Circle Towanda Elementary
Parent Newsletter ~ January 2020
Mrs. Terri Turner, Principal ~ tturner@usd375.org
Towanda Primary ~ Early Childhood - 2nd grade
316-536-2728
Towanda Intermediate ~ 3rd - 6th grade
316-536-2281
Mrs. Turner's Tidbits
Oh my goodness!!! 2020! How can it be!?! The years really do go by quickly the older you get. The speed of the years flying by hits me hard as a grandmother. Where did the time go? Please, please take the time to enjoy the little things with your children each day. Don’t wish for them to get bigger, so they will be more independent. It is sad sometimes to look back and see that time is gone. Enjoy the children each day. I know we certainly do here at CTE. Thank you for sharing your children with us. It is a privilege. There is nothing better than Circle Towanda Elementary!
I always take the time to reflect on all the wonderful things that occurred during the beginning of the year and ponder the things that didn’t go as smoothly or as I would have hoped. I realize just how fortunate I am to be here for my 32nd year in education and finishing my 29th year at Towanda. Wow! I get to come here each day and work with the best staff and the most wonderful children and families! I feel blessed! The students are often shocked to know that I’ve been here as long as some of their parents are old. It’s crazy to them...and to me at times.
I wanted to give a great big THANK YOU for coming to our Christmas Program on Dec. 5th. The programs were outstanding! Mrs. Goldsmith did such a great job creating a program that was so enjoyable to watch for her first year. So impressed!!! I appreciate all the great FaceBook posts and videos. What an amazing night! I love that you all support our two programs on one night schedule. It really seems to be helping those out of town guests attend.
I hope that all of you found the time over the break to take a true break and remember all the things that made you smile this last year. Keep working towards those good times, it’ll help on those yucky days that sometimes come our way!
Please remember to have your child dress for the weather! It has been bone chilling cold outside one day and jacket weather the next! Our policy is that if the wind chill is below 19 degrees, we stay inside. It is up to the teacher’s discretion if the temp is above that. Please send your child in the proper attire in case it warms up enough to go outside.
Honor roll is coming up soon! You will receive an invitation if your 4-6th grade student qualifies by making All A’s or All A/B’s for the second nine-weeks. The ceremony will begin at 2:30pm on Wednesday, January 8th. This time it will begin with 5th grade, then 4th and finish with 6th grade. Be sure to check your child’s grades online to see how they finished the semester. Please have your child dress appropriately for an awards ceremony. Please make sure your child knows how many seats to reserve when they come down. I really do hope that we have a big turnout again this time around. I appreciate your willingness to accommodate the change in times so that all our students can be recognized in front of their peers and not just the ones who can get to our school earlier than our buses can bring them. Kids deserve it.
We always appreciate your assistance with getting your child to school on time daily, making sure they are well rested and pushing them to get their work completed and turned in. As a mom to three boys who have already graduated and a grandson in 7th grade, I know it is no easy task. Habits developed in the elementary grades will affect students as they continue their education. It is far easier to develop these habits early in life, rather than to try to correct or change them as they get older.
As everyone returns for the second semester, our teachers and staff will continue to work with your child to ensure a great education. I do expect the children to have a working knowledge of the rules and expectations for our school. Our first semester was great and I look forward to the year continuing on the same high note as we started. Thanks for all you do in assisting us at home. If there is ever a time that you have a question, feel free to give us a call. We are all on the same page with wanting what is best for your child. Happy New Year!!!
IMPORTANT DATES
1/1 ~ No School - New Years Day!
1/3 ~ No School/Staff Development
1/6 ~ Classes Resume for all students
1/6 ~ PTO/Site Council Meeting - CTP Library at 4:15pm
1/8 ~ Honor Roll Recognition - CTI gym at 2:30pm
1/10 ~ Spelling Bee @CTI ~ 1pm
1/13 ~ Board of Education Meeting at 6pm
1/16 ~ PTO Spangles Night 5-8pm - El Dorado
1/20 ~ No School/Staff Development
1/24 ~ T.G.I.F. Day
1/25 ~ MOM's Pantry Food Distribution - CTP gym
KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS FOR 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
MISSION STATEMENT
WEATHER ALERT
When weather conditions threaten the safe operation of the schools and bus routes and there is a need to cancel the school day, Superintendent Don Potter will announce the decision by 6:00AM by a phone call thru School Messenger and on the following radio and television stations: TV Channels: KSN 3, KAKE 10, KWCH 12
Radio Stations: 95.1, B-98 FM, 107.3, KZSN, 101.3 KFDI, 107.3 ~ District Web Page: www.usd375.org ~ Twitter-@circleusd375
PTO/SITE COUNCIL NEWS
PTO/SITE COUNCIL MEETING: MONDAY JAN 6, 2020 @ 4:15 in the Primary Library.
Meetings have moved from 5:00 to 4:15 after discussions from the December meeting.
Thanks to all who brought treats for the staff for Christmas. They were enjoyed by all!!
The 2nd nine weeks BOXTOPs winners were Taytum Carlson from the Primary and Lauren Swilley from the Intermediate! Way to go! Keep sending those BOXTOPS for another chance to win!!
Our 2nd Spangles Night for the year will be on Thursday, January 16. Be on the lookout for the flyers.
Like our Facebook page: Circle Towanda PTO
SPELLING BEE CLASSROOM WINNERS
Mrs. Cooley's class: Jobe Cole and Paradyse DeLoach (alternate - Phoenix Riggle)
Mrs. Turner's class: Brianna Paul and Hayden Oliver (alternate - Alexis Carr)
Ms. Stearns' class: Willow Oliver and Skylynn Inman (alternate - Alex Crawford)
Mr. Krahn's class: Leah Moore and Lauren Swilley (alternate - Adam Brown)
Mrs. Seivley's class: Whitney Wilbur and Owen Richards(alternate - Brett Jacobson)
HEALTH INFORMATION FROM Nurse Christan
Indoor Activities for Cold Days
With the cold weather settling in and outdoor play limited, you might hear more, “I’m bored.” or “There’s nothing to do.” Even though your kids might not be able to get outside and play as much as they’d like, it’s still important to find things to keep them active inside. Ideally, kids should get 60 minutes of active play per day. Here are some ideas:
Dance Party- Turn on some of your favorite music and get your groove on moving your bodies to the music. You could take it a step further and try and teach your child how to two-step or your favorite line dance. Another twist would be to freeze dance and have everyone freeze when the music stops.
Workout Videos- Some of my best memories of doing daycare in prior years, were turning on some TaeBo videos and letting the kids work out along to the video. They had so much fun learning to “box”!
Yoga- Learn some yoga moves together. Yoga is good to help center your mind and stretch your body. There are lots of good kids yoga videos on YouTube to help get you started.
Clean-Up Race- This one is my favorite because it serves two purposes, get rid of extra energy for the kids and cleaning up the space. Set a timer for a couple minutes and see how much they can get picked up and put away during that time.
Land, Air, and Sea Game- You’ll need to designate areas of the room as land and sea. This could be as simple as laying a sheet down in a line to divide the room. Next, in the mode of “Simon Says,” you need one person to be the leader. The leader calls out one of three directions: Land, Sea or Air. When the leader says, “Land!” kids jump into the land area. If the leader says, “Sea!” kids jump into the sea. When the leader says, “Air!” kids jump as high into the air as they can.
Hopefully these ideas can help you get through some of the cold weather boredom and keep your kids moving and active. And don’t forget, at least an hour is best!
UPDATED STUDENT CONTACT INFORMATION
Jennifer - 316-536-2728 ~ Brooke - 316-536-2281
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
VISITORS AT SCHOOL
All Visitors must check in at the office. For the safety of our students, anyone entering the building must check in at the school office. Please sign in at the office and wear one of the appropriate badges while you are in the building for any reason or any length of time.
Reminder: Please call the school office by 9:30 if your child will not be in or if they will be late, also if you are wanting to eat lunch with your child please call by 9:30 to order a hot lunch.
Please keep in mind that we are not allowed to bring carbonated beverages into the lunchroom. This is for adults as well. Please remember this if you are bringing in a lunch. Students are not to bring carbonated beverages in their lunches either. Thanks for your help and cooperation with this!
LIBRARY NEWS
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season filled with family, friends, fun, and lots of reading!!
If your child checked out a book before the break and has not brought it back yet, it is most likely overdue. Please help your child get all library books back to the library to either return them or check them out again.
New AR (Accelerated Reader) goals are set or are being set soon. Please encourage your child to make his/her goal for the 3rd nine weeks by setting aside 20 minutes a night to enjoy the book he/she is reading.
Sixth Grade Parents: Thanks to the generosity of Specs Eyewear, in the next two nine weeks, your child has the opportunity to earn a new pair of sunglasses or prescription eyeglasses!! It will require meeting his/her challenging AR goals in both the 3rd and 4th nine weeks periods. You will soon be receiving an envelope outlining what your child’s challenging goal for the 3rd nine weeks is.
Counselor's Corner from Mr. LaMunyon
December Students of the Month ~ JOY
Camryn Swilley, Noah Walker, Star Bills, Grady Fowler, Brogan Otto, Kynzie Garner, Joseph Graham, Rylen Kon, Lilianna Lowry, Levi Weishaar, Dani Aitchison, Kira Wennersten, Esther Crawford, Kayde Clayton, Peyton Bishop, Cole Hammer, Jocelyn Karst, Stanley Gutierrez, Janeya Davis, Addison Earnest, Kane Poole, Kylea Skillman, Jessa Schmitt, JJ Schmitz, Katelyn Vogts, Lexi Simpson
Happy New Year! We are off to a busy and exciting start for the New Year!
Student Council’s 12 days of Christmas Giving went really well. Thanks for giving!!
Our students have been working hard and there are many accomplishments we should be proud of as we start a new semester. I would like to encourage you to encourage your kids to read, read, and do some more reading. It really is a very important tool in life and education.
Lee LaMunyon—School Counselor llamunyon@375.org
UPCOMING GOOD NEWS CLUB
UPCOMING MONART CLASS
Students learn the basics of drawing while experimenting with new media including markers, colored pencils, chalk and oil pastels, watercolor and much more. This guided step-by-step method improves visual perception skills by breaking down the subject matter for children to see and follow along. Everyone is successful in Monart classes! *Please send a peanut and nut free snack each week with your child.
Class meets Tuesdays 3:30-4:30, Grades 1st-6th gr., in the Art & Science classroom at Primary School
*Please notify the office if your child will ride the bus to the Primary School for after school art classes, otherwise students will walk.
SECOND SEMESTER: OPTICAL ILLUSIONS
In this exciting “Op Art” class students will learn how to create work that can trick the eye by combining or layering different lines, patterns and shapes. Projects include radial paper designs, parabolic lines, a waving flag, op art cubes inspired by artist Bridget Riley and tessellations by M.C. Escher. Perfect for any child that enjoys art, math or making things with their hands.
Meets: Jan. 21, 28; Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25; Mar. 3, 10, 24. Tuition is $95 for the nine weeks.
ENROLL ONLINE:
www.TheArtParkWichita.com/classes
Questions? Call or text 316-683-2500, email: theartparkwichita@cox.net
Early Childhood Role Models for 2020-21 school year
Circle Towanda is looking for peer models for our Early Childhood classroom!
What is a peer model? A peer model is a child who serves as a role model to the other students with special needs by demonstrating appropriate play, communication, and social skills.
Who can be a peer model? Children ages 3-5 are encouraged to apply. Your child must be 3.5 by Sept.1, and cannot be eligible for Kindergarten (turning 5 before Sept. 1).
What does the class cost? The only fee is CGE’s standard enrollment fee, which is $27.50 for the half-day program.
What is the process to become a peer model?
- Fill out an application (ask for one in the front office). Deadline is March 1, 2020.
- Attend a screening during March (details TBA).
- Eligible children will be randomly selected by a drawing for the 2020-21 school year and you will be notified by mail. Questions? Please contact Stefanie Sage, Early Childhood teacher at ssage@usd375.org or by calling the school office at 316-536-2728