The PTA and Foundation work together to fund East Side’s Literacy Lab.   Please watch the video below for an introduction to the Literacy Lab.

Between the Lines

September/October 2012

The following article was submitted by Mrs. Kirsten Fournier.  Kirsten is a Reading Specialist and Proud Mom of an East Side kindergartener.

What is Literacy?

What do you think of when you hear the term “literacy?” Most of us parents would readily respond: “reading.” But, defining literacy is actually a much more complex and thoughtful endeavor.

In a search for this definition, we begin to realize that the act of learning to read is actually just the beginning of a life-long process of becoming literate. Because to be literate in one’s family, school, community, and world, one must be able to take in new information, make sense of it, and use it for active learning in countless environments and for endless purposes.

Reading for Meaning

C-a-t. C-at. Cat. The early days of learning letters sounds and blending them together swiftly evolves into sentences, paragraphs, chapters, books, and units. Reading for meaning is the single most important step in your child’s educational journey. But the “meaning” is constantly changing. The meaning of the words, numbers, or symbols that they read is dictated by the format of the text (novel, science text book, chart), the purpose of the text (to inform, persuade, humor), and the context of the literature.

To help our kids recognize, appreciate, and account for these variables, conversations and experiences with our children must give them ample time to experience, recognize, and practice different forms of literacy.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines literacy as the “ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society.”

So, what does this all mean to East Side families?

We as parents must educate ourselves about how to define literacy so that we may in turn foster an environment for our children to become fully literate in today’s ever-changing world.

We never stop reading aloud to our children, teaching them to think and write critically, and encouraging them to read whenever they can. We talk to our children: What are you reading about? Why do you think the author feels that way?

We expose our children: different errands, holidays, events, cultures, neighborhoods.

And we support our children as they navigate new forms of literacy, whether it’s a cookbook, a label on a bottle of sunscreen, a computer game, or Time for Kids.

During the school year Between the Lines will highlight some of the most important types of literacy, including cultural literacy, health/safety literacy, digital/media literacy, and even financial literacy.  We’d also love to hear from you and how you help your child become literate in the broadest sense of the world as s/he grows.

The ultimate goal is for our children to love reading and to understand what they read. And as their community and world expands, we want the literacy skills they need to thrive to develop alongside.

Source: “The Plurality of Literacy and its implications for Policies and Programs”. UNESCO Education Sector Position Paper: 13. 2004.

“Between the Lines” is a feature of the Education and Literacy committee of East Side Elementary School’s PTA.  Monthly articles will highlight topics that may be of interest to our families.  If you’d like to submit an article or have suggestions for future articles, please email us at educationandliteracy@eastsideelementary.com

Tiger Day 2012

Tiger Day will be August 9, 2012 and will take place entirely in the gym.
To help alleviate parking lot congestion, the day will be broken into time slots
according to grades. Teachers will only be available during the times indicated
for their grade levels.

Kindergarten    10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Grades 1 – 3       12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Grades 4 – 5       2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

School Supply List for 2012-2013

Its a great time at East Side! Lots of excitement in the air about summer coming and looking forward to our new school opening in the fall. Don’t miss these upcoming events as we close out the 2010/2011 school year:

Field Day

Field Day for each grade is this week. Grades K & 1 is Tuesday, May 17th, Grade 2 & 3 is Wednesday, May 18th and Grade 4 & 5 is Thursday, May 19th. Our theme is WET N WILD! There are some fun wet activities and field activities planned! Watch for emails sent home from your room mom on how you can be apart of this fun day! Parents are welcome to come cheer your student on! Its great fun for all! See you there!

For next week, Monday, May 23 will be Awards Day for 1st and 2nd grades at 8 AM and 3rd and 4th grades at 9 AM. On Tuesday May 24, we have Awards Day for 5th grade at 8 AM, followed by the 5th Grade Picnic at 10:30 AM. Also on Wednesday, May 25th, the 5th Grade Walk of Honor will be at 12:45 PM. We wish all of our 5th graders the best as they venture into middle school. We know you are ready to take on this next educational challenge!

NOTE: Lunch and Specials times have been changed for the last two days of school.  Dismissal begins at 1:10 on Tuesday, May 24 and Wednesday, May 25.

Hard to believe that we are in our last month of the 2010/2011 school year! What a fantastic year we have had so far and we have a few more great weeks with lots of fun ahead!

Here are a few things not to miss this week!!!!!

Walk to School Day: Come join your classmates and their families on Wednesday May 4th as we walk or bike to school on East Side’s last Walk to School Day of the year,  It’s a lot of fun to get some exercise and help the environment.   Walk or bike with your family or with a neighborhood group.  In honor of our last Walk to School Day, the first 400 walkers and bikers will receive a special Walk to School Prize Bag!

East Side Celebration: After much anticipation, our new school is almost complete. We will move into the new building in the fall, but before we do, we would all like to say good-bye to our old, beloved building. East Side was constructed in 1952 and it has grown and changed over the last 59 years. It has gone from a small neighborhood school to a school that has over 1000 students.

On Thursday, May 5th from 5:30 – 8 PM, we are planning an East Side Celebration to look back over the last 60 years and remember with fondness all that has happened in our wonderful school. Please join us  as we celebrate East Side. We will have music, historic memorabilia, children’s art work, and refreshments. It will be our community’s last walk-through before we move on to our bigger and better new building. Mark your calendars now and plan to say “thanks for the memories, East Side!”

Volunteer Tea: We would love to thank all of our East Side volunteers that give their time and energy. We hope that you will join us for a Volunteer Tea on Monday, May 9th from 9 – 11 AM in the Media Center for a light brunch in appreciation for all you do to support the East Side staff and students. Its a small way to say thanks to you and all you do!!

Good News for School Supplies for 2011-2012

The deadline for ordering school supplies has been extended!  You may turn in paper forms to the PTA box until Friday, May 6th and you may order the boxes online until Sunday, May 15th.  School Tool Box says that if we sell 60 more boxes, they will give our school an additional donation. Just download order forms (see tan box next to this blog). If you would like to make your purchase on-line and pay by credit card, use the website and registration code provided on the form.  If you would like to pay by check, print and fill out the paper form, attach a check made out to East Side PTA, and turn it in via the PTA box at the school.  If you have any questions, please contact me, Michelle Dobo, at schoolsupplies@eastsideelementary.com.

COBB COUNTY SCHEDULE NOTE:

Note that the County has released the following information regarding the last 2 days of school:  May 24 and 25 dismissal will begin at 1:10 and all buses should be gone by 1:30.  Car pool dismissal will begin at 1:10.

Hope you all have a great week and Happy Mother’s Day to all our East Side Mom’s on Sunday, May 8th!