The Gray Wolf Gazette
September 2, 2021
Quick Overview
Hello Families,
We are coming to the end of our 2nd week of school. I have enjoyed getting into all classrooms this week. I had the opportunity to share the book, The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be by Joanna Gaines. The students have some pretty insightful answers to some questions I asked about what gifts they bring to our team at Givens. I heard traits like joy, love, hope, creativity, uniqueness, helpfulness, hard workers, art, kindness, friendliness, and empathy. This list could go on and on and we are so glad each and every student is here with us. We look forward to seeing their talents and skills continue to grow and impact our school.
It was also exciting to see the various grade levels do community-building activities together. Each grade level was challenged to do team-building activities together. This allowed students across classrooms the opportunity to learn more about their other grade-level peers.
Today we had our first intruder drill. The staff led our students through the procedures we follow in order to stay safe during an intruder event. Teachers talked with students about the various steps we would take to keep them safe. Students practiced listening to teacher directions and following them. They did a great job!
Please take a moment to read through this edition of the Gray Wolf Gazette. It includes:
-Picture Day Information and Updated Menus
-Upcoming dates on our Givens Calendar
-Some practices we are doing to build a positive climate in our school- this week we share our Counselor's Zones of Regulation Universals in our Counselor's Corner.
-A Strings Opportunity for our 3rd Graders
-News from our Nurse and our PTO
We hope to see you and your family at our Annual PTO Back to School Bash on Friday, September 17th!
We appreciate your partnership!
On this journey together,
Ms. Malissa Beecham
Givens Principal
Upcoming Dates
-No School on Labor Day September 6th
-PTO Meeting (Virtual and in Person Option) Monday, September 13th, 6:30-7:30
-Curriculum Night(5:45-7:15) Thursday, September 16th (See Below)
-PTO's Annual Back to School Bash Rescheduled for September 17th
(While this event is outside, please make sure you are wearing masks when you are not 3 to 6 ft away from others)
-Early Dismissal(11:45) Friday, September 17th
-Fall Picture Day Tuesday, September 21st
Curriculum Night on September 16th
We hope you join us on September 16th to hear about the learning opportunities (academic and social and emotional) your child gets to experience here each day! You will have a chance to learn all about the day in the life of a_________grader.
Come hear about:
-Academic Content covered in each subject
-Classroom Systems used to support the Social and Emotional learning of your child
-Fun Projects or activities each grade level may do
-Communication plans for the grade level
-Learn more about how your child's progress will be shared
-Each Grade Level will host 2 learning sessions with exactly the same information.
Grade Level Sessions 1: 5:45-6:15
-Parents meet with Specialists, Interventionists, and Special Education Teachers 6:15-6:30
Grade Levels Session 2: 6:30-7:00
-Parents meet with Specialists, Interventionists, and Special Education Teachers 7:00-7:15
**Specialists will be set up around the outside of the building (If this changes due to weather, we will let you know)
Please see below for your Grade Level Sessions:
KDG: Auditorium
1st: Cafeteria
2nd: Library
3rd: Gym
4th: Room 122
5th: Room 123
Due to Social Distancing Needs, we are asking you to limit guests to 2 caregivers per child.
This is a great opportunity for caregivers to come and learn about the time their child spends at school. It may not be as interesting for children and we do not have activities planned for them.
Building a Positive Culture and Climate -Counselor's Corner
Hello and Welcome Back! It has been wonderful connecting with our Gray Wolf family these first two weeks of school. We are working hard on learning our new routines and setting goals for the year.
I had the the pleasure of holding SEL lessons with grades K-2 this week and I will be seeing grades 3-5 next week.
What is SEL or Social-Emotional Learning, you ask?
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is learning that encourages students to develop relationships, civility, and collaboration, exude empathy and build genuine authentic relationships with others in our building. Social-Emotional Learning sometimes looks like play or expressing feelings around a conflict. We do activities as a school that support students’ ability to feel connected and heard in our community. SEL does not hinder the learning process or in any way deduct from academics. SEL helps cultivate confident learners. The idea is that academics will be stronger because students are invested in their class, know their purpose, and feel cared for.
Our universal school counseling program is based on “The ZONES of Regulation”
The Zones of Regulation is a way in which students will learn to acknowledge, assess, and discuss their feelings. We know there is a wide array of simple and complex emotions and feelings we each experience daily and it is important that our learners know what to do with those feelings. In learning how to regulate our emotions we will also explore how our emotions affect our actions which in turn affect others around us. Each month we will learn new strategies and practice using skills such as asking for help with expressing our feelings.
By the end of the year we will have a full toolbox equipped for every zone and ready to use whether at home, school or in the community. Please see the information attached and discuss the ZONES with your learners often.
I look forward to getting to know each of you and your children this school year! Feel free to contact me if I can assist you or your family in any way!
Destiny McCain
Counselor, Givens Elementary
Webster Reads Reminder from Mrs. Olsen
Webster Reads Forms are due by September 10th. Students should turn in the forms to their classroom teachers. If you or your family do not have the Webster Reads Form, you may write them down on a piece of paper and have your child give it to their Classroom Teacher.
3rd Grade Strings(Plan to Sign Up Here)
There are a few steps to enroll your child. On Monday, September 6th (Labor Day) beginning at 8:00 a.m., go online to https://forms.gle/7zmDSKkawqc6TFiJA to register your child. There will also be a link to this form on Mr. Reichold’s school website and Twitter Page @Mr ReicholdMusic. Class sizes are limited to 18 children and will be filled in the order in which your online form is received. All registering must be done on the website above; I cannot accept emailed registrations.
If you are one of the first 18 to register, you will be invited to attend our informational meeting via Zoom on Monday, September 13th at 6:30 pm. Your child is welcome and encouraged to attend as well. The link will be sent once you are entered into the program.
Remember, registration begins Monday, September 6th at 8:00 am. and I anticipate it filling up quickly. Thank you, Desmond Reichold WG Elementary Strings Coordinator reichold.desmond@wgmail.org
Meet our PTO Board Members
President - Sarah Middendorf
Vice President - Maria Lambing
Co-Equity Officers - Deidre Townsend & Dana Walker
Co-Secretaries - Kara Simon & Alex Guffey
Co-Treasurers - Tracy Willis & Jen Levine
Sign Up to Be a Room Parent:
Room Parents are responsible for planning class parties (Fall, Winter, & Friendship Parties), group holiday gifts (in December) for classroom teachers, and email communications from PTO. Duties may also include planning class playdates, and coordinating with the school community. Please sign up here. Thank you for your support! For more information, please contact Jen Levine at jensherwood73@gmail.com
Annual Back to School Bash-Save the Date! RESCHEDULED TO SEPTEMBER 17th.
We hope you can join us for our outdoor family event. It will be Friday, September 17th, from 5:30 to 7:30. To make this a great event, we need lots of volunteers! Sign Up Here to Volunteer. Please reach out to Kara Simon at Ksimon619@gmail.com or Beth Heinen at BethHeinen@gmail.com with any questions.
***If you received a Givens Gray Wolf Sign in your yard, they will be picked up this weekend by our PTO Welcoming Committee. We will reuse these signs to welcome families next year.
Our First PTO Meeting is Monday, September 13th, we hope you can join us.
***Please complete this Google Form to let us know what directory information you would like us to share with our PTO. This will help us in coordinating events, volunteer opportunities, and creating our school Buzz Book.
Picture Day is Coming September 21st
Givens Elementary
Picture Day is: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Wagner Portrait Group will be photographing students for portrait packages & school records.
NEW! ONLY ONLINE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
(Please do not bring checks, cash, or order forms to school as they will no longer be accepted.)
Online Pre-Order Password: 9H9P6Q3
Can’t order online or have other questions?
We are happy to help! 314-567-5900 or 1-800-444-7986
Thank you for your help to prepare for a great picture day! We appreciate you!
News from Nurse Mindy
Can my student come to school?
Do not send your student to school if...
They have any of the following symptoms:
Fever of 100 F or higher
Congestion/runny nose
Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
Sore throat
Headache
Body aches
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Loss of taste/smell
(This list does not include all possible symptoms. The CDC continues to update this list as it learns more about COVID-19. Find out more at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV.)
They have a known exposure to a positive COVID-19 case in the past 14 days
They are waiting for the COVID-19 test results
They test positive for COVID-19
Other scenarios:
If your child is experiencing 2 or more low-risk symptoms or at least 1 high-risk symptom on the Student Symptom Decision Tree below, your child AND SIBLINGS IN THE SAME FAMILY should stay home until the symptomatic student is evaluated by your healthcare provider. A doctor’s note and documentation for the symptomatic child must be provided before your child(ren) can return to school.
If a parent or relative living in the home is being tested for COVID-19 and awaiting results, the child(ren) in the household should remain home from school. Students should not return until negative results are received.
Utilize the “Student Symptom Decision Tree” below or contact your school nurse for guidance on when your child can return to school.
Everyone must stay home if they are sick. Report your student’s absence and reason for absence to your school secretary and/or school nurse.
Also please report to a positive COVID-19 test for you or a member of your household as soon as possible so appropriate measures can be taken.
Thank you for your cooperation with these important steps to help prevent the spread of illness in our school buildings!
News from our Community- WE WOULD LIKE YOUR FEEDBACK
Changes for Ivory Crockett Park
Ivory Crockett park is scheduled for renovations over the next few years. The park improvements were a priority of the City Council who were instrumental in moving the deadline for renovations forward. Ivory Crockett Park is located in North Webster at 106 Almentor Ave. The park was created in 1971 and was known as Central City Park. In 1994 it was renamed Ivory Crockett Park after Ivory Crockett, a 1968 graduate of Webster Groves High School who broke a world record when he ran the 100-yard dash in 9 seconds claiming the title, “The world's fastest human.”
Ivory Crockett Park basketball and tennis courts, playground, pavilions, parking lots, and walking paths need renovation. This community survey was designed to gain feedback from those who use the park regularly and have an idea of what additions and renovations would be most appreciated by the community. If you'd like to share feedback, please fill out this survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JJSZ9CT
Thank you!
Jennifer Starkey
Director of Public Affairs & Engagement
City of Webster Groves
Phone: (314) 963-5302
Cell: (314) 566-4461
Dr. Henry Givens Elementary School
Website: https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/Givens
Location: 701 North Rock Hill Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314-963-6460
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GivensElem/