Kindergarten comes to Hudson

Math Superstars weeks 11-20 are now available

Click here to get started

Dear Nottingham West Parents and Students,

Nottingham West is confident that every Hudson student will take a journey to new and different places by using their imagination through the summer reading program. There is no more important activity to support learning than through reading fun and interesting stories. Summer Reading has been shown to do the following for the student:

• Encourage a love and enjoyment of books
• Provide exposure to a variety of genres
• Increase vocabulary knowledge
• Increase reading fluency
• Develop background concepts and general knowledge
• Provide models of good writing
• Provide maintenance of reading skills learned during the school year
• Provide a sense of participation in a community of readers

We are sure that you will agree that these are all valuable outcomes of Summer Reading!

All students are asked to read at least four books during the summer before the 2009-2010 school year - 2 books from the "required" list and at least 2 free choice selections. We encourage parents to help their child find a "just right book". The Rodgers Memorial Library, Barnes and Noble, and Borders have been provided with our book lists in preparation for this program.

Lending Library:
The 2 "required" titles will be available to borrow from The Rodgers Memorial Library. Students should read from the booklist of the grade they will be entering this FALL!

PLEASE sign-out the book and please return within 2 weeks. You may come in, locate the title you want to borrow from the correct grade level book bin, and sign-out the book on the sign-out sheet.

PLEASE remember that we have a limited number of each title.

Dear Parents and Students,

Once again students in grades 4 & 5 will be able to participate in a reading incentive program designed to improve reading comprehension. This program, Battle of the Books, will be held before school from October to March. In September, students will meet to receive an overview and guidelines of the program.
A student participates by reading from the book list provided for this year's Battle of the Books. Students are expected to read all six books, when participating in the program.

This reading incentive program will focus on team building, collaboration, promotion of literature, competition (with a focus on academics), and building school spirit. Listed below is this year's list of books to read. Students that are interested in this exciting program may get a head start by reading some of the books over the summer. More information will follow in September.

Happy Reading!
Robin Nichols ~ Cruz
Reading Specialist

Eye on Curriculum

On May 21, second graders were treated to a PTO-sponsored assembly called "Animal Habitats". The program is one of the Museum of Science's traveling presentations which include live animals from 3 different groups. Our presenter, George, brought a rat, 3 tree frogs and an American alligator named Frank. Children were encouraged to use prior knowledge and observation skills to identify characteristics and behaviors of these live animals. Based on this information, the classes were able to determine which habitat would be most suitable for each animal. Following the presentation, children were free to touch the pelts of a possum and raccoon as well as a snakeskin and horseshoe crab shell. Our presenter told of experiments that scientists conducted with rats in a laboratory to discover what food the rats preferred. Their favorite thing to eat? Scrambled eggs! Thank you, PTO, for a very entertaining program.

Click here to read more

Rodgers Memorial Library will be hosting book talks this summer for children who are completing their summer reading. Book Talks will focus on grades 3-5 and meet once per book to discuss characters, setting, plot, conflict, resolution and major themes. We may also do a small craft each time. The schedule is as follows:

Thursdays @1pm
• 7/2, Grade 3: Amber Brown Sees Red
• 7/9, Grade 4: Granny Torrelli Makes Soup
• 7/16, Grade 5: Hoot
• 7/23, Grade 3: The Chocolate Touch
• 7/30, Grade 4: Loser
• 8/6, Grade 5: Saving Lilly

Registration will begin June 1st. There will be a separate registration for each book. To register, call Kristen Paradise, assistant children's librarian at Rodgers Memorial Library at 886-6030 after May 18th when the library re-opens.

Click here to view the flyer

Click here to be turned on to some great summer reading

Click here for valuable information about summer reading, activities and challenges for students to take part in over the summer.