Happy Friday, Lil Steamer Families!
January 31, 2019
From the desk of: Principal Hoese
So much to say, such little time!
I wanted to express my sincerest gratitude for all of the families, students, staff, and volunteers that helped make Family Fun Night such an amazing experience! It was great to see the excitement on our students' faces. The following day as I popped into classrooms for my morning visits, the students shared which rooms were their favorites. I was amazed at how EVERY room was the favorite of at least a few students!
I feel the event was even grander than the original design thanks to an idea of Mrs. Germann to contact the Kiwanis Club to use their large tent. The Kiwanis Club happily obliged and assisted in the setup and teardown. We are very fortunate to have such an amazing organization in our community.
On another note, I am excited for the Super Bowl this weekend as a classmate of mine, Ryan Reynolds, will be there as he is an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. Ryan attended the University of Iowa, became a grad assistant, and eventually moved on to UCLA and Arizona State before making the move to Kansas City. He is representing the FHS Class of '99 and our community well!
I also found out recently from my cousin that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo attended Rolling Meadows High School here in Illinois before moving on to Eastern Illinois University. The significance of that fun fact is that my uncle, Robert Hoese, was the first principal of RMHS. And, the football field was renamed Robert A. Hoese Field in his honor.
So, it's pretty neat to have some ties to both teams on Super Bowl Sunday. Oh, and bring on the chips, dips, and commercials, too!
Family Fun Night!
Tuesday Night FES held their Family Fun Night with an outstanding turnout of 400+ people from our Steamer Nation Community. While in attendance students and their families had the opportunity to stop in the Snack Shack for a variety of fun edible snacks. Once leaving, the gym was filled with an amazing Big Top tent filled with lighting and seating to sit under and read as many books as they wanted. There was an origami craft in the art room assisted by our Art teacher, Mr. Stizmore. In two of our classrooms, students in different grade levels had fun and engaging math games. In one of our third grade classrooms, students had the opportunity to play several games, color a clown picture, and so much more. While in the library, students and their families could wait for a balloon made by our very own Ms. Strehlow, ride the mechanical horse and while waiting enjoying some popcorn made by Mrs. Pannell. Students in the STEM lab were able to explore Osmos, Keva Planks, Merge Cubes and Virtual Reality. Students could also get GROOVY and recite poetry under Disco lights and with a microphone. On the way out the door, students were able to pick a book to take home and get photo at the photo booth. Thank you to all who attended this event and we can’t wait until next year!!!! It was so much FUN!!!
From the desk of: Counselor Mrs. Meumann
We joined nearly 15 million students in 27,656 schools in 115 countries in participating in the Great Kindness Challenge. I want to extend a big “Thank You” to parents for encouraging their children to participate. I witnessed children doing kind acts such as offering to play with someone who was alone or sharing their quarters with other children so that they could ride the horse in the LRC. Children are encouraged to continue to spread kindness every day. Sometimes all it takes is a friendly smile and a helping hand.
Preschool Screening
5 Essentials Survey
The overall parent response rate is 16% from River Bend CUSD 2 for the 2020 Illinois Parent Survey. As a reminder, schools need 20% of their parents to respond in order to receive a report.
The survey closes on February 14, 2020.
Here are the parent response rates for schools in River Bend CUSD 2:
Early Step Pre-School: 21% --WE MET THE MINIMUM! PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU HAVEN'T!
Fulton High School: 7%
River Bend Middle School: 17%
Fulton Elem School: 22% -- THE MORE RESPONDENTS THE BETTER! VALUABLE FEEDBACK!
Please take a few moments to complete the 5 Essentials Survey if you have not done so.
Arnie does everything!
Luau in Kindergarten!
Kindergarten students enjoyed a luau party to finish the week learning about letter Ll. Students played games, ate a special snack of goldfish and Hug juice with an umbrella straw! They also watched the movie, Moana Each student received a lei! Pictured are students in Miss Dornbush’s and Mrs. Sikkema's class.
MLK in 1B
Students in 1B learned about the peaceful fight Martin Luther King Jr. led for African Americans. His message was “We should not be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character.” Students compared the outside of the eggs and cracked them open to see we are all the same on the inside even if we look different on the outside. Students finished the lesson by drawing a portrait of MLK.
Beating the winter blues in 2A!
Instead....A White Out Happened during Cozy Cave Day! The students read in cozy caves, wrote what life would be like in an igloo, practiced math skills with a snowball fight (along with surprising Mr. Hoese) & in science worked on a polar bear inquiry search along with a snowflake experiment.
3rd Grade has a Visitor!
After reading the informational text Aero and Officer Mike, students in 3rd grade welcomed a special visit from Chief Rollie Elder of the Erie Police Department and his K-9 Officer Dog Nicom. The students enjoyed demonstrations, learned about Nicom's history, and discussed how the K-9 officers help the community.
What if YOU had Animal Teeth?
What kind of eater would I be?
Carnivore?
Herbivore?
Omnivore?
Composting in 3B
They will watch the decomposition process over the next few weeks.
Garbage: Now you see it! Now you don't!
3C Archeologists
KIDS Heart Challenge
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Our school is participating in a very special community service program to raise funds for the American Heart Association. We’re joining the fight against our nation’s #1 and #3 killers- cardiovascular disease and stroke. Kid’s Heart Challenge (formerly Jump Rope for Heart) is a nationwide educational fundraising event that helps students learn about the benefits of regular physical activity and heart health while raising funds to fight heart disease and stroke. The money our school raises will fund potentially lifesaving research and will support programs that help people in our community.
Most people don’t realize that the roots for cardiovascular disease in adults often begin in childhood from age 10 and even younger. That’s why it’s important to make changes now to help your children and other family members. Eat healthy foods, stay physically active and live tobacco-free.
Kid’s Heart Challenge is a fun and effective way to teach heart-healthy living. It emphasizes the importance of physical activity as our children do something they enjoy by jumping rope.
Please sign your child’s consent form to allow him or her to participate if you would like them too. The money you contribute will fund research that will save more lives each year. Our efforts can truly make a difference.
Last year K-5th grade raised $3,750 towards this worthwhile event. The school goal this year is $4,000. The students will earn prizes depending on the amount they collect. Just remember that it is the district’s policy that no student can go door-to-door to collect money. There are also directions to make an online donation site.
We will also be making an honor/memory wall for those that have been affected by heart disease or stroke.
All envelopes are due no later than Monday, February 10th to be eligible for prizes.
Sincerely,
Michelle Rausenberger
Chris Ketelsen
Physical Education Teachers
Fulton Elementary School
Thank You From the PTO!
The PTO was able to raise $1,700 from the bake sale at the Eric Ottens Memorial Shootout on Saturday, January 26! Thank you to everyone who donated their time, energy, effort, or bought goodies! These funds will be used towards the FES playground project that will occur this summer.
Big Top Books!
Two classes will enjoy a carnival style lunch served in the LRC for having the most minutes read. Several classes are very close in minute accumulations. Read-a-thon donations and pledges can be brought to the LRC or the office for PTO for new playground equipment. Big Top Books circus show will be coming to a close. Fulton Elementary students and staff read 94,031 minutes during the month of January. The 2 top classes for reading minutes were 2B with 6830 minutes and 3C with 6819 minutes. There was only 11 minutes difference between the 2 classes. Congratulations. On Tuesday, February 4, 2B will have a special carnival lunch and games during their lunch and recess time in the library. On Thursday, February 6, 3C will have a special carnival lunch and games during their lunch and recess time in the library. The Read-A-Thon slips are coming to school for PTO to go toward the new playground equipment. Please send your donations or pledge money to the library. Trigger, the quarter horse, from Riverfront Antiques in Clinton, has made a lot of new friends and has collected a LOT of quarters for PTO's new playground equipment. Trigger will be here another week and is still anxious to make more new friends and collect more quarters for PTO. A special thank you to Riverfront Antiques for lending their beloved quarter horse for the month. Thank you to Dave Ensinger for sponsoring all the popcorn that was made in the popcorn machine owned by Chris Barnett. The library was transformed into another magical place for the January Reading Incentive. A special thank you to Paula Ensinger, Susie Pannell and LeAnn Smith for making the library into Big Top Books circus. It has been a very busy month with a lot of books read, family time, stickers, and candy. Thank you for your support as we encourage students to become lifelong readers.
Thanks again LeAnn Smith
UPCOMING EVENTS
PTO Meeting
Tuesday, Feb 4, 2020, 06:00 PM
Fulton Elementary School, 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Happy Joe's Night
Wednesday, Feb 5, 2020, 05:00 PM
Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream - Clinton, South 1st Street, Clinton, IA, USA
Wendy's Night
Wednesday, Feb 12, 2020, 05:00 PM
Wendy's, North 2nd Street, Clinton, IA, USA
Fulton Elementary School
Email: jhoese@riverbendschools.net
Website: riverbendschools.org/fes
Location: 1301 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Phone: (815)589-2911
Twitter: @FultonSteamers