Coolidge Chronicle
October 22, 2023
A Message from Mrs. Ostrander
ST Math At Home
ST Math is an instructional software program that supports students mathematical problem solving skills. By logging into ST Math students learn foundational concepts visually without language prompts. Without language barriers, the problem is accessible to all students, regardless of skill level or language background. With visual learning, students are better equipped to tackle unfamiliar math problems, recognize patterns, and build conceptual understanding.
ST Math is mastery based, which means students must pass each level with a score of 100% (all puzzles correctly solved) before the next level in a sequence becomes available to them. Each student has their own personalized journey and each child can take as long as they need to achieve mastery.
Some teachers have asked students to login into ST Math at home. But what should you do if your child is stuck on an ST Math puzzle at home? You don’t want to give them the answer or do the puzzle for them, but you don’t want them to shut down either. Try these strategies instead:
- When a student isn’t sure what to do, you can remind them to look for clues as they move their pointer around the puzzle screen.
- Provide manipulatives (math tools) and make sure your child understands how to use them to model the puzzle. Manipulatives could be household items or food such as blocks/legos, beans, cereal, dried pasta, coins, buttons, or other loose items.
- Have your child talk you through the puzzle so you can hear where their understanding breaks down.
- Use the questions below to help clarify your child's misunderstanding.
COOLIDGE COMMUNITY PHOTOS
2- Minute Mingle with Mrs. Grillo
Overlapping Pumpkins with Mrs. Loconsolo
Math Manipulatives Help Us Learn!
COOLIDGE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
October Musician of the Month from Morocco, Hamid El Kasri!
This October we have been learning about a musician from Morocco, Hamid El Kasri. Hamid El Kasri is a Maalem of Gnawa music. Maalem means master in Arabic. Hamid El Kasri left home at the age of 7 7 to begin his studies of Gnawa music in Tetuan. Gnawa music was originally part of a trance ceremony called a lila. And was intended to cure spiritual and physical sickness. Hamid El Kasri has been a leading figure in popularizing Gnawa music. When listening to Gnawa music you will hear 2 distinct instruments: the gimbri, a bass sounding lute that has three strings and is played with plucking as well as the qraqeb, which are metal sounding castanets that weigh about 2 pounds each and held in the musicians hand. In fourth grade students have noticed that Gnawa music is both duple and triple meter. This means that one instrument is grouping the small beats into groups of 2 and another instruments is grouping beats together into groups of 3. This polyrhythm is unusual in the popular music we hear on the radio and is hard to figure out because of the fast pace of the Gnawa music. If you care to listen to Hamid El Kasri click this spotify linkto access a playlist of some of his most notable tunes. Please note that you will need to create a spotify account to play these songs, it is free with some Ads.
NEW IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Clarity on Universal Free Lunch
We are pleased to announce that Massachusetts has adopted the universal free school meals program, ensuring that every student has access to school meals at no cost, regardless of their economic background.
It is important to note that the free meals program includes one free breakfast and one free lunch per student each day. Students choosing to have another lunch or additional a-la-carte items must purchase these items at the rate of the meal or a-la-carte item.
Effective October 23, 2023 the price of school lunch will be raised to $4.50 for all levels to align with USDA regulations. This is the cost for the purchase of a second, full meal.
To also meet USDA regulations, students must take 3 out of the 5 meal components: Protein, Grain, Milk, Fruit and Vegetable offered at lunch, and one component must be a Fruit or Vegetable for the lunch to qualify as a reimbursable universal free meal.
DIGITAL LOST & FOUND
Lost & Found
We are taking the Lost and Found digital! New this year Click here to see items that are in our lost & found. Lost & found is located right outside of our cafeteria and can be picked up in person during arrival and dismissal. If you see an item that belongs to your child you can also email nturnblom@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us or your child's classroom teacher to claim the item. Please label your child's items.
REPEATED IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Shrewsbury Colonials Robotics Team Open House
The Shrewsbury Colonials FIRST Robotics Team 467 will be holding their Annual Open House at Shrewsbury High School on Sunday, November 5th from 1:00 PM-3:00 PM. Come check out our robot and workshop, see what we do and try your hand at some fun STEM activities. Free Lego pieces and free popcorn! All ages welcome.
CHESS registration is open! Class starts October 25th!
Coolidge ASAP Fall Classes- NOW OPEN!
Coolidge will be offering four different after-school classes, taught by Coolidge staff, beginning October 26th. Registration will open on Wednesday, October 4th at 7:00AM, through the parent portal. The classes will meet on Thursdays from 3:45-4:45 for six weeks. Since all classes run at the same time, students may only register for one class. The cost for the six-week session is $40, and your registration is not complete until payment is received. Class sizes are limited and spaces fill quickly.
The classes being offered are:
Ballroom Dance – grades 1-4
Creature Creation – Grades 2, 3, 4
Arts and Crafts – Grades 1-4
Fun with Board Games – Grades 3, 4
Class details and dates can be found on the Coolidge website.
https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/coolidge/activities
For more information, contact Karen Isaacson, Director of Extended Learning
OCTOBER PTO UPDATE & NEWSLETTER
Coolidge Fall Festival!
We are less than a week away from our annual Fall Festival! Join us at the Coolidge playground for a fun-filled event on Friday, October 27, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Please consider volunteering during our Fall Festival. We have lots of fun activities planned and need your help to make sure this is a fun event for our Coolidge community.
Dine Out Night!
The Reading and Math Incentive Program Starts This Week!
The reading and math incentive program is a motivating way to get students excited about doing reading and math activities at home. After a chart is filled, they will bring it into school and get a new one. Students will receive prizes throughout the year for completed charts. If your child completes at least 5 of each chart at the end of the year, they will receive a medal.
The reading incentive program asks each student to read or be read to for a certain amount of minutes per day depending on their grade. Students will cross off or color a book on their chart for every 10 or 15 minutes they read. Kindergarteners, 1st and 2nd graders need to read 10 minutes to color in a book and 3-4 graders need to read for 15 minutes.
The math incentive program asks each student to complete math fact practice, ST Math, or Freckle for a certain amount of minutes per day depending on their grade. Students will cross off or color a robot on their chart for every 5 or 10 minutes they work on math. Kindergarteners, 1st and second graders need to work for 5 minutes to color in a robot and 3-4 graders need to work for 10 minutes.
Parent Volunteers Needed! Reading & Math Incentive Trackers
We are in need of one parent per class who can count up the amount of incentive charts passed in by each student in that class. Your child's teacher would send home the calendars received and you would write them on a spreadsheet provided to you. If you think that you would be able to help in this way, please email Himani Shah at himani.sh@outlook.com. Please give your name, your child's name, and your child's classroom teacher in the email.Thank you in advance for your support.
Coolidge Kids Night Out!
Save the date: November 21 from 6-8 pm.
The Coolidge PTO will be hosting our first ever Kids Night Out right at Coolidge! This night will raise funds to support field trips for each grade level.- Spots will be limited to 50 students. ($20 per student to joins
- Includes: Movie, a craft, pizza, a juice box, and popcorn.
- Stay tuned for more information about the event, and volunteer sign up.
IMPORTANT DATES
Reminders: Mark Your Calendars! Important Dates for August & September
November
9- Parent Conference Day
10- Veteran's Day / No School
22-24 - Thanksgiving Break / No School
December
4- Gingerbread Shop
5- Early Release for Students / Teacher PD in PM
18- T1 Report Card available in PowerSchool
25-29- Winter Vacation / No School
Calvin Coolidge School
Website: https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/coolidge
Location: 1 Florence Street, Shrewsbury, MA, USA
Phone: 5088418880
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoolidgeElementarySchool