Ireland Elementary School
November 15, 2022
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE IRELAND 2022 SPELL BOWL TEAM
Congratulations to our Spell Bowl team who placed 1st in their local division and 28th out of 101 schools in the state in their class!
These kids have been coming to school early and studying a list of 750 words for the last 2 months knowing in the competition they would be asked to spell just 7 of those words.
A special shout out to Arpita, who had a perfect score spelling all 7 of her words correctly, and David for a near-perfect score of 6 of the 7 words. Outstanding!
A huge shout out to our wonderful coaches, Mrs. O'Connor and Mrs. Olinger who give their time, energy, and enthusiasm to these students! Thank you!
Family Friendly Survey
Ireland Elementary School is seeking this designation, and we need your help! We need at least one member of each family to fill out this quick survey (both parents would be great)! https://www.jotform.com/210636394920961
Hint:
- Under 'School Name' look under 1569 Ireland Elementary School
- Under 'School Corporation' look for 2120 Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools
Cold Weather and Recess Guidelines
- Your child will be going outside for recess as long as the 'feels like' temperature is 20 degrees or above.
- No more shorts until it is announced in the spring.
- Please send a coat, hat, and gloves for recess.
- If your child doesn't bring a coat, we will provide one if they wish to borrow one. If your child was sent to school without a coat and also refuses to borrow one, they will still be sent outside for recess.
- Our lost and found is pretty large in the winter months, so please take inventory of your child's belongings every week to make sure they have their coat, gloves, and hats.
Honoring Our Veterans!
In celebration of Veteran's Day, we celebrated and honored our veterans with a flag presentation from the Boy Scouts, special readings and the singing of the National Anthem by our fifth grade students, and a slideshow of all our friends and family that are currently or have served for our country.
Check out the slideshow below!
Thanksgiving Next Week
School WILL NOT BE in session in celebration of Thanksgiving on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week (November 23rd - 25th). We hope you enjoy your family!
We are THANKFUL to all of our students, staff, and families!
John Rosemond - Thought of the Week
One of the characteristics of a truly civilized society is the ubiquitous use of proper social courtesies. Raising a child is all about civilizing the savage within; therefore, “manners,” as they are known, should be taught to a child early and diligently. Read more in this week's Living With Children column: https://bit.ly/3s6U0cq
Toys for Tots
Staff Members of the Week!
Wake Up, Ireland!
Every day, our Wake Up, Ireland! announcements will also be posted on Facebook for you to view. If you like our Ireland Elementary YouTube Channel, you can also receive notifications when new videos are uploaded. The news broadcast will include birthdays, lunch menus, character education, sports, weather, and much more! You never know what you are going to learn!
Subscribe to our Ireland Elementary YouTube Channel here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2xDUum9w6Ui_vO63u101MQ
Kindness Challenge of the Week
Ask somebody new to play with you at recess (or at home!)
Every week, your child will be receiving a kindness challenge! If they complete the challenge, they get to put up a sticker on our kindness challenge board!
Jump in on the fun at home too! Help us promote kindness to all - at school, home, and community!
Mindfulness Strategy of the Week
Wise Old Owl (Mindful Kids) by Mrs. Jerger
Sit mindfully, with your spine straight and body relaxed. Close your eyes and take three, soft, slow, mindful breaths. Imagine you are sitting under a tree. On a branch is a wise old owl who knows the answer to any question you have. The owl is always gentle and kind, and knows what you need. Silently ask the owl your question.
Let the owl think about the answer. You can take three soft, slow, mindful breaths while you wait.
Listen carefully when the owl answers your question. Picture yourself following the owl’s advice. How does that make you feel? If you need to, ask the owl more questions until you know what to do. Open your eyes. Now ask yourself, where did that wisdom come from? You can always find the wise old owl inside you.
Send Jacket/Sweatshirt & Water Bottle Daily
Also, students need a water bottle every day. We will give them a cup to use if they forget, but those cups tend to spill and we are running low.
Welcoming Wildcats
A new group has been started at JMS to help with two specific missions: 1) to provide students who are new to our school with a welcome gift that includes a few Jasper spirit pieces and 2) to help students throughout the year who need clothing items provided for them. Our first initiative is to help get more spirit wear out to people . . . staff, parents, siblings, grandparents, students . . . so that everyone has a chance to show their Jasper pride. We have set up an online store for people to purchase from. A portion of all sales will go into the Welcoming Wildcats fund. Additionally, on the store is a DONATE button where people can simply donate to our mission if they don’t want to purchase anything or if they want to donate in addition to their purchase. Please check out the online store at THIS LINK. Or, see the attached flyer. There are items at various price points, quality, and name brands.
Thank you for your consideration of supporting our new mission!
(We are also accepting donations of gently used Jasper gear. Many of our students are perfectly happy and extremely grateful to be wearing these pieces!)
Lost and Found
Thank you for your help! We walked each item around the gym in the morning, and only found the owners of 3 items. We NEED YOUR HELP!
Car Line - No Passing!
If students need assistance getting out of the vehicle, parents need to park in the parking lot across the county road and walk their child into school.
No passing! It should be treated the same as not passing a bus with their stop arm out. There are many scenarios where our students are not safe if cars pass.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Congrats to the Christmas Program Cast!
North Pole Radio Hour Cast
Main Announcer - Elias Weber
Storm McFlurry - Kyle VanAlstine
Windy Snow - Ella Reinhart
Santa - Will Schipp
Penny Sears - Jennifer Breitwieser
Clay Rider - Dagan Bradley
Chris Moss - Aiden Fuhrman
Mary Moss - Lilly Wagner
Holly Moss - Olivia Lampert
Ivy Moss - Freya Boyer
Give an Ireland Staff Member a Shout-out!
Thank you for taking the time to highlight a staff member when they exceed our expectations!
PowerSchool Grades
There have been many parents questioning how to view their student's grades in PowerSchool. I have created a short screencastify of the parent view when looking at grades. If you have any questions, please contaqct Kelly Lehmkuhler at klehmkuhler@gjcs.k12.in.us
Lunch Visitors
Visitors who want to eat lunch with their child must call the school office by 9:00 a.m. if they wish to order an adult tray. Adult lunches cost $4.25 and must be paid by cash or check in the office when you arrive. If you do not wish to order an adult tray, you do not have to call ahead.
Visitors will be required to wait in the office until the students are dismissed to the cafeteria.
We do not allow outside food to be brought into the cafeteria for your child.
Important Reminders and Updates
School hours are 7:50AM -2:50PM. Students can arrive starting at 7:15AM. Students may not be dropped off prior to 7:15 AM. If you bring your child to school after 7:50 AM, you must escort them to the front doors.
We are highly encouraging parents who are bringing their child to school to use the car drop-off drive. If you would like to walk your child in, you will have to say goodbye outside the front doors. Please trust us that we have your child's best well-being in mind at all times.
All school supplies are provided by the PTO. Your child only needs a backpack, headphones, and a water bottle. Please write your child's name on all items.
Please see nurse Brandi Stiles for prescription medicine intake. All medicine must be accompanied by a parent and include a physician’s prescription. Students are not allowed to transport medicine to school.
VERY IMPORTANT- If your child's transportation changes, please notify the office with a note ASAP.
Covid Protocols for 22-23 School Year
If COVID positive...
- Must provide a picture of the positive home test card or a copy of the positive lab report.
- Isolate 5 days from symptom onset or isolate 5 days from test date if asymptomatic; May zoom when confirmed positive.
- Return to school on day 6
Symptoms but not testing for COVID or has a negative test result...
- Follow regular school policy.
- Fever free for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medication
- If vomiting, your child must be able to eat 2 solid meals before returning to school.
- Free of diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school
Can We Take AR Tests at Home?
YES! Here are a couple important things to know and remember as your kids test at home:
Step 1: Visit https://clever.com/in/gjcs
Step 2: Log in to Clever. (Your child should know this information - short number, long number)
Note: Make sure it says ‘Greater Jasper Consolidated School District’ at the top.
Step 3: Under ‘More Apps’ select ‘Renaissance’.
A Little About our Staff
I have compiled a list at the beginning of the year for myself, and I thought it would be nice for you to know too!
Check out this link to view their favorites!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LNBa1DLyHFPSIUbk1jMurgLfXYtvefPnTIS6yKMLGPU/edit?usp=sharing
Ireland Elementary Parent Handbook
Thanks!
November Menus
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Our own celebrity...
Parent Cafe: Stress Less Holidays
In December, we will discuss ways to keep our stress levels in check and enjoy time spent with family. This will include building our resilience, managing relationships, and managing the expectations of our children.
Jasper Library Digital Access Card
Jasper Public Library Digital Access cards came home this week. Check out the short video tutorial below!
Raise Right (formally known as SCRIP)
Do you want to save money on book rental and lunch money? If so, see flyer and information below on how to make that happen! It is available for ALL GJCS students no matter what school you attend!
Get started by going to the RaiseRight app on your phone or RaiseRight.com. Enrollment Code: A9L615B88978. Choose Jasper Elementary (even though your child goes to Ireland).
Orders will be reviewed on the Mondays listed below after 6:00 pm and any physical cards will be delivered to the school no later than Fridays of that week if you do not choose to ship them to your home.
First Semester: 8/15, 8/29, 9/12, 9/26, 10/10, 10/24, 11/7, 11/14, 11/28, 12/5, 12/12,
Second Semester: 1/2, 1/16, 1/30, 2/14, 2/28, 3/13, 3/27, 4/10, 4/24, 5/1, 5/15
YMCA - After School Care
Box Tops App!
We have a school goal of $2,000. Let's do this!
Past Ireland Newsletter
We are IRELAND!
Email: sbauer@gjcs.k12.in.us
Website: https://www.gjcs.k12.in.us/3/home
Location: 2386 North 500 West, Jasper, IN, USA
Phone: (812)482-7751
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ireland-Elementary-School-482279435288092/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel&eid=ARAFiG3PHtLEmKAd5cDeCkiXQq9OSvT5IwdGN5thZayEwosa7K4OQKvDopYDB6ESEJzUS4NVtNa0lmoY