Harmony Elementary May 2012 Monthly Parent Newsletter

1. “Children First at Harmony”
HARMONY HIGHLIGHTS Vol. 4 - Issue 8
May
For Wildcat Families 2011-2012
From the Principal, Anne Marie Keskonis
Dear Harmony Families,
As a principal, I have the unique opportunity that goes beyond the support of
instruction in our classrooms. I get a chance to see how strong communities are cre-
3946 South Bogan Road, Buford, GA 30519
ated, by watching the families we serve come to school. At Harmony, we are very
fortunate to have a large number of parents, grandparents, older siblings, even
Harmony Elementary School
aunts and uncles contribute to our success. Recently during the CRCT testing, we
needed help monitoring lunch. SPECIAL THANKS to our Parent Volunteers that so
graciously helped monitor the cafeteria during our testing week. This sacrifice of
their time was greatly appreciated by the entire staff at Harmony. Thanks to Tama-
Front Office
ra Miller for her leadership in organizing these volunteers:
Dana Jones, Elizabeth Ihm, Mike Means, Shaye Bryson, Helen Kim-
mons, Kerri Reuter, Beri Adams, Brandy Sawyer, Jennifer Scott,
Deborah DiPaulo, Christine McCullock, Lisa Kulig, Marla Pirkle, Buffy
Parker, Michelle Lee, Lisa Stevens, Maureen Brown, and Stacy
Jones.
770.945.7272
Lunch duty is just one way our parents contribute to the suc-
cess of our school. Our parents are role models for the student population. Being a
volunteer means you are teaching our children to be active citizens and demonstrat-
ing how to get involved in the school community. Throughout the year, many of you
have volunteered in classrooms, at PTA sponsored local events, School Council, PTA
committees, taught Junior Achievement, and participated in Parent Nights. Your
positive presence makes us incredibly strong.
One powerful way to strengthen our community is by continuously improving
the relationship between parents and schools. As we come to the end of yet another
year, I want to personally thank you for your time and encourage you to continue to
be an integral part of Harmony next year. So much good can be accomplished when
everyone works together to create a stronger community.
Warmly, Anne Marie Keskonis

2. See Website for More Details
May 2012
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK 4/30 - 5/4
May 1 Chess Club Breakfast (8:30)
May 2 PTA - Harmony Staff Luncheon 11:00
May 3 Kindergarten Registration 2012-2013 May 11 Sybil Deacon Visit (K,1st,2nd)
(Media Center 12:00 - 5:00) 5th FOCUS Shakespeare Play (2:15)
Expectation Night/PTA Mtg. 6:15 pm Earning For Learning Contest Ends
(Rising 1st - 5th grade parents/students) May 17 5th gr. Visit Jones M.S. (9:30 am)
Stevi B’s Pizza Spirit Night Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night
May 4 5th gr. Kickball and Picnic (9:00-12:30) May 18 4th gr. Family Life Present. (2:15)
4th gr. Laura Days (1:30) 5th gr. Sock Hop (12:30-3:00)
Special Olympics/Redner’s Class (9:30) May 21 5th gr. Yearbook Signing (12:20)
May 7 FIELD DAY for Kind/1st grades May 22 4th gr. Ice Cream Party (2:15)
May 8 FIELD DAY for 2nd/3rd grades May 23 5th gr. Awards Celebration (9:00)
May 9 FIELD DAY for 4th/5th grades
May 10 Kindergarten Round-Up (9:30– 11:30) LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Summer Dates:
- New Students - On-Line Registration Begins June 1st
- Returning Students - Check Harmony’s website after June 1st
for details concerning the upcoming 2012-13 school year.
From the Assistant Principal - Emily Keag
Celebrate Independence Day
Dear Parents and Students,
As we conclude the end of another successful school year, we
look forward to another birthday celebration for our country. Inde-
pendence Day allows us to reflect and pay tribute to the
ideals that founded our great nation. This summer take
time to read about the 4th of July at the local library. Dis-
cuss with your child the importance of this day and what it
means to be a patriot. There are many websites that are
fun and educational for your child to access, which will en-
hance their learning. Above all, take time to observe the
words that signify our freedom or independence as Americans:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among
these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
May you have a wonderful summer, Emily Keag, AP

3. From Harmony’s Literacy Team
Arm Yourself in This Digital Age
Raising children in a digital age, where instant gratification and having everything like your peers is ex-
pected by children, is difficult! Parents can feel like it would be easier to give in, than to stick to what they
know is best for their child. It is not easy being a parent today.
Television is one area parents can feel the most stress. As teachers, we would love you to visit and adhere to
“How to get your child away from the TV” (http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Children-Away-from-TV)-
pay close attention to #6! However, there are some shows which are entertaining AND educational without
being violent or inappropriately graphic.
According to Randee Dawn, a TODAY Show contributor, you may want to arm yourself (and your handy,
dandy DVR) with these specials and series, so you can keep control over your kids’ veg-out time. (P.S.
There's a good chance you moms and dads might even want to tune in yourself!)
For ages 5 to 8
“Reading Rainbow” (various, PBS)
“Maryoku Yummy” (weekdays, The Hub)
What young kid wouldn’t want to visit a land where wishes are made real? Let your child
step into Nozumu, where that exact thing happens! Bonus for parents: It’s on at 10:30 a.m., so
maybe your own wishes can come true when you get a little more shut-eye.
“WordGirl’s Ludicrously Literate Library Week” (July 11-15, PBS Kids)
This summer, PBS is putting its focus on kids and reading by tying many current series in with
books and literacy. Subversive? You bet, but whatever works! This July, “WordGirl” will be expanding her
vocabulary by tussling with the Association of Villains and many others. Here’s your vocabulary phrase of
the week: must-read TV!
“Dinosaur Train: Dinosaur Big City” (Aug. 22, PBS Kids)
Has anyone ever gone wrong pairing dinosaurs and trains? OK, nobody’s really done it before The Jim Hen-
son Co. took over “Dinosaur Train,” but you know this is catnip for children. This special one-hour event
kicks off the series’ new season, and if your kids miss it, they may be stomping around like a T. rex until
school starts again.
For ages 9 to 12
“I Can Be President: A Kid’s-Eye View” (starts June 22, HBO Family)
Maybe not every kid grows up wanting to be the President of the United States, but it is the dream for mil-
lions of ambitious youngsters, who share that hope in this HBO Family Film. Maybe it will inspire your child
in just the right way. Watch it together!
“Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension” (Aug. 5, Disney Channel)
Look out! Dr. Doofenshmirtz is after our heroes, Phineas and Ferb, who’ve been transported to a parallel
dimension. Naturally, the Doc is up to no good and it’s up to the boys (and possibly sis Candace) to save the
day. Gitchee gitchee go-go-go!
“A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!” (July, Nickelodeon)
Those expecting more “Fairly OddParents” should beware: This is not the animated series you’re used to.
Instead, the live-action adaptation — timed for the series’ 10th anniversary — focuses on a physically adult
Timmy Turner (Drake Bell) who’s still stuck in the fifth grade because he refuses to give up his fairy godpar-
ents (Jason Alexander, Cheryl Hines). But life has a way of forcing everyone to grow up, and Timmy’s re-
solve is tested with a grown-up romance and a super-grown-up villain in Hugh J. Magnate Jr. (Steven We-
ber).
“Family Game Night” (August, The Hub)
At home, family game night can turn into tears and thrown Monopoly pieces. So why not watch other fami-
lies compete against each other in “life-sized twists on familiar games” (says the Hasbro-affiliate TV net-
work)? It’s all about teamwork and strategy. Plus, you could get your family to appear on the show ... if
you’re brave. The second season is casting now.
Adapted from http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43270630/ns/today-entertainment/t/schools-out-summer-
shows-fit-kids-all-ages/

4. Gwinnett Public Library Summer Reading
The Gwinnett County Public Library's summer reading program is Dream Big,
Read! The program runs from May 20 through August 11. You may register
online at www.gwinnettpl.org beginning May 1. Readers set a goal for their read-
ing and collect prizes once this goal has been met. Reading during the summer
maintains and even improves reading skills. A flyer will be coming home soon
with more information about the program. Please help your student to read this
summer! Marie Kennedy & Dolores Craven
Planning For A Summer Break
Counselor’s Filled with Fun & Learning
Corner
The school year is winding down and parents are usually busy planning vaca-
tions and figuring out how to keep their children busy and safe for the sum-
mer. It is not a good idea to over-schedule your children, but it is very important to make sure you
have some ideas planned that will keep their minds thinking and learning – using that fabulous brain!
Children’s minds are like sponges, there are opportunities everywhere for them to learn something
new. Here are a few ideas that will help develop confidence, talents, academic and
social ability:
*Definitely join the summer reading program at the public library! They plan
lots of fun activities and reward kids for reading books. Make sure you
set aside time to read each day. Pick out a couple longer books to read
aloud this summer – let your child help make the choices!
*If you attend a family reunion this summer, plan to look through old photos before attend-
ing. Talk with your children about your memories with siblings, cousins, and other rela-
tives. Make them a part of your family conversations when everyone gets together.
*Visit museums or zoos with your children. Spend more time at their favorite exhibit or near
their favorite animal and really learn some facts about it.
*Encourage your child to start a collection – maybe rocks, shells, pinecones, or other natural
objects. You can help them to do research on the internet or in books and learn interest-
ing facts about the items they are collecting.
*Play games that require children to count. Board games, card games, wiffleball on
the beach, or counting somersaults in the pool – whatever it is, they’ll be using their
math skills!
*Make sure to limit “screen time”. Too much time spent on video games and com-
puters will have a negative effect on their learning, physical health and social skills.
*Learn some new recipes together. There are many kid-friendly recipes that don’t even in-
volve using the stove.
*Go camping! There is so much to learn from nature. Tell stories around the campfire
and sing songs. Take hikes in the woods. Stroll along the beach.
Enjoy your Summer!
tina_byrne@gwinnett.k12.ga.us 770-271-4891
I am available to meet with you upon request
Check out my website at http://www.harmonywildcats.org/
Click on Counselor Info Tina Byrne, M.Ed. School Counselor

5. Physical Education
Hopefully this finds you and your family doing well. In P.E, we have been
working on our bowling unit with all grades throughout the end of April and
will continue to do so on into May. We will also practice for Field Day and be
reviewing sports we have learned about this year.
2012 Harmony Field Day Schedule:
Kindergarten May 7 (AM) /makeup May 10 (AM) 2nd grade May 8 (AM) /makeup May 11 (AM)
1st grade May 7 (PM) /makeup May 10 (PM) 3rd grade May 8 (PM) /makeup May 11 (PM)
4th grade May 9 (AM) /makeup May 14 (AM)
5th grade May 9 (PM) /makeup May 14 (PM)
Volunteers are still needed!!!! We still need parent volunteers for all grade levels, but especial-
ly for 3rd grade and 5th grade. If you can help out, please return the form below to Mr. Corley as
soon as possible. We will accept any and all parent volunteers all the way up until Field Day, but
please let us know as soon as you can!
http://www.harmonywildcats.org/Teacher%20Web%20Pages/Other%20Instructors/Cam_Corley/
pdf/HES_Field_Day_2012_Volunteer_Form.pdf
We have completed all of our FITNESSGRAM Fitness testing for the year and will be sending
home a detailed printout with all 4th and 5th graders' report cards on the last day of school.
Thank you for your continued support. Cam Corley
In music, we have been continuing our journey exploring the elements of
music , instruments, and composers. In Kindergarten we experienced songs
with a change of tempo. Students learned that the words used to describe
the speed of music are in Italian. The word for fast is “Allegro” and the
word for slow is “Largo.” Last week we read a short story called “If things
grew down,” and each student played an instrument creating
sounds to describe the characters in the story. In First grade, students have just
completed a unit on rhythm. We have experienced one sound, two sounds, and
four sounds to a beat. Students were excited to learn that four sounds to a beat
are called “Du-ta-de-ta.” Second grade has been experiencing songs with the
solfege syllables “So-Mi” and “So-La-So-Mi.” Last week we sang the song
“Lemonade” where the students pantomimed their trade, or special skill. In Third grade,
we are working on a folk song called “Tideo” that includes Orff instrument parts and a folk
dance. We also talked about composers and we read a book called “Beethoven’s Wig.” The
book is set to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony with some really funny lyrics. Fourth grade has
been very busy preparing the songs for the “Laura Ingalls Wilder Day” which will take place
on May 4th. Ask your students to share the folk songs they are working on.
Fiifth grade has been exploring form, specifically Theme and Variation Form.
We listened to a piece of music called “American Salute,” written by Morton
Gould, where the composer used the song “When Johnny Comes Marching
Home” as the main theme.
As the year draws to a close, we will be exploring improvisation with move-
ment, singing, and instruments. I have been enjoying my time here at Harmony and working
with your child. I look forward to working with each grade level until the end of the year. If
you have any questions please feel free to contact me by e-mail at
mihaela_gherghel@gwinnett.k12.ga.us. Mihaela Gherghel, Music Substitute

6. Creepy crawlers are the subject of paintings for many of
our Kindergarten - Third graders this month.
We studied "insect facts" to discover what exactly “is”
and what exactly “ain't” an insect. Then we drew many insects and
selected one to turn into a painting. And here's a "heads up" for all
parents of Fourth and Fifth graders . We are painting
ceramic heads they made in class so you should have a new
visitor in your home very soon. Zane Brock
HARMONY MATH NEWS
4 Everyday Ways to Learn Math While Having Fun
by Lindsay Hutton
Read more on FamilyEducation: http://school.familyeducation.com/summer-learning/
math/70200.html#ixzz1qKPAt1Fw
Math is everywhere, not just in the classroom, and summer is a great time to learn how math relates to the
real world. It's more than just addition and subtraction worksheets— it's everywhere you look. Keep your
children learning this summer with these ways to find math in their everyday life.
Lemonade Stand
A lemonade stand is the quintessential summertime activity for kids, and math is needed to
keep it up and running! Younger kids can work on their measuring and money-counting by
mixing the lemonade and making change for customers. Older kids can be in charge of set-
ting the price by determining the cost per serving and setting a profit margin. By using these
math skills, your kids will have a successful business serving thirsty consumers all summer
long!
Sports Spectator
Summertime means baseball. The next time you take your child to a game, incorporate a few math games
while you cheer on your favorite team. Have your child play umpire and ask him to keep count of each bat-
ter's balls and strikes. Additionally, he can also keep track of the outs every inning, and how many innings
are left before the game is over. Ask him questions, such as what inning marks the halfway point in the
game, and how many runs the losing team needs to catch up. If a certain player on one of the teams is
close to breaking a record, such as homeruns, have your child figure out how many more he needs to
meet and break the record. Math games like these will not only sharpen your child's mind, it will make him
appreciate the sport even more. Score!
Go Shopping
Math problems abound at the mall, and many stores have summertime sales. The next time your pre-
teen's favorite store is having a sale, take her shopping. Ask her how much she will be saving on a certain
sale item. For example, if a $25 item is 20 percent off, how much does it cost? You can mix and match
different prices and discounts, add several sale items together, and even have your pre-teen create an
outfit with a pre-set budget. She might be surprised to see how much percentage, fractions, and decimals
play into one of her favorite pastimes!
Errand Fun
The next time you take your child with you while you run errands, turn it into a
learning activity. Calculating time and mileage is a fun way for your child to pass
the time in the car. For example, if the grocery store is three miles away, how long does he think it will take
you to get there? If you have several errands to run, ask your child how far away he thinks each destina-
tion is from the other, and then clock it to see how close his guess is. Another fun car game is to use the
numbers on license plates as an addition and subtraction lesson. Ask your child to add or subtract all the
numbers he sees on the license plates you pass. Not only will he be learning math while you
get your errands done, keeping him occupied will help keep any car meltdowns at bay, too.

7. TIMEZ ATTACK
I would like to tell you about some very exciting news. The last four weeks of school,
in May, we will be piloting a new version of Timez Attack. Many of your children have
used and are using the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division regular ver-
sion already. I have to say the students love the program. It is very interactive and
very fast paced. The new version is built on the same programming, but is turbo, set
at a faster and more exciting pace. The program is set for your
child to complete mastery at a faster rate.
You can download a free one level version of the software for home use
at http://www.bigbrainz.com/. Look for your children to be telling you
about the new version. Thank you, Hal Sharpe
HES CLINIC
Clinic
Is Open End of School Reminders
Can you believe we only have a few weeks of school left?
As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to remind you of a few
things. If your student has borrowed clothes from the clinic this year,
please get them washed and returned to the clinic as soon as possible. If your student
has medication in the clinic, it will need to be picked up no later than 3:20 on Wednes-
day, May 23, 2012. I cannot send these medications home on the bus with
the students, so please arrange a time to come pick them up. We are not
allowed to keep these medications over the summer, so anything left after
Wednesday afternoon will be disposed of or picked up by our school re-
source officer. Thanks for your help in keeping Harmony a safe and healthy
school! Have a great summer! Prima Simmons
FOCUS
Hats Off to Harmony’s Gifted Program!
NEWS
Our local Gifted Student of the Year, Ryan Kerley, will be honored May
3rd at the Gwinnett Alliance Gifted Education Annual Awards Ceremony
at Peachtree Ridge High School. Ryan is a fifth grade student and is in
the FOCUS program here at Harmony. Ryan is involved in Chorus, the
Robotics Club, Fitness Club, Chess Club, Radical Readers, and is on Student
Council. In his after school time he helps at his dad’s restaurant. Ryan’s
teachers describe him as a leader and role model. Ryan says, “In my regu-
lar classrooms when the teacher gives me a job I stick to it. I would never
slack! I also show leadership with my good grades and conduct.
The better I do the more it will reflect on everyone else.” Vicky Arnette