Reading with the Gamecocks winner
Demeter is the "Reading with the Gamecocks" Pontiac Elementary School winner! Congratulations!
A video message from Superintendent Molly Spearman
A video message Superintendent Molly Spearman created to provide an update on her first 30 days in office as your State Superintendent of Education.
http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/l082k
http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/l082k
Update on State Assessments
New laws passed by the South Carolina General Assembly have resulted in new tests that will be administered during the spring of 2015 throughout our state. Students in Grades 3-8 will take a new, timed test this school year called ACT Aspire. In Richland Two, our students will take the paper and pencil ACT Aspire tests for writing, English, reading and mathematics. They will not take the optional ACT Aspire test for science that some districts may use. This new test will help teachers understand where their students are succeeding and where extra help or academic focus is needed. By having a better understanding of a student’s skills, abilities, and knowledge, parents and teachers can determine what students need to know to be successful in school in the future. Students in Grades 4-8 will continue to take SCPASS for science and social studies. Schools have the option of administering SCPASS as an online test or a paper and pencil test. Third-graders will not take any state tests for science and social studies.
For more information on ACT Aspire, visit the Richland Two Assessment Web page the S.C. Department of Education’s ACT Web page.
Half Day: Collaboration
With the demands for implementation of the new State
Standards, the need for teacher collaboration and professional development is
imperative. Pontiac Elementary teachers are appreciative of the half
day collaboration days that are
provided to us by our district. Here is a glimpse of how we spent the
half-day collaborating on February 12:
Our Kindergarten team worked on their technology goal, using the SmartBoard software to enhance their classroom instructional units with interactive lessons. These teachers also planned creative ideas for our school Digital Learning Day that will be held in March! Did you know the week of March 2-6 we will celebrate Dr. Seuss? The Kindergarten team used the half day to develop an author study focusing on Dr. Seuss!
First grade students have a field study planned in April to the Challenger Center! After planning the field trip, the teachers in first grade spent the half day with our media specialist, Mrs. Haltiwanger. They reviewed Destiny, our online library catalog, and pulled library books on what the grade level is studying. The goal of the teachers in 1st grade is to guide students to pick out books based on their interest.
Math was the focus for 2nd grade teachers as they reviewed the math pacing guide and developed lesson plans for the upcoming unit. Intervention groups in math were also discussed to ensure students’ academic needs are being met.
The third grade teachers spent the half day with our school reading coach, Mrs. Gina Rodriguez. She worked with the teachers on developing writing prompts and ideas to better prepare students for the upcoming ASPIRE writing assessment.
Fourth grade spent the half day developing a blended learning model for fractions and Westward Expansion. Ask your student to tell you more about blended learning in the 4th grade! They love learning through technology!
Fifth grade spent the first part of our half day discussing our AVID snapshot and visit, and decided which teacher would be highlighted for Dr. Barber’s video. The team then broke into curriculum teams to plan Math/Science and ELA/Social Studies. The teachers were able to look ahead at the standards to see what other big ideas had to be addressed before testing.
Book Fair News!
You Can Shop Online!
The books you order online will be delivered to your child’s classroom. Copy and paste the following link
to shop as well as earn money for the library from the coziness of your own home!
http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/pontiacelementaryschool
Artwork Displayed at Yogen Fruz
How AWESOME is it that Pontiac and our local frozen yogurt shop, Yogen Fruz, have partnered together to showcase student artwork created by our wonderful students!!!
The following students currently have their work on display at the store:
Chase Caulder
Lina Schoppe
Ricky Diaz Hernandez
Abdulhahman Zaatar
Clark Green
Tihanna Hazely
Hope Hawkins
Ashley Crabtree
CONGRATULATIONS!
Please stop by Yogen Fruz to see Pontiac's art on display and to thank Anne Soni, owner, for this great opportunity! Grab a tasty treat while you're there!
Interims
Interim reports at Pontiac will be accessible from Parent
Portal this school year. Interims for the 3rd 9 week grading period will be
available to you from Parent Portal. If you have an active Parent Portal
account, you may check your child's grades each week and February 20 will
be the interim grade for each subject area for this grading period. When you
log in to your account, the grades will automatically appear on the screen.
There is not a report tab to click in Parent Portal.
It is important to monitor your child's progress through Parent
Portal before report cards are issued. The 3rd nine week report card
will be issued on April 9.
You can access Parent Portal at https://parents.richland2.org.
Create a Parent Portal Account
1. Click Create an Account
2. Complete the top section with your personal information. Write
down your
Username/Password.
3. Add your child(ren) in the fields below. To add student(s), you
will need to enter an Access ID and Access Password.
a. Access ID - Student ID number (either 12
or 5 digits). Your child's teacher or the front office can provide you with
your child's student id number if you need to create an account.
b. Access Password - Student’s birthday, using
6-digits without dashes or slashes.
Example: MMDDYY - 010104
4. Click Submit.
If you have any questions, please call the school at 699-2700.
Ms. Hernandez: February 17 to February 20, 2015
Ms. Hernandez: February 17 to February 20, 2015: A Few Weekly Reminders Thursday, February 19th- Jump Rope for Heart Day! Wear Jeans and a Red Shirt! Thursday, February 19th- Skate...
Pontiac Physical Eduation: Jump Rope for Heart
Pontiac Physical Eduation: Jump Rope for Heart: The day is nearly here...Jump Rope for Heart. Thursday, February 19th all Pontiac students will be getting their hearts pumping by jumping ...
Book Fair
Book Fair News!
You Can Shop Online!
The books you order online will be delivered to your child’s
classroom. Copy and paste the following link
to shop as well as earn money for the library from the coziness of
your own home!
You Can Shop Online!
The books you order online will be delivered to your child’s
classroom. Copy and paste the following link
to shop as well as earn money for the library from the coziness of
your own home!
Reminders:
Students will be dismissed at 11:30 tomorrow, February 12.
No School for students Friday, February 13 or Monday, February 16.
No Chorus next week.
No School for students Friday, February 13 or Monday, February 16.
No Chorus next week.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
Calling All Volunteers!
Calling All Volunteers!
February 17th - 24th - Book Fair
Please contact Mrs. Haltiwanger
@ 803-699-2700, ext.81541 if you are willing to help out.
The Relatives Came
The Relatives Came
A big thanks to all of you who helped us celebrate our 100th Day by reading to our students. We had a total of 75 readers! The students and teachers enjoyed the day. It was exciting to have lots of relatives share in our annual event!
A big thanks to all of you who helped us celebrate our 100th Day by reading to our students. We had a total of 75 readers! The students and teachers enjoyed the day. It was exciting to have lots of relatives share in our annual event!