SHES Sea Turtle Times
September 2022 Newsletter
Welcome Back to School!
Happy September SHES Families!
August was a whirlwind as we opened the 2022-2023 school year! It’s wonderful to have everyone back on campus building relationships and engaged in learning! Our teachers did a fabulous job hosting Open House which was a great success and with the support of our amazing PTA we have already hosted a number of events on campus. Thank you PTA for hosting our Boo-Hoo Yahoo Breakfast, Bingo for Books and an extremely well attended Morning with Mom! There is much happening in the next few weeks, so keep checking our SHES Calendar on our website so you can join in the fun!
As we approach the middle of our first grading period, it is a good time to take a temperature check of your child’s progress. Mid-term reports go home September 12th. Log in to your parent portal to check on grades, completed and submitted assignments, attendance and tardies. Daily attendance and prompt arrival is most important to support your child’s academic progress and social-emotional growth. Patterns of absences and tardies will be addressed by our school’s Child Study Team which includes our Social Worker. To help your child, please help them arrive daily and on time. Our campus opens at 8:15am. The first bell is at 8:35am and students should be in their classroom by the tardy bell at 8:45am. If they are not in their classroom at 8:45am, they will be marked tardy. By arriving between 8:15am-8:25am, there is plenty of time for breakfast, socializing with a friend, and traveling to class.
Now that everyone is familiar with arrival and dismissal processes, we have just a couple of minor suggestions to make things go more smoothly. *Please refrain from using cell phones and/or smoking in the car line. *Pull up to the farthermost available loading/unloading space in the circle, leave no space between you and the car in front of you. *Use the sign provided with your student’s name and grade printed in large letters. Thank you to those parents who are being patient and courteous to staff members and fellow parents as we safely load and unload students each day.
Another important topic to consider this time of year is student safety when arriving or departing from school or the bus stop. If meeting primary students at a bus stop, arrive to the bus stop on time and practice walking your route with your child.
If walking your child to campus from nearby, utilize the crosswalks and crossing guards. For your child’s safety please do not illegally cross Dr. MLK Street at 6th Avenue to approach campus. There is a clearly posted sign directing pedestrians to use the crosswalk at 7th Avenue or 5th Avenue where there is a crossing guard and crosswalk. Thank you to our families who are demonstrating the character traits of Citizenship (law abiding), Respect and Responsibility! It is greatly appreciated!
Now that Open House is concluded, I hope everyone has a better understanding of what is expected from your child academically. Teachers will begin scheduling conferences as our F.A.S.T. Cycle 1 testing is wrapping up. In order to build comprehension and fluency in both reading and math, I highly encourage each parent to find time to listen to your child read each evening even in Kindergarten, students can retell what they see in the picture to build language, identify letters and sight words they are familiar with. Practicing math skills relative to your child’s age is equally as important. Primary and intermediate students should focus on counting and practicing math facts to build fluency as well. And let’s not forget Dreambox! Visit Clever to help your child access Dreambox so they can complete their required lessons each week. Parents are each child’s first teacher, and we need to work together to ensure that the foundation is established to build upon. Thank you for all you do!
Ms. Palmer, Principal
September 2022
9/9 - In honor of Patriot's Day wear Red, White & Blue!
9/12- Mid Period Reports Sent Home
9/13 - SAC meeting, 5:30pm,
9/19 - 9/23 - Start with HELLO week!
9/22 - SMILE! Picture Day for students
9/23 - 9/30 - Book Fair
9/27 - Literacy Night / Book Fair - Times TBA!
9/30 - Sea Turtle Character Assembly, 1:50 PM
Looking Forward:
10/6 - Breakfast Buddies (Dads, Uncles, Grandparent or any Male Role Models), 7:55am
10/12 - International Walk to school day!
Bookmark our SHES homepage https://www.pcsb.org/safetyharbor-es and SHES Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/shesseaturtle/ for quick reference and upcoming events!
Also, be sure you opt into Peach Jar, where informational flyers are sent directly to families.
Don't miss out - sign up today! https://app.peachjar.com/flyers/all/schools/66124/
September Character Trait
Citizenship!
Being a law abiding & involved citizen in service to school, community & country.
SHES Classroom Partners!
Thank you Classroom Partners:
Michael Gamble
Mason Advisory Group
The Walls Family
Visit PTA Member Hub!
Do you need a SHES T-Shirt for Friday Spirit Days?
Safety Harbor Elementary Guidelines for Success!
Safety First at Safety Harbor!
Be Respectful!
Be Responsible and Ready to Learn!
Listen & Learn Sessions!
Superintendent Listen & Learn Sessions are underway
Hear Mr. Hendrick’s vision for the district and share your priorities with district leaders. Mr. Hendrick will meet with members of the community at sites throughout the county. Pinellas County Schools staff, families and members of the community are welcome to attend. There will be opportunities for feedback on many topics at each session. A focus topic will be presented at the beginning of each session as well. Attend in-person or virtually. Information, dates and virtual links are available at www.pcsb.org/listenlearn. Please note the new date for the session at Safety Harbor Middle School.
K-Kids News - September
KKIDS is ready to meet you as a new member. Out first meeting will be held in the Media Center on Friday, September 16th. We will get to know each other and see you again on Friday, September 23rd, where students from grades 2-5 have the opportunity to run for office. We will have a position for President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Meetings will be held Promptly at 7:45. Please be on time. They will run until 8:15.
Thank you to those who have signed up so far. If you are interested and have not signed up yet, please send in the blue form from your child’s agenda book and get it to your child’s teacher by September 15th at the latest. Starting in October meetings will be every second Friday.
We Build!
Mrs. Baby, Mrs. Collova and Mrs. Chaltry
Volunteer Corner
Just a friendly reminder that volunteers need to reactivate their accounts before they can volunteer for the new school year. Contact the front office if you have questions or concerns.
LUNCH PAL MENTORS NEEDED!
Change the life of student! Meet with a student once a week during their lunch!
That is all it takes! Please contact the front office for details! :)
SHES PTA News
PTA is in full swing. The PTA membership drive at Back-to-School night was very successful and we currently have over 120 members! Thank you to all the parents, teachers, and grandparents that have joined our fabulous organization. We really enjoyed meeting new SHES families at Back to School night and BooHoo Breakfast. If you haven’t joined PTA yet, it’s never too late to become a member, and can be done through our school store: https://shes-pta.memberhub.com/store In our PTA school store, you can also buy a school t-shirt in 3 new colors – black, white, and light blue. We encourage students and teachers to wear their school shirts every Friday to show school spirit!
There are tons of fun events coming up for you and your family – so mark your calendar! On Wednesday night, August 31st was the first PTA General meeting. We made this a fun event for the whole family. We served dinner (no cooking for parents), PTA conducted the general meeting, and then we played Bingo for Books! Every child will left with a full belly and a book to read. The PTA board is proposing the following for this year’s budget: $125 classroom grants, an increase in the teacher appreciation budget, and a new Birthday Book Club. Of course, there is much more we plan to do! Be sure to “like” our Facebook page so you know about all our upcoming events and plans.
Mornings with Mom on September 1st was a great hit! This is an opportunity for your child to spend some quality time with Mom, grandma, or another role model. PTA provides a light breakfast for you and your child to enjoy. The annual Fall Festival is back after being canceled for 2 years and we are so excited! If you’ve never attended this event, mark your calendar for Friday, October 28th. You and your child will have so much fun attending a carnival at school. We will have inflatables and bounce houses, face paint, carnival games, dodge ball, and PE’s famous Jail and Bail! Maggie Scott and Amy Triplett are the chairwomen for this event and will need lots of helping hands. If you want to get involved, this is probably the most fun you will ever have volunteering! Please be sure to attend!
Lastly, we hope you are starting to feel at home at Safety Harbor Elementary. Please know your PTA stands ready to help you and your child succeed!
Your PTA President,
Valerie Brown
SHES PTA Email: shespta1@gmail.com
FB: Safety Harbor PTA https://www.facebook.com/safetyharborpta
SHES Cafeteria News!
Lunch menus posted on the school website and paper copies available in the front office.
FREE Breakfast for every student!
School Lunch
You will need the students 10 digit ID #, located in Focus.
Free & Reduced Lunch - Apply TODAY!
We encourage everyone to apply as it could result in additional funding for our school.
SHES Before & After School Care Providers
Future Flipz: 727-796-3547 (after care only)
J. Park World Tae Kwan Do: 727-796-SAFE (after care only)
Kids Time Preschool: 727-797-3128
Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center: 727-797-9723 (after care only)
Safety Harbor Arts & Recreation Program (SHARP): 727-724-1530 (after care only)
Clearwater's Best After School Program (AKA Top Martial Arts): 727-447-1079 (after care only)
YMCA (located on school campus): 727-467-9622
Notes from Nurse Jen!
Hand washing facts for kids
What is hand washing?
Hand washing is the process of cleaning hands with water and soap. It is done to take off dirt, germs, and poisons. Germs and poisons cause diseases and other health problems. Germs are bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Some infections are not stopped by antibiotic drugs. Hand washing prevents lots of new disease spread. Not washing hands before cooking or touching food is risky.
When do you wash your hands?
Always wash hands:
After using the toilet, urinate, or defecate.
After touching an animal or pet, such as a dog, cat, or turtle.
Before and after touching or helping a sick person.
Before making or cooking food.
After touching uncooked meat, fish, or poultry (bird meat). Some uncooked foods carry diseases.
Before eating to prevent contamination of food from germs found on your hands.
After blowing one's nose/or sneezing into his/her hand.
Steps to washing hands:
1. Use soap and warm (if available), running water.
2. Wet hands and add soap. Rub wet hands strongly with soap outside running water for more than 10 seconds.
3. Rub all parts of the hands again and again. Clean all dirt under fingernails.
4. Then rub hands under running water again and again to take off all soap.
5. Dry hands using a clean cloth or paper.
6. If your hands are being washed many times every day you may want to use moisturizing lotion to prevent the skin from drying out.
For more information on hand hygiene for children, go to: https://kids.kiddle.co/Hand_washing
Nurse Jen
Front Office Hours and Assistance:
Monday - Friday: 7:30am - 4:00pm
Saturday/Sunday: Closed
Cecilia Palmer - Principal
Wendy Stryker - Assistant Principal
Linda Serio - Secretary / Bookkeeper
Michelle Merz - Registration / Data Management Technician
Lisa Zollars - Family Liaison / Volunteer Coordinator
Amy Glover - Front Office Clerk
Safety Harbor Elementary School
Email: palmerce@pcsb.org
Website: https://www.pcsb.org/safetyharbor-es
Location: 535 5th Avenue North, Safety Harbor, FL, USA
Phone: (727) 724-1462
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shesseaturtle