The Gray Wolf Gazette
September 30, 2021
Mission(Why we exist): Dr. Henry Givens Jr. Elementary is a collaborative community committed to ensuring equity and high levels of learning for all.
Dr. Henry Givens Jr. Elementary is a welcoming community that empowers all children to connect, discover, and thrive as leaders equipped to make a positive impact on our world.
Quick Overview
Hello Families,
This week we are taking some time to say thank you to our custodians. Custodian Appreciation Day is Saturday, October 2nd and we get the privilege of having an AMAZING CUSTODIAL TEAM at Givens! We would like to take the time to say thank you for ALL they do to make sure our school is clean and ready for us to learn and play with our friends. We know that you are important to our team and our work here at Givens. Thank you, Mr. Lapsley, Mrs. Bates, Mr. Cope, and Mrs. Gregory!
I would like to share a few reminders:
-As a school, we are working on making sure all students are in the classroom by 7:50 am. We start each day with a class meeting and we want to make sure all students take part in this community-building practice. Please review the student handbook about the accumulation of tardies.
-Also, please remember that we stop dismissing students for early release at 2:20. If you need to pick your child up early from school it is helpful if you contact the office and let us know. It is necessary that you pick them up prior to 2:20.
Please take a moment to read through this edition of the Gray Wolf Gazette. It includes:
-Upcoming dates on our Givens Calendar
-Information about Fall Celebrations
-Reminders about Early Dismissal PTO News and Events, and PTO News
-School Spirit Shirt Opportunity
-An Opportunity to Walk in the Parade and Represent Givens Elementary School
-Information about events in our School District and in Rock Hill.
We appreciate your partnership!
On this journey together,
Ms. Malissa Beecham
Givens Principal
Let's Cheer on Our St. Louis Cardinals!!!
Upcoming Dates
October Dates:
-Wear your Cardinal Gear or Red to Cheer for our Cardinals Friday, October 1
-Walk with Givens in the Rock Hill Parade (See information below), Saturday, October 2
--PTO Meeting October 4th (Givens Library and Zoom Option)
-Taco Tuesday! Hacienda Night for Givens October 5th(11:00 am-8:00 pm)
-Coffee with the Principal Friday, October 8th
-Spirit Shirt Orders are due (See Flyer Below) Tuesday, October 13
-Early Dismissal @ 11:45 (Assembly and Pack Meetings) Friday, October 15
-Ivory Crockett Run for Webster (Details below) Saturday, October 16
-Dairy Queen Night for Givens October 21st (3:00-6:00 pm)
-PTO Sponsored Trunk or Treat (More details to come) Friday, October 22
-PTO Sponsored Campus Beautification and Pollinator Garden Event (More details to come) Saturday, October 23rd
-End of Trimester 1 & Fall Parties Friday, October 29
Fall Celebrations at Givens this Year
As we work to implement practices and procedures that communicate our goal of belonging for all, we will not focus our school-wide celebrations on the Halloween Holiday. There are members of our Givens Community that do not observe or celebrate this holiday. There are also members of our community that observe or celebrate other holidays around this time. To ensure all students feel valued in their choices or the choices of their families, we will use our Fall Parties as a time to celebrate our classroom communities and the individuals in our classes.
This means that we will not have an all-school parade and our parties will contain crafts, games, and snacks that are fall-themed. Students will be allowed to wear a costume during the fall party if they would like. This is not a requirement. This costume should come to school in your child’s backpack and they will put it on at a time that the classroom teacher selects.
If students and families want to send costumes for their children to wear during the party, they are invited to do so as long as they are following the guidelines below:
-Costumes must follow our School Dress
-Students will not be allowed to wear costumed masks (Students must be able to continue following our COVID Mask protocol during the time their costume is on)
-Students should not wear costumes that make fun of others or make others feel uncomfortable.
-Costumes cannot promote the use of drugs, alcohol, or violence of any kind
-Costumes should not have pretend “prop” weapons such as toy guns, knives, or swords
If you have questions about your child’s costume, please reach out to Ms. Beecham @ beechamjudge.malissa@wgmail.org or your child’s teacher. Please know that if your child comes to school with a costume that does not follow the guidelines above, they will not be allowed to change into it. Also, please know that your child may still participate in our Fall Parties without a costume.
Due to our COVID Mitigation Measures, parents will not be invited to attend Fall Parties this year. If you would like to contribute a craft(fall themed), game(fall themed), or snack(prepackaged) to the party, please reach out to your child’s teacher or the room parent signed up for the class.
We appreciate your partnership!
Early Dismissal October 15th
PTO Meeting Information
Where: Zoom and Givens Library
Join Zoom Meeting https://wgsdstl.zoom.us/j/96976620826?pwd=ZTExLzhrQ0M0NmpCN0RXWGVrc05BUT09
Meeting ID: 969 7662 0826 Passcode: bGscz4je
Meet our PTO Board Members
President - Sarah Middendorf sarahmdorf@gmail.com
Vice President - Maria Lambing maria.lambing@gmail.com
Co-Equity Officers - Deidre Townsend mrstownsend0316@gmail.com
Dana Walker danagivens@yahoo.com
Co-Secretaries - Kara Simon ksimon619@gmail.com
Alex Guffey alexandra.guffey903@gmail.com
Co-Treasurers - Tracy Willis tracy.barton@att.net
Jen Levine jensherwood73@gmail.com
Would you like to get involved through PTO? Follow this link to sign up for various committees that work to provide support for Givens and activities for families throughout the year.
Please read below for easy ways that you can raise money for our Givens School Community:
1. AmazonSmile: Choose "Webster Groves Givens PTO". If you use the Amazon App on your phone, make sure you "Turn On" AmazonSmile after you have selected your charity. Open the app and find ’Settings’ in the main menu (☰). Tap on ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on AmazonSmile on your phone.
2. Shop with Scrip: Shop with Scrip is an easy way to earn money for Givens while making your normal everyday purchases. Buy a gift card from Shop with Scrip and get the full value. The brand gives back to our school! Simply download the RaiseRight app and enroll with the Givens enrollment code: 8DC13FB661629.
3. If you work for a corporation that donates to schools, ask them about their education sponsorships or corporate matching program.
4. Dining Partnerships: Each month, we partner with restaurants that donate a portion of their proceeds to our school for one night a month. More details to come about Hacienda, Dairy Queen and Jet's Pizza upcoming dates.
Help us represent Dr. Henry Givens Elementary in the Rock Hill Fall Festival Parade. Students are welcome to walk in the parade with their guardians. Feel free to wear your Givens apparel or create signs to carry.
We will meet in the Givens parking lot at 10:10. Then we will walk over together to join the cue for the parade at the corner of Des Peres and Rock Hill Road at 10:15.
School Spirit Shirts
Campus Beautification Day
Saturday, Oct 23, 2021, 08:00 AM
701 North Rock Hill Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
News from Nurse Mindy
As we continue to work to keep our Gray Wolves Healthy, please remember to:
-Keep your child(ren) at home if they are experiencing any COVID Symptoms (take a look at the picture below. Students should stay home if they have low risk or high-risk symptoms)
-Make sure your child has a mask to wear to school. Students should always wear a mask inside the building. They may take their masks off outside if they are able to keep the 3-6 feet distance.
-Handwashing and hand sanitizing should is practiced in school. Please encourage your child to keep this practice up at home and when visiting other places.
-Please communicate symptoms, positive test results(in the household) to Nurse Mindy. She will talk you through the next steps.
-We know allergy season is upon us. It is still important that we are responsive to symptoms that may be due to allergies. There are specific steps Nurse Mindy will walk you through as we ensure all students are healthy.
Thank you for your cooperation with these important steps to help prevent the spread of illness in our school buildings!
The Ivory Crockett Run for Webster
The Ivory Crockett Run for Webster is BACK in-person, with a virtual option as well! The in-person event features a one-mile fun run/walk, a 5k, and a kids 100-yard dash (ages 12 & under). While you’re out on the course, the WGHS Band, Cheerleaders, and Dance Teams will all be out there to cheer you on. After the run, enjoy brunch from some of our local restaurants, along with some quality time with Fredbird and Louie. Who knows, maybe they’ll try to beat Ivory Crockett’s world record!
We are also offering a series of virtual 5k runs, with one starting from every Webster Groves School District school, and a special Ivory Crockett Challenge 5k, starting from Ivory Crockett Park in historic North Webster. All of our activities are listed below, with dates, times, locations, and other details. Registration for all activities begins on September 1st.
Make sure you register by September 28th to guarantee a t-shirt in your size!
The Ivory Crockett Run for Webster was established in 2004. It honors Ivory Crockett, a 1968 graduate of Webster Groves High School. On May 14, 1974, Ivory participated in the Tom Black Classic held annually at the University of Tennessee. On a wet track and against world-class competition, Ivory sprinted to a world's best 9.0 seconds in the 100-yard dash, a record which still stands today.
Register to run or volunteer at WGSDFoundation.org today!
The Chelsea Center Presents a Street Fair Celebrating Learning in Action
October 7th, 6-8pm
between the gates of Selma Ave
in front of Webster Groves High School
Come celebrate with us all the ways students learn by doing at WGHS! See students showcase their learning from the Chelsea Center & Makerspace to the practical arts, fine arts, industrial technology & vocational skills programs. Enjoy performances from our Drama department, Chamber Choir & Jazz Band. Watch students from our THRIVE entrepreneurship incubator pitch their business ideas at the Steve McAlevey Pitch Night. Also peruse the array of student clubs & activities available at WGHS. Dinner will be provided (first come, first served). All community members are invited to attend.
Dr. Henry Givens Elementary School
Website: https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/Givens
Location: 701 North Rock Hill Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314-963-6460
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GivensElem/