PAW PRINTS
Winfield Elementary Newsletter - September 22, 2017
Winfield Elementary School Improvement Goals
All students will demonstrate measurable growth and achievement in reading.
All students will demonstrate measurable growth and achievement in mathematics.
From the Principal, Mrs. Alonzo
This article share is an oldie but goodie of mine! I enjoy sharing this information with our newest families each year. We do really address so much more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. Having tools in our toolbox to help our students in ALL areas of their development is very important. Enjoy this message for the first time, or an informative reread.
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One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is reading. Lacking the time to read cover-to-cover, I often choose magazines or journals with brief chunks of information. A few years ago around this time, I came across an article that immediately jumped out at me about life skills that children need—executive function, or EF. I think about this skill daily as I watch and interact with children who are struggling in social/emotional situations...often at recess.
From Parents August 2014:
EF is a neuroscience term that refers to a person’s ability to organize thoughts, plan behaviors, say no to impulses, and manage between what she’s feeling and what she does. When you write an email about the steps your team needs to take to meet a deadline, that’s EF. So is deciding not to hit SEND when you realize that your snarky text could insult your sister. “If the brain is a symphony, then executive function is the conductor, “ explains Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine.
“Put another way, executive functioning is the brain wrestling with its emotions,” says Walter Gilliam, Ph.D., the director of the Edward Zigler Center in Child Development & Social Policy at Yale’s Child Study Center. “Do I want to follow my first instinct or do I want to create a strategy that might work better? For young children, sometimes that means using their words, or getting the help of an adult, or realizing there’s another toy they’d be happy playing with.”
Here are some strategies to build EF:
1. TELL STORIES– Be creative and make up your own characters during your joint storytelling sessions. Listening to stories causes children to exercise concentration skills and keep details current in their mind.
2. CONTROL YOURSELF– Model EF by choosing words to explain how you feel when your frustrated, and share your coping strategies—instead of yelling or turning red-faced. This helps children learn about impulse control.
3. WAIT IT OUT– Teach patience, which is a key EF skill because children have to inhibit a behavior they want to do. Take turns when speaking at the dinner table, only one at a time. Praise your child when they’ve been a good listener, too!
4. KNOW WHEN TO LET IT GO– We all lack control when we are stressed or tired. Don’t go teaching about EF when a meltdown is already in progress.
5. DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN– The old saying ‘practice makes perfect’ is true with anything, including EF. Practicing skills of following directions, controlling impulses, focusing, patience, paying attention, taking turns, and perseverance will to improvement over time.
So– before I jump in the solve the latest recess drama, I try to think of how the students can begin to work it out (where appropriate). I know these skills of executive function are just beginning to grow– and with the right support and guidance...the sky is the limit.
From the Positive Behavior Coach, Mrs. Sims
WHAT IS PBIS?
PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. PBIS.com tells us that positive behavior supports are important, because punishment without positive strategies is an ineffective way to promote positive, compliant behaviors. Teaching expected behaviors and rewarding students for using them is more positive and proactive approach, rather than waiting for misbehavior to occur before addressing it.
Winfield Elementary has taken this proactive approach to promoting positive behavior through the implementation of our Second Step curriculum, Bully Prevention Curriculum, PAWS, Wildcat Wednesday, Student of the Month program, and Guest Assemblies throughout the year.
From the Home-School Facilitator, Mrs. Mucha
We covered the Amygdala and Hippocampus and next is the Prefrontal Cortex, let’s call it the PFC. The PFC is essential in good rational decision making and is also important for impulse control. The PFC is developed in childhood when the Amygdala and Hippocampus decide there is no threat or danger and the stress response is not activated. When children have chronic(long term) high level stress, pressure, neglect or abuse their PFC does not develop as well because the signals are not moving from the Amygdala and Hippocampus to the PFC. This is seen clearly in brains scans of children that have been abused or even inmates in prisons. They lack the ability to make good decisions because they were not able to develop that part of the brain. The PFC is located right behind our for head. THE same goes for kids and adults that have had head injuries that affect their PFC since in is right behind our forehead and eyebrows.
Knowing how our brain works is essential in learning how to calm our brain when it is preventing us from making rational concise decisions. There is much talk about Mindfulness, deep breathing, and meditation for this reason. If we can calm our brains (amygdala and hippocampus) our signals will better reach the PFC. Next time we will talk more about how to use these skills.
Contact Information:
Winfield Elementary- 663-2287 ext 19108
Jerry Ross Elementary- 663-3010 ext 18011
From Our School Nurse, Mrs. Taylor
Now is the time to get your flu shot! Flu season is getting closer. Protect yourself and your family from the flu by getting your flu shot now.
Yes, if any of the following are present:
- Uncontrollable coughing or sneezing
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever of 100 degree or higher, with or without other symptoms
- Red eyes which are swollen, crusty, or oozing
Note: Children must be fever-free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication) before returning to school. If you ever have a question about whether or not your should keep your child home, please contact the office or call me directly at 663-2287 ext 19081.
School Hours 9:05 a.m. - 3:44 p.m.
*ALL TRANSPORTATION CHANGES MUST BE CALLED INTO THE OFFICE BEFORE 3 PM.
All children are dismissed through the car rider line. Parents do not come inside the building during dismissal. Please review the Arrival/Dismissal Map here: Traffic Map
Note: If you are a car rider, please prominently display your child's full name in your dashboard each time you pick them up.
The school office is open daily from 7:30 am-4:30 pm. If you have Transportation questions after hours, please call 219-663-1465.
Attendance
You may also email: winfieldattendance@cps.k12.in.us. Please include your child's name, date of absence, and reason for absence.
Earning an student attendance rate of 96% is also critical for our school to remain an "A" rated school. This equates to students missing 7 days per year. Please limit voluntary absences. Our first round of attendance notification letters regarding numerous absences and tardies will be sent home next week.
Last week's attendance rate: 97%
Kindergarten 97.6%, First Grade 97%, Second Grade 97%
Important Dates
September 2017
25th- Summer AR Popsicle Party
27th- SuperU All School Assembly
27th- Half-Day Dismissal at 12:14 pm
28th- Student of the Month Breakfast
October 2017
4th- Wildcat Wednesday
6th- 2nd grade Field Trip
10th- Fire Prevention/Safety All School Assembly
19th- End of Grading Period 1
20th-23rd- Fall Break
26th- Student of the Month Breakfast
30th-31st- Half-Day Dismissal at 12:14 pm & Parent-Teacher Conferences
From The Cafeteria
Meal Prices
Student Breakfast: $1.50
Student Lunch: $2.25
Adult Lunch: $3.25
Milk Only: $0.40
Funding Cafeteria Accounts
Send cash or check payable to Winfield Elementary Cafeteria in a sealed envelope with your child' name, teacher, $ amount, and "Cafeteria" clearly written on the front. Payments may also be made online by visiting www.mymealtime.com. The required passcode is the same as the child's Student ID in RDS.
Please do not pack your child's snack in a lunchbox. Many times children assume what is in a lunchbox is in fact their lunch. Several students this week were unsure if they were supposed to buy a lunch, or eat what was packed.
Cafeteria Menu- Week of September 25th
Monday
Breakfast: Breakfast Pizza OR Breakfast Bar/Cereal
Lunch: Chicken and Waffles, Baked Beans, Fresh Vegetables, Mandarin Oranges, Fresh Fruit
Tuesday
Breakfast: Pancake Wrap OR Chocolate Chip French Toast
Lunch: Chicken Tenders OR Mac & Cheese, Lean Green Beans, Rocket Red Peppers, Yummy Pears, Fresh Fruit
Wednesday
Breakfast: Egg & Cheese Sandwich OR Breakfast Bar/Cereal
Lunch: Mini Corn Dogs OR Cheeseburger Deluxe, Smiley Fries, Fresh Broccoli Florets, Golden Peaches, Fresh Fruit
Thursday
Breakfast: Egg and Cheese Burrito OR Whole Grain Donuts
Lunch:Popcorn Chicken & Rice (Oriental Sauce optional), Tiny Tree Top Broccoli, Crispy Garden Salad, Chunky Pineapple, Fresh Fruit
Friday
Breakfast: Whole Grain Muffins OR Yogurt/Poptart
Lunch: Pizza OR Ravioli, Roll, Corn, Carrot Sticks, Crazy Applesauce, Fresh Fruit
Daily Lunch Option: Sliced Turkey on Fresh Baked Sub Bun OR Taco Chef Salad
Winfield/Jerry Ross PTO News
McSchool nights are back!
Our first McDonald's night will be Tuesday, September 26th at the Winfield McDonald's from 5- 8 pm. You can either order inside or visit the drive through. Don't forget to bring the flyer that came home! 15 percent of all sales will be donated back to our PTO.
PTO Meeting 9/27
Our next PTO meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 27th at 4:15 in the library at Jerry Ross. We hope you can join us!
Thank You to All!
A HUGE thank you to all of our volunteers and staff who helped make our Back To School Bash a success! Our students and families had a great time! Final fundraising figures will be shared next week!
Candy Sale Complete
Candy bar sales have officially closed. We are overwhelmed by the response of this fundraiser. Together our schools sold 60,000 World's Finest Chocolate Bars! Thank you to all of our families who made this an incredible success! Prizes for the top sellers will be given out by the end of next week. Ice cream winners will be contacted soon for the party at both schools.
Parents Night Out @ Midwest Gym
Mark your calendars for our first monthly "Parent Night Out" at Midwest Gymnastics on October 7th. More information will be coming home soon.
Extracurricular & Community News
Winfield Elementary
Email: jalonzo@cps.k12.in.us
Website: www.cps.k12.in.us/Domain/843
Location: 13128 Montgomery Street, Crown Point, IN, United States
Phone: 219-663-2287
Twitter: @WinfieldElem