School News
St. Germain Elementary & NP Montessori Learning Center
January 2020
Setting Goals
Happy New Year to everyone! Hard to believe it is 2020 already, a new year, and a new decade. With the ringing in of a new year comes new opportunities and goal setting. I make a list of goals at the start of the year. As a school, StG and NPMLC also set annual goals so students reach their maximum potential. We set these goals at the start of the year and are checking in on them regularly throughout the year but January is the time we dedicate time to assess students with iReady and other assessments and dedicate more time to checking in on our goals. Many of you are setting personal or professional goals for the new year as well. It may be to exercise more, eat healthier, read more, etc. Schools, organizations, businesses and adults do a lot with goal setting and January is the time to revisit that. This goal setting shouldn't stop with us, we should include our children in goal setting too.
Starting to instill goal setting with your kids is a healthy activity. I encourage you to sit down with your child if you have not done so already and set some goals for the new year. Make some personal and fun such as learning how to ride a bike or ski. Make some that will help you out, such as having him/her learn how to tie his/her shoe. Last of all, I encourage you to set some goals with your kids for academics. Setting a goal to read every night before bed or practice math facts and games three nights a week can go a long way with supporting your child's academics and success. If you want resources on how to do this just ask your child's teacher. They have numerous resources to help you play math and literacy games at home or much more.
January is an exciting time of year as it is a fresh start to better ourselves, children and school. As Warren McLaren once stated, "Make New Year's goals. The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals."
One Book, One School, One Adventure
Every year we do a school wide activitiy called One book, One School, One Adventure. This is open to all students in the Montessori Learning Center and St. Germain Elementary School. Sign up forms went home January 7th. If you committ to the program we will send you the book to keep. All you have to do is read 2-3 chapters per week. Your child will answer a question about the book each week and if he/she gets it correct his/her name will be entered in a drawing to win prizes each week. Anyone that does the program will also be entered in a drawing to win a pizza lunch with Mr. Duffek. This year our book is The Water Horse. Below is a description of the book in case you are curious.
When eight-year-old Kirstie and her family go beach combing near their home in Scotland, she finds something that looks like a giant fish egg, which is just too interesting to leave on the beach. So she brings it home and sneaks it into the bathtub overnight. The next morning, she is surprised to find that the egg has hatched, but the newborn is unlike anything anyone has seen before. With its long neck, head like a horse, skin like a toad's, flippers like a turtle, and a tail like a crocodile, her brother Angus declares it a monster. Grandfather knows better and tells them it's a kelpie, or what he calls a water horse. The family keeps the baby and names it Crusoe. But as Crusoe grows, he becomes a bigger and bigger problem, literally. They are forced to find him a new home, away from people and boats. They settle on a beautiful Loch, now known as Loch Ness.
Charter School Application Window
Winterfest - Success!
Sleigh Rides
Crafts
Games and More
Parent's Corner
Asking kids questions can be a powerful strategy to teach them how to help others, learn about their feelings, learn empathy, and teach them how to solve problems. Most people remember being lectured by an individual when doing something wrong. Asking questions can be much more powerful than giving a lecture. Asking kids questions about how they were feeling, how others felt, and what they could do to solve the problem can teach them valuable social skills and problem solving skills. Below is a short video on how you can teach perspective taking and teach your child how to care for others and solve problems. You can find other helpful parenting resources and tips at the link below:
Save the Dates
January - Charter School Enrollment Month
February - Family Friendship Night 2/14
March - Mother/Son Event (LEGOLAND) 3/6, Color Day 3/11
April - Father/Daughter Dance (Enchanted Forest) 4/17, Spring Fling and Bake Sale - 4/24
May - Science Fair 5/1, Teacher Appreciation Week 5/4-5/8, Book Fair 5/26-5/29,
Reading Night 5/29, Mission Possible 1K & 5K Run TBD
June - Color Day 6/3, Field Day 6/5
Upcoming Events for January & February
January
- Charter School Enrollment Window the entire month - siblings of current charter school students need to apply if they are new to the charter school
January 10th
- One Book, One School, One Adventure pledge forms are due
- You will receive the book by January 27th, the start date for the reading adventure
January 7th
- Montessori Learning Center tour at 9:30 AM
January 13th
- Science Club Meeting at 3:30 for those registered (2nd-4th grade only)
January 23rd
- Montessori Learning Center tour at 9:30 AM
- Montessori Learning Center Parent Information Meeting at 6:30 PM
January 27th
- School Board Meeting at 6:00 PM
February 6th
- Montessori Learning Center Lottery @ 9:00 AM in the NPMS/HS LGI
February 7th
- No School - Teacher In-service day
February 14th
- Family Friendship Night @ 6:00-7:30 PM
February 20th
- STG FLT @ 5:15 PM
February 27th
- MLC FLT @ 5:15 PM
_______________________
St. Germain Elementary and Northland Pines Montessori Learning Center
Email: tduffek@npsd.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.npsd.k12.wi.us/login_faculty.cfm?memberid=121&pageid=52801
Location: 8234 State Hwy 70, Saint Germain, WI, USA
Phone: 715-542-3632
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northlandpines/?scrlybrkr
Twitter: @tduffeknpsd