Community Nest
"Relationships are the agents of change." Dr. Bruce Perry
Week of September 13 - September 17, 2021
OUR GRAY HAWK MISSION STATEMENT
"OUR GRAY HAWK FAMILY works together to help students feel safe, loved, and inspired so they can be empowered learners and engaged citizens."
Walk to School Wednesday - October 6


Mum Pick Up on Wed. 9/22 between 4:30 and 7:00

Vision and Hearing Screening Update
Nurse MJ will begin our hearing and vision screenings in the weeks ahead and wanted to remind everyone to make sure that children are bringing their glasses to school if they wear them.
We have decided to follow KDHE student screening guidelines and instead of screening every student, every year, we will be screening them every OTHER year, starting with Kindergarten. Students in Kindergarten, second, and fourth grade this year. The exceptions to this guideline are that every student new to the district will be screened, as well as any of our students receiving special education services or students deemed at "high risk".
HOMECOMING FLOAT/PARADE September 30

Tik Tok Challenge Awareness

Promoting Diversity
I was born on September 8, 1954 and was the youngest person involved in the Civil Rights Movement.
I was the first African American to integrate an all white school in the South.
I was escorted to school by federal police to make sure that I was safe on my way to and from school.
My first grade teacher, Mrs. Henry, always believed in me!
Who am I?
...........................................................................................................................................................
Teachers discussed their guesses with their students each day until we revealed that the person of the week was Ruby Bridges. They were then given a video that introduced OUR GRAY HAWKS to Ruby and her accomplishments. You can check out the video below:

Diverse Literature
Patricia Polacco is an American author and illustrator. Throughout her school years, Polacco struggled with reading but found relief by expressing herself through art. Polacco was discouraged in school and did not learn to read until she was nearly fourteen. In junior high school, one of her teachers finally discovered that dyslexia was the reason for her lack of confidence. She has written over 100 books but did not write her first book until she was 41 years old.
Our feature book is “Thank You, Mr. Falker”. This is her tribute to the teacher who finally recognized Patricia’s reading disability and helped her learn to read.
Patricia has written many amazing books and won many awards. Each book tells a story about amazing characters. Check out some of her other works below.
(Thank you Mrs. Kenton and Miss Quinby for another great author!)

Pink and Say He was wounded in a fierce battle and left for dead in a pasture somewhere in Georgia when Pinkus found him. Pinkus' skin was the color of polished mahogany, and he was flying Union colors like the wounded boy, and he picked him up out of the field and brought him to where the black soldier's mother, Moe Moe Bay, lived. She had soft, gentle hands and cared for him and her Pink. But the two boys were putting her in danger, two Union soldiers in Confederate territory! They had to get back to their outfits. Scared and uncertain, the boys were faced with a hard decision, and then marauding Confederate troops rode in. In this Civil War story passed from great-grandfather to grandmother, to son, and finally to the author-artist herself, Patricia Polacco once again celebrates the shared humanity of the peoples of this world. | Chicken Sunday After being initiated into a neighbor's family by a solemn backyard ceremony, a young Russian American girl and her African American brothers' determine to buy their gramma Eula a beautiful Easter hat. But their good intentions are misunderstood, until they discover just the right way to pay for the hat that Eula's had her eye on. A loving family story woven from the author's childhood. | The Bravest Man in the WorldAfter his mother passed away and he was on his own, Jonathan’s grandfather fell asleep hiding in a mail sack and was taken to a ship. When he woke up, he realized he was on the Titanic on its maiden voyage, and it was there that he met Wallace Hartley and Mrs. Weeks, a kind man and woman who took him in. Then one night, the majestic ship hit an iceberg. He and Mrs. Weeks were put on a lifeboat—and Mr. Hartley and his band bravely continued to play to calm the crew and passengers. |
Pink and Say
But the two boys were putting her in danger, two Union soldiers in Confederate territory! They had to get back to their outfits. Scared and uncertain, the boys were faced with a hard decision, and then marauding Confederate troops rode in.
In this Civil War story passed from great-grandfather to grandmother, to son, and finally to the author-artist herself, Patricia Polacco once again celebrates the shared humanity of the peoples of this world.
Chicken Sunday
The Bravest Man in the World
After his mother passed away and he was on his own, Jonathan’s grandfather fell asleep hiding in a mail sack and was taken to a ship. When he woke up, he realized he was on the Titanic on its maiden voyage, and it was there that he met Wallace Hartley and Mrs. Weeks, a kind man and woman who took him in. Then one night, the majestic ship hit an iceberg. He and Mrs. Weeks were put on a lifeboat—and Mr. Hartley and his band bravely continued to play to calm the crew and passengers.
The story of Wallace Hartley is true and he is known throughout the world as a hero. Patricia Polacco offers this stunning and heartbreaking picture book to celebrate the memory and bravery of a single man who used the power of music to comfort thousands of people during a catastrophic situation.
Mr. Lincoln's Way Mr. Lincoln is the coolest principal ever! He knows how to do everything, from jumping rope to leading nature walks. Everyone loves him . . . except for Eugene Esterhause. "Mean Gene" hates everyone who's different. He's a bully, a bad student, and he calls people awful, racist names. But Mr. Lincoln knows that Eugene isn't really bad-he's just repeating things he's heard at home. Can the principal find a way to get through to "Mean Gene" and show him that the differences between people are what make them special? | The Lemonade Club Everyone loves Miss Wichelman?s fifth-grade class—especially best friends Traci and Marilyn. That's where they learn that when life hands you lemons, make lemonade! They are having a great year until Traci begins to notice some changes in Marilyn. She's losing weight, and seems tired all the time. She has leukemia—and a tough road of chemotherapy ahead. It is not only Traci and Miss Wichelman who stand up for her, but in a surprising and unexpected turn, the whole fifth-grade class, who figures out a way to say we're with you. | Holes in the Sky There will never be anyone like her grandmother, Patricia Polacco thinks, when her grandmother passes away. But when she and her family move to California—in the middle of a drought—she meets a new friend, the irrepressible Stewart, and his amazing grandmother, Miss Eula, who not only takes Trisha under her wing, but, with Trisha and Stewart, steps up to lead their entire extraordinarily diverse neighborhood to help a hurting neighbor—and her once lush garden—survive the drought. Trisha's grandmother's old saying about the stars being Holes in the Sky turns out to be Miss Eula's, too, convincing Trisha that she has miraculously discovered another unforgettable grandmother. |
Mr. Lincoln's Way
The Lemonade Club
Holes in the Sky
Trisha's grandmother's old saying about the stars being Holes in the Sky turns out to be Miss Eula's, too, convincing Trisha that she has miraculously discovered another unforgettable grandmother.
FREE MEALS AT GRAY HAWK
Breakfast is "Grab and Go" and has moved down closer to the cafeteria to ensure that the lobby does not get too crowded.
Grab 'n Go Breakfast and Lunch for This Week


GRAY HAWK NEUROSCIENCE NEWS
The other video shows neuroplasticity in action. It is absolutely fascinating and kids and adults alike will be entertained AND learn at the same time. I hope you take a few moments to check it out.
For the latest information from OUR GRAYHAWK PTO check them out on Facebook @grayhawkpto458

USD 458 Safe Return to School Plan 2021/2022
Gray Hawk Elementary School
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