The Siple Scoop
January 2021
A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
A new year always brings hope for new beginnings! As an educator I feel like I have the joy of experiencing this two times a year, once at the beginning of the school year and then at the beginning of the New Year in January.
I am confident that I'm not alone in saying that I'm not sorry to say goodbye to 2020! I am hopeful that 2021 will bring the positive changes we all seem eager to experience. I am proud of the hard work my team has put in to make sure our students are receiving the best possible education. I am also thankful for the Siple families and your partnership and flexibility through this past year as we have dealt with all the changes that came our way. You have been incredible and a pleasure to work with.
I wish you all a great January and an awesome 2021!
Christy Flowers, Principal
810-591-5104
PARENT DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP
SAVE THE DATE: KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP
Parents, if you have younger children at home we wanted to make you aware that we are now starting the waiting list for Early-5's. Our Early 5's program is for children that will turn 5 between June 15 and December 1, 2021. This is an excellent program to prepare young children for kindergarten. It is a full day program that focuses on kindergarten readiness. To add your child to the wait list please call the Thomson Elementary office at 810-591-0911.
Please look for information to be coming home about Kindergarten Round Up. The age required for Kindergarten and Early 5's is that they must be 5 by September 1, 2021.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS??
SIPLE STARS OF THE MONTH
Each month classroom teachers will nominate one student from their class to be entered into the grade level drawing for the STAR of the MONTH for that grade. Each grade level STAR of the Month will receive a certificate, medal, and their photo will be on display in the hallway during that month.
We are pleased to recognize students for consistently demonstrating excellent behavior. Thank you for sharing your outstanding children with us. I am pleased to announce our STARs of the Month for December are:
Kindergarten: Piper Brown
1st grade: Alexis Bryson
2nd grade: Ava Lyon
3rd grade: Kevin Murphy
4th grade: Ellarose Monk
Our other outstanding nominees for the month of December were:
Kindergarten: Matthew Hazel, Paul McLeod and Noah Weber
1st grade: Hayden Lewis and Luella Nelson
2nd grade: Grace Kidd, Stella Kile and Alexis Warden
3rd grade: Troy Briggs, Bradley Diamond and Kayden Prevo
4th grade: Aiden Brow, Jace Hamilton and Kinsley Robertson
Congratulations to these outstanding young learners!
DRESSING WARM FOR RECESS
GOOD ATTENDANCE MATTERS
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Let’s Talk About ANXIETY
In November 2019 I had the opportunity to attend the Michigan School Counseling Association conference in Lansing. Two of the presentations that I attended discussed the impact of anxiety on children that I felt would be good to share with parents. The first presenter was Julia Cook, famous author, former Math teacher and former school counselor. The second presenter on the topic was Monica Fugedi, a school counselor with expertise in anxiety (www.mindgal.com)
First of all, SOME anxiety is HELPFUL. Anxiety can let us know about danger and help to keep us safe. It is our body’s mechanism for self-defense. Unfortunately, anxiety can also become extreme and manifest itself as a disorder. Symptoms of this include constant worry that causes significant distress and interferes with daily life. Sometimes this can be seen in avoidance of social situations for fear of being judged or embarrassed. Other times it can be seen with out-of-the-blue panic attacks, irrational fears, and recurring nightmares. At an elementary level kids may cry, avoid school work, constantly interrupt, repeatedly ask the same question, become clingy, have difficult transitions, have constant illness, become disruptive in class, have a lack of focus, or have a lack of motivation.
THERE IS GOOD NEWS! Science has proven that we can rewire our brains. We can train our brains to PAUSE. This pause allows for people to THINK about the perceived threat. During this pause people need to (credit goes to Monic Fugedi):
C - CAUSE - Find the cause of the anxiety
A - AUTOMATIC - Discover the automatic thought that accompanies the cause
L- LOCUS - Find what is the LOCUS or REALITY of the situation
M - MODIFY - Modify the thought to reflect reality
Another point that was made is the importance of NOT trying to cure the anxiety. Rather, learn to name the worry (for example, name the worry monster after a funny character) and have planned exposure to the fears. Too often we reinforce the fear through avoidance.
Some natural interventions for reducing anxiety include SLEEP (many of us have too little of this on a daily basis which increases activity in the amygdala - the part of our brain that balances emotions and survival instincts), aerobic exercise, yoga and diaphragmatic breathing.
Lastly, if you believe someone you love may be suffering from an anxiety disorder, please seek out professional help. I have a list of area counselors available. Feel free to call or email me with any questions: 810-591-5104 or jsimonsen@davisonschools.org
Mrs. Simonsen, Counselor
810-591-0227
DID YOU KNOW.........
Did You Know This Service is Available
There are many great resources for families in the area. This section of the Siple Scoop is dedicated to introducing you to a FREE resource each month.
This month we are featuring Ele’s Place, which is a healing center for grieving children and teenagers. Weekly peer support group programs help children and teens learn how to cope and heal after the death of parent, sibling, or someone close to them.
FUN TO BE FIT
HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody! I hope everybody had a wonderful Holiday break! We will be finishing up our hockey tournament that we started right before Christmas break. After hockey is finished we will be starting our bowling unit. I love this unit. The students will get a chance to learn how to roll a bowling ball, take score and learn what a strike and spare are. The district has a bowling unit that we share with all the elementary school buildings. We have carpet lanes with two different types of bowling balls depending on the grade level that is in the classroom. We start out learning the proper way to roll a bowling ball - (Push - Step - Swing - Roll).
The 3rd and 4th graders will start to learn how to take score (even though it is done for you at the bowling alley). I believe that it is important that they understand how and why the score changes when you get a strike or a spare. We will learn about the arrows and aiming the bowling ball. Bowling is so much fun and is something that the WHOLE family can do. I encourage everybody to take a day or night and take the family bowling. We have a wonderful bowling alley in Davison. Our Siple Stars can show you all the things they have been learning in our classroom.
Mr. Sipley, Gym Teacher
810-591-0231
MUSIC NOTES
Mark your calendars for our
Virtual Musical Performances:
These events will be performed during the school day in our gymnasium without a live audience. Our Siple team will be working together to create a video of the
performance that can be shared with parents.
The following performing groups will receive a letter when we come back in January.
These letters will provide more details about each performance.
2nd Grade Musical = February, 2021
4th Grade Musical = March, 2021
3rd Grade Recorder Concert = May, 2021
Mrs. Odglen, Music Teacher
810-591-0238
STEM
The upper elementary students will continue to work on assignments in Google classroom using Google Docs and Google Slide.
If you have any questions about STEM class, please contact me via email at ecarr@davisonschools.org. Happy January!
Erica Carr
Technology Teacher
PTO NEWS
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 04: Back to school
January 14: Picture Retake Day
January 18: NO SCHOOL for Students
January 29: 1/2 Day for Students/Release time is @ 11:43 a.m.
Siple Elementary
9286 E. Coldwater Road
Davison, MI 48423
Christy Flowers, Principal
Follow Mrs. Flowers on Twitter: @Principal4Kids
Office Phone: 810-591-5104
Office Fax: 810-591-5102
Attendance: 810-591-5100