Knight Notes
Yarbrough Elementary Newsletter - April 2018
Quick Glance at Important Dates
April 4th - Special Olympics Track and Field
April 6th - Club Day; Last Day to Order YearbooksApril 13th - No School
April 17th - 26th - State Testing
April 23rd - Spring Choral Concert
April 25th - Fourth Grade Field Trip to Montgomery
April 27th - Dad's League, Dinner and Movie on Magic Mountain
May 1st - Family Book Club
May 4th - Club Day
May 7th - Fifth Grade Track Meet at AJHS
May 9th - Fifth Grade Visits Drake Middle School
May 10th-11th - Third Grade Pioneer Village Field Trip
May 16th - Fourth Grade Reading Road Trip
May 17th - Third Grade Oregon Trail
May 18th - Fifth Grade Graduation
May 21st - End of Quarter Celebration
May 22nd - Last Day of School/Field Day
Leaders of the Month
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Not pictured: Henry Wang
Parent Survey
We hope you have seen the flyer sent home about a parent survey. We would appreciate it if you would complete this survey at your earliest convenience as it helps us drive our plans for the upcoming school year. Once you have completed the survey (link is below or the url can be found on the flyer), complete the information at the bottom of the flyer and return it. Each child that has a participating parent will receive a bag tag for their backpack. The classroom in each grade level with the highest number of participants will earn a popsicle party. Thanks for helping us make Yarbrough better!
Registration Information
Parents can contact INFOSNAP if they do not know their login and/or password for their account. Mrs. Terhune in the Yarbrough office can give snapcodes only to access the registration page. The INFOSNAP contact number is 866-752-6850 (8:00 am – 4:30 pm CST). Parents will continue to receive reminder emails from Central Office (very frequently) until they register. Once registered, no more emails!!
Fifth grade parents - Team placement at Drake Middle School for next year is dependent on completion of registration. If 5th graders are not registered by April 20th, they will not have team placement next year.
Dinner and a Movie on Magic Mountain
Friday, April 27th - Save the Date for this fun event for the whole family! Details coming soon...
Spring Choral Concert
State Testing - Performance Series
Flagline Club Performance
Lunch News
Field Trip Payments
Fourth Graders Visit Montgomery
Words of the Week
Our new school-wide Words of the Week all come from our Family Book Club book, Esperanza Rising. Teachers and students will be challenging each other to use these words in our vocabulary. We would love for parents to try to sneak them in at home, too.
March 26th-30th - resounding, vicious, capricious
April 2nd-6th - aroma, despair, tormented
April 9th-13th - anguish, cordial, deliberate
April 16th-20th - persistent, mesmerized, jostle
April 23rd – 27th - monotonous, frail, unrelenting
April 30th – May 4th - shabby, extravagant, scorched
May 7th-11th - eerie, taunt, optimism
Family Book Club
Oregon Trail for Third Graders
Each year third grade and the library staff team up to do a unit about Westward Expansion and the pioneers of the Oregon Trail. We then have a big culminating activity for the Westward Expansion unit where we simulate a journey on the Oregon Trail (YES nature trail). Once we arrive in Oregon, we will live and play as the pioneers did in the 1840's. As the planner and prepper of the day, I need to collect $2 from each student to buy the supplies. Please send the $2 into the library by Friday, April 6, 2018. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Westward ho,
Laura McGilberry, Librarian
Reading Road Trip For Fourth Graders
Each year my library curriculum for fourth grade includes exposure to each of the different genres. Once they complete a genre, they receive a ticket to a city on our Yarbrough Reading Road Trip coming in May. This trip consists of a “visit” to the top 10 cities in Alabama and an activity for that city. This helps to motivate the students to want to read the different genres and exposes them to the wonderful things happening around our state. In order to buy the materials needed, I am in need of $2 from each student. Please send the $2 to the library by Friday, April 6, 2018. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. - Laura McGilberry, Librarian
Nurse Notes from Nurse Julia
Attention 5th grade parents:
All students entering 6th grade are required to have a Tdap vaccine and turn in an updated immunization record. The vaccine protects your child from the disease Whooping Cough (Pertussis) and includes a booster for Tetanus and Diphtheria. The vaccine can be received at your physician’s office or Lee County Health Department as soon as your student reaches his/her 11th birthday. A copy of your student’s immunization record will be sent home with those 5th grade students who are due or past due to receive this vaccine.
Fitness Fun with Coach Smith
Y.E.S. Jump Rope for Heart was a great success. The 2018 total for Jump Rope for Heart was $9,912! Awesome job students and parents! Final prizes should arrive sometime in April. Thank you for supporting the American Heart Association.
April PE Unit: Students will participate in a Softball/Baseball Home Run Derby and play several games with the 1st Annual YES Top Golf Challenge. Students will also participate in solving math problems and sports/fitness reading skills.
NEWS in PE:
- Homework Fitness Challenge is in full swing. Students will turn it in at the end of each month to win cool prizes.
- April 30th - Fit Knight Calendar Due
Computer Lab Latest with Miss Ball
Counseling Connection with Mrs. Walsh
Spring has sprung! It is finally starting to warm up. With that being said, it is time to remind our children the importance of proper hygiene. Please make sure daily bathing with soap occurs in your house. We don’t want those sweaty odors hurting anyone’s self-esteem or relationships. Thanks so much for your support with this matter.
School is not out yet! Please encourage your students to continue to put forth their best effort with all of their school work. Also do your best to have them at school on time. Students are considered tardy to school if they arrive after 7:30.
During the month of April, we will study test taking skills. We will learn how to FOCUS on TEST SUCCESS. We will also work on critical thinking skills. Parents please make sure your children get adequate sleep before the test dates, as well as, eat a healthy breakfast (avoiding high sugary foods). Research shows students perform better if they eat before a test. Keep a positive atmosphere and help resolve any conflicts that may arise so your children are focused on the test. Encourage your children to do their best and let them know you are interested in the tests. Remind students they “get to” take the test, not “have to” take the test. It is a chance to show how much they have learned this year!
Students should BE ON TIME and wear comfortable clothing. This might mean getting up a little earlier to avoid rushing. Talk to your children about their feelings concerning the test and reassure them their performance on the test is not a condition for your love. Stress to your children that you love them for who they are and just want them to do their best!
Thanks for your support!
Quote of the month by Donna B. Forrest
Make a Choice to Do Your Best
Practice, practice, practice…at anything you wish to accomplish. Be neat. Try, try, try…persevere and don’t give up easily.
Leader Lessons
Habit 6: Synergize
Key Phrase: Together Is Better
What this habit looks like in action: I value other people’s strengths and learn from them. I get along well with others, even people who are different than me. I work well in groups. I seek out other people’s ideas to solve problems because I know that by teaming with others we can create better solutions than anyone of us can alone. I am humble.
Habit 7: Sharpen The Saw
Key Phrase: Balance Feels Best
What this habit looks like in action: I take care of my body by eating right, exercising and getting sleep. I spend time with family and friends. I learn in lots of ways and lots of places, not just at school. I find meaningful ways to help others.