Chief Joseph School Newsletter
We love our students, staff and families!
CHIEF JOSEPH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, March 2022
Phone (208) 350-4200
Absence Reporting Line (208) 350-4201
Gretchen Hart, Principal
Kym Everman, Head Secretary
MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL, MRS HART
Dear Chief Joseph Families,
Each year, all Idaho schools are required to offer a 'Parent Engagement Survey' to measure attitudes and opinions about school...in our case, about Chief Joseph!
Responses are anonymous and confidential, although Chief Joseph’s overall results will be shared with the public (through the idahoschools.org website and as part of Chief Jo's accountability grade).
The Parent Engagement Survey itself consists of approx 10 questions, and should take 5-10 min to complete. It can be accessed thru this link: eProve™ surveys (advanc-ed.org)
Your response to the survey btwn now and March 25 is much appreciated – we always look forward to feedback that helps us better meet student needs!
Know a child who’ll be eligible (age 5 by Sept 1) to start Kindergarten this Fall? If interested in attending our school, families should plan to attend our April 20 Kdg Welcome and Screening event here at Chief Joseph. Appointment times will be offered soon for those who were accepted through our Feb lottery; if you know of others interested in Chief Joseph, please have them phone our office (#350-4200). We always look forward to welcoming new Chief Jo Champions!
Hooray for our students, as they continue to make great strides with reading fluency! Most kdg students are close to reaching, or have exceeded, the goal of knowing at least 39 letter sounds! In first grade, the Spring goal is to read at least 60 words in one minute. In second and third grades, the goal is 100 and 112 words, respectively. Meridian’s public libraries make home deliveries of reading material…consider taking advantage of this free service!
In all grades, we continue to talk with students about setting goals and having the stamina (the ‘grit’!) to meet those goals. Thanks for reinforcing at home by praising your child for persevering, even when schoolwork is challenging or a new skill is learned. We love celebrating goals met!
Thank you and best wishes,
Mrs. Hart
DATES TO REMEMBER:
March 1 - Spring Photos (for NEW students and any who return Parker Portraits order slips), 9:30-11:30
March 1 - Late Application Window opens for new students interested in attending CJ next yr - tell friends and neighbors!
March 4 - District Art Show entries due to Art Teacher Mrs Antilla
March 10 - PTO Mtg, 4:00, Library - all welcome!
March 13 - Daylight Saving Time...turn clocks one hour ahead!
March 18 - Staff Collaboration, No School for Students
March 21-25 - Spring Break, No School for Staff/Students
HELP YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL LAPTOP PERFORM BETTER!
CJ Food Drive, March 28-April 1
Chief Joseph's Annual Food Drive takes place March 28-April 1...please contribute if you can!
MOST NEEDED ITEMS:
-Chef Boyardee products (ravioli, beefaroni, etc), 7.5 oz microwaveable bowls or 15 oz cans
-Mac & Cheese microwaveable bowls, single serving size
-Fruit cups or applesauce, 4 oz single serving size
-Cup of Noodles, chicken or beef flavors preferred
-Ramen Noodles, chicken or beef flavors preferred
-Cheese and cracker packs
-Peanut butter and cracker packs
-Nutri grain type breakfast bars
All food collected goes to the Meridian Food Bank to help fill weekend 'food backpacks' for West Ada students in need. Thank you for your generosity!!
ARTWALK, MAY 19
Lost and Found - please check!
Items unclaimed by March 18 will be donated to charity.
Kindergarten Welcome and Screening
Appointment times will be offered soon for those who were accepted through our Feb lottery; if you know of others interested in Chief Joseph, please have them phone our office (#350-4200)...we can't wait to meet our newest Chief Joseph Champions!!
Parent, Student, and Staff Engagement Surveys
This survey is part of Idaho’s school accountability system and should take 5-10 min to complete. We always appreciate parent input and will use survey responses to identify opportunities for improvement. Additionally, the state will report the results and the number of responses on Idaho’s school report card website, idahoschools.org.
Our staff and our Gr 3-5 students will complete similar engagement surveys - together, the results help make us a better school!
March 1 Photos for New Students and those with Order Slips
Parents of PM Kdg students who'd like photos taken may come to Chief Jo that morning to do so - just check in at the office!
Interested in a Chief Jo Yearbook?
Volunteers Welcome!
If in the classroom, please review the Volunteer Guidelines on the district site: Volunteering / Volunteer Guidlines (westada.org) and sign and return the final page to our main office before volunteering begins.
If no classroom opportunities but still hoping to volunteer in person, please contact our main office (#350-4200) - volunteers who'd like to help in our library or lunchroom are also welcome!!
Free Dental Supplies!
A short online video about dental health will also be accessible to families to view at home; we'll forward the link as soon as it's received!
Birthday Celebrations
Birthdays may be celebrated at school, though no food/drinks may be given or distributed at those celebrations, and we ask that you check first with your child’s teacher regarding the time and manner of celebration. Per district policy, flowers/plants, balloons, or other gift deliveries to students cannot be accepted due to health and safety concerns. Happy to celebrate your child's special day in a way that's safe for all!
Parent Input Form for Class Placement
Class placement is determined through a team effort involving teachers, specialists, and principal. In order to provide the best education and experience possible, we consider class size, ratio of boys to girls, student abilities and special needs, personalities, and parent input. Our principal is responsible for making final class assignments.
If interested in offering your input for the placement process, please stop by our school office to pick up a Parent Input Form. Completed forms are due to the school office by April 22.
Due to the size of our school, staff changes, and the complexity of the placement process, we cannot accept requests for specific teachers.
Teacher assignment for 2022-2023 will be available via your PowerSchool Parent account in August (provided you've updated your student’s PowerSchool information after March 1, 2022).
Health Office Reminders
Quick reminders from Nurse Tara Cole and Health Tech Kim Paige in our Chief Jo Health Office:
- Keep children at home if ill.
- Update PowerSchool with current phone #s and emails.
- Health Office staff will do their best to address injuries/illness that take place during the school day; please do not send your child to our school Health Office for injuries or illness that occurred outside of school.
Class Photo Composites Available for Order
Would you like to order a composite photo of your child's beautiful 2021-2022 Chief Joseph class??
Fliers from Parker Portraits were sent home last week, each containing a student-specific 'student key'. Parents can use that student key to go online to order the class composite and (for new students) individual photos.
Here are the instructions to order:
1. Go to Parker Portraits (parkerportraitsonline.com)
2. Enter ACCESS KEY; then click Open
3. Leave Job/Event as is; do not choose a school.
4. Add to cart, then checkout!
End of the day messages
The courtesy practice of relaying “End of Day” messages to students is intended for emergency situations only. Please be sure your child knows his/her “go-home” plans BEFORE leaving home in the morning; that helps our office staff and helps prevents classtime interruptions.
Thank you for making sure your children know what they are to do at dismissal time!
Updating your email address
The vast majority of our school-to-home communication is done via email. Please make sure our office has your CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS(es).
It is also vital that we always have your CURRENT PHONE NUMBER(s) on file.
It's best to update student information via your Powerschool parent account every spring, or whenever there is a change in contact information. If you don’t remember the username or password for your parent account, please contact our school office!
Water Bottles Daily, Please
PLEASE send a water bottle to school each day with your child - we want our kids healthy, happy, and hydrated!
Shout outs to Say Thanks!
Sharing positive vibes helps us all, and makes us a stronger, kinder school community!
Art News, Mrs Antilla
March will provide fun opportunities for self-expression and creativity in the art room at Chief Joseph! All students will be creating their own self-portraits and drawing unique ocean creatures!
Kindergarten - Kdg students will be painting continuous line self-portraits - and fish with gills!
1st Grade - First graders will be making self-portraits with tissue paper backgrounds. First grade classes will also be drawing sea creatures of their choice!
2nd Grade - Second graders will be drawing self-portraits with texture and various embellishments. Second grade classes will also be drawing glow in the dark seahorses!
3rd Grade - Third graders will be making mixed media self-portraits. They will also be drawing sea turtles with oil pastels!
4th Grade - Fourth graders will be creating self-portraits 'with personality'. Fourth grade classes will also draw and paint coral reefs or jellyfish!
5th Grade - Fifth graders will be drawing self portraits, and then painting them with liquid watercolors. They will also be drawing textured octopus!
District Art Contest Info
Physical Education News, Mr Schabot
It’s time for the 2022 American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge™! Not only will those involved be helping fight heart disease and stroke (the No. 1 and No. 2 killers worldwide), participants can earn thank-you gifts AND earn PE equipment for our school!
Our school is proud to support the American Heart Association and help kids with special hearts! Our Kids Heart Challenge program is beginning now and will run through March 17. As Chief Joseph's PE Teacher, my goal is to have 100% of our students register online and take the Challenge. Registering does not require pledging or raising money; donations to the AHA are always completely optional.
-Join Our Team at heart.org/KHC or download the FREE Kids Heart Challenge App for Apple or Android
-Take the Challenge to Be Active or Be Kind and you’ll earn a FREE Road Warrior Wristband
-Follow FINN’S MISSION in your headquarters to learn Hands Only CPR, how to spot a stroke F.A.S.T., and how to help spread awareness by connecting to social media
Our school goal is to raise $5,000 to support the American Heart Association. Last year we exceeded our goal, and the top fundraisers were able to 'slime' Mr. Schabot! If our school reaches the goal this year, then the top fundraisers from each grade level will get to spray silly string all over Mr. Schabot...fun for a worthy cause!
Library News, Mrs Hill
Here in the Library, many new books are on display and tons of old favorites are begging to be read! I love when students ask for book recommendations. Let your child know YOUR favorite childhood books and suggest they ask for those titles here in the Chief Jo Library...we'll find them!
Excited to announce that CJE will have a May Book Fair! More details to come!
Challenge your child to read over Spring Break...nothing better than relaxing with a good book, and our PTO will soon be sharing info about their March Readathon!
Music News, Mrs Pratt
Music at Chief Joseph continues to thrive! In Choir, we just recorded a winter song that was shared with families via Microsoft Teams...hope our Gr 4-5 Choir parents were able to enjoy!
We are now practicing for a Spring Choir Program for parents that will be presented (in person, we hope!) on Wed, May 18 at 3:15! Band and Orchestra students may have their own May performances as well - details to come.
In General Music, we prepared a special song of appreciation for our teachers, and we'll begin a new one this month! We also just finished learning how to compose music; we'll start learning about expressive qualities next. May your month be filled with joy and song!
Computer News, Mrs Hedquist
In the Computer Lab, we continue to work on Digital Citizenship. This month, we'll be talking about online manners and safe online communication.
To encourage students to improve their typing skills, I've brought my old electric typewriter to school - students who advance to 15 wpm on their monthly typing test on our desktop computer keyboards are allowed to try out the 'antique' typewriter!
Students have been working so hard to improve their typing skills. In February, we had 118 students on our Tip Top Typists board - the most ever and a new school record! I can hardly wait to see the results for the March Typing test! Thanks to students for their focus and determination!
iReady Math at home
Our goal is that ALL students make progress - ideally, we'd like all to be on grade level (or above!) in their math ability. Even just 20 min/week of iReady Math work at home can help boost students' skills!!
iReady Math Olympics!
Join our PTO!
Nominations for the 22-23 PTO Board:
Have you considered getting more involved with PTO? Know someone who would be great for a Board position? Now is the time to nominate yourself or someone else for the 22-23 school year PTO board! PTO board positions include President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The PTO is required to have a President, Secretary, and Treasurer to continue operating next year. If you have questions about any of the Board positions or want to nominate yourself or someone else, please email chiefjosephpto@gmail.com.
Look for info soon on the upcoming PTO Readathon!