PAW PRINTS
Winfield Elementary Newsletter - February 21, 2020
Winfield Elementary School Improvement Goals
All students will demonstrate measurable growth and achievement in reading.
All students will demonstrate measurable growth and achievement in mathematics.
All students will demonstrate growth in their social-emotional learning.
From the Principal, Mrs. Alonzo
NOW is the time to talk to your child's teacher about concerns and growth plans for the remainder of the school year. Open communication ensures we are all on the same path! Here are some questions to consider:
- Is your child on track for promotion to the next grade level?
- Is your child meeting growth targets?
- Does your child know all the sight words they should?
- Is your child developing socially and emotionally as they should?
- What else needs to be focused on to make sure the last 12 weeks of the school year are as impactful as possible?
- What other resources are available to fuel your child's growth?
Students were treated to a visit by Van Buskirk and Krischke DDS, LLC today. They provided important information about dental health. Dr. Krischke brought this educational program to us. We thank his practice for teaching almost 500 students that a healthy smile never goes out of style. The children enjoyed receiving a treat bag complete with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and t-shirt!
Contact Information:
Winfield Elementary- 663-2287 ext. 19001
Wildcat News Network
Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Williams
Emotional Self-regulation: What is it?
Self-regulation is the ability to manage emotions and behaviors, including how we react to different situations and events that we encounter throughout our day. Children experience many different emotions each day, and we know that how they feel effects behavior. Self-regulation is a set of skills that enables children to feel in control of their emotions and make sound behavior choices when faced with adversity.
What does emotional dysregulation look like?
Problems with self-regulation manifest in different ways depending on the child, says Dr. Matthew Rouse, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. “Some kids are instantaneous — they have a huge, strong reaction and there’s no lead-in or build-up,” he says. “They can’t inhibit that immediate behavior response.”
For other kids, he notes, distress seems to build up and they can only take it for so long. Eventually it leads to some sort of behavioral outburst. “You can see them going down the wrong path but you don’t know how to stop it.”
The key for both kinds of kids is to learn to handle those strong reactions and find ways to express their emotions that are more effective (and less disruptive) than having a meltdown, or other unwanted behaviors (yelling, aggression, refusal).
What can parents do to assist with developing these skills?
We approach teaching self-regulation skills in the same manner we do with other skills such as academic or social skills: focus on the skill and practice it!
Do not avoid situations that are difficult for your child to handle, yet coach them through it and provide support. You can achieve this by:
1. Validating their emotion- “It looks like you are feeling _____________ right now, how can I help?”
2. Ask questions- “what made you feel this way?”, “what didn’t you like about that?”
3. Together come up with Options- what can you do about it? Help them identify all the different ways they can handle the situation.
4. Come to a conclusion- what is our best option and why?
5. Provide praise and feedback- what did they do great? What could have been done differently? What can they do next time a similar situation occurs?
By helping your child develop these emotional self-regulation skills, you are empowering them to effectively manage emotions, resolve conflicts, and make sound decisions.
In reality, we know that this is a set of skills that takes practice to master. It takes a lot of self- control to keep it together all the time. We will still have days where our children are not regulated, and do not have control of their emotions, whether that is because the unpredictable happened, or they have emotions that have built up over time. The goal of teaching these skills is to make progress, which will look different for each child. Next week, I will share a technique to help when your child’s emotions become too big and they express themselves through a meltdown.
(Source: Child Mind Institute)
Contact Information:
Winfield Elementary- 663-2287 ext. 19108
From Mrs. Adams, Positive Behavior Coach
Hello Winfield families!
Can you predict academic success or whether a child will graduate? You can, but not how you might think. When psychologist Angela Duckworth studied people in various challenging situations, she found that one characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success. It wasn't social intelligence. It wasn't good looks, physical health, or IQ. It was grit. Duckworth found that the kids who won the spelling bee weren't necessarily smarter than their peers; they just worked a whole lot harder at studying words.
So, what exactly is grit? It is a combination of passion and perseverance for a singularly important goal. Unlike IQ, which is relatively fixed, grit is the type of skill everyone can develop. Some kids naturally have more grit than others, but there is plenty you can do to help your child develop their grit and perseverance to help him or her succeed.
We can start by modeling a growth mindset (something I have written about previously for our Winfield Elementary newsletter!). In her 2013 TED Talk, Duckworth said the best way to increase grit in children is to teach what Carol Dweck, Stanford professor and author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, calls a “growth mindset.” In a growth mindset, students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching, and persistence. The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset. Children with a fixed mindset believe they have a certain amount of brains and talent and nothing can change that. A growth mindset is shaped by adults through language and behavior that we model for kids. In order to encourage a growth mindset, be mindful of your own thinking and the messages you send to your children with your words and actions. Praising kids for being smart suggests that innate talent is the reason for success while focusing on the process helps them see how their effort leads to success. When parents talk positively about making mistakes, kids start to think of mistakes as a natural part of the learning process.
So, what else can we do to build grittiness? The following activities are a great start to helping your child achieve growth mindset, passion, and perseverance:
1. Help your child find purpose. Discuss their goals and purpose in life. Then, talk about the steps that would be required in order for your child to reach their goal. Encourage them to create a dream board (vision board) to help visualize their purpose and goals.
2. Share stories of gritty famous people. Encourage your child to study famous people (and the mistakes they have made) like Michael Jordan or J.K. Rowling. Stories like Jordan not making his Varsity team, or Rowling’s manuscript for Harry Potter being rejected almost a dozen times, will show that perseverance through failure can lead to great success.
3. Teach about grit through nature. Read together the Tupac Shakur poem “The Rose that Grew from Concrete”. Then, discuss what represents the “concrete” in their life. What are their obstacles? Next, discuss how your child can “break through the concrete” like the rose. What can they do to overcome obstacles and reach their dreams?
4. Ask “What’s the hard part”? When your child feels discouraged or tempted to give up, try asking them “What’s the hard part”? After the two of you have identified the challenge, ask your child what they could do to fix the “hard part” (encouraging them to understand how to live with grit).
5. Follow Duckworth’s the “Hard Thing Rule”. The rule has three parts: 1) Each member of the family has to do something hard. 2) You must finish what you start. 3) No one gets to pick the “hard thing” for anyone else, so your child gets to choose their own challenge.
It’s encouraging to know that grit, one of the most important indicators of success, is entirely teachable. At the same time, teaching your child passion and perseverance toward long-term goals sounds like a difficult task, but by consistently utilizing these activities, your child will be well on their way to a gritty life!
Sources: www.verywellfamily.com and www.biglifejournal.com
Contact Information:
Winfield Elementary- 663-2287 ext. 19602
Kindergarten Registration 2020-2021
Help Us Celebrate Our Great Teachers!
It takes moments to recognize a teacher!
Students, parents, and fellow colleagues can access The Times Teacher Appreciation Form at www.nwitimes.com/forms/teachers_appreciation/ and nominate a teacher who excels in the classroom. Nominators are kept confidential…their information is not printed in the paper.
Whistles From The Gym
Just a reminder that all money raised for the Kids Heart Challenge is due by next Friday, February 28th. Checks should be made out to the American Heart Association. You can also make donations on the Kids Heart Challenge website listed below. As of Thursday morning we have raised just over $6,100. Awesome job Winfield family and friends!!!! Please allow 3-4 weeks for prizes to be shipped. Any questions please contact Mr. Hedl.
https://www2.heart.org/site/TR?pg=company&fr_id=4818&company_id=243588
Reading Connection
This month features decoding strategies, writing, silent reading and more!
From the School Nurse, Mrs. Taylor
Dr. Krischke, DDS visited our students today to discuss with them how to care for their teeth. They watched a video on how to fight cavities and were each given a goodie bag! A BIG Thank You to Dr. Krischke for visiting us!
Please follow the following recommendations when deciding to keep your child home due to illness:
-Must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of any fever-reducing medications (Advil/Motrin).
-Must be free from episodes of vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours.
-Must be free from constant, uncontrolled cough.
We adhere to these recommendations very strictly in the best interest of the health of all of our students in the hope of limiting the amount of illness passed throughout our student population. If you have any questions about whether or not it is appropriate for your child to be at school please call us.
Contact Information:
Winfield Elementary- 663-2287 ext. 19081
School Hours 9:05 am - 3:44 pm
*ALL TRANSPORTATION CHANGES MUST BE CALLED INTO THE OFFICE BEFORE 3 PM.
All children are dismissed through the car rider line. Parents do not come inside the building during dismissal. Please review the Arrival/Dismissal Map here: Traffic Map
Note: If you are a car rider, we will provide your with a nameplate for your window. Please ensure this nameplate is present every day at pickup to expedite the line.
The school office is open daily from 7:30 am-4:30 pm. If you have Transportation questions after hours, please call 219-663-1465.
School Attendance
Regular school attendance is critical to a child's success. We recognize that being at school on time, all day, every day is the responsibility of the entire family. We are excited to implement some new incentives this year.
ATTENDANCE GOAL: 96%
ATTENDANCE ACTUAL: 94.4%
From the Cafeteria
Understanding the Lunch Line: A Parent's Guide
Meal Prices
Student Breakfast: $1.50 Student Lunch: $2.35 Milk Only: $0.40
Funding Cafeteria Accounts
Send cash or check payable to Winfield Elementary Cafeteria in a sealed envelope with your child' name, teacher, $ amount, and "Cafeteria" clearly written on the front. Payments may also be made online by visiting www.mymealtime.com. The required passcode is the same as the child's Student ID in RDS.
Contact Information:
Winfield Elementary- 663-2287 ext. 19603
Nutrition Nuggets
Students with healthy eating and exercise habits have higher test scores, better attendance, improved concentration, fewer discipline referrals, and greater overall achievement. Nutrition Nuggets shares ideas to improve nutrition and physical fitness at home. Every issue is filled with practical ideas for:
- preparing nutritious meals on a tight schedule and tight budget
- smart snacking
- finding time for exercise—and ways to make it fun
- boosting vegetables and whole grains
- making nutritious foods appealing
- physical activities families can do together
- teaching kids about healthy choices
You can access the latest edition here: NUTRITION NUGGETS 2.2020
Cafeteria Menu: Week of February 24
MONDAY
Breakfast: Breakfast Pizza OR Breakfast Bar/Cereal
Lunch: Clucking Chicken Nuggets Mashed Potatoes/Gravy Crunchy Carrots Crazy Applesauce /Roll
TUESDAY
Breakfast: Whole Grain Muffins OR Cereal, Poptart
Lunch: Pretzel & Cheese Garden Salad Golden Peaches
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast: Breakfast Sandwich OR Confetti Pancakes
Lunch: Breaded Chicken Sandwich Baked Beans & Corn Sliced Cucumbers Mandarin Oranges
THURSDAY
Breakfast: Breakfast Burrito OR Whole Grain Donuts
Lunch: Cheeseburger Deluxe Hot Diggity Dog Smiley Fries / Garden Salad Pineapple Tidbits
FRIDAY
Breakfast: Pancake Wrap OR Cereal / Poptart
Lunch: Bosco Sticks & Sauce Roasted Carrots Fresh Broccoli Florets Juice Rush
Guest Lunch
Student Last Names A-K: April 3
Student Last Names L-Z: March 6, May 1
The following guidelines apply:
- ONE guest per student
- No younger siblings permitted
- No Fast Food (i.e. McDonald's)
- Pre-register by calling the office at least ONE DAY in advance
Birthday Celebrations
As a school we believe it is important to recognize students on their birthdays. To protect instructional time in the classroom and manage student health needs, we do not allow edible birthday treats in the classroom (this includes CANDY in treat bags). Your child's birthday will be announced on the morning announcements and he/she is invited to the office for a small birthday treat.
If you choose, non-food items may be substituted your child may commemorate their special day by bringing a small treat for their classmates (pencil, bookmark, sticker, etc.) or dedicating a book to the classroom (and placing a special birthday bookplate inside).
OPTIONAL: Families wishing to celebrate their child's birthdays at lunch may purchase Ice Cream Tickets for each child in the class. Tickets are $0.75 each. Please complete an order form in the office 1 week prior to birthday.
Important Dates
February 2020
22- Robotics Competition at Hobart High School
25- Kindergarten Registration for 2020-2021 School Year
March 2020
20- End of 3rd Grading Period
23-27- Spring Break
April 2020
8-9 Kindergarten Screening for Incoming 2020-2021 students
23- Creative Arts Fair
24- Grandparent's Day
CAFE News
Midwest Gymnastics
Our next Open Gym night of the year will be held on Saturday, March 7th! Join us at Midwest Gymnastics on Summit Street for a fun drop-off event. Students may be dropped off from 7-9pm for $10 and enjoy trampolines, foam pit, tumbling tracks and more! Supervision is provided by volunteers from the CAFE, and Mrs. Alonzo always joins in! Please direct any questions to Kim Neff at kimneff31@yahoo.com. We had our BIGGEST night ever in February- 113 kids!
Apples for the Students
Do you shop at Strack and Van Til? If so, please send your receipts in to the Winfield School office. We are collecting receipts dated September 1, 2019 through March 2nd, 2020. Ask your friends and relatives to save their receipts and send in to school! We will count the value of the register tapes and redeem them for great items that benefit our students and classrooms! Please contact Amy Schaafsma at aschaafs@gmail.com with any questions.
Amazon Smile
AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.
Every item available for purchase on www.amazon.com is also available on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com) at the same price. You will see eligible products marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail pages. Visit smile.amazon.com and select your charitable group: Winfield Jerry Ross Elementary Schools Parent Teacher Organization
Extracurricular & Community News
Winfield Elementary
Email: jalonzo@cps.k12.in.us
Website: www.cps.k12.in.us/Domain/843
Location: 13128 Montgomery Street, Crown Point, IN, United States
Phone: 219-663-2287
Twitter: @WinfieldElem