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Text Box: Aurora Heights Intermediate School News December/January 2010-2011 Volume 9, Issue No. 4

Veterans Day 2010

AURORA HEIGHTS MISSION STATEMENT:

We the staff of Aurora Heights will provide a positive, safe, and caring environment, offering opportunities for all students to succeed in becoming responsible citizens and life long learners. We will use data and differentiated instruction to support academic achievement and social competence. Together we will reach, teach, and inspire each student to excel.

Newton CSD

The Cardinal

Code

Be Responsible

Be Safe

Be Respectful

Honoring our Veterans

Master Sergeant Mark Modlin led Aurora Heights faculty and students in the Pledge of Allegiance in November during the morning announcements on Veterans Day. We are thankful for the service of the men and women who serve in our armed forces. Mr. Modlin is the husband of Aurora Heights fourth grade teacher Mrs. Modlin. He has served 24 years with the Iowa National Guard, is a Gulf War veteran and has served in many Middle Eastern tours, most recently in Iraq in 2008 and 2009. Thank you Mr. Modlin and all others who serve. We appreciate all you have done and continue to do for our

country.

Voluntary Service Project Highlights Students

Past and Current

Newton CSD Non-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of the Newton Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age (Employment only), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (students/program only) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the District’s Equity Coordinator, James Sogard, Director of Human Resources, 807 S 6^th Ave W Newton, IA 50208, 641-792-5809, sogardj@newton.k12.ia.us.

The Aurora Heights Learning Center is an area on the southwest part of the school that is used for groups to enjoy outdoor learning. It was dedicated to retiring principal Duane Hovick nearly ten years ago. Recently, several students took on an after school project to sweep out leaves and dirt, rearrange the benches and organize the space. Special thanks go to former student Brittney Gander, now in seventh grade, Jaise Gulling-4T; Jaden Adams-5F; and Jennah DeKoning-4T.

Your voluntary service is appreciated and we thank you!

(Thanks Mr. Crandell for the photos.)

Around Aurora Heights in Pictures—Thanksgiving Dinner

Zane and friends! Mr. Smith and crew!

Mrs. Vanderlaan and class! Parents visit for turkey too!

Project Recovery Iowa is a project of the Department of Human Services

“Coping with the Aftermath of Floods” We have been asked to let you know that there are Resources Available to help cope with the devastation caused by summer flooding. Additional information, self-help tools and other resources are available online at www.projectrecoveryiowa.com or you may call 1-800-447-1985 for more information

Reminder: There will not be a Winter Program for grades 4th-6th. We will have a spring program on May 5th, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the AH gym. Mark your calendars now!

Around Aurora Heights in Pictures

Student Council—Crazy Dress Day resulted in a

variety of unique outfits for the day. Additionally pink was the theme to note Mrs. Barr’s last day of chemotherapy.

PTA Reflections Workshop for Interested Students

December 9th

In the AH Gym

3:30-4:30

Watch for more information from PTA-start your project now!

Our newsletter is available online at: http://www.newton.k12.ia.us next, click on the left hand side of the district site on the SCHOOLS tab, then Aurora Heights, then Monthly Newsletter. If you would like email notification of the new monthly newsletter posting, please let the office know your email address. Also keep us updated with email address changes. If you are currently receiving a hardcopy of the newsletter and would consider changing to the electronic version, please let us know. We are always interested in saving paper, and the resolution is much better online. Thanks!

Aurora Heights Fall Band Concert—November 30, 2010

Fifth and Sixth Grade Band Students Performed under the direction of Mrs. Deb Stoulil

Criteria for Educator of Excellence for Aurora Heights for 2010-2011

To be eligible for this award, the nominee must meet the following criteria:

The nominee should be an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled faculty member.

The nominee should able to inspire students to learn.

The nominee should be poised, articulate and enthusiastic.

The nominee should have earned the respect, admiration and support of students, parents, and colleagues/

The nominee should play an active and useful role in the Newton community as well as in the school district.

Prior recipients of the Excellence in Education Awards are not eligible for this award.

Teachers, parents, alumni, community members or students may nominate a teacher in the NCSD that meets these requirements.

One recipient will be chosen annually from each school building to be recognized for teaching excellence.

Nominations are due in December.

Award

The Excellence in Education Award was initiated by the Newton Community Educational Foundation and is intended to acknowledge

exceptional efforts made in the classroom. One faculty member from each school will be selected as an outstanding educator.

The teachers that are honored each year at the Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting will represent their peers

and remind us now important a teacher is in the life of a child. Each educator selected receives a $250 award for classroom

enrichment and a commemorative gift.

· Submit a Teacher Nomination by December 8th to Mrs. Farver at Aurora Heights

· State why the nominee meets the above criteria.

· A paragraph or two is all that is needed.

· Call if you have questions.

· Email nominations to: farverc@newton.k12.ia.us or

· Bring your nomination to the office.

Thank you!

Nominate an AH teacher…….

Text Box: Principal’s Ponderings for December/January 2010-2011 Dear Parents and Families of Aurora Heights Intermediate, Happy Holidays! The Aurora Heights staff would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you a happy holiday season. As we near the winter break, we remind students and each other that we want to take every opportunity to maximize learning each day until the break. Our sixth graders are working on a group challenge to earn credit for quality work, acceptable grades, little or no late work and good behavior, with the hope that all will be able to participate in a skate party in late December. Our overall goal is to see all students feel good about the way they can take charge of their own learning and become active participants in their classes each school day. Aurora Heights was able to make another technology purchase using the Microsoft Settlement money allotted to each building. We will have a portable lab of iPad machines. We’re excited to see how this new technology can motivate students and support our curriculum. We are just getting them and will need to work through our system to load them with apps (applications/programs) and then get them in the hands of students as soon as possible. If you are an iPad user who knows of great apps for education, please send me an email with the name of the application. Please consider nominating an Aurora Heights teacher for the Newton Community Education Foundation “Teacher of Excellence” for 2010-2011. Forms are on the NCEF Website, but an email to me at school with a paragraph or two stating why you are nominating the teacher will suffice. Remember there will not be a 4th-6th Winter Music program this year. Ours will be in the spring. It is set for May 5th at 7:00 p.m. at Aurora Heights. Lower grades are having a winter program. Blessings to you and yours this holiday season! Sincerely, Mrs. Farver

Published Monthly for the student families and staff of Aurora Heights Intermediate School

Principal: Carol Farver, Ed. D.

Administrative Assistant: Chris Dunsbergen

Aurora Heights Intermediate School

310 East 23rd Street South

Newton, Iowa 50208

Phone: 641-792-7324

Fax: 641-792-7701

E-mail: farverc@newton.k12.ia.us