MSE Roaring Report
December Edition
Main Street Elementary
Website: troy.k12.mo.us/MSE
Location: 51 Main Street, Troy, MO, United States
Phone: 636-528-4809
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MainStreetElementary
Twitter: @MainStreetElem
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
As we begin the month of December, I would like to take a moment to thank each of you for a wonderful first semester. It is hard to believe that December 20 marks the end of our first semester this year! We have many things to celebrate as a school. Our students are growing each and every day and our staff is proud of their progress so far this year. As a team, we are also thankful for the support from each of you, your families, and this wonderful community.
With the beginning of the winter season, I would like to offer a reminder to families regarding winter weather safety. With the chilly temperatures that come with winter, it is important to help remind your child each day to wear their winter coat, along with a cozy hat and mittens/gloves. Also, with the winter weather we experience in Missouri, please take a moment to review district procedures regarding the cancellation of school. Please check local news channels, radio stations, and the district app for notifications regarding school cancellations. Keeping our students and families safe during the winter weather is always a priority.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any comments, concerns or questions. I can be easily reached by email at sanfordm@troy.k12.mo.us or by phone at 636-528-4809. Thank you to all of you for your continued support.
Keep your brain fit over the winter break!
Looking for ways to keep your brain fit over the break? Here are some tips to help!
-Read for 20 minutes each day.
-Play games as a family that promote problem solving or math.
-Use a deck of cards or dice to create your own math games for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
-Try cooking with the family! Reading recipes helps build fluency and teaches about fractions and measurement.
-Snowy weather outside? Conduct an experiment using the snow!
Thinking of ways to spend time reading and writing together as a family? Try some of these ideas!
Looking for ways to keep your brain fit over the break? Here are some tips to help!
-Read for 20 minutes each day.
-Play games as a family that promote problem solving or math.
-Use a deck of cards or dice to create your own math games for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
-Try cooking with the family! Reading recipes helps build fluency and teaches about fractions and measurement.
-Snowy weather outside? Conduct an experiment using the snow!
COUNSELOR CORNER
A message from our School Counselors, Ms. Hamlett & Mrs. Gifford
Four Ways to Deal with Stress
The holidays can be stressful; take care of yourself with these tips from the American Heart Association:
Positive Self-Talk
We all talk to ourselves; sometimes we talk out loud but usually we keep self-talk in our heads. Self-talk can be positive ("I can do this" or "Things will work out" or negative "I'll never get well" or "I'm so stupid"). Negative self-talk increases stress. Positive self-talk helps you calm down and control stress. With practice, you can learn to turn negative thoughts into positive ones.
Emergency Stress Stoppers
There are many stressful situations at work, at home, on the road, and in public places. We may feel stress because of too much work, poor communication, and everyday hassles like standing in line. You may need different emergency stress stoppers for different situations and sometimes it helps to combine them.
*Count to 10 before you speak
*Take three to five deep breaths
*Walk away from the stressful situation and handle it later
*Don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry" if you make a mistake
Finding Pleasure
When stress makes you feel bad, do something that makes you feel good. Doing things you enjoy is a natural way to fight off stress. Try to do at least one thing you enjoy every day for 15 minutes.
*Take up a hobby, new or old
*Read a favorite book, short story, magazine, or newspaper
*Have coffee or a meal with friends
*Exercise or listen to music
Daily Relaxation
Relaxation is more than sitting in your favorite chair watching T.V. To relieve stress, relaxation should be calming the tension in your mind and body. Some good forms of relaxation are yoga, tai chi (a series of slow, graceful movements) and meditation. Like most skills, relaxation takes practice. Deep breathing is a form of relaxation you can learn and practice at home.
Small Group Counseling:
First session groups are wrapping up! If your child is participating we send a letter home each time we meet so you know what we’re doing in group. Contact us with any questions or concerns.
Please note that if you feel your child would benefit from small group counseling, we will be running a second session. It will begin in January.
Holiday Assistance
Adopt-a-Family is no longer available in Lincoln County. If you feel Christmas will be a struggle this year, here are a couple of resources for you:
The Christmas Shop-Christmas shopping at a discounted price on December 9 at Main Street Elementary from 12:00-3:00. Sponsored by Anchored Hope Church and not affiliated with Troy R-III.
Toys for Tots-Fill out the application online at www.toysfortots.org
We hope you enjoy your time with your family this holiday season!
"Happiness doesn't result from what you get, but from what we give."
-Ben Carson
Habits at Home
Habit 4 – Think Win-Win
Think Win-Win is the belief that everyone can win. It is not me or you—it is both of us. It is a belief that there are enough good things for everyone; it is an abundant way of thinking. Think Win-Win is being happy for others when good things happen to them. As a parent, not everything is negotiable, but if you go into discussions with your child with a win-win mindset, you will find a lot less resistance.
Activity
Play a game with your child(ren) that has a definite winner. Explain how competition is okay when you play a game, but it is not okay in relationships. Discuss how tense it would be in your home if every situation had to have a winner. A better way to think is win-win. This means we think of solutions that we can all feel good about when there is a problem. The more we Think Win-Win, the fewer problems there will be. You may want to display a chart listing the days of the week. When someone is “caught” thinking win-win, he or she gets to write his or her name on the chart for that day.
UPCOMING EVENTS
December
14 - 2nd Grade Winter Concert 6:00
20 - Quarter 2 Ends
21-31 - Winter Break - Have a great Holiday!
January
1-2 - Winter Break - Have a great Holiday!
3 - Welcome Back!!
4 - Report Cards Emailed
15 - No School (Snow Make-Up Day #1)
30 - Science Fair/Stem Night
CHECK US OUT!
MEAL CHARGING PROCEDURES
Lincoln Co. R-III School District and Chartwells School Dining Services serve students with quality, well-balanced meals at affordable prices. All students have a meal account that is used to keep track of student deposits and purchases. Parents can view the balances of their child's meal account via the SISK12 Parent Portal. Your child(ren) may qualify for free meals or reduced price meals. Parents need to complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application for all students in the household. The completed application is returned to Donetta Schieffer, 951 West College St., Troy, MO 63379. Students are required to keep meal accounts current with a positive balance. However, there are instances when meal accounts do reach a negative balance. If a student's meal account has a negative balance, below are the District's practices for students purchasing meals at school:
Students in grades K-5:
*Students are allowed to accrue a negative balance of -$10.00.
*Students that have a meal account balance of -$10.00 or more will not be allowed to purchase a school tray meal but will receive toast with milk for breakfast and a sandwich with milk for lunch until their meal account has a positive balance.
*Email notifications will be sent weekly to parents.
*Every Friday letters will also be sent home with students who have a +$10.00 or below in their meal account.