Katie Tasch, katie_tasch@hcpss.org: (M-F) Servicing:  1st, 2nd, 4th, & 5th 

Sarah Coppi, sarah_coppi@hcpss.org: (M, T, designated F) Servicing: K & 3rd  

Classroom Guidance with Mrs. Tasch 

This year, those students in grades 1, 2, 4, & 5 will receive classroom guidance lessons in rotations. Each rotation is broken into approximately 2 six week cycles. During the first 6 weeks, grades 1 & 5 receive 3 classroom guidance lessons. During the second 6 weeks, grades 2 & 4 receive 3 classroom guidance lessons. Lessons take place in individual classrooms. Currently, students in grades 1 & 5 are receiving classroom guidance lessons. They will participate in the following 3 lessons which are projected to be completed on or before October 26th: 

First Grade 

Lesson 1 – Review of BIG PROBLEMS and how to solve them (“Go to the NEAREST, TRUSTED ADULT). Big Problems have been identified as being one of the following: 

• You or someone else IS HURT
  • Your or someone else COULD GET HURT 
  • The problem is DANGEROUS or LAW BREAKING 
  • STRANGERS are involved 

Lesson 2 – Review of how to identify if a problem is small (basically, it does not fit the criteria for a BIG PROBLEM) and how to solve our small problems using Kelso’s Choices. (School Counseling Core Curriculum.) 

Lesson 3 – Students participate in a tower building activity in order to promote an understanding of how to work cooperatively in a group to accomplish a task. (School Counseling Core Curriculum.)  

Fifth Grade 

Lesson 1 - Review of our school-wide problem solving strategies Kelso’s Choices (see above First Grade - Lessons 1 & 2). Additionally, students take an online quiz at www.educationplanner.com titled “What’s My Learning Style” in order to identify individual learning styles (auditory, visual, and tactile). Students then read about their strength and things they can do to make studying easier by relying on their primary learning style. For example, Mrs. Tasch learned that she is 10% Auditory, 50% Visual, and 40% tactile. She learned that chewing gum while studying would be beneficial for her. Be sure to ask your child what s/he learned about her/him self during this lesson. For more information feel free to visit the above web address with your child. (School Counseling Core Curriculum.) 

Lesson 2 & 3 – Students identify responsible communication skills to respond to various types of bullying in order to promote social and emotional safety and well-being. (School Counseling Core Curriculum.) 

Second and Fourth Grades 

Students will participate in 3 classroom guidance lessons between October 29th and December 14th. More information about these lessons will follow at a later date. 

You can reach Mrs. Tasch by phone 410-880-5900 or by email: katie_tasch@hcpss.org

Classroom Guidance with Mrs. Coppi 

Kindergarten and third grade classrooms will be visited once a month for classroom counseling lessons. As a new staff member and helping adult in the school building, the first lesson of the year will focus on an introduction to the counselor and intro/review of big & small problems. 

Kindergarten 

Please ask your child(ren) if they can remember the short song taught to remember my name and what a counselor helps with (to the tune of Frere Jacques)! 

“Mrs. Coppi, Mrs. Coppi 

Listens to you, Listens to you 

She cares about your feelings, She cares about your feelings 

And helps you too, And helps you too” 

 You can reach Mrs. Coppi by phone 410-880-5900 or by email: sarah_coppi@hcpss.org

Food for Thought 

Does your child’s homework have you both pulling out your hair? We certainly hope not! However, if it does, please consider the following: 

• Homework is NOT intended to divide relationships in the family. It is intended to be a review of the skills taught in the classroom and a great way for you to know what is being instructed. 
• Every child is different! Therefore, some children can handle coming home right away and completing homework assignments. Others might need to get a snack first. Some might need to get a snack and/or run around for a bit before settling down to do homework. Yet others might even need to do it in the morning as they are physically and mentally spent from the school day when they get home. For example, Mrs. Tasch does her best work in the A.M. With Gorman Crossing being a later starting school, she would benefit from doing her homework in the morning, in order to do her best and prepare for her day. It might take some time to figure out what works best for your child, but know the solution is out there! 
• Home assignments: 
  • Pre-K – 2nd “No more than 20 minutes of homework per night will be assigned. In Pre-K and Kindergarten there will be no assignments that must be submitted to the teacher.” * 
  • “Grades 3 – 5, with no more than 30 minutes required per night in grade 3, 40 minutes in grade 4, and 50 minutes in grade 5.”* 
• Homework should be flexible. “Assignments can be successfully completed with resources that are readily available within flexible timeframes to accommodate differing student schedules and pace.” * 
• Always reach out to your child’s teacher in the event that homework is a struggle or takes more than the recommended time period listed above. 

 * Taken from Homework Guidelines from HCPSS website. For more information, please visit: https://www.hcpss.org/academics/homework-guidelines/

PBIS Quarter 1 Acknowledgements 

So, how are the kids spending their hard-earned Gordy Bucks? Find your child/ren’s grade level below to find out! Happy Spending! 

Kindergarten 

9/28/18	"Playdate" centers in another room
10/5/18	Centers Outside
10/12/18	Bubbles
10/18/18	Bring a Toy Day
10/26/18	Funky Feet Day
11/2/18	Shaving Cream Party

First 

9/28/18	Domino Tracks
10/5/18	Fun Friday (Dance Party/Extra Recess)
10/12/18	Team Building (Rabbit Hole -- hula hoop/cones)
10/18/18	Fun Thursday (Apple Exploration Day)
10/26/18	Team Building (Minute to Win it pasta challenge)
11/2/18	Fun Friday (Relay Races, cup stacking, obstacle course)

 Second 

9/28/18	Team Building Human Knot / Gordy Store
10/5/18	Gordy Store/ Bring Your Own Board Game PBIS
10/12/18	Gordy Store and Team Building-Team Hula
10/18/19	Gordy Store/ Dance Party-PBIS
10/26/18	Gordy Store-Team Building Heads Up
11/2/18	Gordy Store-Computers-PBIS

 Third 

Sept. 28 – Fri.	Ready	Team Building Fun with Hula Hoops and Buddies in 5th Grade  3:00-3:30
Oct. 5 – Fri.	Respectful	Prize Box
Oct. 12 – Fri.	Responsible	Extra Recess
Oct. 18 – Thur.	Ready	Sit with a friend in Content
Oct. 26 – Fri.	Respectful	Bring a Game from Home  (no electronics)
Nov. 2 – Fri.	Responsible	Stuffed Animal Day

 Fourth 

9/28/18	Coupons
10/3/18?	Activity with First Grade
10/5/18	Team building - Pretzel Challenge
10/12/18	Cash-In Game choice in classrooms
10/26/18	Coupons
10/31/18	School Wide PBIS
11/2/18	Coupons

 Fifth 

9/28/2018	3rd grade Buddies/Hula Hoop Challenge
10/12/18	Marshmallow Launch
10/26/18	PJ/Movie

 

October 31st – School-wide PBIS Celebration

During the week of October 8th, students will be taking their first survey to see what the top 6 choices for primary (K-2) and Intermediate (3-5) are for spending an hour of time at our first school-wide PBIS celebration. The survey will be given during technology classes. Stay tuned for more details about the event, and to learn what primary and intermediate chose at their top six!