Rick LaVoie will be available for parents at Chatfield Elementary on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 7:00 pm. Rick is well known for his expertise in motivating the unmotivated child. This is a free opportunity for all parents. More information about Rick can be found at: http://www.ricklavoie.com/gateindex.html
Posted by Bill Adams on August 29, 2011 | Permalink
The 2011-2012 school year will be accompanied with a procedural change for all visitors. Upon entering the school building all visitors will be asked to check in at the office as always. The difference this year is that all check ins need to be accompanied by a Driver's License or Identification Card. The Chatfield Elementary and Oak Crest offices will have computer stations with a scanner, label printer and electronic check in. The scanner will scan all licenses/identification cards to a database, which will notify our school if any visitor has been convicted of a crime against children. If we receive notification that the person has been convicted of such a crime, we will not allow them to enter the building. This process will provide another safety net for our students.
While we realize that some parents/guests may feel this procedure infringes on their privacy, it is our duty to provide any and all measures to ensure student safety. Features of this new system include the following:
Ident-A-Kid System Features
Quick and easy check in process for visitors.
Registration against national database for crimes against children.
Fob keys provided to most frequent visitors for quicker check in.
Labels made with personalized photos for easy identification.
Most important, another process to ensure student safety.
Should you want to discuss these changes in further detail, please feel free to contact me directly.
With Highest Regards,
Bill Adams, Principal
952.873.2401
Posted by Bill Adams on August 29, 2011 | Permalink
A few years ago Belle Plaine Elementary had Lifetouch provide spring pictures for families. Through the recommendations of our famlies and faculties, Lifetouch has made excellent improvements to this program. Chatfield Elementary will be welcoming Lifetouch into our building on Friday, April 29, 2011 to take spring pictures once again. Please recall that this program is OPTIONAL. There is an attachment with specfic details below.
Posted by Bill Adams on April 11, 2011 | Permalink
As part of "I Love to Read" month I read to students a story entitled, "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" This story addresses the fact that everyone carries an invisible bucket with them. Our goal is to fill these buckets with positive comments that will allow our students to thrive in our school building. Many of our teachers have created instructional techniques to support this story. In one classroom our students have created paper buckets that can be filled with positive comments throughout the day. These particular buckets are posted on classroom desks as a means to be easily accessible. I am very proud of our teachers' and students' recognition of this books powerful message.
If you would like to add this wonderful book to your collection, you may do so by google searching, "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?"
Posted by Bill Adams on March 21, 2011 | Permalink
Many of you have heard the cliche, Lifelong Learning. This cliche involves many different meanings:
1. A love of learning for its own sake.
2. A voluntary engagement in learning activities.
3. The ability to ask one's own questions and take responsibility for addressing and pursuing them.
4. The ability to marshal resources to address these questions: Time, Attention, Money, Tools, Other People, Books and Technology.
5. The ability to sustain engagement over time.
6. The capacity to continously reflect on oneself as a learner and on the learning.
7. The capacity to set one's own high standards of learning and to assess the extent to which one is succeeding in resolving questions posed.
8. The capacity to know and celebrate success.
Often times, as parents, we find ourselves at the dinner table asking our children what they learned today in school. I encourage you to begin using the following statements:
1. "Let me tell you what I learned at work today!"
2. "Let me tell you what I learned as a parent today!"
These statements will expose your children to your journey as life-long learners. My hope is these statements will encourage your children to share more specific information about their learning. Their responses will shift from, "nothing" to a detailed description of learning. The information they share will provide you with the opportunity to build on their learning.
The eight descriptors of life-long learning were taken from the book, On Common Ground: The Power of Professional Learning Communities. (DuFour, Eaker, DuFour - 2005)
Posted by Bill Adams on March 11, 2011 | Permalink
To view the March Chatfield Connection, please click on the link below:
Posted by Bill Adams on March 08, 2011 | Permalink
Chatfield Elementary was awarded a Minnesota Reading Corp member this past school year. Minnesota Reading Corps is a statewide initiative to help every Minnesota child become a successful reader by the end of 3rd grade. The program places AmeriCorps members in sites to implement a researched-based early-literacy effort to help struggling readers. The Minnesota Reading Corps strategies are designed for both preschool-aged students and K–3rd grade students. I am happy to announce Chatfield Elementary will be the host of two Reading Corp members during the 2010-2011 school year.
On Monday I was contacted by Kathy Saltzman, Executive Director of the Minnesota Education Corps. She asked if I would be willing to testify at the capital in support of House File 617 being introduced by our local representative, Kelby Woodard. This bill is coined, The Americorps Innovation Act. It is with great honor to serve in this capacity for our fine students.
Posted by Bill Adams on March 08, 2011 | Permalink
To view the February Chatfield Connection, please click on the link below:
Posted by Bill Adams on February 01, 2011 | Permalink
On Wednesday, January 5, 2011 Belle Plaine Royalty visited our school to read to our students. Rachel McDermand, Lexi Bahr and Laura Schultz were our gracious volunteers.
Posted by Bill Adams on January 06, 2011 | Permalink
