Monday, December 11, 2017

K-3 Narrative report card parent survey

Keystone Parents,

We always value and appreciate your feedback for all we do here at Keystone.  Please take a couple of minutes to give us feedback on our narrative approach to the report cards in November.  Thanks, Mr. Junge and Keystone Staff

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5aiPsZEjIJjo3znsYZ5XNPMOXlFq9PF0bEFP1s55xJLfMYA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Monday, September 18, 2017

Grading info from Parent Partnership Night

Keystone Parents,

Thanks to those of you who were able to make it to our Parent Partnership Night this past Wednesday.  For those of you who weren't able to make it I am sending the slide show of information our teachers presented.  Please feel free to email me at rjunge@benton.k12.ia.us or call 319-442-3221 if you have any questions.  Thanks, Mr. Junge

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1_FbYM3THMAmiYWKTLd7kkC-tOdkiedYhFoeexjQZOFU/edit?ts=59bf0b31#slide=id.p


Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Parent Partnership Night / Free Cookies / Grading Info


6:15 - 7:00 at Keystone Elementary.

Free Cookies!!  Child Care provided!!

Please join us to meet with your child's grade level teachers to talk about grade reporting, learning goals for the year, and parent communication. It is key for you as the parent to know what we need from you at home to increase the child's growth for the year.

It is only 45 minutes long.  We want to continue to build our learning team between school and home.

Thanks, Mr. Junge

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Open House Parent-Teacher Conference Feedback

Keystone Parents,

Everything we do is to serve you and your child to make sure their educational experience at Keystone and Benton CSD is the best it can possibly be.  We would love your feedback and input with regards to our new idea for a more personalized conference to start the year.  Please take 5 minutes to fill out the survey included in my blog.  Thanks for your time and your commitment to your child's education.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zcBkoqKCXhnmAyAcwrdtaPR-TFmNa5rqySNQSP3vZf8/edit?ts=59a080ef

Sincerely,

Mr. Junge

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

12:00 Dismiss Wed.

We are having a 12:00 (noon) dismiss tomorrow, Wednesday 9/6, for PK-12 District PD.  I am attaching the link for the speaker we will be engaging with during our PD.  It is a great opportunity that Mr. Zittergruen and our School Board is allowing us to partake in.  Thanks, Mr. Junge

http://web1.gwaea.org/newsreleases/2017-2018/SeminarSeries-Meechin.pdf

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

**Important** Please read


We still have some parents that need to sign up for a Parent-Teacher Conference to start the year. This is replacing our former Open House format of just coming in and dropping off materials.  Please sign up for a slot to bring in materials and build the all important teacher / parent relationship to start the year. Thanks, Mr. Junge
K-3 - http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084fafae2ea4fb6-keystone 
PK - http://tinyurl.com/BOY-Keystone

Monday, August 7, 2017

PK Start Dates

Please note that our PK start dates are different than our K-3 dates.

4 year old PK - Aug. 24th
3 year old PK - Aug. 28th


Thanks, Mr. Junge

Monday, July 31, 2017

Before school starts Parent Teacher Conference

PK-3 parents,

We are trying something different and new this year.  We are changing from the informal Open House format we have done in the past and we are doing a schedule Parent-Teacher conference on the same date.  You will still bring in your school supplies like always, we just wanted to take the time to talk about goals for the year, building the school and home relationship, and what we need from you at home to help us maximize your child's growth.  Please go to the PK link below for a time and there is a separate K-3 link for sign up times.  Please email me at rjunge@benton.k12.ia.us or call the office at 319-442-3221 if you need any help or have any questions.  Thanks, Mr. Junge


PK -  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084fafae2ea4fb6-keystone 
K-3 - http://tinyurl.com/BOY-Keystone

Thursday, July 13, 2017

New Staff at Keystone Elementary #keyrocks

Miss Katie Dirksen - Kindergarten teacher.  Miss Dirksen is replacing Mrs. Jodie Kimm.  Miss Dirksen is currently co-teaching the K-1 Summer School group and is going to be a fantastic addition to our building.  She has been in often getting her room ready and is very excited to be a part of Keystone Elementary and Benton CSD.  Please welcome her when you see her.

Miss Shelby Frana - Pre-School teacher.  Miss Frana is replacing Mrs. Benton.  Miss Frana will be teaching our 3-4 year old Pre-school groups with Mrs. Mehlert as her associate.  Miss Frana is going to be a great addition to Keystone Elementary and Benton CSD.  She is very excited to get started!!  Please welcome her to the community and district when you meet her.

Mrs. Sandy Maxwell - Special Education Associate.  Mrs. Maxwell will be joining us in August when school starts.  Mrs. Maxwell will be helping with all K-3 students.  We are very fortunate to have Mrs. Maxwell joining our building and district.

Ms. Amber St. John - Technology / ELL / Reading Intervention.  Mrs. St. John will be taking on multiple roles within our building and district.  At Keystone Ms. St. John will be teaching Technology and ELL.  Ms. St John will also be doing some Reading Intervention work at Keystone.  She will be teaching Technology at Atkins, ELL at Norway, and doing some Reading Intervention work at Atkins.  She will bring a lot of great skills and passion to our buildings and district.  Please welcome her when you see her.  


Enjoy the rest of your summer!!

Mr. Junge

  


Thursday, July 6, 2017

Importance of Summer Reading

Children who don't read over the summer experience summer learning loss. That's right -- kids don't just feel like they've forgotten some of what they've learned -- they actually do forget it. And the effect is cumulative. Kids who lose reading skills over the summer will be two years behind their classmates by the end of 6th grade.

Summer Reading Statistics

  • Low-income children, by the end of fifth grade, are about 2.5 years behind their more affluent peers. This is primarily due to summer learning loss.
  • Students experience significant learning loss when they do not participate in educational activities during the summer months. Research shows that students on average score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer than they do on the same tests at the end of the school year. Low-income students experience greater summer learning losses than their higher income peers. On average, middle-income students experience slight gains in reading performance during summer vacation. Low-income students experience about a two month loss in reading achievement.
  • The achievement gap in reading scores between higher and lower income students increases over summer vacation. The research shows that achievement for both middle-and lower-income students improves at a similar rate during the school year.
  • Reading just 4-5 books during the summer can prevent a decline in a child's fall reading scores.
  • Summer reading loss is cumulative, these children do not typically catch up in the fall. Their peers are progressing with their skills while they are making up for the summer learning loss. By the end of 6th grade, children who lose reading skills during the summer are on average 2 years behind their peers.
  • Teachers spend an average of 4-6 weeks re-teaching material that students have lost during the summer.

Summer Reading Statistics Low-income children, by the end of fifth grade, are about 2.5 years behind their more affluent peers. This is primarily due to summer learning loss. Students experience significant learning loss when they do not participate in educational activities during the summer months. Research shows that students on average score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer than they do on the same tests at the end of the school year. Low-income students experience greater summer learning losses than their higher income peers. On average, middle-income students experience slight gains in reading performance during summer vacation. Low-income students experience about a two month loss in reading achievement. The achievement gap in reading scores between higher and lower income students increases over summer vacation. The research shows that achievement for both middle-and lower-income students improves at a similar rate during the school year. Reading just 4-5 books during the summer can prevent a decline in a child's fall reading scores. Summer reading loss is cumulative, these children do not typically catch up in the fall. Their peers are progressing with their skills while they are making up for the summer learning loss. By the end of 6th grade, children who lose reading skills during the summer are on average 2 years behind their peers. Teachers spend an average of 4-6 weeks re-teaching material that students have lost during the summer.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Blairstown City Library summer learning / hours

Weekly Themes:
  • June 5th—June 10th Build a Better Animal Habitat
  • June 12th– June 17th Build a Better Garden
  • June 19th—June 24th Build a Better Recycler
  • June 26th—July 1st Build a Better Building
  • July 3rd—July 8th Build a Better Scientist/Engineer
  • July 10th—July 15th   Build a Better Bug Habitat
  • July 17th—July 22nd Build a Better Community
  • July 24th—July 29th Build a Better World
As part of each weekly theme, we will have a special program as well as a coordinating craft every Wednesday. We will also have drop in challenges every week that the kids can try to complete. If they complete at least 5 of the 8 challenges, they get their name in for a special prize drawing. These are the special programs I have scheduled and confirmed so far:

Every Wednesday at 2pm
Crafts with Miss Cathy
Every Monday at 6:00pm
Storytime Under the Stars
Friday, June 9th at 1pm
“World of Wildlife” with Blank Park Zoo
Tuesday, June 13th at 2pm
Garden Stones with Benton County Master Gardener, Therese Elliff
Tuesday, June 20th at 2pm
Recycling with Benton County Conservation
Monday, July 3rd at 2pm
“How the Tools of Yesterday Shaped the Tools of Today” with Principal Electrical Engineer Brian Rach.
Tuesday, July 11th at 2pm
“The Building of Bugs” with the ISU Insect Zoo
Tuesday, July 18th at 2pm
Visit from the Blairstown Ambulance

We will be incorporating literacy into this as well and the kids will have the opportunity to read up to five books, with each book completed giving them a chance at a different special prize drawing. My goal for this summer is getting the kids actively engaged with the library through learning experiences, while also promoting literacy and fun.

Finally, our summer hours (which begin June 1st) are as follows:
Monday 10am-6pm
Tuesday 1pm-6pm
Wednesday 1pm-7pm
Thursday 1pm-6pm
Friday 1pm-6pm
Saturday 10am-1pm
Sunday  Closed

Keystone City Library summer information for learning.




Sunday, May 14, 2017

Happy Mother's Day

All of us at Keystone Elementary are so blessed to work with your kids everyday.  We have such great kids to work with everyday because of all of you.  You are such great moms to work with everyday!  Happy Mother's Day.  Hope it was a blessed day.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Spring Break / Please have your kids read over break

All Keystone Parents,

We are going into a much needed and deserved Spring Break for students and staff.  We had some great Progress Monitoring scores this week for reading.  Please try and find some time over break while driving in the car or before bed to continue to have your kids read.  20-30 minutes a day over break can do wonders for them to maintain their current reading levels.  We will be at end of the year testing in early May before you know it.  Please continue all of the great work you do at home to support their learning.

Please enjoy your truly blessed family time over break and we can't wait to see all of the kids on Monday.

Mr. Junge

Monday, March 6, 2017

Report Cards came home today

Please check your child's take home folders for their report cards, they came home today.  Their specials report cards will be coming home tomorrow.  Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks, Mr. Junge  

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Keystone Elementary Important Upcoming Dates

March Newsletter


Dates on Deck
Wednesday, March 1st- 1:00 p.m. dismiss end of K-6 2nd trimester-grade reporting
Wednesday, March 8th- 1:00 p.m. dismiss- P/T conferences
Monday, March 13th- 1:00 p.m. dismiss- P/T conferences
Wednesday March 15th through Friday March 17th- NO SCHOOL- Spring Break
Monday, March 20th- Classes resume
Friday, March 24th- 1:00 p.m. dismiss K-6 PD


Read Across America- dress up day!
Keystone Elementary will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday and Read Across America on Friday, March 3rd.  Students are encouraged to dress as their favorite storybook character that day.

BCPTO
BCPTO meeting is Monday, March 6th at 6:30 p.m. at Keystone Elementary.  All are welcome to attend.

Preschool and Kindergarten Registration
Preschool and Kindergarten registration is scheduled for Monday, March 6th from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Keystone Elementary Center.  Please, bring proof of age and immunization records.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
On Wednesday, March 8th and Monday, March 13th conferences will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Classes will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m. on those dates.  Online scheduling is open at http://www.myschoolsystems.com/benton/keystone-elementary . If you are unable to schedule your conference online, please call the office at 319-442-3221.

Book Fair
The book fair is back!! The book fair will be open March 6th through March 13th and open online until March 22nd.  Parents make sure to stop in and check it out during conferences!  Students will also be participating in a change collection throughout the book fair.  Change collected will be used for books in their classrooms!  http://www.scholastic.com/bf/keystoneelemsch

Spring Break
Benton Community students will not have classes on Wednesday, March 15th through Friday, March 17th for Spring break.  Enjoy!  Classes will resume Monday, March 20th.  

Spring Portraits
Spring 2017 portraits will be taken on Monday, March 27th.  Students are not required to have their pictures taken. More information will be sent home at a later date.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

PT Conference Sign Up for Mar. 8th, 13th is ready.

Keystone PT Conference Sign Up is ready for our upcoming March 8th and March 13th options. Please follow the link. Passwords will be coming home today with your child. Passwords are the same as in the fall.

https://www.myschoolsystems.com/benton/keystone-elementary/conferences.php?where_from=student&language=english

Thursday, January 26, 2017

3 and 4 year old Pre-school, AK, and Kindergarten Registration

Keystone Elementary will be having their 3 and 4 year old Pre-school, AK, and Kindergarten registration on Monday, March 6th from 4:30-6:30.

3 and 4 year old PK parents - You will need proof of child's age and immunization records.

AK and Kindergarten - You will need proof of child's age, if not already in our system, and immunization records.  You can give us the immunization records prior to starting school in the fall.

If you can't attend on March 6th during those times please call 319-442-3221 prior to March 6th to register with us in the office.

If you have any questions about 3 or 4 year old Pre-school, AK, or Kinder please call 319-442-3221 or email me at rjunge@benton.k12.ia.us


Sincerely,

Mr. Junge

Return to normal bus routes

Benton CSD will return to normal bus routes effective tomorrow, Friday 1.27.  Thank you for your patience.

Mr. Junge