PAW PRINTS
Winfield Elementary Newsletter - September 29, 2017
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.
From the Principal, Mrs. Alonzo
Recently I have had several conversation with parents who have noted just how rigorous elementary curriculum has become. Today in schools we are asking children to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, and conversation starters. As our teachers continue to adapt their teaching strategies to ensure students are college and career ready, parents play an important role as well during homework time when reading skills are practiced
and reinforced. Teachers often focus on 3 different types of questioning when working with a text: Before Reading, During Reading, and After Reading. Setting the stage for reading helps students think about the material they are about to engage with. Try these BEFORE Reading questions next time you read with your child!
Before you read a text– Predict, Connect, and Ask Questions:
Predict:
What do you think this book will be about?
Why do you think that?
What characters do you think might be in this story?
Connect:
What do you know about the topic of this book?
Does the topic of this book remind you of anything you know or have done?
Ask Questions:
What questions would you like to ask the author before you read this book?
What are you wondering about as you look at the cover and back of your book?
Being a mom of a second grader and preschooler, I can tell you that asking deeper questions helps keep ME engaged in the reading as well! Even though I have read The Day The Crayons Quit numerous times, each time my 4 year old chooses it for a bedtime read, I try to come up with different questions that I can pose to get her thinking… YES, even our littlest ones can participate in complex questioning! Next week I will share some great questions to ask DURING Reading.
Until then—enjoy a great book with your family!
From the Positive Behavior Coach, Mrs. Sims
We Go Blue on Mondays in October!
October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
An important message from Mrs. Sims, our Positive Behavior Coach
We have many activities this month to emphasizing the importance of being kind!
1. Students will view a video during lunch about bullying.
2. All 22 classrooms will be visited to present our Bullying Prevention lessons.
3. Books about bullying will be shared and discussed during lunchtime.
4. We will be wearing blue on Mondays, to raise awareness of Bullying Prevention.
When we teach students about bullying, we are careful not to overemphasize the word bully. While unkind acts are unfortunate, not all are a result of bullying. Labels can be very detrimental to children. Once a child is labeled a bully it is very difficult to redeem him/herself in the eyes of his/her peers. We provide daily support to our students as they learn self-regulation and self-control when interacting and playing with others. In addition, we remind students how to play fairly, be a good sport, and treat others
with kindness.
From the Home-School Facilitator, Mrs. Mucha
When our children are acting out or very anxious we have to think of their brain and their needs before we can decide what our actions are……
As Teachers and parents we must ask ourselves:
- Is this the right situation?
- What is going on in the environment that is causing this?
- How are they seeing the world around them?
- Are they hungry?
- Have they slept well?
- Have I set them up for success or failure?
- Are they scared of something?
If you can find the problematic piece in one of these situations, then you can help make a change. As we all know when our children are struggling and they appear to be out of control we must first calm them before we can help fix the problem. Their brains are on fire (when the amygdala is on overload and PFC is not being activated). If we stop giving the brain fuel to continue to ignite the flames eventually the flames go out.
Some strategies to help them calm their brain:
- Sit down next to them in Silence……Yes silence (no matter the reaction they are trying to get from you)
- Walk away to cool ourselves down
- 10 deep breaths (sometimes not telling them to breath but start doing deep breathing ourselves will initiate their ability to breath)
- Set a timer to give them the space to get upset
- Try to get their brain thinking logically….. ask if their shirt is a different color than what it is, what is 2+2, etc……If you see progress and decrease in emotion, then proceed. Otherwise stop asking if it is heightening the reaction.
The main thing to remember is if your child or even another person is out of control…. Is my reaction and support giving more fuel to the fire or is this taking away the fuel?
Contact Information:
Winfield Elementary- 663-2287 ext 19108
Jerry Ross Elementary- 663-3010 ext 18011
From Our School Nurse, Mrs. Taylor
With temperatures fluctuating as we enter the fall season, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for outdoor recess. Fall is also the time to get your flu shot! Enjoy some family time outdoors in this beautiful fall weather!
Yes, if any of the following are present:
- Uncontrollable coughing or sneezing
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever of 100 degree or higher, with or without other symptoms
- Red eyes which are swollen, crusty, or oozing
Note: Children must be fever-free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication) before returning to school. If you ever have a question about whether or not your should keep your child home, please contact the office or call me directly at 663-2287 ext 19081.
School Hours 9:05 a.m. - 3:44 p.m.
*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, please prominently display your child's full name in your dashboard each time you pick them up.
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.
Attendance
You may also email: winfieldattendance@cps.k12.in.us. Please include your child's name, date of absence, and reason for absence.
Earning an student attendance rate of 96% is also critical for our school to remain an "A" rated school. This equates to students missing 7 days per year. Please limit voluntary absences. Our first round of attendance notification letters regarding numerous absences and tardies will be sent home next week.
Last week's attendance rate: 96%
Kindergarten 96.3%, First Grade 95.5%, Second Grade 96%
Important Dates
October 2017
4th- Wildcat Wednesday
6th- 2nd grade Field Trip
10th- Fire Prevention/Safety All School Assembly
19th- End of Grading Period 1
20th-23rd- Fall Break
26th- Student of the Month Breakfast
30th-31st- Half-Day Dismissal at 12:14 pm & Parent-Teacher Conferences
From The Cafeteria
Meal Prices
Student Breakfast: $1.50
Student Lunch: $2.25
Adult Lunch: $3.25
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.
Please do not pack your child's snack in a lunchbox. Many times children assume what is in a lunchbox is in fact their lunch. Several students this week were unsure if they were supposed to buy a lunch, or eat what was packed.
Cafeteria Menu- Week of October 2nd
Monday
Breakfast: Breakfast Pizza OR Breakfast Bar/Cereal
Lunch: Cheese Pizza, Silly Dilly Green Beans, Fresh Vegetables, Yummy Pears, Fresh Fruit
Tuesday
Breakfast: Pancake Wrap OR Chocolate Chip French Toast
Lunch: Cheeseburger Deluxe OR Fruit/Granola Yogurt Parfait, Baked Beans, Cherry Tomatoes, Pineapple, Fresh Fruit
Wednesday
Breakfast: Egg & Cheese Sandwich OR Breakfast Bar/Cereal
Lunch: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Twisted Breadstick, Popping Peas, Crispy Garden Salad, Crazy Applesauce, Fresh Fruit
Thursday
Breakfast: Egg and Cheese Burrito OR Whole Grain Donuts
Lunch: Klucking Chicken Nuggets, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Cornbread, Roasted Carrots, Sliced Cucumbers, Mandarin Oranges, Fresh Fruit
Friday
Breakfast: Whole Grain Muffins OR Yogurt/Poptart
Lunch: Breakfast For Lunch, Hashbrown Triangle, Fresh Broccoli Florets, Golden Peaches, Fresh Fruit
Daily Lunch Option: Sliced Turkey on Fresh Baked Sub Bun OR Chicken Chef Salad
Winfield/Jerry Ross PTO News
CHOCOLATE NUMBERS ARE IN!
World's Finest Chocolate fundraiser went exceptionally well with an overall total raised of $27,408!!! The winners of the Ice Cream Truck Party have been notified and prizes have been ordered. Thank you to everyone who participated in this fundraiser and made it a huge success!
Grand Prize Winfield Winner: Jaxon P.
Kindergarten Winner: Jaxon P.
First Grade Winner: Bailey S.
Second Grade Winner: Kayla R.
PARENTS NIGHT OUT!
Midwest Gym Night will kick off Saturday, October 7th from 7-9pm. Ages 5-16 are welcome. $10 per child.
BOX TOP COLLECTION CONTEST ONGOING
Don't forget to get your box tops in. They will be collected on October 13th.
PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS MOVING FORWARD
$10,171 has been approved for playground updates and improvements. Two triple shootouts will be installed at each school!!
HOLIDAY PIE SALE COMING SOON
Pie Sale will start October 13th. More info will be sent home the week of October 9th.
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