Kay Patten Phone: (401) 348-2398 [email protected]

State Street School Audrey Faubert, Principal [email protected] 35 State Street Westerly, RI 02891 Phone: (401) 348-2340 Fax: (401) 348-2345 www.westerly.k12.ri.us