Peek at Our Week February 5, 2024
Paonia K-8 School
Paonia K-8 School Info
Email: sam.cox@deltaschools.com
Website: pk8.deltaschools.com
Location: 846 Grand Avenue, Paonia, CO, USA
Phone: 970-527-4882
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pk8.ppo
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear PK8 Families,
In our continuing effort to provide families with strategies to support students with homework, here are some tips to help students slow down and do their best work. These strategies were written by Kate Kelly.
- Set aside a specific amount of time for homework every weekday. You can even use a homework contract to create a schedule. Having a set time for homework can help your child get used to the idea of homework. It also takes away the incentive to speed through work so they can go play. The rule of thumb for grade school is 10 minutes of homework per grade every night. So if your child is in third grade, your child should spend about 30 minutes a day on homework. If kids finish early, they can read, write a letter to their grandparents, or play educational games online.
- Use a timer. You can use a computer, a phone app, a stopwatch, or even an egg timer. Divide your child’s homework into timed segments. Set the timer to go off at the end of each homework task and reset the timer for each one. Encourage your child to work without stopping until the timer goes off. Having a visual and audible reminder gives your child a sense of how much time homework tasks should take. It also reminds them that they have a set amount of time, which could help with focus.
- Help your child get in the right mindset to do work. If kids are tired or stressed out from the day’s events, they may rush through their homework just to be done with it. When your child seems fatigued or restless, consider letting the homework wait a little while. Let your child run around outside or play quietly for a set time to decompress. When it’s time to tackle homework, your child will have more energy to give it their best effort.
- Step in if your child needs to slow down. If you notice your child rushing, don’t wait until they’re done to step in. Try to slow your child down in the moment. Check in during homework time by asking questions like, “Are you doing your best work?” or “Will the teacher be able to read that?” It’s easier for both of you if you have your child correct problems before they finish — rather than asking them to redo work later. It can also help your child develop good habits going forward.
- Encourage kids to look over their work. Remind your child to check their work for careless errors and sloppiness before your child considers it done. You can even create a checklist with your child: Did your child follow the directions? Are the words spelled correctly? Did your child use capitals when appropriate? Can your child read their writing? Getting kids in the habit of checking their work helps them set standards for good work. And that can help them feel a sense of pride in what they’re about to turn in.
- Help kids break down projects. In fourth and fifth grade, homework starts to require more time management and organizational skills. Instead of a single worksheet that’s due the next day, kids get more and bigger assignments. And the assignments may have due dates that are further away. Help your child figure out how to leave enough time to get challenging projects done over a longer period of time. Create a study calendar that breaks down the project into small daily tasks. This helps kids see that they can get the project done in time if they work on it little by little, at a steady pace.
- Get kids the help they need. Some kids leave homework questions blank or rush through it because they’re frustrated by the work itself. They may have learning differences that affect their reading, writing, or math skills. If you think that could be the case with your child, you may want to meet with their teacher. Share your observations and ask the teacher what they’ve noticed. Together you can decide what the next step should be. The sooner they get the help they need, the sooner they can focus on learning.
- Remind kids of their strengths. Kids who haven’t had a lot of success in school may not be confident about their ability to do homework well. So they may rush through it, thinking it’s not worth the effort. Remind your child of their strengths. Talk about a time your child worked hard at something — big or small — and succeeded. This could help boost your child’s confidence. And that could help your child approach homework with a more positive outlook.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
6th-8th Grade Wrestling Practice Starts
Monday, February 5th at 3:30
Field Trip: 4th Grade XCounty Skiing
Tuesday, February 6th.
Make sure your students are dressed for winter weather and have their lunches.
7th/8th Grade Girls Basketball
Tuesday, February 6th, 4:00pm at Home vs. Olathe
7th/8th Grade Girls Basketball
Thursday, February 8th, 4:00pm at Home vs. Hotchkiss
7th/8th Grade District Spelling Bee
Friday, February 9th, 9:00am in the little gym
PK8 will host the annual 7th/8th Grade DCSD Spelling Bee
Middle School Valentine's Dance
Friday, February 9th, 3:45-5:45pm
6th-8th grade students must be in good academic and behavior standing in order to attend.
7th/8th Grade Girls Basketball
Saturday, February 10th
7A Tournament at Paonia K8, game time TBD
8A Tournament at Gunnison MS, game time TBD
PPO Meeting
Monday, February 12, 3:45pm in the School Library
6th-8th Grade Powderhorn Ski Day
Friday, February 16th, leave at 7:00am
See below for more information
A Peek at our Weekly Activities
The latest from our school and classrooms
Singing Bones Shadow Puppet Show
1st Annual Dodgeball Tournament Champions
Congratulations to the PPO team in 1st place. The 6th grade team took 2nd place and the 8th grade team took 3rd place. Thank you to all of our student and community teams for their participation!
Exceptional Eagles (December and January)
100th Day of School
Black Canyon NP Ranger Visit
1st Grade Writing
Using our senses to add details to our opinion writing.
Powderhorn Ski Days
These are optional days of skiing for our 3rd through 8th grade students. Students that don't attend the ski day should still attend school.
- 6th-8th grade students are scheduled to ski on Friday, February 16th.
- All students who choose to attend will spend the whole day (before and after lunch) in a ski or snowboard lesson, have lunch at the lodge with their peers, and enjoy a wonderful Western Colorado recreation activity.
- Students who do not attend will have a regular school day.
- Students must be in good academic and behavioral standing to attend the trip (no failing grades or current disciplinary action).
Here is a schedule for each ski day:
- 7:00 am All students arrive at PK8
- 7:15 am Depart for Powderhorn Ski Area
- 10:30 am Lessons Begin
- 4:00 pm Depart for PK8
- 6:15 pm Arrive at PK8
Here are the costs for the program:
Transportation paid by PK8 and PK8 PPO
Lunch/snacks provided by families (send a sack lunch, or money for a resort cafeteria lunch)
Lesson, and lift, and rentals - $84 per student per day
Lesson, and lift or rental - $79 per student per day
Lesson only - $69 per student per day
On the day of skiing, students need to remember to bring the following items:
Sack lunch or lunch money as well as a snack for the bus ride
Appropriate ski clothing (winter pants, winter jacket, gloves/mittens, sunglasses/goggles)
Ski/snowboard equipment if not renting
PPO Announcements
Our next PPO meeting is Monday, February 12th at 3:45pm.
We will continue discussing second semester activities and ways to use our funds to support PK8 students.
Support Friday Snack Day for Teachers
PPO organizes treats for the teachers on Fridays. We need volunteers to sign up for Fridays in December and January. Please sign up to help support our amazing teachers by providing snacks at this link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OFzs0DTa4TfRNxIH7S4FUaqA9BRW2lRQy9oKZyXIH8A/edit
I Matter Mental Health Services
About I Matter
Colorado House Bill 21-1258 established I Matter in 2021 to provide access to mental health and substance use disorder services for youth, and to address needs that may have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. I Matter is open to youth 18 or younger, or 21 years of age or younger if receiving special education services.
In May 2023, the Colorado State Legislature renewed I Matter to provide free therapy for youth through June 30, 2024.
I Matter is managed by the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration. I Matter provides up to six free therapy sessions for youth in Colorado and reimburses participating licensed therapists.
For general inquiries about the program, view the FAQs. To receive help with the website or support in scheduling a session, email support@imattercolorado.org.
Grief Group for Students
Has your child's life been touched by the death of a loved one?
Some common reactions to loss are:
• A decline in school performance.
• Changes in sleeping and eating patterns.
• Feeling that nobody understands.
• Changes in behavior. Your child may react to situations in an unusual manner, such as being angry more frequently and with little apparent reason.
If your child is in grades 6-8, we invite them to attend a grief group now being formed and co- facilitated by Hopewest Kids and Ms. Lukez (school counselor). The group will meet weekly for six to eight weeks for 40 minute sessions.
Each session will include grief education and small group discussion. Activities such as writing, art, and literature will assist participants in coping with issues of grief and loss.
A signed parent/guardian consent form is required. For more information, please contact Ms. Lukez at 970-527-4882 or Claire Dauwe from HopeWest Kids at 970-874-6823.