Rocket Fuel
Information to Keep Our Rockets Soaring! May 2022
A Note from Mrs. McMinn
What a six weeks! Polk Central saw so many awesome things happen on campus this past six weeks. Second Grade hosted an amazing wax museum that brought dozens of families. Fourth Grade hatched chicks. Fifth Grade finished Muddy Sneakers and toured the high school farm and had middle school orientation. Kindergarten took a field trip, and grades 1st, 2nd, and 4th all have field trips planned in the next few weeks. We hosted our first Rocket Resource Rally with more than 25 community agencies present, more than 250 quests attended, and we served over 150 meals that night. Kindergarten registration and open house for our campus brought in dozens of families.
I hope that each family realizes the important role they play in our Polk Central Elementary community. I have been blessed with so many opportunities this year to work with individual families. From home visits to committee meetings, I feel we have worked together to recover from the impacts of the past two years. Please be on the look-out for opportunities to stay involved and keep kids involved in education and school life. Summer camps sponsored by local organizations, summer reading programs through PCES and the Polk County Library, and school play days will all be happening to keep students in a learning mind-set and comfortable with school in general. It's been a tough few years, but what a comeback we are making!
Special Shout-Outs!
- Rotary Club of Tryon - Our students were so excited to have Reading is Fundamental this past month!
- Lorraine Young - We appreciate all of your help tutoring our younger students!
- Chris Reynolds - We appreciate all of your help tutoring our older students!
- RootEd and their staff! - We appreciate all of their help with our fifth grade science studies!
- Thank you to our wonderful parents who have come in to chaperone all of these Spring field trips!
Updates from Nurse Anna!
The best place for children to learn about living a healthy lifestyle is at home. The lessons learned can be reinforced at school, but will have the most impact when practiced daily at home.
Families can encourage children to be more active by having them participate in family activities as well as sports. Along with physical activity, there are other important health-related lessons to teach your children —and to reflect in your own life!
Consider making the following actions part of your family’s healthy lifestyle.
• Cut back on TV, computer, and video game time. Less time spent on these activities leaves more time for movement!
• Take a family walk or bike ride.
• Play with your children. It will be healthy for all of you, both physically and emotionally.
• Make homework a priority. Provide a quiet time and place for doing homework. Talk to your child’s teacher to make sure your child is keeping up with classroom work
• Plan to eat a balanced, healthy dinner together as a family. If schedules don’t allow for dinner together every night, make a goal to have at least two dinners together every week.
• Make sure you and your children get enough sleep. Choose a reasonable bedtime that allows for 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night for a school-aged child.
Our health is an important factor in our quality of life. Children who are healthy learn better, have more positive interactions, and have a better chance for success in life. As a parent, you have a lot of power to provide your children with the basic knowledge and practices they need for the rest of their lives.
Counselor's Corner
Hello!! These last six weeks of school can be a more stressful time for students and even parents preparing for the end of year assessments and transitions to new grades or new schools next year. This month there will be many discussions and activities on how to be more mindful and trying to reduce our stress levels. As a parent, it may also be helpful for you and your child to talk together about ways to reduce stress and keep a positive mindset. Some strategies may include deep breathing in the moment dealing with stress, finding an activity that helps "let off steam or built up energy," or even just talking with someone about a challenging task. During Second Step this year all students have learned several strategies including belly breathing, counting to 10, and having positive self talk. Practicing these strategies at home and encouraging them at school are a huge benefit to students. Please let me know if you'd like more stress relief strategies or if I am able to assist you during this time.
-Mrs. Ashley
Title I Updates
Standardized Test Tips
Ease your child’s thoughts about taking the test by helping them realize that they don’t have to get all the answers on the test correct. Helping them realize that they don’t have to be perfect will help ease their test anxiety.
If they get stuck on a question, choose the best answer and move on.
Encourage them to take their time on the test and stay focused.
Send your child to school encouraged, stress free and on time for test day.
Ensure that your child gets a good night's rest and a healthy breakfast.
6. Remind them that the most important thing is that they do their best!!!
