Eglin Elementary ChronicleMr. Dennis Samac, Principal

Visit our website: www.okaloosaschools.com/eglinQuestions? Call 833-4320

EGLIN ELEMENTARY VISION STATEMENT:Eglin Elementary School will be a community of learners where everyone is responsible and committed to preparing our students for tomorrow’s challenges.

Greetings from the Science Lab! We are excited about Author’s and Science night on Tuesday May 3rd, from 5:00-7:00 pm. We hope to see all of our Eglin families from every grade level. We will have activities that the family can participate in, and Dr. Fay will be there with his telescope, and we will have the Radioactive Roaches Robotics Team from Niceville High School. It will be a fun and exciting evening!In the Lab, we are wrapping up our coding unit. All grade levels worked with the program code.org and programmed hundreds of lines of code. The students have enjoyed working with this program. Our last Girls in Engineering, Math and Science meeting will be May 10th and at that time, we will have a reception and activity that is open to the parents of the G.E.M.S. members. If your student will be a 3rd or 4th grade student during the 2016-2017 school year, now is a great time to be thinking about joining G.E.M.S. Mrs. Gilmer

Character Trait Word for April

Self-Respect & Respect for Others: Our key to Success!

Remember the 3 B’sBe SafeBe ResponsibleBe Respectful

Lunch MenuLunch menus are online @www.okaloosa.k12.fl.us/foodservices/index.htm

To create a payment account, please go to schoolpaymentsolutions.com.

Reminder: If you have not already done so, you may go to applyforlunch.com to fill out free/reduced lunch applications.

If you have any questions about your child’s account, please contact Ms. Judy Terry @ 833-4322.

Parents:For the safety of our students and to help increase traffic flow, please observe the following when picking up or dropping off children on the car ramp:1. Pull all the way to the end of the ramp before dropping off or picking up students.2. Children should exit from the right side of the vehicle only.3. Please do not block the car ramp crosswalk.4. Please use the car ramp cross walk when walking.5. Please put the card with your child’s name on it in the right side window of your car.

For the safety of our students, please watch out for them as they walk to and from the school age program each day. Please be especially cautious as they walk alongside Gaffney Road and cross the street at May Ave..

School Office Hours:7:15 am -3:15 pm

Coming Soon!!Book Fair Apr. 29-May 6

Open daily 8:00 am-3:30 pmOpen during Science Night/Author

Night on May 2 from 8:00 am-7:00 pmOnline Fair available April 28-May 18

Eglin ElementaryHome of the Eagles

Set your AR Goal!Apr. 30, 2016

Important Dates/ HolidaysApr. 29-May 6, 2016 Book Fair May 2, 2016 PTO meeting in the cafeteria @ 3:30 pmMay 2, 2016 Kindergarten field trip to the Strawberry PatchMay 3, 2016 Jr. Minority Council meeting @ 3:00 pmMay 3, 2016 Author Night / Science Night/Book Fair @ 5:00 – 7:00pmMay 6, 2016 4th Grade field trip to Tallahassee @ 5:00 amMay 10, 2016 4th Grade Link-Up @ NWFSCMay 10, 2016 Kindergarten and First Grade Field Day May 11, 2016 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade Field DayMay 10, 2016 GEMS meeting @ 3:00 pmMay 10, 2016 Jr. Minority Council meeting @ 3:00 pmMay 17, 2016 Volunteer orientation @ 1:45 pm in the Media CenterMay 17, 2016 Jr. Minority Council meeting @ 3:00 pmMay 18, 2016 4th Grade tour of Lewis SchoolMay 20, 2016 Luau dance in cafeteria @ 4:00 pmMay 23. 2016 PTO meeting @ 3:30 pm in the cafeteriaMay 24, 2016 Jr. Minority Council meeting @ 3:00 pmMay 26-27, 2016 2nd Grade field trip to Unity ParkMay 26, 2016 Kg. play” Pete the Cat Goes to the Beach” performance @ 8:45 am and 5:30 pmMay 30, 2016 Memorial Day holidayMay 31, 2016 Kindergarten Awards @ 9:00 amMay 31, 2016 Kg. field trip to Unity Park (Kotulan, Thompson, Jones, and Compton)Jun. 1, 2016 Kg. field trip to Unity Park (Buck, Clemmons, Molony, and Negley)June 1, 2016 1st Grade Awards @ 9:00 amJune 1, 2016 2nd Grade Awards @ 1:30 pmJune 2, 2016 3rd Grade Awards @ 9:00 amJune 2, 2016 4th Grade Awards @ 1:30 pmJun. 2, 2016 Report cardsJun. 2, 2016 Last day of school for students

Attendance Reminder:Students will have five school days,

including the day they return, to bring in written verification for an

excused absence. The absence will be considered unexcused if the school does not receive written

verification for the excused absence in that time frame.

Safety First! Parents, Please use the car rider ramp and the parking area in front of the school for dropping off and picking up your students. We have staff at these locations to supervise the safe drop- off/pick-up of ALL students. Cars are not allowed to use the areas behind the school for dropping off or picking up as this is a safety concern! We do not have staff in these locations to supervise and to ensure that your students are safe. Please help us make this part of our day as safe as possible. Thank-you for your cooperation in this matter. Mr. Dennis SamacPrincipal

Ice Cream!!!The cafeteria will be selling ice cream ala carte on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The price is $1.00. Students will need to bring additional money. If you do not wish your child to be able to purchase ice cream from his/her lunch account, please contact Ms. Judy Terry @ 833-4322, or send a letter saying that they may not use their lunch account for ice cream.

ScienceNight/Author Night/Book Fair!Come join us from 5:00-7:00 pm on May 3 for a fun- filled night. Kg.-1st

grade students should report to their rooms for Author Night, while the 2nd-4th grade students report to the cafeteria for Science Night. At 6:00 pm the two groups will change. The Book Fair will be open throughout the evening.

Eglin Parents: Please join us for our last Coffee Talk of the

year!Wednesday, May 18th

at 8:15am

POTLUCK!

Music classes include experiences with singing, playing instruments, moving, listening and creating. The musical concepts that are studied include rhythm, melody, harmony, form, expressive qualities and style. Children will experience traditional American folk songs in addition to a variety of world music, and pieces in many styles. Lessons will lead toward note reading and music literacy.

Music lessons are fast-paced and fun, and students will need to wear comfortable clothing in order to participate fully. Primary students do a lot of moving in order to internalize the steady beat and the intermediate students will need to sit on the floor to perform on the mallet percussion instruments.April: Song of the Month: This is My Country

Composer-Louis Armstrong-Jazz Appreciation MonthUnit: Form- a musical plan with sectionsLink-up program for 3rd grade –Orchestra Rocks-April 27 @ 10:00 am-Emerald Coast Conference CenterLink-up program for 4th grade-Orchestra Sings-May 10 @ 10:30 am-NWFSC Arts CenterAsk your student what they are doing in Music Class!

Mrs. DayMusic Specialist

P.E.  Notes Tennis shoes are required each day for P.E.. Some students are stilling wearing flip flops to P.E. Flip flops are not safe for any P.E. activities. Students will need to have jackets during the cooler weather as P.E. activities are held outside. Please remind your child to wear the proper attire to P.E. for both their safety and their comfort. Parents are always welcomed and encouraged to come out and participate during your child’s designated P.E. time!

May 10-Kg. and 1st

GradeMay 11 2nd, 3rd, and 4th

Grade

Snow cones from Kona Ice will be sold during Field Day for $3, $4,

and $5.Freeze pops will be sold for 50

cents.

Coaches will be selling Freeze Pops for 50 cents each on Fridays. Proceeds will go to purchase fitness equipment for the gym.

On April 19, Eglin second graders presented the musical, This is America! written by Teresa Jennings and Sandy Day and under the direction of Mrs. Sandy Day. Students sang, performed a rap, and used sign language to present their patriotic songs. In their rap, students said,“Age, race, color, sizeIt really doesn’t matter in America’s eyes.Freedom is the core of America’s dream.”And all of us are a part of America’s team.Well done Mrs. Day, second grade students and teachers!!

Pictured here: Jayden, Alison, and Lance who were part of a sea of red, white, and blue at the

performance..

Pictured here: Students salute as they sing the song The Heart of America.

Eglin students participated in the Earth Day Grocery Bag Project sponsored by the Eglin Commissary and Mrs. Amelia Garrett. Over 400 students decorated grocery bags with Earth Day slogans. The bags were delivered to the commissary, and on Fri., Apr. 22, commissary customers buying groceries had their groceries bagged in these bags.

Pictured here: A lovely patchwork of Earth Day bags that are headed to the commissary.

Pictured here: A close-up of one of the Earth Day bags.

Eglin Elementary’s Media Center

Ms. Fuller’s class talked about ways that they could each reduce, reuse, and recycle and

then they created an Earth Day banner. They used their handprints to make the limbs for the trees and signed their names next to it.

On April 19, Superintendent of Okaloosa Schools, Mrs. Mary Beth Jackson, presented Eglin Elementary with a framed copy of our A+ proclamation. Mrs. Jackson stayed and

enjoyed the second grade presentation of This is America. Congratulations students and

teachers!!

Pictured here: Mrs. Jackson, Mr. Samac, and a group of our second grade performers.

Pictured here: A beautiful bulletin board created by our Military Family Life

Counselors.

Eglin Elementary celebrated the Month of the Military Child in April. The dandelion has come to symbolize military children. Why? According to the Military Child Education Coalition, “The plant puts down roots almost anywhere, and it’s almost impossible to destroy. It’s an unpretentious plant, yet good looking. It’s a survivor in a broad range of climates. Military children bloom everywhere the winds carry them. They are hardy and upright. Their roots are strong, cultivated deeply in the culture of the military, planted swiftly and surely. They’re ready to fly in the breezes that take them to new adventures, new lands, and new friends.”At Eglin, we both love and salute our beautiful military children!!

Pictured here: Kaliana, Olivia, Karissa, and Kyra make dandelion flowers.

On April 15, Eglin Elementary faculty and staff honored our wonderful Eglin Elementary volunteers with a luncheon. Thank you volunteers for all the time and effort you put into making this such a great school!!

Pictured here: The beautiful cake from the volunteer luncheon.

Pictured here: Kayleigh greets Mrs. Meggs and thanks her for coming to the luncheon and for volunteering at our school.

Ms. Fuller’s second grade class recently read “The Tiny Seed” by Eric Carle and learned quite a bit about seeds and plants. They learned that even the smallest seed can grow into something amazing! The book also taught them about seed scattering and what seeds need to have to be able to germinate and grow. Now, they have a big flower outside of their classroom just like the flower in “The Tiny Seed” to remind them that it takes hard work to grow into something beautiful

Pictured here: The giant flower that Ms. Fuller and her class created. You may have seen it from the

car ramp.

Pictured here: Ms. Fuller’s class has planted marigolds, zinnias, tomatoes, lima beans, lettuce,

and Bermuda grass.

On April 15, Mr. Samac was recognized by Mrs. Bush, an Eglin parent, for the wonderful support that he gave her family during a very trying time. Mrs. Bush said how much Eglin parents appreciate Mr. Samac. Our Eglin family is very fortunate to have Mr. Samac as our principal!!

Pictured here: Mr. Samac accepts a plaque from the Bush family as Mrs. Gunderson looks on.

Parent notification: If you wish to view the School Public Accountability Report (SPAR), it will be available in the front office.

Out of Field Teachers:In compliance with Section 101.42

Florida Statues, the following teachers, Mrs. June Whiting-Cobb, Ms. Vaneesa

Harrington, Mrs. Jones-Urena, Mrs. Heather Pinckard, and Mrs. Carol Kotulan are out of field because they do not have an ESOL endorsement, and they have an

ESOL child in their classroom. They all hold a valid teaching certificate issued by

the State of Florida and are working on courses to satisfy the requirements for an

ESOL endorsement.