Cresthaven Star Chronicle

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Cresthaven Star Chronicle
Sherri Gorden, Principal
Emily Madan Assistant Principal
Believe...Achieve...Succeed
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/cresthavenes/newsletter/
December 18, 2015
The Partnership for Assessing Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) individual student
score reports for reading and math were recently mailed home along with a letter and an information sheet with details about how to read and understand the reports. Should you have further questions after reviewing the reports you can access resources to help you understand the
scores from the MCPS Home Page at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org and clicking on
PARCC, or by visiting www.understandthescore.org or contact the school for assistance.
Google Expedition Update – It was a busy Monday morning as Cresthaven students traveled the
world on virtual tours with Google Expedition navigators. Third grade students visited a number of
different countries to explore some exciting landforms such as Wave Rock in Australia, Chocolate
Hills in the Philippines, and Bryce Canyon in Utah. Fourth grade ventured into the deep blue sea to
explore different ecosystems and coral reefs of the world including Tern Island in Hawaii, Aquarius
Reef Base in Florida, and Apo Island in the Philippines. Our fifth grade walked in the steps of our
forefathers as they visited historical sites of Philadelphia stopping at places like Independence Square, Franklin
Court, and Carpenters Hall.
Students were able to engage in critical thinking activities and learn about the influence landforms can have on
where people choose to settle, the effect humans have on the survival of ecosystems, and the impact our changing
government has had on the way people live; all while virtually experiencing these locations through a 360 degree,
3-D panoramic vision. It was an exciting opportunity that was enjoyed by students and staff.
Cresthaven has some Budding Artists! - Congratulations to all of the students whose work was
proudly displayed at the annual Springbrook Community Art Show on Thursday! Magnificent masterpieces were displayed by students in all three grade levels. The community art show showcased the
talents of young artists from all of the Northeast Consortium schools. We are proud of the work Ms.
Mottola does with our young artists.
Late Arrival and Early Dismissal Reminder - We recognize that sometimes it is necessary to make adjustments
to your child’s schedule. If this happens, we ask that you be mindful of our policies:
Late Arrival: If your child ar r ives after 9:25 AM; plan to par k and walk your child to the office to sign
them in for the day. If they are late due to a doctor appointment, please bring a note from the doctor’s office in order to have the tardy excused.
Early Dismissal: Please send a letter about any dismissal changes to your child ’s teacher in the morning. If
you need to make a last minute/emergency change, please notify the office prior to 3:15 PM.
White Oak Winter Wonderland – Don’t forget! Join the fun at White Oak Community Recreation
Center tonight, December 18, 2015 from 7:00—10:00 PM. There will be Music, food, prizes,
sports challenges, and an indoor ice skating rink. You can still register by visiting their site at
www.activemontgomery.org
Calendar Items
Principal’s Corner
December
Dear Parents,
24-25 - Holiday: Schools and Offices Closed
Happy Holidays! As we prepare for our winter break, say goodbye to 2015 and usher in the new year, it is a good time to let you
know how much we appreciate your support during the first half
of this school year. When we return from the holiday break we
will continue to provide engaging opportunities for our parents to
participate in to inform you of what our students are learning and
resources you can use at home. Our students will have fun and
exciting extended learning activities to participate in as well.
Let’s welcome the new year of possibilities together!!
28-31 - Winter Break
January
4 - School Resumes
14 - Technology Night, 6:30-8:00pm
20 - Winter Concert, 7:00pm
Sincerely,
Ms. Gorden
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Keep your Child Engaged over the Break!
Learning around the Winter/Holiday Season
There are many opportunities to incorporate learning at home this winter season. This
month we are including 3 real-world reading and math activities that you can do with your
child at home. These activities will help your child practice skills they are learning in
school, develop character, and provide a fun way to fill the season with lasting memories.
Letters and Cards - Instead of spending your money on cards, encourage your children to make them!
All you need is paper, a pencil, crayons, and scissors. Teach your children to value people by writing
kind notes to family members and sealing them in an envelope of love. (Hint: Teachers also appreciate this very special gift too.)
Menus & Recipes - Many of us have special meals and baking we do this time of year. Involve your
child by allowing them to help make the menu. Let them pick out recipes they like, write a shopping
list, and then help (or even lead and you ‘assist’) with baking or cooking. This is a great way for children to learn more about real-world math. See if you can have them measure ingredients, double a
recipe, compare fractions, or learn more about elapsed time as they wait for the cookies to bake in the
oven. Incorporate a little science by encouraging them to observe the changes between something before it’s cooked vs. after it’s done.
Budget - If you are doing any shopping; work with your child to create a budget. Teach them how to
make a list, allocate an amount for each person or thing, and follow their budget while shopping. This
helps them to develop math skills and more importantly, learn how to handle money wisely. Now
that’s a great gift to pass along to your child!
Set and Monitor Reading Goals - Holidays are a
great time to keep your child engaged in reading, especially about your culture and family traditions as well
as those of others around the world. Why not help your
child set a few goals for reading over the break and create a plan to monitor them. A student’s goal might be
as simple as, “I will finish a book I started,” or as ambitious as “I will read for 45 minutes every day over
the break.” The important thing is to create a plan to
keep your child reading and help them to reach it. Setting and meeting learning goals is a great habit that will
have a huge impact on your child’s success.
Winter Break Camps - Hoop Education offers two weeks of camp over the winter break for
children ages 5 - 9. The first week runs from December 21-24 and the second from December
28-31. No camp is offered on the Fridays of December 25 and 31. There are several activities
to choose from. Full and partial week registrations are welcome. You can get more information by visiting www.HoopEducation.com.
Happy Holidays from the Cresthaven Staff!