From Dr. Rudolph Motto I play it coolI dig all jive That's the reason I stay alive My mottoAs I live and learn Is dig and be dug in return ~ Langston Hughes As we start the beginning of black history month, I wanted to share my favorite Langston Hughes po- em, a timely poem that epitomizes the Westminster difference. What makes us special? What makes parents “dig” us? How about our commitment to ensuring that students learn high to write critically about their life and the topics that they learn… Could it be that we are using Ipads to help students learn their letters (kindergarten), math and other key concepts… That our new science curriculum is rated as one of the top curriculums in the world and that it beats out top performing countries like Finland and Singapore… That we are taking student safety seriously and investing in more security measures / equipment to help ensure that we can prevent tragedies like the one at Sandy Hook… Or our drive to create a digital learning environment where students have access to technology from the start of the day until the end of the day… Maybe it is M&T Bank’s ongoing commitment to the school… What ever it is that makes you “dig” us. Thank you. We are going to continue to show you the Westminster Difference and we are going to continue to focus on being Buffalo’s best!!! Update on security: As you know the country was shook by the events at Sandy Hook Elementary. Our hearts go out to that com- munity and those who have lost loved ones. My commitment to you is to assure that we maintain a safe envi- ronment for all. This means that we are going require advanced notice for visits to classrooms. We have and will continue to install more security cameras on the school grounds, inside and outside of the building. We will require that all visitors have an ID present and we will soon have a new automated system for signing students in and out. We will continue to update parent phone numbers so that we can utilize the automated phone sys- tem for updates and emergencies. Finally we will continue to check identification to make sure that only those who are authorized to may visit and pick up students are admitted in the building.
Transcript
From Dr. Rudolph Motto
I play it coolI dig all jive
That's the reason I stay alive
My mottoAs I live and learn
Is dig and be dug in return
~ Langston Hughes
As we start the beginning of black history month, I wanted to share my favorite Langston Hughes po-
em, a timely poem that epitomizes the Westminster difference. What makes us special? What makes parents
“dig” us?
How about our commitment to ensuring that students learn high to write critically about their life
and the topics that they learn…
Could it be that we are using Ipads to help students learn their letters (kindergarten), math and
other key concepts…
That our new science curriculum is rated as one of the top curriculums in the world and that it
beats out top performing countries like Finland and Singapore…
That we are taking student safety seriously and investing in more security measures / equipment to
help ensure that we can prevent tragedies like the one at Sandy Hook…
Or our drive to create a digital learning environment where students have access to technology
from the start of the day until the end of the day…
Maybe it is M&T Bank’s ongoing commitment to the school…
What ever it is that makes you “dig” us. Thank you. We are going to continue to show you the Westminster
Difference and we are going to continue to focus on being Buffalo’s best!!!
Update on security:
As you know the country was shook by the events at Sandy Hook Elementary. Our hearts go out to that com-munity and those who have lost loved ones. My commitment to you is to assure that we maintain a safe envi-
ronment for all. This means that we are going require advanced notice for visits to classrooms. We have and
will continue to install more security cameras on the school grounds, inside and outside of the building. We will require that all visitors have an ID present and we will soon have a new automated system for signing students
in and out. We will continue to update parent phone numbers so that we can utilize the automated phone sys-
tem for updates and emergencies. Finally we will continue to check identification to make sure that only those
who are authorized to may visit and pick up students are admitted in the building.
2
So what does this mean for you?
Call ahead for visits to classrooms. The key is to let the teacher know that you want to visit the class-
room (email or via phone). If you are having problems reaching a teacher then please let an adminis-
trator know. We strongly encourage visits and parent volunteerism, but they must be done through
the formalized process.
If you want to volunteer establish a regular schedule with the teacher. Structures and routines make
schools run well. It is also good to determine what you are doing before hand to help ensure that
everyone has a great experience.
Contact administration about other volunteering opportunities to assist or with suggestions for improve-
ments.
Be patient and understanding about the changes. Most importantly, understand that the ultimate goal is
to create a safe environment for your child.
Westminster Credo…
We believe that our first responsibility is to the students, parents and community members, who attend our
school, use our services and interact with us. In meeting their needs everything we do must be high quality. We must constantly strive to use the best instructional practices, in order to provide the best education pos-
sible. Students, parents and community members must be serviced promptly, courteously and in a fair way.
More importantly our students must have an opportunity to gain from their education.
We are responsible to our employees, the men and women who work with us within our community. Everyone
must be considered as an individual. We must respect their dignity and recognize their merit. They must have
a sense of security in their jobs. Assignment and workloads must be fair and adequate, and working conditions clean, orderly and safe. We must be mindful of ways to help our families fulfill their family responsibilities.
Employees must feel free to make suggestions and complaints. There must equal opportunity for leadership,
development, and advancement for those qualified. We must provide competent management, and their actions
must be just and ethical.
We are responsible to the communities in which we live and work and to the world as well. We must be good
citizens – support good works and model a belief in supporting charities. We must encourage civic improve-
ments, a better understanding of ourselves and others, and our impact on our greater community.
Ultimately our most important responsibilities are to our students. Our daily work must provide students with a sound and innovative education, a place for social and emotional growth. We must experiment with new ideas
and emerging technology. We must take risks with the curricula. The physical plant must continue to be cared
for in a timely manner. Risk should be taken to reflect our value and our purpose of developing a rigorous and
caring environment.
When we operate according to these principles, the students should be the beneficiaries of our work.
3
Mission:
“To challenge the status quo – to encourage people to think differently about
their station in life.
We do this through assuring that there are high levels of learning, by creating
a safe and caring environment, and promoting community involvement in order
to prepare students for a successful secondary experience.”
Vision:
It is our goal to become a national leader in education within 5 years. As we
use this term leadership we mean higher standardized test scores, exemplary
survey results, more applicable learning experiences, more innovation that
serves our teachers and students’ interest, and a more attractive place to
work than any other school. Achieving this ambitious goal will probably require
double-digit gains in standardized test and additional resources from outside
sources. It surely will require that we become less test oriented, more expe-
ditionary focused, considerably less bureaucratic, and more of a service, in-
stead of a product, oriented school. We sincerely believe that if we work to-
gether we can achieve this change and in the process create a school that will
be admired by our students, parents, teachers, and community.
about the progress our third graders have made in all
areas. This is the time of year when some of the focus will be on preparing the students for taking the NYS
math & ELA exams in April. The most important ways to assist your child on this endeavor is by creating
time & opportunities for them to read independently
and practice multiplication facts at home every night. Every student should be working towards strengthen-
ing reading comprehension strategies as well as the understanding of math concepts learned in class. Be on
the look out for additional reading comprehension homework that may come home as well as math review
sheets. Thank you in advance for your help!
12
We hope you had a
wonderful holiday and
a restful break. We
have started a new
curriculum called Hu-
manities. It is a cul-
mination of reading,
writing, social studies,
and content rich vo-
cabulary. Our topic
for January through
early Feb. is Revolu-
tionaries of our past.
We have been study-
ing people such as
John Adams, George
Washington, Abraham
Lincoln, and Susan B.
Adams and asking,
“What makes them a
revolutionary?”
We have just fin-
ished our angles unit
and have moved into
metric conversions,
including elapsed
time. This math unit
moves quickly, so
please make sure your
child is here on time
for the start of math
instruction (8:20).
Please continue to
encourage nightly
reading and writing.
Fourth Grade! Humanities
Mrs. Niedermeier
Mrs. Searight Barnes
Notes:
All parents must have a
scheduled appointment
with their child’s teacher
if they need to speak with
them. No parents are al-
lowed in the classroom
during instructional time
and phone calls may be
made to the main office
and a note will be given to
the teacher. We will call
you back as soon as possi-
ble.
13
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
Please make sure your child is reading their fiction/ non fiction books at home every night for at least 45 minutes.
Please look at your child's planners daily to check for homework assignments.
Our Black History Month Program will be 2/28. Students from our classroom will be performing!
We will be going on a field trip to Kleinhans Music Hall 2/6.
There are many 5th graders that have roles in the upcoming play, The Little Mermaid. Please make arrangements to come see the rewards of all their hard work!
HUMANITIES
New to our schedules this year is our humanities units. We are reading, writing, and creating projects based off our unit called, Renaissance Thinking. We are learning about the time in our history when there was a rebirth, or revival of art and literature. In studying this great cultural movement, we are learning about great figures such as Michelangelo, Leonardo Di Vinci, and Galileo Galilei. We created frescoes out of plaster and water and painted them to recreate Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Ceiling.
Most importantly, we have been viewing many videos, reading countless articles, and joining in some of the most interesting grand conversations to discuss and learn about the meaning of creativity and how it changes our world. Students are now even using their notebooks as places to record their thinking, sketches, ideas, and inventions, similar to what the great
Leonardo Di Vinci did.
What our Mathematicians are doing...
Students made designs in Styrofoam
plates, filled it with plaster, and painted it
when it hardened to replicate fresco
Readers and Writers of Workshop
Fifth grade mathematicians are learning to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and model fractions. We have been doing many interactive activities, in groups and partnerships, discussing and sharing ideas with one another, and even using music to help us understand math concepts!
Westminster Community Charter School
5th Grade Newsletter!
14
Science:
Innovation is creation! In Science we are finishing our innovation unit by studying the science of plants and hydroponics. Hydroponics is the process of growing plants from without soil. This method is better than soil because it is faster, more
effective, and can be set up in any location. Students have been testing pH of liquids, acting out photosynthesis, and writ-ing reports on "A Day in the Life of a Hydroponic Plant." As the final bend of the unit, students will be inventing a hydropon-ic system that actually works. Students will be looking for materials for their systems around school and at home. This unit
helps students practice their problem-solving, critical thinking, and evaluation skills. Keep up the good work!
Social Studies:
Students are on the hunt for innovation in Social Studies. We are studying innovations of the past, present and even future and are looking for ordinary and extraordinary innovations we use each day. So far, we have studied famous innovators
such as Shaun White and Rosa Parks, have determined traits of innovators and have even named out factors that can lead to innovations. Over the next few weeks, we will be studying some social issues facing our society today and creating our
own innovative solutions for these problems. This work has been incredibly challenging and rewarding for students and
teachers alike.
Math:
Sixth grade math is all over the grid this month as we have been graphing points on the coordinate plane, representing real world and mathematical problems, and interpreting coordinate values. We’ve also spent time calculating the distance be-
tween points, graphing polygons, and using independent and dependent variables to complete tables and graphs.
Our next unit moves on to ratios and unit rates. We will express, write, explain, and simplify ratios like they are going out of
style! Before long, when we go grocery shopping, we’ll be able to help find the best value for the items we’re buying!
Sixth Grade News
15
Welcome to Junior High!
7th Grade ELA:
In Seventh grade ELA, the students have been working very hard reading and note-taking
around the theme of courage. We have read many books and watched countless real-life videos.
We are now embarking on a journey of writing. Over the next few weeks, students will put on
their “writing caps” and draft three separate essays with the focus of courage. This will be the
opportunity to take all of their knowledge and notes and turn it into something remarkable.
8th Grade ELA: Read and Write All About It!
Hopefully you see your 8th grader stealing moments to read a book they love. Hopefully you hear them talk about
the authenticity of books, movies, and other mediums. Hopefully you feel they are developing into empathetic citi-
zens ready to tackle a more complex interconnected global community.
Currently in Reading we are studying the authenticity of urban literature. As an 8th grader, your child is
judging the authenticity of characters, issues, and author’s craft. Meanwhile in writing, they are working on the art
of writing persuasive essay about the authenticity of the text they read. This allows your child to have a distinct
voice in critiquing works to better reflect an authentic urban experience. Feel free to talk to your child about
their take on the authenticity of commercials, books, movies, and even songs. This is sure to make them more
thoughtful producers in the world!
7th Grade Math:
In 7th Grade Math we are finishing up our unit on Percent’s and Proportional Relationships.
Students have been working very hard on solving real world problems involving percent's and
the multiple ways to solve them. Next time you go to the store or to a restaurant ask your
child to calculate the tax, amount of savings, tip or total bill. Please ask your child to see
his/her homework on a nightly basis.
8th Grade Math:
In 8th grade Math we are currently working on Solving Systems of Linear Equations.
Students are learning to solve systems algebraically using either substitution or the
elimination methods. Systems of Linear Equations can also be solve Graphically by
solving each equation for y. Please ask students to see their homework nightly to
ensure it is complete.
Algebra:
In algebra we are currently working on the Algebra Performance Indicators on Set Theory and Trig-
onometry. Please ensure that your child is completing their homework at night for review the next
day. Algebra requires more practice than regular math and it is imperative that each student try the
sample problems to expand on what they have learned in class. Please check my website
http://www.nylearns.org/ahamilton for daily notes and homework assignments. Other resources like
http://www.khanacademy.org and http://www.regentsprep.org are amazing resources with additional
instructional materials to help the students clear up any other confusing concepts that they may
have outside of class. Thank you for your support!
Kindergarten Art: America: Symbols and Celebrations
Kindergarten students are currently working in art on America and its symbols. Stu-
dents are creating a cut paper American flag. Next art class students will draw a
picture of the Statue of Liberty. They will then glue Lady Liberty on top of their
finished flags.
First Grade Art: Around the World with a Glass Slipper
First grade students are traveling around the world learning about masks from different
cultures. We are comparing and contrasting how masks are used in different parts of the
world. In the next few classes students will paint these masks and add details to them.
Second Grade Art: Hand-Me-Down Tales From Around the World
Second grade students are currently studying the art of china. We have learned about
folk tales from China. Students are creating Chinese Cherry Blossom Trees with blown
ink. Students have also been learning about Terracotta Soldiers and the legend behind
them. Students are creating these unique sculpted soldier masks using plaster and
paint.
Third Grade Art: Creative, Inventive, and Notable People
Third grade students have been learning about 20th century artists and inventors. We stud-
ied the art of Basquait and created our own abstract self-portraits. Students are currently
learning about the 20th century artist Candace Keegan. We are inventing our own robots that
have the ability to fix something in the world around us. Third grade students have also been
taking several trips to the Burchfield Penney Art Center. We have talking about, exploring,
and writing about artwork in our community.
Fourth Grade Art: Revolutionaries From the Past
Sixth Grade Art: Innovation
Sixth grade students are working on a unit centered around Innovation and what it means to be an
innovative thinker. The first project they are working on is to create their very own robot which
they must price and market to the public. Their next project will be to look at the architecture of
Hundertwasser. They will then create an innovative building. We will combine our class building
together to create an innovative futuristic city.
Fourth grade students have been learning about what it means to be a revolutionist. We have dis-
cussed how we can change the world around us. Students are creating Revolutionary Mats. Stu-
dents chose symbols of change to incorporate into their mats. When they are finished students
will create a personal symbol about something in their world they would like to change or make bet-
ter. These symbols will be glued onto the center of their mat.
17
Our first lesson focused on how the
subject matter and the creative
freedoms of an artist really began to
change during the Renaissance. Much
of the work was still commissioned
but many artists started to use their
own vision, expression and interpreta-
tion within their art.
In order to capture and experience
this creative change, the Fifth Grade
team used “Music as Inspiration” to
create a Representational piece of
art. This technique was used by
Bruegel, Botticelli and Pontormo. The
students would listen to a piece of
instrumental music, and envision what
was taking place.
The next lesson will cover the “Rule
of Thirds” using the human form and
gesture. This was a tried and true
technique of the Renaissance period
that is still used by artists’, photog-
raphers’ and website designers’ today.
The third and final lesson will cover
the ancient technique of Printmaking.
The students will start by creating a
script style font to learn the process
of printmaking. Next, we learn about
Divine Proportions and the Golden
Ratio in order to create a Coaxial de-
sign that the students will use in
their final publishing pieces.
Left: Kimalexis Bessick
7th Grade
Right: Javonna Lindsay
7th Grade
Artist’s of the Month - January
5th Grade Art - Creativity and Renaissance Techniques
Sample of tools and carving plates that
utilize the Divine Proportions and the
Golden Ratio (techniques from Renais-
sance period that are still used today).
“Paradise”
Oil Pastels
Style: Fauvism/Expressionism
“Devastation”
Denotative
Connotative
The next lesson will cover courage
and story within art. We will look at
some fine art examples of this theme
in order to see how the masters were
able to portray this topic.
We will focus on human form, con-
trolling composition, proximity and
value renderings. This will be quite
challenging due to the volume of im-
portant content all bundled in one
piece of art.
The 7th grade students are using the
topics learned in Reading and Writing
to create 2 pieces of art. We looked
at how propaganda was used to affect
and persuade a person’s thinking,
whether it was writing, art or music.
In order to do this we broke down
and discussed what Denotation and
Connotation are; how they could be
applied to the same idea but yield
different responses.
7th Grade Art - Courage and Meaning
“Echoing of a Bird’s Song”
Graphite, Colored Pencil
Style: Tessellation, Math
18
Upcoming PE
Units Finishing Volleyball
Racquet Sports
Stunts and Tumbling
Striking with short
and long handled
implements
Hand-Eye
Coordination
Westminster Students Play
6th Grade Health Currently, we are learning about our Cardiovascular System. The students have been taking their resting heart rate and their working heart rate and are learning the differences between them. We have been utilizing the new WCCS fitness room during
class to get an authentic, real world learning experience.
Over the next few classes students will be learning to calculate their maximum heart rate using a mathematical formula and the effects of stress on their bodies. We will also be learning some relaxation/meditation techniques. The students will also be completing a project to illustrate how blood flows in the body. This will also give the
students an experience that they need to know in their eighth grade science class!!!
Westminster Sports
Westminster has 3 basketball teams
competing right now. There is a 5th and 6th
grade team, a Boys Middle School Team, and
a Girls Middle School Team. Please come out
and support our students!! Schedules can be found outside the gym
on the bulletin board!
Westminster PE and Health Newsletter
3-5 The Third through Fifth grade students have been
working on the basics of Volleyball over the last few classes. We have learned the forearm pass, the set
and the serve. If you have a minute with your
children, ask them to teach you one or all of the
skills. Lets test their knowledge of the sport.
K-2 Over the past few weeks our Kindergarten through Second Grade
students have been working on their striking unit. Striking is a gross
motor skill that incorporates hand-eye coordination. We are working with the students to strike at all levels, low, medium and high, and also
with partners and teams.
6-8
Our Sixth through eighth grade students have been reviewing and practicing the cues and rules to volley-ball. They will be competing in games such as Walley-
ball (pictured to the left), and other modified versions of volleyball. By the end of the unit students will compete in round robin volleyball tournaments in their classes.
1st Grade
3rd
8th
19
In our primary library clas-
ses, grades Kindergarten
through 3rd, we are study-
ing several different hu-
manities units. The library
is working in conjunction
with the classroom teach-
ers’ units so the students
learning and understanding
furthers across subject
areas.
Kindergarten:
We read a story called Lib-
erty's Journey and were
able to use books and tech-
nology to view and learn
about The Statue of Liber-
ty.
1st Grade:
We read Glass Slipper Gold
Sandal. These classes are
also using books and tech-
nology to learn more about
fairy tales from many dif-
ferent cultures.
2nd Grade:
Our students in second
grade are learning about
and sharing folk tales from
many countries. We have
already read and listened to
Jack and the Beanstalk.
3rd Grade:
The first of the many nota-
ble people we will discuss
was Alexander Graham Bell. We all know why he is so
important, the students
could not imagine their lives
without a telephone! He
also invented many of
things of which most of us
were not aware.
In our secondary classes,
grades 4th and 5th, the
library is working in con-
junction with the classroom
teachers’ and their humani-
ties units so the students
learning and understanding
furthers across subject
areas.
4th Grade
We are studying American Revolutionaries. In class we
are using books and tech-
nology to learn more about
people from our past. Some
upcoming activities will
work with reference mate-
rials.
5th Grade
We are studying Renais-sance Thinking. The use of
reference materials and
technology is helping the
students gain additional
knowledge of people and
facts from this time period.
Secondary Classes
Primary Classes
Special points of in-
terest:
We had a successful Fall
Book Fair. Thank you to everyone who was able to
stop by.
Our next Book Fair, buy
one get one free, is coming in May 2013!
The library has been able to add several new books
