Sunday, November 28, 2010
Weber Night at Chick Fil A
The Weber Education Fund (WEF) is hosting a Weber night at Chick Fil A on this Tuesday, November 30. A portion of sales go to the Weber WEF. Weber band and orchestra students will be playing a few tunes. Our very own, Ms. Ash, will do face painting. There will be prizes AND a visit from Duder the Clown! You won't want to miss this fun event!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Weber Service Project: Pennies for Peace
The Weber students and staff held our first Reading Pod activity for this school year. Students met in mixed-age groups and enjoyed the book Listen to the Wind by Greg Mortenson. Greg is the co-founder and executive director of Central Asia Institute, and co-author of the #1 NY Times Best-seller, Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School At A Time. The students made paper “people” that will be used to create a collage to be displayed at Weber to illustrate the theme “Together we can make a difference!” We hope you will stop by to see it at Weber.
As an extension of this Reading Pod activity, Weber is also participating in a project entitled “Pennies for Peace.” of schools and tens-of-thousands of students around the world. The Pennies for Peace program is designed to help students broaden their cultural horizons and learn about their capacities as philanthropists. It educates students about the world beyond their experience and shows them that they can make a positive impact on a global scale, one penny at a time. Students learn the rewards of sharing and working together to bring hope and education opportunities to the children in Pakistan and Afghanistan. While a penny is virtually worthless, in impoverished countries a penny buys a pencil and opens the door to literacy. Central Asia Institute has been establishing schools and offering children hope for a better future since 1993.
From now until Friday, December 17 the Weber students and staff will be collecting donations—anything from pennies to larger amounts—to benefit this program. Donations can be turned in to the children’s classrooms or in the Weber office. Please consider joining us as we celebrate the opportunities that our own children have for quality education, and help others to have opportunities to learn as well.
As an extension of this Reading Pod activity, Weber is also participating in a project entitled “Pennies for Peace.” of schools and tens-of-thousands of students around the world. The Pennies for Peace program is designed to help students broaden their cultural horizons and learn about their capacities as philanthropists. It educates students about the world beyond their experience and shows them that they can make a positive impact on a global scale, one penny at a time. Students learn the rewards of sharing and working together to bring hope and education opportunities to the children in Pakistan and Afghanistan. While a penny is virtually worthless, in impoverished countries a penny buys a pencil and opens the door to literacy. Central Asia Institute has been establishing schools and offering children hope for a better future since 1993.
From now until Friday, December 17 the Weber students and staff will be collecting donations—anything from pennies to larger amounts—to benefit this program. Donations can be turned in to the children’s classrooms or in the Weber office. Please consider joining us as we celebrate the opportunities that our own children have for quality education, and help others to have opportunities to learn as well.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Dear Weber families,
It has been a pleasure seeing you all
during our conferences over the last couple
weeks. The students enjoy celebrating their
learning and setting goals for the rest of the
year. Together, we can achieve our goal of
EXCELLENCE FOR ALL. Thank you for
your ongoing support.
A very special THANK YOU to all families who sent food for our staff on conference days. We so appreciate this!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break
with your families!
It has been a pleasure seeing you all
during our conferences over the last couple
weeks. The students enjoy celebrating their
learning and setting goals for the rest of the
year. Together, we can achieve our goal of
EXCELLENCE FOR ALL. Thank you for
your ongoing support.
A very special THANK YOU to all families who sent food for our staff on conference days. We so appreciate this!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break
with your families!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Alice Kurtz Receives an Award
Our very own, Alice Kurtz, will receive an award on Sunday for her efforts to bring history to life for our students. Please see below for a press release and come if you are able! Congratulations to Alice!
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARDS EVENT SCHEDULED THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14
The public is invited to attend the 2010 Historic Preservation Awards ceremony, an annual event that recognizes homeowners and property owners who have undertaken preservation projects to retain or enhance the historical or architectural integrity of their property. A special award will also be presented to local elementary school teacher Alice Kurtz for her efforts to engage students and inspire life-long learning by integrating Iowa City history and historic preservation into her elementary classroom curriculum.
The event is scheduled Sunday, November 14 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Meeting Room A of the Iowa City Public Library at 123 S. Linn Street. It will be co-hosted by the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission, Friends of Historic Preservation, and the Johnson County Historic Preservation Commission. There is no charge to attend.
Christina Kuecker, Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Iowa City, said that 26 award-winners, whose projects were nominated by local historic preservationists as well as the general public, will receive certificates from the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission for projects that include rehabilitation, stewardship, paint and exterior finishes, new additions, new construction, and other projects.
Weber Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Alice Kurtz, who developed an educational segment on local history titled, "Symbols of Change," will be recognized with the Margaret Nowysz Award, named for the first chair of the City's Historic Preservation Commission. Kurtz combines materials from the Historic Preservation Commission and Friends of Historic Preservation with classroom study on the City's buildings and artifacts to create a multi-disciplinary course that not only puts students in touch with local history, but also strengthens their skills in science, math, reading, communication, and research. The final project encourages students to build scale models of local historic buildings or homes, using recycled materials. The projects are then put on display throughout the area.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARDS EVENT SCHEDULED THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14
The public is invited to attend the 2010 Historic Preservation Awards ceremony, an annual event that recognizes homeowners and property owners who have undertaken preservation projects to retain or enhance the historical or architectural integrity of their property. A special award will also be presented to local elementary school teacher Alice Kurtz for her efforts to engage students and inspire life-long learning by integrating Iowa City history and historic preservation into her elementary classroom curriculum.
The event is scheduled Sunday, November 14 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Meeting Room A of the Iowa City Public Library at 123 S. Linn Street. It will be co-hosted by the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission, Friends of Historic Preservation, and the Johnson County Historic Preservation Commission. There is no charge to attend.
Christina Kuecker, Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Iowa City, said that 26 award-winners, whose projects were nominated by local historic preservationists as well as the general public, will receive certificates from the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission for projects that include rehabilitation, stewardship, paint and exterior finishes, new additions, new construction, and other projects.
Weber Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Alice Kurtz, who developed an educational segment on local history titled, "Symbols of Change," will be recognized with the Margaret Nowysz Award, named for the first chair of the City's Historic Preservation Commission. Kurtz combines materials from the Historic Preservation Commission and Friends of Historic Preservation with classroom study on the City's buildings and artifacts to create a multi-disciplinary course that not only puts students in touch with local history, but also strengthens their skills in science, math, reading, communication, and research. The final project encourages students to build scale models of local historic buildings or homes, using recycled materials. The projects are then put on display throughout the area.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Don't Forget: No School Days
Don't forget that we do not have school on Friday, November 12 due to conferences. Also, we do not have school on November 24, 25, or 26.
Team 4 Podcasts
Check out this link to some Team 4 biographical podcasts. These creations are summaries of what each student found important or interesting from the biography they read.
The creation process included: writing a script selecting the essence of the person, locating photos which were not copy write protected, learning the program Photo Story, editing the script to fit with the photos, selecting music that would be appropriate to the time period of the subject, and speaking clearly enough and succinctly enough to make an interesting podcast.
Enjoy their productions!
Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/user/judithdickson?feature=mhum#p/u
The creation process included: writing a script selecting the essence of the person, locating photos which were not copy write protected, learning the program Photo Story, editing the script to fit with the photos, selecting music that would be appropriate to the time period of the subject, and speaking clearly enough and succinctly enough to make an interesting podcast.
Enjoy their productions!
Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/user/judithdickson?feature=mhum#p/u
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Helping Your Child Succeed at School
I read a helpful article tonight and thought it would be great to share!
Helping Your Child Succeed at School
Ron Mirr, Iowa Parent Resource Information Center, www.iowaparents.org
The Iowa PIRC staff has adapted and prioritized 12 ideas for parents to consider to help their children succeed in school. We have put
them in order based on what we are finding from various research studies. Feel free to reproduce this and share with students’ parents.
You are your child’s best teacher! Research shows that children whose parents are engaged in their education are more likely to achieve
academic success. Use the following checklist to plan how you can best help your child learn. As you organize your efforts, make sure to
start at the top of the list and work your way down. It’s okay if you can’t do all of the things on this list! If you only have time to do one
thing, work on the first item. As you have more time to work with your child, keep heading down the list in order. It is essential to be as
positive as possible as you support your child. Don’t forget, these ideas are effective for children in all grades PreK‐12!
1. Have high expectations for your children. Kids rise to a challenge. Make sure your children understand the clear expectations
you have for them and how well they should do in school. Talk to your children about your expectation that they will continue their education
after they graduate from high school. Encourage your students to talk with their counselor and their teachers about their options
after high school. While it’s OK to reward your children for successes, as your children get older it is important to help them develop an
internal desire to do well in school that doesn’t require rewards.
2. Talk to your child about school. Ask specific questions to draw out your child. Instead of asking “yes” or “no” questions, ask
“How do you think you did on the math test?” or “What is something funny that happened at school today?” or “What did you do during
PE?” It is very important as you talk with your child about school to help him/her believe in him/herself and have the confidence to
know that s/he can succeed. (See Questions to Ask Your Children Besides “How Was Your Day” at http://bit.ly/9N81ND.)
3. Get “connected” with your child’s teachers. Teachers and parents should be equal partners. This doesn’t mean you have the
same role, but you are both equally important players in supporting the success of your child. Ask teachers about their expectations. What
are students expected to master by the end of the year in each class? How will each teacher be gauging your child’s progress toward these
goals? Ask about the best way to get in touch if you have questions. Ask what you can do at home to support what is going on in the
classroom.
4. Make sure your child has a quiet place to study and to learn at home. Find an area in your home that is free of distraction
where your child can concentrate on homework and other learning without being disturbed by other distractions. Listening to music
while doing homework is not the best way for all students to focus on their homework. Be available to offer suggestions if your child has a
question. Make sure your child spends enough time learning at home. A commonly accepted rule is 10 minutes of learning at home per
school night per grade level (e.g., 3rd grade = 30 minutes, 6th grade = 60 minutes, 9th grade = 90 minutes, 12th grade = 120 minutes).
Students should spend time learning at home every night even if they don’t have specific homework.
5. Get your child “connected” to the school. Students who feel “connected” to adults and other students at school do better academically.
Encourage your child to join a club, participate in intramural activities, go out for a sport, or join a music group. If what your
child is interested in isn’t offered as a school club or activity, work with the school to start one.
6. Check your child’s homework, but don’t do it. Offer to check math problems, proofread written papers and look over spelling
words. If you find a mistake, point it out to your child and help him/her figure out the correct answer. Remember to also point out what
your child did well in his/her homework, too. If your child is having trouble encourage him/her to contact his/her peers or look for an
online resource. Also encourage your child to ask for help from the teacher. Remember to help your child practice how to ask for help in a
positive way. (See Homework at http://bit.ly/cdaU5p.)
7. Find out about homework assignments and school tests. Use your district’s online computer system or teacher’s webpage to
monitor homework assignments and get in the habit of checking it regularly. If you can’t find the information you need about upcoming
classroom assignments, contact your child’s teachers and ask them to post when there’s an important project or test coming up. If you feel
like you need more information, contact your child’s teacher(s) and ask them to post more information that can help you know how your
child is doing and how you can support him/her at home.
8. Talk about your own learning. Discuss with your child how you plan, solve problems and think about the future.
9. Post a family calendar in a central place. Write down important school dates, including due dates for projects and tests.
Encourage your child to add to the calendar and to check it daily. Help your child learn to plan and prepare ahead. As your child gets
older, help your child take the lead for regulating and organizing homework and study time with you as their coach.
10. Go to school meetings and events. Attending concerts, plays, assemblies, meetings, and other activities is a good way to
become familiar with your child’s school community and develop relationships with other parents.
11. Volunteer to chaperone school dances and drive kids to school competitions. You’ll meet other parents, school staff, and
your child’s classmates. In this way you can also develop a network of other parents with whom you can share information and discuss
ideas.
12. Find a way to make your voice heard. If you have the time and the desire, ask to be part of school committees. Attend
PTA/PTO meetings. Many schools now have parent and school teams that share ways to further build a family-school partnership for student
learning. Ask to form or join such a team.
Adapted from “10 Tips for Middle School Parents” found at www.schoolfamily.com and including the work of Karen Mapp, Anne Henderson and Kathleen Hoover-Dempsey.
Helping Your Child Succeed at School
Ron Mirr, Iowa Parent Resource Information Center, www.iowaparents.org
The Iowa PIRC staff has adapted and prioritized 12 ideas for parents to consider to help their children succeed in school. We have put
them in order based on what we are finding from various research studies. Feel free to reproduce this and share with students’ parents.
You are your child’s best teacher! Research shows that children whose parents are engaged in their education are more likely to achieve
academic success. Use the following checklist to plan how you can best help your child learn. As you organize your efforts, make sure to
start at the top of the list and work your way down. It’s okay if you can’t do all of the things on this list! If you only have time to do one
thing, work on the first item. As you have more time to work with your child, keep heading down the list in order. It is essential to be as
positive as possible as you support your child. Don’t forget, these ideas are effective for children in all grades PreK‐12!
1. Have high expectations for your children. Kids rise to a challenge. Make sure your children understand the clear expectations
you have for them and how well they should do in school. Talk to your children about your expectation that they will continue their education
after they graduate from high school. Encourage your students to talk with their counselor and their teachers about their options
after high school. While it’s OK to reward your children for successes, as your children get older it is important to help them develop an
internal desire to do well in school that doesn’t require rewards.
2. Talk to your child about school. Ask specific questions to draw out your child. Instead of asking “yes” or “no” questions, ask
“How do you think you did on the math test?” or “What is something funny that happened at school today?” or “What did you do during
PE?” It is very important as you talk with your child about school to help him/her believe in him/herself and have the confidence to
know that s/he can succeed. (See Questions to Ask Your Children Besides “How Was Your Day” at http://bit.ly/9N81ND.)
3. Get “connected” with your child’s teachers. Teachers and parents should be equal partners. This doesn’t mean you have the
same role, but you are both equally important players in supporting the success of your child. Ask teachers about their expectations. What
are students expected to master by the end of the year in each class? How will each teacher be gauging your child’s progress toward these
goals? Ask about the best way to get in touch if you have questions. Ask what you can do at home to support what is going on in the
classroom.
4. Make sure your child has a quiet place to study and to learn at home. Find an area in your home that is free of distraction
where your child can concentrate on homework and other learning without being disturbed by other distractions. Listening to music
while doing homework is not the best way for all students to focus on their homework. Be available to offer suggestions if your child has a
question. Make sure your child spends enough time learning at home. A commonly accepted rule is 10 minutes of learning at home per
school night per grade level (e.g., 3rd grade = 30 minutes, 6th grade = 60 minutes, 9th grade = 90 minutes, 12th grade = 120 minutes).
Students should spend time learning at home every night even if they don’t have specific homework.
5. Get your child “connected” to the school. Students who feel “connected” to adults and other students at school do better academically.
Encourage your child to join a club, participate in intramural activities, go out for a sport, or join a music group. If what your
child is interested in isn’t offered as a school club or activity, work with the school to start one.
6. Check your child’s homework, but don’t do it. Offer to check math problems, proofread written papers and look over spelling
words. If you find a mistake, point it out to your child and help him/her figure out the correct answer. Remember to also point out what
your child did well in his/her homework, too. If your child is having trouble encourage him/her to contact his/her peers or look for an
online resource. Also encourage your child to ask for help from the teacher. Remember to help your child practice how to ask for help in a
positive way. (See Homework at http://bit.ly/cdaU5p.)
7. Find out about homework assignments and school tests. Use your district’s online computer system or teacher’s webpage to
monitor homework assignments and get in the habit of checking it regularly. If you can’t find the information you need about upcoming
classroom assignments, contact your child’s teachers and ask them to post when there’s an important project or test coming up. If you feel
like you need more information, contact your child’s teacher(s) and ask them to post more information that can help you know how your
child is doing and how you can support him/her at home.
8. Talk about your own learning. Discuss with your child how you plan, solve problems and think about the future.
9. Post a family calendar in a central place. Write down important school dates, including due dates for projects and tests.
Encourage your child to add to the calendar and to check it daily. Help your child learn to plan and prepare ahead. As your child gets
older, help your child take the lead for regulating and organizing homework and study time with you as their coach.
10. Go to school meetings and events. Attending concerts, plays, assemblies, meetings, and other activities is a good way to
become familiar with your child’s school community and develop relationships with other parents.
11. Volunteer to chaperone school dances and drive kids to school competitions. You’ll meet other parents, school staff, and
your child’s classmates. In this way you can also develop a network of other parents with whom you can share information and discuss
ideas.
12. Find a way to make your voice heard. If you have the time and the desire, ask to be part of school committees. Attend
PTA/PTO meetings. Many schools now have parent and school teams that share ways to further build a family-school partnership for student
learning. Ask to form or join such a team.
Adapted from “10 Tips for Middle School Parents” found at www.schoolfamily.com and including the work of Karen Mapp, Anne Henderson and Kathleen Hoover-Dempsey.
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