South Side Family Newsletter
September 2019
How Can You Encourage Reading at Home?
My wife and I have two kids, a senior in high school and a sixth grader in middle school. Their reading habits couldn't be less similar! Our senior can't get enough reading time in to satisfy her and our sixth grader would probably be okay if she never read another book in her life (or so it seems). Luckily they have always both been very capable at reading on or above the required expectations of school reading. I often struggle as a parent with the idea that I have a child that doesn't really like to read. My go to solution is to set a timer, make sure she has a book that she chose, and tell her to pick a time to get those minutes in before bed. This is not always an easy task, but I make sure it happens one way or another. I know I'm not alone. So, I'm including some resource links for parents about reading at home. These resources are from Kristina Smekens, a reading and writing instructional consultant. Check out her practical tips in these links:
That was Then/This is Now--What reading instruction was like when we (parents) went to school.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions, concerns, or if you would like to give me positive feedback about our school! Have a great September!
Jeff Harper
Principal
Email: jharper@eastnoble.net
Phone: 260-349-2200
Follow our Facebook page: South Side Trailblazers
Picture Day is TOMORROW, Wednesday, September 4!
Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences
All buses were evacuated in less than 90 seconds for our annual evacuation drill.
Fourth and fifth graders show their house pride!
Thanks for helping with the August fire drill Mateo!
Fall PTO Carnival
Please continue to collect Boxtops and send them into school with your student at any time. The Boxtops program is changing by becoming an app for smartphones. Please download the Boxtop app, follow the quick and easy process to sign up and choose South Side Elementary in Kendallville, IN as your school. Then, when you take photos of your receipts in the Boxtop App, South Side will earn points. You will see fewer Boxtops to clip as the app becomes the main source of earning points. This app is similar to Shoparoo, a second app that we use to earn money for our school. Shoparoo also has users take pictures of store receipts to earn points. By using both apps, South Side will earn more money to make your child's educational experience even better.
The Blazers' Bookstore is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning before school. School supplies are available for purchase including earbuds, pencil pouches, notebooks and folders. If there are any supplies your student still needs or will need to replace throughout the school year, the bookstore is a convenient and cost effective way to get them. The earbuds are just $1!
Also, mark your calendars for the Fall Festival. It is scheduled for Friday, November 8, 5:30-7:30 pm. The PTO is busy organizing this event and looking forward to a fun filled evening.
Please like us on Facebook at South Side Elementary PTO to stay up to date on PTO sponsored activities and meetings. Our next meeting is Tuesday, September 10 at 4 pm in the library. Feel free to join us!
Bus Safety Tips
While your students wait at the bus stop in the mornings here are a few safety tips to talk over with your Trailblazer.
1. Don't play in the road
2. Carry all your loose belongings in your bookbag (if possible)
3. Never reach under the bus to get something that has rolled under. (Talk to the bus driver.)
4. Wait for the signal from the bus driver before boarding the bus (some might have to cross the road).
When getting off the bus in the afternoon:
1. Move directly to the sidewalk and out of the street.
2. Go straight home and check in with who is home.
Important Dates
Click here for the 2019-20 East Noble School Corporation Calendar
September 4 Picture day
September 5 5:30 pm Kindergarten and 1st grade iPad/report card parent meeting in our cafeteria
September 9 Fundraiser kick off--look for information coming home with students
September 10 PTO Meeting: South Side library at 4:00 pm
September 23: Vision screenings for kdg, 1, 3, 5
September 24 End of fundraiser sales and all student forms due back
September 26 Fifth grade trip to Camp Potawotami
September 27 Staff professional development and student eLearning day
October 6-12 Fire Prevention Week
October 7 National Stomp Out Bullying Day
October 8 American Red Cross Blood drive at South Side Elementary 2:30-7:00 pm
October 23 Fundraiser item delivery and pick up
October 24 Third grade field trip to Merry Lea
November 1 Ed Camp day for staff and student eLearning day
November 8 Fall PTO Carnival 5:30 to 7:30 pm
November 21 and 22 Mobile Dentist at South Side
December 4 Parent meeting for cyber safety Time TBD
December 5 Fourth and fifth grade music program 6:00 pm
March 11 Fourth grade field trip to Fort Wayne History Center and Allen County Courthouse
March 17 2nd and 3rd grade music program 6:00 pm
May 5, 2020 Fifth grade visit to Junior Achievement Biz Town
May 7 Kindergarten and 1st grade music program 6:00 pm
May 15 Fourth grade field trip to Gene Stratton Porter