We ask if you visit during

our academic day or need to

pick up your child, use the

following procedures:

Only enter the front main

entrance on 29th Street.

Report to the office

immediately.

Sign in and out, and have

an appropriate visitor’s

badge to move about the

building.

If you need your child, a

staff member will direct

him or her to the office.

Please do not feel offended

if you are approached or

questioned by school

personnel. Our goal is to

ensure all aspects of safety for

all students.

The school district is

working to modify safety

procedures and building level

security measures. They have

appropriated resources to

ensure all buildings in

Davenport are safe and

secure. Thank you for

assisting by following our

security procedures.

Mike Orfitelli is Garfield’s

principal.

orfitellim@davenportschools.org

.

Tests scheduled for

first week of

February

Iowa assessments will be

administered to Garfield

students in grades 3-5 from

Feb. 5-7. Second-graders

will test the entire week

(Feb. 4-8). These tests are

an indicator of both

student achievement and

school achievement. The

tests are also one way our

students’ growth and

achievement are compared

to others both locally,

nationally, and globally.

Furthermore, the

individual scores are used

to appropriately place

students in supplemental

educational programming.

It is very important your

child is in attendance and

ready to do their best!

Students test best when

they have had plenty of

sleep, have had proper

nutrition, and are relaxed.

Please assist your child’s

success by speaking

positively about their

efforts and success on the

tests, planning nutritious

meals – especially

breakfast, structure and

enforce an appropriate bed

time to ensure they are well

-rested. Reassure them, if

they do their best you will

be proud of their

achievements.

Personally, I have seen

achievement and growth in

our students thus far. The

Iowa assessments are a

quick snapshot of progress.

I have immense confidence

in our students and I will

be optimistically awaiting

the results. Together we

can positively impact our

students’ academic

progress and achievement.

Thank you for your help

and support in making our

week of testing a success!

…together we are creating

confident learners.

Safety and Security

The tragedy in

Connecticut has shaken us

all, and again an event has

changed our culture both

in and out of school. Our

children are so important

to all of us. As a school, we

must continue to evaluate

and assess our safety and

security. Furthermore, the

entire community must

work together to keep our

kids safe.

Principal’s Note: It’s Testing Time!

Garfield Gazette F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3

Family

Dance Set

for Feb. 15

Get ready to dance! The 2013 Garfield Family Dance will be

held Friday, Feb. 15, from 6-8 p.m.

in the Garfield Gym. Get your photo taken by Brookelyn’s Pix for $1. Please note: This is a

family event, no drop-offs allowed.

Plan Ahead:

Generations

Day

One of the best days of the year at Garfield is set for Friday, April

19, at 2 p.m.

Grandparents, parents, aunts,

uncles, adult friends are invited to

Generations Day and Ice Cream

Social.

BizTown trip

rescheduled

The fifth-grade trip to the

popular BizTown will be held on

Monday, Feb. 25. Originally, the trip

was set for December, but was cancelled

due to bad weather.

P A G E 2

Smart Boards give boost to classrooms

If you haven’t checked out the relatively

new Smart Boards at Garfield, you’re missing

out.

There is a Smart Board in many of the third-,

fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms, two special

education rooms, the music room, the library,

and soon-to-be in the art room.

It is an interactive whiteboard that uses

touch detection (finger or pen) for user input.

The Smart Board operates as part of a system

that includes the interactive whiteboard, a

computer, a projector and whiteboarding

software.

A projector connected to the computer

displays the desktop image on the whiteboard.

Access is also provided to the Smart Exchange

website, which features more than 50,000

learning resources.

Ms. Ekstrand, fourth- grade teacher, loves to

use the Smart Board to reinforce the topics

being taught by playing educational games.

Her students’ favorite this year has been

Spelling Bee Football. Ms. Ekstrand also

downloads worksheets to complete as a class,

instead of using paper and pencil.

Ms. Ekstrand uses her Smart Board every

morning to project the opening procedures.

She says it makes it makes her job easier by

keeping materials and instructions projected

throughout the day for students to reference.

Ms. Ekstrand says the Smart Board “is an

awesome addition to the classroom, but...the

teacher still needs to be an effective teacher

with or without the Smart Board.”

The art room will be receiving a Smart Board

during spring break as part of a Scott County

Regional Authority grant. Mr. Orfitelli, Garfield

principal, says the “interactive capabilities of the

Smart Board in art class will bring visual art to life.

Students will be able to use their art skills alongside

classical masters and modern works.”

Parents can ask their child or child’s teacher about

their specific use of Smart Boards.

Cub Scouts Participate in Winter Activities

We had a wonderful turnout at Good Samaritan for our Christmas caroling

visit. The residents were tickled by all of our gifts and goodies and enjoyed the

company so much we've already been asked back. The boys also received their

Pinewood Derby kits so they can get started on the BEST CAR EVER!

Blue and Gold is Feb. 12. We will celebrate the birthday of Scouting and

bridge over our advancing Webelos. Much appreciation to Leader Donna

Siebert for her contribution to the boys' advancement! Everyone is encouraged

to invite family and friends to check out our pack and celebrate our young

men's achievement.

Hopefully everyone has been able to sign up for camping at Loud Thunder

this first weekend in February. Remember to bring your winter wear and any

treats you want to share.

Science Night

Thursday, Feb. 7

5:30-6 p.m.: Students

Present their Projects in

the Library

6-7:30 p.m.: Exhibitors

Display in the Gym

6-7:30 p.m.: Make your

own Ice Cream-In-A-Bag

in the Gator Grill

For the first time,

students will demonstrate

their science projects and

answer questions for 30

minutes. Projects will be

judged this year, with

Best of Shows advancing

onto the “Earth Grant

Student Showcase Event”

at Davenport Public

Works on April 27.

Don’t miss the hands-on

displays and live birds/

animals in the gym, or the

ice cream!

The art room will be receiving a Smart Board

during spring break as part of a Scott County

Regional Authority grant. Mr. Orfitelli, Garfield

principal, says the “interactive capabilities of the

Smart Board in art class will bring visual art to life.

Students will be able to use their art skills alongside

classical masters and modern works.”

Parents can ask their child or child’s teacher about

their specific use of Smart Boards.

P A G E 3

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