Red Ribbon Week

The week of October 19-23 we are observing ‘Red Ribbon Week’ here at our school. Red Ribbon Week is a national awareness campaign that began in 1985 to serve as a vehicle for communities and individuals to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of our children through a commitment to drug prevention and education.

There will be various age appropriate activities going on throughout the week to promote healthy choices and to teach our students about being responsible and safe. This is a good week to have conversations or read books regarding this subject as they will be hearing about it at school and that can open a communication that is sometimes hard to initiate. Here are some age appropriate reading choices on the subject of making good choices, being healthy and resisting peer pressure. Thank you in advance for supporting your children’s participation in Red Ribbon Week’s events and activities.

K-1

Hunter's Best Friend at School

by Laura Malone Elliott

Oh, the Things You Can Do that are Good for You!: All About Staying Healthy

by Tish Rabe

How to Behave and Why

by Munro Leaf

2-3

How to Behave and Why

by Munro Leaf

Oh, the Things You Can Do that are Good for You!: All About Staying Healthy

by Tish Rabe

I Can Say “No!”

By Shirley Priscilla Johnsonan

Win or Lose By How You Choose!

by Judge Judy Sheindlin

4-5

Win or Lose By How You Choose!

by Judge Judy Sheindlin

What Would You Do?: Quizzes About Real-Life Problems

by Patti Kelley Criswell

Dork in Disguise

by Carol Gorman

Parents

Raising Drug-free Kids: 100 Tips for Parents
by Aletha Solter

Whether you are a parent, teacher, student or community member, you can help R.L Stevenson win $20,000 in the “America’s Favorite School” contest sponsored by Care2 and GreatSchools

The more votes our school gets, the better our school’s chances of winning. This contest is a fun opportunity to rally community support for our school as well as a great way to win much-needed financial support in this difficult economy.

Here are some easy things you can do to spread the word and get people to vote for your school:

1. Send an email to your friends and network asking them to vote for your school.

2. Add a banner to your website, blog, Facebook or MySpace page. You can also ask your friends and family to post a banner to support your school.

** Have you friends and family join our facebook group “America's Favorite School R.L Stevenson” and vote! vote!

3. Post a flyer your local library, your neighborhood coffee shop, or other local venues.

4.We are trying to get noticed by local media. If any of you or anyone you know has a media contact let me know so we can work together on getting helping R.L Stevenson win $20,000

A Message From Mrs. Torres

Dear parents,

I hope everyone is doing well. The cold and flu season is here so remind your child to wash their hands and do the Vampire Cough/Sneeze (just ask them about this).

This coming week the entire school, including our classroom, will be acknowledging Red Ribbon Week. This is a week that is dedicated to influencing children to say no to drugs and alcohol. Since this is an advanced topic for the primary grades, we will be focusing on making healthy food choices. For example, introducing the food pyramid and the children will give examples for each category.

We have gone to the school library twice now, and the children really seem to enjoy this. Mrs. Flores’ class (4^th grade students) help the children select a book and read the book to them. This gives the 4^th graders the opportunity to be helpful, and the kindergarteners look up to their new role models. The kindergarteners can take these books home and share it with their family. PLEASE REMEMBER TO TURN IN LIBRARY BOOKS ON FRIDAY. Your child will not be able to check out books after two books have been checked out. If a book is lost or misplaced at the end of the year, you will receive a bill for that particular book.

Please remind your child to bring in their homework on Fridays. Some students are forgetting to bring in their share items on their share day. If you are unsure when their share day is, look on their red folder. This is part of their oral language grade. It is important that they exercise using their speaking skills.

I started a new incentive in the classroom that the students are really excited about. When the students are working quietly, following directions, and making good choices, I put marbles in a jar. Once the jar is filled, the students are given popcorn, apple juice and they get to watch an educational 30 min. movie. If the jar is filled on a warm day, they receive a Popsicle and extra playtime on the playground.

I hope to see all of you at our Boo Bash, Friday, October 30^th.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Marisa Torres

Your Child's Art Can Help Raise Funds for FFS!

On Friday, October 16, we will be completing an art project with your child which can be transferred to items you may purchase in order to benefit FFS. FFS provides the funds to support art, our library, and the dance kids are receiving in class. If there are any parents interested in helping with the class project from 8:30-9:30 or 1:30-2:30 and have submitted their paperwork to volunteer, please let me know,

Thank you,

Diana Bessler (Room 8 Rep)

bessler4@att.net

PLEASE, PLEASE, Join the PTA!

Join PTA!

There's still time to join PTA. PTA is the only state and national organization which lobbies exclusively for children and children's issues. By joining PTA you are showing support for your school and giving your child a say in the decisions which affect their education.

As of this week, this is the number of sign ups we've had for each class. We'd really like to build on the start we've made this year.

Flores - 40%

Almeida -39%

Boulais/rondinella - 46%

Anderson - 32%

Clarke - 61%

Goulding - 37%

Diamond - 52%

Baade - 59%

Gibson - 37%

Lavitt - 50%

Torres - 37%

Rotunno - 37%

Hill - 50%

Carrillo - 45%

Lukehart - 17%

Blank - 3%

In this month's newsletter you'll find a PTA sign up form. If you have not already, please consider joining. The more members the PTA has, the stronger and more effective its voice will be.

Room 8 Room Reps: Mrs. Torres' Class

Mrs. Torres – Room#8	Child’s Name	Number	e-mail
Marina Perez	Gabriela Perez	(818) 841-7143	hm.perez@att.net
Diana Bessler	Natalie Bessler	(818) 562-7165 – Home (818) 512-2627 -Cell	bessler4@insightbb.com bessler4@att.net
Emma Berreth	Michael Berreth	(818) 843-1757	mikeberreth@cs.com
Mary Cassle Goodley	Jacksen Goodley	(818) 209-8229	mcicesk8@aol.com

Bean Bag Toss Booth for Room 8

We still need volunteers for the Halloween Boo Bash, on Friday, October 30th. Please email Diana at bessler4@att.net if you would like to help:

We will need 2 volunteers per session since the Bean Bag Toss booth entails taking tickets, awarding prizes and running the bean bag toss.

2pm ( Setup ) Mary Cassle Goodley _______

5-6 Kate Nicols _______________

6-7 Lori Durbin ______________

7-8 ________________ ______________

8-9 _________________ ________________

9 pm (Clean up) ________ _____________

Parent Volunteers

Parents, if you are interested in volunteering in Mrs. Torres' class, please email bessler4@att.net , to let her know the dates that you are available. Diana Bessler is one of the four Room Reps. for the class.

Also, please submit your child's birthday to bessler4@att.net if it wasn't provided on the yellow sign up form at Back to School.

Message From Mrs. Torres

Dear Parents,

I am writing to you to explain some of the routines and activities that are taking place in the classroom.

Early/Late Birds

Some parents have voiced their concerns about the requirements of early/late birds and what these groupings mean. If your child is an Early bird, it does not necessarily mean that your child is performing below the grade level standards. Early birds need more direct instruction and assistance from me. Late Birds are independent workers, and can complete an assignment with limited directions.

These groupings are not “set in stone”. If a student shows vast improvement, then s/he can be moved into a late bird schedule. I will notify you, if I see this occurrence.

Upcoming Events

This Friday, September 11^th is Patriot Day. The students are asked to wear red, white or blue on this day. The students will participate in a flag raising ceremony where they will recite the Pledge of Allegiance and listen to the Preamble of the Constitution.

If you have any questions please feel free to leave me a message with the office assistants (818) 558-5522 or email me at marisatorres@burbankusd.org

A big thank you goes out to all the parents who have donated supplies and their time. Our classroom will grow in knowledge with your support.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Marisa Torres

Mrs. Torres: Behavior Management System

Behavior chart

Green card: Student had a good day and was a good citizen in class. They receive a stamp on their hand.

Yellow card: Student had to be warned about breaking one of the classroom rules.

Orange card: Student was warned a second time about breaking a classroom rule. Student sits in the thinking chair in the hallway.

Red card: Student is warned a third time about breaking a classroom rule. Student is sent to another classroom or Ms. Ginnetti’s office.

If the student changes their behavior and is being a model student they can change their card to the positive.

Gold card: If a student shows exemplary behavior (helping other students, taking care of the classroom, being a good listener, and did not receive any warnings in class) they receive a gold card in their pocket chart. Their names get written down on a post it and put in a can. On Fridays, we draw 3 names out of the can. Those students receive a prize and get to sign Ms. Ginnetti’s Principal’s Log (a book in Ms. Ginnetti’s office that the student’s sign) they receive a certificate and a ribbon for signing the book, and their name appears in Ms. Ginnetti’s Newsletter.