Simon Elementary School Newsletter
April/May 2018
From the Principal
With that in mind, supporting your child in a positive manner through the next nine weeks can help them achieve to his/her potential. A full list of what this could look like would be exhaustive, but in a May 2012 article in Today's Parent, Cheryl Embrett offers tips and advice that offer a good basis.
Stick to routine
As tempting as it is to slip into summer-relaxed mode, don’t abandon the routines and structures you’ve relied on all year. Now that it’s light outside later, the kids may be clamouring for you to move back bedtime, but they still need to be tucked in at a reasonable hour. “I sometimes see parents out shopping with their kids at 9:30 on a school night,” says Smith. “They’re relieved that things are winding down and they think it doesn’t matter. But if my kindergarten-aged kids don’t get enough sleep, they cry, they’re cranky and they can’t do their work.” The same holds true for older kids—and exhausted parents.
Regular routines, including healthy snacks and lunches, also help kids cope with the excitement of movie days, field trips and other end-of-school treats and activities. “I’ve seen some kids who are just ‘Woo-hoo!’ out-of-control this time of year,” says Mayne. “It helps to reinforce that although things may be a little more free-form at school, your expectations and the teacher’s expectations for behaviour are still the same.”
Take it outside
Research shows that spending more time outdoors improves children’s concentration in school, lessens aggression and improves their ability to cooperate. It’s “a giant relief valve for everyone in the family,” writes outdoor lifestyle expert Rebecca Cohen in 15 Minutes Outside, a month-by-month collection of 365 easy and enjoyable ways to get out of the house and connect with your kids.
Try moving homework outside whenever possible—your kids will enjoy the novelty and be less likely to complain. Draw math equations in chalk on the driveway, act out a history lesson in the local park or curl up on the front porch to read aloud. “If you give kids lots of opportunities to be outside after school and in the early evening, they won’t be looking out the window as much during the school day thinking, ‘Oh, I wish I was out there,’” says Mayne. All that fresh air and the opportunity to let off steam also makes tackling any remaining after-dinner homework and bedtime easier.
Plan ahead
Get a head start on preparing your child to make the transition from one grade to another, and from in-school learning to summer learning. If she’s struggling at school, schedule a meeting with the teacher and get some suggestions on enriching summer activities to help her improve her skills, advises Smith. If you’re planning a trip, pick up a few books about the places you’ll be visiting. Reading a child’s edition of Anne of Green Gables, for example, will fuel your child’s imagination about PEI, if that’s your destination. Tying your vacation to literatureor— literature to your vacation—is a great way to encourage reading in those last few weeks of school and into the summer.
Your child might also enjoy writing and illustrating a letter of introduction to next year’s teacher, or to a younger student who will be in her grade level the following year telling her what to expect and how to prepare. (It can be as simple as “Buy a good lunchbox, find out where the bathrooms are and have fun!”) Check in with her current teacher first, or suggest it as a class project.
Acknowledge progress
Encourage your child to reflect back on her school year and think about what she’s learned, what was challenging, how she dealt with it and what she’s proud of. Mayne and her daughter would sit down together to sort through all the artwork, projects and writing that she collected over the year and choose a few pieces to keep as mementos. “There was a lot of, ‘Omigosh, look at what my printing used to look like,’” she laughs. “It’s a real motivator for kids when they look back at their work. It reinforces just how far they’ve come.”
As the kids count down (and you do, too!), start planning something special to mark the last day of class. It’s important to end the year on an upbeat note, says Smith, whether it’s a school’s-out scavenger hunt, a class picnic in the park or a backyard barbecue complete with cake and balloons. “School isn’t just about academics, it’s very much a social thing, too. Kids need a chance to celebrate the friendships and relationships they’ve made in the classroom all year.” And after a year of packing lunches, overseeing homework and getting little dawdlers out the door on time, parents deserve to join in the celebration, too.
Source: Embrett, Cheryl. Tips to get your kids through the end of the school year. May 2, 2012.
Accessed online at https://www.todaysparent.com/family/tips-to-get-your-kids-through-the-end-of-the-school-year/
2018-2019 Kindergarten Registration
Children turning five years old on or before September 1, 2018 will be able to attend kindergarten during the 2018-2019 school year. Kindergarten Pre-enrollment can be completed online anytime between now June 1. The sooner this can be done, the better. After completing the pre-enrollment, you will receive more information about the next steps of the registration process.
To complete Pre-enrollment, please click here, visit www.winnebagoschools.org/schools/simonand follow the link on the page, or stop by the Simon office.
Registration for the 2018-2019 School Year
Student registration packets for the 2018-19 school year will be sent home in early May.
The sooner the registration packets are completed and returned, the deeper the payment discounts.
Students WILL NOT receive a registration packet if there is a question regarding residency or if you have moved to another location in the district and have not verified your new address in the district or unpaid registration fees.
We will not take parental requests for your child’s teacher for next year nor can we honor requests to make sure certain students are not placed in the same classroom with your child. These requests will only be taken as “parental advisement” by the teacher and principal and will not be guaranteed.
All (K-5) classroom placements will be finalized by Mr. Hickerson (EC/PREK- grade 2) and Mr. Monahan (grades 3-5). Class lists will be posted on Friday, August 17 at each elementary school. ALL registration material must be on file with the school office by Wednesday, August 15 for your child's name to appear on a class list.
Preschool Screenings - 2018-2019 Enrollment
Winnebago CUSD #323 will hold preschool screenings for the 2018-19 school year on Monday, June 4 and Tuesday, June 5.
The preschool screening is to determine eligibility for our preschool program and for you to have a better understanding of your child's strengths and areas for improvement. We encourage everyone with preschool aged children (ages 3-5) to participate in screening regardless of your interest in the program.
The screening will assess your child’s developmental skills in the following areas: academic concepts, gross and fine motor skills, speech and language, social, behavior, self-help skills, and vision and hearing.
Screening appointments take approximately one hour. Children have to be 3 years old at the time of the screening on either June 4 or 5. The screenings will be held at Dorothy Simon Elementary located at 309 S. Benton St. in Winnebago.
Please help us pass the word to anyone you know with children between the ages 3-5. Appointments can be made by calling the Simon office at 815-335-2318.
PTO: Art Show Raffle Items Needed
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080c48aeae28a0f58-artshow
If you are interested in contributing, click on the link above to sign up. Please send all donations to Simon or McNair by April 25. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Outstanding Lunch Balances
It is VERY important to keep your child’s lunch accounts up to date between now and the end of the year. We will not allow students to charge lunches. If you have questions about your account balance, please call Beth Swigart at Simon 335-2318 between 7:15 –3PM.
Also, the last day that Simon will serve breakfast will be Friday, May 26.
Calendar of Events
PTO meeting
Monday, Apr 16, 2018, 03:30 PM
McNair Board Room
Dorothy Simon Elementary School
Email: hickersonb@winnebagoschools.org
Website: www.winnebagoschools.org
Location: 309 S Benton St, Winnebago, IL, USA
Phone: 815-335-2318