Ravine Drive School
October Newsletter
A message from Mrs. Janover
In addition to this monthly newsletter, I will continue to send home Ravine Drive School's Weekly Virtual Backpack. The e-blast will be sent home each Wednesday, providing parents with week-to-week information regarding school news, upcoming events, and information regarding flyers and notices. I encourage you to periodically review your contacts in the Realtime Parent Portal to confirm that you have your current email address and phone numbers listed, as well as the names of any adults you would like to allow to pick up your child. The Parent Portal also contains information regarding your child's schedule, grades (Gr. 1 - 3), and attendance. Progress Reports will no longer be issued as a result of the online gradebook.
The students have been working very hard the first few weeks of school learning about expectations and routines, as well as making new friends. I am looking forward to a fantastic new school year. As always, I encourage you to stay in touch with your child's teachers and be a part of our PTO.
Back to School Night at Ravine Drive School
Morning Arrival
Breakfast is served every morning!
Breakfast is served each morning between 9:10 and 9:20 in the cafeteria. Students can proceed directly to the cafeteria to enjoy breakfast prior to going to their homeroom.
STAR Testing
School lunches in the Cafeteria
Security Vestibule
Practice Math Skills by Measuring With Your Child
Think of how you use math in your daily life. Sometimes, it’s important to get the answer exactly right. You need exactly the right amount of money to buy groceries, for example. But sometimes, an estimate is good enough. You estimate that you’ll probably need about two gallons of paint to paint the bedroom.
Measuring can be a fun way to teach your child both skills—calculating exact amounts and estimating. Make a game of measuring things around the house.
For example, you could get out the measuring spoons. Ask your child, “How many teaspoons do you think it will take to fill one cup?” Have her estimate, then check. Or show her a ruler and have her estimate how long her shoe is. Next, have her measure it. Then ask, “How many shoes would it take to stretch from one side of the door to the other? What would that be in inches?”
On a day when you are indoors, plan a measuring scavenger hunt. Include tasks such as, “Find something that is six inches long.”
- The Parent Institute
Week of Respect - October 3 - 7
School Pictures
School Violence Awareness Week
Monday, October 17
Wear mismatched socks!
"Everyone doesn’t have to be the same to work and play together. Differences make us special. "
Tuesday, October 18
Wear a sweatshirt!
"Good choices are no sweat!"
Wednesday, October 19
Wear a team jersey!
"Team up against drugs and violence!"
Thursday, October 20
Wear sneakers!
"Don't let bad choices sneak up on you!"
Friday, October 21
Wear your Ravine Drive shirt or school colors!
"Good choices are easier when we work together!"
A message from Ms. Koch, Ravine Drive's School Nurse
Debunking 5 Myths about the Flu
- The flu shot doesn’t cause the flu. The shot is an entirely dead virus— it’s impossible for it to replicate in your body and cause infection. The nasal spray is a very weakened strain (imagine a sprinter without legs or a bumblebee without wings) that is unable to replicate in the lungs to cause disease.The most common side effects after the shot or nasal spray are fatigue, low-grade fever, and runny nose (from the nasal spray).
- You may feel like you “don’t get the flu.” Well, chances are that you do or you might. Research shows that anywhere from 5% to 20% of all adults get influenza every year. Anywhere from 10% to 40% of all children get it annually as well. Sometimes it’s just a mild infection; sometimes it’s far worse. You may not know you’ve had it unless a clinician tests you.
- The flu shot doesn’t work. It does work, but like every shot, it’s imperfect. It is possible for someone to still get the flu after a flu shot, but the infection is far less severe when he or she has had the shot. Each year the flu shot can change in effectiveness due to differing strains that are included in the shot and that may circulate in your community. You need a flu shot every year because the influenza virus mutates while moving around the globe.
- I’m healthy, so I don’t need a flu shot. We’re lucky that we’re healthy, but don’t let that fool you. Healthy children and adults die from the flu every year. Often about half of the children who die from influenza (usually a couple hundred each season) are healthy infants and children. About 30,000 people die every year from flu in the United States. The flu shot you get now can help protect you.
- If you don’t “do” flu shots but you now have a child, you must change. Your children, particularly those younger than 4 years, and those infants too young to get a shot (younger than 6 months) are utterly dependent on you getting a flu shot so you don’t bring influenza home to them.
- HealthyChildren.org
Upcoming Events
October 7 - School Spirit Day
October 10 - School Closed - Columbus Day
October 11 - Fire Preventation Visitation
October 12 - School Closed - Yom Kippur
October 13 - PTO Meeting
October 17 - 21 - School Anti Violence Week
October 18 - Parent Teacher Conference letter sent home