Ahhhh….. spring! Even though we had a mild winter, it was still exhilarating to have the first day of spring arrive.  After a winter with little precipitation, we hope April showers will bring those May flowers. At HOD, April brings something just as lovely and captivating as flowers - it brings an abundance of POEMS. That’s because April is National Poetry Month at the H. Olive Day School. We will highlight and celebrate poetry every day for an entire month! We all know that...

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HOD – it’s a great place to be!  That is because all of us at HOD KNOW that it takes a village to raise and educate a child! Here are just a few people who deserve a special HOD High 5! You will see more High 5’s every month. The Norfolk Teacher Parent Association for funding wonderful curriculum enhancement programs throughout the school year for all of our students. Our students not only enjoy but also learn a great deal from these curriculum related presentations! Our...

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With spring sports on the horizon, now is a great time to review and practice good sportsmanship skills! Though everybody wants to win, someone is always going to lose and some kids find it harder to lose than others. Learning to win and lose gracefully and the ability to be a good sport is key to social success for children.   It is disappointing to lose; we need to acknowledge how our children feel and teach, as well as model, what to do when you lose. I always remind children they...

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Springtime is a busy time in the music room. We are singing songs that enhance our reading books from the Frog and Toad adventures. I will share many of the songs of friendship, playtime fun with friends, and read aloud those stories that apply.The First and Second Grades are working hard to prepare their best performance during our annual concerts coming up soon.Watch your child's backpack for announcement letters to parents about concert dates and times. See you soon! Mrs. Madden

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2nd Grade NewsFamily Fitness Nights 6:30-7:30April 11, 2012 - Mrs. Niedzwecki, Mrs.Aucella, and Mrs. AndersonApril 12, 2012 – Mrs. Leger, Mrs. MacKenzie, and Mrs. Pfeiffer Each Family Fitness Night will give second grade students and their parents an opportunity to participate in physical fitness activities which are components of the second grade physical education curriculum. The program will include a variety of fitness activities including cup stacking, hula hoop huts, and a math game...

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This month our students are working with fractions, discovering symmetry, building 3D shapes, and spying them in everyday objects.  It can become difficult with the growing schedule of extra curricula and sport commitments this month to find time to fit in the additional activities and games that enrich our children’s learning and cultivate their enthusiasm for math.  Stories at bedtime continue to be a great avenue for placing math in context.  Check our local libraries for...

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Spring has sprung a little earlier than usual this year and the art room at HOD welcomed the unseasonably warm weather with watercolors! Recently, both kindergarten and first grade students splashed their wet brushes across watercolor paper with delight. Many teachers and parents see this art medium as an easy way to introduce painting to young children. In fact, virtually all of the students had attempted watercolors in some form or another-- some at home, many as early as preschool. While the...

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The end of the year is so much fun in the computer lab as we can now pull together skills that have been introduced throughout the year and apply it to projects which demonstrate many skills rather than a few in isolation. Kindergarten students are working on word processing skills as well as continuing their work with reading skills using Lexia. They are not only learning to write their first and last name but will also soon be logging into our computer system where they will have a personal...

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The book fair was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who volunteered. The chairpeople were Mrs. Elizabeth Falvey and Mrs. Nan Hill. The points earned were used to buy new books for library.  The preschool and kindergarten classroom have been reading “oldies but goodies” such as, The Runaway Bunny, Millions of Cats and Corduroy.First graders have been reading Thacher Hurd books, Hobo Dog and Pea Patch Jig.Second graders have been reading, unusual adventures, such as, Spike,...

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During the next few months, we are going to share information with you about the different comprehension strategies we teach students to help them become more active, engaged readers. The following article, from the TeacherVision website, highlights the importance of predicting. What Is It?Effective readers use pictures, titles, headings, and text—as well as personal experiences – to make predictions before they read. Predicting involves thinking ahead while reading and anticipating...

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Parent–Teacher Conferences: A Tip Sheet for ParentsTaken from: The Harvard Family Research Project Website As a parent, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. You and your child’s school have something in common: You both want your child to learn and do well. When parents and teachers talk to each other, each person can share important information about your child’s talents and needs. Each person can also learn something new about how to help your child....

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Dear Parents and Guardians, We’ve all heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Not only do we believe that to be true at HOD, but we also believe that the “village” needs to educate the whole child.  As a result, we long ago adopted a whole child approach to education in our school. Why is a whole child approach important? When Molly McCloskey, the Managing Director of the Whole Child Initiative for the Association for Supervision and Curriculum...

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Mrs. Carolyn Kelley, HOD School Adjustment Counselor, for organizing our very successful “Eyes and Hi’s” initiative.  When you see her, say “Hi!” and give her a well deserved high 5! Mrs. Robbins and Mrs. Key, HOD secretaries, for not only assisting with every operation and task at HOD, but also for making sure that the office is decorated for every occasion! We don’t know how HOD could function without them! Coach McInnis and 12 members of the King Philip...

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Studies show that anxiety disorder is one of the most common of all mental health conditions in children.  The rate of anxiety disorders is thought to be between 6 -10 percent nationally as written in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.   When I began working with young children, I was surprised to find anxiety and emotional regulation the most common concerns in my own work.  Over the years I have taught many relaxation strategies and techniques and run groups that specifically...

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The year is just flying by and our computer classes are now getting into longer projects. We have continued our work with Lexia and Acuity. Our Kindergarten students have begun typing their first names into Stationary Studio, one of our word processing programs. This is very exciting as by the end of the class, students have been introduced to utilizing a shift key, delete key and return key. After achieving a comfort level with first names, last names will be added.Grade one is creating a Keynote...

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SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR CREATING STRONG READERS(Taken from the U.S. Department of Education’s website at:www2.ed.gov/parents/read/resources/readingtips/readingtips.pdf)Without doubt, reading with children spells success for early literacy. Putting a few simple strategies into action will make a significant difference in helping children develop into good readers and writers.Through reading aloud, providing print materials, and promoting positive attitudes about reading and writing, you can...

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2nd Grade NewsThe 2nd grade students really enjoyed the annual skating trip to the Norfolk Arena.  Please check the NCTV schedule to view the guest performers, skating lessons, and the recreational skating. A special thanks to Mrs. Joan Piller and the parent volunteers who helped the students during the skating trip. I would also like to thank Mr. Jim Lehan who attends the trip each year and the Holmes Bus Company who provides us with free transportation. The 2nd graders have started to...

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There is always quite a buzz around math vocabulary.  Children need to be exposed to math language in meaningful ways.  Some math terms are already high frequency words in our homes.  How many times during the day do you use the word time?   What time is it? It’s time to wake up? You’re wasting time. Be sure to get there on time. How many times have I told you? It’s lunchtime. You get the idea.  Famous quotes can be included as well: Take...

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