Forest Heights Family
October 2015
Thank You!
Dear FHES Families:
What a great start we’ve had this school year! We welcomed quite a few new faces to Forest Heights this year and we are thrilled at what the rest of the year will hold. We also exceeded expected growth on the EOGs last year! We are very proud of the hard work students have done and we expect to grow again this year. Thank you parents and families for sending us your best and brightest and we look forward to a fantastic #LastYearBestYear at Forest Heights Elementary.
Cardinals S.O.A.R.
Did you know we SOAR everyday as Cardinals?
SOAR stands for:
· Safe
· Organized
· Accountable
· Respectful
Help us remind our young Cardinals to SOAR everyday in school and at home.
Welcome New Teachers:
Join us in welcoming some of our new faces:
· Rollins Burrell (K), Jenna Klawiter (1st)
· Mya Campbell (3rd), Mariah Martin (3rd), Brooke Picklesimer (3rd)
· Ben Harris (PE), Ethan Dyer (Music)
· Natalie Dunn (EC)
FHES Grade Level Teams 2015 - 2016
PreK: S. Watts, D. Stines
Kindergarten: J. Maurer, J. Moore, R. Burrell, T. Gingles
1st: A. Branch, S. Davis, J. Klawiter, G. Burris, D. Ijames, K. Armstrong
2nd: J. Beckham, M. Black, J. Brackett
3rd: M. Campbell, M. Martin, B. Picklesimer
4th: R. Cissel, N. Ijames, S. Miller
5th: D. Ghent, K. Motes, A. Psarianos
Parent's Night - 2nd & 4th
Refreshments will be served.
Tuesday, Oct 27, 2015, 05:00 PM
Forest Heights Elementary School, Gastonia, NC, United States
FHES News
School Safety
In an effort to maintain an extra level of security, we will be conducting random searches with a metal detector similar to the one pictured. These searches will take place once every 5 days and will not disrupt the learning environment. We will also continue conducting various drills such as fire drills, bomb threat drills, lock down drills, tornado drills, and so forth. These are a couple more ways we keep FHES a safe place to learn. If you have any questions regarding safety measures, please give us a call.
Cardinals S.O.A.R. on the School Bus
We recently met with every student at Forest Heights to discuss our expectations for their behavior this year. One specific topic we covered was riding the school bus. We emphasized that riding the school bus is a privilege and not a right and to follow these rules for continued school bus success.
S-Safe
- Report problems to the driver
- Keep body parts and objects to yourself and inside the bus
- Talk softly so you can hear directions
- Stay in your assigned seat
O-Organized
- Keep your book bag in lap
- Personal items to yourself and take off the bus
A-Accountable
- Accept the outcomes of your actions
- Listen
- Strive to do your best while riding the bus
R-Respectful
- Follow directions
- Keep unkind words to yourself
Recently, FHES was featured in a Gaston County Schools’ article talking about this innovative program we use to reward students for a job well done and easily communicate with parents via the click of a button. This app is Class Dojo!
Did you know you can join Class Dojo as a parent and connect with your child’s class?
It’s FREE and quite simple.
From the Web
1. Go to home.classdojo.com
2. Click "Don't have an account?"
3. Enter your first and last names, your email address, and a password (must be at least 6 characters long)
4. Click "Sign up"
5. Enter your parent code (7 digits long, starts with a "P") and click "Next"
You may also download from the App Store / Google Play Store & follow the directions on the app.
Send your child’s teacher an email or a note requesting the parent code for your child’s classroom.
Homework Solutions that Work
Like an actor rehearsing his lines or a batter working on his swing, your child does homework to practice what he learns in school. And if he’s like most youngsters, homework brings occasional challenges. Here are solutions to common problems he might face.
Getting started
When your child gets home from school or after-school care, he might want to relax for a little while, or he may want to jump right in and work. Have him try each method for one week and keep track of how it goes. He could write notes in each day’s calendar square. (“Went great!” or “Hard time getting started.”) After two weeks, he can review the notes to see which routine worked best.
Staying motivated
Does your youngster ever feel restless when he’s doing homework? Suggest that he get up and move to a new spot. For example, he might finish his vocabulary assignment at the kitchen table and then read his science chapter on the porch. A planned break (say, to have a snack or take a walk) can also give him a second wind.
Solving problems
Help your child make a list of strategies he can use when he gets stuck. For a math assignment, he might try tools like a number line or find sample problems in his book. When he’s reading, he could look up words in a dictionary or reread a paragraph. Tip: If he’s still stumped, he might call a friend or write down his question to ask his teacher the next day.
National Bullying Prevention Month
October is National Bullying Prevention Month and FHES will be educating students all month long on the various aspects of bullying. On October 14th, FHES will highlight awareness with Cardinal Unity Day. On this day, please encourage your students to wear our school colors (red, black, white) to show unity and support as we continue the battle against bullying. Our theme this year is “We Are Stronger Together” and when we unite against bullying, we can make a difference.
Bullying, Harassment Definition:
Bullying behavior is any repeated, systematic pattern of gestures that can be written, electronic, verbal communications, or could be a physical act, threatening communication on school property or at any school sponsored function and/or on a school bus.
Types of Bullying:
- Physical bullying: Physical bullying is any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim. This is one of the most easily identifiable forms of bullying. Examples include punching, pushing, kicking, teasing, fighting, etc.
- Emotional bullying: Emotional bullying is any form of bullying that causes damage to a victim’s psyche and/or emotional well-being. Examples include spreading malicious rumors about people, keeping certain people out of a “group”, the silent treatment, etc.
- Verbal bullying: Verbal bullying is any slanderous statements or accusations that cause the victim undue emotional distress. Examples include profanity at a target, tormenting, rumors, being laughed at, etc.
- Cyber-bullying: Cyber-bullying is any bullying done through the use of technology. Cyber bullying includes, but is not limited to, abuse using email, instant messaging, text messaging, websites, social networking sites, etc.
Help your child be an upstander by encouraging the following:
- If it is safe, speak up. Say something like, “Stop it!”
- Tell an adult. Tell a teacher or adult you trust.
- Be a friend to the person who is being bullied. Talk with them. Sit with them at lunch.
- Set a good example. Do not bully others.
Forest Heights Elementary School
Website: www.gaston.k12.nc.us/fheights
Location: 1 Learning Place, Gastonia, NC, United States
Phone: (704) 866-6079
Facebook: facebook.com/ForestHeightsElem
Twitter: @ForestHeightsES