Reading: Mrs. Bast

The Speakaboo website is worth bookmarking. Stories are read and performed by celebrities with illustrations and music. The intriguing feature that is still to come is their Record Your Own stories or songs. We can foresee guest readers who are parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles of your students, recording favorite stories for them to listen to in class or at home. And it is free!

http://www.speakaboos.com/recordYourOwn

I have heard that two heads are better than one. Maybe it’s true… I will be able to listen to two kids read at a time or even drink and eat at the same time! I’ve been hunting for the perfect helper, and here is the answer right in front of my nose. Or is it next to my nose? Happy November Scavenger Hunt!

I have loaded a great leveling tool to our blog that will help you level your books at home…and find books that at the just right level for your reader.

Go to the page link above, Book Leveling Help, to use this new tool.

Time is Running Out

Please read the following post from Nicholas Ceglarek, Superintendent for Hudsonville Public Schools. Reductions could directly impact the Reading Support program next year at our school.

I will be joining classroom teachers to discuss reading with parents of my support students. We will be reviewing your child’s reading strengths and goals, as well as showing progress since September. Looking forward to seeing you this week!

Time is running out.  Our Governor and legislative leaders in Lansing are proposing devastating cuts to public education.  In addition to the $165 per pupil cut to all public schools, the State Budget Director has notified school leaders another $127 per pupil cut is coming in less than 30 days.  The only way this will not happen is if our Governor and legislators can agree to a funding solution addressing the revenue shortfall.  To find out how to help prevent this funding crisis, please listen to my message and visit the links here:   FUNDING CRISIS

To find out more about the history of school funding, FIVE DAYS TO FIX SCHOOL FUNDING, GR PRESS

Nicholas Ceglarek, Superintendent

I hope this letter finds you all healthy. I am writing to give you an update on the H1N1 influenza and to inform you of how we will proceed with flu outbreaks within the district. We are working very closely with the Ottawa County Health Department (OCHD) to monitor the health and safety of our students. If you suspect your child has the flu, please see your health care provider.

Symptoms of H1N1 influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. If your child is sick with these symptoms, please keep them home from school for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. (The fever should be gone without the use of a fever reducing medicine.) This will help prevent the spread of this illness to others.

This school year, the school closure protocol from the Centers for Disease Control and the Health Department is different from last year. Schools will not be closed due to a single confirmed case of H1N1. We know that we already have illness likely caused by the H1N1 virus throughout Ottawa County, therefore the decision to close a school will be based on the number and severity of illnesses. We continue to monitor the attendance at each building carefully. If a building’s attendance drops below 75 percent, we may consider closing the school but will make this decision in consultation with the Health Department.

The OCHD anticipates widespread illness attributed to the H1N1 virus, some of which will be confirmed but much more will be undiagnosed with symptoms. Neither the Health Department nor the District will be able to send a letter home each time we receive notification of a confirmed case. We will update you as needed, putting the safety and well-being of your children first. We are hoping that the H1N1 influenza does not spread as expected, but we all need to follow the guidelines from the Health Department to keep our community safe. These guidelines include:

• get a seasonal flu vaccination and the H1N1 vaccine for your child when it becomes available
• advise children to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze
• wash hands often
• have children avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth
• keep your child home when sick with flu like symptoms

Sincerely,
Mr. Nicholas Ceglarek, Superintendent

READ! Reading really is my favorite thing to do. I am so lucky to have a job as a reading teacher where I can surround myself with readers all day! I like to read all kinds of things… I read newspapers, recipe books, picture books, mysteries, fantasy, and long, long, books. This summer I read some great kids’ books that my son, Will, recommended. He is going into 6th grade and loves reading about as much as I do. The Lightning Thief series by Rick Riordan was fantastic, sort of like Harry Potter and ancient mythology combined. Another great pick from Will was Eliza Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary Schmidt, one of my favorite authors. In the summer, I love to read outside on my patio. When it’s cold, I like to wrap myself up in my warmest blanket and read on the couch. Happy October Scavenger Hunt!

What are the three best ways parents can support teachers when it comes to reading at home and in schools? PBS in their Thursday Threes feature has some terrific advice. Check out this link!

http://tinyurl.com/nklsor

In July, I went to Canada with my family. My parents live there on a beautiful lake. While we were there, we boated, fished, swam, and ate lots of ice cream. My highlight this summer was learning how to kayak in our new boat. We relaxed and had fun with extended family and the cousins played endless games of kick-the-can. It was a wonderful summer trip to remember and we look forward to going again next year!

Happy hunting!