Harmony Elementary April 2012 Monthly Parent Newsletter

1. “Children First at Harmony”
HARMONY HIGHLIGHTS Vol. 4 - Issue 7
April
For Wildcat Families 2011-2012
From the Principal, Anne Marie Keskonis
Dear Harmony Parents,
In the next few months we begin planning for the next
school year. Each year we offer our families the opportunity to
3946 South Bogan Road, Buford, GA 30519
provide input on class placements for the following year. Many
factors are taken into consideration when determining class lists.
Harmony Elementary School
The teachers and the administrative team work together in an ef-
fort to plan for the groupings of children for the next school year.
We look to balance the number of boys and girls in each class
Front Office
while considering ability levels and compatibility, learning styles
and teacher expertise.
Research shows convincingly that parent involvement has a
critical effect on children’s learning, attitudes about school and
aspirations. Parents have a deep understanding of their child’s
770.945.7272
strengths and types of opportunities they feel are appropriate for
their child’s education. Harmony takes great pride in making ap-
propriate connections for students and teachers.
Please provide information about your child’s learning needs
that might be helpful as we prepare class lists for the fall. Turn it
in to your child’s teacher or the front office no later than April
30, 2012. As always, we request that you do not list specific
teachers. Please include your child’s name and current grade lev-
el. Our intent is to provide the best learning environment for
every student and your input is appreciated. Together we will
make an unbeatable team and we look forward to a great 2012-
2013 school year!
Sincerely, Anne Marie Keskonis

2. From the Assistant Principal - Emily Keag
Dear Parents of Rising Kindergarten Students,
Many of you have a child currently enrolled at Harmony, and you are getting ready to
enroll their sibling at our school. This is an exciting time for us all. In preparation of
your child's first day of school on August 6, 2012, please attend our Kindergarten
Registration. Below you will find specific directions for this process. Your involve-
ment now and throughout your child's academic career is essential. Please sign up
for the Parent Portal so you are informed about our school, class happenings, and
your child. We look forward to seeing you on May 3rd from 12:00-5:00 PM at our Kin-
dergarten Registration.
My best, Emily Keag
Harmony Elementary
Kindergarten Online Registration Starts
April 9th
We are offering our Kindergarten parents early registration prior to May 3rd
How To Complete ...
1. Go to the Harmony Website at www.harmonywildcats.org. Click on Kindergarten
Registration.
2. Follow the directions listed to complete the form. Once you have completed the
form, you will click submit.
3. When you arrive on May 3rd, all you will need to do is bring us the required docu-
ments to complete your child’s registration. We do ask that you also bring your
child for a quick kindergarten screening.
4. You will also get more information on May 3rd regarding Kindergarten Round-Up
and our summer Wildcat Week.
We Look Forward to Seeing You and Your Rising K Student On
May 3rd from 12:00 - 5:00 pm.
April 2012
Apr 2 - 6 SPRING BREAK Apr 20 CRCT Prep Ralley (2:00)
Apr 9 Special Olympics/Redner (9:30) CRCT Testing 3rd, 4th, 5th
Apr 10 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast (8:50)
Monday, Apr 23 - Friday, Apr 27
Bus Safety Puppetry Program (K - 1st)
District Area Board Mtg. (7:00 pm) Apr 26 Papa John’s Spirit Night
@ Collins Hill H.S. 5th gr. Gifted Parent Orientation (7:00)
Apr 12 High Touch High Tech (1st) @Jones M.S. (Rising 6th grade FOCUS)
Dairy Queen Spirit Night (4-9) Apr 30 CRCT Make-Ups
Apr 13 Sybil Deacon Visit (K,1st,2nd) TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
Apr 16 Earning For Learning Contest Begins Apr 30 - May 4
Apr 17 5th gr. Parent Orientation (7:00pm) May Dates To Post:
@Jones M.S. (for rising 6th graders) Kindergarten Registration - May 3rd 12:00 - 5:00
Skate Country Spirit Night (6:30) Field Days [7th– K/1st] [8th– 2nd/3rd] [9th-4th/5th]
Apr 19 Tanner’s Grille Spirit Night (4-10) Kindergarten Round-Up - May 10th 9:30 - 11:30
Last Day of School - Wednesday, May 23rd

3. A great way to prepare for the CRCT Testing that begins April 23rd!
CRCT On-line Practice Testing
Web site is https://georgiaoas.org/servlet/a2l . Your child’s teacher
sent home the log-in IDs in Friday folders before Christmas 2011 and Jan
20, 2012.
Everyone’s password is learnit.
There are 2 types of tests available. All tests are created from the same
database of test items.
Student Tests are tests created by the
state. There are tests for each subject area.
Each test is about 25 questions.
Teacher-Assigned Tests are tests created
by the county, school, or teacher and as-
signed to students. There are multiple 10
question tests for each domain/strand of
each subject area for each grade level.
HARMONY MATH NEWS
Helping Your Child
PREPARE
for the Math CRCT
As a school, we have followed the Gwinnett County AKS which means we have
been preparing our students all year for the CRCT test next month. As we
get closer to testing, the students begin to get a little nervous. Now is a
good time to get involved and run “interventions” on those nerves. Try asking
your students questions about their homework, get them to explain their an-
swers, and point out their good thinking. A little praise will go a long way.
Get them involved in the everyday math you are using at home, such as
cooking with a recipe. Doing this helps them apply their school
math in the real world. Knowing you are involved will
relax some of those pretest nerves.

4. Book Fair
Thank you to our Harmony parents for helping make the Book Fair a success! Our
students and parents always show us their love of reading by buying books at the
Book Fair. Thank you also to all our great volunteers. You know we could not
have done it without you!
Media Festival
We had groups of students who created five live action videos and
two sequential stills for Media Festival. We are proud of all the stu-
dents who participated in these creative projects.
Marie Kennedy & Dolores Craven
From Harmony’s Literacy Team
Word Study - Better Reader and Speller
As a parent, you remember spelling lists which you memorized for a test and then easily forgot.
The true goals of Word Study are to understand how words (whole and parts) work together
orally and written, integrate reading words and writing words, and generalize from what is
known about words to solve unknown words. Today Word Study is about learning skills to be
able to use and understand words, not just memorize words. We will answer a FAQ in each
Harmony Newsletter to help parents become more familiar and comfortable with Word Study.
Check out last month’s for the answer to: How are phonics and spelling related? As a parent,
what differences can I expect from the usual spelling assignments and tests?
How will I know that my child is becoming a better reader and speller?
Ask yourself these questions: Is my child applying knowledge of patterns and roots as he or she
encounters unknown words while reading? Is my child recognizing patterns in words outside the
school day (at home, at the grocery store, at the mall)? Is my child spelling new words correctly
in his or her writing? And, is my child using these words and
knowledge of what they mean in conversations?
As a parent, what can I do to help my child learn how to read and
spell new words?
Make a note of the patterns your child is studying (or has studied re-
cently). At home and away, listen for words in conversation or watch
for them in things you read and share those examples of now familiar
word patterns with your child. Read to and with your child. Include
your child in all the things you do with a reading or writing component,
such as leaving messages for family members, writing emails, and
making lists of errands to run or things to buy when you shop. This will
help your child understand that reading and writing is part of everything we do in our lives. The
more your child practices reading and writing with you, the more he or she will realize the im-
portance of literacy.

5. Family Meetings
Counselor’s
Corner
Build Family Connections
and Improve Behavior
Occasionally, I run class meetings in order to allow students to express their thoughts about friend-
ship problems, to give compliments or to solve a class problem. Like class meetings, family meetings are
a good way to start giving kids more of a voice in household operations. You can use it to discuss not
only discipline, but also issues like laundry, allowances, bedtimes, renting movies, vacations, food,
fights, etc. A good time to start is when the kids are in elementary school. Don't try this when the
children are three or four years old, because it will probably just aggravate you and confuse them.
KIDS WILL COOPERATE BETTER
As kids get older— and hopefully more rational—it is more appropriate that they have a bigger voice in
the issues that affect them. Kids also will cooperate better when they have a say in what's going on.
HOW TO RUN A FAMILY MEETING
The format of the meeting is very simple. Mom or Dad (not both at the same time) is the chairperson
and has responsibility for keeping order and staying on task. Older children can take a shot at running
the meeting themselves from time to time. The chairperson sees to it that the agenda is followed and
that each person gets a chance to speak without being interrupted.
EVERYONE CAN BRING A PROBLEM THEY WANT TO RESOLVE
Each person in the family can bring to the meeting a problem that he or she
wants resolved. Then the chairperson guides the group through the follow-
ing steps:
1. One person describes the problem to be discussed. 2. Every other per-
son gives their thoughts and feelings about that problem. 3. Next, the
floor is opened for proposals for solutions; anyone can speak, but one at a
time. To help with this you could use a talking stick and allow only the person
with the stick to speak. 4. A solution is agreed upon to be tried out. It may
combine different aspects of the suggestions from different people. If there are disagreements, Mom
and Dad have the final say. 5. The agreed‐upon solution is written down on a piece of paper that is
posted on the refrigerator, or it can be written in a Family Meeting journal, notebook or computer.
6. The next person brings up his or her problem, and steps 2‐5 are repeated. All solutions are consid-
ered experimental. If they don't work too well, they can always be reviewed at the next meeting and
new solution can be discussed. Solutions should be concrete, specific and practical, but don't be afraid
to make them flexible and imaginative!
WARNING! It’s Not Always Easy
It's a good idea to keep meetings under an hour so you don't go crazy. Family meetings may be one of
the most aggravating AND effective things you can do with your kids. It sounds contradictory, but if
you can get through the process, kids will have a greater tendency to follow through with the agreed
upon solutions. It's also nice that everyone has a chance to be heard and to learn some negotiation
skills—an excellent skill for life.
tina_byrne@gwinnett.k12.ga.us 770-271-4891
I am available to meet with you upon request
Check out my website at http://www.harmonywildcats.org/
Click on Counselor Info Tina Byrne, M.Ed. School Counselor

6. It is a pleasure to teach music
here at Harmony while Mrs.
Hower is on maternity leave. It
has been a joy getting to know As spring has sprung our
all the students, and I am very projects in art are also
impressed with the amount of talented children blossoming. Kindergarten just
that attend Harmony Elementary. We have been
very busy expanding our knowledge of musical finished up a mosaic and are
elements in each grade level. Kindergarten has studying the
been working on singing games that encourage symmetry of
keeping a steady beat. We have insects in order to
also explored songs with high make a painting of
and low pitches. In first grade, a real or imaginary
we are currently learning about one. First grade and second
fast and slow sounds and
notating various rhythmic grades will be doing this also.
patterns. Second grade has Third grade has studied the
been exploring instruments that kuna culture of the San Blas
belong to the woods, metals, and skins percussion islands near Panama and their
families. Last week we read a book called "The folk art such as molas. We
Very Stormy Night" and we used the percussion
instruments to imitate the sounds in the book. The
have created our own mola
last two weeks, third grade has been experiencing here on dry
songs in minor. We have also learned about land. Fourth and
singing songs in rounds and performing simple fifth grades are
ostinato patterns. This week, we worked on a song studying the
"Engine, engine no.9" that combined all these measurements
elements together. Fourth grade has been working and characteris-
on folk songs. This week we are learning the song
"Cedar Swamp" and we will be adding Orff tic of the
accompaniment and a folk dance. In fifth grade human face by creating one
we began working on the song out of clay. Soon we will move
"When Johnny Comes Marching on the perspective drawing.
Home." This song was written during Zane Brock
the civil war by an army band
master whose daughter was engaged
to a soldier named Johnny, who was
fighting in the war. This song
became very famous among the
soldiers, and today it is considered to be one of
The 2nd Annual Fun
the most famous patriotic songs. Run
I look forward to working with each grade level
further and continuing to explore and expand our Was A Success!
knowledge of music. If you have any questions
please feel free to contact me by e-mail at Girls Boys
Mihaela_gherghel@Gwinnett.k12.ga.us 1st Melanie Collet 1st Michael Martin
2nd Alexis Figures 2nd Bailey Bass
Sincerely, Mihaela Gherghel
3rd Tinsley Newton 3rd Payton Kesselring

7. Physical Education
Greetings! Throughout March all grades have been working on our soccer unit. We are cur-
rently working on a juggling unit with Kindergarten through 3rd grade while 4th -
5th grade complete their FITNESSGRAM fitness testing for the year. After these units we will
finish out the year with a bowling unit for all grades, reviewing sports we have learned about this
year and preparing and practicing for Field Day.
Field Day Thank you to all who ordered a t-shirt. The ordering process is complete and shirts
will be delivered prior to Field Day.
2012 Harmony Field Day Schedule
Kindergarten ---May 7 (AM)/makeup May 10 (AM) 3rd grade—May 8 (PM) /makeup May 11 (PM)
1st grade—May 7 (PM) /makeup May 10 (PM) 4th grade—May 9 (AM) /makeup May 14 (AM)
2nd grade—May 8 (AM) /makeup May 11 (AM) 5th grade---May 9 (PM) /makeup May 14 (PM)
Volunteers are still needed!!!! Field Day would not be a success without parent volunteers. If you
can help out during your student's Field Day or any other, please return the form below to Mr. Corley. We
will accept any and all parent volunteers all the way up until Field Day, but please let us know as soon as
you can!
http://www.harmonywildcats.org/Teacher%20Web%20Pages/Other%20Instructors/Cam_Corley/pdf/
HES_Field_Day_2012_Volunteer_Form.pdf Cam Corley
Harmony Clinic
Clinic
Is Open
IS IT A COLD OR AN ALLERY ?
COLD: a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract (nose, sinuses, throat, and upper
airway). It is not caused by drafts or being outside in the rain.
ALLERY: a congestive condition of the nose caused by exposure to indoor or outdoor
airborne allergens, such as animals, dust, mold, and pollen.
Symptoms of a Cold:
Fatigue, aches and pains, weakened senses of taste and smell, congest-
ed or runny nose, weepy eyes and a dry hacking cough with little
mucus production, fever, vomiting and loose stools are likely in
younger children, but are possible at any age
Symptoms of an Allergy:
Nasal congestion and sneezing attacks, itching of the nose and eyes, red or
watery eyes, clear/watery nasal drainage, repeated throat clearing, cough,
noisy mouth breathing, popping of the ears, dark circles under the eyes
If your child has a fever, they need to stay home and be fever free (without
the use of fever reducing medications) for 24 hours before returning to school.
Prima Simmons

8. FOCUS Brain Strain Websites
Note: While these websites have been reviewed and recommended by teachers,
please note that students’ time on the Internet should be supervised by an adult. Also,
please note that links/websites may change without warning.
http://Puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com - Crosswords, word finds, mazes,
word jumbles, cryptograms, etc.
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/brainboosters/ - Activities to sharpen
thinking in categorization, logic, reasoning, spatial awareness, word play and
lateral thinking
http://www.clickmazes.com/newtilt/ixtilt.htm - Tilt puzzles and mazes will
challenge spatial thinking
http://www.puzzles.com/PuzzlePlayground/PuzzlesHome.htm - Math, visual,
and logic mindbender puzzles
http://pnahay.home.sprynet.com/games/games.htm - Unique puzzles that
will puzzle you!
http://www.enchantedmind.com/index.html - Creativity, spatial thinking and
critical thinking building activities
http://www.iriddler.com/java/bridges/index.htm - Challenging bridge build-
ing game
http://www.brainbashers.com/today.asp - Crosswords, word finds,
mazes, word jumbles, cryptograms, etc. Vicky Arnette
Rising 6th Grade - Summer Reading Program
This reading program is for rising 6th graders going to Jones Middle School.
Students will receive:
1) a letter that requires a parent signature indicating
awareness of the summer reading requirement for Jones stu-
dents and
2) a form listing the titles with the option of ordering from
Barnes and Noble through Jones Middle.
Friday, April 13 - Packets will be sent home in Friday Folders.
Wednesday, May 2 - Parent letters and order forms due back
to 5th grade teachers. Orders must be paid with checks only made out to
Barnes and Noble.
Friday, May 4 - Order forms and parent letters will be picked up from Har-
mony.
The pre-paid books will be delivered to Harmony between May 14th and May
21st.