MARCH 2013

VOLUME 7

Hopefully the winter of 2013 is beginning to thaw. The weather has certainly provided lots to talk about this year and is one for the record books. Now lets think spring! Read Across America is celebrated on March 2nd and serves as a way to honor a beloved childrens authorDr. Seuss, "You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child." What better way to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday than reading to a child? Dr. Seuss epitomizes a love of children and learning. His rhyming stories teach young children the basic skills they need to be successful. So on the evening of March 2nd (Dr. Seuss's birthday), Random House and the National Education Association (NEA) urge you to participate in the annual Read Across America Day by reading to a child. When we celebrate Dr. Seuss and reading, we send a clear message to America's children that reading is fun and important. Hopefully, your child attended the Columbus Book Fair for some great reads as well. Thank you for your support in this fund raising effort. Finally, you and your child are invited to attend Read by the River sponsored by Tufts University on March 10th in the Hatcher Gymnasium at noon. Its never to early or late to foster a love of reading!

Principals Corner

Columbus News

of many people: the bus driver, each rider, parents, and the Columbus staff. The bus drivers #1 interest is your childs safety. He/she will ask your child to always be on their best behavior. As parents please take some time to support Columbuss bus program by reviewing the bus safety rules with your child. They are as follows: Hands and feet to self, use inside voices, sit back in your seat, keep bus clean, keep aisle clear, tell problem to bus driver, cross in front of the bus, be kind, and keep food and toys in backpack. Lets all work together to help our bus students get a thumbs up every day for following the rules! Also, as parents you need to make sure you get to your childs bus stop in the afternoon with plenty of time to spare. Dismissal of buses begins promptly at 2:40 pm. You need to be waiting at your childs stop shortly after that time. Our ultimate goal is to ensure your child has a safe trip to and from school every day!

COLUMBUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 37 HICKS AVENUE, MEDFORD, MA 02155

WWW.MEDFORD.K12.MA.US

March is National Nutrition Month. Visit www.eatright.org to learn more about the campaign that focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. Read the many articles offered and Please be sure to mark your calendars discover ways to make each meal more with the PTO Meeting date, March 12th colorful for your health, fitness, and nuat 6:30pm. The topic will be Helping trition. The many wellness topics offer Your Child Prepare for the MCAS Asplenty of healthy choices. Mrs. Roberto sessments. Please note the list of test- also suggests checking out ing dates and MCAS Guidelines for Par- www.letsmove.gov which has been ents and Students enclosed in this sponsored by the first lady, Michelle newsletter. Be sure to send your child Obama. Kathleen Kay to school on these testing days. If your child must be absent, medical documentation is requested. IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS This month I would like to ask you to review the bus expectations with your child. Bus safety involves the cooperation

Nurses Corner

* TELEPHONE : 781.393.2177 * FAX : 781.393.2187 * NURSE : 781.393.2175 * ABSENCE LINE: 781.393.2177, ext #3503

March 1 March 2 March 6 March 10 March 12 March 13 March 15 March 17 March 19 March 20

Book Fair, last day Read Across America Day, read aloud to your child! Early Release, Dismissal at 1:30pm Read by the River, Tufts University, Hatcher Gymnasium, 12:00pm-3:00pm PTO Meeting, 6:30pm, Columbus Cafeteria. TOPIC: How to Help Prepare Your Child for MCAS Testing Early Release, Dismissal at 1:30pm School Council Meeting, 6:30pm, Columbus Conference Room Columbus Spirit Day - Twin/Look Alike Day. Show your spirit by coming to school dressed like a friend or two, (or three, or four, or five, etc.!) St. Patricks Day MCAS Testing - 4th Grade - Long Composition First Day of Spring Early Release, Dismissal at 1:30pm March 21 March 22 March 25 March 26 MCAS Testing - 5th Grade - ELA MCAS Testing - 5th Grade - ELA MCAS Testing - 4th Grade - ELA MCAS Testing - 4th Grade - ELA

March 27 March 28 March 29 March 31

Early Release, Dismissal at 1:30pm MCAS Testing - 3rd Grade - ELA (And April 1st) NO SCHOOL - Good Friday Easter Sunday

Key to Future Success: Learn to Read Well by Fourth Grade Just 34 percent of fourth graders are reading at an acceptable level in grade four. Only 8 percent are "advanced" readers. On the surface, it may appear to parents that their children have four more years of grade school in order to become acceptable readers, but new studies show the importance of reading by grade four. Findings by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, of Baltimore, are the first to show that kids are far more likely to drop out of high school if they can't read pretty well by fourth grade. Unless America dramatically improves the number of kids who can do this, a growing proportion of them will struggle as adults. The Foundation contends that the tendency to drop out of high school begins in the early grades when children don't learn to read. Researchers say dropouts "don't just happen." So what can parents do? Here are some suggestions: Show your child(ren) that education is important; Do all you can to assure that kids attend school every day; Show an interest in your children's reading. Have them read to you, and help them with the words; Provide books that children like. Let them pick out books at the library or grocery store; Don't let kids lose reading skills over the summer. Keep them in practice. Find books they will enjoy reading.

MARCH

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MCAS is Coming
ELA Tuesday, 3/19 - 4th Grade - Composition Thursday & Friday, 3/21 & 3/22 - 5th Grade. Monday & Tuesday, 3/25 & 3/26 - 4th Grade MATH Monday & Tuesday, 5/6 & 5/7 - 5th Grade Thursday & Friday, 5/9 & 5/10 - 3rd Grade Monday & Tuesday, 5/13 & 5/14 - 4th Grade

Thursday, 3/28 & Monday, 4/1 (due to hol- SCIENCE, ENGINERING & TECH. Thursday & Friday, 5/16 & 5/17 - 5th iday 3/29) - 3rd Grade Grade
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) MCAS is designed to meet the requirements of the Education Reform Law of 1993. This law specifies that the testing program must: test all public school students in Massachusetts, including students with disabilities and English Language Learner students; measure performance based on the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework learning standards; report on the performance of individual students, schools, and districts. tions. Their test administrators cannot give them any help, or answer any question that relates to the content of the test. Most students should not need extra time and will be able to finish within the suggested time limits. However, they will be allowed additional time to finish their work beyond the end of the regularly scheduled session if they need it and are working productively. No session may extend past the end of the regular school day. They must work only in the session being administered, and not look at questions or test pages beyond the stop sign or go back to a previous session. They must not damage their test materials or remove any part of them from the testing room. They must not duplicate any portion of the test or answer booklets (e.g., photographing, copying). They may not communicate with other students during the test (e.g., talking, whispering, writing notes). They may not look at any other students test or answer booklet. They may not consult any notes, books, or instructional materials during testing. They may not access prohibited materials (cellphones, electronic devices, computers, etc..) Test results will be invalidated for students who use cell phones or other electronic devices for any purpose during a test session, including after turning in their test materials, during a break, or during the transition to a test completion area. Please ensure that your child gets a good nights sleep the evening before their test, eats a good breakfast, and comes prepared to do his/her best. Page 3 Breakfast and snacks will be provided.

As required by the Education Reform Law, students must pass the grade 10 tests in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics and one of the four high school Science and Technology Engineering tests as one condition of eligibility for a high school diploma (in addition to fulfilling local requirements). To this end, I invite you to attend this months PTO Meeting to learn the ways you can help prepare your child for this state mandated testing. I will also be meeting with the children to briefly discuss the purpose of these assessments. At this meeting they will learn that a serious, yet supportive, testing environment has a positive impact on performance. Therefore, it is vital that they understand about the security and testing procedures at our school. As all teachers have been instructing, I will remind students that: They should read questions carefully and try their best to answer all the questions on the test. They should respond fully to all questions, and be sure to answer all parts of multipart ques-

BOOK
The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate. Ages 8 and up. Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all. Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows hes seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art

REVIEW
and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line. Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home and his own artthrough new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and its up to Ivan to make it a change for the better. Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivans unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope. ~Amazon.com

The Benefits of Learning Multiple Languages The world is getting smaller every day. We interact with international countries that we might not have a few years ago. It's more important now to be able to talk to and understand people from other cultures and countries. Imagine how different this world might be when your child is an adult. Luckily, he or she can learn some key skills now that will help him or her in our growing global community. Maybe you or members of your family speak another language and would like to introduce your child to it. You may wonder if it's useful to study another language at such a young age. Learning a second (or third, fourth, or fifth) language can have huge rewards for all people, but especially for children, now and in the future. The sooner your child starts learning another language, the sooner these benefits can kick in and prepare your child for the world. The younger a person is when he or she begins learning a language, the more fluent that person will be later in life (as long as he or she practices). It has been said that it's easier to learn a language when you're younger. While this advantage may lessen as the individual ages, it's likely that an elementary student will find it easier to learn these skills when he or she is already studying so many other basic skills. It's also easy to understand why learning a language at an early age and continuing to speak it for several years can lead to stronger fluency. After all, practice makes perfect. When your child is introduced to another language, he or she is also introduced to another rich culture. Teachers do not teach a new language in isolation. He or she will likely introduce new vocabulary with information about the country or region where the language is spoken. For instance, the teacher may bring in pictures or actual samples when teaching new food words. Your child will gain valuable insights into other ways of life. As a result, he or she will be more open to diversity. Learning another language will boost your child's scores in other areas, such as English. It may sound strange, but learning other languages can actually help your child do better in English language arts. Learning grammar rules and parts of speech in a second language can help your child learn and remember the grammar rules and parts of speech in English. It's often easier to identify these when looking at another language. Also, your child may pick up skills for learning English vocabulary words as he or she learns foreign words. Believe it or not, improved language skills may help your child do better in math class too. Your child could have more opportunities to travel and study abroad during high school and college. High school may seem a long way off, but it will be here faster than you know it. And it may seem too soon to plan for college when your child is in elementary school, but isn't that an important plan for your child's future? If your child is nearly fluent in a foreign language, he or she could more easily study in another country. Not only is this beneficial to his or her world awareness, but it also looks good to potential employers. Adults who speak more than one language have more job opportunities. With business opportunities opening up overseas at an increasing pace, it's likely that the job opportunities your child has in the future might be much different from those we have now. Even if your child lives and works in an English-speaking area, he or she will likely work with people from other countries and regions. Knowing and understanding other cultures and languages will help your child work well with others. And a strong grasp of another language will help him or her find a variety of exciting jobs when he or she enters the real world.
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Let Color Be Your Guide to Nutritious Meals and Eat Right with Color During National Nutrition Month
CHICAGO While the trees may be bare in March, there are still plenty of colorful & nutritious foods to fill your plate. During the 2011 National Nutrition Month, the American Dietetic Association encouraged everyone to add color & nutrients to meals through the year's theme: "Eat Right with Color." "Adding a splash of colorful seasonal foods to your plate makes for more than just a festive meal. A rainbow of foods creates a palette of nutrients, each with a different bundle of potential benefits for a healthful eating plan," says registered dietitian & ADA Spokesperson Karen Ansel. "Healthy eating includes more than counting calories alone. In fact, most children don't get enough of all the essential nutrients critical to normal growth & development," says Ansel. "Food variety supplies different nutrients, so to maximize the nutritional value of your meal, include healthful choices in a variety of colors." blueberries, plums, & raisins. Vegetables: eggplant, purple cabbage, & purple-fleshed potato. Red indicates produce that may help maintain a healthy heart, vision, immunity & may reduce cancer risks. Fruits: cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, red/pink grape fruit, red grapes & watermelon. Vegetables: beets, red onions, red peppers, red potatoes, rhubarb & tomatoes. White, tan & brown foods sometimes contain nutrients that may promote heart health & reduce cancer risks. Fruits: banana, brown pear, dates & white peaches. Vegetables: cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, turnips, white-fleshed potato & white corn. "Instead of grilled chicken & mashed potatoes, consider painting a more colorful plate, such as grilled chicken topped with salsa, mashed sweet potato, asparagus & spinach salad with orange slices. A colorful meal is not only visually appealing, but it also contains a variety of nutrients & is quite flavorful," Ansel says. Getting enough protein at every meal & snack helps kids feel satisfied after eating. Start their day with egg or bean burritos. For snacks, provide peanut butter or sliced deli meat.

Designed around a SHOP, COOK & EAT theme, the Kids Eat Right website provides parents with practical tips, articles, videos & recipes from registered dietitians to help families shop smart, cook Ansel offers this quick color guide when shopping for healthy & eat right. seasonal fruits and vegetables. Whether speaking with a registered dietitian about Green produce indicates antioxidant potential & may essential nutrients & healthier cooking, or visiting help promote healthy vision & reduce cancer risks. www.kidseatright.org for tips & recipes, Kids Eat Fruits: avocado, apples, grapes, honeydew, kiwi & Right provides families with knowledge as well as lime. Vegetables: artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, ideas & tools to transform their eating behaviors. green beans, green peppers & leafy greens such as For more information on how to "Eat Right with spinach. Color," visit ADA's National Nutrition Month webOrange & deep yellow fruits & vegetables contain site for a variety of helpful tips, fun games, promonutrients that promote healthy vision & immunity, & tional tools & nutrition education resources. reduce the risk of some cancers. Fruits: apricot, cantaloupe, grapefruit, mango, papaya, peach & pineap- Reference: http://www.eatright.org ple. Vegetables: carrots, yellow pepper, yellow corn Drawing: Alison Finnegan & sweet potatoes. Purple & blue options may have antioxidant & antiaging benefits & may help with memory, urinary tract health & reduced cancer risks. Fruits: blackberries,