Forever Endeavor
Endeavor Elementary Newsletter --March 2019
Ms. Thistle's Thoughts
Greetings!
Thank you to our families who participated in the PTO sponsored, Muffins in the Morning in February. The turnout was amazing and our students appreciate being able to show off their school. In March, we also have some fun events planned.
The first full week in March we have fun dress-up days planned to celebrate “Read Across America.” Attached is an article about how we as parents can Raise Ready Readers. Overall the article discusses the importance of reading being relaxing and fun. As a busy parent myself, sometimes we have to start bedtime earlier to fit reading time in. The more choices we can give our kids in what they read, the more likely they are to choose to read for fun.
Parent-teacher conferences will be held on March 12th and 14th from 4-7 p.m. Endeavor parents are top notch when it comes to attending these. Many years we have had 100% parent participation, which is awesome!
Thank you for being engaged in your child’s schooling experience. I spend a majority of my time at Woodridge during the week, however I want Endeavor parents to know that I care about your ideas. Please feel free to contact me at any time to talk.
Have a great month and thank you for all that you do for Endeavor Elementary School!
All the best!
Salina Thistle
Endeavor Elementary School
Woodridge Primary School
4k Coordinator
Email: thistles@portage.k1.wi.us
Phone: 608-742-3493
Mark Your Calendars
March 2019
1: Safety Patrol trip permission slips are due today!
1: Dental Day
1: K-8 art show at Portage Center for the Arts 4-6PM
4-8: Dr. Seuss Week, Read Across America (See below)
5: Regional Math 24 Tournament
5: PTO Meeting @ 4:30 p.m.
11-15: Book Fair
12: PK-5th: Peter Pan Musical @ Palace Theater in Lake Delton. Leave @ 8:45 a.m. Return @11:45 a.m.
12 & 14: Elementary P-T Conferences; 4-7 p.m
18-22: Spring Break. No school for staff or students
27: Endeavor Sharing Supper
April 2019
1-26: FORWARD testing begins for grades 3-5
2: PTO Meeting @ 4:30 p.m.
3: Youth Art Madison
12: PTO Spring Raffle - 5:30-7:30 PM
19: Good Friday. No school for students or staff
24: Endeavor Sharing Supper
25: Creative Arts Festival Grades 5/6
Wisconsin FORWARD Testing at Endeavor
Please help us prepare your child for this exam. Here are some ways that you can help and encourage your child.
--make sure your child gets a good night's sleep
--make sure your child has a healthy breakfast EVERY morning
--make sure your child is prepared
--remain calm and upbeat about the test
There is an ONLINE TOOLS TRAINING available for students at http://dpi.wi.gov/assessment/forward/sample-items
If you have any questions, please contact the school.
January Perfect Attendance
Ava B.’s artwork was chosen to be displayed at the SW regional art show in Madison!
Please mark your calendars for the annual K-8 art show at the Portage Center for the Arts
March 1st from 4-6pm.
Congratulations to these students, whose artwork was chosen to be shown at the
Student Art Show (see below).
McKenzie H., Arabella L., Uriah P., Bodee M., Issac T., Jake R., Jaydah G., Isaac M., Gabby R., Cam U., Sami C., Tatum C., Haddie P., Patience W., Noah D., Eternity O., Kaylee S., Carter K., Emma R., Kallee S., and Lilyraye R.
Music with Ms. Janes
March is going to look much like February did in the music room. The 3rd and 4th graders are finishing up their time with the recorder, while the 1st and 2nd graders create their own little musical patterns using the rhythms of playground activities. Soon we will start practicing music for the spring program, but not quite yet!
- Miss Janes
Email: janese@portage.k12.wi.us
Physical Education with Mr. Schuette
Email: schuettet@portage.k12.wi.us
Counselor's Corner with Ms. Brown
LET’S TALK SCREENS!
Our kids exposure to screens/media is everywhere; TV, movies, tablets, video games, cell phones, Ipads, Ipods, and computers. There is a lot of wonderful uses for media that provide education and entertainment for all of us and our families. Yet media is not always a positive thing. There are dangers in media use that as parents and educators, we must protect our children from. We, as the adults in our children’s lives, must keep on top of the advances in media and protect our kids from non age appropriate materials.
Children’s brains are not fully developed, specifically the part of the brain, the pre-frontal cortex, responsible for critical thinking, judgement, problem solving and impulse control. When children or teenagers view media showing violence, or harmful stereotypes, their own ideas, feelings and behaviors are impacted. Without guidance from a trusted grownup, repeated exposure to these types of media may lead to an increase in aggression and a decrease in empathy.
Screen-based devices are also making kids more stationary, and stationary behavior is tied to being overweight and even obesity in young people.
Nothing takes the place of the things that are proven to be best for little kid’s bodies and minds like talking, playing, growing bored, and learning how to do stuff.
Here are some helpful tips for setting guidelines on media and screen time;
Preview media that your child is interested in before you allow them to view/play it.
Stick to rating recommendations. They exist for a reason.
Limit screen time to no more than 1-2 hours per day. Let them earn an extra ½ hour on weekends or summer days by doing an extra chore or reading a book. Stick to these limits.
Keep your kids bedrooms free of screens: no TV, game systems, laptops, tablets or cell phones.
Use your parental judgement. Your kids are counting on you to set their limits!
~American Heart Association and Common Sense Media
Email: brownde@portage.k12.wi.us
Nursing Notes with Ms. Hon
Multi-State Measles Outbreak
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has reported measles cases are currently occurring in ten states. The following is information about measles and how to prevent it.
Measles is a viral infection that causes fever, cough, a rash, sore eyes, and can lead to serious complications. Measles spreads very easily, so it is important to protect against infection. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles.
For further details about measles, and the vaccine MMR, please go to: https://www.portage.k12.wi.us/district/cd.cfm
Parents may check their child’s immunization records that are on file with school by going into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal Health section. Call me to discuss resources for where to obtain vaccines. 608-742-4867, ext. 4131.
Email: honv@portage.k12.wi.us
Library Media Center
In Mrs. Steinhaus' library class, we finished up talking about all of our Flat Stanley's and their adventures. What an awesome array of participants and all of the different ideas and locations for adventures is amazing. (see photo below)
Mrs. Petrulis' library class just finished Hank Zipzer: Niagara Falls or Does It?. Did you know that the Hank Zipzer series is written by actor Henry Winkler? You may remember him from the series Happy Days. He struggled with dyslexia, but overcame his learning disability and is a successful author along with being an actor.
Henry Winkler has written 17 books in the Hank Zipzer series. We will continue with the second book in the series Hank Zipzer: I Got a "D" in Salami
In Mr. Hammer's library class, we just finished reading Joey Pigza Swallowed a Key. Joey is a boy who has heart, a mom who loves him, but he has "dud meds". Joey has ADHD, and makes bad choices because of the challenges of his hyper-activity. We will be continuing the Joey Pigza series with Joey Pigza Loses Control.
Five students participated in the Battle of the Books on Thursday, February 14th at the District level. They will be participating at the State level on Thursday, February 28th. Best of luck to Isaac M., Ava B., Blake B., Haddie P., and Sami C. (see photo below)
Positively PTO
The Scholastic Book Fair will be taking place during the week of March 11th through 15th-- lunches and during Parent Teacher conferences. If you are able to help out with the staffing, please sign up on the link below. The online store is also open for purchases from March 6th - March 19th.
It's that time of the year for our Annual Spring Raffle and Silent Auction. Raffle tickets will be sent home with the youngest child in the family the first week in March. Parents are asked to try and sell 10 tickets per child or 20 per family. The Spring Raffle and Auction will take place on Friday night, April 12th, from 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM. If you would like additional tickets to sell, please contact the office. Prizes will be given to the top three sellers. If you have something or a service that you would like to donate for the auction, please contact a PTO member or the office.
The next meeting for the Endeavor PTO is this coming Tuesday, March 5th at 4:30 PM at the school library. The students of parents who attend the meeting are put in a drawing to win a Culver's gift card.
Endeavor Elementary School
Website: https://www.portage.k12.wi.us/end/
Location: 414 South Church Street, Endeavor, WI, USA
Phone: (608)587-2625
Goals
Portage Community Schools District Goals
District Curriculum Goal: Each student will make at least one year of growth in each curriculum area.
District Behavior Goal: As a school community, we will increase behaviors that promote learning and respectful interactions.
District Professional Development Goal: We will provide Professional Development for staff that increases learning for all students.