Have an amazing winter break!

We cannot wait to see you in 2012.  The entire staff at Country Meadows

wishes your family a wonderful time together.  We love when the students come back

with so many stories about the rest, relaxation, and fabulous times with 

family and friends.  We plan to make this time together memorable and hope you do too!

Happy Holidays-

The Country Meadows Staff

Mark your calendars!

4th Grade Parents are invited to math night on January 11th from 7pm until 8pm at Prairie School.  Click on this link for more information:  PARENTS OF 4TH-GRADERS MATH NIGHT

Friday, December 8th

Sneak Peek

Enjoy this sneak peek of our upcoming music concert!  We hope that you can come even if you do not have a 4th or 5th grader.  The first video highlights our students using green screen technology! At the concert, you'll also see student created digital back-drops such as the second example below.  It is truly going to be amazing.  We hope to see you on Wednesday Night starting at 6:30pm!

Reminder about the iLab...

Students continue to master learning targets through creative technology!  Make sure you ask your student about his/her time in the iLab.  Below, you see examples of student work completed in the iLab.  Have your student take a look to see if it is his or hers!  We are so proud to showcase the integration of technology, literacy, and science or social studies.  

What’s in the iLab?

Through the generous donation from the PTO, the iLab is equipped with 14 new iPad2s and cases for protection.  Through District 96 funds, we have added 10 laptop computers and 9 iPod Touches.  Students will also be using an LCD projector complete with an interactive whiteboard.  We also have access to various cameras for still and video images.  We have added a green screen!  The iLab is located in the center of the building, in front of the Learning Resource Center, also known as the former computer lab. 

How will the ilab be used?

Mrs. Angel (Information Communication Technology Literacy Director) and Mr. Hanrahan (Technology Integration Specialist) are working in tandem to enhance our students’ learning through this experience.  Both are familiar with each grade levels’ targets that are being instructed in literacy, science, and social studies.  Mrs. Angel works with these targets during Learning Resource instruction. During this time, she provides a heavy emphasis on navigating informational text integrating science and social studies targets, research, and project creation for communication purposes.  Using various technologies, students begin work with Mrs. Angel and then continue this workshop during their time in the iLab, which can also expand to the classroom.  Mr. Hanrahan provides creative support to teachers in implementing this technology  in classrooms.  Ask your child about having worked with Mr. Hanrahan.  

All in all, the students will spend this time each work acquiring 21^st Century Learning Skills and continue a rigorous acquisition of science and social studies targets.  The iLab is also a space that classroom teachers can bring students to work.  Further, all of this technology is available for teachers to check-out to use in the classroom as a tool as well.  Continue to ask your student about using these tools as the school year continues. 

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Kathy Angel, Bob Hanrahan or me (Katie Schneider)! 

Friday, December 2nd - WOW, I can't believe it's December!

Hi Families - 

The first light snow indicates that winter is truly, officially here!  Stay warm and please remember that the students go outside for recess each day.  As this year has progressed, I have tried different formats for including information in this blog from bullets to narratives and mid-week postings.  Thank you for your feedback in giving me ideas about what works best for you.   For this week, here are some highlights of the week:

• See below for the schedule of performances tonight at Barnes and Noble in Lincolnshire.

• Today was Dessert Day - YUM!  

• If you missed the report card night hosted by the district and still have questions, click here for the Report Card Podcast complete with teacher testimonial.

• Superintendent of Schools, Julie Schmidt, visited with us this week.  She attended music class this week, our staff meeting on Tuesday, and spent informal time with staff today.  We love that she is so connected to the amazing things happening at Country Meadows.  

• All classrooms received wonderful notes from me about the fabulous learning that has been occurring.  Ask your child about my visit this week!  From preparing for the 4th and 5th grade musical in art and music, to bowling in gym, and including great learning in the classrooms, it's been an amazing week watching the students work.

• Lisa Zimmerman, our math specialist, hosted a math night for our parents to practice our 2nd grade focus algorithms as well as give advice about supporting math learning at home.  Click here for the  presentation.

We loved seeing you at conferences to discuss your child's amazing progress!  Thank you again for attending.  

See you soon!

Katie Schneider

Important Announcement and Clarification

Music Announcement:

Oops! Correct to a note sent home to 2nd graders about the Barnes and Noble Book fair Performance:

The date for the concert should be Friday, December 2nd. Sorry for the inconvenience.

From, 

Mr. Rathgeber

Barnes and Noble PTO Book Fair Performances:

Come out to the Lincolnshire Barnes and Noble on Friday, December 2nd for a special performance by every grade at CM! The Barnes and Noble PTO Book Fair is such a fun time every year and the performance has become highly anticipated and enjoyed event for students, families, and staff! Please take a look below for the complete schedule. We hope to see you on the December 2nd!

1st Grade: Arrive by 6:15

Performance at 6:30

2nd Grade: Arrive by 6:30

Performance at 6:45

3rd Grade: Arrive by 6:45

Performance at 7:00

4th & 5th Grades: Arrive by 7:00

Performance at 7:20

CM Singers: Arrive by 7:00

Performance at 7:40

Friday, November 18, 2011

• ·      Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!  At Country Meadows, we are so thankful for so much!  We are honored to work with such amazing students, parents, and colleagues.  

• ·      Before Thanksgiving comes, take some time to review your child's report card and participate in Parent-Teacher conferences.  

• ·      Thank you for a wonderful Family Reading Night!  Reading really took us places.  It was so fun to see so many of you have a great time last night! 

A message from Paul Louis - Director of Curriculum and Assessment

Dear Parents,

As you know, our first Trimester Report Cards go home today for students in grades 1-5.  Our Kindergarten Report Cards are being provided to you during your scheduled Parent/Teacher Conference.  We are very pleased to share our newly developed standards based report cards with you as we believe that they clearly communicate student achievement of grade level specific learning targets and student work habits.   We have worked hard over the last weeks and months to prepare for these new report cards.  Our teachers have been amazing throughout this entire process from gathering information about each of the learning targets listed on the report card and building consistency across their grade level to learning the new process of inputting grades into the program.  

Please understand that with any new system, we may find a few glitches or issues during this first round of Report Cards.  Some we may not have been able to anticipate until the entire process was completed.  We will work hard to correct or improve any of the issues over the coming months and into next year.  We appreciate your patience and understanding through this process.  Please feel free to direct any questions comments to your building principal or to me directly (plouis@kcsd96.org).  Please remember to fill out the Parent/Teacher Conference Evaluation Form provided to you during your conferences.  Your feedback will be used as we continue to make improvements to the system.

Sincerely,

Paul Louis

Director of Curriculum and Assessment

Report Cards go home today!  This is a link to a presentation that will help you with the report card.  Check it out!  A podcast will be available soon too! UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD'S ELEMENTARY REPORT CARD

Conferences will be on November 21^st ad 22^nd. 

We are so eager to prepare for conferences to discuss your child’s achievement thus far in the school year.  Our teachers are thrilled to invite you into the classroom and share examples of your child’s success during Parent-Teacher conferences (November 21^st and 22^nd).  These meetings will be held for 15 minutes so we can make sure that each family has the opportunity to discuss student performance.  Look for your specific appointment time and date in a note from your child’s classroom teacher. 

I would love to see you at conferences as well!  Feel free to call the school to set-up an appointment.  Also, if you wish, find time to stop by the gym and preview the materials that will be used for upcoming units on Human Growth and Development. 

Click here for more information: 

Human Growth & Development Program Standards Letter, Grades 3 & 4

Human Growth & Development Standards, Grade 5

Human Growth & Development Unit Phys. Ed. Curriculum Info, Grades 3–5

11.11.11

Family Reading Night is November 17^th starting from 7 – 8 pm!  We cannot wait to see you there! 

Report Cards Go Home on Friday, November 18, 2011.  This is a link to the presentation from Wednesday night.  Check it out!  A podcast will be available soon too! UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD'S ELEMENTARY REPORT CARD

Conferences will be on November 21^st ad 22^nd. 

We are so eager to prepare for conferences to discuss your child’s achievement thus far in the school year.  Our teachers are thrilled to invite you into the classroom and share examples of your child’s success during Parent-Teacher conferences (November 21^st and 22^nd).  These meetings will be held for 15 minutes so we can make sure that each family has the opportunity to discuss student performance.  Look for your specific appointment time and date in a note from your child’s classroom teacher. 

I would love to see you at conferences as well!  Feel free to call the school to set-up an appointment.  Also, if you wish, find time to stop by the gym and preview the materials that will be used for upcoming units on Human Growth and Development. 

Click here for more information: 

Human Growth & Development Program Standards Letter, Grades 3 & 4

Human Growth & Development Standards, Grade 5

Human Growth & Development Unit Phys. Ed. Curriculum Info, Grades 3–5

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey about informational opportunities at CM !  Click here for the survey. 

Further, District 96 will be hosting three additional informational parent night this school year.  This Wednesday, we discussed the new elementary report card.  This year, we will also be hosting the following presentations:  The Common Core and Standards Based at the Middle School Level, 21^st Century Learning Skills, and Social Emotional Learning.  Be on the lookout for the dates so you can mark you calendars.  For more information about the District 96 Curriculum, click here. 

Email your PTO room parent -

The PTO Room Parents are looking for you to get in touch with the Room Parent to your classroom.  If you are interested in sharing your contact information, you can find the list of emails here.