Panther Press
May 13
Read to Your Children Every Day
Many parents ask me what they can do to help their children succeed in school. Expecting a response that is lengthy, complicated, and costly, many parents are surprised by the simplicity of my answer. "READ TO YOUR CHILDREN EVERY DAY!"
Reading to children is one of the best ways of helping them learn. It helps them learn how to listen. It helps them learn the flow of language and increases their vocabulary. It instills the love of books and the desire to read. It teaches them that reading can be done to gain information, for relaxation, or for entertainment. This is especially true if they also see Mom or Dad regularly engaged in reading for their own enjoyment. You don't have to try to teach them to read, just read to them every day.
Watching television dulls the thinking process by force-feeding every image to the viewer. Reading to children forces them to use their minds to picture the events in a story and stimulates the growth of neural pathways in the brain! It actually causes physical brain development! It is never too early or too late to begin reading to your children. If you started during their infancy, wonderful; if you have not yet made it a habit, start now.
Don't stop reading to your children just because they learn to read to themselves. A person's listening vocabulary & comprehension is always higher than one's reading vocabulary and comprehension. They have to hear it before they can use it before they can read it.
Reading is free! Make a visit to the public library a weekly or bi-weekly adventure for your entire family. Allow your children to check out a dozen books that interest them.
Reading doesn't take a lot of time! Fifteen to twenty minutes every day is plenty. Bedtime is a great time to read to your children. Just turn off the TV, have your children snuggle up next to you with a library book, and spend a few minutes out of life's busy schedule with those who make it all worthwhile.
Sincerely,
Debbie McLaren
2022-2023 New Student and Kindergarten Registration Now Available
New Families: Register online by completing the New Student Enrollment: Account Request
The following documents will need to be uploaded during the online registration process:
- Birth Certificate
- Immunizations
- Proof of Residency
Paper packets are available at the school.
Popcorn Thursdays
Visitor/Volunteer/Adults on Campus
Visitors/Volunteers need to sign in at the office on the kiosk and get a visitor’s badge. Only staff members are allowed on the playground.
When dropping students off in the morning, they should be dropped off at the curb and then they will head to either breakfast or recess. If your students need help getting to class please bring them to the office.
Friday Assemblies
Prairie Assemblies have been a long-standing tradition. In our current environment, we are not able to have parents attend. To stay connected with our families we will be posting the assembly each Friday on our website.
Upcoming Events
May 12 - School Board Meeting 6:00 PM at the District Office or via Zoom
May 26 - School Board Meeting 6:00 PM at the District Office or via Zoom
May 27 - No School
May 30 - No School Memorial Day
June 1 - Art Club after school
June 2 - Last Popcorn Thursday
June 9 - District Award Night
Prairie Elementary
Email: jennifer_brownell@ycs.wednet.edu
Website: https://www.ycs.wednet.edu/Domain/200
Location: 16535 110th Avenue Southeast, Yelm, WA, USA
Phone: 360-458-3700
Nondiscrimination Statement
Yelm Community Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee(s) has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights: Julie Mondry, 360-458-1900, julie_mondry@ycs.wednet.edu ; 504 Coordinator: Shannon Powell, 360-458-6124, shannon_powell@ycs.wednet.edu; Title IX Coordinator: Lisa Cadero-Smith, 360-458-6120, lisa_cadero-smith@ycs.wednet.edu; Address: 107 First St. N., PO Box 476, Yelm, WA 98597