Oct. 1

The picture speaks it all- Arno staff is always willing to do whatever it takes…

Coming soon to Arno…

Image result for pumpkin

Oct. 1

Fire Drill 1:30

Oct. 2

Steve out at TC

Oct. 3

Steve out at TC

Oct. 4

Steve out at TC

PTA meeting 6:30

Oct. 5

Half-day dismissal 11:30

P.M. PD

Oct. 8

No events

Oct. 9

5th Grade BAS

PBIS Pizza lunch

Oct. 10

4th Grade BAS

PBIS Meeting 7:45

Oct. 11

Staff Meeting 7:45

Oct. 12

Reflections Kick-off

 

Arno Vision

Arno Elementary will provide a system of support to empower

and inspire students to become collaborative learners

that strive for academic excellence

 

Committees Meet

The Chairs of the Instructional and School Improvement Committees met this week to discuss the integration of Journeys into the SIP and vice-versa.  There were some great discussions on how these activities, along with Journeys, will help bolster the instruction at Arno.

 

Image result for summer reading

Summer Reading Log reward info

The reward for extra recess and popsicles will be on Oct. 10th  K-2 will be at 10:30/3-5 will be at 1:30 for 30 minutes each

 

Image result for food drive

Food Drive

Please see the attached flier for information on a food drive that be will be occuring at Arno from Oct. 22-Nov. 9th.  Boxes will be brought in, and collected by the coordinator.

Mimi’s Mission Food Drive Flier (1)-16qt8g0

From the PTA

IT’S FUN RUN TIME!!! This is our biggest fundraiser of the year! Come cheer on the students today as they run/walk to some awesome music! Last year the FUN RUN donations allowed us to purchase a new Playscape, provide multiple assemblies, weekly readers for the students, staff appreciation week, computer class robots and gifts cards for the Allen Park food pantry. Donations can still be submitted until October 5th so please keep sharing it on social media and emails! Cash donations can also be turned in to the school office.

The next PTA meeting will be held on October 4th at 6:30 p.m. Spirt wear will be sold that night, come see our new designs and new colors! We hope to see you there!

Don’t forget, if you haven’t signed up or renewed your PTA membership you can still do so! You can sign up/renew online and also buy extra ice cream scoops for your child’s class! The membership drive is still in high gear! We currently have 113 members and our goal this year is 300! Ms. Watson’s class is currently in the lead with 23 scoops and Ms. Smalley is in 2nd place with 19 scoops and Mrs. Martinchick is in 3rd with 18 scoops. Our membership drive will end on October 26th and the top three classes will be rewarded on October 30th. https://arnopta.memberhub.com/dues

Halloween skate party is coming up on October 25th from 6-8 pm at the Lincoln Park Skate Center. Have your kids put on their costumes and come skate with us!!! There will be a Halloween costume contest with prizes for the top boy and girl! Watch for the flyer to come home soon! Thank you Corey Osinski for chairing this event, without your support this event wouldn’t happen!

 Reflections kick off is October 12th and the theme this year is “Hero’s Around Us”. Encourage your little artist to submit a piece of his or her artwork! More details to come. Thank you Jenn Yuhaz for chairing this event, without your support this event wouldn’t happen!

 Last but definitely not least is our Angelina’s Fundraiser on October 16th! Come visit for Taco Tuesday and support Arno PTA! 20% of your bill (dine in, carry out and drinks are all included) will  be donated to our PTA to help out our amazing caring cougars! All three locations (Allen Park, Wyandotte and Southgate) will be participating. Watch for the flyer to come home for more details.

 

Image result for picture retake day

Picture retake day is Nov. 15th

 

 

2007SafeSchools 0

FROM THE HR DEPARTMENT:

For those employees required to complete Safe Schools Training, the system is now open and available to complete for the 2018-2019 school year.  The modules need to be completed by October 31.  Please email me if you have any issues.

Image result for halloween parade

Halloween Parade

The annual Halloween parade will be on Oct. 31 @10:00.  We will once again make our way from Kindergarten- to 5th grade then outside and around the playground back to the main office.

 

Image result for smencils

PBIS Smencils for Sale

Smencils sales will begin again starting Oct. 9th!  Smencils will be sold on Tuesday afternoons at 2:30p.  The proceeds from Smencils benefits the PBIS program at Arno.  The prices for items are as follows:

Smencils: $1

Smens: $2

Smencils Pouches: $8

 

From the District

Lots of fun events going on in the area this fall… info below/attached.

Also, please consider dining at the Chili’s in Allen Park on September 26 – 20% off your ticket will be donated to the Allen Park Barracudas Swim Club!

Attachments:

  1. Good Eats for a Cause – Chili’s supports AP Barracudas Swim Club

  2. City of AP Touch a Truck event tomorrow – reminder!

  3. AP Hockey Association – Learn to Skate & Play Hockey – 1st session begins Oct. 3

  4. City of AP – Public Open Ice Skating Schedule

  5. Fall Harvest October Weekends at Heritage Park Petting Farm

https://www.intouchk12.com/IntouchPortal/DesktopModules/Edulink/DownloadFile.aspx?did=f371927e-108b-4e07-90d2-7d71e41e3c7f&/AP%20Barracudas%20Swim%20Club-CHILILS%20FUNDRAISER.pdf

https://www.intouchk12.com/IntouchPortal/DesktopModules/Edulink/DownloadFile.aspx?did=3deb2e28-1a33-437a-b8e1-0dc97d996b01&/Touch%20a%20Truck%20&%20Fall%20Events%20in%20AP.pdf

https://www.intouchk12.com/IntouchPortal/DesktopModules/Edulink/DownloadFile.aspx?did=dd74ea73-4b97-4340-ba1c-2b3e76c09fd2&/AP%20Hockey%20Association-Learn%20to%20skate-Play%20hockey.png

https://www.intouchk12.com/IntouchPortal/DesktopModules/Edulink/DownloadFile.aspx?did=c517aeed-0887-4ad9-a664-71aac6cee2db&/Public%20Skating%20October%202018.pdf

https://www.intouchk12.com/IntouchPortal/DesktopModules/Edulink/DownloadFile.aspx?did=b61c78d2-8ceb-43b9-878a-29172d64ee85&/Fall%20Fun%20Farm%202018.jpg

Reminders:

o   National Walk & Bike to School Day on Wednesday, October 3

o   ½ Day for all APPS students on Friday, October 5

 

Image result for vocab

Vocabulary Focus

As we continue to start our high focus on vocabulary this year- take a look at this great vocab site:

 

A Good Site for Vocabulary Lists and Practice Activities

Vocabulary.com is an excellent vocabulary study service offering thousands of vocabulary practice lists and activities for students in elementary school through graduate school. In addition to lists of SAT, GRE, and other test prep words, you can find vocabulary lists that are attached to novels, historical documents, famous speeches, and current news articles.

When you sign up for Vocabulary.com you will be given an assessment quiz in order to give you suggested lists with which to start your practice. After completing the assessment you can use the practice lists suggested by Vocabulary.com or choose your own lists from the huge gallery of vocabulary lists.

Applications for Education
One of the aspects of the Vocabulary.com activities that I like is the instant feedback for every practice question a student attempts. As you can see in the image above, if a student answers incorrectly on his first attempt, he will see the definition and the word in context.

Good Review Tool with Games

Blended Play – A Blend of Online and Offline Review Games

Blended Play is a service for creating educational games to use in your classroom. Unlike the game creation tools featured in my previous post, all of the games on Blended Play have to be played in your classroom. They have to be played in your classroom because Blended Play games are designed to be projected in the front of your room and students answer questions aloud to progress through the games.

To use Blended Play you first have to create a free account on the site. Once you have created your account you can use any of five game board templates. All games use the same question and answer format. It is just the presentation of the questions and the progress display that changes between games. For example, you can use the same ten geography questions in multiple games. When you are ready to play a game in your classroom simply log into your account, open a game, and select your questions to use in the game. You then project the game on a screen in front of your classroom and when students answer a question correctly, you mark it correct and their game pieces move forward on the digital game board.

Applications for Education
Blended Play is essentially a set of digital board game templates that you can project in your classroom to use for group review activities. It’s a nice alternative to the standard Jeopardy or Bingo review activities that have been around since the dawn of time for decades. Using Blended Play isn’t going to radically change your classroom, but it could provide a nice way to engage kids in a review activity.

 

Image result for remind

 

 

Image result for teacher inspirational quotes

 

 

Sept. 17

From Lisa’s room “What is your word?”

Coming soon to Arno…

Sept. 17

No events

Sept. 18

Fire Drill 12:15

Sept. 19

No events

Sept. 20

Hearing Screening K-2, Mrs. Jensen

Sept. 21

Hearing Screening K-2, Mrs. Jensen

ALICE Drill 2:00

Sept. 24

Band Instrument Rental Night 6:00

Sept. 25

Tornado Drill 1:30

Sept. 26

Hearing Screening K-2, Mrs. Jensen

Sept. 27

Hearing Screening K-2, Mrs. Jensen

PICTURE Day

Sept. 28

FUN RUN

M-STEP scores sent home

 

Arno Vision

Arno Elementary will provide a system of support to empower

and inspire students to become collaborative learners

that strive for academic excellence

Thank you to everyone for a smooth start to the school year.

Please continue to share your photos throughout the year so we can tell our story

of all the great things happening here at Arno!

 

Focus Walls

There is a new trend around that centers on the idea of a Focus Wall to detail the “Focus” of the lessons will be, including Essential Questions and vocabulary.  Some examples are below, feel free to speak with the numerous members of our staff that have already implemented.

 

 

 

 

2007SafeSchools 0

FROM THE HR DEPARTMENT:

For those employees required to complete Safe Schools Training, the system is now open and available to complete for the 2018-2019 school year.  The modules need to be completed by October 31.  Please email me if you have any issues.

From the PTA

Fun Run is coming up on September 28! Here is the link to register your student(s) https://www.thegetmovincrew.com/ and Flyers have been sent home! You are all invited to come cheer on your Caring Cougar the day of the Fun Run! Times your student will be running will be posted in the next few weeks, so you can put it on the calendar!  Students may also accept cash and check donations. Simply place donations in an envelope with Child’s name and Teacher’s name and send it with your student or drop it off in the office. All checks should be made out to Arno PTA.

Spirit Wear will be sold at every Arno Elementary Event and PTA meeting in 2 brand new designs! The boy’s shirt has Marvel Comic Book Hero’s and the girl’s shirt has Disney Princesses! Check out our Facebook page to see what they look like!

Reflections is coming up soon on October 12! The theme this year is Hero’s around us. Encourage your child to show their special talent in Art with the rest of the school!

HELP WANTED!!We still need a chairperson for Halloween skate party! If you are available and want to Chair this event please let our PTA know either by email or through Facebook!!!

If you haven’t joined the PTA do it today! You can sign up online at arnopta@memberhub.com/dues and while your their add an extra scoop or two for your Cougar! Help their class win an ice cream social party! The 1st place class gets an ice cream social, the 2nd place class gets ice cream sandwiches and the 3rd place class gets popsicles!  Come join Arno Caring Cougars PTA!

 

Image result for pbis

PBIS Meeting

The PBIS group had their first meeting, which was very well attended on Wednesday.  Stay tuned for an update on the monthly rewards.

We are also changing the Golden Tray.  This year will will only award one per lunch/per month to make the competition greater.  The winning class will get their choice of the playground activities first.

 

Vocab Program

Arno Elementary is taking on a new innovative angle on learning vocabulary words. In addition to their classroom work on vocabulary, students will also watch a vocabulary segment on Arno’s Morning Broadcast. However, these segments feature not only students, but highlight teachers, staff, parents, community and business members, government officials, and friends of Arno, both new and old. The students will enjoy visually learning from a new guest speaker teaching them Marzano’s English Language Arts Vocabulary words while utilizing graphic organizers to cement learning.

 

Image result for journeys HM

Journeys

Thus far I have heard some very positive comments from staff regarding Journeys and how they feel this will really bring up the literacy here at Arno- many are already into the Workshop Model and guided reading.  Remember that we have not taken away the book room- there are still opportunities to do additional interventions through guided reading during workshop where you can also use our resources.

Even though there is not currently another training scheduled, please feel free to share your questions/concerns with me and I can attempt to get the info needed.  Just a few snapshots of it in action below.

Image result for math in focus

MIF Clarification

Questions continue to arise on MIF vs. supplemental.  The bottom line we must stick with the guaranteed curriculum, which in this case is MIF.  HOWEVER, we know that students will need support surrounding any curriculum, so while you need to be sure you are making it through your daily lesson with fidelity- intervention is still what we do above and beyond- that is where the supplemental comes in.

  • Full implementation of the pacing guide will set the students up for success next school year, many did not get to the second workbook- I assure you if we are to experience any success those volume 2 books must be part of the year or we are not providing the building blocks for success across the grades.

  • Intervention/supplement can be done in a variety of ways- implemented through Math Workshop (which can combo both worlds), bell work, Exact Path (you will be trained on Oct. 5), etc.  If there is simply nothing else you can get to in a given day- then MIF is the first thing.

I hope this clarifies on the curriculum direction- any question just let me know.

Mad Science

We are happy to be partnering with Mad Science to bring an after school experience to Arno students who wish to dive deeper into the fun of science.  A flyer will be sent home detailing the specifics of this class- which is tuition based ($85 early, $90 later) and will be held at Arno after school once a week- for 6 weeks.  Mad Science did provide for us a free science assembly to which was a lot of fun and motivating towards science!

M-STEP Parent Scorecard

The parent report for M-STEP will be going by Sept. 28.  If you wish to look at certain kids, let me know

 

Instructional/SIP Committee Meeting

The Chairs of the two committees will be meeting this month to align our addition MSTEP programming, the SIP plan, and Journeys to help focus our efforts better.  The staff will be updated at the Pct. staff meeting of the aligned expectations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image result for remind

 

Tech

ReadWorks Now Integrates With Google Classroom

ReadWorks is a free service that provides standards-aligned reading lesson plans for K-12 classrooms. In addition to lesson plans ReadWorks offers a huge libray of fiction and non-fiction literature that you can search according to topic and grade level. All articles in ReadWorks are listed with a lexile score and suggested grade level. ReadWorks has some new features for the new school year. The headliner of those new features is a Google Classroom integration.

ReadWorks now lets you use import your Google Classroom rosters to create class rosters in ReadWorks. You can also now share ReadWorks resources directly into your Google Classroom stream.

Other updates to ReadWorks for the new school year include an expanded library of ebooks that offer narration. Much of the narration is done with human voice instead of computer-generated voice. You can refine searches for articles and ebooks according to those that do or do not have human voice narration.

And now all ReadWorks articles have an audio narration option even if that narration isn’t done with human voice.

Three simple noise meters you can use in your classroom:

Bouncy Balls is a free online noise meter that I have been using for a couple of years. It shows the volume of the noise in a room by displaying a set of colorful bouncing balls on your screen. The louder your students are, the higher and more frequently the balls on the screen bounce. To use Bouncy Balls simply go to the website, click “begin bouncing,” and then click the microphone icon to allow the site to access your computer’s microphone.

Calmness Counter is similar to Bouncy Balls. The difference is that Calmness Counter displays a dial meter to display the decibel level in your classroom. You can adjust the microphone input sensitivity directly on the Calmness Counter screen.

Zero Noise Classroom is a countdown timer and a noise meter into one convenient Chrome app. When you launch Zero Noise Classroom you can set the countdown timer and adjust the goal for the volume of noise in your classroom. You will also set a goal for a percentage of the time that can exceed the maximum volume. When the countdown timer expires a chime sounds and the percentage of time spent above the volume limit is displayed.

 

Create Printable Story Cubes on Storyboard That

Storyboard That started out as simple tool that anyone could use to create good-looking storyboards for a variety of purposes including explaining historical events, plot lines, and even business plans. Over the years Storyboard That has evolved to provide more than 40,000 pieces of artwork and dozens of templates for making everything from simple comics to timelines to complex flowcharts. The update to Storyboard That features a new templates and artwork for making worksheets and story cubes.

Storyboard That’s new worksheet templates can be customized with any of the artwork that Storyboard That offers. To make your worksheet start by selecting one of the page layouts and then a template for the page. After making those selections you can customize the template by adding any of the shapes, text boxes, and artwork that Storyboard That provides to your worksheet. To add items to worksheet simply drag them from the artwork menu onto your worksheet page. You can then customize the color, size, orientation, and spacing of the elements that you added to your page.

Storyboard That’s new story cube template lets you and your students design printable, foldable story cubes. The process of customizing a story cube is the same as that for customizing a worksheet. The only difference is that you have to select the story cube template instead of a worksheet template at the start of the process.

Applications for Education
You can use the template to make a story cube to make story starter dice that your students roll to generate a combination of words to use as the impetus for writing a fiction story. If you decide to try this method, make a cube that has verbs, a cube that has adjectives, and a cube that has nouns. Then have your students roll all three to come up with a combination to start their stories. You can drag and drop any of Storyboard That’s free artwork into your story cube before printing it.

Storyboard That wants teachers to use the worksheet templates to make great-looking handouts for their students. And they encourage entrepreneurial teachers to use the templates to make materials that they can sell through services like Teachers Pay Teachers and Gumroad. In fact, that process will be explained in next week’s free webinar Making Great Handouts With Storyboard That Templates.