Volume VIII • Issue 3 • October/November 2010 Sycamore parents have supported our school through their generous giving of time and effort. It is truly a blessing to be surrounded by such committed parents and community members. Another way to support your childʼs school is to loan money through the State of Arizonaʼs Credit for Caring. The State of Arizona allows you to help expand educational opportunities for our children under law AS 43-1098.01 which grants tax payers a tax credit of up to $400 married, filing jointly or $200, filing single per household for donations that benefit schools. Smaller donations up to those amounts may also be made. Itʼs painless. Send in a check payable to the Vail School District, earmarked for Sycamore, and the qualifying activity of your choice. Activities that benefit from tax credit donations include: Band, Choir, After-School Tutoring, Student Council, Community Service Club, Wright Flight, Higher Level Thinking and Writing Clubs, Peer Mediation/Peace Patrol, Recycling Center, Student Court, Stinger Store, Accelerated Reader, and other areas of greatest need. When you complete your 2010 State Tax Form 140, subtract your donation from what you owe in taxes. If you are due a refund, you will receive your donation amount over and above your refund amount. Itʼs that easy. All donations must be received by December 31, 2010. Credit for Caring is a dollar for dollar reduction of what you owe in state taxes! (And, you donʼt need to be a parent to donate!) Ask extended family members that live in Arizona to help support Sycamore and the extended learning opportunities that it provides for your children! Contributions from employees of Raytheon will be matched dollar for dollar. Thank you, Raytheon, for your support of our children! Lastly, I would also like to ask for a donation of your time. Even just one hour a week will have an incredible impact on your childʼs education. If you are interested in volunteering your time, please contact your childʼs teacher or our Volunteer Coordinator, Tori Janes, at 879-2503. Thank you again for the many ways you support your childʼs education at Sycamore! Respectfully, Ken Graff Principal

16701 S. Houghton Road • Corona, AZ • 85641 • Phone 520.879.2500 • Fax 520.879.2501

Information about Proposition 404 1. What is an override? Authorization from voters to raise local property taxes to provide more funding for the local school district. Not for building facilities. Not a loan. 2. What will override funds be used for? The intended use of the funds are: a. Continuation of programs that have successfully increased student achievement b. Smaller class sizes c. Continuation of programs for academically advanced and gifted students d. Art, music, and physical education classes. 3. If override is successful, what will it cost local taxpayers? Owner of a $100,000 home — $4.25 per month. $200,000 home — $8.50. 4. How much will a taxes decrease if the override is defeated? • Owner of $100,000 home — $2.83 per month — for each of next three years. • Owner of $200,000 home — $5.66 per month — for each of next three years. 5. When you get your property tax bill, it has two different school taxes listed, what are they and what are they used for? Primary — used to help pay for basic operations of district (along with money from the State) • Secondary — money to fund overrides and bond elections -- The primary and secondary tax rates added together make up the “Combined Tax Rate.” 6. What has happened to the Combined Tax Rate in Vail School District over the past 10 years? It has declined every year (see chart). 7. Then why has the actual dollar amount of school taxes gone up many of those years? Because the assessed value of your house went up. So, the lower percentage rate applied to a higher value . . . still often resulted in higher taxes. 8. How much is the combined tax rate going down in Vail this year !Owner of $100,000 home — $35 per year or $2.92 per month. Owner of $200,000 home — $70 per year or $5.83 per month 9. How does the amount of money that Vail get for each student compare to the amount received by neighboring districts? •Lower (see Auditor General Chart) 10. Why do other districts receive more? • Career Ladder • Title I • Desegregation • K-3 Override 11. Arizonaʼs average per pupil expenditure is ranked 49th in the nation. Vailʼs per pupil revenue is how much lower than the AVERAGE in Arizona? $877 12. How much will Vailʼs average expenditure go up if the override is successful? $240 13. How does Vailʼs administrative costs compare with other local school districts? The state average? And the national average? Lower. Lower. Half the national average. (See Auditor General Chart) 14. And what kind of results has Vail been producing under these conditions? •All regular schools labeled “Excelling” the last 4 years. • Largest district in the state to make that claim. • Twice as many as any other district in Southern Arizona.

* *Election day is Tuesday, November 2nd* *

You can also visit the Vail School District Website at http://www.vail.k12.az.us for other useful information about Proposition 404 and other District News.

For more information about Proposition 404, visit the Sycamore Elementary School Website at http://syc.vail.k12.az.us and look for the Get the Facts and Stay Informed box.

Proposition 404 Informational Graphs

A Note from the Sycamore PTA... Dear Students, Parents, Teachers & Staff: Join us for the PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month! The Sycamore PTA has been striving to share the healthy lifestyle message with our students, parents and faculty. We have planned several events to incorporate the healthy message to our families: the Spooky Run 5K Run/Walk, a CrossFit Night, and a Yoga class. On Friday, October 29th we will launch our Healthy Lifestyle Program with a Pep Rally. We will have student athletes and cheerleaders from Cienega High School encourage the Sycamore students to eat right and study well. We also selected a fundraiser that encourages our students to learn more about apples & pears, by selling a 12 lb. box of them! This fundraiser will directly benefit Sycamore Students by raising money for classroom computers. On Saturday, October 30th we will hold our 2nd Annual Spooky Run, a 5K run/walk and 1K run for the younger students. This event begins at Sycamore at 8 am. We encourage parents to participate with their children. The 1K run will be a new event this year, where kids can race around the school field for prizes. We have planned two events where parents can also learn a new form of exercise, CrossFit on Tuesday, November 2nd at 6:30 pm and Yoga on Tuesday, November 9th at 6:30 pm in the MPR. Each program will have instructors and classroom demonstrations. We want to encourage students, teachers and families to get fit this fall. • PTA Healthy Lifestyles Program: Healthy Pep Rally: Friday, October 29th at 1:15 pm with Cienega High School Athletes, Cheerleaders and Mr. Johnson, Cienegaʼs Basketball coach. • Spooky Run: 5K Run/Walk and 1K Kids Sprint: Saturday, Oct 30th 8 am Race, 7- 8 am registration. $10 Adults / $5 Kids Registration. • CrossFit Demo and FREE class: Tuesday Nov 2 at 6:00 pm MPR, • Yoga & Nutrition FREE Class: Tuesday, Nov 9 at 6:00 pm MPR, • Apples & Pears Fundraising Sales. October 29 – Nov 5. Produce will deliver Nov 18 – 19. • Box Tops & Campbell Soup Label Classroom Contests: Nov 1 – 12 • Pancake Breakfast & Santa Station: Saturday, December 4, 7 am – 11 am Rachel Kahler PTA President 2010 - 2011 Email: sycamore [email protected]

Teaching Children Social Skills by Gloria Bernal • [email protected] One of the most important roles that parents play in their child's development is that of teaching their child social skills. These skills include daily interaction skills such as sharing, taking turns, and allowing others to talk without interrupting. The category of social skills can also be expanded to skills such as self-control including appropriate anger management. For many children, social skills are learned by observing how others in their environment handle social situations. These children then imitate desirable responses such as taking turns and most of the time little thought is given to how the young child became so skilled at playing board games, cards, or other activities that require a child to wait for others. For some children, however, more direct instruction is needed to help them develop appropriate social skills. Such instruction is more effective than using a discipline strategy such as time out, as the issue of concern is skill building and not compliance. The thought of social skills as skills to be taught may seem strange to parents who are focused on the child's apparent “misbehavior.” By helping parents look at social skills as just that— skills that the child must learn like any others (e.g., riding a bike or playing the piano), parents may be better able to tolerate some deficits in their child's behavior. Sometime teaching the child new skills, requires the parent to model more appropriate behaviors if he or she wants the child to do the same. One technique that can be effective in helping parents know how to encourage their child's social skills development is by breaking down the skills into concrete steps that the parent can easily teach to their child. By presenting these skills just like a parent would present other skills such as learning to dress or riding a bike, the provider may help take the emotional edge off of the social skill deficit that may be causing the parent such frustration.

INACTIVE Special Education Records The Vail School District Special Education Office is in the process of destroying SPECIAL EDUCATION records for students that graduated from high school five or more years ago. We are required to notify parents or students, if they are 18 years or older, to give them an opportunity to review the records before they are destroyed. If you believe that you or your child might have Special Education records and would like to review them, please contact Cindy Cahill at 879-2051 or email at [email protected]. Otherwise, records are due to be destroyed on February 1, 2011

The Coach’s Clipboard

The Specialists Pages!

by Mr. Van Arsdale " Letʼs move! To encourage kids to be physically active, both in and out of school, and join in the fun to set a good example. Studies show that kids who believe they are competent and have the skills to be physically active are more likely to be active. Those who feel supported by friends and families or are surrounded by others interested in physical activity, are more likely to participate. " Kids should participate in physical activity for at least 60 minutes every day, but it doesn't have to occur at once. It all adds up! And remember, sleep is an essential part of living an active life. A recent study found that with each extra hour of sleep, the risk of a child's being overweight or obese dropped by 9 percent. • Give children toys that encourage physical activity like balls, kites, and jump ropes. • Encourage children to join a sports team or try a new physical activity. • Limit TV time and keep the TV out of a childʼs bedroom. • Take the stairs instead of the elevator. • Walk around the block after a meal. • Make a new house rule: no sitting still during television commercials. • Find time to spend together with a fun activity: family park day, swim day or bike day. • Encourage schools to hold recess prior to lunch to encourage physical activity before mealtime. • Volunteer to help with after-school physical activity programs or sports teams. • Be sure that children get the sleep they need. Most children under age 5 need to sleep for 11 hours or more per day, children age 5 to 10 need 10 hours of sleep or more per day, and children over age 10 need at least 9 hours per day. • Take part in the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) program Jeff Van Arsdale [email protected]

Musical Notes by Miss Ladd " First of all, great job to all 5th graders on their outstanding music performance in September! You all worked very hard and we had a great time putting the show together. We are lucky to be a part of an elementary school where we have strong support in the Arts! Thanks to your support, music-general music and after-school ensembles--are still alive at Sycamore. Many elementary schools today do not have grade-level productions for music; band, strings, or choir ensembles; or even have general music classes. We are facing challenging times where these programs that make up a well-rounded education are being cut from public schools. Michael Blakeslee, Senior Deputy Executive Director of The National Association of Music Education, says “there is a long-standing correlation between kids who play music and SAT scores, graduation rates, and attendance. If you don't have strong programs at the elementary school level, you won't have programs at the high school level.” These programs provide valuable opportunities for our students. Students who receive music education early in life have an increase in critical thinking and logical reasoning skills, both of which managers and supervisors look for in career fields. Sincerely, Miss Whitney Ladd [email protected]

The Artist’s Palette by Ms. Hughes " Welcome back to ART Sycamore Scorpions!  I hope you all had a wonderful Fall break and made a lot of art!  Have you ever wondered why an education that includes the arts is so important?

" A well balanced education, including the arts is an essential part of educating our most important resource... our children. "

I look forward to second quarterʼs art adventures!

Art from my Heart, Ms. Hughes [email protected]

Bright Ideas by Mrs. Spies

Social Development of Gifted Boys " Young gifted boys have difficulty relating to children who are not at their own developmental level. For them, the games of average children are “babyish.” The gifted child gets angry when the other children do not follow the rules, not comprehending that his age-mates are not mentally ready to understand the meaning of rules. His own games tend to be highly organized and sophisticated. If the other children reject him or laugh at him, he concludes something is wrong with him. If a child like this is perpetually exposed to a hostile environment, he will withdraw from social interaction and see himself as awkward and unlovable. To avoid this fate, a gifted boy needs early contact with others like himself. For further information on this subject read the book Smart Boys by Kerr and Cohn. Social Development of Gifted Girls  " Due to their ability to pick up social cues, girls are better than boys at imitation. They more easily modify their behavior to fit into a group. These qualities aid a gifted girl in social situations, but are a handicap in the development of her abilities. Researchers have found that girls with high ability hide their intelligence. Since life goals and attitudes toward achievement are often formed before school-age, the earlier positive intervention occurs, (ie. association with mental peers, development of talents ) the more likely girls will be able to value their intellectual ability. For further information read the book Smart Girls by Dr. Barbara Kerr.   Sincerely, Lori Spies [email protected]

The Specialists Pages!

• An arts education contributes to the quality of education overall and builds critical thinking skills. • An arts education builds specific workforce skills that business values; and • An education in the arts builds values that connect children to themselves and to their own culture and civilization.

English Language Lab by Mrs. Goolsby [email protected]

" Students that are learning a new language struggle with vocabulary. Often their speech is simple and they have a hard time describing things and explaining things. As a parent, you can encourage the use of descriptive words and expand their vocabulary by playing games. " When you are waiting at a doctorʼs office, in the car or even at home, play a game of “I Spy”. Choose an item that you can see. For example if you are in a doctorʼs office and they have a fish tank, focus on the fish. Give clues that describe what you see. For the fish it may sound something like this: “I spy something orange. It is small. It has two eyes. It is wet.” Continue giving clues until your child guesses what you are talking about. Then itʼs their turn to give you clues. If your child gets stuck for clues, model descriptive words by asking them questions about what they see. You may ask them if the thing they see is living or non-living, ask them a comparative question regarding the size, or have them go into more details about the color. Is it dark orange, light orange or peach? Have fun and enjoy the time playing with your child.

Resource News by Mrs. Taylor [email protected]

" I would like to share one of the most popular approaches of Spelling remediation.  This is the “Fernaldʼs Multi Sensory Approach.” • The word to be learned is written on the board or on paper by the teacher or parent. • The adult pronounces the word very clearly and distinctly. The student pronounces the word. • Time is allowed for the student to study the word. • When the student is sure of the word, it is erased or covered and the student writes it from

memory. • The paper is turned over and the word is written a second time. • Arrangements are made so that it is natural for the student to make frequent use, in written

form, of the word he/she has learned. • The student is allowed to get the correct form of the word any time he/she is doubtful of its

spelling. " Always do this technique in written form, and never spell the word out loud. Of all the approaches to remedial teaching of spelling, this one is perhaps the most popular.

Including All by Mrs. Rudd [email protected]

As human beings, certain rewards intrinsically and extrinsically motivated us to complete tasks. For instance, as adults, the paycheck at the end of the month motivates us to show up on time for work, and complete our daily tasks. Children also need a type of reward to work towards in order to stay motivated. A reward system is essential when working with students with disabilities. This type of reward system is known as a token economy. A token economy is a system of individual reinforcement of target behaviors in which tokens are administered and exchanged later for backup reinforcers. To be successful, a person must be reinforced for increasing or decreasing existing behavior as well as successive approximations of the behaviors we wish to establish. Common forms of tokens are plastic or metal circular chips, marks on a blackboard, points marked on a paper point card, stars, holes punched in a card, stickers, paper clips, beans in a jar, happy faces, and play money. Token systems may not deprive students of their individual rights. Not only can a token economy be used at school, but it can also be a great tool when trying to teach your child a new skill (potty training) or achieve a desired behavior at home.

Notes from Title I

by Ms. Harris - [email protected] Miss. Lopez - [email protected]

! Studies show the more children read, the better readers and writers they become. However there are times when children need motivation to read regularly. Here are some ideas to try at home with your family: • Learn more about your childʼs interests and find books and magazines that relate to those topics. • Good movies are a starting point for pleasure reading. After seeing a movie based on a book, your child will be motivated to read the book and compare the two. • Be a good role model. Let your child see you reading! • Sometimes travel sparks reading, and finding books that relate to a place you have visited can get a child hooked. • Read books with your children daily. Children of any age can appreciate being read to. Ideas found on www.rif.org (Reading is Fundamental website)

There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October. - Nathaniel Hawthorne

October

October 2010 Sunday

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PTA Meeting 19 6:30 PM Community Room

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October A.R. Goal Begins! 24

Family Reading Night 6:00 - 7:30 in the Media Center

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Halloween

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Did You Know

Sycamore Showcase 6:00 pm in the M.P.R.

Picture Retakes Community Room 2

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P.T.A. Spooky Run 8:00 11:00 am

October A.R. Goal Ends. 4

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Thereʼs more to good vision than seeing clearly. When your child reads, his eyes must work together and be able to track, or follow a line of text. Since many children have undiagnosed eye problems, talk to your youngsterʼs pediatrician if he struggles with reading. The doctor may suggest a complete eye exam. Page 1/1

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.  - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

November

November 2010 Sunday

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Voting Day PTA Meeting 2:30 PM Community Room

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1/2 Day for Students School will dismiss at 11:45

PTA Meeting Cross Fit Demo 6:00 PM M.P.R. 7

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Box Tops Classroom Competition Ends

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Yoga and Nutrition Class 6:00 PM M.P.R. 15 16

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Family Reading Night 6:00 - 7:30 in the Media Center

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Quick Laugh... (See below for answers)

1. Why was the broom late? 2. What are caterpillars afraid of?

1. It over swept!

Page 1/1

2. Dogerpillars!

Be EXTRA COOL this year with a Sycamore Cinch Pack or Water Bottle! Cinch Packs are $5.00 Dimensions: 16.5"h x 14.5"w

Water Bottles are $3.00

Get yours at the Sycamore Front Office! Actual products may vary slightly from illustrations.

Sycamore Celebrates Red Ribbon Week! Red Ribbon Week was established to honor Enrique Camarana, a drug enforcement officer who gave his life in the fight against drugs. He was kidnapped and killed in the line of duty. The Red Ribbon became the symbol to reduce the use of illegal drugs and violence. At Sycamore, we will celebrate the choice of living a healthy life free of drugs and violence through various events. We encourage you to talk with your student about the week and the following activities. You are also more than welcome to attend the following activities. Monday 10/25 - The first day of Red Ribbon Week the students will receive pencils and red ribbons. The students are encouraged to wear their ribbon and drawings will be held daily for prizes. Tuesday 10/26 - Each class develop a Red Ribbon Week motto and Banner to be displayed in their classroom or MPR. Classrooms will also begin working on a Door Decoration that will have a drug and/or violence free theme. The doors can have a Halloween, Safari or School themed motto displayed. Wednesday 10/27 - Bully Free Classroom lessons. Red Licorice passed out. Thursday 10/28 - Pima County Sheriff SWAT team visit. The cafeteria will serve red Jell-O, and the students will receive further drug/violence free messages in their classes. Friday 10/29 - Everyone wears RED! We will have an awards assembly to recognize students for their behavior and academics in school, along with a presentation from Cienega High School Student Athletes. All Grade Level assembly 1:00.