New Manchester Elementary School
February 2024
A Message from the Principal
With Valentine’s Day and Random Acts of Kindness Day in February, it lends itself to reminding us of the importance of love, kindness, friendship, and respect. It is important to remind your child the value of these traits. Kindness begins with the way your child feels about others. Thoughts can lead to words and words can lead to actions. Remind your child that kindness toward others can create a positive impact in someone’s life and can create lasting friendships. Children who have friends tend to do better in school and enjoy it more. Talk with your child about what he/she values in their friendships and encourage him/her to show friends that they care. Give your child opportunities to strengthen bonds with old friends and find new ones by joining various activities. Remember, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” - Aesop
February 2024 Calendar of Events
2/1 - Pre-K Registration for the 2024-25 School Year opens
2/1 - Wear RED Day in recognition of American Heart Month
2/2 - Lion's Club Vision Screening
2/2 - Groundhog Day
2/5 PTA Meeting with 4th Grade Presidential Presentation at 6:00 p.m.
2/5 - 2/9 PTA Family Fun Week
2/5 - 4th Grade Lunch with a family member
2/6 - 4th Grade Banking Program with Hancock County Savings Bank
2/6 - 3rd Grade Lunch with a family member
2/7 - 2nd Grade Lunch with a family member
2/7 - Sarris Fundraiser begins
2/8 - 1st Grade Lunch with a family member
2/9 - Kindergarten and Pre-K Lunch with a family member
2/9 - Snuggle Up and Read with Pre-K
2/9 - Wild World of Animals Show (Pre-K - 1st grades 4:30 - 5:30 & 2nd - 4th grades 6:00 - 7:00)
2/13 - 2/16 WVU Extension Here's The Scoop Program
2/14 - Valentine's Day Celebration
2/16 - Progress Reports
2/16 Faculty Senate - 2 Hour Early Dismissal for Students K- 4; NO Pre-K ONLY
2/17 - Random Acts of Kindness Day
2/19 No School - Presidents' Day
2/21 - Sarris Fundraiser Orders Due
2/23 PTA Read Aloud
Grab & Go and Lunch menus can also be found on our school website page under the tab "food service".
Pre-K Registration for the 2024-2025 school year
Pre-K Registration begins on February 1, 2024 for the 2024-25 School Year. Please remember that your child must be 4 years old before July 1, 2024.
NMES Starting Line Up for February
Our student recipients of our Starting Line Up for February include:
Pre-K: Briar & Waylon
Kindergarten: Emersyn & Frances & Lane
1st Grade: Westen & Tanner & Everleigh
2nd Grade: Jemma & Cheznee & Ruby
3rd Grade: Connor & Makenzie & Blake
4th Grade: Lillian & Skylar
One student per classroom will be chosen each month by the teacher to be recognized for our "Starting Line Up". The student will have their picture posted to our front lobby bulletin board, will be recognized in our monthly newsletter, and will receive a token of appreciation for their efforts at our PTA meetings.
Criteria for selecting the Students of the Month will include (but is not limited to) the following:
- Effort
- Character through compassion, honesty, trustworthiness, optimism, and responsibility
- Behavior and self-control
- Attitude toward others/learning
- Good citizenship
- Leadership and integrity
- Demonstrates responsibility.
- Respectful to peers and teachers
- Significant progress in the classroom and/or marked improvement in grades
BEARCATS - Let's Knock It Out Of The Park!
New Manchester Elementary School follows the Expected Behaviors in Safe and Supportive Schools – Policy JG. A condensed version is found in the New Manchester Elementary School student handbook. A complete copy can be obtained in the Hancock County Board of Education office or our school office.
Our theme for the students is "Bearcats - Let's Knock It Out of the Park!"
BEARCATS stands for a behavior we will focus on each month (B= Behavior/Striving to be your best self; E = Effort; A = Acceptance; R = Respect; C = Commitment; A = Attitude; T = Trustworthy; S = Supporting one another). Students will work toward earning a badge for each month related to the focused behavioral concept. Each student will receive a baseball diamond that will keep track if they met their goal for each nine weeks (which will be considered a base - 1st 9 weeks = 1st Base, and so on). If a student has made it around all 4 bases, they can attend the end of the year PBIS reward full time. If they earned 3 bases, they can attend 75% of the time; 2 bases = 50% of the reward time; 1 base = 25% of the reward time. Throughout each month, students will have the opportunity to turn their dojo points in for classroom incentives so that they are rewarded for positive behavior continuously throughout the year.
In February we will focus on "ATTITUDE"
Attitude can be defined as an individual way of thinking, acting, and behaving. Attitudes are usually formed as a result of some kind of learning experience. They may also be learned simply by following the example or opinion of a parent, teacher, or friend. Students who have a good attitude in school are more attentive and enthusiastic about learning. This in turns increases student productivity and success.
There are several ways that we can help our students have a positive attitude. These include
- Making positive statements
- Looking for something positive in a hard situation
Set a positive example
Encourage a growth mindset
Foster good communication
Provide support
Random Acts of Kindness is February 17, 2024
Kindness is a quality that children learn over time and through practice. Each year on February 17, National Random Acts of Kindness Day is recognized. It is celebrated by individuals, groups, and organizations to encourage acts of kindness. Not only do acts of kindness bring joy to the receiver, but they spread positive reactions to the giver as well. There are many things you can do to encourage your child to be a kinder, gentler person. Research has found that the desire to help and comfort comes just as naturally to humans as being self-centered or hurtful. The following are some suggestions to encourage kindness in your child
- Model positive action - what you do and say is critical
- Treat your child with respect
- Coach your child to pay attention to people's facial expressions - this is the first step in learning how to understand another's perspective
- Let your child know often that how they treat others matters to you greatly
- Don't let rudeness pass
- Acknowledge kindness - be sure to show your child that you notice when someone does something nice
- Understand that your child's perception of differences in others comes into play - children notice differences in people
- Be sensitive to messages that your child picks up from the media - children are just as likely to imitate kind actions they see in movies and read about in books as they are to act out other types of scenarios so be aware of programs your child watches and be available to talk about what they see
- Explain that calling someone names or excluding him from play can be as hurtful as hitting
- Show your child how to help people in need - encourage your child to donate a toy he/she has outgrown or to make cookies for a shelter
- Be patient with your child - being a great role model will go a long way toward raising a wonderful, tolerant human being
Nurse's Corner
Welcome Mrs. Rhodes!
My name is Kaitlyn Rhodes, and I am your new School Nurse! I am a graduate of Oak Glen High School and West Liberty University. I have been a nurse for seven years and a School Nurse since 2022. I have two children, Torin who is three, and Boden who is three months. Summer is my favorite season. I love spending time outdoors with my family and vacationing at the beach. I am so excited to be a part of student lives by promoting health and wellness! Taking steps to be healthy at a young age will benefit your entire life. Go Bearcats!
Coffee with the Counselor
Now that we are in the middle of winter, are you feeling SAD? SAD is shorthand for Seasonal Affective Disorder, otherwise known as “the winter blues.” As it becomes cold and dreary outside, we might notice a significant drop in our mood like the thermometer. Adults and children alike may have less energy overall, sleep more while feeling more fatigued, overeat (especially carbohydrates or “comfort foods”), lose interest in activities, avoid friends, have trouble focusing, and become more irritable.
Children are very observant and responsive beings; our mood can impact their mood. If we are struggling with managing our feelings and mood, there is a good chance they are as well. Therefore, strategies to combat SAD can become a family plan.
Below are some strategies:
· Increase the amount of sunlight you get every day either by spending time outdoors or keeping the window blinds open.
· Get as much fresh air as possible, again either by spending time outdoors or opening a window.
· Get as much physical activity as possible whether indoors or outdoors.
· Check an activity off your family bucket list.
· Continue with hobbies or start a new one.
· Help a neighbor with snow removal or other chores they might be unable to do.
· Invite a friend and family for dinner.
· Watch a funny show or go to the movies for family entertainment.
· Eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible while limiting sugary snacks and soda.
· Choose to think positively about winter. (I have not seen a stinkbug or a bee in months)!
The good news is not just that winter will eventually end but that we can take concrete steps to cope better while it is still with us.
Math at Home - Valentine's Day Card Math Ideas
- Sort the cards by size, patterns, or colors
- Count the cards by ones, fives, and tens
- Measure the length and width of the cards
- After measuring the cards, work with students on finding the perimeter or area of the cards
- Use a sampling of the cards and create math problems with them (addition and subtraction)
- Which cards are the same? Which are different? Play a memory matching game with the cards that are the same.
Fun Facts
- February is the only month to have a length of fewer than 30 days
- February was added to the Roman calendar in 713 B.C. and was originally the last month of the year
- Originally Groundhog Day, celebrated on February 2, was a Celtic festival marking the year's midpoint between seasons.
- Did you know that the Groundhog wasn't the first choice of animal for Groundhog Day - it was originally going to be a bear.
- February 29 is Leap Day. This happens once every four years in which we are given an extra day in February. Some think that this day brings good luck.
- February is African-American History Month. This month pays tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.
- On average, February is the snowiest month of the year.
New Manchester Elementary School
Email: cyeater@k12.wv.us
Website: https://newmanchester.hancock.k12.wv.us
Location: 128 Frankfort Road, New Cumberland, WV, USA
Phone: 304-564-3242
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057713167536