Messages from Memorial
December 2021
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE MEMORIAL STAFF!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It is hard to believe that we are almost through the second quarter of this school year. The last day of the quarter is December 16, which is a half day for students. Please note that students will receive a second and fourth quarter grade in Art, Music, PE and STEM.
Students are currently finishing the second round of NWEA testing in reading and math. These middle of the year tests are used to analyze student growth. When the reports come home, please review them for growth. It is a good time to have a conversation with your child about setting goals and making a plan for improvement. An easy way to improve in reading is to read for 20 - 30 minutes a day. A good way to improve in math is to be able to fluently recall math facts.
It looks like winter has arrived. Please make sure that your child is appropriately dressed for outdoor recess. We go outside each day unless it is 0 degrees or lower, with wind chill, or unless it is too wet. Hats, mittens, snow pants, and boots are required to play in the snow. If you need assistance with any of those items, please contact Mrs. Seip.
I hope that all of you have an extraordinary winter break and very happy holidays.
With Great Respect,
Mrs. Debra Misecko
Dates to Remember
DECEMBER
7 - This Is Our Story (Art and Music at VHS) 7 p.m.
8 - PTO Meeting at 3:30 p.m.
15 - PTO Family Dinner Night at Culvers
15 - Holiday Parties (times vary)
16 - End of Second Grading Period - 1/2 Day of School for Students - Dismissal at noon
17 - January 2 Winter Holiday Break
January
3 -Return to School
7 - Report Cards are available on the Skyward Parent Portal
12 - PTO Meeting
20 - Discover Fair
IMPORTANT DATES TO BE IN SCHOOL:
Grade 3 - IREAD 3 - March 7 - 18
Grades 3, 4, & 5- ILEARN - April 18 - May 13
Mrs. Meyer is Challenging Memorial to Acts of Kindness in December
A BIG THANKS TO PORTER COUNTY PROJECT KIDS FOR OUR NEW SENSORY WALKS!
Habit #4 - Think Win-Win
Memorial continues to focus on sharing The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey. We will talk about one of the 7 Habits each month. The December Habit is Habit #4 - "Think Win-Win" Students are taught that "Think Win-Win" means, "I win, you win, we win." For more information please read more from Dr. Stephen Covey's website.
Digital/Cyber Safety
Some of the other things she shared were:
Specific Apps Parents Should Worry About:
- Tiktok, Snapchat, Google Hangouts, Whisper, and Omegle
Helpful Tips for parents:
- Use monitoring software
- Do not ignore age restrictions
- Check Privacy Settings
- Review account history
- Make realistic rules and consequences
- Know your child's online world
And Resources for more information:
THANK YOU PTO - WE LOVE THE NEW GAGA PIT!
MEMORIAL PTO
We are so excited to announce the PTO Executive Board for the 2021-2022 school year and greatly appreciate their willingness to work in these valued positions.
President - Kristen Elinkowski
Vice President - Rose Gutshall
Treasurer - Megan Taylor
Secretary - Rae Smedley
Stay tuned for more information coming about 21-22 PTO events. They will be shared in the Memorial Newsletter, on the Memorial Elementary PTO Facebook page, and the Memorial PTO Website.
Box Tops for Education Continues
Reminders from Memorial
- Please make sure your child has the appropriate outdoor wear for the weather. We will go outside everyday unless it is 0 degrees, with wind chill, or if it is too wet.
- Please make sure that you are screening for COVID 19 symptoms before sending your child to school. If anyone in the home is being tested, because of symptoms, please wait for a negative result before sending you child to school.
- Follow this link to the VCS COVID 19 Information websites.
- Thank you for following your dismissal plans as written. As always, please call the school office if you are experiencing an emergency and need help with changing your child's dismissal plans.
- Morning supervision and breakfast begin at 8:20. Please drop off your child after 8:20. If they would like to eat breakfast we will send them right in. All other students will be let in the building at 8:30 a.m. The tardy bell rings at 8:45.
- Pick up and drop off should only be done along the school on the curb on Milton Street. Students should not be dropped off or picked up in the school parking lots. The parking lots are not supervised for safety.
- Please consider putting a spare mask in your child's backpack. Some students are experiencing mask malfunctions and losses during the school day.
- Water bottles are important each day, as we only have filling stations available to students.
Memorial Elementary
Email: dmisecko@valpo.k12.in.us
Website: valpo.k12.in.us/Domain/337
Location: 1052 Park Avenue, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Phone: 219-531-3090
Twitter: @Valpo_Memorial