The Howler October 4th, 2019
Newsletter for the Shadow Hills Elementary School Community
Principal Point
Promote Math Success
Your child will do his best in math if you give the subject your full support. This includes letting him know that you think math is important, highly useful, and yes, even fun.
To nurture developing math skills:
Ask your child questions about his math work. For example: “How did you arrive at that answer?” or “Look at this page of problems. Can you see a pattern?” It is important that your child understand the concepts behind a problem in addition to getting the answer.
Involve your child in practical math at home whenever possible. He may not realize how big a role math plays in everyday life activities such as cooking and budgeting.
Know what your child is learning in math at school. Contact your child’s teacher to find out the concepts your child should master. Ask the teacher for tips on helping your child understand these concepts.
Establish a homework routine that includes daily math practice. Because each new math skill builds on the one before, regular practice is important to success. Ask your child’s teacher how much practice is appropriate, and encourage your child to follow the teacher’s guidelines.
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Boise School District
Educating Today for a Better Tomorrow
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Shadow Hills Elementary School
We are PK-6th Public Elementary School in Boise, Idaho! We serve the community of NW Boise and parts of Eagle and Garden City. We have excellent community support for our outstanding teachers and staff! Thank you!
Mission
Inspiring curiosity and building integrity to cultivate a positive learning community.
Vision
We believe the most promising strategy for achieving the mission of Shadow Hills Elementary School is to develop our capacity to function as a professional learning community. We envision a school in which staff:
Inspire curiosity
Build integrity
Cultivate a positive learning community
Unite to achieve a common purpose and clear goals
Work in collaborative teams
Seek and implement best practices that result in student growth and achievement
Monitor student progress
Demonstrate a personal commitment to the overall success and well-being of all students
(Vision based on P. 135 of the following book - Eaker, DuFour & DuFour. (2002). Getting Started: Reculturing Schools To Become Professional Learning Communities. Bloomington, Indiana: National Educational Service.)
Values
We live the values of: Respect - Dignity - Honesty - Responsibility - Teamwork
Purpose/Goals
SMART Goals updated annually
Email: gale.zickefoose@boiseschools.org
Website: https://shadowhills.boiseschools.org/
Location: 8301 West Sloan Street, Boise, ID, USA
Phone: 208-854-6060
Facebook: facebook.com/ShadowHillsWolves
Twitter: @ShadowHillsElem
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES
August 2019
Dear Parent/Guardian:
In the event of a school emergency, please understand that each school in the Boise School District has an Emergency Response Plan that has been carefully developed and addresses a multitude of emergency situations. All of these plans have been developed through a coordinated effort with Ada County Emergency Management. If there is an emergency at your child’s school, your cooperation is necessary to help us respond effectively to such situations.
In the event of an emergency, please help us by doing the following:
Please do not call and do not go to the school.
In an emergency, onsite staff are focused solely on getting everyone to a safe location. Showing up to the site can create unnecessary traffic, preventing emergency vehicles from responding quickly. You could also put yourself or others in danger.
If you get a call or text from your student, help him or her remain calm. Remind your student that school staff know what to do in an emergency situation, and will work to keep everyone safe.
Please know we will communicate with parents/guardians about reunifying you with your child and that this reunification site may not be at the school.
Check the Boise School District homepage at www.boiseschools.org, the District Facebook page or our Twitter feed.
We will provide credible, accurate and useful information to the public as soon as possible. Please be aware that information received from sources other than the school administrator or Boise School District may be inaccurate.
Expect to see our posts updated as necessary. We will also provide updates to local news media, but emergency situations can change rapidly. Typically, multiple agencies are involved, so communication is coordinated through the “lead agency,” which may cause a delay in notification.
Sign-Up for Emergency Text Messaging:
We will use our emergency text notification system to contact parents and guardians. Please make sure your emergency contact information is always up to date at your child's school.
Parent/guardians whose contact information is on file with your child’s school may sign-up for emergency text messaging.
Simply text SUBSCRIBE to the number 67587. You'll know you were successful if you receive the following reply message in English:
“You're now registered with School Messenger notification service. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Msg&data rates may apply.”
Repeat the opt-in process for any wireless numbers that you wish to include.
In addition to performing the opt-in process above, please ensure that the District has your wireless number(s) in our student information database. If you haven't already provided that information to your school please contact them as soon as possible.
Non-parents may receive emergency text messages by downloading the Boise School District’s Mobile app. The app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Familiarize yourself with the terms that can be used during any emergency situation:
Shelter-in-place: Used to secure the building from a potential threat outside the building, such as when an unauthorized person is loitering on school grounds or when there is criminal activity in the neighborhood. Exterior doors are locked, but normal activities continue inside the building. Used during severe weather or other environmental threats (e.g., air contamination due to a local fire) to keep people safe while remaining indoors.
Lockdown: Used when there is a perceived danger inside the building. Doors are locked, windows are closed and locked, blinds are closed. People are directed to move away from windows and doors. Hallways are cleared of students and school staff.
Evacuation: When students and staff are moved out of the building to a pre-designated safe location.
Reverse Evacuation: Used when there is a perceived danger outside the building. Students are brought in from outside. Lockdown procedures may be followed once inside.
Reunification Site: An alternative site other than the school where school administrators will check-out students to the child’s parent/guardian. Students will only be released to authorized parents/guardians with proper identification (e.g. driver’s license, state identification, etc.)
All Boise School District staff members, parents, students and community members are encouraged to report anything they see, hear or are made aware of that may impact a school or school program. If you see or hear something, say something: call 911 or Boise Police Department at 208-343-COPS.
Please discuss these matters with your immediate family. Planning ahead will help alleviate concern during emergencies. Thank you in advance for following these steps to ensure our students, staff members and public remain safe and secure.
Sincerely,
Gale Zickefoose
Principal
Annual Notification Regarding Public Release of Student Directory Information
The Boise School District complies with federal law (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) as it relates to the release of student directory information to the public. To learn more, log on to www.boiseschools.org and navigate to Parents & Patrons > Parent Information > FERPA Form. Or, you may pick up a FERPA form at your school, or call the Clerk of the Board at 208-854-4123 to obtain a copy of the FERPA form.
NEWS FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
GUIDELINES FOR KEEPING SICK CHILDREN HOME
Each day many parents are faced with a decision: should they keep their sick child at home or send them off to school? Often the way a child looks and acts can make the decision an obvious one. Please consider these guidelines:
- Colds: Please keep your child at home if he/she has a fever over 100 degrees or is experiencing discomfort that would interfere with his/her ability to perform in school. (i.e. uncontrollable coughing, severe lack of energy). If your child experiences green nasal discharge that continues throughout the day, or a cough lasting longer than ten days, or is accompanied by fever or chills and is productive of discolored sputum, consult with your physician.
- Conjunctivitis (Pink-eye): Following a diagnosis of bacterial conjunctivitis, the child may return to school after the first dose of prescribed medication. Students with viral infection may return when eyes are clear.
- Diarrhea/Vomiting: A child with diarrhea and/or vomiting should stay at home and return to school only after being symptom-free for 24 hours.
- Fever: A child should remain at home with a fever greater than 100 degrees. The child can return to school after he/she has been fever free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin).
- Impetigo: A child with impetigo may return to school 24 hours after treatment has begun. A doctor's note of proof of prescription is recommended.
- Rashes: Common infectious diseases with rashes are most contagious in the early stages. A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after a health care provider has made a diagnosis and authorized the child's return to school.
- Strep Throat: A child with strep throat may return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has begun.
A sick child cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in classes in a meaningful way. Keeping a sick child home prevents the spread of illness in the school community and allows the child an opportunity to rest and recover.
BOX TOP INFORMATION
Clip and send Box Tops with your students to school! The winning classes with the most collected by November 1st from grades K-3 and 4-6 will win a popsicle party!!
LOST and FOUND
♫ Music Dates at Shadow Hills 2019-2020
November 15th: Kindergarten Fall Program
December 12th: Band, Orchestra and Choir Concert
December 18th & 19th: Holiday Program (1st-3rd Grades)
March 13th: All-School Talent Show
March 19th (Capital Quad Choir Festival
May 7th: Spring Band/Orchestra Concert
May 13th& 14th: Spring Program (4th-6th Grades)
Chess Club at Shadow Hills!
FAMILY STRENGTHENING SUPPORT GROUPS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
Mark your calendars for these upcoming activities:
October 9 - PTO Meeting 4:00 p.m. in the library
October 15 - Restaurant Night at Freddy's (see flyer below)
October 18 - No School (Pre K-6)
October 21-24 - BOOK FAIR!
October 21-24 - National School Bus Safety Week
October 22 - Picture Retake Day
October 23- Parent/Teacher Conferences; No Pre K and Kindergarten Classes
October 24 - Parent/Teacher Conferences; No School (Pre K-6)
October 25 - No School (Pre K-12)
Drama Club! Drama Club starts October 2nd at Shadow Hills. Please see the attached flyer for registration and information.
Harrison Classic Kids Run: October 13th! See the attached flyer for information.