Ford PTA January 2017

news

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WANTEDVOLUNTEERS

FOOD SERVICE, TICKET SALES, BOOTH GAMES,

ENTERTAINMENT, SILENT AUCTION, SETUP,

CLEAN UP

FORD FAMILY FUN NIGHTAPRIL 21ST5:30 - 7:30 PM

PLEASE CONTACT MIKALA HANDAKAS

OR ALICIA OLIVIERI.

Jo Ann Ford Elementary210 Woodlake DriveGeorgetown, TX 78633(512) 943-5180http://georgetownisd.org/ford

Jessica McMullen, PrincipalDonna Barnes, Assistant PrincipalKaren Cavanaugh, CounselorBrenda Oser, Secretary

MATH AND SCIENCE NIGHT+ STEM FAIR

Thursday, 01/19, 5-7:00 p.m.

Come watch Daniel G. Benes’ exciting science show in the cafeteria, then check out the awesome STEM Fair projects and math activities through-out Ford. This will be the best math and science night yet!

MUSTANG MEALTIME @ RAISING CANE’S CHICKEN FINGERS

Wednesday, 01/18 &Thursday, 01/19, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Start the new year right with Always Fresh, Never Frozen® Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers!

FORD FAMILY PAINT NIGHT WITH PINOT’S PALETTE

Friday, 02/03, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Turn in forms by 01/27 and reserve your spot to paint a beautiful mus-tang. >> See page 11 for form and details.

Principal’s PenWow! The New Year has begun, and we are off to a great start! It’s hard to believe that we are already beginning our third nine-weeks of school and our first semester has ended. We had such a very special holiday season here at Ford and thank you for being a part of it! I wanted to share a BIG THANK YOU to Ms. Kotzur, our music teacher, and our Mustang Choir Club for organizing our campus holiday sing-a-long as well as our Student Council who led our Mustangs in merry singing and songs. By teaming together, Ms. Kotzur and our choir, along with our Student Coun-cil, did a great job of helping us all enjoy our students’ musical talents and the holiday season together! Finally, a special thank you to all of our Room Parents for such support, help, and fun during our holiday parties. Our Mustangs had so much fun enjoying the activities, crafts, and games that you designed for them. There are not enough words to express to you how much you are appreciated. We love having you at Ford, because your presence makes Ford the place to be! In the New Year, don’t forget that Ford continues to offer special opportunities for your children to get involved in enrichment and extracurricular activities, and we plan to add more throughout the year as we grow our programs. Instrument Ensemble, Choir, Art Club, Battle of the Books team, UIL Academic Competitions such as Ready Writing, Chess, Oral Reading, and more, Student Coun-cil, Recycling Club, and Lady Mustang Soccer are just a few! The District UIL competition will be here before you know it, so please keep encouraging your child to practice as well. January 27th will be our UIL district wide competition so please be sure to mark your calendar! We know our Ford students will make us all proud to be Mustangs!

There are also many upcoming campus and district events for you to be a part of all of the great

Principal’s Pen continued...

I hope everyone enjoyed their hol-idays and are eager to start the spring semester. I know the time will pass quickly. December was a short month but filled with so much. Joy was the char-acter trait that was emphasized for the students. Joy is “finding a way to be hap-py, even when things don’t go your way.” It was even so more exciting to celebrate the opening of our Mustang Market. The students loved coming to the store and cashing in their Big Idea Bucks for prizes or whole class parties. Students are learning to share and think of others with their money. This is a great way of teaching the children a life skill of money management. For the month of Janu-ary, they will be given an opportunity again to cash in their money based on previous character traits such as joy, honor, courage or responsibility.

Knowledge will be introduced this month and knowledge is “discovering

something new so you can be better at whatever you do.”

In guidance this past month, we re-viewed and talked about bullying. We reviewed the definition of bullying and reinforced strategies when dealing with others that are bothering you. 1. Ignoring 2. Walking away 3. Telling them to stop 4. Telling an adultGT testing is currently underway for grades K-5th.

Happy New Year, Mrs. Cavanaugh

things happening at Ford and in Georgetown ISD. Please mark your calen-dars for these great events that encourage not only your participation but your partnership. Save the date for State of the District! This is a chance for you to get the scoop on the current state of GISD’s academic, facili-ties, and financial health, as well as updates on Bond projects and long-range planning on January 18. Enjoy a plated lunch and desserts prepared by culinary arts students, a student-led showcase of programs, and a quick, information-packed presentation by Superintendent Dr. Fred Brent. Tickets are $25 and include lunch and dessert. Also please join us for Ford’s STEM Science and Math Night with a science show, STEM fair projects dis-played, Math/Science games by grade level, and more on January 19th! We also look forward to having our Ford Families join us in February for our Fine Arts painting night on Feb. 3rd, and our Ford Spring Family night on Feb. 16th complete with book fair, food, dancing, and family fun!

Finally, I want to wish all of our Ford families a happy and healthy New Year. I know many times we take the opportunity that the New Year holds for us and reflect on all that we are grateful for. At Ford Elementary, we want you to know how grateful we are for your children that come to us eager to learn and families that are supportive of our efforts. We know that a strong home-school connection is vital to your child’s achievement and success. We truly thank you for all of your efforts and always look forward to your continued involvement at Ford Elementary.

In Mustang Pride,Jessica McMullen, Ford Principal

Counselor’s Corner

Counselor’s Corner

P.E. NEWSDuring the month of December students participated in holiday games and a day of Jazzercise! Thanks again to Mrs. Boswell and her wonderful team of vol-unteers for spending the day with us and teaching us Jazzercise! It was wonderful to see so many Ford families partici-pate in the Reindeer Run on the brisk morning of December 10th. Thanks for supporting The Locker.

Upcoming Events: Please mark your calendar for the 5th annual Chase the Chief 5K and Fun Run on Sunday March 5th. Online registration is open. The Fun Run

begins at 2:15 pm and the 5K begins at 2:45 pm. We hope to see you there!

Reminders: Please encourage your student to wear rubber sole shoes to PE each day. It is a great idea to pack your extra shoes in your backpack if you wear sandals, crocs, cowboy boots or ugg style boots to school. For safety reasons please wear rubber sole shoes to PE. Thank you for your support with this concern.

Wishing you a Happy New Year with the hope that you will have many blessings in the year to come.

Megan Stevenson PE Teacher

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New Playground Completed January 4th

Mustang Art NewsCurrently in the classroom, all students are working on projects that follow the elements of art. Kindergarteners are continuing on their Kinder Art Books. The students explored working with line, shape, form and now, they are experienc-ing color math by adding/mixing two pri-mary colors together to make secondary colors. First graders are working on a project inspired by Piet Mondrian, work-ing with primary colors, basic geometric shapes and the principle of art, balance. Second graders created 3-D animal ce-ramic forms. On a separate project, they were introduced to the artwork of Henri Matisse and his paper cutouts. Now, they started working on a collaborative ban-ner that showcases their version of the paper cutouts and their own creation of organic/freeform shapes. Third graders are working on self-portraits, using sym-metry, balance and proportion. Fourth graders created value scales using a variety of shading techniques. This skill of shading will be applied towards a drawing project in which they will recreate shadow and light within their drawings. Fifth graders are working on a collabo-rative project inspired by the Freedom Quilts. Each student will create a quilt block using a symbol. These quilt blocks will be joined together and displayed in the school cafeteria during Black History Month in February.

Looking Ahead:Spring is a wonderful time to showcase your child(ren)’s accomplishments! Each grade level will have an art show coin-cide with their musical performance for their grade level Fine Arts Night, or FAN. Fifth grade will have a separate evening art show in April. Please be on the look out for notifications.

Sincerely,Agnieszka SzatkowskiArt Teacher at Ford Elementary

ART CLUB!

This semester the students

will continue creating their

own original ceramic and

painting artwork.

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Please email me at szatkowskia@georgetownisd.org, or call at 512-943-5180, ext. 7937, to find out how you can help.

WANT TO BE A VOLUNTEER IN ART?

This January we will be learning to Code in the Library! Students will participate in the Hour of Code, a global movement designed to intro-duce students to computer science. Students will begin the month by coding their names with Binary Code. Come check out our coding skills in the Library hall! Our aspiring programmers will then participate in stations to build on their knowledge of coding including coding Dash robots, Osmo coding games, Lego coding challenges, and much more! Programmers in grades kindergarten will use apps on our Ipad minis, such as Foos and Kodable to learn to code. Grades one through five programmers will “creep” into coding with Steve and other friends using the Hour of Code Minecraft program. Keep your child programming at home by visiting the Hour of Code site at www.code.org.

The Ford Student Council invites you to show your team spirit by celebrating with our Links for Learning fundraiser. During the

week of January 23-27, 2017, the Ford Student Council will be selling links for $.50 a piece. The links will create a chain around the school and the university with the longest chain will be declared our winner. We will have a spirit day for the winning university on

Monday, January 30, 2017.

All monies collected will be used for the Ford Alumni Scholarship Fund which provides money for a graduating senior to pay for

college. If you have questions, email thielv@georgetownisd.org.

There is always S’More fun in the Library! Mark your calendar for the Spring Scholastic Book Fair coming Friday, February 10-17th! All Ford Happy Campers are invited to join us for our Spring Dance on Thursday, February 16th! Watch for more details coming soon!

Take a BYTE Out of Coding in the LIBRARY

links to learning

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JANUARY

newsKINDERGARTEN

ThankYou!

Thank you for all the

help you gave with

the class Holiday

parties. They were so

fun! We also appreci-

ate your sweet gifts.

We hope you had a

wonderful and bless-

ed Christmas and

New Year. Looking

forward to 2017!

REMINDERSJanuary 05 Report cards go homeJanuary 16 MLK Holiday/no schoolJanuary 19 Class Pictures & Math/Science Night

A PEEK AT OUR WEEKSJanuary 2-6 How Things MoveJanuary 9-13 Magnets/MLK January 17-20 WinterJanuary 23-27 SeasonsJan. 30 - Feb. 3 Groundhog’s Day

BY THE END OF THIS MONTH YOUR CHILD SHOULD KNOW:• Letters of the alphabet and their sounds• Word Wall Words• Counting to 50• Numbers 1-20 (identify, write and match numeral to quantity)• Beginning Concepts of addition & subtraction• Also-Patterns (ABC); sorting; number lines; one to one correspon-dence; more and less; positional concepts

PLEASE REMEMBER...• To read to your child each night• Have your child read to you the book he/she brings home • Continue to practice counting, writing and reading with your child• To help your child study his/her spelling words for the spelling test that is given every Friday

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SECOND GRADE

FIRST GRADE THIRD GRADE

Happy New Year! We are looking forward to spending the beginning of 2017 with our won-derful 2nd graders! We hope you had a relaxing Christmas break where you were able to spend quality time with family and friends. They had a great time at their holiday parties and the teach-ers would like to thank the homeroom moms and parents for help during this time. Here’s what we’ll be learning next month in all subjects:

MATH3 Digit Addition & Subtraction

SCIENCEWeather & The Water Cycle

LANGUAGE ARTS / READINGFiction/Nonfiction Prepositional PhrasesExpository Text PronounsCause and Effect SuffixesFact and Opinion Revise and Edit

SOCIAL STUDIESFamous Americans

Students working in ELAR on IXL which was

purchased for our grade level by the PTA. It is helping our students

practice their grammar skills independently

through an engaging technology program.

December was packed full of learning! Of course, we continue to learn phonics and practice getting better at reading in our read-ing groups and stations. For Science, we worked on our class Science Fair Project. In Math, we continued to practice comparing numbers, learned about geometric shapes and had fun in Math Stations. We learned about adjectives and wrote to Santa to work on our writing skills. We ended with learning about Holidays around the world and everyone had a great time at our Christmas party!

Third grade has hit the ground running this semester! In math, we’re finishing up a unit on interpreting data from tables and graphs for problem solving. We will soon begin diving deeper into multiplication and division concepts and strategies to solve multi-step problems. Students will apply their knowledge of mental math, partial products, properties of multiplication, and the standard algorithm to multiply 2-dig-it by 1-digit numbers. In science, we are starting to explore the characteristics and uses of natural resources. From there, we will move on to landforms, soil, and changes to the Earth’s surface. In reading and language arts, we will ex-plore and create various forms of expository texts including procedural and persuasive texts. Lastly, the focus for social studies will be studying various individuals and their impact and contributions to society. We’re off to a great start and look forward to a wonderful spring semester!

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4th graders began the year with a bang in the Language Arts classes with Grammar Camp! It is that time of year where we begin utilizing all of our skills to enhance our writing; therefore, we spent the week reviewing and solidifying these skills. Our ELAR classrooms went to a Blended Learning style this week. Student within each class were divided in to three small groups. One group worked with the teacher receiving the grammar lesson, one group worked on technology devices practicing their grammar skills in IXL (an online learning application), and the final group spent time creating sentences on an interactive bulletin board. The Blended project deemed a positive success in our classrooms as students came away feeling refreshed and prepared. We will continue this month working to develop our writing skills with expository essays while reading biographies and historical Texas History novels.

FOURTH GRADE

FIFTH GRADEIn American History we cover the growing tensions be-tween the colonists and Britain prior to the Revolutionary War by comparing the situation to a strained relationship between a parent and a child. Next for chapter 11, stu-dents learn about 6 prominent Loyalists and Patriots by holding a lively panel discussion on whether or not to declare independence from Britain.

In Math, 5th grade will be continuing Topic 7: Prime and Composite Numbers and Fractions which includes factoring, equivalent fractions, estimating sums and differences of fractions and adding and subtracting unlike fractions by finding a common denominator. We will then move into Topic 8 which is Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers, followed by Topic 9: Multiplying and Dividing Fractions.

stem fair Projects are due on january 18th.

We can’t wait to see all your projects!

In Science, we will begin the month with a unit on Forces, where we will be investigating magnetism, grav-ity and fraction. We will then be studying energy, learn-ing the difference between potential and kinetic energy, and experimenting with thermal, light and electrical energy. We are hoping to have some special speakers come in to do some circuit presentations. Also, STEM fair projects are due January 18th.

In Reading this month, we will continue to learn about nonfiction text structure with a focus on main idea and summary. In grammar, we will focus on complex and compound sentences along with regular and irregular plural nouns. We will discuss different types of verbs as well. Our book clubs will start up again this month so be on the lookout for new books your child will be bringing home to read.

FRIENDLY REMINDER: If your child has been absent from school, they have a “Miss U” sheet in their red homework folder that they should be working on at home.

FOURTH GRADE CONTINUEDIn Science, 4th grade will be creating their individual tri-fold mini-science fair project. Students have learned how to create a model and now know how to create an experiment science fair project using the scientific method. Feel free to check out their tri-fold in the hall during STEM Fair night Jan. 19th!

We will also begin a unit over weather. Students will record the weather for a week and follow the local weather report. They will use their knowledge of weather they learned to become a weather reporter in class. Reporting live from 4th grade..............Mrs. Urban.

Our math classes are headed down a

fractured path of decimals and fractions. The most exciting news in our math classes is the addition of our Versatiles that we are using in stations. Versatile stations are a hands-on way for students to practice their math skills. Students work together to answer practice prob-lems by matching number tiles to a letter that contains a solution. When finished, they close the tile kit and flip it over to reveal a pattern. They check their pattern against the one in the corner of the page they are working on. If they match, students know they have answered all questions correctly. If they do not match, students see where they need to check their answers and try again.

SAVE THE DATE!! We have reserved the date of March 2nd for the 13th annu-al Texas History Wax Muse-um; consequently, that is also Texas Independence Day! The Wax Museum will be present-ed here at from 1:30-2:30 with an evening performance from 6:30-7:30 at the Historical Williamson County Courthouse in the Georgetown Square.

year are classroom projects. Every kinder-garten through fifth grade class is work-ing on a STEM project to be showcased during the STEM Fair.

While the students’ individual projects are due on January 18, the STEM Fair itself will start at 5:00 p.m. on January 19. Doors open a little before 5:00 p.m. and the Daniel G. Benes Science Show will start promptly at 5:05 p.m. in the cafeteria. Get there in time for good seats because it is truly a not-to-be-missed science show for the entire family. After the show, results of the STEM Fair will be announced and the STEM Fair will be open in the gym for everyone to experience. Af-ter the STEM Fair feel free to visit individu-al classrooms to see class STEM projects and math activities for the family.

This year’s STEM Fair promises to be the best and most exciting yet, so bring the entire family to Math and Science Night and see all that makes science and math special at Ford.

Ford’s annual STEM Fair (previously known as the

Science Fair) takes place on January 19th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. as part of Ford’s

Math and Science Night.

Math and Science Night promises a fun family night of math and science activ-ities, featuring an exciting science show by Daniel G. Benes.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and this year, all students at Ford have the opportunity to complete either a traditional science fair experiment or project or a STEM project to display at Ford’s STEM Fair. While the fifth grade students are required to com-plete a project, students in kindergarten through the fourth grade also have the opportunity to participate. Also new this

math and sciencetake center stage

thursday, January 19th // 5-7 pm

science // technology // engineering // math

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Some of Ford’s students’ best works of art from the Reflec-tions competition will be honored at the District-wide Re-flections Awards Ceremony on February 9. The twenty-two entries that were awarded the Award of Excellence at Ford have competed against the winning entries from the other elementary schools in GISD, and the District-wide recog-nitions will be awarded on February 9 at the Klett Center for the Performing Arts at Georgetown High School at 6:00 p.m. Put the ceremony on your calendar because it is a nice recognition of the hard work that Ford’s Award of Excellence winners put into their Reflections entries.

The twenty-two entries from Ford that participated in the District-wide competition were from the following students:

KLETT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AT GEORGETOWN HIGH SCHOOL

6:00 P.M. ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH

DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY – INTERMEDIATE Finley Newell, 3rd Grade

FILM PRODUCTION – INTERMEDIATE Ella Fleming, 4th Grade

LITERATURE – PRIMARY Mikah Jack, Kindergarten

LITERATURE – INTERMEDIATE Colton Cushman, 4th Grade Zoe Kriskey, 4th Grade Macey Strait, 5th Grade

MUSICAL COMPOSITION – PRIMARY Carlie Jacobs, Kindergarten

PHOTOGRAPHY – PRIMARY Liam Fleming, 1st Grade Cian Newell, Kindergarten

PHOTOGRAPHY – INTERMEDIATE Natalie Gillen, 5th Grade Macey Strait, 5th Grade Madison Strait, 4th Grade Paige Vogele, 4th Grade

VISUAL ARTS – PRIMARY Danica Barlow, Kindergarten Brynlee Gneiting, 2nd Grade Peyton Gollatz, 2nd Grade Riley Jack, 2nd Grade Luke Shinners, KindergartenVISUAL ARTS – INTERMEDIATE Ary Hawes, 5th Grade Evan Luong, 5th Grade Elizabeth McCallum, 5th Grade Jannah Ramm, 4th Grade

District-Wide Reflections Awards Scheduled for February 9

ACADEMIC UIL TEAMS COMPETE THIS MONTH

Congratulations to all of the students who will represent Ford Elementary at the District-wide Academic UIL competitions later this month. Ford third, fourth, and fifth graders have been studying and practicing in preparation for the District competitions in six different subject areas. The Ready Writing UIL competition will be held on Wednesday, January 18 at Forbes Middle School, and all of the other Aca-demic UIL competitions will be held on Friday, January 27 at East View High School. All of Ford’s students that place in the top three in their UIL competitions will be honored at the District-wide UIL Awards Ceremony on Thursday, February 9 at the Klett Center for the Performing Arts at Georgetown High School at approximately 7:00 p.m. (immediately following the Reflections Awards Ceremony).

READY WRITING— 5TH GRADE —

Emily MoralesMacey Strait Lucy Willard

— 4TH GRADE —Adeline Jansson

Zoe KriskeyMadison Strait

— 3RD GRADE —Martin Fernandez

Gus PapaconstantinauKaden Scherer

CHESS— 5TH GRADE —

Natalie GillenMone HarveyStirling Spinks

— 4TH GRADE —Daniel Baran

Michael ShehanLucas Till

— 3RD GRADE —Brady Foster

Connor Kuchar

MUSIC MEMORY— 3RD GRADE —

Adyson PostellJessica Shevitz

NUMBER SENSE— 5TH GRADE —

Cooper AshbyElizabeth McCallum

Mark Winot— 3RD GRADE —Martin Fernandez

Gus PapaconstantinauKaden Scherer

ORAL READING— 5TH GRADE —Adelaide BridgesAva Sieckmann

Macey Strait — 4TH GRADE —

Ella AllenBrylee Wilder

— 3RD GRADE —Kara Martin

SPELLING— 5TH GRADE —Hannah CanslerMarcus Vasquez— 3RD GRADE —Gavin Malinowksi

Good luck to the following Ford UIL team members

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VOLUNTEERS Ford Family Fun Night

MUSTANG ROUND UP!!APRIL 21, 2017 5:30-7:30PM

_____ YES! I would like to HELP WITH SET UP! ______YES! I would like to CLEAN UP! ______YES! I would like to HELP WITH FOOD SERVICE! ______YES! I would like to help with ENTERTAINMENT! ______YES! I would like to help with BOOTH GAMES!______YES! I would like to help with TICKET SALES!______YES! I would like to help with SILENT AUCTION! ______ YES! I would like to HELP WITH ANYTHING! ______ YES! I have a high school student who would like to HELP WITH ANYTHING!

Please return this form to your child’s teacher byFriday, March 10th!

Child’s Name: _____________________________________

Child’s Teacher/Grade: _______________________________

Parent’s Name: ______________________________________

Phone: (mobile)_____________________________________

Parent’s Email: ________________________________________