Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Early Dismissal Reminder - Wednesday, 4/10/2019 KDHSA Families, This message serves as a reminder we have early dismissal at the DEC, Rivertown, Maine, and Vintage Campuses Wednesday, April 10, 2019. Students will be dismissed as follows: Early Dismissal Times by Campus: Discovery Education Center (PreK) 1:40 pm Rivertown Campus (K) 1:50 pm Maine Campus (1st-8th) 2:00 pm Vintage Campus (9th-11th) 1:30 pm All campus pickups are at the normal location. Community Works after school enrichment will be provided for students who have signed up. Please make the necessary arrangements for student pick-up. Bus service will be provided. Students are allowed to wear their 2018-19 KDHSA Spirit shirt with normal uniform bottoms on early dismissal days. Thank you in advance for your attention to this message. KDHSA Admin TEAM

***Updated 2019-19 Owlette Dance Team Tryout Information*** KDHSA Families: All current 4th - 7th grade students are eligible to tryout for the 2019-20 KDHSA Middle School Owlettes. Please click on the link below to access the tryout packet. The tryout form should be turned in to Ms. Oliveri in room 604. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-CrX_Sb7hXoJJPL1jVi1GeGs0gm4Duk-PRAv48iwQVY/edit?usp=sharing Tryouts will be held at the Maine Campus Monday, April 8, 2019. Students interested in trying out should report to room 604 at dismissal Monday April 8, 2019. We will see you Monday!

Lower School Notes From the Owls’ Nest Newsletter April 4, 2019 It is so hard to believe that we have already entered the fourth quarter of the year. Lower School has participated in so many exciting activities in this third quarter. Our students have recently enjoyed a wonderful presentation from Wendy Rodrigue, the wife of the late artist, George Rodrigue. We have also participated in our Health Fair where students could make smoothies using bicycle power, participate in kids zumba, and have their hearing checked. During the third Quarter, our PreK students were privileged to be a part of some amazing news, opportunities, and experiences as a partnership with Ochsner was announced during a special board meeting in February. Students attended three field trips: the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Ochsner Science Media Day, and the Children's Museum. At the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, students rotated in groups to learn about the instruments which make up the orchestra and attended an amazing performance before returning to school. At Ochsner Science Media Day, twenty students were randomly selected to attend an event at the Ochsner Academic Center and participate in science read alouds and science experiments. Students made a television debut as the CEO of Ochsner, Warner Thomas, and Dr. Patty Glaser announced the partnership to create the Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy. Additionally, students attended a field trip to the Children's Museum where they enjoyed a full day of exploration and fun while engaging with kid-friendly exhibits. Our kindergarten students learned about musical instruments and went to see the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in the third quarter. They celebrated Dr. Seuss Week reading and eating Green Eggs and Ham! They read and listened to stories about spring and growing plants and continued to work on sight words. Our kindergarten students studied solids and shapes participating in a shape hunt around the school. Our little Swamp Owls are looking forward to their trip to the Rivertown theater to see “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”, our walking tour of the Mississippi River levee, and many new creative projects during the last months of school. During the third quarter, our first grade students celebrated the 100 day of school by dressing up as “ancient” people. They also wrote and published their own class books. They celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday with national Read Across America Day where they “camped out” and read books all day. In addition, several guest mystery readers came to read their favorite books to our students. In the fourth quarter, our first grade students are preparing for a field trip to the Kenner Planetarium where they will learn about planets, space travel, and participate in a laser light show. Second Grade students have continued to ask and answer questions while completing Achieve 3000 articles. They have studied landforms, bodies of water, and changes in the earth. In reading they learned about cause and effect, deciphered elements of fairy tales, and compared and contrasted two versions of the same story, They researched and wrote biographies, extreme weather reports, informative pieces, and identified poems. In math they added money, added and subtracted numbers to the hundreds place, and completed a geometry unit. Second grade students also participated in an amazing living museum where they portrayed a famous person and told the attendees about themselves. Our second grade students are looking forward to their field trip to the Children’s Museum and the Aquarium. Our third grade students have learned about folktales and read the novel Frindle. In math they learned division, all about fractions, and practiced multiplication and division facts. For writing, third graders have written many informational and persuasive essays practicing for the upcoming LEAP assessments. In Social Studies, our Swamp Owls learned about government, economics, and made goods and services for their annual Market Day. They also went to Bunny Bread to see how economics really works! Discovering information about plants, life cycles and heredity has been the science focus for our third grade students. In the fourth quarter, third grade students will be taking the LEAP assessment for the first time and going on a field trip to Ag Magic on the river learning how and where their food, shelter, and some clothing originates. In the fourth grade, our students have studied mythology reading the Lightning Thief and participating in Greek gods and goddesses presentations. Families were invited to experience this amazing event at our Greek Day where students were treated to traditional greek food and culture. Students completed a fraction unit and developed a five paragraph research based essay. They discovered different energy sources, light and its properties, and the functioning of the eye. Additionally, our Swamp Owls learned all ab

The 2019-2020 calendar is now available to view under "documents" on the website and mobile app.

Info for MS KDHSA Cheer Try Outs! https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/326724/Cheer_Tryout_Info_2019-20.pdf

Autism Awareness Day Tuesday, April 2, 2019 In honor of Autism Awareness Day, all PreK - 11th Grade students are encouraged to wear a blue shirt, blue socks, and/or blue tennis shoes, along with uniform bottoms.

KDHSA MS Owlette Dance Team Tryouts When: Clinic- April 1st Tryouts: April 2nd and 4th (must attend all 3 days) 3:30-5:00 pm Where: Room 604 (Ms. O’s room, Maine campus) and MS Pavillion Who Can Tryout: Current 4th-7th grade students Attire: PE/Spirit shirt, shorts/bikers, tennis or dance shoes(that can be worn outside) Permission form due: April 1st (by 8:15am) Officer tryouts Monday April 8th (officer tryouts are open to any dancer who is on the team as of April 5th) Questions: Please email Ms. Oliveri for more information kristin.oliveri@discoveryhsf.org https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/326550/KDHSA_MS_Owlette_Dance_Team_Tryouts_2019.pdf

Early Dismissal Reminder - Wednesday, 3/27/2019 KDHSA Families, This message serves as a reminder we have early dismissal at the DEC, Rivertown, Maine, and Vintage Campuses today (Wednesday, March 27, 2019). Students will be dismissed as follows: Early Dismissal Times by Campus: Discovery Education Center (PreK) 1:40 pm Rivertown Campus (K) 1:50 pm Maine Campus (1st-8th) 2:00 pm Vintage Campus (9th-11th) 1:30 pm All campus pickups are at the normal location. Community Works after school enrichment will be provided for students who have signed up. Please make the necessary arrangements for student pick-up. Bus service will be provided. Thank you in advance for your attention to this message. KDHSA Admin TEAM

LEAP 2025 Practice Simulation: March 26 - 29, 2019 KDHSA Middle School Families: Please note the LEAP 2025 Practice Simulation is scheduled March 26 - 29, 2019. Click on the link below to view a message from Dr. Watson that was also emailed to middle school families this afternoon. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QVc3At9OdRYn-LtOhTPju-rUHEDcXCNxuAlFqW45nu8/edit?usp=sharing Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Dear Parents, We currently have tons of math manipulatives your child can check out to use for math homework. Check out this video showing examples! Additionally, we have some science activities and games that can be checked out to promote literacy and STEM activities. Please see list. Email raquel.fitzmorris@discoveryhsf.org for the items that you would like to check out with your child’s name and home room. She will send your request within 24-48 hours or contact you if an item in unavailable. Please feel free to return whenever you are ready to do so. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Fitzmorris Thank you! Raquel Fitzmorris Title I Coordinator Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy raquel.fitzmorris@discoveryhsf.org

KDHSA 5th - 8th Grade Spirit Day Kickball Competition - Friday, March 22, 2019 Click on the lick below to view more information. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ikFqjvGq4lBcwEfsPMegw_WH2e36gZ2WxDXw_7s1U60/edit?usp=sharing

Please click the link below for information about our upcoming health fair: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz9EEAVthktHcHZtaWR2OHNkdXZSSjkxWmpIU25peGRnUlJj/view?usp=sharing

​Attention All Campers!!! Community Works Summer Camp @ Discovery. Online registration opens Wednesday, March 20th at www.communityworksla.org​​ See flyer for complete details​ under documents on the app and/or website.

Silly Sock Day! Thursday, March 21, 2019 In honor of World Down Syndrome Day, at no cost, students will be able to wear silly socks with school shoes ! #lotsofsocks

​Please click the link below​ for an important message about the high school 3rd quarter awards. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1awnBEHFmfoyelibTdpFYmPxNvHfUwi9I HS Administration

Volunteers Needed: We are preparing for state testing and we will need volunteers to help us maintain test security by monitoring the hallways and supporting the Test Administrators. Please see the link below to sign up. Thank you so much for helping on these very important days for our students and school. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F48AFAA29A0FB6-2019

Office Hours for 4th Grade Students, Offered Tuesday - Friday, 7:45-8:10 Dear Parents and Guardians, Our 4th grade team will offer Office Hours from Tuesdays through Fridays from 7:45am - 8:10am for 4th grade students to review skills that will be included on the LEAP test. Starting next Tuesday, March 19, our wonderful 4th Grade teachers will be offering extra tutorial time for our students to master skills in reading, writing, and math. The schedule will be as follows: Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Fridays Math Reading Writing Math We will continue with Office Hours weekly until LEAP testing begins. Please be first in the carpool line and have your child take advantage of this free opportunity for needed practice before testing. As always, we appreciate your support, Lyn Kelly

Early Dismissal Reminder - Wednesday, 3/13/2019 KDHSA Families, This message serves as a reminder we have early dismissal at the the DEC, Rivertown, Maine, and Vintage Campuses Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Students will be dismissed as follows: Early Dismissal Times by Campus: Discovery Education Center (PreK) 1:40 pm Rivertown Campus (K) 1:50 pm Maine Campus (1st-8th) 2:00 pm Vintage Campus (9th-11th) 1:30 pm All campus pickups are at the normal location. Community Works after school enrichment will be provided for students who have signed up. Please make the necessary arrangements for student pick-up. Bus service will be provided. Students are allowed to wear their 2018-19 KDHSA Spirit shirt with normal uniform bottoms on early dismissal days. Thank you in advance for your attention to this message. KDHSA Admin TEAM

February 28, 2019 Dear Parents and Guardians: A social media challenge targeting children and young adults called the “Momo Challenge,” has created concern among school communities due to its disturbing and potentially harmful nature. The “Momo Challenge” features a frightening avatar who asks viewers to perform various tasks and provide pictures as proof. The “Momo” encourages children to commit dangerous and potentially violent acts through social media and video games. Recently, the Momo challenge has been covered extensively in the news and the avatar has been popping up on the internet. It’s important to know that there isn’t much evidence of there being harm to children aside from the upset caused when a child sees a disturbing image or hears about something that sounds frightening. Please continue to closely monitor your child’s technology usage and speak with your child about the importance of online safety and that they should not be communicating with strangers. It may also be beneficial having a conversation about this online challenge in order to ensure their safety and security. Please encourage your child to refrain from discussing this challenge at school to avoid miscommunication among peers. They are always able to talk to a trusted adult at school, who will then correspond with the home within the day. Please do not hesitate to contact someone at school if you have any further questions. You may also email one of the counselors at counselingteam@discoveryhsf.org We are also providing resources to assist with considering age appropriateness for children’s use of technology and the time spent on social media. 13 Tips for Monitoring Kids' Social Media Safe Search Kids Media Guidelines for Kids of All Ages We hope everyone has a safe and healthy Mardi Gras break! Kindly, Michelle McCrary, Kristen Centanni, Michelle Duplantier, and Claire Barry KDHSA Counseling Team

Why celebrate Digital Learning Day? With so many new types of digital devices, educational software and mobile apps continuously developed, it’s hard to keep up with the latest and greatest advancements in educational technology. In some classrooms and out-of-school programs across the country, educators are doing some pretty amazing things with technology. Yet, these pockets of innovation are confined to a small number of schools and communities. Digital Learning Day was started as a way to actively spread innovative practices and ensure that all youth have access to high-quality digital learning opportunities no matter where they live. Started in 2012, Digital Learning Day has provided a powerful venue for education leaders to highlight great teaching practice and showcase innovative teachers, leaders, and instructional technology programs that are improving student outcomes. Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy is getting it right! 💙💚 #DLDay