September 21st, 2023
Bonjour!
This edition of News de Nous is brimming with creativity! From the beautiful artwork created by Maeve’s art students to the imaginative ways young students monitor their feelings, and how elementary kids are gaining independence through self-assessment, the FASTB kids and teachers are proving their ingenuity! Please read on for more details about these exciting classroom initiatives!
Coming soon to an inbox near you: an updated School Directory for the new year! The School Directory is a great resource for playdates, parties, and to make connections amongst families in our school community. The directory will be shared directly to only current families at FASTB. Contact information details for each family are based on the preferences completed at the time of enrollment. Be on the lookout!
October Vacation Camp/Childcare:
We are currently planning an October Vacation Camp. If you are not traveling this break and need a fun place for your kids, please join us at FASTB! October vacation is just around the corner, so please email Mindy at office@fastb.org if you would like to have your child attend. Based on interest, we will plan staffing and availability. We do need enough participants to offer this camp, so please don’t delay. Once we are sure it’s a go, electronic sign up forms will be sent to interested families. Open to all ages.
Finally, please FASTB extends sincere gratitude to the Wolfson family for the generous donation of a piano to the school. Please see the article below to learn more. Merci beaucoup!!!!
As always, please contact me with any questions,
Sincerely,
Colin LeBihan
School Director
|
|
Upcoming dates to keep in mind
-
Monday, September 25: IB Potluck Night from 6 pm to 7 pm
-
Thursday, September 28: EC3 Showcase #1 at 8:30am
-
Friday, September 29: EC4 Showcase #1 at 8:30am
-
Monday, October 2: Kindergarten Showcase #1 at 8:30 am
-
Tuesday, October 3: First Grade Showcase #1 at 8:30 am
-
Wednesday, October 4: Grades 2-3 Showcase #1 at 8:30 am
-
Friday, October 6: Grades 4-5-6 Showcase #1 at 8:30 am
-
October 9 - 13: October Break
-
October 16: Classes Resume
|
|
Our students in the MS (EC4) class have been learning to recognize and express the emotions they feel from day to day. They have been doing so through many different mediums since the start of the year, ranging from language, body movement and dance, and as highlighted today, visual arts.
The process begins at "L'échelle des émotions", the emotions ladder, represents a place in the class where students are free to talk about their feelings, and actively place their names next to the emotion they are experiencing throughout the day.
|
|
Monstre des Émotions
The "Monster des Émotions" or Emotion Monster, were created by the MS class to embody the different emotions of "L'échelle". Students chose the material and decorations for these monsters with the intention of expressing the feelings they represent. This activity begins to lay the groundwork for the understanding of symbolism in art, as well as how we interpret emotions through colors and shapes.
|
|
Art Week Volunteers Welcome! |
|
The second edition of Art Week is just a little over a month away: from Tuesday November 14 to Thursday November 16. Art Week will consist of workshops on November 14 and 15, and an exhibition on November 16.
Past workshops have included:
- Mandala Sand Art
- Paper Crafts
- Stop-Motion
- Land Art
Should you be interested in presenting your own artistic passion to our community, or know someone who would, we please ask that you write to the office and let us know.
|
|
What is the Tétra-Aide?
The "Tétra-aide" is a tetrahedron which features four different colors: green, yellow, blue and red.
- Green: "All's well" point means that the child is autonomous and needs no help.
-Yellow: "I have a non-urgent question" or "I'm asking for validation".
means that the teacher needs to come and see the child, but that the child can go ahead in the meantime.
-Blue: "I'm helping or being helped by a classmate" means that the student
doesn't need the teacher's help because a classmate is assisting.
-Red: "Help!" means that the student needs help urgently. The student feels blocked and cannot continue working.
|
|
"We each have a Tétra'Aide. Here they are!" |
|
How does the teacher use it?
-Tétra'Aide is a tool for classroom management, work management and regulating student speech.
- Depending on the color presented, the teacher can quickly visualize the needs of the class and set "intervention" priorities according to which students
need help.
- It also encourages students' AUTONOMY, so they can ask themselves
whether or not they really need urgent help from the teacher, or whether they can find the solution in another way.
|
|
Red: "SOS!!! I need help!!!!" |
|
Green: "I feel comfortable with my current work! I can complete it autonomously" |
|
How does it benefit our students?
- Clearly indicating that you're working or helping a friend means being aware of exactly what you're doing.
- Knowing how to distinguish between work requiring "immediate help" and work requiring "a helping hand when possible" can make it easier to organize your tasks.
- Works to foster an environment of collaboration between students.
|
|
Blue "I help or I am helped by a classmate." |
|
Bilingual Brainstorming in Grades 2 & 3 |
|
Turning our attention to the IB Brainstorming Unit, our second and third graders have shown themselves to be true Inquirers. At the start of each new IB Unit, teachers of both English and French present to the students a new trans-disciplinary theme, as well as a central idea, which will lead the unit of inquiry. Students then collectively brainstorm the key ideas and concepts, and present their questions.
They asked a lot of very interesting questions and are ready to start looking for the answers!
|
|
In this spotlight on the 1st grade class, we can see them playing math board games. Here, they work to compare whole numbers. In addition to the mathematical skills they develop, the aim of these activities is to learn the rules of a new game, to wait one's turn, and to do so in French. |
|
"Music — life would be so dull without it."
Ruona Towse, Passionate Pianist at 102 !
|
|
We're thrilled to share the story behind the beautiful piano in Benjamin's classroom, a gift from Marissa Wolfson's family. This piano belonged to Ruona Towse, a musician who played passionately all her life well past 102! Ruona's lifelong dedication to music is a testament to its enduring magic.
Ruona's journey was filled with the joy of music. Even in challenging times, music remained her constant companion.
This piano, infused with Ruona's spirit, enriches our school. Dr. Ross will use it to inspire our students and continue Ruona's legacy. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Wolfson family for their generosity and to Ruona Towse for her devotion to music.
This instrument is more than a piano; it's a symbol of resilience, love, and the lasting impact of music. Together, we celebrate the beauty of music and its profound influence on our lives.
|
|
102-year-old pianist strikes a chord at Seminole's Freedom Square |
|
By LOGAN MOSBY GEORGE, Tampa Bay Newspapers May 25, 2022
SEMINOLE — The year 1920 was a banner year for the country. The roaring 20s kicked off, President Woodrow Wilson created the League of Nations, women gained the right to vote, and the Lost Generation took over the landscape of American literature.
It was also the year Seminole resident and musician Ruona Towse was born. And 102 years later, she still marches to the beat of her own drum — or rather, her own piano.
Born into a musical family, the Pittsburgh native discovered her life's passion at an early age.
"My dad was a piano teacher," Towse said. "He had three schools of music."
|
|
Picture Day 2023-24
Special Thanks to Moorman Photographics
|
|
Left to Right: Tina Moorman, Rob Moorman, Adam Hildabrand, Stephanie Harris |
|
|
|
FASTB would like to send out a special thank you to Rob and Tina Moorman and the rest of the Moorman Photographics team for making Picture Day an astounding success!
Picture day is often a chaotic event at any school, however, the Moorman team created a fun and relaxing environment for our students.
Families can expect to receive a notification that the photos are ready within the next two weeks!
Should you have missed photo day, do not worry, we will be scheduling a make-up day in the future.
|
|
Fourth and fifth grade began the year by learning about the various elements of art as well as the principles of design, before creating some "zentangles" with watercolor and ink.
They went on to begin a landscape unit - studying the artists Hokusai and Van Gogh. They learned to use oil pastels, and shading techniques with coloring pencils, to create landscapes inspired by the artists.
Big thank you to Maeve and our resident FASTB artists for bringing the halls to life with their beautiful artwork.
|
|
Monsters: Created by our first and second grade! They created these "Monsters" with water colors after learning about the elements of art - with a particular focus on line and color. |
|
IB Potluck (September 25th) |
|
As an IB World School, we would love to welcome you on Monday, Sept.
25th at 6pm for a special IB night! Come under the Tiki Hut to
discover what it means to be an IB learner, talk about the Primary Years Program, school-wide projects and share a meal together. It is a potluck-style event, so do not hesitate to bring a dish/beverage you would like to share!
|
|
In a new addition to the News de Nous, we will feature a new FASTB Critter every edition of the Newsletter.
This edition's critter, the Anhinga, has become a steadfast resident of the FASTB pond, and can often be found perched on his log as he oversees the morning drop-off. We greatly appreciate his watchful eye as we welcome our students.
|
|
Please join us on Tuesday, September 26
Café et Conversation
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Under the Tiki Hut! - All are welcome!
|
|
Join us for casual coffee gatherings that bring teachers, parents, and school administrators together in an informal setting. These meetings hold significant importance in nurturing communication, cultivating connections, tending to queries, and establishing a school atmosphere that is both encouraging and accommodating. Café et Conversation gatherings present an opportunity for cooperation and shared comprehension that proves advantageous to students, parents, and the entire school community. |
|
FASTB Parents’ Association! |
|
The FASTB Parent Association would like to remind all families that T-Shirt order forms are due on or before Friday, September 29th if you plan on dropping them at the school. Please feel free to pass them to a teacher in the morning or afternoon car circle. |
|
Pick-Up and Drop off Procedures |
|
Drop-Off: 8:15 am to 8:30 am
Drop-Off at FASTB begins at 8:15 am and goes until 8:30 am. Upon entering the parking lot, parents should follow the drop-off route marked with cones. Parents are advised to pull up to the marked point before parking to expedite the drop-off process for all. Once parked, a staff member will greet and escort students to the gate adjacent to the car circle. Parents can then proceed out of the parking lot. Once inside the gate, students are divided into two groups according to age, with older students going onto the playground and the younger students remaining in the lunch area. At 8:30 am, students walk to class. To remind you, the use of cell phones is strictly prohibited in the parking lot unless you are safely parked. Thank you!
Late Drop-Off: 8:30 am onward:
Parents who arrive after 8:30 am are advised to park and escort their child to the marked door in the car circle area. Once at the door, please ring the bell, and the student will be let in.
Pick Up: 3:00 pm to 3:15 pm.
Dismissal at FASTB begins at 3:00 pm when the students are walked by their teachers to the lunch area adjacent to the car circle. The gate which leads to the car circle remains closed at all times. Using walkie-talkies, teachers standing outside the gate communicate with their counterparts inside to call students when their parents arrive in the car circle. Parents are advised to pull up to the marked point before parking to expedite the pick-up process. Once parked, a teacher will walk the student to their respective car, open the door, and ensure the child gets in. However, the parent is responsible for securing their child’s seat belt or car seat before driving away.
Late Pick-Up: 3:15/3:20 onward
We highly recommend that parents notify the school in advance of delays or changes in pick-up times for students. Without prior notification, students still waiting to be picked up by 3:15/20 will be escorted to the office. The school office will then contact parents to remind them to collect their child, and the student will be placed into aftercare until the parent arrives.
|
|
What to do if someone has COVID-19?
Below are our recommendations
|
|
We want to hear from you!
Please use the email address office@fastb.org for general school correspondence. Questions and requests sent to this address are forwarded as needed. We do our best to respond to emails quickly; thank you for your patience. Alternatively, please know that you can call us anytime for an immediate response! School Office Phone: (727) 800-2159
|
|
The French American School of Tampa Bay
2100 62nd Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
Telephone: (727) 800-2159
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
