North Ward News
March 2019
Leadership Assembly
There will be a leadership assembly in the gym at 1:00 Monday, March 4 to honor students who have been displaying the Habit, Be Proactive. The 5th graders will present the new habit, Synergize, to learn about and practice throughout the month of March.
The video below is a story read by Mrs. Corbett. Students listened to the story and discussed strategies to help them be proactive with their behavior.
Music Performance
Science Night
Screen Time and the Effects it Has on Our Children
Videos and Apps to Be Aware of!
Ask.fm: This site/app is a question-answer format, which has been a major form of cyberbullying and linked to multiple suicides.
Snapchat: Although a very popular one with kids and adults, it can be dangerous! People think the images shared disappear once they are viewed. Everything that is sent via the cloud can be retrieved! There are many sexual predators who target kids through this site. Please monitor and be aware of what your child/teen is sending and receiving. My recommendation is that elementary children should not have this app.
To learn more about apps to be aware of, click the article below:
Safety Beyond Facebook: 12 Social Media Apps Every Parent Should Know About
Games and Videos That are NOT appropriate for elementary age children.:
The Granny App Game: The rating for this game is age 13+. It is a horror game filled with killing and scary graphics.
Momo Image: This is the latest image that is all over the web and creating a scare. When I first learned of it, I was mortified. Then I did a little digging. There does not seem to be any actual videos, but the image and message that is being sent are scaring children and parents. The following article informs parents how to talk to their children about Momo without making it scary. Click Below to Read:
How to Protect Your Child from Momo - it's simpler than you think
Grand Theft Auto: This is a game I have heard many students talking about playing. It involves violence and sexual content. The rating for this game is 17 years old or older.
Call of Duty: This game has explicit language and bloody violence and is rated for 18 years and older.
Please help keep our kids safe by monitoring, limiting, and talking to your kids about internet safety. I beg you to learn the side effects of too much screen time and inappropriate content. I have been in education for over 15 years. I am witnessing the changes in behavior that are occurring, which I do believe partly is due to screen time and inappropriate content. Let's get back to children playing for hours, being creative and using their imagination!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Corbett
Games, Apps, and Videos Appropriate for Elementary Aged Children
Minecraft: Age 7+ - A game of creation and building. Players still have access to strangers on this game. It is important to teach students about online stranger danger the same as you do for stranger danger in public.
Freckles: Free educational games for all ages.
Roblox: Multiple different games that are played with real people. Parental controls are available. Teaching stranger danger with this one is also important due to the chat option.
Teach Your Monster To Read: Great games and activities to support reading for 4 - 7-year-old children.
Prodigy: Math games for 7+-year-old children
Videos: With your child, brainstorm something you want to learn more about or want to learn how to do/make. Search videos together so you can monitor the appropriateness of the videos.
Youtube kids: A safer way to search for videos appropriate for children.
Reading Month
- Brainstormers will be at North Ward to celebrate student writing on March 25.
- Students need to turn in weekly reading logs to earn a free book and tickets to ride rides at the Allegan County Fair.
- The class that reads the most minutes will earn an extra P.E. class with some H.S. basketball players. We will have a K-2 class winner and a 3rd - 5th grade class winner.
- The top two students from every class who logs the most minutes will earn a pizza party and a tour of the new Allegan District Library downtown.
Let's see how many minutes our students can read throughout the month of March!
What is the Process for Volunteer Forms/Background Checks?
This process has been put in place to help keep all students safe. Please read your child's classroom newsletter to learn about upcoming events and plan accordingly. We appreciate and welcome everyone who can volunteer and help!
Family Dance
Save the Date for the Early Childhood & Kindergarten Round Up!
Box Tops and Village Market Receipts
Please collect and turn in Box Tops and Village Market receipts. The North Ward APT uses them to help fund various events at school. Every penny helps! Learn more about Box Tops and how to earn extra Box Tops for our school by visiting https://www.boxtops4education.com/earn.
Upcoming Events
March 4 - Intro to Habit 6 Assembly at 1:00
March 5- STAR reward for no office referrals in February - Open Gym Time
March 8- Early Release; Family Dance Night; High School Play
March 10 - Daylight Savings Time
March 12- APT meeting in the Library at 6:00 pm
March 14th - NW Music Performance at HS 6:30 pm
March 15- Gym Fun Night for 3-5th grade 6-7:30 pm at the MS
March 17 - St. Patricks Day
March 20 - Early Release
March 22 - NW Science Night 6-8pm
March 25- NW Brainstormers Assembly @ 1:30
March 29 -April 5- Spring Break
Get Connected
Texting @northwarde to 81010 (for NW updates)
Texting @alleganp to 81010 (for APS schoolwide reminders and school closures/delays
Email: bcorbett@alleganps.org
Website: https://alleganps.org/nw/
Location: 440 River Street
Phone: (269)673-6003
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthWardElementary
Twitter: @Northwardelem