Eagle News
SME newsletter for families and the community
Dear Parents,
There are many reasons to focus on family contributions. They provide an opportunity for kids to learn important life lessons about responsibility, perseverance, humility, and the fact that good feelings come when we serve others. Contributions to the family help kids develop a sense of accomplishment and success, and we believe that they are the foundation for developing a strong sense of responsibility and healthy self-esteem.
Getting started early this school year with modeling these tasks will help your kids throughout the year—and throughout their lives. Here are some steps for modeling family contributions:
· Make sure that your kids see you doing chores and let them know that you are working hard and even struggling to get them done.
· Make sure that they see you feel a sense of completion and accomplishment as well as how good you feel after they’re are done.
· Think out loud while you are working. Say things like, “This is hard, but I’ve got to do it, so I’m going to do it right now.” After it’s done, you can say, “It’s done! I feel great now that it’s done.”
It’s very important that your kids realize that you sometimes must work hard at something you don’t necessarily like. Covering up your struggle or saying that chores are fun, when they’re not, creates frustration and resentment within kids when they must struggle with their own chores. Be positive about doing your chores—but be honest about your struggles.
Give your kids the gift of chores this school year.
MAP testing
MAP testing begins the week of August 21 and extends until September. MAP testing is a way that educators learn more about their students. It is a national assessment that lets us know where your student is performing. Students in grades K5-5th grade will take MAP testing on the computer. It is important for students to do their best so that we know what they can do and where they still need support. Visit here to learn more about MAP: https://www.nwea.org/family-toolkit/
TECH IT HOME
TECH IT HOME fees are still being collected for all students in grades K5 - 5th grade. Due to the increasing cost of our insurance on student devices, Tech It Home Fees will be $25 for the 2023-2024 school year. All K5-5th grade students will receive a device to go home this school year. Devices are not to go home until the fee is paid and we have cleared students to begin taking them home. This fee may be paid by cash, check or on My School Bucks. This fee covers insurance if the screen is broken, the keyboard stops working, etc. Whether you are taking it home or not, the $25 still covers the cost of upkeep.
LETRS
This year, K5 - 3rd grade teachers, special education teachers, and administration are participating in LETRS training. LETRS is a training course developed by Louisa Moats and Carol Tolman, both literacy experts and consultants. This program is for teachers who work with beginning readers. It is primarily to show teachers how to teach and assess students’ knowledge of the sounds in the English language (phonemic awareness), how those sounds represent letters that can create words (phonics), and how and why to teach word parts (morphology). It also covers spelling and fluency instruction. This training takes many hours and our teachers will participate in this training for two years, with the second year focusing on language. Six Mile Elementary teachers are dedicated to our students and to providing them with the best possible education.
Absence Notes
If your student is absent, you have three days to send a note stating the reason for their absence before it is counted unexcused. You can send a handwritten note or you can email Stephanie Merck at stephaniemerck@pickens.k12.sc.us. You can also email your child's teacher.
When students have accumulated 3 absences in a row without a note, Mrs. Plyler will have to schedule a meeting for an Attendance Conference. Please make sure to get your note in so that this does not happen.
Helpful Reminder
It is always a good idea to send a change of clothes in your student's backpack. Catastrophes, like milk spills, mud puddles, art accidents, and more can happen in a split second at school. If your child has a change of clothes, then it alleviates a call to you to bring clothes to school. Plan ahead - send a change of clothes!
Ingles Tools for Schools
It is easy to link your card to the Ingles Tools for Schools program. Just visit https://www.ingles-markets.com/savings/sg2/education/tools-for-schools and click on the link on the right side to link your card.
Type in the information requested and link to Six Mile Elementary. Every time you make a purchase, we will get money donated to the school. It's that easy!
Six Mile Elementary
Email: teachersname@pickens.k12.sc.us
Website: www.pickens.k12.sc/sme
Location: 777 North Main Street, Six Mile, SC, USA
Phone: 864-397-2400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sixmileelementaryschool
Twitter: @SME_Eagles