Fisher Family Update
November 9, 2023
Fisher Counselors’ Newsletter - November 2022
Hello Fisher Families and Happy November!
Students have settled into their school routines and continue to do their best each day as they learn and grow. In SWIM lessons this month, all grade levels will be focusing on showing and spreading kindness, building positive friendships and practicing gratitude. As we discuss kindness, friendships and gratitude, students will make connections with last month’s focus of the Zones of Regulation.
We are excited to begin various group projects with a focus of spreading kindness, not only throughout our school, but within our community as well. We can’t wait to share what our students come up with!
Please do not hesitate to reach out to a counselor with any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Carly Mahoney & Erin Mansfield
Visit our website for more information and resources: https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/counselorscorner-callaghan/home
What exactly is Fact Fluency?
You may have heard at your parent-teacher conference that your child’s fact fluency is a strength or maybe it is an area for growth. But what exactly is fact fluency? In days past, fact fluency was taking home a set of flash cards and practicing them until they were memorized. There was not a lot of conceptual understanding behind those facts; it was just practice until you knew them. Unfortunately, that did not work for all students, especially those that might process information in a different way or struggle with working memory.
Building fact fluency today is based on conceptual understanding and concept development so students can apply strategies to solve facts, therefore giving them a stronger foundation for future learning. There is a specific sequence to learning the facts (and it’s not just 1-10) as certain facts build on other facts learned in all operations. Have you heard of the doubles +/-1 for addition and subtraction or the double, double, double strategy for multiplying by 2s, 4s, and 8s? These are just two of the many strategies students learn to help them become more fluent with their facts and therefore more efficient mathematicians. Listed below are the fact fluency expectations for each grade level. The links take you to a document that describes the specific strategies for that operation in the order they are taught. When supporting your student at home, using this common language will help them in their journey towards mastering fact fluency.
Our Family Math Site has a special section for families devoted to Fact Fluency as well as a page for students with resources for fun practice.
End of School Year Fact Fluency Expectations:
Kindergarten: Fluently add & subtract within 5
Grade 1: Fluently add & subtract within 10
Grade 2: Fluently add & subtract within 20
Grade 3: Fluently multiply all products up to 10x10 and related division facts
Grade 4: Fluently multiply all products up to 12x12 and related division facts
Grade 5: Keep practicing all facts for fluency!
Fisher School - Volunteer Opportunities
We are excited to share with you two parent volunteer opportunities. Mr. Preston and Ms. Matos are looking for volunteers to help out in the STEM/Library and Art Classrooms. If interested, please sign up for one or both of these areas to volunteer. These sign up sheets will close on November 10th. Once we have a list of volunteers, there will be an introductory meeting with all volunteers followed by an "orientation" meeting to learn more about the classroom(s) in which you've volunteered. Please be sure you have an active CORI.
October Sportsmanship Superstars!
Every month Sportsmanship Superstars are selected, one from each grade. These students demonstrate respect and fair play to opponents, teachers, equipment and graciousness in both victory and defeat.
The Sportsmanship Superstars for the month of October are:
K- Miller
1 - Aurora
2 - Emmett
3 - Piper
3 - Gino
5 - Alex
Thanksgiving Day Giving
In the spirit of the holiday, we are looking for 15 Thanksgiving meals to be donated to provide Thanksgiving dinner for families in need. The food will be purchased and put together by your family based on the list below to feed 10 people. Feel free to reach out to another family(s) if you would like to do it together as a group. Fisher students are going to be decorating boxes for the food to be put in so there is no need to provide a basket.
Please plan on bringing the below ingredients in the grocery bags as well as a $25 giftcard to Stop & Shop for a turkey or ham in an easily identifiable envelope.
The food must be dropped off in front of the school on Monday, November 20th between 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Please check the slot to donate if you would like to participate. We are looking for 15 meals in total. If you have any questions please contact Carly Mahoney, Guidance Counselor at cmahoney@walpole.k12.ma.us, Erin Mansfied, Adjustment Counselor at emansfield@walpole.k12.ma.us, or Lindsey Moyes, School Nurse, at LMoyes@walpole.k12.ma.us
Thank you for your generosity and continued support to the Fisher community. We greatly appreciate it.
Click here to sign up to donate a basket.
Student Council Food Drive
The 5th Grade Student Council is sponsoring a FOOD DRIVE
to benefit the Walpole Food Pantry….
Wednesday, Oct. 25th through Wednesday, Nov. 15th
Suggestions:
Kindergarten: pasta, soup, canned meat & fish
Grade 1: canned fruit, applesauce, jelly/jam, syrup
Grade 2: canned vegetables, oatmeal, cereal
Grade 3: salad dressing, mustard/ketchup, baked beans
Grade 4: peanut butter, tea/coffee, mac & cheese
Grade 5: household items (laundry detergent, napkins, paper towels, toilet paper) & personal care items (toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, deodorant)
***PLEASE check the expiration dates on your items!!***
These are only suggestions, please know that ANY and ALL donations are greatly appreciated! Please bring donations to Room 122 or to your homeroom where they can be collected by Student Council members!
Thank you!
Grade 5 Student Council
Rally Against Cancer - Meadow Farms Fundraising
Our Fisher’s Finest Rally Against Cancer fundraiser continues through Friday, November 25th. This is a wonderful way to support our annual effort to raise money for The Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute while doing a little shopping for yourself, or for holiday gift-giving. The link to the shop can also be shared with your friends and family. The more people who support the fundraiser, the higher the total we will receive for our Rally! There is even an option to make a donation if you don’t find anything you would like to purchase. Click HERE to see what incredible offers there are! You can share via text, email, or social media like Facebook and Twitter or Threads, too. Please contact Mrs. McDonough if you have any questions at cmcdonough@walpole.k12.ma.us Thank you to everyone who has already supported our fundraiser!
In Art Class, students are learning about Pop Art! We started talking about artists such as Andy Warhol, Romero Britto, Keith Haring, and Roy Lichtenstein. Check out these amazing pop art coloring pages by 1st garde that are inspired by artist Romero Britto.
Coloring pages are going home this week, so be sure to ask you child(ren) what they did in Art!
Fisher School Friendship Directory
Schools are not at liberty to provide student contact information for outside of school activities. If you would like to provide your child (ren)'s information for others to see please click the link below and complete the form.
WHS Production of Annie
Walpole High School Drama will be presenting its fall musical, Annie, on Friday and Saturday, November 17th and 18th at 7:00 PM, and Sunday, November 19th at 2:00 PM in the Walpole High School auditorium. Tickets are $12 online and $15 at the door. To purchase tickets and read a synopsis of the show, visit https://our.show/whsdrama/annie-2023. We hope to see you there!
