Park Place Post
Weekly Update October 22
From The Principal
Can you believe it's already the second quarter of the school year? In this edition, we will focus on parent partnerships. COVID has caused a lot of issues for us in school, but one of the most regrettable is the loss of having parents on campus. However, I'm pleased to announce that DVUSD is now allowing parent volunteers on campus with some limitations. Here's what's new:
Volunteers during the school day are permitted for 2nd quarter to support campus operations in the following areas: a) cafeteria support and b) front office (e.g. helping make copies, etc.). Volunteers would need to be fingerprint cleared through HR as well as complete HR volunteer training requirements. Volunteers are not yet permitted in the classroom setting. Contact our secretary, Jamie Flores (jamie.flores@dvusd.org) for more information about fingerprinting and volunteer training.
Other ways to stay involved:
- Read everything we send home from school. This school newsletter is published bi-weekly on Fridays. Teachers send newsletters weekly or bi-weekly. If you're not receiving communication from the classroom, check to be sure the teacher has your correct email address.
- Email or call your teacher directly with any concerns or questions. It's best to handle issues at the lowest level and get answers from the source. In most cases, the teacher is your best point of contact. Please email or call them before contacting the school office.
- Be kind. If you're angry, please wait to make contact until you've had time to cool down. We always get the best response from people when we're respectful; being mean and making threats never helps.
- Ask your child about their day and help them process through any difficulties they encountered. Talking about their day, including the hard parts, helps build your relationship and improves childrens' resilience and problem-solving skills. Read the article below for conversation starter ideas.
- Attend school events. Read below about upcoming math night!
I appreciate your partnership! Together, we can make sure everyone has a great year at Park in spite of anything COVID throws at us.
With Gratitude,
Kim Lanese
Parents as Partners
As parents/guardians we may sometimes struggle getting our children to talk about school and life in general. How many times when you have asked about school the answer is "fine" or "good"? Engaging in conversation with students is critical. Conversation helps children express their thoughts, get what they need, resolve conflicts, ask for help, and learn from adults and from one another. Children need many opportunities to talk—with each other, with adults, one-on-one, and in groups. Attached is a link of 50 conversation starters you can use to help engage in conversations with your student in the car, waiting at an appointment, at the dinner table, etc. Have fun getting to hear some of the exciting things they have to share with you!
Math & Reading Interventions
Math News
DreamBox is a district-wide math program that helps students to improve their math skills online. The expectation is that students are completing 5+ lessons per week. This website can be accessed from the DVUSD portal.
Informational Math Night: Parents, please join us via Zoom on Tuesday 10/26/21 at 5:30pm to hear about our Math program at Park Meadows. Representatives from each grade level will be present to provide information and answer questions.
Zoom Meeting https://dvusd-org.zoom.us/j/85955150851
Passcode: math123
Assessments: Our students will be completing district math assessments in the month of November so that we can track their progress so far in math. Please make sure that students are getting a good night’s rest and that they arrive at school on time.
Reading News
We are officially in full swing of our sight words initiative...WAHOO! We have heard it has been going great! Many students are excited to try and earn those special Reading Rock Star PARK tickets that are worth 5 PARK tickets!!!! We appreciate all the parent support that is going on at home to make this happen. The students will have so much to celebrate! Not only are they passing their lists, but they are becoming better readers because of it!
How far has your child progressed on their reading lists?? We can't wait to find out and recognize those students for their continued hard work and dedication!
PBIS Corner
This week, we implemented "GRIT" Cards for 5th and 6th grade students. Teachers are using these cards to track students' positive behaviors. Parents, please check in with your student to see how they are doing.
Park Place will be open on Wednesday, October 27th and Thursday, Oct 28th. Students, be sure to bring your PARK Tickets to spend on some amazing treasures. Parents, please check in with your student to see how many PARK Tickets they have earned and what they are doing to earn them!
Staff Spotlight
Meet Mrs. Carrington, Dean of Students
Joelle Carrington has spent 22 years in education teaching 4th & 5th grade, being a reading specialist for many years, an instructional coach and now the Dean at Park Meadows. Mrs. Carrington is a passionate learner who never stops reading. Her favorite foods are Mexican and Italian. Her hobbies include spending time with her husband and two children. She also loves to shop and spend time in Pinetop, curled up with a cozy book and a perfect cup of coffee!
Park Meadows has been her home for the last six years and she is excited to now be the Dean of Students and to be able to continue to watch the growth and success of every student.
Life in the Lunchroom
Not only are school cafeterias having staffing shortages, we are also having severely stressed supply chain shortages across the entire nation. Workforce disruptions are wreaking havoc in numerous areas: warehouse workers, drivers, processing plants, sales teams, and cafeteria staff. Transportation challenges are hitting our district hard as well; shipments from vendors are arriving 4-8 weeks later than scheduled or not at all. Shamrock Foods, one of our big suppliers, is short truck drivers, warehouse workers and they are having a hard time keeping up with demands. Many weeks we don’t receive the products we ordered and if they have another product they can substitute, they will. Rising cost are another factor. The cost of the wooden pallets that cartons of food and other goods are piled upon for safe and easy transport has jumped by 400%.
We are asking for flexibility and patience from our school customers this year. Be prepared to be surprised. What’s on your menu for tomorrow may not be on the truck today. School cafeterias will need to be ready for plan B, C, and maybe even D……but one thing is for sure WE WILL GET YOUR CHILDREN FED.
Activity & Event Center
Goodwill Donation Drop Off
Saturday, Oct 23, 2021, 08:00 AM
20012 North 35th Avenue, Glendale, AZ, USA
From the Media Center
Battle of the Books
Park Meadows is hosting Battle of the Books On Wednesday, October 27, 2021.
Students will be participating in the media center at 9:00 am. They will have read:
- The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
- Frindle by Andrew Clements
- Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Please join us via ZOOM and watch our awesome Park Meadows students compete!
https://dvusd-org.zoom.us/j/89421734387
Meeting ID: 894 2173 4387
Passcode: Book123
All Things EQ Parent Update
Next week we are in Quarter Two, Week Three:
I make the most of each experience.
The E.Q. Parent Update is attached here as a PDF for your convenience. I have also attached the Making Helpful Choices Form, as it can be a helpful frame for conversations with students who may benefit from making more helpful choices! Which tends to increase at this time of the year.
Have a wonderful and well deserved weekend,
Danna Evans
All Things E.Q.
Character Education | Habit Builders | Leadership
Important Dates
- Half Day 12:05 PM Dismissal- Thursday Oct 21 & Fri Oct 22
- Goodwill Donation Drive- Saturday Oct 23, 8AM -10 AM
- Math Informational Night-Tuesday Oct 26, 5:30 PM via ZOOM
- Battle of the Books-Wednesday Oct 27, 9 AM via ZOOM
- Early Dismissal Days Friday Oct 29, Friday Nov 5
- Kindergarten Fall Preview Night- Thursday Nov 4th, 5-6 PM
- No School- Thursday Nov 11th
- Regular Dismissal Day, Friday Nov 12