Mustang Tales
October 1, 2021 Vol 2. Issue 6
Message from Principal Masone
Dear Families,
We have had a great week this week learning about the human body in first grade. Last week, first graders learned about the digestive system beginning with eating food and the esophagus. This week, the classes extended their learning to include the muscular system. Check out the pictures below.
Fourth grade made it to Pike's Peak to study the life zones. While Manitou Springs is located in the foothills, students were able to travel to the Subalpine zone to learn about flora and fauna in other regions. Read more below.
Many students participated in Creek Week today. This was an opportunity for students to serve as stewards to our community and water system. Students picked up trash and learned about the importance of caring for our watershed.
We are inviting parents to our second PAC, Parent Advisory Committee, Thursday, October 7, at 10:00am. Please join us to meet other parents and create opportunities for students and families to grow together. We will be electing officers and planning for upcoming events. Please join us!
Health and COVID
This week, we had one COVID case in first grade at Manitou Springs Elementary School. When we have a student test positive for COVID, any student who in unmasked and exposed, needs to quarantine. Please help keep students in school by sending your student to school in a mask and reminding him/her to wear it while indoors.
I will include any COVID updates in our weekly newsletter. You will receive a personal email if your child is exposed to COVID.
If your child is going to be absent from school for any reason, please contact the front office at 685-2195. If your child is ill, please also fill out the health form on the District webpage.
DROP OFF /PICK UP
Drop off: Help us keep our children safe during drop off and pick up.
At morning drop off, please remember to pull all the way to the curb before dropping your child off. This is a "Kiss and Go," time and parking is not permitted in front of the school from 7:30-8:05am. This allows all students to get to school in a timely way.
Pick up: Please remember to pull all the way over to the curb to pick up kids. We do not allow students to come into the street to get in the car. If using the crosswalk, please wait for the crossing guard to tell you it is safe to cross and then enter the crosswalk.
To celebrate National Walk & Bike to School Day, Mustang Might is starting Walking School Bus on Friday, October 8. You can join school staff at either Memorial Park or Miramont Castle at 7:30am.
Happy Fall and have a great weekend!
Warmly,
Maria
Important Dates
- Oct 6 - Late Start Wednesday (2 Hour Delay)
- Oct 7 - PAC meeting, 10:00am, SAC meeting 11:00am
- Oct 12-13 - Camp Shadybrook, 5th grade
- Oct 15 - No School - Staff Work Day
- Oct 20 - Fall Picture Retake Day
- Oct 21 - Early Dismissal, 12:30 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Oct 22 - No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Oct 27 - Late Start Wednesday (2 Hour Delay)
- Nov 3 - Late Start Wednesday (2 Hour Delay)
- Nov 10 - Late Start Wednesday (2 Hour Delay)
- Nov 17 - Late Start Wednesday (2 Hour Delay)
- Nov 22-26 - Thanksgiving Break
Friendly reminder to families: If your child will be absent, please call the front office to have the absence excused. This may include illness, car trouble, appointments, etc. This helps teachers with planning, and adds an additional safety measure for our kids. Thank you!
*If you live in Manitou Springs and have a preschooler, we have some MSES Preschool openings. Reach out to Julie Lavigne at jlavigne@mssd14.org.
*We have openings for kindergarten for both in district and out of district families.
Kindergarten - Ask Your Expert!
Ask your Kindergarten student some of these questions at home:
What does the word remarkable mean? (That something is amazing or wonderful). Why was Ray Charles remarkable? (He learned to play music and write songs even though he was blind). How do the nerves under our skin help us feel? (They send messages to the brain letting us know what it is we are feeling). What part of our body can we use to feel with? (Anything that is covered with skin. Hands, feet, faces, arms, legs, etc). How does the sense of touch keep us safe? (It lets us know if something is hot before we touch it). What do we call a story called that tells us about the life of someone that is written by someone else? (A biography). Is a biography fact or fiction? (Fact). What were Helen Keller’s disabilities? (She could not see or hear). How did she communicate with others? (She used sign language). Your students had the opportunity to visit with and learn from a real blind person this week! The kids got a chance to meet Mr. Bruce (Mrs. Thomson’s dad). He talked with them about what it is like to live with a disability. He explained that because he is blind, he has learned to use his other senses to help him with his daily tasks. They were so respectful and had some great questions to ask. Talk to your little about something they learned from Mr. Bruce.
1st Grade Muscular Systems
4th Grade Field Trip to Pikes Peak
Nutrition Services
Breakfast and lunch are free for all students. We would still like all families that qualify to fill out the Free and Reduced Lunch form on our district website.
Parent Advisory Committee
Colorado Torpedoes Swim Team
Manitou Springs Elementary School
Maria Masone, Principal
Email: mmasone@mssd14.org
Website: mse.mssd14.org
Location: 110 Pawnee Avenue, Manitou Springs, CO, USA
Phone: 719-685-2195
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Manitou-Springs-Elementary-212896538758987/