SHES Sea Turtle Times
July 2022 Newsletter
Happy Independence Day Sea Turtle Families!
I hope you enjoyed celebrating yesterday and that much of your summer time is being spent relaxing, rejuvenating, reconnecting and READING!
Our in-person Summer Bridge program was a great success with almost 180 students registered! A great time was had by all as we focused on content through a science lens! Our very own SHES teachers were a bit hit and I can’t thank them enough for providing such an engaging environment for the whole month of June. On behalf of the Summer Bridge team and I thank you for supporting your student towards success by participating in this wonderful summer learning opportunity!
On Saturday, July 16th, at the Safety Harbor Public Library, from 11am - 12noon, a session on digital programs will be offered by the Pinellas Education Foundation and Pinellas County Schools. All families are invited to attend and learn about the Family E-Learning Coaching Initiative which includes free after-hours assistance with the learning technologies for families with students in K-12th grade. Also, that day, find out how to take advantage of the scholarships and grants offered by the Foundation based on academic achievement, talent, and financial need. Spanish interpretation will be provided on July 16th! See the flyers on Peach Jar and at the end of our newsletter.
Parents, the single most important thing our students can do over the summer, in addition to having fun, is to read something on their level each and every day for a period of at least 30 minutes. This will keep our scholars’ “reading muscles” in tip-top shape, as well as help them grow as a reader, and grow their love for reading. Research has shown that students who lack practice and reading resources over the summer tend to slide backwards in their reading ability.
Did you know……
• Differences in children’s summer learning experiences during their elementary school years can ultimately impact whether they earn a high school diploma and continue to college.
• Children fall behind an average of 2 months in reading during the summer. And, summer slide is cumulative, with these learning losses building up each summer.
• Summer learning loss accounts for two-thirds of the 9th grade achievement gap in reading.
• Students from low-income households with access to books over the summer see significantly more gains in reading scores from spring to fall than students from high-income households with access to books and those from low-income households without access to books.
Students who turn in a completed Summer Reading Log to their new teacher the first week of school (attached at the end of our newsletter) will have an opportunity to spin our Reading Winner Spinner to earn a prize! Students entering Kindergarten through 5th grade can earn the chance to spin! Let’s work together in partnership to help our Sea Turtles reach their maximum potential in the summer and during the school year! Read something each and every day to keep the learning momentum going while still making time for summer fun!
Finally, families, please mark your calendars for important events including Open House for students in Grades 1 – 5 and Meet the Teacher for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. See dates and information below.
Our office will be closed Monday, July 11 through Friday, July 15th but we will reopen with normal summer hours on Monday, July 18th. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via e-mail or phone. Stay safe and healthy, and enjoy your summer!
Ms. Palmer
Principal
August 2022 events coming soon...
August 8 - Open House - 1st Grade through 5th Grade - See below for details
August 9 - Pre-K & Kindergarten Meet the Teacher - See below for details
August 10 - 1st day of school for the 2022/2023 school year! WELCOME BACK!
Check our SHES homepage and SHES Facebook page for upcoming events!
SHES Open House Monday, August 8, 2022 - Grades 1st - 5th
1st - 5th graders - We are offering 2 sessions to help with your busy schedule!
Please join us for 1 of the sessions listed below:
Session 1: 5:15 - 6:00 pm
Session 2: 6:15 - 7:00 pm
Visit our beautiful campus, meet your child's teacher and
receive important information about academic expectations and classroom
procedures to help your student have a successful school year!
Pre - K & Kindergarten - Meet the Teacher
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
2pm-3pm
Pre-K & Kindergarten students and families please join us for Meet Your Teacher!
Check out your classroom, meet your teacher and meet new friends!
This is a wonderful opportunity to help your student start strong.
We look forward to seeing you!
June & July Character Trait of the Month:
June: Self-Motivation
Working in a careful & consistent manner without giving up.
July: Courage
Being brave in difficult situations, challenging yourself.
SHES Classroom Partners!
If you are interested in becoming a school or classroom partner, please reach out to Lisa Zollars in our front office.
Visit PTA Member Hub!
Do you need a SHES T-Shirt for Friday Spirit Days?
Safety Harbor Elementary Guidelines for Success!
Safety First at Safety Harbor!
Be Respectful!
Be Responsible and Ready to Learn!
Congratulations to our May Sea Turtle Character Award Winners for Honesty:
Kash Kleidon
Lucas Vieira
Lola Novisk
Vanessa Taboada-Alvarez
Bentlee Rinker
Grant Twining
Tripp Perrino
Roman Pena
Ava Roseman
Jackie Daukas
Luke Rendon Wong
Anthony Babiy
Ariana Sharxhi
Grady Hiatt
Talaiyah Thomas
Sam Rozo
Lucas Jackson
Eard Shala
Lucia Nix
Cole Kelley
Phoenix Gondi
Leo Bosso
Sophia Gregorius
Nai Asfour
Alexa Berens
Ethan Smith
Elsario Koka
Andrew Zoto
Jeffery Naret
Tristan Berger
Todd Wright
Sophia Otis
Declan Chopping
Sofia Rioux
Cruz Triplett
Jason Harville
Rose Tanner
Giovanni Colarocco
Logan O'Brien
Leni Franz
K-Kids News - July 2022
Look for information in August 2022 regarding K-Kids for the 2022/2023 school year!
2nd - 5th grade students are invited to join!
Together we BUILD!
K-KIDS of Safety Harbor Elementary and your teacher representatives
Volunteer Corner
Thank you SHES Volunteers for another wonderful year! We couldn't do it with you!
Your volunteer account will be deactivated towards the end of July.
You will need to reactive your account BEFORE you volunteer for the 2022/2023 school year.
Interested in volunteering? Contact the front office to get started!
SHES PTA News
As we close out another school year, to say I’m happy to be a part of the Safety Harbor Elementary sea turtle family is an understatement. I had the pleasure of experiencing the 5th grade Moving Up Parade and Ceremony and was overjoyed to see all SHES students and faculty cheering on our 5th graders as they arrived at school. It was such a special way to commemorate their departure from elementary school. Our school does so much to support each other; I know many 5th grade families are sad to be leaving SHES.
SHES is fortunate to have parent volunteers who give their time to host luncheons, organize staff appreciation week, sort recess equipment, plan beautiful decorations, keep us informed, and volunteer to chaperone field trips. Please know that the time you donate pays dividends in our community and to the children at our school. Your generosity helps to create an environment where children can learn from their mistakes and celebrate their successes. Thank you to all the volunteers that spend their free time helping children. You make our community great!
Looking on to next year, I am excited that PTA has a full and complete executive board with a mix of both experienced and new PTA board members. Serving as your 2022-2023 PTA Executive Board are:
President – Valerie Brown
Vice President of Programs – Claire Mills
Vice President of Communications – Kristin Tsafatinos
Vice President of Ways and Means – Whitney Parks
Treasurer – Christine Putnam
Secretary – Katy Wilson
Member At Large – Jen Martinez
We are already busy planning events. Thank you for supporting our Spirit Nights last month at Kiki’s Kreamery. It was a great opportunity to see your school friends over the summer! PTA looks forward to serving you next year and wishes you a terrific summer!
Valerie Brown, SHES PTA President
SHES PTA Email: shespta1@gmail.com
FB: Safety Harbor PTA https://www.facebook.com/safetyharborpta
Kiwanis Student of the Month: Valentina Garnica !
As the art teacher of Safety Harbor Elementary School, I have been given the honor of choosing one fifth grade student to be awarded the title, “Kiwanis Student of the Month”.
Not only does this scholar excel in academics but also demonstrates character traits like respect for her teachers and classmates. In addition to being responsible, hard-working, and kind, this student also excels as a visual artist.
I chose Valentina Garnica for this honor. Valentina is consistently surprising me with her clever project ideas in art class. Her creativity and artistic craftsmanship caught my attention right away. She challenges herself on every project by choosing difficult subject matter. She has been so successful with her artwork, that one of her 3-dimensional sculptures has recently been accepted into a county art show.
Valentina’s love of art is obvious. Through her art, she represents our school so beautifully.
I am confident her future artwork will be displayed in more art shows as she moves on to middle school and beyond.
I am so proud of the artist, student and citizen that she has become.
Ms. Ross
Notes from Nurse Jen!
Summer is a favorite time of year for children and adults of all ages. The long days of summer are often filled with swimming, cookouts, travel and outdoor fun. But summer can also carry danger for children. Drowning incidents increase during the summer months, and the hot sun puts kids at risk of sunburn, dehydration and heat-related illness.
Whether kids enjoy summer at home, on the road or at camp, below are some safety tips to keep your family healthy and happy.
*Follow pool rules and closely supervise children when in or around the water.
*Make sure children take water breaks and wear lightweight clothing when playing outside. *Learn to recognize the signs of heat stroke.
*Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
*Protect your skin from sun. Apply sun screen with
SPF 30 or higher, reapply very three hours.
*Enjoy fireworks safely to prevent injury.
These are a few ways you can stay safe,
prevent injury and accidents while having fun in the sun.
Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/family/kids/summer/index.htm
I hope everyone has a happy, healthy, and safe summer! See you in August. Nurse Jen
Front Office Hours and Assistance:
Monday - Thursday: 7:30am - 4:00pm
Friday/Saturday/Sunday: Closed
Office Closed July 11 - 15
Cecilia Palmer - Principal
Wendy Stryker - Assistant Principal
Linda Serio - Secretary / Bookkeeper
Michelle Merz - Registration / Data Management Technician
Lisa Zollars - Family Liaison / Volunteer Coordinator
Amy Glover - Front Office Clerk
Safety Harbor Elementary School
Email: palmerce@pcsb.org
Website: https://www.pcsb.org/safetyharbor-es
Location: 535 5th Avenue North, Safety Harbor, FL, USA
Phone: (727) 724-1462
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shesseaturtle