Theodore Robinson Intermediate
December 2019
Help us Celebrate ECSD!
Principal News
Happy December! It is amazing to think that we are in the 2nd quarter of school already. The school year is flying by. Staff and students are working hard! Students are making good progress and teachers have established routines and structures to support student engagement and learning. Teaching and learning are in full swing! I continue to be impressed with the work I see happening in the classrooms. Thank you so much for joining us for Family Conferences. We appreciate you partnering with us to help your child to be successful. It truly takes a village. We started our H.E.R.O.E. S. groups in late November. Students worked together to come up with a name for their group. Check in with your child to see if they remember their group name.
Safety and Security: The safety of students and staff is our highest priority in the Evansville Community School District. Therefore, we will continue to practice our emergency response procedures at each school throughout each year. If you are new to the district, please go to http://www.ecsdnet.org/families/school_safety.cfm to learn more about the ALICE approach which gives students and staff options to prepare for and react to intruders in the building.
So far this year, teachers have reviewed the book, I’m Not Scared…I’m Prepared with their students. It is an age appropriate story that helps teachers and students have conversations about this topic and the ALICE approach. The objective of these learning experiences is to prepare students and staff for emergencies – not to scare them. More information is available at https://youtube.com/watch?v=dRTIpMft_u8. Individual classrooms have been practicing evacuation drills by taking a walk through the neighborhood. Along the way, they are discussing safe places to run to in an evacuation. Our final destination is John Evans Hall on Main Street. Students are encouraged to run to the closest spot that is safe. We will continue to practice the other pieces of ALICE as the year progresses.
Three weeks to go….
These next three weeks will go fast and winter break will soon be upon us! As a staff, we will continue with our normal routines so that students remain focused and learning in spite of the anticipation of break. This week we will begin our Annual Holiday Canned Food Drive with fun days starting on Wednesday. Details are below. We hope you can join us for the TRIS Drumming and Xylophone Concert on Dec. 10th at 6:30pm at the HS PAC. We will wrap up December with a Celebration where I will get to enjoy eating pie. A huge thank you to the Popcorn Ladies, the PTO and all of the volunteers that made the Jack O’ Lantern Jamboree possible. You are truly appreciated!
Please let me know if you have questions, ideas or concerns. My direct line is 882-3842 and my email is DornB@evansville.k12.wi.us. We appreciate all that you do at home to support your child’s success at school! Thank you for working with us!
Facebook- @EvansvillECSD Twitter - @EvansvillECSD
Instagram - @evansville.csd YouTube – Evansville Community School District
YEAR BOOKS ARE ON SALE!
Halloween Fun!
It's Time For The Holiday Food Drive!!
During the weeks of December 3-13 TRIS will be collecting non-perishable food items for holiday distribution to local families. Below is the list of “special” days. If you would like to donate, please bring in a can or box of non-perishable food on each of the “special” days. Donations are greatly appreciated but not necessary to participate in the “special” days. Ms. Dorn has challenged TRIS: if we can collect 1500 items she will take a pie in the face at a celebration! Let’s show our holiday spirit and support local families!!
Wednesday, Dec. 4: Hat Day
Thursday, Dec. 5: Team Spirit Day: Wear Your Favorite Jersey, Uniform, or Evansville Spirit Wear
Wednesday, Dec. 11: Pajama Day
Thursday, Dec. 12: Just Be Crazy: Crazy Hair, Crazy Socks, Mismatch
LMC News
Updates from the LMC:
We have 3 e-books and digital audiobook options available: Destiny Discover, Sora (Overdrive) and Tumblebooks! In library skills class students have been learning about these options and how to access them.
To begin, download the Destiny Discover app or Sora app on the device your child will be reading the e-book or listening to the audiobook on. Students and parents can also access these materials on the LMC webpage: https://www.ecsdnet.org/programs-support/theodore-robinson-intermediate-school.cfm. Once downloaded, students use their student username and password to log-in and read or listen to the digital books.
Additionally, we have a subscription to Tumblebooks, which offers interactive books that will read out loud to students. Login with the username: groveschool and password: reads.
Ask your student about these e-books and audibooks! They can even show you how to use them. And feel free to take advantage of these titles any time. They are great for long car rides and traveling.
-Mrs. Beyerl, K-12 Library Media Specialist & Mrs. Yeager, TRIS LMC Clerk
Music Notes
African Drumming and Xylophone Concert: Tuesday-December 10th
The African Drumming and Xylophone Ensembles will present a concert in the HS PAC on Tuesday, December 10th at 6:30 PM. The students have been working hard since the beginning of October on music for this concert. There will be a reception following the concert in the High School Commons. All participating families are asked to contribute a nut friendly snack for the reception. The students are looking forward to sharing their hard work and learning with you.
We will need help moving instruments Monday-December 9th after school if you are able to help.
Looking Ahead:
5th Grade Music Concert- Thursday-February 13th 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM
3rd Grade Music Concert- Thursday- March 19th 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM
Counselors Corner
We want your child to be as successful as possible at school. Success in school is not just about reading and math. It is also about knowing how to learn and how to get along with others. We will be using the Second Step program in guidance to teach these critical skills.
The Second Step program teaches skills in the following four areas:
1. Skills for Learning: Students gain skills to help themselves learn, including how
to focus their attention, listen carefully, and be assertive when asking for help
with schoolwork.
2. Empathy: Students learn to identify and understand their own and others’
feelings. Students also learn how to take another’s perspective and how to show
compassion.
3. Emotion Management: Students learn specific skills for calming down when
experiencing strong feelings, such as anxiety or anger.
4. Problem Solving: Students learn a process for solving problems with others in
a positive way.
Please keep in mind the lessons this year may not always be done in numerical order, there are some skills and lessons that are more of a review and others that seem to better suit our overall student needs. You will be able to see which lesson students are on by looking at the home links that are attached.
Your child will be learning a lot this year—and he or she will need your help! Throughout the rest of the year, you will receive emails with Home Links that go with several of the Second Step lessons. Home Links are simple, fun activities for you and your child to complete together. They are a great way for you to understand what your child is learning and for your child to show you what he or she knows.
If you have any questions about the Second Step program, please do not hesitate
to contact me for more information.
Make sure to join www.secondstep.org with the activation key to watch videos about the Second Step program and get information about what your student is learning.
3rd Grade Code: SSP3 FAMI LY73
4th Grade Code: SSP4 FAMI LY74
5th Grade Code: SSP5 FAMI LY75
Upcoming Events
December
2nd - No School-Staff development
3rd - Bridging Brighter Smiles visits
6th - 5th Grade Keva Sports Center field trip
9th - Bridging Brighter Smiles (morning)
10th - African Drumming and Xylophone Concert-6:30 HS PAC
Dec 21-Jan 5th - Winter break
January
6th - Staff and Students return
20th - No School-Staff development
24th - Early Release noon
10 Fun Ways to Encourage Learning This Winter Break
Evansville Youth Center December Calendar of Activities
December 2019
Craft of the Week:
Clay Ornaments
2—NO SCHOOL/NO EYC
3—Golf game Challenge
4—Twister
5—NERF Wars
6—NERF Wars
Craft of the Week:
Snowflake Cards
9—Sports Resorts Wakeboarding Challenge
10—Spoons
11—Slot Cars
12—Rummikub Tournament
13—Let’s Cook
Craft of the Week:
Pipecleaner Ornament
16—Bottle Bowling
17—Party!
18—Rubic’s Race
19—Skeeball Tournament
20—Movie & Popcorn
20—5:30-8 Lights and Dinner Evening
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYBODY
RETURNING ON MONDAY, JANUARY 6
Winter Wear Guidelines
Families, please be aware of the following winter guidelines for recess!
1. Students are required to wear boots and snow pants in the snow.
2. No boots and snow pants will mean blacktop only. Please let us know if your child needs boots or snow pants.
3. Snow pants and boots will allow students to go anywhere on the playground; no snow pants will mean that students must play on the blacktop only.
4. To avoid injury, students are expected to stay off the icy areas.
Things you need to know
Students may be on the playground at 7:45 a.m. The bell to enter the school will ring at 7:50 a.m. and school will begin at 8:00 a.m. Students that come after 8:00 a.m. will be marked as tardy.
- Please make sure to call the office at 882-3841 to report an absence or tardy.
- All visitors entering the building must stop in the office and present their driver’s license the first visit and receive a badge to go past the office. Each time after that, you will still need to receive a badge to get into the school.
- You may pay for lunch/milk money either online or by sending cash or check in an envelope with your child's name and the words lunch money written on it.
- You will receive emails with upcoming events and information when applicable.
You will also receive a monthly newsletter – so please be watching.
- Students will have recess every day and will be outside, except for inclement weather such as rain or temperatures below zero. Please make sure your child has appropriate clothing for the weather.
- The bell will ring at 3:00 p.m. for dismissal, please make sure your child knows where he/she should go after school.
Lunch/Recess Schedule
10:35 – 11:20 a.m.
4th Grade Lunch/Recess
11:15 – 12:00 p.m.
3rd Grade Lunch/Recess
11:55 –12:35 p.m.
5th Grade Lunch/Recess