Hartwood has reason to celebrate!  One of our fantastic teams WON the Battle of the Books Tournament last night!  The Revenge of the Reading Chocolate Bars came through with a perfect score in order to win the traveling trophy which will be prominently displayed in Hartwood’s library until next year.  Our winning team consisted of five fifth graders . . .  Conor Gaffney, Nate Matisko, Elliott Norman, Brendan Whelan, and Matthew Wilk.  And our very own Mrs. Wilk served as their talented team manager.  All the Hartwood teams spent long hours reading, studying, shield making, and uniform creating.  They had fun during the competition and showed great sportsmanship as they celebrated with our winning team.  Bravo, Hartwood!!  Click here to see pictures from the event.

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 Fall Festival 2008

 

By Evelyn Petersen
Hundreds of parents feel nervous about the first parent conference of the year, but remember that many
teachers are just as nervous as you are. They need to tell you about your child's school progress in a very short time,
they don’t know what questions you'll have, and their next parents may be waiting in the hall.

Also remember that what you have to say is just as important as what the teacher says. The purpose of the
conference is to SHARE information about your child so that the teacher can do his or her best job of teaching. You
know your child’s personality best, so plan to tell a little about your child’s strengths, talents and interests. You know
what would make your child feel motivated to work hard. This is information you’ll need to share.

To make the best use of your short conference time, prepare ahead.
Before the conference:
 * Ask your child what he/she wants you to talk about. (This strategy may clue you in to possible problems.)
 * Decide whether or not to tell the teacher about any family problems that might be affecting your child's
progress. (If your child has health problems, share them.)
 * Write down any questions you have ahead of time, and prioritize your list in case time runs short. Be
specific. You may want to know how your child gets along with others, or if the teacher has suggestions
about encouraging friendships. You may want to know how your child’s progress is assessed. Is there a
record book? Does the teacher keep examples of your child’s work in a folder or portfolio?
 * Plan to leave a card for the teacher containing your home and work phone numbers.

During the conference:
 * Listen carefully as the teacher tells how your child is doing. Write down questions you have, if any, while
he/she talks.
 * Tell the teacher the things about your child that you want him/her to know.
 * Ask your questions...both the questions you may have written down and questions you brought with you.
 * Find out if there are any problems, and brainstorm ways to work on them together. Ask for specific ways you
can help at home. Sharing and working together is what conferences are all about.

After the conference, don't forget to talk with your child about it.

 Download Family Photo Album photos here