The Gray Wolf Gazette
October 14, 2021
Mission(Why we exist): Dr. Henry Givens Jr. Elementary is a collaborative community committed to ensuring equity and high levels of learning for all.
Dr. Henry Givens Jr. Elementary is a welcoming community that empowers all children to connect, discover, and thrive as leaders equipped to make a positive impact on our world.
Quick Overview
Hello Families,
We have been busy little wolves this week! We are gearing up for our second Harambee Assembly and Pack Meetings tomorrow. During our last Harambee, we read the book, All are Welcome Here, by Alexandra Penfold. Mrs. Olsen extended the conversation in the library and each student worked to add their self-portrait to the bulletin board. This week, we will read The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson. We will use this story within our pack meetings to share more about ourselves with the members of our pack and learn what things we have in common with the other members. We will then create our pack names and our banners to represent our pack.
We hope you have a great weekend and don't forget to review the information below:
-Upcoming dates on our Givens Calendar
-PTO Info about Trunk or Treat
-Reminders about Early Dismissal & Parent-Teacher Conferences
-Enrichment For All and Info about a District Survey
We appreciate your partnership!
On this journey together,
Ms. Malissa Beecham
Givens Principal
Upcoming Dates
October Dates:
-October 14th Jet's Pizza Night
-Early Dismissal @ 11:45 (Assembly and Pack Meetings) Friday, October 15
-Ivory Crockett Run for Webster (Details below) Saturday, October 16
-Dairy Queen Night for Givens October 21st (3:00-6:00 pm)
-PTO Sponsored Trunk or Treat (More details to come) Friday, October 22
-PTO Sponsored Campus Beautification and Pollinator Garden Event (More details to come) Saturday, October 23rd
-End of Trimester 1 & Fall Parties Friday, October 29
Early Dismissal October 15th
Come See and Hear All About What We Have Been Learning
The Water Cycle with Legos
Native American Symbol Stories
Phases of the Moon
Fall Parent Teacher Conferences
Meet our PTO Board Members
President - Sarah Middendorf sarahmdorf@gmail.com
Co-Vice Presidents - Maria Lambing maria.lambing@gmail.com Sarah Paradoski sarahparadoski@gmail.com
Co-Equity Officers - Deidre Townsend mrstownsend0316@gmail.com
Dana Walker danagivens@yahoo.com
Co-Secretaries - Kara Simon ksimon619@gmail.com
Alex Guffey alexandra.guffey903@gmail.com
Co-Treasurers - Tracy Willis tracy.barton@att.net
Jen Levine jensherwood73@gmail.com
PTO Meeting Minutes
Click here for all of the minutes from our PTO meetings.
Jet's Pizza Night is TONIGHT
On Thurs. Oct 14, show this flyer at the Jets location in Webster Groves and 20% of proceeds will go to Givens Elementary.
Givens Trunk or Treat (Check your Child's Backpack for the Flyer)
All Givens students and their families are invited to attend the annual Givens Trunk or Treat on Oct. 22 from 6-8 pm in the Givens back parking lot. You can get all the details here! If you plan to attend, please RSVP here
Want to Learn More about the Science Fair??
Do you love science? Come learn how to do a science fair project via Zoom on Thursday, November 11th from 6:30-7:30 pm. You will need to register prior to attending. If you have any questions, please visit our Science Fair website or contact Shayla Pott, District Science Fair Coordinator, at pott.shayla@wgmail.org.
Enrichment For All in Webster Groves School District
Enrichment for All: What is it?
Has your child been talking about computers a little more lately? Have they shown you the computer they created at school? Hopefully, your answer is yes to either question. The Webster Groves School District is very excited to now offer opportunities for exploration through computer science through Enrichment for All. This is a K-5 opportunity for all students to be challenged in the areas of computer science, coding, and STEM. Students will learn about the parts of a computer, how computers help us, online safety, knowledge of coding, and new computer science vocabulary words. K/1st EFA is taught by Mrs.Tracy Smith, 2nd/3rd grade EFA is taught by Mrs. Christine Collins, and 4th/5th grade EFA is taught by Mrs.Julie Dame. We are so excited and can’t wait to see where the students’ learning goes.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Social Emotional Learning Survey
In support of our efforts to better care for the well-being of our students and nurture the most welcoming and inclusive environments possible, next week elementary counselors will help administer a brief, online and anonymous survey with 3rd-5th grade students between October 18 - 29th. What they share, over the next couple of weeks and in a follow-up survey this spring, will help guide and assess our efforts to better care for elementary students in the WGSD. Please reach out to Ms. McCain, our school counselor if you have questions. McCain.destiny@wgmail.org
Campus Beautification Day
Saturday, Oct 23, 2021, 08:00 AM
701 North Rock Hill Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
News from Nurse Mindy
As we continue to work to keep our Gray Wolves Healthy, please remember to:
Just a reminder that IF you have a student with upper respiratory symptoms and it has been determined that a COVID test is recommended, please keep all siblings at home until the test results are known. I know this is a burden but it provides an extra layer of protection for us all. Thank you so much for your cooperation.
Also, please make sure you:
-Keep your child(ren) at home if they are experiencing any COVID Symptoms (take a look at the picture below. Students should stay home if they have a low risk or high-risk symptoms)
-Make sure your child has a mask to wear to school. Students should always wear a mask inside the building. They may take their masks off outside if they are able to keep the 3-6 feet distance.
-Handwashing and hand sanitizing are practiced in school. Please encourage your child to keep this practice up at home and when visiting other places.
-Please communicate symptoms, positive test results(in the household) to Nurse Mindy. She will talk you through the next steps.
-We know allergy season is upon us. It is still important that we are responsive to symptoms that may be due to allergies. There are specific steps Nurse Mindy will walk you through as we ensure all students are healthy.
Thank you for your cooperation with these important steps to help prevent the spread of illness in our school buildings!
The Ivory Crockett Run for Webster
The Ivory Crockett Run for Webster is BACK in-person, with a virtual option as well! The in-person event features a one-mile fun run/walk, a 5k, and a kids 100-yard dash (ages 12 & under). While you’re out on the course, the WGHS Band, Cheerleaders, and Dance Teams will all be out there to cheer you on. After the run, enjoy brunch from some of our local restaurants, along with some quality time with Fredbird and Louie. Who knows, maybe they’ll try to beat Ivory Crockett’s world record!
We are also offering a series of virtual 5k runs, with one starting from every Webster Groves School District school, and a special Ivory Crockett Challenge 5k, starting from Ivory Crockett Park in historic North Webster. All of our activities are listed below, with dates, times, locations, and other details. Registration for all activities begins on September 1st.
Make sure you register by September 28th to guarantee a t-shirt in your size!
The Ivory Crockett Run for Webster was established in 2004. It honors Ivory Crockett, a 1968 graduate of Webster Groves High School. On May 14, 1974, Ivory participated in the Tom Black Classic held annually at the University of Tennessee. On a wet track and against world-class competition, Ivory sprinted to a world's best 9.0 seconds in the 100-yard dash, a record which still stands today.
Register to run or volunteer at WGSDFoundation.org today!
Dr. Henry Givens Elementary School
Website: https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/Givens
Location: 701 North Rock Hill Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314-963-6460
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GivensElem/