Wren Elementary School
School-Wide Newsletter ~ December 2, 2013
From The Principal
(~Stephen Covey)
Dear Wren Families,
December is a time of celebration and that is no exception at Wren Elementary! First of all, we are celebrating another “Excellent” rating on our South Carolina State Report Card and an ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) grade of A. We are proud of our accomplishments and appreciate the role you play in your child’s success at Wren!
I would like to thank all of our Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) who have volunteered at WES since mid-September. We have had 23 Dads thus far giving their time to our students and school and have several more scheduled for the month of December! Be sure to say hello when you see them on the walk in the mornings, in our building throughout the day, or assisting with dismissal. Our Dads are the best!
As excitement builds during the month of December, let’s remember to focus on learning and safety at WES. Please be mindful of our Safety Patrol on these dark mornings as you drop off your children at school. Remember to refrain from using your cell phone in the car line and only drop off students in two locations: the front spiral drive and the back bus loop. The side parking lot is not a drop-off location and is beginning to present a safety hazard to our children. Thank you for your attention to these reminders and making WES a safe place for kids!!
Progress Reports go home today. We encourage you to review these closely with your child. Celebrate accomplishments and create goals to improve. Our staff is always here to support your child and assist you with any questions, feedback or help to ensure success for all children.
Please enjoy every minute of this holiday season with your family! It is a magical season for giving and children…we plan to make it meaningful at WES!
Happy Holidays!
Rhonda Rhodes
Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Ward
The Chick-Fil-A Character Trait for December is Joy.
Animal: Cardinal ~ Color: White
Joy means finding a way to be happy, even when things don’t go your way.
You’ve heard the saying, “The best way to spread holiday cheer is singing loud for all to hear!” Is it even possible to be in a bad mood if you are singing a happy song out loud? So this month, think of some happy tunes and gather your family together for a joyful humming game! All you have to do is start humming or tra-la-laa-ing the first few notes of a popular tune while the rest of your family tries to guess what you are humming. The first person to correctly guess the song gets to be the next hummer!
TLIM: The Leader In Me by Sean Covey
Habit 1: Be Proactive: You are in Charge of…Your Attitudes.
*Use proactive language, as opposed to reactive language…
Proactive Language
I’ll do it
I can do better than that
Let’s look at our options
I choose to I have to
I’m not going to let your bad mood rub off on me
Reactive Language
I’ll try
That’s just how I am
There’s nothing I can do
There has to be a way I can’t
You ruined my day
* Focus on things you can control (ex. your actions & behaviors) vs. things out of your control (classmates, teacher, siblings, past mistakes, etc.).
Check out the 7 Habits of HappyKids online: www.theleaderinme.org
Music Notes With Mrs. Faasse
VARIETY SHOW SIGN UPS WILL BE THE WEEK WE RETURN FROM THE HOLIDAYS.
I encourage you to take the holiday break to work on your act, create a group of friends and let’s make this year’s the best one yet!!
Garden Club
The next Garden Club meeting will be on Monday, January 13, 2014 from 2:45 - 4:00.
wREnCYCLE
wREnCYCLE’s next meeting will be January 21st 2:45-3:45. Please note this is a Tuesday instead of a Monday due to a scheduled holiday. We will be recycling “old” Christmas cards, so please bring those in after the holidays.
Uncovering Great Reads With Mrs. Holcombe
During the month of December, students will read and learn about Christmas and Christmas traditions from many books and activities. Second graders will hear A Certain Small Shepherd, a wonderful story by Rebecca Caudill, while third graders will be listening to The House without a Christmas Tree by Gail Rock. Older students will compare and contrast Christmas books and information on traditions around the world.
We welcome the Scholastic Book Fair to the Media Center December 9 – 13. Classes will attend on their scheduled library day. There will be no checkout during this week, as students will check out extra books the week prior to the Book Fair and during the week after the Book Fair. The Book Fair will be open from 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. daily, Monday through Thursday, and from 8:15 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Friday. Parents’ Night will be Tuesday, December 10, from 4:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Information on the Book Fair will go home with students Wednesday, Dec. 4. Volunteers are needed for morning and afternoon shifts. Please contact Mrs. Holcombe by calling or e-mailing if you can help.
New books have arrived at the Media Center in the past few weeks, and students are excited to see some of the new titles. If you would like to place a book in the Media Center in honor of your child’s birthday, please see Mrs. Holcombe to learn how your child can be a member of the Birthday Club.
SOCK COLLECTION
Thank you Wren Elementary students, parents, teachers, and staff for supporting the Greenville Shriner's Children's Hospital. We collected 427 pairs of socks.
The wREnCYCLE club made hand print wreaths decorated with plastic bottle caps and aluminum tabs for the children to decorate their hospital rooms. The socks and wreaths will be delivered on Monday, December 2nd. Thank you so much for your support!
Gift Card Fundraiser
Don’t stand in long lines and become overwhelmed while shopping; let US do it for you!!
Order your Gift Cards through Wren Elementary and they will be sent home with your student (or you can pick them up in the office). NO LINES...NO STRESS!!
Complete order forms and return with payment by:
December 13, 2013
to receive before the holidays.
Make checks payable to Wren Elementary School.
TOP SELLER WINS 4 ONE HOUR TICKETS TO GRAVITOPIA!!
Box Tops Challenge
Our first collection was a huge success and we submitted over 11,000 box tops!
A big congratulations goes to Mrs. Parks 3rd grade class for turning in the most at 836. Our next challenge will end in February so keep clipping and watching the newsletter for more information.
Computer Lab Needs
Cold & flu season is here and that means lots of sneezing, coughing and runny noses. Mrs. Fotos would appreciate any donations of Kleenex, hand sanitizer or Clorox wipes for the computer lab. Thank you!
Santa Shop
A flyer and envelope was sent home with your student about our Santa Shop. Students will come during their computer lab time to shop at the Santa Shop. Complete the envelope and send with money with your student on their assigned day. Schedule is as follows:
Monday, December 2, 2013
8:30-9:15 - POOLE (AM CLASS)
9:15-10:00 - DUNN
10:00-10:45 - PARKS
11:30-12:15 - BROCK
1:00-1:45 - MURRAY
Tuesday, December 3, 2013:
8:30-9:15 - COTHRAN
9:15-10:00 - GURLEY
10:00-10:45 - SUDBECK
11:30-12:15 - COYLE
1:00-1:45 - A. WILSON
Wednesday, December 4, 2013:
8:30-9:15 - CLARDY
9:15-10:00 - SANDERS
10:00-10:45 - MITCHELL
12:15-1:00 - FORTNER
1:00-1:45 - ALEXANDER
Thursday, December 5, 2013:
8:30-9:15 - GREEN
9:15-10:00 - JELINEK
10:00-10:45 - GILSTRAP
11:30-12:15 - MATHIS
12:15-1:00 - TYNER
1:00-1:45 - AMMONS
Friday, December 6, 2013:
8:30-9:15 - MELTON
9:15-10:00 - H. WILSON
11:30-12:15 - WAGHER
12:15-1:00 - MUSTIN
1:00-1:45 - POOLE (PM CLASS)
Mark Your Calendar...
DECEMBER EVENTS:
Dec. 2nd-6th
Santa Shop during Computer Lab
Dec. 3rd
Good News Club 3:45-4
PTO Spirit Night Bellacino’s in Easley 5-8pm
Dec. 5th
Chorus until 3:15pm
Dec. 6th
Chorus Evening Performance AnMed 7:00pm
Dec. 9th-13th
Book Fair
Dec. 10th
Parents’ Night at Book Fair 4:30-6pm
Dec. 12th
Chorus until 3:15pm
Dec. 13th
LAST DAY TO ORDER GIFT CARDS
Moms Meet Moms 8am
Dec. 16th
School-wide Performance of North Pole Star WHS 9:30am
Dec. 17th
5th Grade Musical WHS 6:30pm
Dec, 19th
Chorus Field Trip 9-2:00pm
Dec. 20th
Last Day for Students
School-wide Movie
Dec. 23rd-Jan. 3rd
Holiday Break
Jan. 6th
STUDENTS RETURN