WEEKLY WONDERS

"There is no description, no image in any book that is capable of replacing the sight of real trees, and all the life to be found around them..." -Dr. Maria Montessori

Pictured above: Some Ellis students participated in a goodbye ceremony this past week organized by Alderman Nick Palumbo for the big tree (affectionately known as Betty White or Twister) in Circle (McCauley) Park. A couple of months ago, the tree was struck by lightning and major rot was exposed. The City has deemed that the tree must be completely cut down, but a new tree will be planted in its place in the Spring.

Important Dates

December 1-8- Book Fair

December 8- Festival of Lights

December 16- Donation Dress Down Day

December 16- End of Second 9-Week Period

December 19-January 2- Winter Break

January 3- Staff Planning Day- No school for students!

View the SCCPSS Academic calendar at this link.

View the SCCPSS Assessment calendar at this link.

The Book Fair is OPEN!

The Scholastic Book Fair is in the Ellis Media Center December 1st-8th.

The book fair will be open during regular school hours (8am-3:30pm) every day except for Thursday, December 8th, when we will be open UNTIL 5:30pm (when the Festival of Lights will begin).

Parents/guardians are welcome to attend the book fair with (or without!) their students, but they need to sign into the front office first.

Forget the cash! You can add money to your student(s) eWallet account on the Ellis Book Fair website.

Find more information about the Book Fair on the Ellis website.

Festival of Lights

The PTA Festival of Lights will take place on December 8th at 5:30pm.

There will be performances by Primary/Lower Elementary students, Upper Elementary Chorus, and the symphonic band.

Come early or stay after school...the book fair will be open until the performances start at 5:30pm!

The 8th grade bridging club will be selling ornaments at the event to raise money for their bridging ceremony. There are several different types of ornaments to choose from (see images below). The wood slice and glass bulb are $5/each and the snowman, reindeer, and gingerbread cookie ornaments are $1/each.

For more information, visit the Ellis website.

Giving Opportunity

A family in our Ellis community is currently working to set up two village libraries for children in Kenya, East Africa. You can click on the Dala Library website to learn more about this project including ways that your family can help this giving season.

Grace & Courtesy Emphasis

Throughout the school year, Ellis has a school-wide focus on specific positive character traits. Each teacher may choose to highlight these "Grace & Courtesy" emphases differently, but as a school we follow a general common curriculum.

From November 28th-December 16th, our school-wide Grace & Courtesy emphasis is TRUST & HONESTY.

The language for identifying/naming TRUST & HONESTY in "The Self-Awakened Child" series by Jonathan Wolff:

Trust

When I say to myself, "I know I can learn to do this" -- even if it's something that is very hard for me to do-- I am Trusting myself.
When someone promises me something and I feel sure they will keep their promise, I am Trusting them.
When I do what I promise I will do, I am acting with Trust.

Honesty

When I tell myself the truth about what I think, how I feel or what I did, I am being Honest.
When I tell someone the truth about what I think, how I feel or what I did, I am being Honest.