Daisy Brook Elementary
Daisy Brook Dispatch
Volume 1, Issue 4
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007
Mr. Byland’s By-Lines
Inside this issue:
It’s hard to believe that the end of January is quickly approaching, and that the 2006-07 school year is already into the 2nd se­mester. Student Progress Reports for the 1st semester will be sent home with stu­dents on Wednesday, January 31st. You are encouraged to call your child’s teacher with any questions pertaining to your child’s Progress Report. We are also an­ticipating the results of your child’s MEAP tests sometime within the next four to six weeks. As soon as these Parent/Guardian MEAP Reporting Pamphlets are received, they will be sent on to you.
There are many special learning activities that are currently in the works and will be featured during the month of February. These include Daisy Brook’s 15th Annual Science Fair scheduled for February 8th & 9th; and a special Michigan History project that all our 4th graders are involved with through the Acting-Up Theatre Company and a generous grant from Newaygo County Community Services which is mak­ing this learning opportunity possible. Please refer to the articles within this newsletter that share more specific infor­mation on both the Science Fair and the Acting-Up Theatre Company. I would also encourage you to refer to the “Upcoming Events” section for more activities and events that are coming.
There is also an insert within this newslet­ter that I would also like to draw your at­tention to. One side of the insert is entitled “Helping Your Child Succeed”, which shares information on an 8-session pro­gram for parents beginning Tuesday, Feb­ruary 6th. The other side of the insert is entitled “Internet Awareness”, which is an informational program about the internet
and helping your children be safe when us­ing the internet. This is scheduled for Thursday, February 8th, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the NCCS Building. I realize this program directly conflicts with the evening of Daisy Brook’s Science Fair, but I still wanted to draw it to your attention. There are just not enough evenings in a week or month sometimes.
Finally, and on a personal note, I want to confirm what some of you may already know or have heard through your child or an acquaintance. I have had the distinct privilege of serving as Daisy Brook’s princi­pal for the past 25 years, which has pro­vided me with more rewards and blessings that I ever could have imagined. I will truly miss my day to day encounters with stu­dents, staff, and parents when the 2007-08 school year begins, as I recently an­nounced that I would be retiring at the end of this school year. With this note, I’m also very honored to inform you that Mrs. Nancy Sparks has been named as my successor, and will be sharing administrative responsi­bilities next year between Daisy Brook and Pine Street Primary Center, where she has been serving as principal for many years. Both Mrs. Sparks and I will are committed to working closely with staff, students, and parents during this transitional time. It’s also not my intent to dwell on my retire­ment decision at the present time. There is, after all, still half a school year left, and I’m looking forward to each remaining new day and that day’s time being spent with the great students of Daisy Brook and the committed teachers and support staff that Daisy Brook is fortunate in having.
Counselor’s Corner
2
National Geographic Bee
2
Acting Up Theatre Company
Current Family & Information
3
Sport Stacking Returns
27th Annual Spelling Bee           4
Upcoming Events
5
Fun Pages
Daisy Brook Book Fair
7
Science Fair
8
Shopping for Soldiers
Love and Logic Classes
9
The Back Page
10
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4
DAISY BROOK DISPATCH
PAGE 2
Counselor’s Corner
By Mr. Wojcicki
Rollercoasters support group-This is an after school group that meets and is open to both fourth and fifth graders. It is directed at those children who have experienced a family change and could use some coping strategies. Most often, children who participate in the group have parents that have separated or divorced, but the family change could also be a death, job loss, move etc…If there is enough interest, I’m looking at beginning the group in Mid-February. Meeting dates would generally be after school on Mondays and or Wednesdays. Children would need to be picked up at 4:30. There is no cost and the only thing parents need to provide is transportation home. If you any questions, or would like to sign your child up for the group, please call me at 924-7224.
Camp Henry Registrations-I will soon be receiving information from this camp for the summer sessions. This camp, which is located about 6 miles east of town, partners with The Fremont Area Community Foundation to make cam-perships available to families that may otherwise not be able to send their child to camp. Generally speaking, in order to qualify for the reduced rate, a family would need to have qualified for reduced or free lunch. The campership rate is approximately 75% off the full pay fee of camp. This amount, in the past, has been about $55. It is a great bargain and is a wonderful experience. If you would like to find out more about this opportunity or be put on a sign up list, please give me a call at the above number.
National Geographic Bee
Ian Klahre, a 4th grade student in Mrs. Llewellyn’s class, won Daisy Brook’s Annual National Geographic Bee on Thursday, January 4th. Ian and seven other Daisy Brook student finalist answered many very difficult questions related to United States and World geography.
Ian’s brother, Glenn Klahre, a 5th grader in Mrs. Hanna’s room, was Daisy Brook’s first runner-up. The other finalists who competed were 5th graders - Grant Clark, Colton Gibson, Cameron DenHof, Eli Jones, Ryan Vanderwall; and 4th grader Jacob Yager.
Ian recently took a written test, the results of which are still being awaited. If Ian has one of the top 100 scores in Michigan from this written test, he will be eligible to compete in Michigan’s National Geographic Bee on March 30th.
Daisy Brook’s students and staff are proud of all the Daisy Brook students who qualified as finalist, and wish each of them and Ian the very best in future National Geographic Bees.
The National Geographic Bee is sponsored by the National Geographic Society, and this year marked the 19th year of the National Geographic Bee.
Special appreciation goes to Mrs. Heft and Mr. Huissen for helping to organize Daisy Brook’s National Geography Bee this year; to Mr. Huissen for moderating; and to Mrs. DeLuca, Mrs. Blake, and Mrs. Ingersoll for serving as judges and timers.
NOTE: Anyone can brush up on geography with GeoBee Challenge, an on-line geography quiz at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee, which poses five new questions a day from previous National Geographic Bees.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4
DAISY BROOK DISPATCH
PAGE 3
Acting-Up Theatre Company
Newaygo County Community Services (NCCS) has provided Daisy Brook’s 4th graders with an exciting learning op­portunity. Just last week, each classroom worked everyday with two residency artists from the Acting-Up Theatre Company on a specific theme related to Michigan History. Over each day, our 4th grade students, under the guid­ance of the residency artists with support and assistance from their classroom teachers, began developing a play related to their classroom’s Michigan History theme. You should have received an informational letter from your child last week, with specific information related to this special program and upcoming performance dates and times.
The residency artists will be returning the week of February 12th, to help the students create props and costumes and put each classrooms part into a complete Michigan History performance.
All the hard work by each student will then be celebrated during two performances. The first performance is sched­uled for Friday, February 16th, right here at Daisy Brook beginning at 1:45 p.m. Then on Saturday, February 17th, our 4th graders will be performing as part of Arts, Beats, and Amazing Feats at Pathfinder Elementary School. Reporting times and performance times for each classroom are as follows:
CLASS
CHECK-IN TIME
“IN-ROOM” TIME
PERFORMANCE TIME
Mr. Kallenbach
3:30 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
Mrs. Llewellyn
3:30 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
4:15 p.m.
Mr. McGrath
3:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
Mr. Matthews
4:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
Mrs. Schirmer
4:30 p.m.
4:45 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
Mrs. Heft
4:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
We hope your child will be able to participate in Saturday’s program, but if for some reason they cannot, we would request that you please let your child’s teacher know as soon as possible.
We are grateful to NCCS for inviting us to be involved with the Acting-Up Theatre Company this year. Our 4th graders really enjoyed the first week with the residency artists, and are looking forward to their return. If you have any spe­cific questions regarding this program, please call the Daisy Brook office, or NCCS at 924-0641, and ask for Rob Schuitema at ext. 121.
CURRENT FAMILY & INFORMATION
A reminder to please notify the Daisy Brook office of any changes to the information you originally submitted on the Current Family & Emergency Information form completed at the beginning of the school year. This would include phone numbers, places of employment, address, and emergency contact information. It is very important that this information be kept current. Thanks for remembering to update these records with our office as it becomes necessary over the course of the school year.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4
DAISY BROOK DISPATCH
PAGE 4
Sport Stacking Returns!
Daisy Brook students were introduced, or re-introduced, to Sport Stacking after returning from Holiday break. Sport Stacking is an individual and team sport where competitors stack and unstack 12 specially designed cups (Speed Stacks) in predetermined sequences at lightning speed! Participation with intention to learn to stack “the right way” is an exciting and challenging experience with many beneficial outcomes. Parents who get involved can do much to keep it an exciting learning experience that is fun for both child and parent.
Once students learn step-by-step basics of the sport they are ready to practice on their own to improve their skills. Students are now racing against the clock and against other students individually or as member of relay teams. You have to see it to believe it. If you haven’t seen what fast stacking looks like, visit this web site and take a look at the video you will find there: www.speedstacks.com
Many parents supported their children in pursuing Sport Stacking goals by purchasing cups. Thank you. Please en­courage your child to practice at home by participating yourself. Reviewing the training DVD (included with the cups) is an excellent way to learn and develop good stacking technique. Your interest and encouragement will do much to help them get ready to participate, compete and possibly excel at the Sport Stacking Meet at Fremont Middle School on Saturday, March 24, 2007.
Put the date of this event on your calendar. The message to share with your child is: Accept the challenge. Set your goal. Get out your Speed Stacks and get stacking. You can become lightning fast!
Do you have questions about Sport Stacking? Want to organize group training and practice sessions? Would you be willing to help at the Sport Stacking Meet on March 24? Contact Mr. Lindsay at 924-8288
27th Annual Spelling Bee Held At Daisy Brook
There was excitement in the air as the 27th Annual Fifth Grade Spell­ing Bee took place at Daisy Brook Elementary on January 18th . Fifty-four students earned the right to participate in this year’s event by having a perfect score on the 30 word qualifying test given weeks earlier in each fifth grade classroom.
In the eleventh round, First place went to Emily Wolford from Mrs. Ross’ room. Second place was earned by Colton Gibson, also from Mrs. Ross’ room. The winning words spelled correctly by Emily were “admiral” and “polka”.
Emily and Colton will each go on to represent Daisy Brook in the Ne-waygo County Regional Spelling Bee held at St. Michaels School on February 27th. All of us here at Daisy Brook wish Emily and Colton the very best as they advance to this next level.
Special appreciation goes to Mr. Mull for organizing this year’s Daisy Brook Spelling Bee; to Mr. Huissen for moderating; and to Mrs. DeLuca, Mrs. Blake, and Mrs. Matthews for serving as judges.
A great big thank you also goes out to the following local sponsors for their gener­ous donations of prizes - Schwanns, McDonalds, and Fremont Lanes. Our thanks are also extended to the Grand Rapids Press and Craig’s Cruisers for additional prizes and their sponsorship within the greater West Michigan region.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4                                                                         DAISY BROOK DISPATCH                                                                                                  PAGE 6
FUN PAGES
Valentine Song Word Search
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