December  2018                

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

It's hard to believe we are almost halfway through this school year.  The students and staff have been working hard together to discover, learn, and grow.  It's very exciting to watch their joy and confidence grow as they master new skills, overcome obstacles, and cultivate friendships.  As we strive to keep everything in balance, that includes getting outside for fresh air and play, even during winter weather.  Please remember that we do go out to recess whenever we can. The rule of thumb is if it is over 20 degrees with the wind chill, we will be outside. Students need to dress appropriately. It is helpful if you label your students' winter gear. It is unbelievable the number of misplaced items that we place in lost and found each day.

As the hustle and bustle of the season is about to sweep us up in its momentum, I want to take a moment to tell you how grateful I am to work with your children and how much joy they bring me.  Their smiles, their enthusiasm, and their kindness fill Harman with a spirit that makes each day special.   I wish all of our Harman families a holiday season of love, joy, and special memories with loved ones.  Happy Holidays!

HARMAN HAPPENINGS

STAYING CONNECTED

One Call

Oakwood Schools uses the One Call Now messaging system to send voice messages to our families. By default, the "Home" number of the person listed as the student's primary contact is automatically entered into the One Call Now system. If you would like to add additional numbers, go to www.oakwoodschools.org/resources/voice-notifications.

Oakwood's New Youtube Channel

In our continuing efforts to reach all of our community members, we have a new Youtube channel. Organized by buildings and different projects, you can see a glimpse of the exciting activities going on around the district.

Visit and subscribe at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC57_LsN1iWfpDYQOBQk0H_w?view_as=public

CURRICULUM CROSSING

Sixth Grade Book Clubs

Sixth Graders are participating in Book Clubs this quarter! Each student had a choice of four different titles to read, explore, and discuss. Students annotate using the Notice and Note Signposts, and then work through various activities in Google Classroom. Meetings are held once a week and give learners a chance to discuss their reading with their peers and work on team challenges. The Book Club experience allows students to think critically, write for a variety of purposes, collaborate with others, and enjoy some fantastic literature!

Comprehension Strategy for Close Reading Skills

Annotating the Text

Have you noticed your child writing comments and symbols in their assigned reading?  Do you see stars, questions marks, exclamation points, and checkmarks all over the page?  If so, praise them for taking the time to stop and think about what they are reading. 

What is Annotation?

• Text annotation is a close reading strategy in which students actively interact with the text.  
   

What's the Point?

• Studies show that students who annotate the text while they read are more likely
  to retain information. It is a permanent record of a student's thinking and
  "conversation" with the text. It is also a way to help prepare for discussion and
  writing prompts.

How is Annotating the Text Used by Teachers?

• Teachers explicitly model how to annotate text. Teachers model their thinking
  aloud so that students can hear and see effective close reading. If it is a textbook,
  teachers may use sticky notes to model summarization, connections, analysis,
  and other higher-level thinking strategies. If it is an article, teachers may write directly within the margins.
   

How is Annotating the Text Used by Students?

• Text annotation forces students to slow their reading down in order to capture
  the author's main points and uncover any ideas that would remain hidden if the
  text is simply "read." Students can use this critical reading strategy to:
  • Summarize a passage
  • Paraphrase or interpret difficult text
  • Document new learning
  • Record questions about the text
  • Connect the text to past learning experiences or their life
  • Make predictions
  • Record reactions or feelings about the text

MANY THANKS!

Thank you to Amanda Wyatt, Kelly Hick and all of our volunteers who brought COSI to us!  The students had a wonderful time learning and exploring.

Thank you to Laura Woeste and the countless volunteers who made Trivia Night such a success!  Your generosity will support many new opportunities for our students this year and in the future.

Thank you to Allie Zelik, Sarah Morgan, Alicia Dunlap and the many families who donated and served at our Veterans Day breakfast.  We are grateful for the opportunity to honor and serve those in our community who have served in the military for all of us.

Thank you to Tara Nabholz, Laura Woeste and the first and second grade families for the delicious feast for the staff.  We are grateful for your kindness during such a busy time for everyone! 

SCHOOL CALENDARS

Harman Calendar

WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA