The Cheetah Coalition #33
Weekly Updates from the Atkinson Office - 4/28/23
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MESSAGE FROM MS. ESSEX
Hello Atkinson Families!
It has been so nice to see the sun this week. Classes were able to spend more time outside and moods were lifted all around. This is one of my favorite times of year because of the special activities such as Run for Atkinson, field trips, and Artists in Residence that are happening throughout the building. We have another annual Atkinson event happening this evening - Día de los Ninos, an event put on by our Amigos group. This event is exclusively for Atkinson families and will take place on the Atkinson playground today after school.
Run for Atkinson Update: Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our Run for Atkinson! We are 40% away from matching our contributions from last year, and it's not too late to help out. Family and friends can still donate to our Run by visiting School Pay and/or delivering pledges to your classroom teachers. THANK YOU again for your generosity.
Arts Open House: I am excited to announce that we will have an "Arts Open House" on Wednesday, May 24. This will be an opportunity for you to visit our book fair in the library to shop for some summer reading, peruse the hallway art, and hear what your student has been working on in music.
This event will be a "go at your own pace" event - come for as little or as long of a time that works for your family. Please note that all children/students MUST be accompanied by their adult at all times - except when they are called to perform. We hope to see you there!
Dogs: This is a reminder that dogs are not allowed on campus during pick up and drop off. This is true even for leashed dogs. While many of us love dogs, others don't feel safe. Please respect the needs of all of our families and keep dogs off school property (in the building, upper and lower play areas) during school hours. Thank you for your cooperation.
Flip Flops: With the weather getting better, we have more students wearing flip flops and sandals. Because students spend time running, climbing, and jumping during time outside, please be sure your students shoes fit well and that you feel them move safely in them. Thank you!
Thank you,
Beth Essex
Interim Principal
SUMMER ACCELERATION ACADEMY
We are so excited that many of our students who need additional support in grade level reading and math learning will have the opportunity to participate in Summer Acceleration Academy this summer from July 10 - August 4, 2023 from 8am - 12pm with optional afternoon programming until 5:30pm through SUN or RESJ partners. Students from Atkinson will be attending SAA at the either Atkinson Elementary (K-4th graders) or Kellogg Middle School (5th graders).
Invitations for Summer Acceleration Academy are based mid-year assessments identifying students who need support reaching grade level reading and math during this four week program. Families of students who are invited to participate in Summer Acceleration Academy have already received invitations to enroll online or through the school office by calling or returning a paper form that was sent home in backpacks.
We feel this is an important opportunity for your student and understand that you may have other students in your house who need summer activities who do not meet the criteria for SAA. The RESJ department will be offering summer activities at many of the SAA sites. Stay tuned for enrollment information that will be coming soon.
Summer Acceleration Academy Details
WHO: Rising 1st - 8th Graders who meet identified criteria for support in reading and math (invitations to qualified students have already gone out)
WHEN: July 10-August 4, 2023, 8:00am - 12:00pm with optional enrichment until 5:30 with SUN or RESJ Partnership
WHAT: A supplemental summer academic program focused on:
- Foster joyful learning
- Create an on-ramp to the next grade and the Fall
- Support unfinished skill development
HOW:
- Targeted literacy and math instruction within the grade level classroom
- Project-based STEAM learning
- Staff will support students with disabilities referred to programming with:
- Accommodations outlined within the IEP/504
- Designated adult support as needed
- Related services required to access the environment
WHERE:
- HUB Sites across the school district (map)
- Each neighborhood school is assigned a HUB Site
- Transportation and meals will be provided
WHY: As part of our Learning Acceleration Plan, PPS is providing a supplemental, focused, high quality summer learning for students who need additional support to master grade level standards.
WALK + ROLL TO SCHOOL MONTH AND ATKINSON'S FIRST WALK + ROLL SCHOOL BUS!
May is the national Walk + Roll to School month and we're gearing up for some fun ways to participate! Walking, biking, skating, scooting, and rolling to school have many potential benefits to students, teachers, and the community, including:
- Students get to learn and socialize on the way to school
- Kids arrive at school alert and ready to learn
- Reduced traffic congestion around the school
- Walking and rolling are good for the climate and for the safety of our community.
Wednesday, May 3rd, is National Walk + Roll to School day, and to celebrate we're starting Atkinson's very own Walk + Roll School Bus! If you don't know what a Walk + Roll school bus is, check out this inspiring video of the Bike School Bus at Alameda Elementary.
We'll have two routes starting at opposite ends of the school district. The North route will gather at 52nd and Hawthorne and The South route will gather at 66th and Franklin. Both routes will start gathering around 8:00 am and start moving towards school by 8:15. Feel free to meet up at the start or join at any point along the route. A route map and some safety tips are attached. We could definitely use a few more parent volunteers to help on the route. Contact Jodi if you are interested in volunteering.
Walk + Roll to school all month long! Students should try to walk, bike, skate, scoot, or take a bus to school as much as possible throughout the month of May. Ms. Madi has a bunch of fun incentives to give out throughout the month! The kids will receive a trip tracker so they can log all the trips they take each week. They can turn in the trip trackers at the end of each week and be entered into a drawing to win fun prizes!
If you have any questions reach out to Madi (mbourdon@pps.net, staff coordinator) or Jodi (jodilee1981@gmail.com, parent coordinator).
BOOK FAIR - MAY 22-26
It’s coming! It’s coming! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Atkinson May 22-26. Save your pennies! More information to follow.
Also a reminder that all library books will be due by June 2, 2023. Start looking for those lost books!
TREE EDUCATION - KINDERGARTEN
This week, kindergartners have had the opportunity to expand on their tree knowledge through an in person tree residency program called, "Talk about Trees." You can read about the program on this website: https://www.talkabouttrees.us/
SPRINGTIME AT ATKINSON!
Our students have been learning a lot out in the garden this spring! Here are some photos of kindergarten students in the garden, third grade students doing "reading partners in the garden", and other students enjoying the sunshine at recess.
CHEETAH PAW WINNERS
Here are our awesome Cheetah Paw winners this week!
(K) Laurel, Graeme, Avery
(1) Suhail, Aila, Leilani
(2) Emmet (not pictured), Archer, Yuli
(3) Jubal, Flynn (not pictured), Maya
(4) Addie, Nicola, Nayela
(5) Alma, Sylvie, Poppy
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
LGBTQIA+ Support Event Happening at Franklin HS
Hi All, it's Miss Madi! There is a super cool event happening at Franklin HS on May 3rd for Queer kids, and their caregivers hosted by Franklin and Elliott Hinkle, the other person helping me plan Pride fest and owner of Unicorn Solutions!!
It is open to caregivers and their kiddos, but this event is definitely geared towards HS students, and I received permission if any parents from Atkinson are open to coming to be a part of it, to highly encourage that!
I would leave your student at home for this one, as the content may not be applicable/appropriate yet for them to partake in, but the info will be applicable for caregivers in preparation of knowing some solid info on how to support your kiddo now and in the future!! I already saw the presentation and I promise it's worth attending!!
Please take a look at the poster below AND register by scanning the QR code at the bottom so the planners of the event know how many people to prepare for food wise and room wise. I will be there, and hope to see you there too! Especially for parents who already have a kiddo who identifies within the Queer community, this is HUGE!
Summer Camps for Summer of 2023
Are you looking for options of Summer camps to send your kiddos to? Check out the links below!
UPCOMING DATES TO KNOW
- Monday, May 1 -- Garden Work Party, 9 - 11am
- Wednesday, May 3 -- Walk + Roll to School Day
- Monday, May 8 -- PTA Meeting, 6:30 - 8pm
- Friday, May 12 -- PTA Coffee Chat, 9 - 10am
- May 22-26 -- Book Fair
- Wednesday, May 24 -- Arts Open House