Reminder: Wednesday, Feb. 3rd is a 12:30 Release Day for Teacher Professional Development.
On Tues. Feb. 2nd Winter Progress Reports will be available for families on ParentConnect. There is a link for ParentCONNECT on the school website and there is one on the district website as well. The address for the portal is: https://parentconnect.newton.k12.ma.us/
An email with the link and directions for accessing the Progress Report will be sent to every family on Tues. Feb. 2nd.
Some basic information: * You will need your login information to access the Progress Report.
If you need your login information or if you have a technical issue you can email the Tech Department at the Ed Center directly at parentconnect@newton.k12.ma.us
There are two ways the grades are displayed in the portal. A web view where the progress report looks like a web page (not formatted like the printed version) and a copy of the PDF, which looks just like the printed version.
Please note: The web view does not show any narrative overall comments, the PDF does. It is important to review the PDF version, otherwise you will miss the overall comments (instructions will be in the email sent on Feb. 2nd).
To help parents understand the categories on the Progress Report you can access the descriptors.
When you click to view the progress report, right above it there will be links for the descriptors for every grade, when you click on the appropriate grade link, the descriptors PDF will open in a new tab within the web browser. (The directions for this will also be included in the email).
To ensure ALL families have access to the Progress Report, Lincoln-Eliot will be sending home a paper copy with each child on Tuesday. It is important, however, that you have access to ParentConnect so you have reference to the Progress Report and other information at all times.
PTO & School Site Council Meeting
Minutes from January PTO & School Site Council Meeting with Supt. David Fleishman and Members of the School Committee:
On Monday, January 25th Superintendent David Fleishman and members of the school committee met with our PTO and Site Council for our annual school meeting. Minutes from the meeting are noted below.
- Recent changes/updates for Lincoln-Eliot have been focused on increasing student achievement including:
- L-E has had an increase in enrollment from 2 classrooms at each grade level with large class sizes in 2010 to now 3 classes at each grade level with smaller class sizes.
- The addition of co-taught classrooms at 2 grade levels (4 & 5).
- The addition of the Team Chair Role. This frees up Learning Center Teachers to provide more direct services to students.
- A significant increase in technology.
- More support in math and literacy for small group targeted instruction.
- Building renovations including a new boiler system, internal painting, window replacement, updating the main office.
- School committee members presented an overview of the long-range plans for school building projects across the district. Angier opened two weeks ago. Zervas has now moved to the Carr School while Zervas is undergoing construction. Cabot will be next in the pipeline. Eventually Horace Mann will move into Carr.
- The long-range plan for the Aquinas building has begun. Right now the district is working on changing the windows in the main building to house the Preschool Program at that site beginning next Fall 2016. (This will free up one additional classroom at Lincoln-Eliot giving us more room for support instruction.) The next step is to renovate the smaller building (rectory building) which will become the permanent home of the Preschool Program. The main building will then be renovated for the new Lincoln-Eliot school. This plan includes building a gymnasium. The process involves applying for state funding to help build the new school. The projections are for Lincoln-Eliot to move to the Aquinas site in 2021.
- Discussion moved towards continuing to update our current building to improve the quality of life and instruction for the students at Lincoln-Eliot.
Family Science Night: SAVE THE DATE- Tues. February 23rd. Lincoln-Eliot is excited to host our second Family Science Night. We are moving into the gym this year to allow for more space based on last year’s participation. We hope every child (and family) works on a science project. Family Science Night is not a competition. Students may work independently, with a partner, or with their family. All participants receive a participation medal. See the attached flyer for details.
Crocodile River Music Dance Workshops for Grades K-5:
Thanks to a STARS Residency Grant funded by the Mass Cultural Arts Council, all Lincoln-Eliot students participated in two dance workshops highlighting African dance movements and drumming. Students learned the names of various drums, the country of origin, and various dance moves and how to count to the beat. The smiles on the students’ faces at the end of the workshop was evidence that fun was had by all!
Highlights from Classrooms – Spotlight on Grade 2!
Second grade is currently working on two very exciting Science and Math units. In Science, we are exploring the relationship between the earth, sun and moon. The unit allows for students to process their prior learning about the relationship of the sun and earth and the patterns that we see as a result of their motion – day and night. They are also able to understand that the earth has two motions and that the second is the pattern we identify as a year.
Students will also have an opportunity to review the earth and sun patterns and then to add the moon. The basic intuited conception of students is that the moon always appears as the same shape in the sky and is only visible at night. The essential understanding is that the moon reflects the sun’s light, it is visible during the day and the night and that the moon appears to change shape over a period of a month.
In Math we have begun Geometry. In this unit, students focus on various attributes of 2 dimensional shapes and how we classify using those attributes. Students also examine the attributes of 3 dimensional shapes, focusing on cubes. There is a lot of exploration in this unit, which allows students to stretch their thinking and hear ideas that may be different from their own.
Chinese Speaking Lessons
The ELL program for the Newton Public schools is providing Chinese-speaking liaisons to assist families and schools with home communication. If you are a parent, please use the number below to leave a message in either Mandarin or Cantonese.
Include your child’s name, home school, and your contact number with any questions or concerns regarding school and your child. If you are school personnel, please leave a message with your contact information, school, and reason for call. Messages will be returned within 24 hours during the school week when school is in session.
Mandarin phone line: Fenny Gao 617-559-6047
Cantonese phone line: Ling Chung 617-559-6032
ELL Social Worker: Rachael Kaplan 617-559-6048
Newton Girls Soccer Juniors and IM Spring Soccer Registration NOW OPEN
REGISTER NOW
Registration Deadlines: Register by March 5 to have a friend request considered. After March 5, a $15 late fee applies and placement is contingent on space. Click here for registration guidelines.
Click here for information about the juniors (Grade K-2) program.
Click here for information about the intramural (Grade 3-9) program.