Mustang Parent Newsletter
October 2020
A Note from the Principal . . .
Happy October!
The 2020 school year is off to a great start considering we are in the midst of a global pandemic. Thank you for your grace and understanding as we maneuver a "new normal" in public schools across the country. We are excited to have most of your children back in the building! Students have transitioned very well to wearing masks in hallways and on buses, and washing hands, physically distancing when we can, and sanitizing desks and tables have become the norm throughout the day.
We are happy to have completed almost six weeks of in-school learning without having to shut our doors due to the spread of COVID. Thank you for being cautious about keeping your children home if they are feeling sick, and for sending clean masks daily. Together, we have created a safe and supportive atmosphere for learning!
Our staff and students are busy establishing the new COVID routines, and digging into the curriculum, especially our NEW math curriculum called Big Ideas Math. This math delves into more critical thinking skills and can be accessed on-line, which is a wonderful component for our distance learners, and for all our students should we have to move into distant-learning school-wide in the future.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be done via ZOOM or telephone on October 13th & 15th between the hours of 4:00 - 7:30 p.m. in order to limit the number of people in the building. Your child's teacher will contact you to set up a time to visit virtually.
I’d like to welcome all of our new families to the Manvel Public School. If you are not sure about anything that is happening at school or in your child’s classroom, please feel free to give us a call. We are here to support and help!
As we observe our student check-out, student dismissal, and parent pick-up, I want to thank you for following the safety procedures as we limit the number of people in the building. Please remember to be patient ~ the safety of our students and staff is very important to us!
If you would like to review our MPS 2020 Health & Safety Plan, please click the link below or check it out on our school website.
Below you will find our NEW Model of Instruction, "Road to Success!" This was a collaborative effort to showcase the essential components of Manvel Public School.
Again, thanks for partnering with us to bring quality education to the lives of our students!
Mrs. Hiltner
SAVE THE DATE!
Monday, October 5th - Friday, October 9th ~ Fire Prevention Week
Wednesday, October 7th ~ 1 Hour Late Start
Monday, October 12th ~ School Board Meeting at 4:30 p.m. (8th-grade presentation)
Tuesday, October 13th ~ Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4:00-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 15th ~ Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:30 p.m.
Monday, October 19th - Friday, October 23rd ~ Bus Driver Appreciation Week
Wednesday, October 21st ~ 1 Hour Late Start
Wednesday, October 21st ~ End of the First Quarter
Thursday, October 22nd ~ No School
Friday, October 23rd ~ No School
Monday, October 25th - November 6th ~ PTO BINGO Fundraiser
Wednesday, October 28th ~ Picture Retakes
Friday, October 30th ~ Report Cards to be sent home
School Garden Flourishes at MPS!
FREE Fire Extinguishers for Manvel School Families
Last month, the Manvel Fire Department, in cooperation with Manvel Public School, sponsored a grant to bring Fire Extinguishers to ALL MPS families. Students were given hands-on learning about how to safely use a fire extinguisher. *If you have not had an opportunity to pick up your free fire extinguisher, please contact the office at 696-2212.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
MPS Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 13th, and Thursday, October 15th. Both sessions will be from 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM. Due to COVID and to limit the number of people in the building, conferences will be held via phone call or ZOOM.
Your child's teacher will be reaching out to you.
Thanks to Mrs. Fruetel and all the students and staff who participated in the St. Jude's Bike-A-Thon! It was a HUGE Success ~ as MPS raised almost $4,000.00 for St. Jude's Children's Hospital!
Alternate Turkey Bingo Fundraiser by PTO
Thank you for your support!
Outdoor Clothing and Preparedness
Great Season, Mustang Basketball and Coach Fruetel!
Thanks to all the students who participated in Flag Skills with Coach Barandi!
Exciting MPS Staff News!
Also congratulations to our fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Love, and her husband on the birth of their baby girl, Sawyer Jo.
Mr. Rod Nupdal will be Mrs. Love's long-term substitute in fifth grade while she is on maternity leave. Mr. Nupdal is a familiar face at MPS. He was the long-term substitute teacher last year in 4th grade for Mrs. Kennedy, and he also teaches Migrant School at Manvel during the summer. We are happy to welcome him again to MPS!
Parents ~ Join REMIND (if you haven't already) to get automatic text messages on COVID, and weather related storm announcements, as well as school related events!
MPS Counseling News from Mrs. Ketterl (click link below)
BULLYING INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Bullying is unwanted aggressive behavior by a person or group that targets another person or group. It involves an imbalance of power and is repeated over time. This power imbalance may be real or thought to be real. It is used to intimidate others. Bullying is not teasing. Bullying can start at age 3 or 4 and can continue into older age groups. It happens to both boys and girls and may be done one-on-one or by groups of people against an individual. Bullying can happen anywhere. Some bullies have lots of friends and like to be in charge of others. Other bullies do not have many friends. The effects of bullying can be felt for a long time and can be very harmful and hurtful. Bullying can threaten students’ physical and emotional safety and can negatively impact their ability to learn.
Bullying may be physical, verbal, sexual or psychological. It may include:
Negative or mean comments
Leaving people out of activities
Hitting, kicking, spitting, etc.
Lying or starting rumors
Taking things or damaging property
Making fun of someone
Using text, photo or video messaging, internet sites, social media, or cell phones in a hurtful way
Making someone do something they do not want to do
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS BEING BULLIED
It is important to talk to your child about bullying. Explain to your child what bullying is and tell him/her that bullying is NEVER OK. Your child should always tell an adult when bullying happens. Tell your child that reporting bullying to an adult is NOT tattling. Tattling is done to get someone is trouble – reporting is done to get help. Talking to your child about his or her day is a good way to find out if there is bullying going on. When asking your child about the day, ask “open-ended” questions – like: What did you learn in school today, who did you play with today, or what do you think about (insert something about school). If your child is being bullied, reassure him or her that it is not their fault. Praise your child for telling you and tell them you will help. Kids learn from adults’ actions. By treating others with kindness and respect, adults show that there is no place for bullying. Even if it seems like they are not paying attention, kids are watching how adults manage stress and conflict, as well as how they treat their friends, colleagues, and families.
Some other tips to help if your child is being bullied:
Teach your child to look at the kid bullying you and tell him/her to stop in a calm, clear voice. Your child could try to laugh it off if joking is easy for your child. It could catch the bully off guard.
If speaking up seems too hard or not safe, walk away and stay away. Do not fight back. Find an adult to stop the bullying on the spot.
Read books with your child about other children being bullied to talk about being bullied or watching others being bullied
If you see signs that your child is being bullied, talk about it. You child has a right to feel safe.
Remind your child that you need to know what is going on so you can help
Let your child know it is always good to tell if someone does something hurtful
Teach your child who the safe adults are – the “connections: Your child should be able to talk to these “connections” if there is bullying.
Teach your child it is OK to ask an adult for help.
Tell your child to use the “buddy” system so they are not alone and has someone to help.
Contact school staff right away if your child is being bullied.
If you are concerned that your child might try to harm himself/herself, please go to the closest Emergency Department for immediate evaluation.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS THE BULLY
Let your child know that bullying is not OK. Tell him/her what the consequences will be.
Help your child learn ways to deal with frustration and anger that do not harm others.
Look for time to “catch your child being good” and use praise.
Help your child understand how the child being bullied feels. You can do this by reading books about children who were bullied, or watching movies or videos where children were hurt by bullies. Ask your child how the child in the book, movie, or video feels after being bullied.
If the school contacts you about your child bullying, do your best to stay calm and avoid becoming angry and defensive. Focus on what we both can do to help.
PROTECT YOUR CHILD FROM CYBERBULLYING
Bullying does not always happen in person. Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that happens online or through text messages or emails. There are things you can share with your child to protect them.
Tell them to always think about what they post. You never know what someone will forward. Be kind to others online. Do not share anything that could hurt or embarrass anyone.
Tell them to keep their password a secret from others. Even kids that seem like friends could give the password away or use it in ways you don’t want. Let your parents have your passwords.
Tell them to think about who sees what they post online. Complete strangers? Friends? Friends of friends? Privacy settings let you control who sees what.
Tell them to keep their parents in the loop. Parents should be able to friend them or follow them. Listen to what they have to say about what is and isn’t OK.
Tell them to tell an adult about messages they get or things they see online that make them feel sad, scared or uncomfortable.
About Us
Mission: To Empower Every Student, Every Day
Vision: Inspiring 21st Century Learners to Influence 22nd Century Successes
Email: melissa.hiltner@manvelk8.com
Website: http://www.manvel.k12.nd.us/pages/Manvel_Elementary_School
Location: Manvel Public School, Oldham Avenue, Manvel, ND, United States
Phone: 701-696-2212
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manvelmustangs/