Family Newsletter
November 2019
Peshtigo Elementary Learning Center
(715) 582-3762
IMPORTANT DATES
November 1 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - 12:30-3:30
November 6 - Picture RETAKE day
November 22- End of Trimester 1
November 25 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Inservice Day
November 26 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Inservice Day
November 27 - 29 - NO SCHOOL - Holiday
GREETINGS FROM PRINCIPAL COLLINS
In the past, your students would have received a report card this week. This year, as we transition to a trimester schedule at the elementary school, report cards will come home the first week of December. Additional information will be sent home with every student regarding this change, but I will share at this time that staff and students are very pleased to have an additional three weeks of instructional time this year to meet academic goals. This also means less testing and we see that as a good thing.
During this season of thanks, I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank our community and family volunteers for the time they spend in our school assisting our staff and students. This work is made so much easier with help from others and we appreciate it very much.
Happy Thanksgiving!
SAVE THE DATE!
Winter concerts
December 18th
9:00 am - Grades 3rd through 6th
1:30 pm - Grades Kindergarten through 2nd
PBIS IN ACTION - Notes from Mrs. Osowski, Associate Principal
Congratulations to our 3rd graders! They were selected as the grade who showed the most respect during the month of September and earned some extra recess time.
Our November school-wide focus will be on playground safety and dressing for the weather. We will also be celebrating our positive choices with a Turkey Trot Dance Party at the end of the trimester.
Our students and staff have been promoting being your Best Bulldog when using the bathrooms throughout October. This goes along with our school-wide bathroom matrix below:
KIND BULLDOGS
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
PARENTING WITH LOVE AND LOGIC
Do you want to up the odds that your kids will be ready for the real world?
Attend this 4 week Session
Parenting the Love and Logic WayTM
When: Tuesdays 5:30 – 7:30 pm - Nov. 12, Nov. 19, Dec. 3 and 10, 2019
Where: Peshtigo Elementary Learning Center Library
341 N. Emery Ave., Peshtigo, WI 54157
Who: Parents of ANY age children will benefit
Cost: Sessions are FREE of charge for Peshtigo School District families
($10 fee for out of district families to be paid at the first class)
Get ready to laugh, learn and take the exhaustion and frustration out of parenting. The techniques and videos presented will give parents techniques they can use in the heat of battle…without breaking a sweat.
Love and Logic is a philosophy of raising and teaching children that allows adults to be happier, empowered, and more skilled in their interactions with children. Love allows children to grow from their mistakes; logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices. Love and Logic puts the parents back in control, teaches children to be responsible, and prepares young people to live in the real world. Class participants will learn specific “how-to’s” of successful parenting that are simple, practical and easy to use right away.
Presenters: Bill and Cindy Verschay *Independent Love and Logic Facilitators
Refreshments and workbook will be provided.
Complimentary child care services available for Peshtigo School District Families during training for children ages 2 thru 12.
*Advanced reservations REQUIRED
Contact Jenny Roeder at:
(715) 582-3762, ext. 3040
Email: roederj@peshtigo.k12.wi.us
NOVEMBER MENUS
PLEASE DONATE
CAR RIDER LINE
FROM OUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Dear Parents,
This school year I have been added to the 6th grade specials rotation. In addition to gym, music, and art, 6th grade students have guidance class each week. This has been a unique opportunity for me to work with these students at a critical time in their lives and academic careers. Read on to learn what 6th grade guidance class is all about.
To begin the year, I worked with students on community building activities. Students learned more about their classmates, and they learned to work together toward a common goal. I have also been teaching students about goal setting and SMART goals. A SMART goal is a goal that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-limited. Students have spent the last few weeks revising and reworking two 6th grade goals they set for themselves so that they are SMART goals. They will also be working on two goals they have for their future. Throughout the year, students will reflect on their goals and how they can continue making progress toward them. I encourage parents to ask their 6th grade students about the goals they’ve set for themselves.
Another focus I have for guidance class is growth mindset. We have spent some time talking about learning challenging things, and students did some activities that may have been difficult for them in an effort to work at having a positive attitude and persevering through these challenges. Students also learned about neuroplasticity, the process of rewiring your brain by learning how to do new things or respond to things in different ways. For example, when we work at changing bad habits and creating good habits, the pathways in our brains change over time, making it easier for us to learn and grow in positive ways.
For the next several weeks, students will be learning more about themselves and exploring different careers. Students are taking assessments to learn about their strengths and areas of needed improvement, their work values, and their interests. As we explore careers, students will be able to consider how different careers might fit them. I have also asked students to identify careers they are interested in. Some of the most wanted careers are teacher, veterinarian, artist, doctor, police officer, chef/baker, and professional baseball player. Students will be able to learn more about these and other careers. For example, we will look at careers that are in-demand such as skilled trades and a variety of jobs in the medical field.
I am still working out the curriculum for the second half of the school year. I look forward to continuing to work with your students and help them learn about themselves and the world around them. If you have questions or thoughts about my class, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Katie Seidler, School Counselor
(715) 582-3762 ext. 3100
PTSO NEWS AND NOTES
Next Meeting
November 13th 6:30-7:30
Cafeteria
Come share your ideas for the winter dance and spring fundraiser!
Save the Date: Jingle Mingle Ornament Exchange
Thursday, December 5th
6:00-8:00
$5.00 to attend and bring a wrapped ornament
SQUARE 1 ART ORDERS
NEWS FROM GYM CLASS
PELC students in grades 3-6 just recently completed the Fitness-gram Fitness Testing. During this unit, the students tested their muscular strength, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance through tests such as push-ups, chin-ups, sit ups, modified sit & reach, minute jump-rope and a pacer test. Results help make students more aware of their current health levels and we discussed how to improve them. It’s important for students and families to understand their current status of their health and how to make a happy, healthier self. As November sneaks up on us, Thanksgiving will be here in no time! With Thanksgiving, comes the dreaded “turkey coma” that we all know and love. Mr. Hurley and Mrs. Herbst encourage students and families to take a nice hike (or turkey trot, if you will) outside or play a family football game instead of sitting on the couch this season. Activity will not only wake you and burn a few calories but also create a wonderful experience for the family to share
Mr. Hurley and Mrs. Herbst
Doing Math Together at Home
Just like it’s a good idea to read to your children, it’s also a good idea for you to do math together. Of course, parents often have their own anxieties about math. As with any other kind of anxiety, it’s important to try not to pass on your fears to your children.
“If you’re not as confident about math, or you had some difficulty in that growing up, then trying to pass along that knowledge to kids can be really anxiety-provoking,” acknowledges Dr. Pagirsky. Still, you are probably better at math than you realize because our everyday lives require a lot of math reasoning. So give yourself some credit, and think about ways that you can introduce math concepts to children in a fun and accessible way. Ideas for doing math together include:
Count things: Legos, napkins, sides on a square, etc.
During cooking talk about fractions (half of a pepper, three-quarters of a cup of flour) and practice doubling and halving ingredients in a recipe.
Practice totaling a check and figuring out a tip together.
Discuss patterns and shapes.
Measure things using a ruler.
Compare prices of items at the store.
While you are doing these things, don’t shy away from using the correct vocabulary — we want children to get used to hearing about fractions, inches, multiplication and percentages — and explicitly call what you’re doing “math.” Your goal is to make math familiar and accessible.
You can also consider making math part of your bedtime routine. You might want to use Bedtime Math or a similar resource for ideas. Every day the FREE Bedtime Math website and app features a new child-friendly math anecdote and related questions to pose to children of different ages and abilities.