The Spooktacular Stallion Scoop
π» October
Witching You a Happy Halloween!
β Because he had no-body to go with!
β°οΈ How can you tell if a vampire has a cold?
β Because of the coffin!
π Find more goofy Halloween jokes here
π¦ What's Happening this Month:
October 1 & 2: Quarter 1 Benchmark Testing, Grades 2-5
October 3 & 4: π΄ Stallion Store
October 5: Fundraiser! Look π for the Kona Ice Truck after school!
October 6: β¨No School - Grading Day
October 9-13: β¨ No School - Fall Break
October 21: Saturday Stallion Workday & Free Pancake Breakfast 8:00-10:00am
October 23: Family Engagement Meeting Library 2:15-3:15pm
October 25: β¨ No School - TUSD Professional Learning Day
October 27: Student of the Month Assembly: Celebrating October's Trait "Responsibility" 8:00am
- Mrs. Norville's Class will Present November's Trait of "Gratitude"
October 27: πFall Festival 5:30-7:00pm
Spooky Note from the Principal β οΈ
π΄ Stallion Families,
We're already through the 1st quarter, and time is flying. Last month, we emphasized attendance, aiming for a 25% reduction in absences and tardies for September. Regrettably, our numbers went up, largely due to seasonal illnesses. Let's work together to limit tardies and absences to emergencies or illness only.
For October, we ask our families to focus on supporting recommended screen time limits for our students. Technology offers great tools, but since the pandemic, screen time has increased, causing behavioral challenges such as reduced attention, self-soothing skills, and struggles with tasks and patience. Sleep problems and social media impacts are also concerns.
Excessive device use affects our children's development. They miss out on learning patience, curiosity, and interpersonal skills. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests no screen time for kids under 2, one hour for ages 2-5, and two hours for ages 5-11, with age-appropriate content.
We can help our children by setting screen time limits, although it may lead to initial challenges. Start small, like no devices during car rides, outings, or meals. Consistency will support your child's success at school.
Thanks for partnering with us to provide a top-notch academic experience at Steele Elementary.
Jessica Harris
Principal, Steele Elementary
Click on the buttons below for more information...
π·ββοΈπ·ββοΈ Saturday Stallion Workday &
Free Pancake Breakfast π₯
We have an exciting event coming up that will not only make our school shine but also prepare us for an amazing Fall Festival! Join us for a Community Cleanup and Fall Festival Prep Day!
π Date: Saturday, October 21st
β° Time: 8:00-10:00am
π« Location: Steele Elementary School
First, we'll roll up our sleeves and engage in various activities to beautify our school grounds and get everything ready for the upcoming Fall Festival.
Activities for the day include:
π± Gardening and landscaping
π¨ Painting and decorating
π Raking and cleaning
πͺ Setting up festival booths
π₯ Pancake Breakfast Details:
- Enjoy a hearty breakfast to fuel your morning of fun!
- Pancakes, syrup, toppings, and more will be provided.
- A great chance to socialize and get to know your fellow Steele Families.
Together, we can create a welcoming and festive environment for our upcoming Fall Festival. We look forward to seeing you there! If you have any questions or need more details, don't hesitate to reach out - Ms. Selina Heald
Student and Family Engagement Meeting
Monday, October 23, 2023 @2:15-3:15pm in the Library
We will continue to organize and prepare for our upcoming Fall Festival π₯³ Light refreshments will be provided. Bring the whole family! Together, we can create positive experiences and make Steele a school that our students love to go to!
For more information please contact the Student and Family Support Liaison
Contact Ms. Selena Heald by email or call (520) 731-6869
Fall Festival ππ¦
We are excited to invite you and your family to our upcoming Fall Festival, an evening filled with exciting games and activities! π«ποΈ Tickets can be purchased at the event entrance. Ticket sales will help support our school and ensure we can provide a fantastic festival for all.
Don't miss out on this fun-filled evening with your family and friends! We look forward to celebrating the autumn season with you at our Fall Festival! ππ₯³
π»π Help and Volunteers Needed for the Fall Festival!
Our upcoming Fall Festival promises to be an unforgettable day of fun and community spirit. To ensure its success, we need your support! Here's how you can get involved:
- Volunteer to Run a Booth or Game: We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to run booths and games during the festival. Whether you have a talent for face painting, can oversee a ring toss, or want to help with the pumpkin decorating station, your participation is invaluable.
- Donate Candy or Prizes: To make the festival even sweeter, we're in need of candy and prizes to hand out to our young participants. Small toys, pencils, spider rings, Halloween themed prizes, and, of course, candy will be greatly appreciated. You can drop your donations at the school office anytime.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact, Selina Heald, our Student and Family Support Liaison at selina.heald@tusd1.org, (520) 731-6869, or through ClassDojo. Ms. Heald will also reach out through ClassDojo so peep out those announcements ππ£π₯
ππ Costume Parade π»π October 31
Get Ready to Celebrate Halloween as Your Favorite Book Character!
Halloween is right around the corner, and this year, we have a special theme that will spark your creativity and love for reading! We invite you to come dressed up as your favorite book character on Halloween Day!
Costume Guidelines:
π Choose a character from a book you adore and create or find a costume that represents that character. Bonus for those that create it themselves.
π Bring the book to school that inspired your costume.
π Costumes should be in good taste and appropriate for a school event.
π Please avoid violent, overly scary or inappropriate themes. Remember we have little ones on campus that could get scared.
π Masks and make-up should not cover the entire face for safety reasons.
π No fake weapons or items that could be mistaken for weapons are allowed.
Teachers and staff will join in the spirit by wearing costumes too! Parents are welcome to join and watch the parade, so be ready to snap those pics ππΈ
Let's make Halloween a celebration of books and imagination. We cannot wait to see who you will become from the pages of your favorite stories. Happy Reading and Happy Halloween π»ππ¦
π¦ΉββοΈπ¦ΈββοΈ In the Spotlight πβ¨
meet our counselors π
Mrs. Lambert π§ββοΈ
Hello Steele Families!!! My name is Donna Lambert and this is my 1st year at Steele as a School Counselor. I was a Counselor at the AZ School for the Deaf & Blind for 23 years before coming to Steele. I do know American Sign Language (ASL) but I do not know how to read braille. My husbandβs name is Brian and we have two amazing children. One is 20 years old and a Junior at Grand Canyon University, the other is 18 and a Freshman at Benedictine University in Mesa. I enjoy going to the gym, hiking, long walks and spending time with my family and friends. I can often be found on the soccer field watching my son play soccer or my daughter play ultimate frisbee!
Mrs. McDuffie π§ββοΈ
Hi! My name is Emily McDuffie and this is my second year here at Steele as a counselor. This year, I am at school spending time with your students on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have two students of my own in TUSD: a daughter in 6th grade and a son in 1st grade. Together, we love traveling any chance we get, as well as hiking and spending time outdoors. In my own free time, I love yoga and walking with friends. My favorite thing about being a part of the Steele community is putting together our Student of the Month assemblies where we honor students who have been demonstrating good character. Please feel free to reach out to me if I can ever help you or your student! I am here for you!
Meet our First Grade Team! π€
Ms. Zylks π§ββοΈ
Hello Steele Families! This is my 3rd year at Steele Elementary and my second-year teaching 1st grade. I am lucky enough to have my family on Steele's campus with me. My husband is Mr. Zylks, a TA in Ms. Kamell's 5th grade class, and our daughters are in 1st and 3rd grade. Together we love to go on hikes, explore the Desert Museum, and have family movie nights. Some of my hobbies are reading mystery novels, quilting, and playing games (I may be a little competitive π).
Ms. Shayla π§ββοΈ
My name is Ms. Shayla and I'm a teacher's aide for Mrs. Zylks' first grade class. I started at Steele in February of 2023, and I love it. I've worked with the first, second and third grade classes and it's a great way to get to know all the kids.
I'm a Tucson native, but I lived in Colorado for 25 years, and now I've returned to my desert roots. I have a 23-year-old daughter who works with at risk young children and a 17-year-old son who is a senior at University High School. My husband and I will celebrate our 25-year anniversary in a few months.
I love riding horses, going hiking and restoring old furniture. I'm a huge Swiftie. My favorite color is orange. I Love working with kids. π
π§ββοΈ More Spooky Stuff π
π Activities & Books π
π€³ Connect with us on Social Media
1. ClassDojo
ππ€³You'll receive real-time updates on your child's class activities, assignments, and important announcements.
2. Facebook
We invite you to join our Facebook family! You'll be in the loop with the coolest school π€©
3. Instagram
β¨π² We are all about staying connected and sharing our best moments! See you on Gram!
TUSD Family Engagement Survey ππ
Your Voice Matters!
πππ Scan or click on the QR Code to access the survey.