Messages from Memorial
April 2021
WE ARE VIKINGS WITH HEART!
HEART*EFFORT*ATTITUDE*RESPECT *TEAMWORK
Thank you PTO for...
The new soccer goal (and the Taylor family too!)
The new sign
The new picnic tables in the learning lab.
Dear Memorial Parents and Guardians,
As we are welcoming in next year's kindergarten students and their parents, it is a time of excitement and reflection. One of my greatest rewards as an elementary principal is to watch as kindergarteners grow to become fifth graders. The transformation is incredible. Also, as a parent of a high school senior, I have to take a breath and realize how quickly this journey will go. I am excited for them to begin their school career and all the possibilities it holds for these young Vikings.
As we move through April and May, we will be completing end of the year state and local assessments. The test window for NWEA, in grades 1 - 5, is now open. The window for ILEARN for grades 3-5 is April 19 - May 14. Classroom teachers will share exact days/times for the class test schedules. I hope that you will be able to schedule appointments around the test times. Students seem to do better when they take them with their class. We also appreciate your help with making sure your child gets good sleep and nutrition. Research has shown that students do best when they get 9-12 hours of sleep and do best with a protein based breakfast.
I have received inquiries about the availability of summer school this summer and I'm happy to share that the procedures for being admitted to summer school this year have been expanded. In the past, summer school was limited to those recommended by current teachers. However, this year, parents may also recommend their child for summer school. For those interested in more information, I have included the link to the VCS webpage below. If you are wondering if your child should go, I encourage you to talk to your child's teacher or myself. I would be happy to discuss that with you.
Last month I shared a link to Common Sense Media. It is a great resource for educators and parents to learn more about social media apps, video games, movies and TV. I hope you find the resource helpful.
Partners in Education,
Mrs. Debra Misecko
COnGRATULATIONS
Rory Monroe
Estella FioRito
Neil Jones
Cooper Bearden
Morgan Higgins
Titan Gallagher
This year the Art Show will be virtual. See below for more details.
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT AVAILABLE FROM VCS
eLearning Homework Hotline
eLearning Technology Support
Dates to Remember
APRIL
March 29 - April 16 - NWEA test window
6 & 20 Student Council Meetings
7 & 14 Kindergarten Round-up Assessments
9 Full day of school for all students
12 Snow Make-up Day - In person learning
13 MATH BOWL Competition
14 PTO Meeting via Zoom at 3:45
14 PTO Family Night at Panera
19 - May 14 ILEARN test window
MAY
April 19 - May 14 ILEARN Test Window
4 & 18 Student Council Meetings
18 Field Day
20 - Fifth grade visits BF
21- Fifth grade Celebration
26 - Field Day (Rain Date)
27 - Awards Day in classes
Reminders for Remote Learners
- Congrats on learning how to navigate this tricky way of learning. You are doing great! It is really fun for us to see you during your live sessions.
- Please remember to be ready for your Zoom sessions on time. Being ready means that you are logged on, have removed distractions from your learning area, put away all food and drinks, and have the needed school supplies ready to go.
- Keep your computer on mute until you are ready to speak. Keep in mind when your computer is not on mute, the entire classroom is hearing all noises from your home. Family discussions can be distracting.
- Remote student attendance is determined by the students' completion of the class participation for the day, whether it is one or more live sessions.
- If your child is ill and cannot participate, please inform your child's teacher and the office in the morning.
- Classroom teachers will let you know if there are books or materials to pick up. When necessary, you will have contactless pick up in the front vestibule. Please come during office hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
MEMORIAL PTO
We are so excited to announce the PTO Executive Board for the 2020-2021 school year and greatly appreciate their willingness to work in these valued positions.
President - Kristen Elinkowski
Vice President - Rose Gutshall
Treasurer - Megan Taylor
Secretary - Rae Smedley
Stay tuned for more information coming about 20-21 PTO events. They will be shared in the Memorial Newsletter, on the Memorial Elementary PTO Facebook page, and the Memorial PTO Website.
Box Tops for Education Continues
Reminders from Memorial
- Please make sure your child has the appropriate outdoor wear for the weather. We will go outside everyday unless it is 0 degrees, with wind chill, or if it is too wet.
- Please make sure that you are screening for Covid 19 symptoms before sending your child to school. This link can take you to the VCS Return to Learn Plan and the screening guidelines.
- Thank you for following your dismissal plans as written.
- We recognize that family situations change from week to week for various reasons, and we will accommodate weekly dismissal plans as needed. Those plans need to be in the office by 10 a.m. on Monday morning. That gives us time to communicate with all stakeholders and to make provisions for assigned seats, if needed.
- Unfortunately we cannot accommodate mid-day switches for convenience, as it is difficult to make sure all of our safety provisions can be in place and that we can communicate the change with the appropriate personnel. If it is truly an emergency, please call the school office to discuss your needs.
- If your child gets picked up in a car from school, please continue to follow the correct times for lining up: Last names of A-K dismissal begins at 3:10 and last names beginning L-Z start dismissal at 3:20.
- Morning supervision and breakfast begin at 8:50. Please drop off your child after 8:50. If they would like to eat breakfast we will send them right in. All other students will be let in the building at 9:00 a.m. The tardy bell rings at 9:15.
- Pick up and drop off should only be done along the school on the curb on Milton Street. Students should not be dropped off or picked up in the school parking lots. The parking lots are not supervised for safety.
- Please consider putting a spare mask in your child's backpack. Some students are experiencing mask malfunctions during the school day.
- Please refrain from sending your child to school in flip flops. Flip flops are not safe on the playground and are also likely to break during play.
Memorial Elementary
Email: dmisecko@valpo.k12.in.us
Website: valpo.k12.in.us/Domain/337
Location: 1052 Park Avenue, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Phone: 219-531-3090
Twitter: @Valpo_Memorial