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La Delfina
Volume 1 | Issue 22
February 28, 2025
Dear Parents and Stakeholders,
We are excited to share important updates regarding our commitment to enhancing the health and wellness of our school facilities by replacing our water fountains. We recognize the significant role that accessible drinking water plays in the overall health of our students and staff.
To this end, we are preparing to submit a project proposal to replace all of our existing water fountains. According to open-source data, each new fountain will cost between $1,200 and $3,000, depending on touch-free and filtration options. Given the investment required, this project will be implemented in phases to ensure a sustainable approach.
The first phase will focus on replacing the water fountains in high-access areas, where foot traffic is greater and accessibility is paramount. The second phase will address all other locations across the school facilities.
It is important to emphasize that this initiative is not being undertaken due to any safety concerns regarding our current drinking water. The Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples Support Site’s drinking water system provides water that is safe and deemed “Fit For Human Consumption.” NSA Naples Commanding Officer’s Record of Decision backs this initiative, and our water quality is routinely confirmed through monthly, quarterly, and yearly laboratory sampling (Water Quality Information). We are proud to maintain a high water quality standard and support the Navy’s commitment to providing safe and reliable drinking water to our service members and their families.
In addition, our drinking water fully complies with the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Italy Environmental Final Governing Standards (FGS), which are based on the U.S. DoD Overseas Environmental Baseline Guidance Document (OEBGD), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Italy’s drinking water standards. When there are differences between Italian and U.S. standards, we adopt the most protective requirement to ensure the safety of our community.
As we progress with this project, we will keep you informed about our progress and any developments. Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we strive to create a healthier environment for our students.
Announcements
Our Admin Team
Universal Pre-Kindergarten
PreK students will be finishing our unit on bread. We will talk about techniques needed to make bread, like kneading. We will list ingredients and supplies that can go into a bread recipe. We will test out and make our bread recipe!
Kindergarten
Kindergarten will enjoy some great books accompanying our spirit days as we celebrate Read Across America Week. We will focus on predictions, visualization, characters, and sequence of events. We will compare and contrast two stories using a top hat organizer as a class. We will respond to texts using text evidence, describe words, and tell/write our opinions. Our fine motor skills will help us construct several craft projects.
In math, we will finish our units on tricky teens by showing what we know. Students should be able to read and write the tricky teen numbers. We have learned that every tricky teen has a group of 10 ones and some more ones. We can write an equation to show a tricky teen, use a 10 frame, and ring a 10 strategy to prove it. We also learned to decompose tricky teens with number bonds, ring a 10, and a backward equation. We will continue to review these topics throughout the rest of kinder.
First Grade
Next week in ELA, we will begin Unit 6. This unit will highlight the different messages that stories can tell us. In writing, we will discuss key details and central messages and practice writing a note. Our shared readings are The Boy Who Cried Wolf and The Ant and the Pigeon. Our grammar will highlight the use of simple sentences and compound sentences.
In math, we will continue working in Unit 9: Addition within 100.
In social studies, we will continue in our economics unit with lesson 8, "How do family members care for one another?"
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's specific teacher.
Have a wonderful weekend! ☺️
Third Grade
This week, in 3rd Grade, we have deepened our understanding of the relationship between multiplication and division. Students needed to apply their known multiplication facts to find the unknown in division problems. Please practice multiplication facts with your child at home because they can make a difference in our math units!
In ELA, we have been reading about Thomas Edison and other technological advancements.
In Science, we continue learning about magnetism, and in Social Studies we have been finishing our paper mâché globe models. Next week is Read Across America week!
Ms. Pitts’ class showcased their Penguin Projects, and many classes from around the school signed up to view them. Her class did a fantastic job, and we are so proud of the hard work they put into it!
3rd Grade will host a Reader’s Café called StarBOOKS, where visiting classes will be read to while munching on a snack. We encourage everyone to participate in the Read Across America week spirit dress-up days!
Thank you in advance for your continued support.
Fourth Grade
In math, we will begin Unit 10. In this unit, we will introduce students to mixed numbers as numbers with whole-number and fraction parts. They will decompose mixed numbers and eventually add and subtract mixed numbers with like denominators.
In reading, we are reading two nonfiction texts: "The Open Road" and "Dust Bowl Refugees." We will be applying various comprehension skills, such as identifying the key details and main idea, examining text structure and features, vocabulary, and comparing two texts.
Ms. Warden and Mrs. Peck's classes will have counseling this week.
Fifth Grade
For ELA, we will have a spelling test on words in Unit 6, Week 3. We are also continuing our work on writing a narrative journal entry.
In Math, please study the math vocabulary words (list sent out last week). Students will take the vocabulary assessment on Friday, March 7th.
For Health, we are starting a new unit focused on nutrition and the importance of making good food choices.
For Science, we are starting a new unit on the Earth and the sun. In Social Studies, we will continue learning about Canada and the U.S.A.
Please see the 5th grade website's "NES News" tab for more information about what's happening in 5th grade.
Sixth Grade
As we wrap up the month of February, the 6th graders are busy studying Ancient Rome, fossils, pre-algebra, and argumentative essay writing.
We hope everyone had a restful winter holiday season and a great new year!
The NES PTA started 2025 with the Grade Level Spelling Bees the week we returned from break and is continuing the momentum to plan for the spring!
Thank you for being patient with our delayed January newsletter-- the linked newsletter below includes dates/fliers for upcoming January events and scheduled dates in February. More may be added to the calendar, including spring spirit wear, Month of the Military Child shirt sales/event information, Friendship Grams, and family events. Be sure to check the NES PTA website and our social media pages often for new information!
Please visit www.naplesespta.com/volunteer!
We look forward to an exciting 2nd Semester at Naples Elementary School!
Join the Naples ES PTA
Every Child. One Voice. PTA's mission is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering communities.
PTA Announcements
Preventing Hearing Loss in Kids
Beware of Unsafe Listening Habits During Video Gaming & Other Activities
March 3 Is World Hearing Day
Did you know that more than 1 billion young people worldwide could develop permanent hearing loss due to unsafe habits while playing video games, listening to music, and attending noisy events such as concerts and festivals?
Regular exposure to sounds that are too loud for too long can cause irreversible hearing damage. This is called noise-induced hearing loss. Children are particularly vulnerable to this form of hearing loss.
The good news is that noise-induced hearing loss is completely preventable by taking some simple protective steps.
Safe Listening in Children
Think about the amount of time that your child spends using technology, particularly with their earbuds in or headphones on. For many kids, this adds up to several hours each day.
Here’s what parents and caregivers should know about exposure to this noise and hearing loss:
How loud is too loud? Many earbuds, headphones, and smart devices reach volumes of 100 decibels (dB) or higher. Even many headphones that are marketed as “kid safe” reach 85 or 90 dB. This is well beyond a level that’s safe for children’s hearing, which is generally a maximum of 75 dB.
How long is too long? The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children spend no more than 40 hours per week listening to a personal audio device (again, at levels no higher than 75 dB). Although 40 hours per week may sound like a lot, kids often use earbuds or headphones
- in school for doing independent work;
- at home for watching videos or playing video games;
- at home or at athletic venues while playing sports or exercising; and
- even in bed, while they sleep.
This adds up quickly!
March 3 is World Hearing Day—which makes this the perfect time to help your kids adopt safer listening habits.
Tips for parents and caregivers: The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Educational Audiology Association (EAA) share these tips for families:
- Talk to your child about the importance of hearing protection. Help them appreciate that their hearing is something they enjoy—it’s worth protecting.
- Encourage listening breaks every hour when using earbuds or headphones. Even a few minutes of quiet makes a big difference for healthy ears. The same goes for noisy events such as concerts: Try to step outside every hour for a quick break.
- Use volume limiters on their devices—if that option is available. Regardless, teach kids to keep the volume level at no higher than half.
- Consider purchasing noise-cancelling headphones. These products reduce outside noise that may be competing with what they’re trying to hear through their headphones, so they don’t need to crank up the volume.
- Provide plenty of “device-free” time. This benefits a child’s hearing and also encourages creativity, imagination, learning, physical activity, and more.
- Use hearing protection at noisy events. Simple foam earplugs are inexpensive and available at most drugstores. These earplugs offer good protection for older kids and teens. Keep a few pairs in your purse or car. Younger children should use well-fitting earmuffs.
- Be a good role model. “Practice what you preach” when it comes to safe listening. Take breaks, keep the volume down, and use earplugs. You’ll protect your own hearing while setting an excellent example for your kids.
Signs of Hearing Loss
Do you have concerns about your child’s hearing? About 15% of school-age children in the United States have some degree of hearing loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many children don’t have their hearing screened every year, so it’s important to learn the signs of hearing loss. If you notice that your child does any of the following, take them to an audiologist for a hearing evaluation:
- turns the TV volume up to a level that is uncomfortable for others
- says, “Huh?” or “What?” often
- has academic difficulties that can’t be attributed to other causes
- complains of ringing, buzzing, or other noises in their ears
Whatever you do, take action if you have concerns. Even a minimal or mild hearing loss can significantly affect a child’s success in school, their interactions with peers, and their behavior if left unaddressed.
For more info contact Caroline Kruse, DoDEA EU South District Consultant for the Hearing Impaired.
Resources
Let's talk about hydration!
For physiological reasons, maintaining adequate fluid intake and optimal hydration is essential for kids, as is adopting healthy, sustainable drinking habits.
Did you know…
- Water is the most abundant component of the human body, making up approximately 60% of its mass.
- Water intake supports many bodily functions that are essential in daily life, such as thermoregulation (maintaining a steady internal body temperature), waste elimination (helping mitigate constipation), and numerous metabolic reactions (helping transport carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids).
What can parents do?
- Be a good role model! Children copy and acquire dietary behaviors from you! Are you a positive influence on healthy choices?
- Be sure to send a water bottle to school with your child. Teach your student the importance of water intake and hydration for cognitive and physical performance!
- Associate water intake with "moments," such as waking up, eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or taking morning/afternoon water breaks. Establish a routine throughout the day without relying on one's thirst.
- Make it taste good with fruits or herbs! Avoid flavor enhancers- they tend to contain sugar alcohols (bad), artificial sweeteners (harmful), or caffeine (not recommended for kids).
Introducing water to your student early and encouraging healthy drink choices/habits are essential to support adequate fluid intake and optimal hydration now and as an adult!
Health Resources
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Contacts
| Name | Position Details | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Front Office | Front Office | +39 0444 106 0232 |
| Attendance | Attendance | +39 0444 106 0241 |
| Registrar | Registrar | +39 0444 106 0240 |
| PTA | PTO | |
| School Liaison Program | SLO | +39 081 811 6549 |
| School Age Care (SAC) | +39 081 811 4722 | |
| Transportation Office | Transportation | +39 0444 106 0250 |
It is the responsibility of the parents or guardians to notify the school every time a student is absent.
Please do not arrive to school prior to 7:45 a.m.
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Instruction Hours |
|
PK-6 |
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Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri |
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Wednesday |
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Office Hours |
