The Pine Bough
Pine River Elementary School Newsletter, February 2019
February Calendar
Growth Mindset and One Word for 2019
Goal-setting is key strategy for employing a growth mindset, so students were asked to choose one word as a focus for the new year. To help them select their one words, students reflected on the following questions:
- What do I want to feel, do, or be?
- What kind of experiences do I want to have?
- What do I want to focus on improving?
In order to create a visual representation of their words for 2019, students worked with partners from different grade levels to make word art pictures in an online program. Kindergarteners partnered with fifth graders, first graders partnered with fourth graders, and second graders partnered with third graders. Words that complemented or supported their focus words were included in their word cloud shapes to serve as strategies for reaching their "one word" goals.
The students' chosen words and digital artwork were nothing short of inspiring!
Science Fair Registration Form (available in office or download below)
Truman Jarsma won the Algonac Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee for 5th grade, which earned his class a pizza party. As a result, all of Mrs. Beach's students were winners!
Cold and Flu Season
We are in the middle of cold and flu season, so here are some tips to help protect your child from getting sick and prevent the spread of germs and illness at school.
1. Know How and When to Wash Hands
One of the most common ways children get colds is by rubbing their noses or eyes after cold virus germs have gotten on their hands. Children often don't wash their hands often enough or well enough at school. Make sure your child knows to use soap and warm water. S/he should scrub all over -- including the back of her/his hands, between fingers, and around nails -- for about 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice). Then rinse well in warm water, dry with a paper towel, and use the towel to turn off the water. Our students are encouraged to wash their hands many times a day in school, especially after using the bathroom and before eating.
2. Reinforce Germ Etiquette
Teach your child to stay away from sick children as much as possible. When children see another child hacking or sneezing. they should move away from the person. On the other hand, your child should cover coughs and sneezes to prevent spreading germs if s/he is sick. When possible, sneeze into a tissue and throw it in the trash right after and then wash hands. Otherwise, s/he should cough or sneeze into crook of her/ his elbow, not her/his hands.
3. Don't Share Personal Items at School
Especially during cold and flu season, children should not share food and drinks. They especially should not share items like lip balms. We do share books, learning materials, and computers at school, but frequent hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer helps reduce the spread of germs.
4. Keep Backpacks Clean
As you know, school backpacks can get pretty nasty from long-forgotten lunches and all the other things children stuff into them. Have your child clean out her/his backpack regularly. Then clean the inside of the backpack with a wet cloth or sanitary wipe to remove spilled food items and dirt.
5. Build Immunity
Help protect your child from the inside as well as the outside. Make sure that s/he gets enough sleep and exercise, avoids stress, and eats a well-balanced diet. Pack healthy lunches and snacks. Encourage her/him to drink water at school to help keep her/his immune system strong.
6. Provide Classrooms Germ Supplies
We appreciate donations of hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and tissues for our classrooms. Teachers may also appreciate soaps with a fun smell or color to encourage lathering up.
7. Follow the East China Elementary Student Handbook Guidelines
Please do not send your child to school with a fever or after s/he has recently vomited.
Please adhere to these guidelines:
From the East China Elementary Student Handbook: The school does not diagnose illness; however, we do exclude any child suspected of having a contagious disease. It is the parents/guardians’ responsibility to notify the school office concerning any specific health problems that their child may have. Students may not attend school if they have had a fever (99.0 degrees or higher), diarrhea, or have vomited within the last 24 hours.East China Schools TODAY
Parent Dashboard for School Transparency
Michigan has adopted the "Parent Dashboard for School Transparency" to provide information about its public schools. The online Parent Dashboard shows the performance of every public school in Michigan.
Families and others can use the dashboard to get a more complete picture of how their child’s school is serving students. They also can use the Dashboard to compare a school’s performance with the average performance of other similar Michigan schools.
State Board of Education members commissioned the Parent Dashboard because they believe that all Michigan residents deserve to easily discover how well public education is serving their children.
The easy-to-use Parent Dashboard:
• was designed with parents to show school information they say is important, and enhanced by ongoing parent feedback;
• provides one easy location where parents and caregivers can view building-level information and data;
• can be accessed on any computer or mobile device;
• offers a more balanced picture of school quality, since it contains information about more than just test scores.
Information in the Parent Dashboard:
• includes nearly 20 different factors—or measures—that parents say are important to them;
• comes from data that are already collected from schools;
• can be viewed for a whole school, or viewers can dig deeper to see performance for certain groups of students;
• can inform decisions and encourage richer conversations about school progress—with students, with other parents, with school leaders, and within communities.
Check out the Parent Dashboard for School Transparency by clicking on the button below.
Kindergarten Registration
Send your student a Valentine through the Pine River Postal Service!
Pine River Postal Service Directory
January Pioneers of the Month
All of our students strive to be motivated learners, as well as model citizens. Each month we will honor students from each class who exemplify the following qualities:
Academic
- Student prepares for classroom activities.
- Student approaches learning with enthusiasm.
- Student has made steady progress in the classroom.
- Student has been working to his/her potential.
- Student completes all assignments and homework.
- Student has a good work ethic and is diligent.
Leadership/ Citizenship/ Character
- Student demonstrates respect of self and others.
- Student assists others in need.
- Student shows acts of kindness.
- Student demonstrates a positive attitude.
- Student displays good conduct.
- Student is a positive role model by example.
- Student participates and puts forth full effort in all areas.
- Student follows school rules.
Kindergarten
Ms. Duda's Class: Skilar Mierendorff and Michael Romeo
Mrs. Schneider's Class: Alaina Parrotta and Emma Shaughnessy
First Grade
Mrs. Jensen's Class: Carlos Reincke and Isabella Smedley
Mrs. Wise's Class: Ellie Gander and Aidan Phelps
Second Grade
Mrs. Kenyon's Class: Maci Jamrog and Jack Murdock
Mrs. Williams' Class: Olivia Groeneveld and McKenzie Becker
Third Grade
Mrs. Koprivica's Class: Kara Yeager and Henry McNabb
Ms. Peterson's Class: Hayden Snively and Charlotte Middel
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Huston's Class: Misha Shah and Henry Askew
Mrs. Ursitti's Class: Samantha Champion and Mason Sagan
Fifth Grade
Mrs. Beach's Class: Timmy Rueba and Molly McNabb
Mr. Griffin's Class: Kaden Pruehs and Zaira Sullivan
Mrs. LaParl's Class: Anne Brennan
Mrs. VanderMeulen's Class: P.J. Will
Pioneer Code of Conduct
Kind,
Courteous,
Respectful,
Responsible,
and always Safe!
February Cafeteria Menus
Healthy Recipe of the Month
Oatmeal Peanut Butter Energy Bites
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups quick cook oats
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tsp. vanilla
INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.
- Roll into bite-sized balls.
Energy Bites
Energy bites are similar to granola bars, but in a smaller, bite-sized form. They are typically made with some combination of grains, nuts or nut butters, dried fruit, and natural sweeteners. These homemade snacks are perfect for children to make themselves. If your child has a nut allergy, opt for soy or sun butter in place of nut butters or replace nuts with seeds.
Here are 20 more kid-friendly energy bite recipes from a variety of bloggers to keep handy at home for lunchboxes, quick snacks, or on-the-go breakfasts.:
- No-Bake Granola Bites from Produce for Kids
- Dark Chocolate Cherry No-Bake Bites from Mom to Mom Nutrition
- Strawberry Almond Oatmeal Bites from Aggie’s Kitchen
- Cranberry Almond Energy Bites from A Cedar Spoon
- Chocolate Almond Protein Energy Bites from Chocolate Slopes
- Cranberry Chocolate Walnut Energy Balls from Family Food on the Table
- Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Chocolate Chip Energy Bites from Healthy Delicious
- Cinnamon Caramel Apple Energy Balls from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Apple Oat No-Bake Bites from My Kids Lick the Bowl
- Cranberry Pistachio Energy Bites from Gimme Some Oven
- No-Bake Pumpkin Pie Energy Bites from Domesticate Me
- Cinnamon Apple Energy Bites from Recipe Runner
- Lemon Energy Bites from The Lean Green Bean
- Dark Chocolate & Blueberry Energy Bites from The Creative Bite
- Raw Vegan Brownie Bites from Happy Healthy Motivated
- Key Lime Pie Energy Bites from Peas & Crayons
- No-Bake Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond Butter Energy Bites from Joyful Healthy Eats
- Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl Energy Balls from The Healthy Maven
- Pecan Pie Energy Bites from Gluten Free Vegan Pantry
- Crispy No Bake Energy Balls from Bren Did
Mission: The mission of the Pine River school community is to work collaboratively, providing an enriched curriculum that allows for intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and creative growth in a positive and safe environment, empowering all children to become productive lifelong learners.
Pine River Elementary is dedicated to the belief that all students can learn and achieve through the combined efforts of the staff, parents, students, and community.