image of three small friendly ghosts around a pumpkin with text of FES updates, October 29, 2023

Mr. Ward’s Message:

At Freetown Elementary School we are working hard to ensure our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are tailored to meet our students' needs.  This directly aligns to the social/emotional well being of our students.  Social/Emotional well-being provides a foundation for safe and positive learning while enhancing students' ability to succeed in school, careers, and life.  Below are some of the PBIS programs being implemented at FES.

Raffle Tickets

Target Group: Individual Students

Reward: Weekly Raffle

Who Gives: Classroom Teachers

  • This incentive was designed to recognize individual students for being consistently Safe, Respect and Responsible.

  • Each day, the classroom teacher will recognize one student who was Safe, Respectful and Responsible to receive a raffle ticket.

  • Mr. Ward will pick from the weekly tickets and 10 students will win a prize for that week.

  • All tickets will be saved in the office from week to week. They will be put into a separate larger bin and large prizes will be given out at the mid-year point and end of the year. 

Fine Dining

Target Group: Individual Students in the Cafeteria

Reward: Small Group

Who Gives: Lunch Monitors

  • Students are watched throughout the week for Safe, Respectful and Responsible behavior in the cafeteria. 

  • On Fridays, two students from each class will be recognized by the lunch monitors as “Fine Diners”

  • Students will go home with a paper invitation on Friday to join the fine dining table on Monday in the conference room.

  • On Monday, the fine diners will get to sit at the fine dining table during lunch to enjoy music, fancy decor and service from Mr. Ward and Dr. Neves. 

Fox Paws

Target Group: Whole School

Reward: School-Wide Celebrations

Who Gives: All Staff

  • If a student is caught being Safe, Respectful, Responsible, they are given a “fox paw ticket”*

  • Students are asked to bring their ticket to the cafe where they will exchange it for a plastic fox paw to put in the fox den. 

  • Once the den is full, a school-wide celebration will occur.

FES News and Happenings:

Living in New England brings the seasonal changes that we have grown accustomed to, or for some, maybe we are just wishing for warmer weather. But, like it or not, the fall-like weather is upon us.  As a gentle reminder, our students will be going outside for recess as long as the weather permits.  With that said, please dress your child appropriately each day for outdoor activities.   

Gentle Reminder that Preschool Picture Day will take place on Thursday, November 2nd.  This individual picture day for preschoolers will also be the picture retake day for all other students.  

Upcoming events:

November 2:  Picture Retake Day / Preschool Picture Day

November 7: No School for students - PD Day for FLRSD Educators

November 10: No School due to Veterans Day

November 16: Cup-Stacking Night in the Gymnasium

November 22:  Early Release Day.  Students dismissed at 12:15 PM.  No lunch served

November 23 & 24: No School - Thanksgiving Recess

PTO Corner:  

PTO meetings will be held in person and virtually.  The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 13th from 6:30 - 7:30 PM.  The meeting will be in person as well as virtual to accommodate for families.  Hope you will consider joining the FES PTO.

Attendance Matters Weekly Update:

Goal:  94% of the FES student population will attend school daily.  

October’s Daily Student Attendance Percentage:

October 2-6: 96%...Goal achieved!  

October 9-13: 97%...Goal achieved!

October 16-20: 97%...Goal achieved!

October 23-27: 96%...Goal achieved!

News and Happenings around the classrooms:

Preschool: This week in preschool we learned about the life cycle of a pumpkin.  We learned pumpkins grow on vines on the ground in a pumpkin patch!  The children investigated a pumpkin by measuring it, observing its color and shape.  We also learned about a new Lively Letter, letter f, a fire-breathing dragon!  The triangle was showcased this week with a special triangle show and tell day and a few projects, such as a triangle bat and a triangle witch.   

Kindergarten:  This week in kindergarten our letter/phonemic awareness/phonics/letter formation was Ss, /s/. We worked on blending onset and rime and initial and identifying final sounds. Our HFW was “see”. We discussed opinion writing and how words are made up of letters. In math, we found different ways (the 2 parts) to make the whole numbers 6 and 7.  We continued working with pumpkins and learned about the life cycle. 

Grade 1: This week in first grade we learned about bonus letters and consonant L-Blends. We reviewed digraphs th, sh, wh, ch, and ck. For comprehension we reviewed retelling stories and asking and answering questions in a text. In writing we are working on responding to a text. In math we learned doubles and doubles plus one facts and used those facts to solve word problems. In science we are learning about pumpkins.

Grade 2:  This week in second grade we continued to focus on asking and answering questions about key details from nonfiction texts. In phonics we worked on reading and spelling base words with suffix endings such as “-s” and “-es” for forming plurals and “-ed” and “-ing” to form past and present tense verbs. In math we worked to understand what makes odd or even numbers. In writing we worked on our How To writing by expanding sentences. In science and social studies we learned about forms of water on earth. 

Grade 3: This week in math, third graders explored different types of patterns with numbers and shapes.  They also reviewed for their unit 1 test, which consisted of using strategies to solve a variety of multiplication and division problems, as well as finding rules for patterns.  In reading, students have continued to read a variety of stories that explore the essential question: what can traditions teach you about cultures? In writing, students have typed their personal narratives and presented their stories with their classmates.  It was so fun hearing all of their wonderful stories and allowing each individual to shine!  

Art:  Kindergarteners started learning about shape as an element of art and completed adorable glitter pumpkins.  Grade 1 completed an abstract project using the alphabet to create interesting shapes and then coloring them in with neon markers.  Grade 2 learned about ancient Greek vases and completed a paper version.  Grade 3 learned about the art of James Rizzi and started adorable happy cities.

Physical Education:  Students participated in fitness stations at the beginning of the week. On Thursday and Friday classes participated in a health lesson: 3rd grade- the skeleton, 2nd grade- dairy, 1st grade- family traditions, Kindergarten- being scared (emotions). Then all classes played the game Skeleton Run where they collected pieces of a skeleton in a fitness game and then worked together in teams to assemble the skeleton.

Music:  This week, students K-3 have started the 6th week of their unit on being expressive in music. We will learn new songs, games, and movements to be performed with appropriate musicality. Grades K and 1 will continue moving expressively with an emphasis on keeping a steady beat. We will continue to assess students on their singing voices. Grade 2 will have their second opportunity to try boomwhackers. Grade 3 will practice singing in a round style with increasing complexity.

Library:  October 23rd - 27th is Media Literacy Week! Kindergarten and first grade students shared the types of media they create or consume in their lives.  Students listened to an Ebook on Epic about Internet safety and learned about the Cyber Five which are rules to follow to stay safe online.  Second and third grade students learned how to evaluate a source of information for its credibility. For STEM Friday this month, we are reading Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds and building fences for the carrots out of popsicle sticks and clothespins.  Students should return their books on the following days next week: day 3 library classes on 10/30 and 11/3; day 4 library classes on 10/31; day 1 library classes on 11/1 and day 2 library classes on 11/2.