August/September Edition
Principal's Message
Monthly Message
Ranger Families,
What a great start to the 2023-2024 school year! We appreciate all you are doing to start the year off strong, helping students get into positive routines, and communicating with our staff to ensure we are meeting every child’s needs. Our partnership throughout the school year will be the difference in what our youngest Rangers can achieve. Thank you for working alongside our team to create that from day one.
You may have noticed your students talking about tickets and Ranger Bucks. These are part of our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) incentives at Hamilton Elementary. Students can earn tickets throughout the day for exemplifying good choices that match our building expectations. At the beginning of each week, we pull two tickets from each grade for a small reward and recognition of their positive choices. In the lunchroom, students work together with their classmates to earn blue lunch room tickets for following directions and making positive choices during lunch. These are totalled at the end of each week, and the highest earning class in each grade level chooses a whole class reward. Finally, Ranger Bucks are school currency that students can earn for making good choices. These can be used later in the school year to purchase items or experiences. If your child tells you that they earned tickets or Ranger Bucks, celebrate their good choices with them!
This month, all students will be participating in diagnostic testing and state screeners to help us get a full picture of their academic skills. These are not graded assessments, but they do help us in creating student small groups, intervention plans, and provide our teachers with essential planning information.
We look forward to the days ahead and the opportunity to work with you and your child. We take very seriously the trust you place in us each and every day, and we are committed to having a successful and productive school year. Do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns.
Thank you,
Mr. Rush and Mrs. Seiler
Our Busy Classrooms!
Mrs. Watts Lunch Bunch
Mrs. Watts is shown here having Lunch Bunch with two of her 1st Grade students!
Miss. Wojo's Class
Mrs. Church's Class
Here is Mrs. Church's 2nd Grade class participating in math activities while also team building!
Meet Our Teachers
Miss. Olson
Years Teaching: 8 Years
Most Memorable Teaching Moment: My most memorable teaching moment was switching from second grade to kindergarten the year of Covid. I was worried with having to wear masks and social distancing with the littles. With all the restrictions we still managed to have so much fun and learn a lot. They all met their goals and or exceeded them. The growth in kindergarten is amazing!
Favorite Teacher Growing Up: My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Winniestaffer was my favorite teacher growing up because she made our classroom feel like home. She always made me feel welcomed, loved, and special. I am still in contact with her to this day.
Favorite Things (Favorite Snack): Anything Chocolate.
Fun Fact:I play sand volleyball.
Mrs. Hajes- Teacher of The Year
Years Teaching: 22 Years
Most Memorable Teaching Moment: Watching students learn to read during Kindergarten
Favorite Teacher Growing Up: My Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Lupfer. She is my earliest memories of loving school.
Favorite Things (Favorite Snack): I really like all food, but I really love gummy bears!
Fun Fact: I have two dogs at home named Skip and Acton. :)
Counselor's Corner
PBIS Highlights
Ticket Winners!
Ready Ranger!
Successful Habits
This year we introduced a new Specials class, Successful Habits. Using The Leader in Me program, students will learn 21st century leadership and life skills. These habits help students learn and apply communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and character education skills. Here is our first graders practicing how to synergize and work together! Check out next month's newsletter to learn more about the 8 Habits.
Lunch-Room Winners
August 21st-25th
Kindergarten: Wallace
First Grade: Edington
Second Grade: Moore and Brinkman
Third Grade: Allinder
Reminders
Events & Important Dates
KRA-R Testing
Kindergarteners were assessed on their Kindergarten readiness from Aug. 28th - Sept 1st. This is a required assessment given to first-time Kindergarteners at the beginning of each school year. All students in public and community schools are required to participate in KRA-R and have their results be part of the state's summary report. The KRA-R measures a child's knowledge and abilities across four areas: Social Foundations, Language and LIteracy, Mathematics, and Physical Well-being and MOtor Development.
3rd Grade Only- Fall State Testing Dates
October 24th - 25th
Diagnostic Testing
During the month of September, you may hear your student talking about STAR testing. This testing is used to track student data throughout the year. STAR tests consists of Reading, Math, and Early Literacy. STAR CBM is new this year and is used to screen students for dyslexia. Stay tuned for results!
Two Successful Safety Drills
We have already completed two successful Fire Drills! The second time, we beat our evacuation time by two minutes and 5 seconds... and we evacuated over 1000 occupants! Our students were so good and had great listening ears! Keep up the good work Safe Rangers!
No School
October 16th Teacher Professional Day
End of 1st Quarter
The end of 1st Quarter is October 13th.
Smile For Pictures!!!!🖼️
Dates for pictures:
Sept. 27th for Kindergarten and First Grade ONLY
Sept. 28th for Second and Third Grade ONLY
Interim Reports
Reports will be available Wednesday September 13th online. Please log in to Progress Book.
Attendance Information
From The Clinic
Cough Drops
Flu season is upon us, and with that comes sore throats, however, cough drops cannot be sent in to school with your student. If you would like your student to have them, you will need to have a medication consent form on file before bringing them to school. If you have any questions, please reach out to our clinic.