Groundhog Gazette
Amity Elementary - Home of the Groundhogs
May 2017
From the Desk of Mrs. Uhlorn
I cannot believe the 4th quarter is upon us and nearing it's final days. As I reflect on this first year as the principal at Amity Elementary I am humbled by the experiences each one of you and your students have provided me. I am honored to call myself a groundhog and work with such amazing people, from the students all the way to you, the parents. Every day presented different opportunities to work alongside the students and find joy in the innocence of learning. I cannot say it enough, you are the backbone of the Amity community and as parents, you set the tone and the foundation for the learning environment. I am thankful to you for being supportive and always willing to help where and when you can.
With that being said, a few informational pieces for you before we head into summer break! During the summer months we will begin the construction process of the new Amity Elementary. Please be mindful of the construction zone and the fence lines that will be placed around the perimeter of the site. While we embark on this amazing journey of a new school we want to make sure everyone is safe while enjoying the sights and sounds of the construction site. If you have any questions about the construction during this process do not hesitate to email me.
Class placements will be taking place over the next month. I will be working with each grade level team to ensure we have your child placed in the best learning environment as possible. Thank you to those of you who provided input on your child's placement. We will use this information to help guide discussions and decisions. Class lists will be posted on August 18th at 4 PM. We are waiting this year in the event there teacher assignments change, as shifts do happen over the summer months, and we do not want these changes to impact students negatively.
Again, many thank you's to all of your support during my first year at Amity Elementary. I feel blessed beyond words to have landed in the underground school working with some of the most amazing kids!
Sincerely,
Valerie Uhlorn
May
12: Popcorn Friday (.50)
16: Band & Orchestra Concert 2:30
18: PTA LaCreme Night 6 to 8 p.m.
26: Early Release at 1:45
29: No School - Memorial Day
31: Kindergarten Music Program 2:15
June 1: Amity Field Day
2: Early Release at 1:45
Summer Office Hours
The office will be open until June 13th. Office hours will be 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The office will reopen on August 8th. Office hours will be 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Early Release Reminders
JFK at Amity
Our curriculum includes: crafts, science, cooking, games, sports, reading incentives, daily journal writing and fun field trips: weekly swimming at Ivywild pool, Wahooz, Nerfed, Guerger Park, Warhawk Air Museum, Camille Beckman, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Settler's Park, Foothills Learning Center and Dr. Picklestein.
Just For Kids is a great way to have a fun and busy summer, while keeping our learning skills sharp and growing! Visit our web page at the Boise School District Site, check us out on Facebook, or give us a call at 854-4222 or 854-6720.
Music Corner
Week of May 8- 13 Share Your Talent Week!
During your music class the week of May 8, you may share your talent with your class. You can sing, dance, show art, play piano, play orchestra or band instruments, juggle, tell jokes, and show sports medals. If you have a talent better shown outside of class you may bring in a short video on a thumb drive.
It's not show and tell, but share your talent! It's your week to shine!
(Please make sure all songs are school appropriate. No foul language and no adult content.)
We have a couple of music program DVDs from the 3rd/4th grade music program. They are first come, first serve and cost $10.60. Contact Mrs. Ogden at beth.ogden@boiseschools.org if you'd like to purchase one.
Groundhog Fitness
Kindergarten Program & Graduation
Girls Powered STEM Camp 2017
Moving?
Borah Lions Summer Basketball and Volleyball Camps
Borah Lions Summer Girls Basketball Camp: the website will soon be updated with 2017 summer camp information. Click here to view.
Borah Lions Summer Volleyball Camp: this summer's camp will be held June 5-7 from 1:00 to 3:00. Watch the website for the registration form.
Amity Track
Mile: Grace S., Dillon Y., James C.
50 M: Jedd R.
60 M: Cole J.
70 M: Seth Y
90 M: Jake R.
200 M: Lauren M.
400 M: Carter G.
800 M: Ellie S., Lauren Y.
800 M: Jax S., Carson D.
4x100 Relay: Cait B., Cali T., Carter P., Kobe S.
Sprint Medley: Grace C., Chloe B., Cameron P., Matt K.
Soccerball Throw: Molly M., Garrison S.
PTA News
Teacher/Staff Appreciation week is May 1-5. It's a great time to celebrate our fabulous teachers. If you'd like to help out, click here to sign up.
The final PTA meeting for the 2016-17 school year will be Tuesday, May 9th at 4:00 p.m. in the Conference Room. Elections will be held during the meeting. We are looking for a new secretary. All are invited to attend. Free childcare is provided.
Amity Night at LaCreme (formerly U-Swirl) will be held on Thursday, May 18th from 6 to 8 p.m. Mention that you are from Amity and a portion of your purchase will be donated to Amity. This is for the Overland location (near Wal-Mart) only.
Keep collecting Box Tops throughout May and over the summer. The funds collected through the Box Top program helps pay for field trips.
Nurse Notes
Lost and Found
Boise School District's Summer Music 2017 Program
Ronald McDonald House Service Project
Lunchroom Account Balances
Carole Edwards, Amity Kitchen Manager
Boise Music Week
Summer Reading
Summer shouldn't mean taking a break from learning, especially reading. Studies show that most students experience a loss of reading skills over the summer months, but children who continue to read will gain skills.
1. Read aloud together with your child every day. Make it fun by reading outdoors on the front steps, patio, at the beach or park. Also, let your children read to you. For younger children, point out the relationship between words and sounds.
2. Set a good example.
Parents must be willing to model behavior for their children. Keep lots of reading material around the house. Turn off the TV and have each person read his or her book, including mom and dad.
3. Read the same book your child is reading and discuss it.
This is the way to develop habits of the mind and build capacity for thought and insight.
4. Let kids choose what they want to read, and don't turn your nose up at popular fiction.
It will only discourage the reading habit.
5. Buy books on tape.
Listen to them in the car, or turn off the TV and have the family listen to them together.
6. Take your children to the library regularly.
Most libraries sponsor summer reading clubs with easy-to-reach goals for preschool and school-age children. Check the library calendar for special summer reading activities and events. Libraries also provide age appropriate lists for summer reading.
7. Subscribe, in your child's name, to magazines like Sports Illustrated for Kids, Highlights for Children, or National Geographic World.
Encourage older children to read the newspaper and current events magazines, to keep up the reading habit over the summer and develop vocabulary. Ask them what they think about what they've read, and listen to what they say.
8. Ease disappointment over summer separation from a favorite school friend by encouraging them to become pen pals.
Present both children with postcards or envelopes that are already addressed and stamped. If both children have access to the Internet, email is another option.
9. Make trips a way to encourage reading by reading aloud traffic signs, billboards, notices.
Show your children how to read a map, and once you are on the road, let them take turns being the navigator.
10. Encourage children to keep a summer scrapbook.
Tape in souvenirs of your family's summer activities picture postcards, ticket stubs, photos. Have your children write the captions and read them and read them aloud as you look at the book together.
From the Counselor
Transitions
Yay! Summer is coming. This time of year is exciting for so many reasons. Students are eagerly awaiting the end of the school year so their break can begin. They are looking forward to the many adventures they may participate in over the summer. They are curious about the year that lies ahead, even though, for them, it is far off. With all of the excitement for events that lie ahead, there is also anxiety and stress.
Transitions are exciting, but they can also be tough for some students. This time of year, educators often see a rise in behaviors students have not displayed at any other time of the year. The stress that lies ahead can be conscious or subconscious. Often times, the stress comes from the unknown. As adults, when making plans, many times the plans have been mulled over multiple times before coming to a decision. When it comes time to share plans with kiddos, sometimes the details of the plans are left out unintentionally.
If you notice your child is experiencing more stress than usual as the year comes to a close, there are some things you can do to help guide them through with a smooth transition.
When you share exciting plans, provide the details. It will help them understand what comes next and what to expect.
Allow for downtime during break so they have the opportunity to relax.
While relaxation is important, students crave structure. Create a routine they can rely on. Many students have anxiety when they go from the structure of school to a wide open schedule.
Remember rules are fixed, but norms are flexible. With the end of the school year comes fun activities and sometimes unexpected change to routine. Providing kiddos with the structure of rules helps children feel grounded when there are changes in routine that make day to day norms different.
As always, when behaviors start to occur, remind your child you are there for them and listen to them as they share their story. Sometimes all they need to calm their nerves is a friendly, listening ear.
Have a happy and safe summer. Enjoy your time with your children. I have really enjoyed getting to know them and look forward to working with them next year!
Amity Elementary School
Email: valerie.uhlorn@boiseschools.org
Website: amity.boiseschools.org
Location: 10 000 W Amity Rd, Boise, ID, United States
Phone: 208-854-4220
Twitter: @AmityElem