Davis Elementary School
December 2018 Newsletter
From The Principal
Dear Davis Elementary Community,
Looking for something to do over the winter break? Keep your child reading!
Great news for our students - the calendar falls such that our winter break is a lengthy one! This is a great time for your children to unwind, relax, and spend much needed time with family and friends. It is also a time where some of the hard work they have done since September, and the acquired skills, may start to slip just a little bit!
One of the easiest things to do with your children over the winter break is to designate some D.E.A.R. time - Drop Everything And Read - each day. It doesn't have to be a lengthy amount of time. In fact, 10 minutes a day will be enough to keep their brain sweat going over the break. I encourage you to participate in this time with your child.
Take the opportunity to read with them, read to them, or just give them some space and let them enjoy a few minutes getting lost in a book they're interested in. Once they are done, spend another minute or two asking them about what they read and what they think about it. You don't have to ask 21 questions, but a few to have them reflect on their reading will be just enough to help them stay sharp over the break.
We hope you and your family have a safe and happy winter break!
Sincerely,
Andrew J. Doster, Principal
From The Nurse
December 4-10 is National Handwashing Awareness Week! Conveniently placed in the calendar, National Handwashing Awareness Week reminds us that the risk of infection is ever-present, especially around the holidays.
The American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) promote the 4 principles of Hand Awareness:
1. Hand wash regularly, especially before eating.
2. Do not cough into your hands.
3. Do not sneeze into your hands.
4. Above all, Do Not put your fingers into your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Handwashing is the number one way to prevent the spreading of germs. Remind your child to wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water.
With the holiday season, comes Flu season, too! According to the CDC, “Getting an annual flu vaccine is the first and best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.
The more people who get vaccinated, the more people will be protected from flu, including older people, very young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications.” Please consider getting vaccinated, along with your children. Check with your primary doctor for further information and recommendations for you and your family.
Head Lice is a common community problem. An estimated 6 to 12 million infestations occur each year in the United States, commonly among children age 3 to 11 years old.
With the holidays and many people coming together to celebrate, this often brings about an increase in the transmission of head lice.
IMPORTANT FACTS:
Head lice are not dangerous and they do not transmit disease.
Head lice are tiny, wingless insects that live close to the human scalp and feed on human blood.
Head lice move by crawling and CANNOT jump or fly.
Head lice is most commonly spread by direct dead-to-head contact.
It is possible, but not common, to spread head lice by contact with items that have been in contact with a person with head lice, such as clothing, combs, brushes or towels.
Eggs hatch after 7 days and grow into an adult by day 10.
It is important to talk to your school nurse and pediatrician to help you with getting appropriate care. There are over-the-counter treatments and prescription treatment options.
There is no scientific evidence that home remedies are effective treatments.
(Information retrieved from the National Association of School Nurses)
Please remember to keep open communication with your school nurses, who are here to support and guide you. We have many helpful resources inside and outside of school.
Have a wonderful and safe holiday season!!!
Valerie Breiner, RN, Certified School Nurse
Sharon Beyer, RN, Staff Nurse
(215) 364-5970 Ext. 15025
The Counselor's Corner
Counseling groups that focus on topics such as Families in Separate Homes (FISH), Self Control, Friendship skills, and Coping Skills are currently being offered. These groups meet once a week during lunches, or WIN times. Please reach out to Mr. Immerman and Mrs. Ward if you feel that your child would benefit from one of these programs.
We will be collecting gift cards during the holiday season to help support our community families in need. If you are interested in participating, please send a gift card to one of the following retailers: Walmart, Target, Five Below, Kohl’s or Old Navy. Please send the gift card in an envelope marked “Season of Giving” before December 14th.
Mr. Immerman will begin teaching guidance classes in kindergarten and fifth grade after the holidays. Fourth grade guidance lessons will take place later in the school year. In kindergarten the lessons will focus on diversity, sportsmanship, listening and feelings. The fifth grade themes are peer pressure, rumors and gossip, internet safety, and friendships.
In third grade, students are practicing coping skills and being assertive in a respectful way. These classes began in October and will continue until the winter break. First and second grade lessons will be scheduled in the winter and spring. Our parenting class this fall was a great success. We will offer it again after the holidays.
Splash Club Community Service Group has gotten off to a great start. After the holidays, we will participate in Pennies for Patients in partnership with the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. Watch for information about this excellent promotion, and start looking for loose change to contribute to this great cause.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child, please feel free to reach out to your child’s counselor.
Bob Immerman - Grades 3, 4, 5
(215) 364-5970 x 15031
immero@centennialsd.org
Christi Ward - Grades K, 1, 2
(215) 364-5970 x15030
The Reading Corner
Creating Learning Traditions
This holiday season consider adding some new traditions for your family that will make meaningful memories and strengthen foundations for reading and learning success.
Listen, laugh, learn
• Listen to audiobooks while you’re traveling to visit family, wrapping gifts, or cooking for the holidays.
• Lyrics to holiday songs are fun to read and sing together. It is also good fun and good collaborative writing practice to make up your own lyrics to familiar tunes.
• Start a story-telling tradition by revisiting holidays of the past. Old family photographs at holiday gatherings will help prompt stories about your own life and family traditions.
Read, relax, respond
• Put reading and writing skills to practical use. Plan holiday meals by reading cookbooks together, writing the shopping lists and finding the needed items at the store by reading signs and labels. Read the recipe and cook together. During the simmering and baking, kids can write and decorate menus or place cards for special holiday meals.
• Set aside time just for reading. Curl up on the couch together and read aloud an old favorite or check out books about another culture’s winter celebrations.
• Work on those letters. Improve writing skills with letters to Santa and writing thank you notes for holiday gifts to relatives and friends.
For more holiday reading, visit: www.readingrockets.org/articles/books/c360/
Visit our sister sites, ColorinColorado.org and LDOnLine.org, for more information about learning.
From The Cafeteria
Reminder-Absences
While coming to school each and every day is important, it is equally important to monitor our children’s health. If a child is sick, please keep him/her home. Our teachers will work with students who have fallen ill to make sure they do not fall behind in the classroom.
If your child is absent from school, you will be notified via a voice message that will come to the primary phone number listed in Skyward. In addition, an email will be sent to the first email address listed in Skyward. Please be sure that your phone number and email address is updated in Skyward. If an automated call is made, and you believe it to be in error, please call the main office of the school. Automated calls and emails may still occur even if you’ve contacted the school regarding the absence. Absence notes will still be required. You can send a written note in with your child on the day that he or she returns to school. You can also email the excuse note to DAAttendance@centennialsd.org . This email address is dedicated to receiving these notes. If you have any questions regarding this change, please call the main office at (215) 441-6000 x 15010
Late Arrivals
Davis Dolphins
Each week names are drawn from our Davis Dolphins container as a way to recognize and celebrate our students for demonstrating trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, care, and citizenship. Congratulations to Colin C, Anjali S, Michael B, Ava K, Jacob F, Xavier K, Ashley S-G, Brooke S, Ace P, Reese G, Paisley D, Alex T, Kaeleigh J, Tristan H, Brendan M, Jordy L, James M, Ethan Z, Casey M, Katie E, Reese M, Mia R, Justin P, Michelle E, Lilyanna P, Penelope S, Louis M, Ilya H, Michael M, Kyle M, Mario F, Remi P, Grace B, Zahin Q, RJ S, Emma R. Way to go, boys and girls!
Wednesday Express
Each Wednesday, your child’s teacher will send home the Wednesday Express envelope. Please take a moment to remove, read, review the contents, and return the envelope to school the next day. Your signature on the outside of the envelope lets us know that you received it. We also recommend that everyone continue to check the eFolder on a regular basis.
Winter Concert
All are invited to attend our Winter Concert on Wednesday, December 12, at 7:00 PM at William Tennent High School. Please join us for this special event. The concert will feature our 4th and 5th grade choral groups, 5th grade band, 5th grade orchestra, and the chimes choir. We hope to see you there!
Teacher's Corner - Kindergarten
Teacher's Corner - Third Grade
Our third grade classes enjoyed an informative visit to the Upper Southampton Water Authority. Students explored the different roles and responsibilities of the Water Authority, toured the machinery unit, viewed the inside of a water tower, and learned about the board's function within our community. Our authentic learning experience closely connects to our science curriculum in which students investigate the fascinating properties of water.
Help Davis every time you shop at Amazonsmile or Shoprite Warminster
By selecting Centennial Education Foundation as your charity when shopping at Amazonsmile 0.5% of eligible purchases go to the Centennial Education Foundation. Centennial Education Foundation (CEF) provides enriching educational opportunities, programs, and projects to expand and enhance the basic, well-rounded education offered by the district.
By shopping at ShopRite of Warminster through the Shop From Home Fundraiser. 15% of your bill is donated to the Centennial Education Foundation. CEF donates 20% of our school's proceeds to our Home & School Association.
Birthday Club
Each month Mr. Doster recognizes students who have birthdays during that month by giving them a special pencil and posing for a photo with them. This month December birthdays were recognized.
Calendar
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xfz63FsEMPo0vSSKSU5PyNB-5NtHm6cA9fOfMQsn3tQ/edit?usp=sharing
Davis Elementary School
Website: centennialsd.org
Phone: 215-364-5970