Elm Road Express
"Putting Dreams into Flight" February 2018
From the Desk of Dr. Soto Kile
The month of February is filled with many exciting happenings at Elm Road. The students will be busy taking their Dibels, Study Island, and Mini-Assessments during the school day. I would also like to encourage all of our students to sign-up for the upcoming Young Author’s Conference on the morning of March 10th. It is an exciting morning in which students are able to listen to an author and read a book that they have written in class.
The first portion of the ISTEP test will take place February 26-March 9. The third grade iRead test will be March 12-16. The second part of the ISTEP test will be administered April 16-May 4. Attendance is very important. Please do not schedule any appointments during this time and make certain students are present on time to school each day. We cannot interrupt testing should a student arrive during the assessment. We appreciate your support during this very important time.
Welcome New Staff
Dates to Remember
Jan. 16 - Feb 9 - Order your yearbook!
Feb. 5-9 - Heart Course in GymFeb. 9 - Tornquist ( 2nd) to Snite Museum 9:30-1:30
Feb. 12 - Richard/Gizewski (2nd) to Snite Museum 9:30-1:30
Feb. 12 - PTO Meeting 2:30 pm
Feb. 13 - Penn Music Tour Performance
Feb. 16 - Recess Day No School
Feb. 19 - President's Day No School
Feb 26-Mar. 9 - ISTEP testing Session 1
Notes from the Office
- We are now taking orders for the yearbook. Order forms were sent out in January. You must preorder your yearbook as there will only be a few extra yearbooks available in the office after they arrive. The cost is $8.00 each. Orders are due by February 9th.
- Spring pictures will be on March 21st. Look for more information in early March.
We are Elm Road Eagles
Website: elmroad.phmschools.org
Location: 59400 Elm Road, Mishawaka, IN, United States
Phone: (574)259-3743
Twitter: @ElmroadES
Student of the Month
Congratulations to the following
“Eagles” for their wonderful
“SOAR” behavior:
Macellari: Emery Caston & Blake Morales
Portolese: Kaylynn Chau & Maxwell Shook
Renz: Lily Kazmierzak & Jackson Pennington
Bush: Roel Alvarez & Savanah Jones
Clark: Logan McCullough & Peyton Hernandez
Hinton: Wolfgang Bowlds-Hurtle & Jenna Fair
Taylor: Kinley Johnson & Bentley Jellison
Gizewski: Lexi DiMicco & Kade Grounds
Richard: Nicholas Crispin & Bonnie Moore
Tornquist: Brady Bennett, Kristina Garcilazo & Madelyn Winter
Anderson: Cody McGillem & Molly Barnes
Miller: Brooklynn Hill & Max Barnes
Myers: Garrett Probst & Emilia Ducret
Pillow: Kendyll Ray & Lee Lehtomaki
Cook: Mason Shook & Tony Prince
Fisher: Shyanne Loveless & Anya Nissley
Kocsis: Brady Lewis & Makayla DeVolder
Newcomer: Noelle Gillespie & Haylie Evans
Freeman: Delaney Klawinsky & Tristin Fuchs
Kertai: Melanie Hall & Landon Allen-Palomin
Mellor: Colton Elkins & Paige Sharp
Shreiner: Brody Hairopoulos & Chase Beachy
Youth Service Bureau
It’s tax time! Families in St. Joseph County may qualify for VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). This program offers free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide FREE basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. Call 2-1-1 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday to schedule an appointment.
As always, if you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to give me a call at 259-3743.
Mrs. Shell
Mrs.Creighton's Reading Corner
As the school year moves on, please remember to encourage your child to continue to practice reading at home. Reading at home can include listening to stories, reading aloud to a family member, or reading silently.
In order for your child to successfully read a book, it must be at their reading level. Here is an easy way for you, and your child chooses a book that is a “just right fit.”
Five Finger Rule
Select a book that you think might be an interesting, and fun book to read. Read the first page of the book. As you read, hold a finger up for each word that is misread. When you have completed reading the page, if you are holding up 5 fingers that book is more than likely too difficult to read.
Finding a book at your child’s level will foster a love of reading and learning. Reading a book at your child’s level will also aid with comprehension.
If you are need of books for your child to read at home, please contact me. If you live in the Village Green area, there is a library in the community center.
Happy reading,
Mrs. Creighton
Title I Teacher/Reading Specialist
Circle the State Choir
Cash Caloni
Grace Kazmierzak
Lincoln Burks
Aaron Pennington
Lucy Thomas
Josh Marvin
Aubrey Click
Grayce Spadafore
Bailey Tropp
Braelyn Clark
Erin Csakany
Addison Szakaly
Kloe Klein
Landon Hill
Greetings from Elm Road Music Room
On February 24th, fourteen 4th and 5th grade students from Elm Road Elementary will be participating in the Circle the State with Song Honor Choir. They will be traveling to Goshen College to practice with a clinician and perform with hundreds of other students from our area. I am very proud of their hard work!
In February, students will be studying Mozart and Dvorak. Here's a little bit more of what each grade is working on:
1st: So Mi La songs, Rhythm reading, Keeping a steady beat on instruments
2nd: Do Re Mi songs, Rhythm reading, Keeping a steady beat on instruments
3rd: Sight singing Do Re Mi So and La, Singing in Rounds, 6/8 time
4th and 5th: Sight singing, African American Spirituals, Spring Concert Preparation
Please email me with any questions!
Mrs. Nakayama
Library Lines
As we begin the second semester of school, continue to read near, with, and to your children. They notice what you are reading and your example makes a difference to them.
The Great Kindness Challenge and supporting the PE Healthy Heart Course will be our main topics for this month in the library for CAMPE rotations.
I need a Volunteer to come in some afternoons to enter many new books into the computer library program and prepare books for checking out. Please contact me. I will teach you!
Thank you to our committed volunteers, Gail Werntz, Deana Shinall, Carrie Smith, Kim Lagodney, Monna Mishler, Megan Striegel, Bonnie Ornat, Beth Wiseman, Kerry Emmons, and Bob Krug.
Mrs. Linda Knapp,
574-259-3743
What's Happening in Gym?
Greetings,
Throughout January, students developed hockey skills through stations, drills and games. Some games students enjoyed included: "Sharks", "Pin Knockdown", "Sideline Hockey", and "Get the Point". All grade levels continue to enhance coordination, balance, strength, and motor skills through our Minds in Motion maze. Second through fifth grade completed the second PACER test and determined if they have shown any growth with cardio endurance.
We will be discussing cardiovascular health and the circulatory system in Feb, as well as beginning a basketball and jump rope unit. The students will also be journeying through a “heart obstacle course” Feb. 5th-9th, where they pretend to be a blood cell following a path through the heart.
Each grade level will also be jumping rope and raising funds for the American Heart Association through Jump Rope for Heart during gym class (March 5th, 6th and 7th). Students/parents received information packets for these the last week of January. Last year our Elm Road Community raised over $12,414!
Fifth graders have the opportunity to express interest in helping with our “Fun in the Sun” day by being on a committee to help plan the day. Letters went home with students that expressed interest during our discussion in gym class.
Some of the members of our jump team will be performing at the boys Bethel College basketball game on Feb. 17 at 3:00. They will also be performing at Penn High School at half time of boys game on Feb. 9th. Come check them out!
Please remind your child to bring tennis shoes in his/her backpack when coming to school in boots. Tennis shoes are the best choice for a day in the gym or classroom!
Stay Fit,
Debbie Parisi
Mike Phipps
School Cancellations and Delays
When schools must be delayed or canceled due to inclement weather, please watch the following television stations for announcements: WSBT—channel 22, WNDU—channel 16 or WSJV—channel 28. Information will also be announced on local radio stations. On days when the central office determines that travel would be unsafe at our normal dismissal times, schools may be dismissed early. Announcements about early dismissal will be made on the above television stations as well as on radio stations. Please also keep in mind that Kids Club will not operate on days when school is delayed, closed, or dismissed early due to inclement weather. Please have a family plan in place should one of the above occur. Please also remember that all after school activities will be canceled in the event of an early dismissal as well as on days when after school and evening driving conditions are not safe.
PHM District News
- Wednesday, February 7, 7:00 p.m., SMS Cafeteria, "Student Internet Safety." St. Joseph Co. Police Cybercrime Unit Offc. Eric Tamashasky will present on what parents need to know and do to help keep their children safe online. This is open to all parents across the District and is presented by P-H-M's Forum. High school students are also welcome to attend; however, because of the nature of the presentation this event is not suitable for students below 9th grade. More details at https://www.phmschools.org/news/jan-2018/st-joseph-county-police-presentation-internet-safety
- Penn-Harris-Madison offers breakfast at a number of our schools to assist families with busy schedules. If morning meals are difficult for your family, let the School Breakfast Program help you out! Free meal students receive a free breakfast. Reduced price breakfast for qualified students is .30 cents. Regular priced breakfast is $1.10 at elementary and $1.25 at secondary. À la-carte is also available at the middle and high schools. Click here for more information: https://www.phmschools.org/food-service/p-h-m-food-programs
- Flyers of community events or activities are posted at this link on the District website, https://www.phmschools.org/community-events-activities. There is a homepage link off the District and 11 elementary websites directly to this page. It is listed in the drop down menu of the Middle and Penn websites.
- Penn-Harris-Madison is proud to be in the state's Top 4% of public school districts. We strive to provide excellence in education at all levels. The District is proud to highlight some of our many points of pride in a series of newly released "Excellence Happens Here" videos. The videos are released on District social media and can be found on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOK7-7WTv1mHX3QCN-fIsKsM8pl5ZChxm
Health Room News
Health Room News
As colder weather and flu season approaches, here are some guidelines for when to keep your child home from school until your health care provider can be contacted for his/her opinion:
· A fever of 100 degrees or higher- do not have the student return to school until the student has been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.
· A “heavy cold or hacking cough” even without a fever (cough that disturbs normal activity)
· Diagnosis from physician of Whooping Cough/Pertussis-student should stay home from school until he/she has received 5 full days worth of antibiotic treatment.
· Vomiting- student should stay home until he/she can keep food down and is free of symptoms for 24 hours.
· Diarrhea-student should remain home until free of symptoms for 24 hours.
· Pink eye (conjunctivitis)-there can be many causes for red eyes, not all of which are communicable. Refer to your health care provider for an evaluation. The Academy of Pediatrics advises that children with purulent conjunctivitis (defined as pink or red conjunctiva with white or yellow discharge, often with matted eyelids after sleep and eye pain or redness of the eyelids or skin surrounding the eyes) be excluded until examined by a health care provider and approved for readmission. With bacterial conjunctivitis, health care providers usually recommend exclusion until 24 hours after starting topical antibiotic therapy.
· Strep throat-student can return to school after they have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours and are fever free.
· Chicken pox-exclusion from school for one week after the first eruption appears or all lesions are dry and crusted
· Unexplained rash, blisters, or draining sores-student should see his/her health care provider for a diagnosis
Remember- good hygiene and good hand washing techniques can help to prevent many illnesses! Please get a flu shot!!!
***Any medication, even cough drops need to be in the original container. It must be a child’s dosage, and parent needs to fill out a form in order for it be administered. Please do not send any form of medication in with the student without all the above as it will be returned home without it being administered.
6th grade vaccines :
Not too early to start!! If your student is entering the 6th grade these are the required vaccines. When your student turns 11 years old they can get the MCV4 and Tdap.
3 Hep B
2 Hep A
2 Varicella
5 DTap
1 Tdap (Tetanus & Pertussis)
4 Polio
1 MCV4 (Meningococcal conjugate)
2 MMR
If you have any questions, contact the health office at 574-259-3743
email eclark@PHM.k12.in.us
fax-574-258-9384 to Beth Clark, MA, Health Aide