December Newsletter
Whiteman Elementary
Upcoming Events
December 7-11 Food Collection- Mr. Leonard will send more information out
December 7-11 PTO Store Open ( Each grade has a day) See attachment below.
December 18th: 2nd Quarter Ends. School will be dismissed at 1:00 P.M.
December 19th thru Jan. 4th – Holiday break.
Jan. 5th: Classes will resume
2nd quarter report cards will be sent electronically on January 8th
Happy Holidays!!
eS2S Elementary School of the Year
Whiteman Elementary eS2S virtually attended the MCEC Education Summit awards ceremony on November 17-18th and received exciting news that they won 2020 Outstanding Elementary S2S Team of the Year!
Under the leadership of Mr. Leonard and Mrs. Stewart, our Panthers were selected for the award from 432 S2S teams around the world.
Find out firsthand from our eS2S student leaders why they love what they do when welcoming new students to their school family:
Message from Principal
Parents,
I hope everyone has a great holiday season. Beginning the week of November 30th, we will begin screening all students in Kindergarten for the reading disability of dyslexia as required by Missouri state statue. We will also rescreen all students in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades in areas that were " at risk" at the beginning of the school year.. Dyslexia refers to difficulty with accurate word recognition, spelling, and decoding strategies. Students whose results show that they might be at risk for dyslexia will receive supports and accommodations in their classroom and/or intervention instruction in the Title I Reading classroom. Parents will receive notification of whether their child is at risk for dyslexia or not at risk. All students will be screened again in the spring.
When the weather turns colder, illnesses and head lice are more common. Respiratory ailments, especially viruses like the flu, are prevalent because people stay indoors more which causes exposure to airborne germs. Encourage your child to cough into their elbow or shoulder, throw away used tissues, and wash their hands frequently. Please check your child’s head regularly for head lice. Speak with your child about not using other student’s comb/brush, coat, hat, or scarf. There is no lost and found this school year. Please place your child's name on items, so we are able to return items quickly back to their owners. This helps us keep the lice from spreading to a large number of students.
It is very important that the office has all current phone numbers. If you have a new phone number or someone on your child’s pick-up list has a new phone number, please send the new number in to the office.
Also, please check with your student regarding school supply items that may need to be replenished for second semester. I attached the school supply list to reference.
Please remember, we will be dismissing classes early on Friday, December 18th for Christmas break. Students will be returning to school on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.
Mr. Leonard and Mrs. AJ will be in contact with our virtual families that have decided to come to school in person second semester. On January 4th, we will have a " Back to School Day " to allow families to update transportation and SIS , complete Free and Reduce Lunch Forms, walk the building to see the different precautionary Covid measures the building has implemented, and bring school items into the building to begin school on January 5th. Please look for an email prior to Christmas Break with more information.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Leader In Me - December
WE Parents,
December 2020 Newsletter-Leader in Me at Whiteman Elementary
Habit 2- Begin with the End in Mind
Here are the characteristics of Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
I plan ahead and set goals for myself.
I am prepared at all times.
I think about how the choices I make now will affect my future.
I think about the positive or negative consequences of my actions before I act.
As 2020 is coming to an end (gladly!), it may be beneficial to start thinking about goals and planning on how to implement them. Habit 2 is all about planning for the future and looking for the end result in all aspects of our lives. Planning now will help prepare your family in establishing a New Year’s resolution as well as accomplishing your 2021 goals. For example, your goal may include spending more time together as a family, such as family game nights, movie night, etc. When creating goals, it is important to utilize the SMART method. SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-based. Make sure you check out the attached SMART goals template to assist your family in creating goals for the upcoming year.
Very Respectfully,
The Whiteman Elementary Family Learning Action Team
Pantry Pantry
Parents/Guardians,
Our December Panther Pantry will be open Tuesday, December 8th from 4:00-6:00 pm in the KNMS back parking lot.
Who can pick up food? Any family that has at least one child enrolled in the Knob Noster School District
How do I pick up food? Simply drive up & someone will load groceries into your car for you!
What if I can't make it during the hours the Panther Pantry is open? Email Taylor Morrison @ tmorrison@knr8.org
What types of food are given? Each month we receive different types of food, but here are some typical items:
-fresh veggies/fruit (bags of apples, potatoes, carrots, etc)
-mac-n-cheese
-canned fruit/veggies
-pancake mix
-cereal
-rice
...AND MORE!
How often do you have the Panther Pantry? Once a month!
(DISCLAIMER: We have no control over what types of food we receive.)
Sincerely,
KNPS Counselors and Social Worker
Important Reminders
Water Bottles: Please make sure the water bottles are not placed in the backpack with laptop.. The Technology Department encourages everyone to properly shut down laptops each time instead of closing the top. A laptop that is properly shut down will have less issues if it gets wet than one that is still on.
Recess
Weather permitting, students will have an outside recess. During extreme weather conditions, students will not be taken outside if the outside temperature is 100 degrees or more with the calculated heat index,or if the outside temperature is 15 degrees or lower with the calculated wind chill. When temperatures are above 95 degrees or below 25 degrees, teachers will use professional judgment concerning students’ appropriate attire for outside play, parental requests, and length of time spent outside and make modifications if needed to recess times. Students will not be taken outside when it is raining, snowing,or when lightning is in the vicinity. During recess, students are allowed to wear hats or sunglasses to protect them from excessive sun.
All students should be dressed appropriately for the seasons. Our position with regard to students staying in from recess is that if students are well enough to attend school that day, they will go out for recess. A note from the child’s physician will be required in those cases where parents request that a child stay in from recess for an extended period of time due to an illness.
Terracycle Collection
Google Meet
PTO News
November Character Video
Panther Nation Spirit Store
Parents/Guardians,
Our school district has a new online spirit store! If you would like to order Knob Noster Panther gear for the upcoming winter season or purchase a gift for the holidays, visit the Panther Nation Spirit Store by clicking HERE. The store will also remain open throughout the school year until April 2021.
The spirit store serves as a fundraiser for each of our four schools in the district. Funds raised will go to the school of your choice by clicking a school name during checkout. The apparel is divided in sections by school, however, there are items in each section that will work for all Panther Fans. The store also allows shoppers to choose one of three delivery methods: Shipping, Pick Up at Spirited Designs, or Monthly School Delivery. Please note if you choose the Monthly School Delivery option, parents from all schools will pick up orders at one location on the designated dates. The pick up location will be at Knob Noster Middle School Lobby, 211 E. Wimer from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m on December 15, January 8, February 5, March 10, and April 7. Orders will not be sent home with students.
The Shipping and Pick Up at Spirited Designs delivery options will be determined by order processing, and Spirited Designs will email customers when orders are complete. Please see additional details in the spirit store.
Thank you for your support!
Best regards,
Tina Brant
KNPS Communications