PES Monthly Memo
November 2023
PBIS November Theme: Empathy
Promoting Empathy in Schools with PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports):
Empathy is the cornerstone of a compassionate and inclusive school environment. With PBIS, we are committed to nurturing empathy in students, teachers, and staff alike. By fostering a culture of understanding, kindness, and genuine concern for one another, we not only reduce disruptive behaviors but also create a nurturing atmosphere where everyone can thrive.
Embracing empathy means recognizing and validating the emotions of others, even when they differ from our own. It's about stepping into someone else's shoes, listening actively, and offering support when it's needed the most. Through PBIS, we strive to teach our students the power of empathy, empowering them to be not just good learners but also compassionate human beings.
With empathy as a core value, we are building a safer, more harmonious school community. By acknowledging the feelings and perspectives of our peers, we pave the way for stronger relationships, enhanced conflict resolution, and a more inclusive educational experience. Together, we can create a more empathetic world, one school at a time.
October Star Students of the Month
Early Childhood/Pre-Kindergarten: Kyla Holeton (Mrs. Sneek)
1st Grade: Addison Hanley (Mrs. DeLaGarza)
2nd Grade: Kinsley Nichol (Miss Kohout)
3rd Grade: Nora Grace Christiansen (Mrs. Milazzo)
4th Grade: Saylor Sesko (Miss Brown)
Congratulations to all!!
Jog-A-Thon
On October 6, PES held its annual jog-a-thon to help raise money to fun many of the fun things we do here at Pecatonica Elementary School. This year, our students were able to raise $7,354 which will go to fund things like Unity Day and the supplies for our Pec "Star Buck" cart. We thank all who participated and helped raise money for this event. Prizes were given to individual students and classes who went above and beyond at the Jog-A-Thon. These winners were recognized at an all school assembly held on Thursday, October 19. Here are some of our winners:
Top Lap Winners:
Kindergarten: Emery Lauer -16 laps; Austin Halverson- 21 laps
First Grade: Lainey Johannsen- 20 laps; Tie Tanner Hafferty and Kris Sneek- 26 laps
Second Grade: Hannah Norris- 20 laps; Nick Jones- 25 laps
Third Grade: Nora Grace Christiansen- 25 laps; Tie Gabe Ford and Judson Neville- 31 laps
Fourth Grade: Greta Lilja- 27 laps; Logan Cirigliana- 32 laps
These winners are invited to have lunch at Culver's at an upcoming date.
Top Classes that raised the most money:
3rd Place: Mrs. Dulaney- $713
2nd Place: Mrs. Lalowski- $753
1st Place: Miss Benny- $925
These classes will earn an ice cream party and their teacher earns a special gift too.
Top Fundraising Students:
3rd Place: Riley Schenk $270
2nd: Place: Tatum Belknap $325
1st: Place: Gracie Langholf- $528
These students received a special prize of their own!
Grade Level Lap Winners
From Left to Right: Logan Cirigliano, Greta Lilja, Judson Neville, Gabe Ford, Nora Grace Christiansen, Nick Jones, Hannah Norris, Kris Sneek, Lainey Johannsen, Tanner Hafferty, Emery Lauer, Austing Halverson
Top Fundraising Students
From Left to Right: Tatum Belknap, Riley Schenk, and Gracie Langholf
Oliver the Therapy Dog
On Friday, October 27 Oliver the Therapy Dog visited Miss Kohout's 2nd grade classroom. While he visited, students learned about about therapy dogs and their responsibilities, and they got to see Oliver do some magic tricks!
Oliver is a "Morkie" (Maltese-Yorkie) and is described as "a loyal, lovable companion who loves to give kisses. He also loves to do tricks." He and his handler, Dawn Pfluger are from Rockford. We appreciate Oliver and Dawn for visiting us!
Kindergarten in October
PES Kindergarten classes visited the Torstenson Property on October 19 to participate in outdoor education opportunities. While visiting the property, classes read a book about going on a leaf hunt, went on a leaf hunt and made a hedgehog craft out of the leaves collected. We really appreciate our partnership with the Torstenson team and love spending time out in the woods.
October also found kindergarten classes exploring fire safety and and what it is like to be a first responder. To learn more, Mr. Matt Melancen from the Freeport Fire Department came by to talk about his work as a first responder. We are so thankful that Mr. Melancen could teach us all about his job.
And last, but not least, October was also the culmination of kindergarten learning the alphabet. To wrap up the learning of all of the letters, the classes participated in their own ABC Parade. Students created vests and paraded for the school and parents.
Kinders at the Torstenson Property
Kinders at the Torstenson Property
Kinders at the Torstenson Property
Halloween 2023
Pecatonica Elementary celebrated Halloween in style! For Halloween, students and staff dressed in their best ghoulish attire. Families were invited into school to participate in classroom parties, and we ended the day with our annual Halloween parade!
Mrs. Lalowski's Second Grade Classroom
Miss Miller's Third Grade Classroom
Mrs. DeLaGarza's 1st grade Classroom
Miss Brown's Fourth Grade Classroom
Mrs. Milazzo's Third Grade Classroom
Fourth Grade Team
Mrs. Hoover's Fourth Grade Classroom
Miss Kohout's Second Grade Classroom
Mrs. Garcia's Kinder Classroom
🗓 Coming Up!
Parent Conferences
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on November 2 from 12:00 pm until 8:00 pm and November 3 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Please contact your student's teacher for available times.
Thursday, Nov 2, 2023, 12:00 PM
Pecatonica Elementary School, Reed Street, Pecatonica, IL, USA
💡 Important Dates
November 2023 🦃
November 2 & 3: No School (Parent/Teacher Conferences)
November 15: 1:35 PM Dismissal
November 22-24: Thanksgiving Break
November 30: Fourth Grade Concert @ PHS
December 2023 ⛄
December 8: 11:15 Dismissal
December 13: 1:35 pm Dismissal
December 14: First Grade Concert
December 18: Kindergarten Concert
December 21: 1:35 pm Dismissal
December 22-January 2: No School -- Winter Break