STEEBY STAR

December 2, 2022

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

December 6: Dentists-R-Us

December 9: WEPA Movie Night, 6:30 - 8:30 PM, Pine Street Gym

December 12: Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 PM at Wayland Union High School

December 19-January 2: NO SCHOOL

January 9: Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 PM at Baker Elementary

January 16: WEPA Meeting, 6:30 PM

January 23: NO SCHOOL

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
Principal's Corner

Principal's Corner

Dear Steeby Families,


December is here! The wintery weather cannot decide if it wants to stick around or just visit for a few days. Please remember to send the appropriate outdoor gear with your child each day. We will have outdoor recess unless it is raining or the temperature drops to ZERO degrees or below.


Winter Break is just around the corner and there will be seventeen days that we will not have the opportunity of teaching your child. It is very important to have your child read each and every day. If you have access to the internet, your child can log onto our online learning apps during break as well. IXL, Reflex Math, and Moby Max are available to help keep your child learning and practicing skills during the break. NWEA Reading and NWEA Math testing will begin the week of January 2. Practicing skills at home over winter break will help your child stay on top of what they have learned so far this year.


Yours in education,

Christina Johnson

Principal

Principal's Corner
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Dentists-R-Us

Dentists-R-Us

Dentists-R-Us, a traveling dental company, will be visiting Steeby Elementary again this year on Tuesday, December 6th. Green permission slips were sent home right before Thanksgiving Break. If you would like your child seen by the Dentist, please complete the permission form and return it to the Steeby Office by Monday, December 5th.
Dentists-R-Us
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Physical Education Fun

Physical Education Fun

We are getting into the festive spirit! There will be lots of fun team building activities and Christmas fun this month!


Kids Heart Challenge is Coming SOON!


In January we will be kicking off our Kids Heart Challenge at both Steeby and Baker! We look forward to partnering with you to raise money for the American Heart Association! More details will be coming home mid January!


Don't forget to...



*Drink lots of water (at

least 5 cups a day for kiddos)

*Get outside and be active!

*Eat a healthy snack

*Give yourself a break from screen time

*Wash your hands thoroughly

*Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night

*Be POSITIVE!


*Please keep a pair of gym shoes and socks for your child at school so they are always ready for class!


Happy Holidays from your PE team!

Mrs. Merchant, Mrs. Smith and Coach Laker

Physical Education Fun
Notes from Music

Notes from Music

Greetings from Steeby music! The month of November flew by with lots of activities and fun during music. We have been reviewing rhythms and solfege. We have been moving and singing and listening to music. For World Kindness Day we sang a song about kindness. November was Native American Heritage Month and we sang Native American songs and learned about Native American flutes and the shell-shaker dance. We have been playing different instruments and learning about call and response songs. 3rd graders learned about the blues with a Thanksgiving song called The Turkey Trot Blues. 2nd graders also enjoyed singing Thanksgiving songs. I can't wait for more fun and music in December!
Notes from Music
Media Moments

Media Moments

Happy December! We have had a busy month in media class in November. Students typed out what they were thankful for on the Abyca.com website using Storymaker and then printed it out. Students also read and discussed 6 picture books we think might win the Caldecott award in 2023. The Caldecott award is for best illustrations in a picture book. We are currently voting this week for our favorite book out of the 6 books. So far it looks like Knight Owl by Christopher Denise is the favorite but that could change by the end of the voting this week.


In December we will be starting Hour of Code. We will be doing some basic coding to introduce how to code. The students will go to the Hour of Code website starting in December. Here is the website: https://code.org/learn and Hour of Code can also be found on Information Place: https://sites.google.com/waylandunion.org/libraries/home. The students love learning how to code using some of their favorite games, songs and characters which can all be found on Hour of Code.


Happy Reading and Happy Coding!


Niki Barnes

Media Teacher

Baker & Steeby Elementary

Media Moments
Transportation Department News!

Transportation Department News!

Traversa is ready to roll out. That said, WUS will be doing this slowly bus by bus.

The following buses: 5, 6, 26, and 28 are up and running.

Please use the Rider 360 app for parent view. Instructions are available at:


https://waylandunion.org/departments/transportation/ride-360---traversa-parent-app-iphone-and-android/


Scan cards for lower grades will follow after all buses are up and running using Traversa.

Thank you to everyone for your patience as we bring on this new product.


-Transportation Department

Transportation Department News!

Bus Safety Reminders

As the weather turns colder and it is darker outside when students are heading to their bus

stops, the Transportation Department is reminding families and drivers in the community of

several important safety protocols.

The safety of students on our school buses is our top priority. State law requires very specific

safety precautions by bus drivers, students, family members and motorists to ensure student

safety.

All students are assigned and required to use a specific school bus stop with a designated place

of safety. When possible, students should wear light-colored clothing or jackets on dark

mornings (or place something reflective on coats or backpacks). Families should also:

  • Check new cold-weather clothing for safety. Draw strings and key chains can catch on

objects on the bus and create potential safety hazards.

  • Help students to be ready at their place of safety at the bus stop ten minutes before the

bus is due to arrive even in inclement weather. If necessary, family members should

take turns with friends and neighbors to be sure students are supervised at bus stops.

  • Never drive to catch up to a bus. Having students run alongside a bus to catch a missed

bus at a subsequent stop is dangerous as students could be in a driver’s blind spot. Also

never chase after a bus that may miss a stop on the ride home from school. Drivers

follow very specific protocols for missed stops, which includes radioing into the

Transportation Department and continuing along the route to a safe location to turn

around and bring the student back to the stop.

  • Remind students to alert the driver if they ever drop something near the bus. Students

or parents should not reach to pick up items that fall near the bus or roll near the

wheels until given the go-ahead that it is safe to do so by the driver.

  • Ensure students are not using technology such as phones or earbuds. Playing on a

phone or listening to music impedes students’ ability to watch and listen for potential

dangers around them as well as hear or see safety instructions from their bus driver.


For parents and other motorists driving during school transportation times, please remember

that:

  • Alternating flashing amber (yellow) lights are on to warn motorists that the bus is

preparing to stop to let students on or off the bus.

  • Alternating flashing red lights are on to warn motorists that the bus is stopped on the

roadway to let students on or off the bus.

  • The STOP sign arm is engaged at the same time as the red flashing lights are turned on.

A white flashing strobe light may also be used during unfavorable conditions or times of

day that limit visibility, such as darkness, rain, fog and snow.

  • Four-way hazard lights are activated at all railroad crossings and turn-arounds. The bus

will stop prior to crossing railroad tracks.

  • The school bus will have its four-way hazard lights and backup light on when preparing

to back onto a side street to turn around.

  • Motorists must use caution when they approach a bus in the process of completing a

turn-around.

  • Do not pass a school bus that has red alternating flashing lights. This is the signal that

the bus is stopped to load or unload students. Traffic should not move until the bus

resumes motion or the driver signals traffic to proceed.

  • Be careful and alert on dark streets in the mornings as students and families are

waiting at bus stops. Please observe posted speed limits on a roadways.

  • Remind teen drivers about these important rules of the road.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to student safety as they travel to and

from school each day.

Supercat Winners

Supercat Winners

For Week of 11/7/22

Amiah Gentner; Kate Vronko; Ambjor Snyder; Brysen Shyne; Brennan Miller; Edwin Vasquez Mejia; Lillian Merchant; Liam Rawson; Rowan Augustin; Kobe Pant; Kenneth Harrison; Carson Beach; Isaac Hendricks; April La Lone; Jaxton Stroven; Kristian Johnson-Meacham; McKenzie Fisher; Autumn Phillips; Carlee Truax; Ethan Arnold; Addilyn Delnay; Aliyah Stevenson; Lily Allers; Cameron Hull Classroom Winner: Mrs. Oddy's 2nd grade class


For Week of 11/14/22

Landon Bonte; Cameron Harris; Brysen Shyne; Zayden Holmes; Christopher Winkler; Bentley Idema; Lillian Merchant; Selina Haynes; Jayce Frantz; Liam Herring; Aubrey Connolly; Jase Meacham; Ava Donley; Layne Boogaard; Jase Nesbit; Hunter Reahm; Mackayla Holly; Easton DeKoning; Carter Leedy; Addi Delnay; Emerson Khodl; Ruby Shine Classroom Winner: Mrs. Fortier's 2nd grade class


For Week of 11/21/22

Paisley Hayes; Ryan Card; Nora Foster; Mason Stuive; Core Rizley; Bella Brandy; Macie Burns; Everett VerHulst; Rowan Augustin; Anderson Mogg; Carson Beach; Jamie Kingsbury; Isaac Hendircks; Carter Mauchmar-Cutler; Milan Ortiz; Lily Marston Heney; Rowe Schaefer; Ethan Arnold; Vincent Catlin; Alexandra Longstreet; Aliyah Stevenson; Mia Berens; Kayden Carpenter Classroom Winner: Mrs. Nykerk's 2nd grade class

Supercat Winners
Community Education

Community Education

Kids VIrtual Reality - Robotics night / Parents Night Out (Grades 3rd - 5th)

Drop your child off at Amped VR while you go holiday shopping. The child will get 1 hour of virtual reality AND 1.5 hours of building & programming robots.

Grade: 3rd - 5th

Date: Friday, December 9

Time: 6 - 8:30pm

Where: Off campus. Amped Virtual Reality, 2923 28th St SE, Grand Rapids

Fee: PRICED REDUCED to $45


Winter Indoor Soccer

**REGISTRATION DEADLINE - December 3

Ages 4 -11 years old

No weekly practices

Saturday games start on January 14, 6 weeks


Snowmobile Safety Certification Class, ages 11 & up

One day class, Saturday, Dec. 10


Community Indoor Hall Walking

Dates: November 2022 - April 2023, Monday - Friday

Time: 6:00 - 8:00pm

Wayland Union Middle School

No walking when WUS is not in session


First Aid/CPR/AED Full Blended Certification Course

Online Requirement (completed independently): 4-5 hours

Classroom In-Person Skills Requirement: 3 hours

Classroom In-Person Dates: December 20

Classroom IN-Person Time: Dec. 20: 2:30-5:30 PM

Classroom In-Person Location: Steeby Elementary

Fee: $90


Register for all classes online through RevTrek, http://wayland.revtrak.net

Call 269.792.9153 with any questions.

Community Education
Paper Gator Recycling

Paper Gator Recycling

Did you know that Steeby Paper Gator gets funding for the paper that we collect for our school? Please start saving your paper at home and bring it in to the Gator, it will help us to earn money for Steeby!! Anyone in the community can deposit the items listed below in the Paper Gator. The Paper Gator is located behind Steeby in the wooden fenced in area. The Paper Gator will be the green dumpster.


Here is a list of what we CAN take in the Paper Gator:

-Newsprint
-Catalogs/Magazines
-Junk Mail
-Phone Books
-Office/School paper
-Hard and soft cover books
-Paperboard (Grocery Item boxes, NOT cardboard)
-Standard staples & paperclips are ok
-Shredded paper (preferred in CLEAR plastic bags)

Paper Gator Recycling
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