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Hemlock Curriculum

Hemlock School PTA Curriculum Committee News

Hemlock School Curriculum Reps are:
Joellen Crowley and Eileen Kinney

Hemlock Curriculum Committee Summary May 2010 

Report Card Update

·        Due to be released in Fall of 2010

·        Will be sent home 3 times a school calendar year

·        Standards based report card/reflects NYS Standards

·        Rollout of the new style Report Card is starting with the Primary Schools and will be carried into the Elementary Schools in the future

·        Effort grade is included, indicating the child’s approach to school work

·        Social/Emotional section and the Behaviors that Promote Learning section are the titles that are given to non-academic areas that indicate a child’s classroom behavior

·        Specific comments from teachers will NOT be included. This type of discussion is done during Parent/Teacher conferences and throughout the year

Reading

·        Reading levels for each student are not given out to parents at the end of the year

·        Parents should use these recommendations when going to the library or the bookstore:

o   Get a book that the child can read by themselves

o   Get a book that an adult will need to assist with reading

o   Get a book that should be read to the child

·        A list of suggested reading will be sent home with the child for the summer

Math

·        An optional math summer packet will be sent home with the children to be done over summer vacation. It can be returned in September.  Content from this packet will be reviewed and incorporated into classroom instruction in September.


Hemlock April 2010 Curriculum Update

Preparation for the current first grade student transition into second grade is achieved in many ways.  On Tuesday, May 4th, all parents are

invited to attend an orientation at either Stewart or Stratford School at

7:00 p.m.  On May 20th, all first graders will visit the elementary school

where they will be attending a tour of the school (Stratford or Stewart) and see what a typical day feels like.  In addition to these formal orientations, the students have had many opportunities over the course of the year to attend activities at both schools.  The children have gone to both Stratford and Stewart for Arts in Education performances, the Stewart Opera and the 5th grade play at Stratford.

          Class placement, which includes teacher input, is carefully considered for every child.  Every effort is made to ensure that all children are placed with familiar faces from Hemlock.   While this process should lead to a smooth transition, any concerns that you may have about your child’s placement should be sent in writing to Ms. Bellovin no later than May 3rd.

          Looking forward, formal kindergarten registration for the new class is complete, though we welcome new children throughout the school year.  The district determines the age requirement for entry into kindergarten.  Children must reach their 5th birthday by December 1st.  It

is felt that it is most beneficial for children to be placed with their age appropriate peers.  The current kindergarten screening includes the DIAL 3 assessment that is used to determine readiness.  Screening results are used to determine appropriate support services.  However, there is no entrance exam for kindergarten and teachers strive to help each child reach their potential.



FEBRUARY 2010 CURRICULUM UPDATE

Kindergarten Update:

Kindergartners are working hard learning their high frequency words.  Teachers are using clever and unique ideas to teach this subject matter and it is quite a success for every student!  Though the ways they are practiced may be different from class to class, the words are uniform for all children.

Appropriate level books are being sent home with the children.  Teachers work closely with each child on the skills in the books before they go home.  When the children read to their parents, they are so proud of their accomplishments.  All books are brought back to school the next day.

Kindergarten teachers participate in a “collegial circle” during prep period.  This is where ideas on curriculum, lessons and issues are circulated amongst each other and any issues resolved.  Great ideas are generated during this time!

First Grade Update:

Spelling tests and Book Reports have started!  All first grade teachers work collaboratively to prepare the book reports.  The results are fantastic. 

Science texts are being used as a guide for the Science curriculum.  The science lessons that are done in class are all active and hands-on.  Last year, the first grade teachers work collaboratively on designing UbD (Understanding by Design) units for science.  This reflects a district initiative.

For Social Studies, the teachers use a weekly reader for current events and a text book in the classroom.  A great deal of Social Studies is also done through literature. 

 

The science and social studies curriculum for both grades are driven by the New York State Standards in these areas. 

 

Program Kick Off:

Hemlock has proudly announced the start of ‘Fun, Fit and Go!’ which is a program to get children in the habit of exercising outside of the school environment and involves family members as well.  This program is being led by our Physical Education teacher, Mr. Caparella.

100th Day of school is quickly approaching – fun filled activities are planned for this day for all students. (February 12th)

Looking Ahead:

We plan to highlight a piece of the curriculum at each upcoming PTA meeting to give parents a better sense of what the content is and how it is being addressed in at Hemlock.



Hemlock Curriculum Committee Update December 2009

  Curriculum enrichment is ongoing at Hemlock.  The school has implemented many creative ways to meet the new NYS mandate for Physical Education.  The children are engaging in physical activities every day after morning announcements and in their classrooms guided by their teacher.   There also has been great success with the current Occupational Therapy program.  An OT pushes into the kindergarten classes once a week and assists the teacher with the current curriculum.  The OT provides the teachers with tips to facilitate the children’s learning.  A committee has also been formed to revamp the current report cards to more accurately reflect the New York State Standards.  The new report cards will be looking at the children’s skills in relation to the standards.  The exact wording is still to be determined by the committee.   Finally, a map of the United States has been added to the blacktop outside of the school.  Suggestions for how to use the map were distributed to each teacher.  The map is being integrated into the curriculum when appropriate.



October 2009 Summary

"Hemlock Curriculum is off to a running start.  Their comprehensive Balanced Literacy program is in full swing starting with the Early Literacy Profile (ELP) for the Kindergarteners.  This will assist teachers with grouping the students more effectively using real data collected.  Consultant Erica Pecorale is diligently working with and training our teachers from all primary schools on the Writing Program, which is the next step in this cohesive process.  First graders are working hard on their Write Traits using word choice and learning techniques that authors use when writing their stories.  This is certainly the start of an exciting year for all of our students."


 
 
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