Updates from the Principal

Summer 2017

Summer 2017

Dear Parents/Guardians:

I hope you are enjoying the 1^st day of summer! Our students have worked very hard throughout the school year and are now ready for a well-deserved summer break! While summer is a time for your child to relax, spend more time with family and enjoy playing with friends, it is important that he/she makes time to read, write and practice math facts!

In order to avoid reading regression over the summer, we are strongly recommending that your child reads “just right” books for a minimum of 25 minutes a day for at least 20 days each month.  For more information, you can download the summer reading enrichment information.

This summer Trumbull Public Schools will be going paperless when keeping track of summer reading for the Governor’s Reading Challenge. At the end of the summer you will go to the Trumbull Public Schools site to input your reading information: https://goo.gl/forms/KF6iaEynBwtXIeAZ2.

Attached to this email is a summer calendar for you to use (if you would like to) to keep track of your child’s summer reading.  The information you will be asked for is:

– How many books you read this summer?
– Did you read for at least 20 days in July?
– Did you read for at least 20 days in August?
– How many days and for how many minutes did you typically read this summer?

The great part is that you no longer have to keep track of the titles and authors of the books read!  All you will need to know for the end of August is the total number of books, about how many days you read, and about how long you spent reading!

Just a reminder that the total number of books read by all of our students over the summer will be tallied and submitted to the governor’s office.  Schools with the highest number of books read per student will be recognized in the fall.  If you are interested in additional information, please go to the Connecticut State Department of Education: http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/ctread/SR2017_parentinfo_english.pdf.

In addition, our PTA is offering another summer reading incentive.  Students who submit their summer reading form on-line by Friday, September 1^st, will receive a $5.00 gift certificate to be used at our first school book fair. Thank you PTA!!!

Kindergarten & 1^st Grade Families: We know how challenging it can be to find “just right” books for your primary child.  This summer we will have a “mini-library” of books from levels A-J available for loan!  They will be in the main office on a cart.  Feel free to come to Tashua throughout the summer to sign out and borrow books for your kids.

Students entering grades 4 & 5 are also encouraged to participate in the First Selectman’s Reading Challenge.  4^th and 5^th graders who read at least 4 books over the summer vacation will be invited to Town Hall in the fall to share their favorite book with First Selectman Herbst!

To further motivate our students, Mr. Richard and Mrs. Forde have developed a “Tashua Summer Read Aloud” series. To encourage summer reading this summer, the Tashua staff did some of the work for you! Every Monday throughout the summer a new book (or two) will be released on the Tashua webpage. Several staff members, including myself J will be taking turns reading books each week! Yes, A NEW BOOK EVERY WEEK!!!

Simply click here and enjoy!

Once you click ON A BOOK a video will pop up with one of our staff members reading aloud that book right to you. We added some chapter books too and those staff members will read aloud chapter 1.

All of the books being read aloud will be available in the front office to check out and borrow this summer along with many other reading resources. So…if you are avidly reading this summer, need a way to get into summer reading, OR just miss seeing your favorite staff members remember to visit the website and enjoy our “Tashua Summer Read Aloud”.

In addition to having your child read during the summer, we also encourage you to find ways to keep your child writing over the summer. Your child might enjoy keeping a journal to record their summer adventures.  He or she might like to write letters to friends or relatives while away on vacation. Try to find real life opportunities to encourage writing. In the June Tiger Times there was a link to a website for great ideas to encourage summer writing. If you haven’t looked at the site yet, go to this link: https://twowritingteachers.org/2017/05/05/keep-the-learning-going/. For those who are participating in the PTA summer writing program, I can’t wait to read your stories in the fall!

Along with summer reading and writing, it is important to engage your child in real life math activities. In addition to the math fact practice suggestions that Mrs. Marini sent home with your child’s report card, you can download grade level math packets and suggested websites from the Trumbull Public School website:  http://www.trumbullps.org/techlearn/summer-enrichment/math.html

While it is important for you to keep your children reading, writing and engaging in fun math activities, we also recognize the need for children to have time to play and enjoy a more leisurely pace. Slow the pace down. Even the most active child needs time to relax and spend time with his or her family.

If you need additional suggestions, please do not hesitate to call me. I look forward to seeing you and working with you during the 2017-2018 school year!

Please mark your calendars for the important dates in August/September:

– August 30^th – “Meet Your Teacher” Day
– August 31^st – First Day of School
– September 4^th – No School – Labor Day
– September 12^th – Picture Day
– September 21 – No School – Rosh Hashanah

Tentative Dates  (These will be confirmed mid – July)

– September 7^th – Back to School Night
– September 20^th – PTA Meeting 7:00 PM – All parents are welcome!
– September 15^th – Tashua Family Picnic (Raindate – 9/22)
– September 25^th – Fathers’ Club Meeting 8:00 PM – Dads be sure to join!

Have a wonderful summer!
Mrs. Neumeyer