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Chester Elementary School
Vision Statement
The vision of the Chester Elementary School Staff is to create a learning environment that fosters
respect, encourages curiosity and creates a desire in each child to attain his/her potential and
become a confident life-long learner.
“From the Principal’s Desk”…. I am very pleased to report that we had an extremely smooth
start to the school year. The staff worked very diligently to create a welcoming environment for
the students. I am very pleased to see the connections that have been made between teachers and
their students. We also want to extend this warm welcome to our families. We feel that we are
partners with parents when it comes to educating the children. We invite you to communicate
with us frequently and participate in our school events, programs and classroom activities (to the
extent that you can). If you have any questions or concerns please let us know as soon as
possible.
There are a few important dates on the horizon for parents and community members. Our
annual Open House will be held on September 30th from 6:00 -7:15pm. The evening will start
with a brief gathering in the gym at 6:00PM, then off to visit the school and classrooms. Please
feel free to bring family members out to see our school. This is an evening where parents and
community members can visit to get a glimpse of all the great things we do. Chester Elementary
School is currently looking for additional School Council members. As a Council member, you
will be able to assist a team, consisting of the principal and teachers, to develop its annual
school improvement plan as well as look at other ways to improve the educational experiences
of our students. The time commitment is minimal, only one hour a month. If you’re interested,
please contact the school office at 685-1360
Mr. Nadolny, Principal
Reminder:
and
Tuesday, September 30th
OPEN HOUSE 6:00pm – 7:15pm
Meet in the gym from 6:00 – 6:15pm
Classroom visits from 6:15 – 7:15pm
First Grade
We started our reading this year by reviewing letters and sounds, as well as some sight
vocabulary (popcorn words). During our daily read-aloud, the children practice the reading
strategies that will aid them when they are reading for themselves.
In Math, we are finding ways to divide numbers 6,7,8,9, and 10 into two parts, which is a
readiness activity for addition and subtraction. We also are working with patterns, and finding
the pattern unit. The children have learned to play Compare, Show and Change, and Less or
More. All these games deal with comparing number and finding numbers that are more or less
than a given number.
We have started Writing Workshop, which is a time when the children work on writing and
illustrating their own stories. In addition to learning about composing stories and expressing
ideas so that others can understand them, the children practice the mechanics of writing,
including proofreading for spelling and punctuation.
Our first science unit is magnets. The children enjoy experimenting with
different magnets, and are surprised to find that not all metal is magnetic!
We have been reading Clifford books this month.
Mrs. Piazzo, 1st Grade Teacher
Music News:
Welcome back….. I am excited to begin another year as the elementary music teacher for Chester, RH
Conwell, Blandford, and Russell schools. Over the summer, I attended the University of Massachusetts (the state
requires teachers to complete a master’s degree). Much of what I learned is relevant to K – 4th grade music class and
will be applied this year in my classes. I will be using a system of hand signs (a bit like sign language) invented
by an educator named John Curwen, as a tool to help children learn solfeggio (do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do) patterns.
We will spend five minutes each week at the beginning of our lesson singing patterns. The students will echo my
lead both as a group and on an individual basis. This is a wonderful assessment tool for me, as well as a tool to
develop ear training.
We will also be using the drum and rhythm sticks to review keeping a steady beat. Children will walk the
beat playing and chanting words to songs. Movement activities (kinesthetic) are important to feel the rhythm and
the beat in music. The younger grades will use scarves and their imaginations while dancing and listening to
instrumental music. Third and Fourth graders will learn about harmony by singing partner songs, rounds, and
creating simple harmonies on pitched (xylophone) and non-pitched (drum) instruments. Of course, we will learn new
songs and musical games this year in all grades!
Please continue to encourage your child’s musical interest at home by dancing, singing, and listening to lots of
different types of music!
Regards… Miss Zorzi
Counselor’s Corner, September 2008
Well, can you believe it, here we are again! Summer just flew by with many of the promises of chores to
be finished, not met. Oh well, many before next summer.
All of our students came back in great shape. This is really a relief; we love to see them come back
healthy and happy. You did a great job with them despite your doubts. Raising a youngster in these
challenging times is a major feat, Congratulations.
I am about the task of introducing the third graders to some of the social skills that the fourth graders have
already been acquainted with. We started the year with a happy note drawing a picture of a summer event
that we recalled as happy. Your child should have showed you the picture. If not, please ask your child
what was a happy moment for them this summer. They sure surprised me. Fun!
Our last two classes have been role-play experiences. The class is divided up into groups of four. These
groups have the task of creating a scene in which they try and solve a problem using blaming and name-
calling. The results, as you might expect, are disastrous. Next, the role-players are given feedback by the
class on how to solve the problem in a healthier way. The second role-play leads to a harmonious and
mutually satisfying resolution.
Throughout the year we will hone our “getting along” skills so that our day is more enjoyable and
productive. Don’t be afraid to ask your child what he or she has learned in our class. If you have any
ideas you would like us to try just call me. Call me anywise, just to say hello. We are off to another great
year, you too.
Jack Scanlan, Chester Elementary School
LIBRARY NEWS
Welcome Back!
The Library is off to a great start, the children are enjoying the fun activities and stories
read to them by Mrs. Rock. They are also enjoying the new books the Library received from the
Reach for the stars fundraiser.
The Library will once again be doing The Birthday Book Club. Students will receive the
book list and information in their red folders. If your child has a birthday coming up, they will be
able to donate a book in their name to the Library. Watch for information.
Remind your child to take good care of their Library.
Volunteers are always welcome.
Nurse News:
As the new nurse and health teacher at Chester Elementary, I have been spending
some time getting to know the staff, the students, and I have even had the opportunity
to meet some families. I'm looking forward to settling in a bit more and getting to know
all of you.
Our health classes have begun and all the students did a great job of being 'Germ
Busters'. The older grades have done a good job with giving and receiving compliments
as I've heard some of them in the lunchroom putting this skill to the test! We are all
looking forward to learning about our hearts and how our bodies work, which will be the
focus for our October health classes.
Vision and hearing tests have been done with the kindergarten. If you did not receive a
note from me than your child has passed, but if you have concerns or questions please
feel free to contact me. Also, a note to those of you new to the school and a reminder
for those returning, breakfast is offered every morning to all students wishing to
participate. Breakfast is $1.00, reduced $0.30. Please contact Crystal Main in the
cafeteria if you need further information or have any questions regarding this. If at
anytime during the year you have a question or concern regarding your child's health,
please feel free to contact me. I'm looking forward to a great school year!
Ms. Margaret Bean, Chester School Nurse
Second Grade News:
Our school year is off to a great start. Second graders have been learning lots of
new routines so that they can be as independent as possible during work time.
Silly Stories is our first theme in reading and several children have contributed to
our focus wall. We have silly books, pictures and stuffed animals. Keep them coming!
It’s been fun. I would also like to thank you for helping your child with his/her reading
log. Reading daily will make a tremendous difference in your child’s day at school.
In math we are working with numbers with sums up to eighteen. We will be
exploring a variety of strategies to use in adding and subtracting
numbers. We will also practice communicating our problem solving
strategies.
We have lots to do, and it looks like we have a group that is
READY!
Mrs. Sullivan, 2nd Grade Teacher
Welcome Back!
It is hard to believe that another school year is here! Our school has had a few changes with the
biggest being the combined 3rd and 4th grades. Ms. Kakimoto and I have been helping in that
classroom daily for reading, writing and math so that all learners’ needs are met. I was recently
asked by Miss Cabral to teach the 3rd grade math and began this week.
In terms of reading: all students this month have read with myself or Ms. Kakimoto so we can
determine their independent reading levels. These levels allow teachers to match students to
appropriate leveled books. At home you can help encourage reading appropriate leveled books
by simply listening to your son or daughter read, and if they have about five mistakes or fewer
on a page, we would call this their independent reading level. Also, he or she should be able to
answer comprehension questions about the book to be considered an appropriate leveled book.
If your child is reading and there are many mistakes this might be a good book to be read aloud
to him or her. Reading needs to be enjoyable to be considered successful. Once children
become frustrated he or she will turn off to reading and will have a more difficult time in school.
Please encourage reading at home either together, independently or reading aloud.
This week we also screened all students using DIBELS. This screen is used
district wide to determine if students have met the benchmark (goal for their grade), are just
below the benchmark (some risk) or at risk (significantly below) for reading success. These
scores along with other assessments and teacher observations are used to determine who may be
in need of extra reading support.
I look forward to seeing everyone at open house.
Mrs. Bak
September PK Chronicle
Hello everyone and welcome to fall! It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming in
summer!
We have had a wonderful beginning of the year in Preschool! Everyone seems to have settled in
very nicely with our new routine and we are having a great time making new friends! During the
month of September, we talked about sharing, friendship, and harvesting apples. We learned
some new nursery rhymes such as Humpty Dumpty, One, Two Buckle my Shoe, Jack be Nimble,
and Mary had a Little Lamb. In our writing center, we have been practicing identifying and
writing our names. We were also introduced to Impulsive Puppy with our Second Step violence
prevention curriculum. We have been having a lot of fun!
During the month of October, we will learn about pumpkins and fall. We will also learn a little
bit about day vs. night and talk about some nocturnal animals. In the writing center we will
continue practicing our names and identifying letters in our names.
We will also practice responding to prompts and journal writing through illustration and
dictation. In math, we will work on numbers 1-4 as well as shapes and patterns.
In our reading program, we will be playing with letters, learning new nursery rhymes, and
beginning to identify rhyming words. We will also have some Halloween fun towards the end of
the month!
Have a wonderful month and let us know if you have any questions! I can easily be reached by
email at LTHOMSON@grsd.org.
Lynn Thomson
Preschool Teacher
Kindergarten News
We are off to a good start for the new school year. The
Kindergarten students have made a smooth transition from summer
mode to a school mode. For these first few weeks of school the
students have been settling into class routines, learning the school
and class rules and learning how to behave in this new environment.
Based on the start of the year we have a lot to look forward to in the
future months.
Things we have learned this month:
Language Arts
Reading and Singing many Nursery Rhymes. The students have been learning to recognize
rhyming words through these familiar rhymes and chants. Whenever possible learning is also
linked to the arts in the form of a creative project as well as through written work. The class has
recently begun to draw and write about their experiences in a journal. We are also learning
alphabet names and sounds. Alphabet recognition is a great area to review with your child at
home.
Math
We have been practicing counting and writing numbers from 1 to 10 and the students have
recently begun exploring, finding and creating patterns. We will explore questions such as what
makes a pattern and what comes next.
Science
Exploration of autumn:
How nature and the creatures around us prepare for the change from summer to fall.
Social Studies
The class has reviewed students’ rights and responsibilities, and have learned the names of
classmates.
Social Skills
Manners and consideration of other are always stressed in our classroom. The kindergarten
students are learning how to behave kindly and fairly toward each other.
I look forward to spending this next year at Chester School. I also welcome parent help in our
classroom. This year there are 18 students so there is always a need of extra hands.
Mrs. Kennedy
News from Third and Fourth
Grades! December 5, 2008
So far, so good!
The students continue to work hard making the transition to a combined classroom. We are learning to work together as
TEAMWORK is essential to a successful year. You may have several questions as to how the room “works” throughout the day.
The staff has worked very hard in creating a schedule that will best serve the individual needs of the students.
Basically, we begin the day together with a
morning meeting. Morning meeting is used to build
community while introducing or reviewing key concepts. Curriculum Focus
This is a time where everyone can participate and be
successful-regardless of grade. Science: Monarch Adventure
Science, social studies, and language are also We have already released 5 butterflies and we are waiting for 4
taught as one group. Assignments are modified as more to be ready. This group has been really lucky because we
necessary for different grades and/or needs. have seen with our own eyes the major transformations
including the “wiggle, jiggle dance”, the changing colors of the
Spelling is individualized. A pretest (based on a pupa, and the “hatching” of the butterfly. The students have
kept a journal throughout the experience. Journals include
spelling principle) is given at the beginning of every
observations, thoughts, and predictions.
week. Misspelled words become the focus for that week.
In addition, words are taken from their individual word Social Studies: Bus Safety/Constitution Day
lists. These lists are ever-changing and come from their
everyday writing. Math: Review /Place Value and Money
For math, we divide the classes. Curriculum Spelling: Long and Short Vowels
frameworks and standards have to be followed and make
it very difficult to teach “together”. However, we have Language/Reading: Story structure, base words and
the luxury of 2 classrooms and 3 qualified teachers to endings, multiple-meaning words, kinds of sentences,
present new mathematical concepts. synonyms and antonyms, author’s viewpoint, suffixes,
alphabetical order, subjects and predicates, “daily oral
In addition to the core subjects, we are also language” (proofreading).
introducing laptops to the third grade. Fourth graders
PTO Upcoming events-
have been super helpful in this area!
Writing Block: All About Me Posters, personal narratives,
good paragraph writing, haikus, writing in math
Home/school communication is very important. th-
Candy Bar Sale starts Sept. 30
Please remember to check homework folders
If you you have any questions or concerns,
Pick up your child’s box at Open house. always, ifwould like to sell more
EVERY night for written assignments or notes. As
than not finished, it us know! All monies collected me at hcabral@grsd.org or 685-1360.
(If classwork is one box, letbecomes homework.) you can reach from this sale will go
to help for all the costs of field
straight to Chester Elementary SchoolThank you coveryour help at home!
Miss site access, classroom supplies
trips, special assemblies, educational web Cabral
and more.
Halloween Dance- Friday, Oct. 24th-
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not
All students and their families are invited to dress in costume and help
celebrate Halloween at Chester Elementary. Admission is FREE. This
is a great night of music, food and fun for everyone!
Holiday Fair- December (date yet to be chosen)-
Our annual Holiday Fair is an opportunity for our students to purchase
low cost items for their family members for the holidays. Volunteers are
needed to make crafts for this sale. Anyone who would like to donate
any craft supplies or small new items that can be used for the sale, please
call the school. Check your child’s red folder in the weeks to come for
more info.
More ways to help Chester Elementary-
Clip BOXTOPS- they earn our school CASH!
10 cents per label!
Sign up for Price Chopper’s Tools for Schools program and
Big Y’s Education Express program- stop at the store’s service desk or
go on-line. Help support our school every time you shop!
Come to our next PTO meeting-
Tuesday, October 14th (early release day) at 9:15 in the Parent Room.
Hope to see you there!
