The Eagle Express
October 22nd, 2017
From Your Plank South Leadership Team
Plank South Families,
Some weeks there is not that much to keep track other weeks (like this one) there is lots to keep track of. Please make sure to read through all the articles to make sure you know what is going on this week as we have Healthy Habits Week, Halloween, and upcoming school and PTSA events! Also, we want you to meet the newest, and furriest, addition to our school community!
Of special note is that this week is Healthy Habits Week where we combine Red Ribbon Week (making healthy choices and staying drug free) and Reading Week (developing healthy minds through reading). Tomorrow (Monday) is Hat Day where students wear hat to signify “Putting a cap on drugs” and bring a book to read during whole school DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time. Don't fret if they don't bring a book, though, since we have lots!
Also, as we did last week, we want to highlight the Prescription Drug Drop-off on Saturday, October 28th. Prescription drug abuse is a major issue for both kids and adults, and though our Plank South kids are still young, this is a great opportunity to get in the habit of properly disposing of prescription drugs and keeping our kids safe! Also, if you're wondering what you can do now to set the stage to keep your child drug-free as they get older this is a great resource with very specific strategies on how to communicate with your child about drugs & alcohol!
For the Calendar!
- Thursday 10/26 – Box Tops and Tyson A+ Label Collection
- Friday 10/27 - Early dismissal 11:20 for Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Saturday 10/28 – Prescription Drug Drop Off 10:00am – 2:00pm
- Sunday 10/29 – Trunk-or-Treat 2:45pm – 4:00pm
- Tuesday 11/7 – Roller Skating Grade 2
- Wednesday 11/1 through Monday 11/13- our Annual Plank South Coat Drive (see flyer)
- Thursday 11/16 - Open House, 6:30-7:30pm
Warm Regards,
Your Plank South Leadership Team
Scott Wilcox & Jen Sullivan
Follow Us!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlankSouth
Monthly Lunch Menus! Food update: The chocolate chip mini pancakes scheduled for Tuesday, October 17 will be maple flavored!
Healthy Habits Week Coming Up (Red Ribbon AND Reading)!
We are combining Red Ribbon Week & Reading week to focus on whole body health.
October 23-27, 2017
Red Ribbon Week is a way for communities to unite and take a stand against drugs. It is meant to provide an opportunity to start conversations with children about making healthy choices and staying drug-free.
Reading Week is a way for our Plank South community to highlight the importance of reading. It is meant to provide an opportunity to start conversations with children about the positive impact of learning to read and becoming lifelong readers.
Students are encouraged to show their commitment to making healthy choices by:
Monday 10/23 - Hat Day: Wear a hat to signify “Putting a cap on drugs” and bring a book to read during whole school DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time.
Tuesday 10/24 - T-shirt Tuesday: Wear your favorite team’s jersey, Plank South spirit wear or any t-shirt with words on it to “Team up against drugs.” See how many shirts you can read throughout the day.
Wednesday 10/25 - Sweatpants Day: “Healthy Living is no sweat” when you wear sweatpants and sweatshirts to school. It is important to get exercise everyday….whole body exercise includes exercising your brain by reading!
Thursday 10/26 - Crazy Sock Day: “Sock it to unhealthy choices” and “crazy for reading”. Wear mismatched or crazy colored socks today and talk to as many people as you can about a book that you are crazy about reading!
Friday 10/27 - Wear Red/Game Day: “Wear Red from Head-to-Toe.” You only live once, so take care of your body from head-to-toe. Classes will play board/card games that require reading.
Halloween!
Halloween! Below are our guidelines for costumes on Halloween. As a general rule, if you’re not sure if it is school appropriate it probably isn’t!
Halloween will be a lot of fun, but we do have kids as young as 4 & 5 in kindergarten and having our children feel safe at school is our highest priority, so please avoid anything that might scare our youngest learners!
Safe footwear (kids still have PE and recess!) is required.
No blood.
No weapons. Also, we know that things like sticks, pool noodles,and plungers make great pretend swords or guns at home, but please make sure your child doesn't bring these pretend weapons to school, either!
No costumes that are in conflict with our CARE behaviors or that make fun of others are allowed.
Halloween Parade: We do have an in-school Halloween Parade. This parade is designed to be an in-school event for the kids to see all the other kids in costume, but we have arranged for parents to be able to see the parade in the cafeteria (9:15 start time). If this is your only chance to see you child dressed up or if you have an in-class event right afterward by all means come and join us. If not, this might be an event to pass on. You will likely only see your child for a few seconds and parking will be very difficult as Plank North also has a parade.
Therapy Dog In-Training!
We want to introduce everyone to the newest member of our school community, our therapy dog in training! Her name, Karuna, which means compassion. Below is a letter of introduction from Julie Erbe, one of our new school psychologists!!!
As a School Psychologist with 27 years’ experience, I’ve come to appreciate the many avenues needed to reach students. For many years, the prospect of using a Therapy Dog in school has intrigued me.
This past summer, I decided to pursue this wonderful project. Thankfully, with myself being new to Plank South, Mr. Wilcox and Mrs. Sullivan were also interested in having a therapy dog at Plank South.
After much research of top breeds for therapy work and visiting litters to find a puppy with the right temperament, I brought Karuna home. She is a Cavapoo ( King Charles Cavalier and Poodle). King Charles Cavaliers are known for their gentle and friendly-to-all nature. Karuna has the hypo-allergenic coat of her Poodle mom, as well as a love of retrieving balls J. Intended to help small children feel comfortable, she is a smaller dog. (Perfect size for cuddling up an a child’s lap to listen to a book J)
Karuna will be a tool to help support students’ social, emotional and learning needs, as well as a presence for all our Plank South community. Therapy dogs have been shown to decrease stress, help support students with anxiety, help deescalate students in distress, and motivate students who face learning challenges. Therapy dogs have proven to be effective in helping students with Autism, language impairments, ADHD, and motor impairments. At Plank South, we look forward to Karuna being part of our school to enhance the climate and culture for all. Therapy dogs bring joy wherever they go.
I am working with a trainer who is qualified to evaluate and certify dogs through Therapy Dogs International. She, and others who have therapy dogs in schools, encouraged starting Karuna at school as a puppy (Dogs in School: Creating a Dog Program in Your School, C. Ricchetti. 2007).
During her training months, Karuna will spend most of her time getting acclimated to the sights, sounds, and smells of school. As a puppy, she will be primarily interacting with adults in school. As she masters target behaviors, she will be allowed to interact with more students. These situations will be under my supervision and where we have parent permission. We look forward to Karuna mastering all her skills so she can interact with more and more students. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the school.
Julie Erbe, School Psychologist
From our Fabulous PTSA!!!
- FACT: 1 in 5 teens have abused prescription drugs
- FACT: Over 160 children go to the ER daily from accidental overdose
- FACT: 1 in 4 adult opioid prescriptions results in addiction
- Kindergarten Lunchroom Helpers –our newest students still need some help navigating through lunch time, and we have opened the sign-up to Kindergarten parents. If you can volunteer to help, please click here.
- We have open positions on the steering committee and for coordinator positions. Click here for more information.
Our next PTSA meeting is on November 14th at 7:00 PM. Hope to see you there!
Michelle Lowe
Plank South PTSA Co-Chair
Prescription Drug Drop Off - Saturday, October 28th, 10:00am – 2:00pm
WHEN, the Webster Health and Education Network, together with the Webster Central PTSA are sponsoring a prescription drug drop-off on Saturday, October 28th, 10:00am – 2:00pm at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, 226 Phillips Road
Turn in your unused or expired medication for safe disposal and receive a free coupon for a slice or Mark’s pizza or fried dough.
Help keep prescription medications out of the wrong hands.
Trunk-or-Treat – Sunday, October 29th 2:45pm – 4:00pm
Planning for the annual PTSA Trunk-or-Treat event is in full swing! We will be parking our cars in the school’s parking lot and opening our trunks so the children can “trick-or-treat” from car to car.
There will be a contest and prizes for the best decorated trunk!
This is a rain-or-shine event and will are looking for 4 – 6 volunteers to help with coordinating the parking. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Katina Tasker at 585-787-4162 or ktasker0304@gmail.com.
Current Volunteer Opportunities