Principal’s Message Happy New Year! Can you believe that it is January 2017, the year of the rooster? A year predicted to be a powerful one. Appearance will be important. To gain success we need to stick with well-proven ways rather than to take the risky ones. Take a step back, do it well, but “keep it simple.” May 2017 bring much happiness, prosperity, good health and good fortune for you and your family.

We bid aloha to 2016. Our students and teachers worked extremely hard, and participated in many classroom, school-wide, and community activities. Congratulations to our Ewa Beach Elementary students, faculty, staff, parents, and community members for a job well done!

As we return back to school, in addition to their regular lessons, students in Grades 3 through 6 will continue to be gearing up to take the all-important Hawaii State Assessment (SBA), coming up at the end of March. Grade 4 will also be assessed with the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress - the nation’s report card) and the HSA science in February. We have increased focus for in-school safety net (RTI) in all grades. It is critical for our students to apply all the knowledge they have gained throughout the years in the next round of assessments (refer to assessment schedule coming out soon). Their scores on these assessments will be one of the sources to determine if Ewa Beach Elementary made growth throughout the year. We are on our way to show how hard our students are working with our Wonders/Spring Board Language Arts programs, Stepping Stones/Go Math programs, AVID, and Project Lead the Way science program. Please help your child to complete assignments, develop test-taking strategies, and continue to encourage your child to always do their best.

We are starting to go through the WASC process. It is an accreditation process to “see” if our school is doing everything possible to provide the best education for our students. During this process we will be asking for parents and students input and participation. Stay tuned for more information.

Please welcome Mrs. Savannah John as our new Grade 1 teacher in A10. She is a recent graduate from Hawaii Pacific University with her Masters Degree in Education. She previously was our part time art teacher during Enrichment. She is excited about teaching first grade full time. Thank you to Mrs. Melissa Watton for subbing in this class until Mrs. John came aboard. Mrs. Watton will now be subbing for Mrs. Candace Small in grade 6 who is on leave awaiting the arrival of her newest family member. We wish Mrs. Small a Happy “Birth” Day.

Electrical upgrades are done. Portables are built. Our next major project is the renovations of our F building to create two new air-conditioned classrooms. Completion date should be about summer time. On December 30, 2016, our Heat Abatement project was awarded. We are waiting to hear from the contractors as to the start of this project, which should be very soon, finally. Please be patient as we go through these obstacles to make way for newer and better things.

January2017“Home of the bees & the kiawe trees”

www.EwaBeachElementary.org

January will go by quickly with several important dates to remember. We were happy to have students back from break on January 9 for the start of 3rd quarter and 2nd semester. There will be no school for students on Monday, January 16 as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King. There will also be a volunteer training, field trips, reading celebrations, a district spelling bee, a basketball tournament, and report cards. Stay tuned for more activities and announcements.

Again, here’s wishing you a fantastic 2017! See you soon at our next school activity! Until then … take care! A hui hou! Sherry Kobayashi Principal

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6 Teacher Work Day No School – Office Open

9 Students Return to School 13 5th Grade Field Trip, Rms C11 & C25 16 Holiday – Martin Luther King Day

No School – Office Closed 17 5th Grade Field Trip, Rms C23 & C24 19 Parent Ohana “Lunch in the Library” 12:30 – 2:00 pm, Library 23 Reports Cards Sent Home 23 – 31

EBES Yearbook Sales 25 Volunteer Training 8:00 – 9:00 am, Office Conference Room 27 Talent Show Applications Due

January Events

Our 5th grade students will be visiting the Honolulu Museum of Art. They will be attending a tour created specifically for fifth graders. They will visit an early American home, complete with an authentic 17th-Century fireplace. Students will discover the hardships of colonial life as they examine and discuss how objects were made and used for cooking, dressing, sleeping and learning. The tour includes activities in the Early American art galleries, where students will investigate portraits, landscapes, and furniture. Added this year are discussions on the lives and struggles of the Native Americans and slaves in early history, and a recreation of Early American activities. The students will also participate in games played by children in early America. Classroom field trips will be on the following dates: Friday, Jan 13 – Rooms C11 & C25 Tuesday, Jan 17 – Rooms C23 & C24

5th Grade Field Trip

It’s PARENT OHANA

Time! Join us for

“Lunch in the Library” Thursday, January 19th

12:30 – 2:00 pm in the library A light lunch will be served

Agenda: ü Presentation on Overdrive Digital Books ü Tour of STEM Center ü School Updates ü Upcoming School Events ü Share your thoughts & suggestions

PLEASE RSVP BY JAN 18TH TO Delia Clark 428-1564.

January Volunteer Training

Attend the next Volunteer Training Session and learn how you can help our school. We have many ways you can help and through volunteering you will learn more about how your child spends their day at school. Come join our volunteer team and enjoy some time with our awesome students! Training is mandatory for all volunteers (including Field Trip Chaperones) and must be completed each school year to be eligible to volunteer! For questions contact PCNC Facilitator (Delia Clark) at 428-1564.

Wednesday January 25, 2017

8:00 –9:00 am

Location: Office

Conference Room

“Bee A Star” Talent Show

Our Annual “Bee A Star” talent show is scheduled for March 2017!

Here’s your chance to show us your talent! Talent Show is open to all grade levels. Applications are available in the school office beginning January 16. The deadline to apply is January 27.

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Library News

EBES Birthday Book Program Thank you to the following students and their families for

participating in the EBES Birthday Book Program. The monetary donations collected were used to purchase books for school and classroom libraries. A bookplate with each child’s name and birthday was placed on the inside cover of the book to commemorate the special event. Birthdays for the first half of the school year were celebrated in September. Birthdays during the second half of the year will be celebrated during the first weeks of January. It’s not too late to celebrate you child’s birthday. Just ask for a Birthday Book Form at the school office or library. Kylie O. Serynedee R. George L. Krystin T. Rachel Ann D. Evan E. Gauge D. Marissa M. Anya G. Zayden R. Payton K. Justin C. Caleb D. Jayren M. Jeanelle R. Tristiny H. Shelby B. Jeiel Bless M. Paige F. Kara P. Marq Q. Rey Q. Devin Allen A. Finneus M. Malia R. Zaraiyah W. Rocco C. Kailor V. Leah R. Janilla M. Andrei C. Charisma R. Kalani M. Gilliane Maile O. Kiala Rose C. Rissa L. Irving B. Princess Kailani C. Caydence Mae I. Emma W. Bryce B. Tehea L. Shanelia P. Keakaokalani W. Sawyer F. Romeo T. Vanessa C. Sara S. Kai M. Jared D. Caysee K. Elijah B. Edmar P. Kalela M. Jaylyn A. Javier S. Arianna P.

Kekai Y.

Eric Carle's books are beloved by children everywhere, not only for the striking beauty of the collage illustrations and the fun of the stories, but because children sense his real interest in their own deepest concerns. In this book he deals compassionately with their universal feelings of awkwardness as they go about learning new skills — and encourages them to keep on trying until they succeed. The GLO (General Learner Outcomes) featured in this book of the month is “Quality Producer.” The clumsy beetle recognizes what his goal is and sets out to accomplish it. He gathers feedback from his older click beetle mentor and stays on task persevering until the completion of his successful performance.

Reflection Questions to discuss with your child: How do I show that I am a quality producer?

What can I do to be a better quality producer?

Refer to the HIDOE Website for GLO Indicators: http://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/DOE%20Forms/GLO/GLO_elem.pdf

BOOKOFTHEMONTHTheVeryClumsyClickBeetle

By Eric Carle GLO 4: Quality Producer

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Parent Notices

ü SchoolYearbookSalesEwa Beach Elementary School Yearbook sales will run from January 17 to January 31, 2017. The yearbook captures student activities throughout the school year, student clubs, and various school events. Order packages are being sent home with each student. Please ensure a separate payment envelope is used for each student order. Checks should be made payable to “House of Photography.”

ü AfterSchoolTutoring&ClubsResumeMonday,January9,2017

All after school tutoring and club sessions will resume Monday, January 9, 2017.

ü MORNINGHOMEWORKCENTERCANCELLEDThe morning homework center has been cancelled, effective January 9th, due to low attendance. Morning iReady computer lab will resume on Monday, January 9th.

ü CleanUpandHelpOut!Clean out your old toys and start the new year by helping our school! EBES STEM Center is looking for donations of old board games, Legos and K'Nex kits to add to our borrowing collection. Please send your donations to the library. We will also accept board games that are missing pieces. We will reuse them by offering incomplete sets to classrooms so they can create their own games. Thank you for helping our students become critical thinkers and creative inventors. Please submit your donations to the school office, Attention: Library, Mrs. Nakasone.

ü SchoolCommunityCouncilParentRepresentative

The Parent Representative position on the School Community Council is designated with being a spokesperson for parent concerns and suggestions. Please know that all of your school questions and concerns are important. Please share them with your Parent Representative – Mrs. Delia Clark. She can be reached by phone (689-1271 or 428-1564) or email (254DClark@EBESbees.k12.hi.us).

Visit our

website

www.EwaBeachElementary.org

Classroom BOXTOPS Context

For every BOX TOP our school collects we receive 10 cents. This can add up to a lot of money to help the school with programs and activities. Our school is holding monthly contests to see which classroom can bring in the most BOX TOPS! Monthly prizes will be given out to the classroom with the most BOX TOPS, and the contests will continue to the end of the school year. A flyer with details will be sent home soon.

Start collecting those BOX TOPS!