Lion's Den News December Edition
Words from Mrs. Logan
Merry Christmas!
I hope you all had a restful and safe Thanksgiving. I can't believe that we have only three weeks remaining before the end of our second nine weeks.
December is going to be a busy and exciting month at Lakewood. There are lots of things happening here: from teacher training to mid-year testing to Christmas activities we will have a flurry of events.
December 2-13 we will be doing NWEA testing and mid-year testing. We need all students here at school every day and on time. Testing begins at 8:15. Please stay in contact with your classroom teacher through Dojo, Facebook, the website and the backpack notes. We make continuous efforts to make sure you are aware of all the things happening at school.
Christmas parties will be December 20 at 1:45. That week will be full of Christmas activities for your students.
Happy holidays,
Sara Logan
Karen Pounders
P. S. School resumes on Tuesday, January 7.
Did you know....
Support LWE while doing your holiday shopping
These are a few simple and automatic ways to support LWE!
Please tell your friends and family to sign up!
- Always shop Amazon Smile!
On your first visit to smile.amazon.com:
Select: Pick your own charitable organization
Type: Lakewood Elementary PTA
Select: N Little Rock, Ar
- Kroger Community Rewards
Log into your Kroger.com account:
Click: My account
Click: Community Rewards
Click: ENROLL NOW or EDIT (a search box should appear)
Our NEW number/ NPO#: NQ554
Click: Circle next to Lakewood Elementary PTA
Click: ENROLL to complete enrollment
Calling all Lakewood Families!
We are planning ahead for Black History Month and would like to fill our classrooms with speakers in February. Our goal is to provide our students with as many real life role models as possible, so any African American family member, friend, or community member who is willing to come share about your job/life - we want you! We would like to highlight professionals from a variety of career backgrounds, so any authors, professors, musicians, law enforcement, military, artists, public servants . . . any and all people you are connected to - we are looking for them (you) as well.
Please send an email to: christophert@nlrsd.org
and let her know the information below:
I am willing to come speak to _______________ (my child’s class, a whole grade level (75 students) or I know of a speaker/group who provides programs for the whole school.
The student I know at Lakewood is _________________. I am connected to her/him because ________________ (neighbor, child, grandchild, etc.)
I can share about my _____________________
(Job, family, history, hobby, work in the community, volunteer work, expertise)
Fundraiser Update
We raised about $18,300!!!
With the money raised, all grade wishes will be granted!
- Kindergarten: Costumes and details for their play during Art Week
- First Grade: Upgrades to class tech
- Second Grade: Composition notebooks for each student, 3 paper cutters, remotes for the smart boards
- Third Grade: Purchase 6 books per child to take home at the end of the school year
- Fourth Grade: Classroom library upgrades
- Fifth Grade: Indoor recess board games
Meet the Third Grade Teachers
Together may we give our children the roots to grow and the wings to fly.
Staci Nichols
3rd Grade Teacher
- She is currently teaching her 26th year
- 16 years of them have been at Lakewood
- Favorite drink: Dr. Pepper
- Favorite snack: Chips and Salsa from Chilis
- Proudest accomplishment: My Family
- Birthday: September 17
- Favorite quote: Take time to do what makes your soul happy :)
Rosemary Custer
3rd Grade Teacher
- She has been a teacher for 29 years, and about 22 of them have been the 3rd grade.
Favorite Snack: Chocolate for a sweet and a cheesy snack for salty
- Birthday: November 17
- Proudest accomplishment: My children
Heather Hazeslip
Third grade teacher
- She started her career at Lakewood and has been a teacher for 17 years
- Favorite drink: Cherry Coke
- Favorite snack: Anything chocolate
- Proudest accomplishment: My family
- Birthday: March 16th
- Favorite quote: “You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!”- Dr. Seuss
Mental Health Matters: Grief
Grief and loss can be a difficult topic, especially for children. The holiday season tends to be a time in which grief can be significant for those who have experienced a loss, whether it’s divorce, the death of a loved one (family, friends and/or pets), finances, a home, etc. So, what can we do as parents, caregivers, a school and a community for our children who are grieving? First, we need to identify it. A child who is grieving may present in some of the following ways:
Clinginess
Feelings of heaviness, emptiness and/or numbness
Are not interested in favorite foods or activities
Feeling tired all the time
Sleep and appetite changes
Anger/irritability
Difficulty focusing or concentrating
Not asking questions about the loss
Next, we need to help them find healthy ways to cope with their grief. Children are extremely resilient, but it is important not to minimize or discount their feelings. According to Psychology Today (2010), a few ways we can help children experiencing grief include:
•”Talking about a memory of the time that involved the lost loved-one. In the case of changed circumstances, such as divorce, encourage the child to discuss pleasant memories of the holiday, rather than ignore them or focus primarily on the loss itself.
•Do some of the things they enjoyed doing with the person they lost, and try to do some of the things he or she enjoyed doing. When circumstances have triggered a grief reaction, brainstorm about ways to create pleasant memories around the current situation.
•Make a box or folder that includes reminders about the person lost. Draw a picture, write a story, or make some notes about special memories that had to do with the particular holiday.
•Encourage them to cry if they feel like crying. Crying lets other people know that they need comforting.”
Ultimately, children need to process a loss in their own way and in their own time. Grieving looks different for every single person. We need to be there to love and support them along the way.
Happy Holidays!
Sadie Blackwell, PMHNP
What the kids are learning in December:
SAVE THE DATE
Dec 3 to Dec 4
Kindergarten NWEA Testing Reading 12/3/19 and Math 12/4/19
Dec 4 to Dec 5
2nd Grade NWEA Testing in math and reading.
Dec 5 to Dec 6
1st Grade NWEA Testing in math and reading.
December 16
Choir Field Trip
December 17
5:30-6:30 Christmas Caroling at Lakewood Village Pavilion
December 20
Christmas Parties 1:45
December 20
Second nine weeks ends
December 23
Christmas Break begins
January 7, 2020
Students return to school from break and
Third nine weeks begins
January 20
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
February 14
Teacher Professional Development - No Students
February 17
Parent-Teacher Conferences - No Students
Mar 23 to Mar 27
Spring Break!