The Lion's Share Newsletter
February 2022
From the Desk of Mr. Miller:
Grant Families,
I hope the February newsletter finds you and your family healthy and happy!
Last week, I shared with you a link that will take you to an important parent survey. As of this morning, 18% of our parents have taken the survey, which means we have matched last year's participation rate. In order to see your responses on how we can better serve you and your students, we need at least a 20% participation rate. So, if you haven't yet fill out the survey, I would encourage you to do so. I sincerely appreciate the time and effort in completing it and please know that I genuinely use your anonymous results to help better serve our community! The link for the survey was sent to parent/guardian emails and can be found on ClassDojo. If you missed it, please don't worry, as I will send it again before the February 18th deadline!
Every February, our specials teachers join forces to teach each grade level a number of fun dances. Typically, we invite everyone in to come celebrate the hard work of our Lions to watch the dances take place in person. However, with the rapid increase in COVID cases, we want to ensure we are keeping everyone as safe as possible. This year, rather than having numerous families all in one space, we will be recording the dances by grade level and then posting them on our website for all to view! We know that the experience won't be the same, but we hope that this will allow everyone to enjoy Dance Demo Day while keeping everyone healthy! I will send out a message to all parents once the videos have been posted.
Finally, as we prepare for snowy weather, please be sure to watch our Facebook page (Grant Elementary School D11), ClassDojo, and the local news channels to see if the district will have a late-start or closure. As a friendly reminder, the district will relay to all of us if it is a true snow day or if it will be an e-learning day. If the district chooses an e-learning day, you will receive information from your students teacher and there will be work posted in Schoology along with live teacher "office hours."
As always, thank you for all you are doing and we hope you all have a wonderful February!
Have a great one,
Ryan Miller
Principal, Grant Elementary
December's Capturing Kids' Hearts Focus: Kindness
Kindness will be the CKH focus for the month of February! When was the last time that somebody showed you a random act of kindness? How did it make you feel? I would imagine it made you feel pretty good! Furthermore, when we experience kindness from others, we typically get the urge to 'pass it on' to others, so they can experience that same great feeling! We hope you are ready to help us spread some kindness this month!
What is Kindness?
Kindness is the ability and willingness to express care and compassion for others. Kindness is a choice to use our time, talent, and resources to better the lives of others and the world through genuine acts of love, compassion, generosity, and service.
Why focus on Kindness?
- Kindness boosts positive emotions. Acts of kindness create neural pathways that enhance feelings of well-being and the natural flow of feel-good endorphins and neurotransmitters.
- Kindness is self-replicating. When we perform an act of kindness, it is likely to encourage others to act in a similar way.
- Kindness reduces stress and anxiety. Kindness promotes positive relationships with other people. Anything that helps you to build bonds with other people helps decrease anxiety.
Kindness in Action:
- Celebrate small things. Start each day with Good Things as a class. Publicly and privately affirm kind and thoughtful actions and attitudes.
- Create opportunities for students to regularly affirm each other. Once a week, dedicate time for students to write notes of affirmation to classmates and school staff members.
- Model Kindness. Be mindful of body language, tone, and mindset. Kindness is learned by example!
February 7th -11th is SPIRIT WEEK!
Monday, Feb 7: Mellow Monday (Pajama Day): Wear your PJs to relieve stress and feel relaxed...no slippers, please!
Tuesday, Feb 8: Tourist Tuesday: Dress up like you’re on vacation and ready for some quality self-care!
Wednesday, Feb 9: Marvelous Wednesday: Dress like your favorite superhero because you are important!
Thursday, Feb 10: Tie Dye Thursday: Colors can represent a wide range of emotions, it’s okay to express them.
Friday, Feb 11: Wear Green Friday: Wear Green for Mental Health Awareness. Green represents the green light to reach out for help when you need it.
Student Feature
What do you love most about Grant? I love that there are a lot of nice people and that I just always feel welcomed here.
What do you love about being a 4th grader this year? I am able to be a good student and learn a lot to get ready for 5th grade. My teacher, Mrs. Andrade, is very nice to me and is helping to teach me.
What do you think about Capturing Kids’ Hearts: It's cool! I like it because it can inspire people to be more respectful and nice! It's made me more helpful to others and more responsible as a student.
What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be an NFL player! I would love to play tight-end or running back for the Denver Broncos.
What’s your favorite subject: My favorite subject is physical education because it helps me to be active and I am able to exercise. Sometimes we are able to play football and basketball, which are my favorite sports.
What does it mean to you to be a Grant Lion? It means a lot to me! I like it because it gives me a reason to start being nice to others. My friends are nice to me and I like that people include me. I have a good connection with my friends and we laugh a lot.
Fun Pictures from January!
Important February Events:
Tuesday, Feb 1: AWAY Basketball Games at Martinez ES 3:30
Wednesday, Feb 2: NEHS 2:30-3:45
Thursday, Feb 3: AWAY Basketball Games at Scott ES 3:30
Tuesday, Feb 8: HOME Basketball Games vs. Martinez ES 3:30, Student Council 2:30-3:30, PTA Meeting 6:00 in Library
Thursday, Feb 10: 2nd Cup of Coffee 8:15-9:00, AWAY Basketball Games at Steele ES 3:30
Monday, Feb 14: Valentine's Day & Class Parties
Tuesday, Feb 15: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Presentation to Kindergarten
Wednesday, Feb 16: NEHS 2:30-3:45
Friday, Feb 18: CSSM/School Accountability Committee 8:15-9:15
Monday, Feb 21: NO SCHOOL in observance of Presidents' Day
Tuesday, Feb 22: Student Council Field Trip to Care & Share 2:40-4:00
Contact Information:
Email: Ryan.miller@d11.org
Website: https://www.d11.org/Domain/35
Location: 3215 Westwood Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Phone: 719.328.5700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grantelementarylions