Brazile Parent Email Archive

Friday, December 20, 2013

Kemp - Brazile 12/20

Parents –

What’s the last day before break without drama? In case you weren’t aware, your kids are crazy…but I’m ok with crazy. Compared to years past, they’re not too bad, but don’t tell them I said that. Very excited though and ready for a break.

A small issue has come to my attention about the online grades. It seems as if I’ve created a little glitch. I changed the weighting and categories this quarter in a couple subject areas. Apparently, it’s messed up the quarter grades for the first quarter. It’s very obvious in Math, because if you go on you’ll see they all have a zero for the 1^st quarter. I know a work around but wanted to allay any fears if you go on before I make it active. I love technology, but hate it too sometimes.

Another piece of drama, this one a little more yucky. There’s a nasty holiday stomach bug going around. So, be on the lookout for symptoms. Otherwise, “Deck the Halls” will take on a whole new meaning for you. Trust me, I was there last Sunday with my oldest son…he decked the halls, the floor, the bathroom….

So, switching gears a little. The kids will be all yours in a couple hours. I hope you all have a great holiday. Thanks again to everyone and their incredible thoughtfulness and generosity.

Shane Brazile

Note: “This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and/or e-mail." “This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Kemp - Brazile 12-19

Parents,

Before I jump into the happenings in our classroom, I would like to say “Thank you” to Daniella DeFoor. She coordinated our Holiday party yesterday and it was a big hit. I think it’s fairly obvious that it’s not my area of expertise to organize and decorate for parties, so all efforts to make it go smoothly are greatly appreciated.

Thanks also go out to all of the parents who attended to share the event with our class. I know it’s rough, especially this time of year, to give your time and gifts. It’s appreciated by me.

The kids finished the “Hour of Code” week. They’ve really had fun with it and I’ll send out the certificates today. I hope they continue experimenting with what they’ve learned.

As I wrap up this week, we’re also wrapping up the second quarter and, in turn, the first semester. I am putting the final grades on about 3,770 individual assignments for this quarter. I’m ball-parking that we’ve completed about 6,000 assignments this year. That’s an incredible number. It shows just how hard working your fifth grader has been. The growth I’ve seen so far is incredible. I hope you’ve seen a growth in responsibility and independence at home. It says a lot about the parents too, that the kids are growing so much. They can’t grow if they’re not given the room and the opportunity. They’re doing well and I hope you’re as proud of them for these accomplishments as I am.

I’ve designed a class that’s outside the box and can be uncomfortable for many whose background is traditional education. I thank you all for being so supportive and open to what can be done. I truly believe that the kids can do so much more than what they think they can do. The key is unlocking their potential . While we’ll still continue experiencing “growing pains,” we’ll also see tremendous growth as the kids mature. I am lucky to have such an eager class and I’m so excited about the third quarter units. I hope that they’re entertaining to keep them engaged and interesting to help them learn. Creating an engaging unit for the kids is one of the most fun parts of my job. A close second is seeing them turn red from dancing in class.

I’ve gotten many gifts from you all and they’re very appreciated. I see by the gifts that I may need to re-evaluate my habits and some of the stories I tell. Apparently, my honey bun addiction is obvious to all but me. And I have way too many pets.

Please have a safe and happy holiday season. Enjoy the break with your family, as I plan to enjoy every second with mine.

Thanks,

Shane Brazile

Friday, December 13, 2013

FW: Holiday Illness Guidelines and Illness Tracking

Parents-

I’m sending home a message from our school nurse, along with an attachment.

“Dear Staff,

It’s that time of year. I’m tracking all strep, chicken pox and flu cases. Please let me know of confirmed cases in your class.

Please send the attached document home today.

Thanks for everything you do. Stay well “

Also, please check out the following links for Six Flags Reading Program. Kids who complete the program will receive a free admission into Six Flags. This should be completed and returned to me by February 1^st.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

Shane Brazile

FW: Giving Tree

Parents,

Thank you so much for helping out this year with the Kemp Giving Tree. We are pleased to announce that all of the paw prints have been taken off the tree. We want to remind you that all gifts are due by Friday, December 13. Please place your unwrapped gift with the paw print attached to the gift under the tree by Friday afternoon.

Thank you!

Jenni Briggs

Professional School Counselor

Kemp Elementary

678-594-8158 ext. 232

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Kemp - Brazile 12/12

Parents –

· Holiday Lunch reminder. Tomorrow for 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th. Brazile’s lunch time 11:20a – 12:05p.

· Kids working hard on WWI unit projects.

Only a week to go before the winter break. The kids are wrapping up the Social Studies unit for WWI. We’ll have the unit test next week.

Next week will be hectic with the excitement and so much to cover within the week. We’ll test as normal in Math with our computation and problem solving tests. After the break, I’ll reassess them on math skills. We’ll have tests the next Friday too, but I’ll increase the number of dropped tests because the scores might be lower due to the excitement over the break. Having them, though, gives them the opportunity to raise their average.

We’ll finish up Lois Lowry’s Gathering Blue. The kids seem to love it and we’ll pick up with her next novel, The Messenger, after the break. I only have one copy of this book, but it’s a great story for the kids to hear. If you want a copy for your child to follow along with, feel free to pick one up (or download digitally).

Please note the holiday lunch time above because it’s different from their normal lunch time.

Have a good weekend,

Shane Brazile

Friday, December 6, 2013

Kemp - Brazile 12/6

Parents-

Busy week. Seemed to go by quickly. Kids have been working hard on the new Social Studies unit – WWI, Jazz Age, and the Great Depression. We’re not starting another true Science unit until after winter break. We will be experimenting and writing up those experiments though. If you’re able (I don’t need 26 of each of these), but we could use various paper towel rolls (half of the roll is fine) and/or toilet paper rolls. If you can label the brand, that would be great. We’ll be comparing these, so the more variation, the better.

Also,

The following is a list of the school wide fund raising days. A $1.oo donation for each day of participation is greatly appreciated.

Monday – Hat Day/Holiday Hat Day

Tuesday – Pajama Day

Wednesday – We will be going to the Symphony from 10:00 – 2:00 on this day, so have your child wear his/her class t-shirt. The permission slip for this was the Performing Arts permission slip that most of you have already turned in.

Thursday – Favorite Decade Day

Friday – 7:15 – 8:00 – Holiday Bazaar – all items $1.00 and Crazy Holiday Hair Day for fifth grade only (the rest of the school will do the crazy hair day on Wednesday)

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Have a great weekend,

Shane Brazile

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

FW: blind diabetes class

A note from our school nurse

From: Cynthia Scurry
Sent: Wednesday, Dec…ember 04, 2013 8:47 AM
To: DL-KMP-STAFF
Subject: blind diabetes class

FYI – Share with friends and family.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Kemp - Brazile 11/22

Parents-

Our week is just about over as I write this, at least academically it is. I hope everyone enjoys the Thanksgiving break. Please be careful if you travel.

The kids finished up their units before the holiday and overall their performance was great. Grades are updated except for spelling and Reading Logs.

We finished The Giver. Can’t believe how well they did with this book, making connections and inferences I haven’t seen many kids make. We’ll begin the next book in the series after the break. I ask that they don’t read ahead because we cover certain skills with each section and if they read ahead, it sort of throws a kink in it all. Ask them about the book, you’ll be impressed with their take on it.

On Wednesday, the kids brought home their progress reports. The grades are also online through ParentVue. Please understand that we consider any student with a C average or lower to be “in danger” of not passing. If there is a zero, they need to complete the assignment and get it in. We’ll have time after the break to improve averages and enhance their understanding. Also, there are opportunities for extra credit through the production of instructional videos. Must be less than 2 minutes, clear and concise.

Also on Wednesday, there was a printout for the kids’ Iowa test results. Gives some ideas how their scores compare nationally, as well as areas they could improve.

Have a great Thanksgiving and ROLL TIDE!! (A little extra emphasis for the upcoming Iron Bowl against Aubu…I can’t even finish typing that name this week!)

Shane Brazile

Friday, November 15, 2013

Kemp - Brazile 11/15

Parents-

I’m staying positive today! We’re wrapping up a busy week. The kids have been good today. I’ve also kept them very busy.

· Science unit ended today. New one starts after Thanksgiving break.

· Social Studies unit ends next week.

· Check out grades, especially for missing work. Need it turned in.

· Malia made it in our Weekly Reader.

· Reading The Giver

· Good Luck to the Hawks (High School, 7^th grade, and 5^th grade football teams)

· Roll Tide!

We completed our Science unit today. Our next unit is “Electricity and Magnetism.” We’ll start it after next week. We’re in need of a few D batteries for the unit. If you’re able to donate a couple, that would be great. Officially, we’re a little ahead of the county pacing guide, but it will pay off to have covered all of the material before the CRCT.

We’ll finish our Social Studies unit (“The Changing Nation”) next week. The kids have been working hard on this and they covered quite a bit. The holiday forced us to push hard so the break didn’t it up too much.

Please have the kids check out their grades online. With the heavy use of technology, some assignments may not have made it to me and there is a zero for a grade. I’ve asked them about the missing work, but if there’s a zero, there’s a problem. I need them to re-submit it if it’s digital or turn it in if it’s hard copy. Just today, I had 3 students claim work turned in without a name.

On another note, I want to brag on a student. Check out page 7 of the Scholastic Weekly Reader (http://sni.scholastic.com/SN5/11_18_13_SN5). Our very own, Malia, wrote an opinion piece and was selected. I’m very proud of her effort and initiative.

In Reading, we’re reading The Giver by Lois Lowry. Great book with so many opportunities for inferencing and critical thinking. I only ask the kids not to read ahead as I have assignments based on that day’s passage. The story changes very quickly, so if they read ahead, it clouds the inferencing activity. If they want another Lois Lowry book to read, try Gossamer or Silent Boy.

New Math skills will be updated once the skills tests today are graded.

I introduced the kids to the Power Pose. It comes from a TED talk I watched about body language and confidence. Basically, it says you can “fake it until you become it” concerning confidence. We strike these Power Poses for a couple minutes and their research says it increases chemical rates associated with power and confidence while lowering levels of chemicals associated with stress. Eventually, we hope they’re confident without the poses. Even if it doesn’t work, it lightens their mood for a little while and it makes me chuckle.

Good luck to our Hillgrove Hawks, both high school, 7^th grade (my son), and 5^th grade teams (a few of our classmates) in their respective playoffs this weekend!

Have a great weekend! Roll Tide!

Shane Brazile

Monday, November 11, 2013

Kemp - Brazile 11/11

Parents-

I had a few good questions that I thought I’d share the answer with everyone.

1) Synergy/ParentVue for online grades – If you had already completed the form with me in person or in the front office, just send me an email and I can reprint. If you have not completed the form, they require it to be completed in person. I know it’s a pain, but it’s the county rule so your ID can be verified.

2) Some had trouble with tutorial links and I couldn’t figure out the problem, until I realized the links that were being used weren’t supposed to be links at all. I’ve updated the page so the phantom links are gone and the tutorials are all linked. The issue was that the IXL skill names were turning into links that wouldn’t take you anywhere. Not all skills have tutorials, but the ones that do are there now. Most tutorials are hosted through Khan Academy and should be viewable on all platforms. If not, there’s a Khan Academy app for iPads.

Thanks,

Shane Brazile