PRAIRIE POST
February 22, 2019
Message from the Principal
This has been another great week at Prairie. One of the key highlights was the Step It Up For Heart program. Our scholars were excited to participate, and we appreciate your willingness to support us. We will be providing updated information regarding the Step It Up For Heart program in the very near future. We want to thank you for your patience as this is the first year that we are participating in the Step It Up Program. We will continue to provide you updates about our progress.
Next week is a tremendous week of learning at Prairie. We will end our Black History Month Celebration with two performances next week. The UMOJA People will have a presentation for our scholars, and then we will have the OnFYah Milwaukee Dancers in the evening. We are inviting you and your families to come and be a part of the festivities. This would not be possible without the collaboration and support of the Culture Committee and the PTA.
I am excited to launch Read Across America next week as well. The list of activities and special days for Read Across America are listed below. Reading is near and dear to my heart, and we can not wait to have a celebration throughout our school. I am extremely excited for our Third Annual Battle of the Books.
Finally, I want to thank each and everyone that was able to come out and attend conferences on Thursday night. We enjoy sharing the learning progression with all of our families. If you were unable to attend, we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday night. Thank you again to the PTA and all of the families that provided dinner for our staff on Thursday night. We appreciate your generosity and acts of kindness.
This Week In Black History Prairie Learned About...
4th Grade Freedom Quilt
4K Literature Books
3rd Grade Words Have Power Mural
Upcoming Dates
2/22: PTA Talent Show
2/25-3/1: Read Across America Week
2/25: LAST DAY FOR YEARBOOK ORDERS (Extended to Mon, 2/25!)
2/26: Conferences & Book Fair
2/27: Black History Month Programs
3/1: Early Release @1:40 p.m.
3/4: Culver's Night
3/10: PTA Day @ Skateland
3/12: PTA Meeting
3/14: Learner Engagement Night
3/15: Student Council Meeting
PTA News
We could use your help during parent teacher conferences. Our teachers stay late on February 26th, and the PTA is providing them dinner. Please go to our sign up genius to help feed our teachers that night. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d4eada622a7f94-conference2
Scrip orders are due March 1st. There was a scrip order sheet that went home with your scholars. This program is another easy way to earn money for Prairie. Just buy gift cards to places that you normally visit and those companies give us a percentage back from each gift card. If you have any questions, please email Lisa Franz at lbfranz2003@gmail.com
Culver's night is March 4th from 5-8pm. 10% of all sales goes directly to the Prairie PTA.
PTA meeting was cancelled for the month of February due to the weather. We will resume with our meeting on March 12th from 6:30 to 7:30. Remember there are Red Cross certified babysitters for school aged children. If you are unable to make the meeting, please join us on our Facebook Live site.
Skate night is back. Join us on March 10th from 3:30 to 5:30 at Skateland in Waukesha. The cost is $6.00 per skater, including skates.
Read Across America Week
Prairie will be celebrating Read Across America Week the week of February 25th through March 1st. The week's activities will be paired with different Dr. Seuss books and dress up days. Prairie will be having mystery readers, buddy reading, and an all-school read in. Please see the attached flyer with the specific dress up days.
Black History Month Celebrations
At 2:15 p.m. , our scholars will attend a performance in the gym by UMOJA People. This is an African story teller/spoken word program.
In the evening at 6:00 p.m., we will be entertained by the ONFYAH Milwaukee dancers in the gym. Please join us if you can! It will be a fun evening.
Make up Days for Inclement Weather
School will be extended one day at the end of this year to Monday, June 10, 2019, due to our multiple snow days this year. Click below for the district's message.
Yearbook Orders
Waukesha Sings!
3rd, 4th and 5th grade families,
There is an awesome Choir Festival happening on April 6th at Waukesha West High School. This will be a district-wide day of singing and performing with other elementary students from Waukesha. Please see the flyer and website for more information and how to register your child for this event! Please talk to Mrs. Wirth if you have any questions!
Registration deadline is Friday, March 1, 2019.
Optimist Swim Meet
WAUKESHA OPTIMIST CLUB
2019 Elementary School Swim Meet
Saturday, April 6th, 2019
CALLING ALL 3rd, 4th and 5th GRADERS!
Do you like to swim? Do you like to dive into the pool? If so, then you should consider
joining the Prairie Swim Team.
Practice will begin in mid-March (Dates listed on permission slip below). We are only allowed up to 5 practices to prepare for the meet. Swimmers are encouraged to attend as many practices as possible. We understand families have other commitments which may not allow swimmers to make every practice.
This event is for beginner/novice swimmers in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, to give them the opportunity to see what a swim team and a swim meet are like. Most importantly, it is to have FUN with friends and teammates.
The events are grouped by grades, 3rd graders vs. 3rd graders; 4th graders vs. 4th graders; and 5th graders vs. 5th graders. Girls race against girls; Boys race against boys. Individual 25 yd swimming events will have preliminary races and a final race of the top 8 finishers. Relay and 50 yd. events will be timed finals. Each swimmer can only participate in two individual events.
NOTE: Swimmers must not have been on a competitive swim team after October 2018!
PLUNGE
The plunge is a dive into the water and participants glide as far as possible for distance.
SWIM EVENTS
25 yd Freestyle
25 yd Backstroke
25 yd Breaststroke
50 yd Freestyle
100 yd Freestyle Relay - 4 Swimmers. Coaches will announce relay teams at practice.
REQUIREMENT:
All swimmers MUST be able to swim unassisted 1 length of the pool or 25 yards.
We look forward to meeting all of our new teammates soon!
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call or email me.
Randy Booth
262-970-2277
Soup-er Bowl for the Food Pantry
Thank you from Student Council for your support of this community service project! Our Student Council personally delivered the soup to the Food Pantry today.
Step it Up
A big thank you to all Prairie families for helping our school during the Step It Up for Heart Fundraiser. Since our fundraiser is almost over, please log in online and check your totals to be sure you reached the prize levels you wanted. If you collected any cash or checks, please return them to Mr. Booth as soon as possible.
ALL scholars will be able to celebrate our success by participating in the DAY OF AWESOMENESS that will be held in June. The DAY OF AWESOMENESS is a giant “Super Party” with obstacles - inspired by the TV shows, American Ninja Warrior and Wipeout! It is an amazing day of fun and celebration filled with obstacle courses, a DJ dance party, a VIP chill lounge, plus rewards. Any scholar who raised money and earned rewards will receive them at the Day of Awesomeness.
Our tradition of holding an after school jumping event for 3rd-5th grade continued this year with over 70 jumpers participating. A great time was had by all and everyone certainly got a good workout for their own special heart.
A BIG thank you to the following:
The PTA for providing funds to purchase healthy snacks for the jumpers.
To Mr. Griffin for supporting our event.
To all parents/guardians for supporting their scholars in this cause to help others.
To all the Prairie staff members who have supported this event.
To Mrs. Anderson for being Mrs. Anderson - Always willing to help in any way.
Family Mental Health Nights
You are Invited to Join...
Community Mental Health Partnership Parent Nights
-Informational sessions for Parents and Guardians-
Trauma, Security, and Good Enough Parenting
February 27, 2019 from 6:00pm-7:30pm
Lowell Elementary
140 N Grandview Blvd, Waukesha, WI 53188
All Parents want what is best for their children...so let's learn what it means to be the “Good Enough” parent, understand how trauma impacts all of us, and provide security and emotional support for our children.
Building Resiliency: Healthy Bodies and Minds
March 20, 2019 from 6:00pm-7:30pm
Prairie Elementary
1801 Center Rd, Waukesha, WI 53189
Building resiliency empowers children to grow from the challenges they are faced with. Starting with the body and the mind, let's develop skills that help on a daily basis.
How can I Help? Increasing my Child’s Emotional-Regulation
May 21, 2019 from 6:00pm-7:30pm
Hawthorne LAB School
1111 Maitland Dr, Waukesha, WI 53188
All parents have experienced tantrums, but when should parents reach out for help? What can parents do to increase their children’s self-control skills and learn effective ways to de-escalate their children.
The Community Mental Health Provider (CMHP), Amanda Rochwite, ATR, LPC of Family Service of Waukesha is preparing three informational sessions for parents or guardians to provide knowledge, support, and useful tools. Each session will be hosted at a School District of Waukesha Elementary School. Parents and Guardians are welcome to attend all three sessions. Refreshments will be provided.
Amanda Rochwite is an art therapist and licensed professional counselor employed through Family Service of Waukesha. Her position is funded by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to provide mental health support in 5 School District of Waukesha elementary schools. Her role is to build and support educator and parent understanding and ability to adapt mental health concepts into useful strategies to effectively reach and teach students influenced by mental health challenges.
Physical Education Newsletter
School Psychologist Updates
School Counselor Newsletter
See below for monthly newsletter from our District School Counselor, Heidi Edwards:
Raptor Check In Procedures
Health Room News
As a reminder, ANY medication (including cough drops) must have paperwork on file in the Health Room. All medications must be dropped off and picked up by parents.
Safe Arrival Attendance Program
Prairie has implemented the District's new Safe Arrival attendance protocol. Please read the information on the link below:
Lunch & Recess Schedule
Free & Reduced Lunch
Free & Reduced Lunch Information
Paper copies are also available in our office. Please direct any questions you may have to Jessica Huinker at 262-970-1048.
Background checks
School/Community Activities
All school and community activities are now being posted on the Waukesha School District website under the Community tab and then "Community Connections". Here is the link for easy reference. We also have the same information posted on the Prairie Elementary Website under the "For Families" tab and "Community Connections". Here is the link for your convenience. In addition, these flyers are also available through a quick link called "Peachjar" on the home page of both the school and the district websites.
Prairie Elementary School
Email: vanderso@waukesha.k12.wi.us
Website: www.waukeshaschools.com/prairie
Location: 1801 Center Road, Waukesha, WI, United States
Phone: 262-970-2205