The Mallard Navigator
Forts Pond Elementary School
November 2018
Important Dates for November
November
3 Legos and Leaders 10:00 - 11:30
4 Daylight Savings Time Ends
5 Reports Cards Issued
6 School Closed - Election Day
8 Music Performance Grades 2 & 3 6:30 P.M.
9 Veterans Day Program 9:00 A.M.
12 PTO Carolina and Clemson Helmet Sales Begin/American Education Week/Mallard Moms 7:00 A.M./ Fall Make-Up Pictures
15 National Parent Involvement Day - Thanksgiving Luncheon for Parents
16 All Pro Dads 7:00 A.M.
17 Mallard Market 9:00 -12:00 Santa Pictures 10:00-12:00
20 PTO Carolina and Clemson Helmet Sales End
21-23 Thanksgiving Break
26 Middle of 2nd Nine Weeks - Login to Powerschool to check your child's grade
Congratulations!
Mrs. Guier's 1st grade class is the first class in grades 4k-2nd to have perfect attendance for 10 days .
Mr. Shealy's students lead grades 3-5 in attendance. His class has 15 days of perfect attendance! Ms. Gladden's class is right behind with 10 days of perfect attendance!
Support Staff Member of the Year
Teacher of the Year
Family Luncheon
November 15, 2018
Tickets will be sold at the door. Please have correct change! The cost is $3.90 per adult or child who is not a FPES student.
Menu
Roasted Turkey w/cranberry sauce and roll, Cornbread Dressing, Green Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Apple Crisp, Fresh Fruit
Please let us know if you plan to attend by contacting Ms. Moore at 821-2552 or jvmoore@lexington1.net. This will help us prepare food and space for this day.
Micky Mouse turns 90 on November 18! Who doesn't like a party???
Let's celebrate with the kids on November 16 by offering each child who purchases a reimbursable meal and any adult that dines with us a free Super Bakery celebrations cupcake.
Yearbooks
Leaders of the Month
Grade 4k - Colten Webber and Bryce Cooke
Grade 5K - Kenya Preciado, Brentley Cox, Amerson Skipper, Kairi Perry, Andrew Reeves, Addison Inabinet, Gabby Sox and Jaxon Franks
Grade 1 - Ella Jackson, Conner Johnston, Marysa Ajqui-Ruiz, Jonathan Walker, Brianna Bledsoe, Jace Hazard, Rylin Flores, and Hannah Pierce
Grade 2 - Jordan Hall, Neveah Hooker, Kelsey Mayfield, Zackary Williams, Will Berry, Ashley Zuegar, Leyton Walker, and Summer Manning
Grade 3 - Delilah Lindsey, Damian Preciado, Emily Huffines, Joaquin Coyle, Tanner Mengedoht, Raelyn McElroy, Harmony Merrill, Elliot Blanton, Ashley York, and Joshua Sierra
Grade 4 - Caydence Taylor, Isaac Skipper, Ledger Drawdy, Elijah Jones, Carmon Adkins
Carter Allbee, Derek King, Hailee Watts, and Koen Taylor
Grade 5 - Nery Rodas-Guzman, Ava Peters, Caroline Zueger, Shiloh Tindal, Leila Hornsby, Alex Perez, Seth Parker, Ella (Cameron) Harter, and Holli Crawford
Important Date Changes
Fall Make-Up Pictures were scheduled for November. This date has been changed to November 12.
Please make a change to the December page. December 21 is not listed as a half day but it should be a half day. Students will be dismissed at 11:40 and lunch will be served.
January 18 is now a half day. Students will be dismissed at 11:40 and lunch will be served.
Reports Cards for 2nd Nine weeks will be issued on January 29 instead of January 11.
February 18, March 15, and April 22 will be regular school days. Theses days were originally weather make up days.
Student Information Updates
Please make sure you keep your contact information including email and phone numbers up to date. It is important to have this information in the event of an emergency and to keep you informed about school happenings.
You will need to write a note to Ms. Lisa Hawkins in the front office for this information to be changed.
Music Performance Students in Grades 2 and 3
Parents and Guardians of our Amazing 2nd and 3rd Graders:
Please remember that next Thursday, November 8th is our evening Veterans Day Performance. Students in grades 2 and 3 are asked to be at our FPES Cafeteria at 6:00 p.m., and our concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. (The concert will last no longer than 25 minutes, so you will have an enjoyable music experience AND a full evening left!)
Students are asked to wear jeans, khakis or dark pants, red, white or blue shirts, and of course, our young ladies may where red, white, or blue skirts or dresses if they like.
This is always such a special concert, and we look forward to having you there. Thank you so much for your support, and I look forward to see you then!
Respectfully,
Mary Clare Gatch, Music Teacher
Attendance Matters
Did you know?
Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance.
A missed school day is a lost opportunity for students to learn.
Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in the first month go on to miss nearly a month of school.
Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade or be held back.
When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.
So far this year, we have had 865 absences and 757 tardies. We hope to bring that number down with some incentives we are offering students!
Your Attendance Matters!!!
In order to avoid your child being reported truant please be sure to turn in a written medical or parent excuse for each absence.
Counselor Corner
In November, Forts Pond Elementary will be focusing our efforts on career readiness activities for all grades. Our students need to hear from parents and community friends who have so many different jobs. Would you be willing to support our school by presenting in one of the following programs the week of November 13th?
Classroom Presentations 3rd grade (Tuesday, November 13 8:00-10:00 A.M.)
Community Vehicle Day 4K- 2 (Wednesday, November 14 8:00-10:00 A.M.)
Career Fair 4th & 5th (Thursday, November 15 8:00-10:00 A.M.)
Please complete this form if you are interested in volunteering. You can also call the school counselors to volunteer. Career Volunteer Form
If your child needs to see a counselor for any reason, please feel free to call:
Mrs. Hill at 821- 2510 Grades 4K- 2
Mrs. Mahoney at 821- 2598 Grades 3-5
Leader in Me Lighthouse School
Forts Pond Elementary is proud to be a Leader in Me Lighthouse School.
We are often asked how parents can support their school’s leadership initiative. Each time we are asked we give the same answer “Use the 7 Habits language at home.”
As the school year unfolds, the children are learning the language and meaning of the 7 Habits. By hearing the same language at home and at school, you send the children a strong message of what you believe is important and that we are all on the same team—the team that wants to help each child succeed. When parents and schools support one another, the sky is the limit.
· Visit the parents section of www.leaderinme.org where you will find resources for parents and a fun student game area.
· Or you can ask any teacher, staff member, administrator or student at Forts Pond more about the 7 Habits.
Leader in Me Habit 2
Habit 2 BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND
I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my school’s mission and vision. I look for ways to be a good citizen. Begin with the end in mind means to think about how you would like something to turn out before you get started.
Reading a recipe before cooking or looking at a map before leaving on a trip is beginning with the end in mind. For young children, a good example is that of a jigsaw puzzle. Before doing a puzzle, they look at the cover of the box. They begin with the end in mind.
Enter for a chance to win a $10 Wal-Mart gift card by completing the sentences on the last page. Your child's teacher will also win a gift card. See the last page for details.
We Are Practicing Habit 2
Forts Pond Elementary staff and students have been practicing the habit Begin with the End in Mind by setting school-wide goals in writing and math. Check out our goals! We are tracking our progress in the hallways and in classrooms.
Below is an example of how 1st grade is tracking their grade level writing goal to help us reach our school –wide writing goal.
Ask your child what their classroom goals are in writing and math.
All students are also setting personal goals and keeping track of their progress towards these goals in their Leadership Notebook. These goals and the data are displayed in the classrooms and hallways.
Next time you talk to one of your child’s teachers or any other staff member ask what is their personal goal. We are pearls in an oyster shell to track how we are celebrating when we reach our goals. Want to know more about our goals? Schedule an appointment to see one of the administrators and a group of students to keep you up to date on our progress.
You can see some examples of these things below.
School Wide Math Fluency Goal
School Wide Writing Goal
Example How Grade Levels Track Goals
Veterans Day Program and Music Performance
On November 9 at 9:00 A.M., we will hold our annual Veteran's Day Program. FPES students and staff enjoy hosting this program for our veterans. Soon a letter will be sent home requesting COPIES of pictures of Veterans for the upcoming event. This is always such a special addition to our event, and we would love to include as many pictures as possible. Please forward your copies and the requested details (Name, branch, rank, when/where served, etc.) to Mrs. Gatch.
PTO NEWS
PTO Meeting
November 20 at 2:45 in FPES Cafeteria
Carolina and Clemson Helmet Sales November 12 -15
$.25 per helmet
Each helmet purchased puts your name into a drawing for a Carolina or Clemson goodie bag.
Mallard Moms
November 12 at 7:00 A.M. - 7:35 A.M.
Please join us with your child/children at our Mallard Moms meeting. We invite any mom, grandmother, aunt, or any other significant female in your child's life to come with your child/children for a light breakfast and a themed discussion and activity together. Although short in length, the time is special and will make your child's day start with pride.
FPES school counselors Cindy Hill and Gina Mahoney will be at this meeting.
Please note the change of venue for meetings. We will now meet in the Learning Commons from 7:00 A.M. - 7:35 A.M. For further information, please contact Judy Moore at 821-2552, or email jvmoore@lexington1.net.
All Pro Dads
This is an open invitation to dads, grandfathers, uncles, or any other significant male who may be part of your child's life. Come enjoy a light breakfast and enjoy some "special moment" time as we strive to grow in the time we spend with our children.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. McDermet at 821-2500. You may also reach him by email at mmcdermet@lexington1.net.
Title I Parent Engagement
If you plan to attend, please contact Mrs. Judy Moore by calling or emailing.
(803)821-2552
If you are unable to attend, but have suggestions, please email or call Michelle Smith.
(803)821-2500
A Glance at December Dates
5 Collaborative Planning Dismiss @ 11:40
6 Music Performance Grades 5k and 1 at 6:30 P.M.
10 Mallard Moms at 7:00 A.M.
11 Soul Stepping Shoe Distribution
14 Parent Lighthouse and Title I Committees Meet 8:30 A.M.
17-21 PTO Santa Shop
21 All Pro Dads 7:00 A.M./Half Day for Students - Dismiss at 11:40
December 24 - January 6 Winter Break
January 7 Students Return
Math Resources
Want to know how to help your child become a strong mathematician?
Our math coach, Dawn Jacobs, developed for each grade level a list of ways to help you child at home. Select your child's grade level from the list below and it will take you to those resources.
ELA Resources for Parents
This online resource designed to provide information for parents and caregivers in order to support your children’s early literacy development. The guide provides information and strategies that will equip parents and caregivers with tools to support children from birth through the beginning years of school.
The guide does not require a login.
Box Tops
Here is how Box Tops work.
Buy the products + Clip the Box Tops + Send Box Tops to school = $$$$$
Enter for Your Chance to Win a $10 Gift Card - Habit 2
Enter for your chance to win a $10 Wal-Mart gift card by completing the sentences below. Your child’s teacher will also win a gift card.
Submit the completed google form by Wednesday, November 7. You can find the answers in the information about Habit 2.
Answers must be correct in order to qualify.
Habit 2 Google Form to complete
Lexington County School District One’s Nondiscrimination Statement
Revised 09-04-2018
Lexington County School District One is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all students, parents/legal guardians, staff, visitors, personnel and community members who participate or seek to participate in its programs or activities. Therefore, the district does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or any related medical conditions), color, disability, age, genetic information, national origin, or any other applicable status protected by local, state, or federal law.
The district will use the grievance procedures set forth in policy to process complaints based on alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; and Titles I and II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The district designates specific individuals to handle inquiries or complaints. To find out who to contact and how to contact them, please go to our website at http://www.lexington1.net/contact-us.