Elm Road Express September 2019
"Putting Dreams into Flight"
From the Desk of Dr. Soto Kile
Welcome Back! It has been a great start to a busy year. I enjoyed seeing everyone at our Back to School Picnic. I appreciate the PTO and their hard work to make this night possible. Please take advantage of the many opportunities you have to become involved in our PTO and in our school. Your active participation in your child’s education makes a positive difference. I enjoyed seeing all of the parents at our recent Parent Information Nights. I look forward to seeing 5th grade parents on September 5th. Please let me know if there is any way I can be of assistance to you and your child. Together we will SOAR!
This will be the only paper edition of the school newsletter this year. The following newsletters will be posted on Elm’s website and the Elm Road Express. If you haven't already registered for Elm Road's Express, please do so. The email will be sent out each weekend, with important weekly information.
Car Riders
- Student safety is important to us! Parents picking up or dropping off children are reminded to have students exit curbside ONLY.
- Please pull up as far as safely possible to the next car before having students exit your vehicle. Please follow the direction of the safety patrol assistants.
- Please refrain from using your cell phones when you are not idling. Use this time to talk with your child or enjoy a read along chapter book. They are young, but for such a little time.
- Tune in and turn off.
- Please help your child memorize their car rider number. This helps dismissal go a little quicker!
- Students will be getting a tag with their car rider number on it next week. They can attach this to their bag in case they forget their number!
Some of our New Staff
Madelyn Beers
Madelyn is our Assistant to the Principal. She has worked in the district as a teacher for 6 years, and is excited to work with the staff and students at Elm Road!
Amy Zache
Kylie Swaby
Dates to Remember
Sept 4th: Picture Day
Sept 5th: 5th grade parent information night at 5:30 pm
Sept 10th: PTO meeting at 2:30 pm
Oct 4th: Elm Road Walk-A-Thon during the school day
Nov 8th: Family Dance- Fall Ball
Picture Day Orders
Volunteering at Elm Road
New this year, before we have volunteers work in our schools, we need you to view and sign the embedded document regarding PHM anti-bullying. Along with this, please make sure you complete the background check and volunteer policy found in the office.
Google Training Form
We are Elm Road Eagles
Website: https://elmroad.phmschools.org/
Location: 59400 Elm Road, Mishawaka, IN, USA
Phone: 574-259-3743
Twitter: @ElmRoadES
STEM at Elm
We are very excited to share that Elm Road is applying to a be a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) certified School through the Indiana Department of Education. This year the staff is incorporating STEM topics in engaging ways to provide students a rigorous and fun learning environment. We have a Maker’s Space in the school where students can go to create, tinker, explore and learn. Our hope is to partner with the community to help provide students a fuller learning experience. We are looking for community partnerships in which we can get volunteers to assist in our STEM projects. We are also seeking donations of supplies that can be used for students to further create and explore the possibilities within STEM. If you know anyone that would be interested in partnering with Elm with our new STEM initiative, please let us know! Be on the lookout for more information regarding STEM as the year goes on!
LIBRARY LINES
We have a “Technology from the Past” display in the library. As we begin our STEM school year. It will be fun to show the students how much things have changed.
The students have been enjoying our library and checking out books. Please help your children take responsibility for the books they are borrowing. Be sure to keep books in a safe place. Please return them within two-week timeline. They all know how to "SOAR" in the library; just ask them!
Reading aloud as a family is a very important way to develop good readers. You may find good suggestions on the Internet at readaloudamerica.org and visit the Public Libraries. Be sure that your children see you reading for pleasure also. Read ANYTHING - from comics, menus, newspapers, magazines, and books of all sorts!
Thank you to all the Volunteers who have come in to help in the library. I truly appreciate your help! We could use more adults (Grandparents) who would be willing to come in the afternoons once a week to read “one on one” with our students during their library times.
Please contact me at school 259-3743 or lknapp@phm.k12.in.us
Read, Enjoy life, and Laugh often -
Linda Knapp,
Elm Road Librarian
Youth Service Bureau
I am the Family Resource Specialist at Elm Road Elementary. I am available to assist families with resources they may need. I also see students individually and in small groups to work on academic, home and/or personal/social issues in order to help them be more successful in school.
This year we are going to be meet every week for Social – Emotional – Learning (SEL) lessons. I am excited to teach skills we can practice together to become more responsible here at Elm Road and in our community.
Reminder-All students receiving small group or individual services need to complete the permission slip EACH year.
Christ Child referral forms are available. Christ Child is a wonderful organization that will help eligible families with new clothes and winter coats for children 12 and under. In order to see if your family qualifies, please give me a call to set up an appointment. All information is confidential.
You can reach me during school hours at 259-3743 if there are any questions. Thank you!
Andrea Shell
Social Emotional Learning Lessons (SEL)
District wide, Kindergarten through 12th grade, students will be doing Social Emotional Learning Lessons that were created using the Indiana State Standards for SEL. Students will receive lessons on skills including: Self-awareness, self- management, social- awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. We are excited for the deeper focus on the integration of these SEL lessons in our daily learning at Elm. We will continue to focus on building community among our staff, students and parents within our school.
Lunch Schedule
Kindergarten: 10:15-10:45 M-F
First: 10:40-11:10 M, T, TH and F
11:30-12:00 W
Second: 11:05-11:35 M, T, TH and F
10:40-11:10 W
Third: 11:30-12:00 M, T, TH and F
11:05-11:35 W
Fifth: 11:55 -12:25 M-F
Fourth: 12:20-12:50 M-F
Notes from the office
It is very important that your child attends school on a regular basis. This allows for a regular routine to be established and shows your children how much you value their education and future! Classes begin promptly at 7:55 AM. Students will be considered tardy if they are not in their seats at the appropriate time. If students arrive late, they must be escorted by a parent/guardian to be signed in at the office. If you are having trouble meeting this time constraint, please consider our corporation transportation system!
Please call the office by 9:00am anytime your child will be absent. Also, please let us know if they will be arriving late or leaving early due to appointments.
If you are sending in money for anything, please make sure it is the exact amount. The office does not have money to make change.
Mrs. Zache's Literacy Corner
Welcome to the new school year! I am Amy Zache, and I am excited to join Elm Road as the Reading Specialist. This is my 13th year teaching and I am honored to be a part of PHM. I love to read, and I am passionate about teaching reading. I love to find creative and multi-sensory activities that engage all readers! I am married to my husband, Mark, and we have two kiddos Ryan (5) and Chloe (3). We have a dog, Tucker, and two goldfish!
As we start the new school year, I wanted to share some of the resources that are available for families. We have a Title I family library that contains a variety of leveled books that are available for home use. There are also reading and math activities that can be checked out. If you are interested in checking out these items, you can contact me or have your child stop by my classroom.
We encourage reading practice at home to help foster literacy! We do not want reading practice at home to be a stressful time for you or your child. Reading practice is not limited to your child reading independently. At times, it is helpful to do a shared reading with your child. To share reading, you can take turns reading pages or chapters with your child. Children also develop a love of reading as they listen to a family member read to them. If your child struggles with reading, audio books are a great way to build vocabulary and reading fluency.
If I can assist you in anyway, please feel free to contact me.
Mrs. Zache
Title I Teacher / Reading Specialist
259-3743 ext 42755
What's happening in gym
Hello! My name is Debbie Parisi and I will be teaching all first grade through fifth grade physical education teacher. I would like to also introduce Sarah Sime, our kindergarten PE teacher. Mrs. Sime will be at Elm on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Mrs. Sime was a kindergarten teacher here for several years, so we welcome her back to our gym!
We are looking forward to a wonderful year of fun-filled fitness with all the children here at Elm Road!
There are a few reminders and items we would like you to read over to help make sure your child has a successful year at school.
- We do have access to Health Care Plans at school, however if your child has any health related issues that would prohibit or limit the amount of exercise that your child can complete, please call me or write me a note.
- Your child is expected to dress appropriately (tennis shoes & comfortable clothing) and participate each gym time unless he/she has a note from a parent explaining why he/she cannot participate. We do have a small collection of tennis shoes that may be borrowed during gym time if shoes are forgotten. We are always accepting more gently used tennis shoes to accompany our collection.
- Discipline is handled in the same manner as the classroom. (2 verbal warnings, 5- minute time-out, isolation, office visit). If behavior is excessive, parents will be notified through phone calls or letters.
- Incentives and awards will be given at times as positive reinforcement for those who follow rules, show good sportsmanship and respect, display great effort, use teamwork, and cooperate.
- During gym, we will be playing cooperative games, participating in the Minds in Motion maze, completing fitness testing, and learning about the components of fitness (muscle strength, flexibility, & cardiovascular endurance). Some of the units we will be covering this year are soccer, basketball, volleyball, fire safety, skating, heart course, dance, jump rope and hockey. Your child will also be introduced to numerous fitness games, warm-ups and stretches.
Let’s have a fantastic year!!!
Debbie Parisi and Sarah Sime
Greetings from the elm road music room!
In the month of September we will be studying composer John Williams. Here's a little more of what each grade is working on:
1st: Singing Voice vs. Speaking Voice, Keeping a Steady Beat
2nd: So, Mi, and La songs. Introductory instrument activities
3rd: Do, Re, Mi, So and La. Sixteenth Notes
4th and 5th: Recorder Units
All students will use my website this year for eLearning. 4th and 5th grade will use it regularly to practice their recorder music at home and their program music at home.
Email me with any questions!
Mrs. Nakayama