The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with 1-hour coding activities but expanding to all sorts of community efforts. This grassroots campaign is supported by over 400 partners and 200,000 educators worldwide.

The Hour of Code takes place each year during Computer Science Education Week. Computer Science Education Week is held annually in recognition of the birthday of computing pioneer Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906).

Every student should have the opportunity to learn computer science. It helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity. By starting early, students will have a foundation for success in any 21st-century career path.

Caston Elementary 3rd Grade Classes partnered with Mrs. Myers’ Introduction to Computer Science Class to complete Hour of Code activities for 2020.  The 3rd grade students learned the basics of coding and will continue learning about coding this year during Project Lead the Way science lessons.  

To learn more about Hour of Code visit https://hourofcode.com/us.

Please help us welcome our new superintendent, Paul Voigt, who will officially take over on Jan. 1, 2021. And thank you to our current superintendent, Cindy Douglass, for her seven years of dedication to Caston!

Photo provided by the Pharos Tribune, who also wrote this great article about our new superintendent:

https://www.pharostribune.com/news/article_638e2eaa-147a-11eb-aa63-4ff02e8d98be.html?fbclid=IwAR3pgtoDCycxDVZBGVUApyQ8lQdijwPcwggDsRnoWkkGIv-9hd-jx_PV0oU 

Caston School Board of Trustees approved the re-entry plan for students to return on August 17th at the July 15, 2020 board meeting. Additional communication regarding the plan, and a follow-up survey will be sent to families of Caston students to gather information pertaining to parents' plans for sending students back to school. Any necessary revisions to the plan in the future will be posted on Caston's website under the COVID-19 Pandemic Information section.

Caston Re-Entry Plan - Posted 1-29-2020

Reading Ideas:

*Read bedtime stories.

*Have your child read the grocery list as you shop.

*Write down a recipe for your child’s favorite food.

*Get excited to visit the library.

*Play a board game and have your child read the cards.

Reading Tips:

*Don’t leave home without it! Always have reading materials available to read in the car or at appointments.

*Once is not enough. Re-read favorite stories to help build fluency, speed and accuracy.

*Dig Deeper! Ask your child questions about what they just read.

*Be patient, correct gently and praise with enthusiasm

http://pbskids.org/ -This is a great site for kids of all ages featuring all of your kids favorite characters from PBS!

http://www.rhcbooks.com/ -Featuring Books, Activities, Games and more all surrounding your favorite Characters from Random House Books! This is a great way to make books come alive for little ones!

www.starfall.com -This is a great website for learning to read. Starfall takes your kids all the way from ABC’s to Learning to Read! There are some fun games and more that surround Phonics, Sounds and putting sounds together in words! This is great for preschoolers learning to read!

www.scholastic.com/kids/books/the-magic-school-bus/ -There are tons of Great Videos and Games about the Environment & Science. This is a great website for older children who want to learn about weather, geography and more.

www.highlightskids.com -This site has games, books, crafts and of course Hidden Pictures.

http://www.abcya.com/ -This is another great learning site for kids. There is everything from Counting Games, to Graphing, Patterns and more. Great for learning early math skills. 

www.Kids.nationalgeographic.com  This is a great site for exploring our world and learning all you can about the Ocean, Animals, Geography and more! There is a TON of information on this site and also some great videos, Puzzles and quizzes!

Caston builds in time for students to read at school each day, but research shows that this may not be enough. Students who read at home in addition to reading at school tend to have higher test scores. Here are some ways to incorporate reading at home!

*Read the cereal box each morning

*Find a reading website or app that your child enjoys

*Look up information about a favorite subject on the computer

*Take regular trips to the library

*Start a book club with friends

*Model reading by reading in front of and to your children