Musselman Newsletter
December
A Note From The Principal
Dear Parents-
I hope that all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to celebrate with family and/or friends or just enjoy some quiet time.
It does not seem possible that we are wrapping up our first trimester of the school year already. Time is flying by, but it's nice to see how far the students are coming. I hope you can see it at home when you are working and talking with your children. I am confident you found conferences helpful and informative. If you were not able to connect with your child’s teacher on the scheduled conference days, please feel free to contact us to get something set up. I would also like to remind you that if at any time you have any concerns academically, socially or emotionally, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to support you in any capacity we can.
This month I am including a new section on our newsletter called parent resources. In that section you will find parent letters that go along with our new Math program (enVision) and our Fundations Program (part of our Reading program). I am including them so that you can stay abreast of what your students are doing in class and can also work on reinforcing some skills at home, if time permits. Along with those resources I have included a link from our school nurse Mrs. Junior, with some helpful information about flu season. You can click on the links below to access the letters. I hope that you find this beneficial.
Winter break is right around the corner and I want to wish you all the best. My hope is that whatever you celebrate, it is filled with laughter, love, peace and hope. I look forward to seeing what 2223 will bring for our students and am excited to see their continued growth.
Happy Holidays-
Ms. Cole
Reminders
If you send cupcakes or some sort of snack to celebrate your child’s birthday, please remember that it has to be store bought and include the ingredients. We require this as we have many students with allergies.
The students go out 2 times a day for recess and as the weather is getting colder please make sure they are dressed warm enough to be outside for an extended period of time.
We have 3 early dismissal days this month. Please make sure that you are at bus stops or here at school 3 hours in advance to your normal arrival time.
I am giving all your parents homework for our winter break: Please try to teach the kids how to tie their shoes.
Upcoming Events
Dec. 5 - District Holiday Sing Along (6:00 - High School Football Field)
Dec. 6 - Early Dismissal (12:20)
Dec. 9 - Eagles Spirit Day
Dec. 16 - Early Dismissal (12:20)
Mustang Spirit Day (wear your blue and white)
Dec. 22 - Frozen Day (details to follow)
Dec. 23 - Early Dismissal (12:20)
Ugly Sweater Contest
School Wide Program
This month we are continuing to work on supporting students in using their Big Voice or Assertive Voice. We are also encouraging students to be helpful in their school family. Being helpful builds self-worth and responsibility. We are encouraging students to be helpful in the following ways during the month of December:
Solve a problem with a classmate instead of tattling
Remind a classmate in a kind way how to be safe on the bus or in the bathroom
Help other classmates solve a problem
Help a classmate who needs help opening something at lunch
Help a classmate who needs help putting on their coat or zipping a coat
Help a classmate clean up a mess
In our Musselman School Family, both students and adults commit to being safe and helpful. For children, it is important to discuss exactly how to practice safety and helpfulness at school. All behavior comes back to the basics of helpful or hurtful. We take time to model and demonstrate safe and helpful behavior each day with students. We also make sure to let students know it is okay to make mistakes or OOPS! We take time to talk with students about unsafe or hurtful behavior. We talk with them about how to be safe or helpful the next time and they commit to do things differently in the future.
You can use this concept at home as well. As adults we need to try and focus on what we want the children to do rather than focusing on negative behaviors. Hurtful behaviors should be seen as a call for help or a call for love. Helpful behaviors are a display of love.
The steps below can help you deal with unsafe or harmful behaviors at home
Identify your child’s unsafe/hurtful behavior.
Help them create a commitment showing what they are going to do differently next time.
Example: OOPS. When you push your brother or sister to get a toy it is NOT safe or helpful to your Family. What can you do? How can you change your OOPS? I am going to change the OOPS into a safe and helpful, “I did it!” Next time I am going to use my words and ask if I can play with the toy first.
Our commitment as a school is to be safe and helpful. How can you be safe and helpful?
Opps, when I _____________ it is NOT safe or helpful to my School Family. I am going to change the opps into a safe and helpful "I did it!" Next time I am going to.......
Parent Resources
enVision Math Parent Letter - See links below
Fundations Parent Letter
Health Resources: