Moran Prairie Messenger
Weekly Moran Prairie Family and Community Newsletter
Friday January 12th:
- 3rd graders in Ms. Reeves' class learned about Galileo!
- 5th graders with Mrs. Stumbaugh practiced for our Spelling Bee next week!
- Kindergartners in Ms. McCloskey and Ms. R Brown's class wrote about what they did over winter break!
- 1st graders in Mrs. Stone's class learned new heart words!
- 1st graders in Mrs. Beal's class and kindergartners in Mrs. Smith's class made snowpeople artwork!
- Mrs. Shaw and Mr. Heinen led the whole school in an assembly to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr!
Principal Update
While we have no classes on Monday January 15th, this is day is nationally recognized as a "day on" rather than a "day off" in honor of his message of active service. Everyone in our community is invited to remember and honor the late Dr. King at the annual MLK Day Unity Rally, March and Resource Fair at the Spokane Convention Center, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Visit Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center for details.
Together, we can continue Dr. King's dream of a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. And this reflection and work should extend beyond this week in all that we do. Thank you for your commitment to fostering an inclusive and compassionate community within our school.
Updates & Reminders
- 5th grade Math is Cool registration went home yesterday. Registration is open from January 10th to January 19th!
- It's getting colder and colder! In addition to sending students to school with appropriate clothing for being outside, we are also in the season of possible school closures or delays. To learn more about the process and how this is communicated, visit the district webpage here.
- Wondering when to keep your sick student home? Find information and recommendations at the district webpage here.
- Thank you for continuing to park in other spots in the lot rather than in our bus and Zum zones. We appreciate your attention to this!
Find our new Moran Prairie Instagram and follow us for regular updates of the amazing things we're doing this year!
MLK Activities
This year Martin Luther King Jr. Day is recognized on Monday, January 15th. There will be no school. Rather than a “day off” we encourage students to make it a “day on” by completing a random act of kindness or service in honor of Dr. King and his message which is just as relevant today as it was then.
There are many organizations that put together service events that you could attend on Monday. There is also typically a march and speakers downtown. You could also engage in the day on in your own neighborhood or home. Students should write their act on the hand going home today attached to this letter, cut it out, and return it to school on Tuesday. We will hang these near our interactive bulletin board across from the office for all to see. They can color it if they would like, please be sure to have them include their name!
Along with this call to action, we are hosting a weeklong Martin Luther King Jr. celebration focused on honoring the work of Dr. King, his lasting impact, and the power of justice for all through peaceful activism. The weeklong events include:
- Kick-off assembly: Friday January 12th exploring the life of Dr. King, learning about the history of the holiday, and singing a few select songs with our music teacher Mindi Shaw.
- Suggested Read Alouds for the Week: We have selected approved books at the primary level and intermediate level as optional read alouds for teachers to continue our learning about Dr. King and peaceful activism. These books focus on the work of Dr. King and the impact/influence he had on others around him during the Civils Rights Movement of the 1960s and onward. Teachers can choose to read any of the books to the class themselves or the leadership team is offering to come into classrooms to read the stories to students.
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Interactive Bulletin Board: Includes biographies and quotes of individuals, past and present, who have advocated for the rights of traditionally underrepresented groups.
Call to Action: Random Acts of Kindness Hearts will be featured in the building, and we will highlight acts of service both past and present throughout the week in our daily announcements.
Our wish at Moran Prairie, and in Spokane Public Schools, is to create an environment where all students, families, and staff are welcomed, feel valued, and see themselves represented in the halls of our school and the books on our shelves. We want our students to feel empowered to continue the work of equity and justice for all.
Elementary Conferences
The Conference Scheduler for Elementary Conferences will open today Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 5 p.m. at spokaneschools.org/conference.
Conferences are Thursday, Jan. 25 and Friday, Jan. 26.
There will be no school or school programs for preschool and elementary students (except The Enrichment Cooperative at Bryant students) on these days.
There is no school on Jan. 25 & 26 for the following student groups as well:
- 6th-8th grade Odyssey at Libby Center students
- 6th grade Spokane Public Language Immersion students
- 6th-8th grade Spokane Public Montessori students
The following student groups will be contacted directly by your teacher or school to schedule conferences and do not use the Conference Scheduler:
- Preschool
- Spokane Virtual
- The Enrichment Cooperative at Bryant
- 6-8th grade Odyssey students
- 6th grade Spokane Public Language Immersion students
- Multilingual families requesting Interpreter Services
If you have questions about using the Conference Scheduler, please send us a message via Let’s Talk at https://trst.in/HaV6ed.
Extracurriculars
We have a number of after school programs continuing and starting up this time of year. Here is a brief summary of what we have going on so staff can be aware.
New:
- Art Club begins Thursday January 18th after school. It will run on Thursdays from 3 - 4 pm until March 28th. Students will meet in the music room.
- World Languages clubs begin Tuesday January 26th after school.
- Tuesdays: Chinese club in the library 3-4 pm & German club in room 123 from 3 - 4 pm (both starting Tuesday 1/16, ending Tuesday 3/12).
- Wednesday: Japanese club in room 123 from 3 - 4 pm (starting Wednesday 1/17 and ending Wednesday 3/6).
- Thursdays: Spanish club from 3 - 4 pm (starting Thursday 1/18 and ending Thursday 3/14)
- 1st grade Spanish is in the library
- 2-3rd grade Spanish is in room 123
- 4-5th grade Spanish is in room 203
- Math is Cool for 5th grade is starting soon. Registration paperwork went out to families yesterday. Registration runs from January 10th to January 19th. The first practice will be Wednesday January 24th and will run Wednesdays from 3 - 4 pm in Mrs. Rassier's room until Wednesday March 6th.
Continuing:
- Hooptown continues with their winter season league. No practices are directly after school.
- 5th Grade Lego Robotics continues with Mrs. K Brown on Thursdays after school.
Counselor Corner
This month's character trait is perseverance!
Chase Middle School's CCTV
CHECK OUT THE EPIC LIP SYNC BATTLE THEY HAD THIS WEEK!
Upcoming Dates
- Monday January 15th: No School for MLK Day
- Tuesday January 16th: Acts of Kindness/Service Launch, first day of World Languages Clubs
- Wednesday January 17th: Hatch Field Trip to Mobius, 5th Grade Spelling Bee @ 1 pm in the MPR, World Languages Clubs
- Thursday January 18th: World Languages Clubs, PTG Book Bingo @ 6:30 pm in the MPR
- Friday January 19th: Secure & Teach Drill TBD
- Monday January 22nd: Student late start @ 9:30 am for staff collaboration, Prairie Dog Monday
- Tuesday January 23rd: World Languages Clubs, Moran Prairie Basketball Night @ Ferris (Feeder Pattern Event) @ 5:30 pm
- Wednesday January 24th: World Languages Clubs,
- Thursday January 25th: Elementary Conferences - no classes
- Friday January 26th: Elementary Conferences - no classes
Stay Connected
- Email us: mrnprairie.ptg@gmail.com
- Moran Prairie PTG Website: www.moranprairieptg.org
- Like us: www.facebook.com/MoranPrairiePTG/