Knights News
Merryman February 2018 Newsletter
Dates to Remember
February 12 - NO School - Staff Professional Development Day
February 15 - UW-Marinette Crumpled Classics - 3rd & 4th Grade
February 19 - 3rd Grade Swimming
February 22 - PTO Ice Cream Sandwich Sale
February 26 - Merryman Elementary Literacy Night
February 28 - Family Science Night - 6:00pm-7:30pm
March 1 - PTO Meeting 6pm
March 5-9 - NO School - Spring Break
March 22 - PTO Ice Cream Sandwich Sale
March 30 - NO School - Good Friday
From the Desk of Ms. Kostrova
As the first semester comes to a close you can access your child’s second quarter report card in Skyward through the Family Access Portal. Please contact the office at 715-735-2500 if you need assistance or if you would like a paper copy. In addition to this information your child recently completed and brought home copies of the winter STAR reading and math assessment data. We use this information to help your child set goals for the second semester. Be sure to talk with your child about the progress they have made this school year. I strongly encourage you to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss academic, behavioral and social progress.
We hope you are enjoying the free breakfast that is offered to every student. Breakfast begins at 7:53 and we encourage you to take advantage of this great opportunity. Students are able to eat breakfast in the classroom. Just a reminder that students need to be at school by 7:55 as the learning bell rings at 8:00.
As we start the second semester I ask that you revisit the handbook with your child. You can find the handbook on our webpage or request a copy from the office. Making sure that we are all on the same page with expectations is important. Please contact the office is you have questions.
Thank you to PTO for sponsoring the family game/math night. Everyone had a great time. I hope you enjoy the pictures. Thank you to those of you who supported the Black Out Cancer Fundraiser! We appreciate the support from our community!
Your Partner In Education,
Ms. Kostrova
Courage
For the month of February we talk about courage.
Courage is “overcoming fear so I can do what is right.”
Courage begins by knowing what is good, true, and right. This gives you confidence that you are heading in the right direction.
Another way to build courage is to think through what you should do in specific situations. For example, what should you do if you wake up and hear a smoke alarm in your home? What should you do if a stranger asks you to get into his car? What should you do if you see someone being teased or bullied?
Thinking ahead will help you overcome fear and make better choices when you face strange, difficult, or frightening situations. When you know something is good and true, stand up with courage instead of hiding in fear. You never know how your boldness and bravery will inspire others to stand up for what is true, right, and just.
Every STAR Deserves the Chance to Shine!
1st Grade Super-Stars!
2nd Grade Super-Stars!
3rd Grade Super-Stars!
4th Grade Super-Stars!
Staff Super-Stars!
Ms. Adams
How long have you been at Merryman?
2.5 Years
Which University did you graduate from?
The University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN and Northwestern University.
What position do you hold at Merryman?
School Social Worker
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is getting hugs (I am a hugger!!!) Positive touch with students is very powerful!
When not at work, what do you do for fun?
When not at work I am usually walking my Beagle “Copper” or cuddling on the sofa with one of my 3 kids. (ok- the 19 year old refuses to cuddle...wait he did 1 night a month ago...yeah!)
If you could be a character in any book, who would you choose and why?
If I could be any character in a book I would be “emma” in Jane Austins book Emma. She is clever, quick-witted, and lives in a beautiful era with beautiful clothes and customs. Plus Mr. Knightly is so dashing and rich and handsome!!!!
Mrs. Demmith
How long have you been at Merryman?
This is my first year teaching at Merryman. I taught in Menominee 19 years prior to joining the Merryman Elementary team.
Which University did you graduate from?
I graduated from UW-Whitewater.
What position do you hold at Merryman?
I am a Special Education teacher at Merryman.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love seeing the growth a student makes and sharing it with them. The excitement on their faces when they see their growth is priceless.
When not at work, what do you do for fun?
I enjoy spending time with my husband, my three boys (Tyler, Ryan, and Dylan), and my “bonus daughter,” Abby.
If you could be a character in any book, who would you choose and why?
I always wanted to be Pippi Longstocking when I was a kid because she had a pet monkey and went on great adventures.
Mrs. Jagielski
How long have you been at Merryman?
I have been working at Merryman for 16 years.
Which University did you graduate from?
I graduated from U.W. Whitewater.
What position do you hold at Merryman?
Special Education Teacher
What is your favorite part of your job?
One of my favorite parts of being a teacher is the opportunity to surround myself with so many amazing kids and their families.
When not at work, what do you do for fun?
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and 3 children; Mike, Sarah and James.
If you could be a character in any book, who would you choose and why?
If I could be a character in any book, I think I would choose Flat Stanley because he is always off to new places and experiencing new adventures
Miss Langlois
How long have you been at Merryman?
I have worked at Merryman since August 2017!
Which University did you graduate from?
I completed my B.A. in Psychology at UW-Stevens Point. I finished my M.S. and PsyS at Minnesota State University Moorhead.
What position do you hold at Merryman?
I work as a school psychologist at Merryman.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The thing I like most about my job is being able to work with families, students, teachers, and other school staff to make changes that help every student learn.
When not at work, what do you do for fun?
When I am not at work I like to spend time with my cats. I also like to crochet. I really enjoy being able to spend time with my parents, brothers, and my niece and nephew.
If you could be a character in any book, who would you choose and why?
If I could be a character in any book I think I would be Hermoine Granger from the Harry Potter series. I admire her intelligence, bravery, loyalty, and her ability to be a great friend.
Miss Schmidtke
How long have you been at Merryman?
This school year is my second year at Merryman.
Which University did you graduate from?
I graduated with both my undergraduate and master’s degrees from UW-Stevens Point.
What position do you hold at Merryman?
I am the Speech Language Pathologist.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is watching my students grow in their speech and language skills ad confidence. I get the opportunity to see their progress and transformation. Seeing my students graduate from speech and no longer needing services is definitely a highlight.
When not at work, what do you do for fun?
When I am not at work, you will usually find me reading a book or watching a movie. I often take advantage of my craft room making a wide variety of crafts. I also enjoy camping, kayaking, and shooting sporting clays with my dad.
If you could be a character in any book, who would you choose and why?
This is a tough question considering I love to read. If I had to choose, it would be between Clary Fairchild from the Mortal Instrument series or Sodapop Curtis from The Outsiders. I would want to be Clary because then I would have awesome powers because I am half angel half human (a shadow hunter). I would want to be Sodapop because one he has a really fun name, and two even though he has a difficult life and tough situation, he always seems to have a positive attitude and outlook on life.
Reference
“Character First Education.” Courage | Character First Education, characterfirsteducation.com/c/curriculum-detail/2272029.
“Keep Your Familiy Health by Avoiding the Germs.” Families on-the-Go Magazine, 5 May 2015, www.familiesonthego.org/staying-healthy/.