December 3 - 7

Bacon Bears,

You Matter!

Breaking News
The Regional Achievement Center (RAC) visited RM Bacon on Thursday, November 29. I am pleased to report that they absolutely loved our school. Here are a few of the reasons:

Innovation
- Unlike any of the other schools they visited, RM Bacon has a defined social media presence that seeks parent, student, and teacher collaboration and communication
- Our Climate and Culture- RM Bacon has embarked on a few new initiatives this year to engage parents and community members through Bacon University, Mural Projects, and Home and School events
- Video Projects - RM Bacon was selected to participate in 2 video projects to assist other teachers with improving classroom instruction (EnVisions Math and ASCD)

Classroom Instruction
- Unlike other schools they visited, RM Bacon has a more student driven classroom environment

- Learning Centers are clearly defined, and added to the student-centered classrooms

- Students were on task and were able to articulate objectives

- Basic Skills Intervention uses student data to inform instruction

- Teachers displayed  great questioning techniques, appropriate use of the SMART Boards, and high level     Blooms questioning

I am so proud of our Bacon Family! But, I will offer a word of caution- We still have a LOT of WORK to do! Students and teachers will need to continually challenge themselves to make sure that we prove to the world in May that Impossible Is Nothing! We need to improve our NJASK scores! We will do it, together!!!!

This Week 

We have a few changes to our regular schedule this week. We are calling this week "Chorus Week." Mrs. Simpson, in an effort to minimize classroom disruptions, has been working with the students in the classroom on the Winter Concert musical pieces. This week she will have double practices each day (9:20 AM - 10:00 AM, and again at 3:00 - dismissal). Next Tuesday (December 11) is the Winter Concert. Make sure to mark your calenders. 

After several reschedules, the Fire Company will be visiting RM Bacon on Tuesday to make sure all the students get an opportunity to tour the Fire House. On Friday, the Nurse will be taking selected students to the Motor Park for the Annual Coats for Kids.

Video of the Week:

Mr. Hudson's kids kicked out the 19th Century School desks, and recreated their learning environment to model 21st Century learning. Here is the video they made about the change:

Weekly Overview

Monday - Chorus Practice (9:20 AM - 10:00 AM; 3:00 PM - Dismissal) 

Tuesday - Fire Company visits; Chorus Practice (9:20 AM - 10:00 AM; 3:00 PM - Dismissal) 

Wednesday - Chorus Practice (9:20 AM - 10:00 AM; 3:00 PM - Dismissal) 

Thursday - Staff Meeting, 8:00 AM; Chorus Practice (9:20 AM - 10:00 AM; 3:00 PM - Dismissal) 

Friday - Chorus Practice (9:20 AM - 10:00 AM; 3:00 PM - Dismissal) Coats for Kids

Impossible is Nothing! 

November 26 - 30

Bacon Bears,

You Matter!

Soccie Game 2012 

We ended a short, but eventful week on a really good note today! Students and teachers met in the gym for our annual Soccie game. In between innings, there were activities for each of the grade levels. Teachers came out victorious in the Soccie game by 1 point! 

It was obvious from the "Wobble" competition that the teachers had been practicing. 4th grade girls suffered their first defeat in overtime. What a wobble!

When we return from the Thanksgiving break, we are going to have a busy schedule. Check out the weekly overview for all the activities.

On behalf of the entire RM Bacon Staff, have a great Thanksgiving!

5th Grade Isaiah working on his computer engineer career  

Weekly Overview:
Monday - Picture Day (Gym classes in the Computer Lab except DeVita, Cheeseman, and Taylor); SuccessMaker Meeting 10:00 AM (invite only, Computer Lab)
Tuesday - Fire Company make-up
Wednesday - Dr. Cook out in the morning (Mrs. Harris substituting)
Thursday - Regional Achievement Center (RAC) visits RM Bacon
Friday - PBIS Meeting 1- 3:30 PM; Bear Bucks store 

November 19 - 21

Bacon Bears,

You Matter! 

HSA Fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, RM Bacon is thankful for the parents, and students of our great school. 










On Thursday, November 15, 2012, we hosted our 9th Annual Turkey Feast! Want see the Turkey Feast? Check out this video we made:

World Run Day 

We participated in the World Run Day on Monday, November 12. We had 100% participation in this event, and we raised close to 800.00 for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization! Great job everyone!

Ms. Fallows class participated in a mystery skype

To cap the week off, RM Bacon hosted Jeff Bradbury, also known as TeacherCast. Check out his blog post on his experience with our school. http://blog.teachercast.net/teachercast-visits-rm-bacon-elementary-school

Mrs Taylor's class did a project on animals 

This week is a shortened week with early dismissal at 1:45 PM Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We have off on Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Weekly Overview
Monday - Early Dismissal 1:45 PM; Parent Conferences 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday - Early Dismissal 1:45 PM; Parent Conferences 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM 
Wednesday - 9:30 AM Soccie Ball Game (Teachers vs. Students); Early Dismissal 1:45 PM
Thursday - Thanksgiving, No School
Friday - No School 

Impossible Is Nothing! 

November 12 - 16

Bacon Bears,

You Matter!

Thank you to everyone who attended the Halloween Frolic! A fun time was had by all :)

On Wednesday, we were treated to our first snowfall of the school year! Some classes used this as a teachable moment, and went out in the snow! Besides playing in the snow, kids asked big questions about the snow.

Ms. Fallows's 1st grade class asked themselves...what is snow? Where does it come from? What does it taste like?

After going outside and "collecting" snowflakes, Mrs. DiGorgio's class drew pictures and studied the mirror images of the flakes

We are getting into the life long fitness mode at RM Bacon this week. We are excited to be participating in the World Run Day on Monday at 2:00 PM. All proceeds that are raised will go to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization. The top 10 fundraisers will receive a free T-Shirt! Here is the trailer for the World Run Day:

Also this week is Sneaker Week. If staff donate 5.00 they are allowed to wear sneakers the entire week to show the students that we are a healthy school! For more information, please visit this site:


Weekly Overview:Monday - World Run Day, 2:00 PM
Tuesday - I and RS Meeting, 1- 3:30 PM
Wednesday - Grades are to be posted, Waste Management Assembly K-2 9:30 - 10:15AM, 3-5 10:15 - 11:00 AM
Thursday - Staff Meeting, 8:00 AM with special guest www.teachercast.net; Book Fair in Library Class; Annual Turkey Feast 11:00 AM
Friday - 1:45 PM Dismissal for Parent Conferences; Book Fair in Library Class

Impossible is Nothing!

November 4 - 7

Bacon Bears,

You Matter!

Daylight Savings Time - Don't forget to turn your clocks back 1 hour on Saturday Night!

School Pictures have been rescheduled for Monday, November 26, 2012!!!!

Despite Hurricane Sandy, we had a really good week here at RM Bacon. On Thursday, we had a great turnout for our Halloween Frolic! Then on Friday the students and teachers enjoyed the Halloween Parade and parties! All in all the week was spooktacular!

This week is a shortened due to the NJEA conference. We only have school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week! There is no school on Thursday and Friday

Weekly Overview:
Monday - Dr. Cook out of the office, Mrs. Harris substituting; I and RS Meeting
Tuesday - No BSI classes; Fire Prevention Day
Wednesday - Fire Prevention Day; PBIS Interviews; GI Go for Jeans day
Thursday - No School
Friday - No School

Impossible is Nothing!

October 29 - November 2

Bacon Bears,

We are open with a regular schedule on Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Please note changes to the schedule below:


Here is the schedule for the remainder of the week:


Monday - World Run Assembly, 9:30AM (School was cancelled)
Tuesday - School Photos, all day; Halloween Frolic, 7:00 PM (School was cancelled)
Wednesday - SuccessMaker presentation, 9:00 AM
Thursday - Staff Meeting 8:00 AM; Halloween Frolic, 6:30 PM
Friday - Halloween Parade, 2:00 PM with class parties to follow You Matter!

There is only one thing on the mind of everyone in the South Jersey area.... Hurricane Sandy. Our superintendent has said that they will be determining whether or not we have school based on the reports and if we don't hear anything, we are still open.

We had a Bacon Bear Alumni visit our school on Friday. Taiwan Holmes, who is currently attended RM Bacon in the 1980's stopped by to see the school. He met with former teachers, and even talked to a few students. Thanks for the visit!


Video of the week. As I was observing Mrs. Benson's class this week, I watched this video. Very Cool:

World Run Day:

On November 12, 2012, RM Bacon School will be participating in WORLD RUN DAY 2012!!! We will celebrate the sport of running by promoting the health benefits and engaging in an afternoon of running, music and fun!!! We will be joining thousands of others all around the WORLD!! Not only are we trying to promote a healthy lifestyle but we are also doing this in an effort to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland County. For more information on this organization please visit www.bbbs.org.

Impossible is Nothing!

October 22 - 26

Bacon Bears,

You Matter!

It was not easy being out of the building three days last week . Mrs. Harris continues to do an excellent job for the school in my absence.

I attended and presented at the Texas ASCD conference in Dallas, TX. It was a great experience all around, and as I shared the RM Bacon Elementary story, educators were impressed. I was able to tour Dealey Plaza, the grassy knoll, and the school book depository museum all in relation to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America.

Dr. Cook on the grassy knoll

On Thursday, along with Mrs. Simpson (Music Teacher and Family and Community Engagement Coordinator), and Mrs. Markee (our Home and School Association President) I visited Knapp Elementary School. Knapp has become recognized throughout the country as one of the premier schools for family and community engagement. We learned about their school, and their programs. We also had the opportunity to share some of the great programs that are occurring here at RM Bacon Elementary.


Pictures from Knapp

Welcoming front lobby at Knapp

Knapp front entrance

 

Joe Mazza, Lead Learner at Knapp

 

Updates for this week
There will be no Resource Room classes on Monday or Tuesday. Mrs. Peterson and Ms. Ford are working on a complete re haul of their schedule. More information to follow.

This week we have Dr. Porecca visiting RM Bacon to screen students for vision (Tuesday At 9:30 AM). Contact the Nurse if you have any questions.

On Wednesday we will be having an assembly titled "More Power for You!" This looks to be a great opportunity for our students to learn about motivation.

All teachers (except BSI interventionists) will participate in Grade Level Meetings this week. We will be focusing on Generating and Testing Hypothesis application in the classrooms.

Club 21 Sailing Adventure:

Weekly Overview
Monday - Dr. Cook will be a guest teacher for Mr. Drewnowski
Tuesday - Eye Screenings at 9:30 AM;
Wednesday - More Power for YOU! 2:00 PM; I &RS team training all day
Thursday - Grade Level Meetings for all Teachers (CITWS)
Friday - Tech Friday; PBIS Meeting 1:00 PM, and Bear Bucks Store at 2:30 PM