FROM THE PRINCIPAL...
Dear Parents,
We have recently purchased a corporation-wide notification system, School Messenger, to use to contact parents in cases of school delays, cancellations, dismissal or emergencies. This system will contact each household, by using the data in Harmony, via phone, cell phone, and email (text coming later). Right now, the 4 phone categories School Messenger uses are Mom & Dad, Home Phone #, and Mom and Dad's Cell Phone #. (If you have a phone number you'd rather have School Messenger use, you'll have to put it in one of those 4 categories in Harmony.) Also for email, right now, School Messenger doesn't recognize multiple emails in Harmony and only selects the first one. The last time we had a school delay and cancellation (last week), you should have been contacted via one of these methods. If not, it is because we do not have the correct or current info from you in that category in Harmony. If that is the case, please log into the Parent Portal of Harmony and make the necessary corrections, or send them to the elementary office. More instructions on this will be emailed to you shortly, as we are running into several issues with this. We will also try and contact you if one of those phone numbers is disconnected. Because of this system, we will no longer be activating the school's calling tree unless there is a situation where we can't use School Messenger or Harmony's email notification. (We recently had a bus situation where we used Harmony's email system to notify parents of a delay. If possible, try to have your emails sent to your phone so you will be notified of these situations instantly). Again, we still have to work our some bugs, but we think this is a good system to improve our Home/School communication.
Sincerely, Rik Ihssen
JANUARY'S CORE VALUE: HONESTY
During the month of January, we will be focusing on the core value of Honesty. It's something that everyone agrees is important. We have many rules against various forms of dishonesty (cheating, lying, stealing, forgery, etc.), but probably need to spend more time encouraging the positive aspects of honesty-like telling the truth even though it may mean getting in trouble or losing a privilege; like returning things you may find lying around instead of "finders keepers, losers, weepers;" like being more assertive and expressing your true feelings and opinions instead of what you think others might want to hear; like not omitting details that may be unfavorable; like giving sincere compliments instead of flattery. As we strive to be more honest, we'll gain greater respect from others and find less interpersonal conflicts.
ATTENDANCE AWARDS
1st Semester Perfect Attendance awards will be sent home next week, along with a letter for you to return if you wish to receive one of the free coupons listed on the letter. If you prefer to receive the White Sox Tickets, don't send the letter back. We will automatically give you the White Sox ticket order form when we receive them, probably sometime in March. Perfect Attendance means no absences or tardies during the 1st semester. Congratulations to all who will receive this award!
READING COUNTS NEWS!
The Reading Counts points for the 2 grading period have been tallied! Congratulations to the top 4 readers in each of the following classes!
First Grade
- Miss Cox: Alonzo Paul, Kaitlyn Moore, Kathy Orta & David Taylor
- Mrs. Higgins: Callie Feldsien, Robert Vinzant, Jack Briggs & David Bolin
- Mrs. Petersohn: Angelina Marshall, Matthew Mecchia, Olivia Martinez & Kiersten Rotz
Second Grade
- Mrs. Bauer: Caden Walsworth, Jocelynn Ewing, Nathan Whitcomb & Mikaela Armstrong
- Mrs. Floran: Gabrielle Unzicker, Paris Zubeck, Alyssa Suprenant & Emma Guenther
- Mrs. Russell: Finn Larkin, Alexa Mecchia, Tyler Hachey & Gavin Biggerstaff
Third Grade
- Mrs. Bauer: Leo Sweeney, Grant Heymig, Sarah Walker & Austin Mote
- Mrs. Glover: Megan Boby, Dakota Ellison, Madison Gilbert & Josie Jones
- Mrs. Miller: Steve Finley, Emily Walsworth, Allison Haines & Michael Boyd
Fourth Grade
- Mr. Balash: Jared Armstrong, Michael DeHaven, Edward Orta & Jordan Sheets
- Mr. Chowning: Karina Evans, Katelyn Majda, Michael Funk & Ethan Jones
- Mrs. Uehling: Matthew Sears, Matt Rogers, Billy Bagby & Isaac Sum
Fifth Grade
- Mrs. Krieger: Brandon Swann, Natalie Burchert, Jordan Underwood & Sydney Yagelski
- Mr. Roberts: Haynen Johnson, Tess Boby, Mikayla Higgins & Kristina Smrekar
- Mrs. Zborowski: Jenna Mihal, Haley Johnson, Carson Rhodes & Zac Little
The top four students’ point status is based upon the Reading Counts’ classroom reports created on Jan. 18, 2011. Again, congratulations to all participants and keep reading! Remember what Dr. Seuss said in I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go".
For 5 Grade Parents
This week, a letter went home with 5 graders informing them of the immunizations they will need to enter 6 grade next school year.
They are: meningococcal vaccine (MCV4), Tdap booster (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), and 2 doses of Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine. The children need to be 11 years old for the meningococcal vaccine, but 10 for the other two. If you would like to space them out, this is a good time, or all 3 immunizations can be given at the same time. When your child receives these immunizations, please, send in a copy of their immunization card (or slip from the physician or Health Dept) to Mrs. Pysh to show proof of immunizations. If your child had the chicken pox disease, send in a signed written statement indicating month and year of the disease.
DON'T LEAVE YOUR CHILD OUT IN THE COLD!!!
Unless the outside temperature is less than 15º (w/wind chill), students must go outside for noon recess. Unfortunately, students are not coming to school dressed properly for the cold weather and often get very cold outside. Help us make recess a more enjoyable time by making sure your child comes properly dressed to school. Hats and gloves are needed for all!! Grades K-3 need boots and snow pants or 2nd pair of pants to play in snow areas (boots only to walk in snow)
SNOW/ICE RULES (Just in case!)
- Snowballs are thrown in snowball territory only, and when aide is present at noon only.
- Snowballs must be thrown below chest level.
- Sledding in designated areas only.
- Do not stand on sleds.
- Body sledding is allowed if aide is present. No tricks.
- No sliding on the ice