T.I.S. Digital Backpack

March 23, 2020

(contingent)

Join Mrs. Webster, K-12 Math Supervisor 

andthe TIS and TMS Principals, Mr. Dineen and Mrs. Grande

 to learn about math placement for incoming 6th, 7th and 8th graders.

When: Thursday April 23, 2020Where: TMS Auditorium 

When: 6:30pm

T.I.S. CALENDAR(will update upon return to school)

News from the Reading Department

Raising Readers Part 5:  Maintaining the Big Three: Decoding, Comprehension and Motivation… and how to help them along from home.

Welcome back to more tips on raising readers! The beginning of our third and final trimester of the school year is typically a time when we look forward to meeting end of the year grade level goals and assessing student progress as we move toward the next grade level’s expectations.

This year, at this point in time, we find ourselves in exceptional circumstances. In Raising Readers # 4 Be a Buddy, we explored partner reading with your child to help develop decoding and fluency. If you are reading with your child for 5 or 10 minutes a day, you should be noticing some improvement in their fluency and expression. If you haven’t developed your daily reading routine yet, our current distance learning situation affords you with the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Once a child is able to decode and read with fluency, our expectations for deeper comprehension continually increase. We expect students to understand what they read at the sentence level and then connect those sentences into meaning for paragraphs and longer selections of text. 

Readers need to think about what they’re reading, get the main idea or big picture, and make mental representations of the situations they read about. Authors assume certain knowledge and often leave steps or details out, expecting readers to infer. Readers use their background knowledge to fill in the pieces and “create situation models”. (Willingham p.96) The more knowledge and vocabulary they have about different topics and life situations, the better their comprehension will be. Comprehension requires knowledge. And...it just so happens that...

Social media is exploding with wonderful free resources for kids to expand their knowledge in exciting, fun ways. This is a perfect opportunity for students to make choices and pursue books and topics that interest and motivate them. Experiment and have fun! 

Cyndi Huschle, Melissa Silberberg and I (Karen Libby) have put together some resources for our intervention students that can be used by all readers. You will find brief activities that target the basic skills and components of reading (Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, and Comprehension) in our T.I.S. Supplemental at Home Learning folders. Some of these are a bit

old-timey and not quite as flashy as the goodies online but they deliver small doses that will support several skills at once.

Stay healthy and make the best of trying times by finding fun things to read and explore!

https://www.khanacademy.org/                    National Geographic Kidshttps://www.scholastic.com/learnathome                      E-Book CentralLUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems! Episode 01         www.readingrockets.org      Bill Nye | The Science Guy                                            ReadWorks.orgRaising Kids Who Read -Daniel Willingham 2015

Tolland Intermediate School’s yearbook club is excited to begin selling the 2019-2020 TIS Yearbook! It will be a 64 page color book bursting with photos, student portraits, activities, highlights, and of course, space for special autographs. Yearbooks will be delivered at the end of the school year. The cost is $20.00 per book. Checks must be made payable to TIS SAA.There are 2 options for purchasing the book.

1.Fill out the Yearbook Order form sent home with your child and turn it in to your child’s teacher with payment. Please note: Checks MUST be made payable to TIS SAA.

2.Order online.a.Visit YBPay.lifetouch.com and enter

Yearbook ID Code: 3137820b.Enter your name and grade.

Tolland Intermediate School

Yearbook SaleMarch 13th – April 9th

c.Pick the quantity desired; then complete payment.

Questions can be directed to Mrs. Grabowski, TIS Yearbook Club Adviser, at kgrabowski@tolland.k12.ct.us.

Tolland Family Resource Center

Spring FRC Newsletter

Hurray, we made it! Spring is almost here! Although some days like today it does not feel like it, warmer days are on the way! As we celebrate Read Across America Day and National Reading Month in March it is a wonderful time to read every day with your children. If you read to them for just 20 minutes a day, they are exposed to 1,800,000 words per year. Children who are read 5 books to per day hear about 1.4 million words. Children who read only one book per day hear about 290,000 words by age 5. Make their lives rich with vocabulary. Use unusual words to describe everyday things at home. Talk to them in the car, talk to them everywhere you go! The more language they are exposed to the greater the vocabulary they have to bring to school with them. Take the 21 day reading challenge in the month of March to read to your child for 15 minutes a day. Go to https://www.readaloud.org. to register! HAPPY READING!

Now is the time to register for 2020-2021

Registration for the 2020-2021 school year is open and programs are filling up, so register soon!

Limited openings are still available in our before and after school program. We offer before and after school for children in grades K-6 at Birch Grove and TIS.

We offer Preschool Programs and playgroups for 2-5 year olds, 2-4 days a week , 2.5 - 6 hours a day.

We still have openings in all of our programs.

Visit our website: www.tolland.k12.ct.us/community/family_resource_center for registration information

and forms or call Laurel Leibowitz (860) 870-6750 x 5

FRC Summer Camp registration begins March 16th for full weeks and April 1 for partial weeks. Summer camp will be held at Tolland Intermediate School.

Think SUMMER, think ADVENTURE, think EXPLORATION, think FRIENDSHIP, think FUN, think AWESOME, think ……… TOLLAND FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER CAMP HAWK.

We offer full time and part week camp for children entering Kindergarten (age 5 by 7/1/2020) through age 12 at Camp Hawk.

7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

If you have ideas or program desires, let us know! We offer a high-quality program. Our staff is experienced and well trained. All staff are certified in First Aid, CPR and are medically trained for emergencies to assure your child’s safety.

Financial assistance is always available. Please speak to Carol Hiller for scholarship possibilities or to arrange payment plans.

If times are tough or you find yourself or your children struggling in any way, please let us know and we will see if we can help. Communicating with us when there are challenges that can affect the kids at school can only help.

Current Special Programs:

All Star Bowling is a program for special needs bowlers that meets on Thursdays at Spare Time in Vernon from 5:00-6:00 PM, now through March 19. Special needs bowlers of all ages are invited. The cost is $5.00 per week for shoe rental and 1 hour of bowling.  We love to have peer Buddies to cheer us on. Come down and check it out, it is great fun!

Challenger Baseball, a division of Tolland Little League for special needs players, will begin in April. Players can register today at www.tollandlittleleague.org. Buddies, please send me an email to let me know you are interested in participating! We meet two evenings a week from 6:00-7:00 PM. Buddies can be students or adults. Students earn community service hours for their volunteer time. However, the experience is much richer and much more rewarding than that…..all while having fun!

Spring and Special Events

Save the Dates:

March 4: Kindergarten Informational Night, 7:00 PM at BGP for Parents of Incoming Kindergarteners. Registration information and Kindergarten programing will be discussed. Just for Adults!

March 25: Raising a Kindergarten Star: 6:30-7:30 PM What is important for you to do athome to help your child and you prepare for Kindergarten? A great opportunity to get yourquestions answered! (snow date 4/1/20)

March 26: FRC Advocacy Day at the State Capital 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Old Judiciary Room All families are invited for an old fashioned ice cream social. Come see our beautiful capital and show your support for our valuable FRCs. An invitation will be emailed soon!

Spring Playgroup Sessions to begin soon! Register today! Playgroups *additional $25 fee for out of town participants

Monday: Morning Fun all ages with Miss Karen and Miss Laurel free* 9:00-10:00 AM TIS1/6, 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/24, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 6/1, 6/8

Tuesday: FRC/Library Playgroup preschoolers and siblings 1000 Books B4K 10:15-11:15AMfree

1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19,

Thursday: Artist in Me ages 3-6 1:30 - 3:00 PM $75.00 per session

Spring: 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28

Adelante Espanol grades K-5 3:20-4:30 PM $80 per session K-5 BGP TIS Students can be bussed to BGP

Spring: 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28

Friday: Babies, Toddlers, and Twos ages 0-3 9:00-10:30 AM $40 session* $5 drop in 3/20, 3/27, 4/3, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 5/22, 5/29

Little Cooks at TIS ages 3-5 10:00-11:30 AM $60 Call Mrs. Hiller for dates and registration (860) 870-6885 x 3

FRC Preschool News

March is a great time to set aside a few minutes to conference with your child’s teacher. Mrs. Morse and Mrs. Mancini are setting up conferences now.

Our Grow with Me friends are having fun learning, playing, singing and having snack together!! It is such fun watching them move from parallel play to intentional play recognizing their friends and seeing them forming their first “school” friendships!!

Our 3 year old preschoolers will begin March with a celebration for Dr. Seuss’s Birthday. Letter days and show and tell will begin for our three year olds.

Our 4 year old preschoolers will begin March with a Dr. Seuss celebration! They will continue with letter days and have a special VERY HUNGRY CATEPILLAR lunch bunch.

Families of PS 3’s and 4’s are invited to join us for Music Together Family Night 3/10 at 6:00 beginning with pizza in the BG Cafeteria.

No 4’s PS Friday, March 6, due to BGP half day/Parent teacher conferences

Lunch bunch March 20: 11:00 AM-3:00 PM

Preschool Enrichment friends have been learning and growing together. As the weather improves, we hope to get outside more, so on days over 20 degrees, send in the snow gear!

Important March dates to remember:

March 5th Early Release Day Pick up time is 12:00 PM for Preschool Enrichment.

March brings some special dates for all parents of children entering Kindergarten

March 4th is the Kindergarten Parents’ Orientation Night at Birch Grove, 7:00 PM.

March 9th On-line Kindergarten Registration begins. www.tolland.k12.ct.us District>Register Student

Please join us for a special FRC parent night, Raising a “K” Star, March 25, 6:30-7:30 PM in the cafeteria. Come ask questions and talk about things that you can do at home to help prepare your child to shine in Kindergarten.

The Before and After School Programs:

Special emphasis has been placed on being kind and showing Kindness at BGP!!

Your children are busy crafting, building, playing, and having fun. Please remember we try to go outside with them EVERY DAY IT IS 20 DEGREES AND ABOVE, SO PLEASE HAVE THEM PREPARED TO GO OUTSIDE.

Full week registration for Camp Hawk begins March 16, 2020. Part time registration begins April 1, 2020. Camp Hawk will be at TIS.

There are still a few spots available in our School Age Program for the 2020-2021 school year at Birch Grove and Tolland Intermediate School. 

April vacation registration forms will be out soon! Register today!

Delays and Cancellations are listed on WFSB. If Tolland Public Schools are closed, FRC is closed.

Please continue to call when your child will be absent or not staying for afternoon programs. Preschool(860) 870-6750 x 5, BG SAC (860) 870-6750 x 6 or TIS (860) 870-6885 x 3

This newsletter is intended to highlight our programs and upcoming activities. Please visit our webpage frequently for updated information and registration for specific programs! www.tolland.k12.ct.us/community/family_resource_center.

Feel free to email me with any questions! lleibowitz@tolland.k12.ct.us (860) 870-6750 x 5

Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us. Their smiles brighten our days. As we turn the calendar to a new month we can see the children growing right in front of our eyes! We hope you will join us for upcoming events and spread the word to neighbors and friends about the amazing Tolland Family Resource Center!

Contact us with any questions or concerns! Compliments are always welcome too!

Laurel Leibowitz and the WONDERFUL FRC Team!

Remainder of the Year at a Glance:

March

March 2- Childcare Provider Training CANCELLEDDr. Seuss Day- Dress as your Favorite book characterMarch 4- Kindergarten Information Parent Night BGP 7:00 PM BGPMarch 5 -Early Release Day- Parent Teacher Conferences-Afterschool Program opens at the end of school for those children enrolled on Thursdayafternoons (additional $10.00 fee)March 6- Early Release Day- Parent Teacher Conferences-Afterschool Program opens at the end of school for those children enrolled on Fridayafternoons (additional $10.00 fee)March 10- Music Together Family Night 6:00-8:00 PM Birch GroveMarch 12- Two Right Feet 10:15-10:45 AMMarch 16 – Camp Hawk (Summer Camp) FULL Week Registration OPENMarch 18 - Early Release Day- Faculty In-Service- No Pre K 4’s- PS E dismiss at 12:00 PM-Afterschool Program opens at the end of school for those children enrolled on Wednesdayafternoons (additional $10.00 fee)March 20- Lunch Bunch Pre K 4’s 11:00-3:00 PMRock your Socks Day- World Down Syndrome DayMarch 25- Raising a Kindergarten Star Parent Night 6:30-7:30 PM BGPMarch 26- FRC Advocacy Day Ice Cream Social at the State Capital 11:30-1:30 PM

April

April 1- Summer Camp registration begins for partial week campers.April 2- Light It Up Blue Day- World Autism DayApril 6- Childcare Provider Training 6:00-8:00 PM BG Conference Room (alternate date 4/20)April 10- Closed –No School / No FRCApril 13-17 – Spring Break- FRC Open – SAC advanced registration required (Must have 15

children registered to open)April 22- Early Release Day- Faculty In-Service- No Pre K 4’s- PS E dismiss at 12:00 PM-Afterschool Program opens at the end of school for those children enrolled on Wednesdayafternoons (additional $10.00 fee)Tolland Spirit Day- Wear BGP or Tolland jersey or shirtTERAC Meeting 6:30-7:30 PM BG Main Office conference room (alternate date 4/29)April 23- Two Right Feet 10:25-10:45 AMApril 24- Lunch Bunch Pre K 4’s 11:00-3:00 PM

May

May 4- Make up Childcare Provider Training- 6:00-8:00 PM BG CafeteriaMay 6- Early Release Day- Faculty In-Service- No Pre K 4’s- PS E dismiss at 12:00 PM-Afterschool Program opens at the end of school for those children enrolled on Wednesdayafternoons (additional $10.00 fee)May 8- Lunch Bunch Pre K 4’s 11:00-3:00 PMMay 13- Laurel LPC 12:30-1:30 PMMay 14 – Preschool Field Trip to UCONNMay 22- Red, White and Blue DayMay 25- Closed - Memorial Day*May 27 Last Day GWM*May 28 Last Day 3’s/PS E*May 29 Last Day 4’s and last day of playgroups!

June * subject to snow daysJune 3- Tropical DayJune 16-Last day for FRC*June 17- Last day of school*The School Age Care Program will be closed the last day of school.

TIS SPIRIT DAYS

October 31st Decades Day

November 26th Hat Day

December 13th PJ DayDistrict Wide

December 20th Crazy Sweater Day

January 31st Sports Team Day

March 13th PI Day

April 24th College Spirit Day

May 22th Patriotic Day

June 1st Wacky Tacky Day

COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL

2019-2020

September 18, 2019 February 12, 2020

October 9, 2019 March 25, 2020

November 13, 2019 No April meeting

No December meeting May 13, 2020

January 15, 2020-CANCELLED DUE TO THE SCHEDULING OF AN EARLY RELEASE THIS DAY

(all meetings begin at 9:15 a.m.)

TEPTO Volunteer Guidelines

1. All TEPTO volunteers must be an approved volunteer for Tolland Public Schools.

2. Please refrain from making personal calls while volunteering. 

3. Smoking, drinking and illegal substances are prohibited at all TEPTO events.

4. Appropriate attire for working with children is expected at all times.

5. Volunteers are to report to the TEPTO Board Member or Chairperson in charge of the event upon arrival to sign in and receive a volunteer badge.

6. Volunteer badges are to be worn and seen at all times during TEPTO events.

7. Volunteers may not leave an assigned position, change or swap positions at any time during an event unless notified and relieved by a TEPTO Board Member or Chairperson.

8. Co-room parents are expected to work together to respectfully share responsibilities requested by teachers and TEPTO Board.

9. Emails addressed to the appropriate TEPTO mailboxes will be responded to within 48 hours, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

10. Determinations of the TEPTO board are final.  Any communications on decisions or matters of the board will reflect such determinations. Once an answer has been provided and articulated, it will be considered resolved. Similar questions by the same person on any one issue will not receive additional responses.

11. Failure to abide by these policies may result in exclusion for volunteering, event services, and opportunities for TEPTO.

Tolland Elementary SchoolsParent Teacher Organization

2019-2020TEPTO Monthly Meetings

All meetings are on Mondays at 7pm in the Library

September 9th TISOctober 7th Birch GroveNovember 4th TISDecember 2nd Birch GroveFebruary 3rd TISMarch 2nd Birch GroveApril 6th Birch GroveMay 4th Birch GroveJune 1st TIS

2019-2020 Executive BoardPresident: Jennifer Gallichant

BG Vice President: Bethany Lescoe TIS Vice President: Tina SmithTreasurer: Linda Scheidel Membership: Rebecca Moore Communications: Diana Gascon

Secretary: Jenn Reynolds Ways & Means: Kristen Overton

The End