Ponderosa Elementary School
Home of the Tigers
A Note from Mr. Gregorio
Dear Ponderosa Elementary School Families,
First and foremost, I want to acknowledge all of you for your strength during these difficult times. When I hear of the sacrifices that parents are making in order for their child to continue attending Ponderosa Elementary, I am awestruck.
We deeply appreciate the Durham community for everything it has done to support our transition to the Durham Elementary School Campus. The Durham Elementary staff's support has been amazing, to say the least. We will forever be indebted to Durham.
For the remainder of the school year, the Ponderosa Elementary staff will continue its work in promoting a safe, respectful, and responsible school community for all students. Since the Camp Fire, some of our students have been, understandably, having difficulty positively relating to their peers. Ponderosa Elementary staff is reminding our students of an effective problem solving strategy, Stop, Walk, and Talk. The strategy provides students with a way to resolve problems with their peers in a kind, respectful, and effective way.
STOP-When a student states or does something that is bothering your child, s/he can tell the student in a kind, clear, and assertive way to stop.
WALK-If the student does not stop the problem behavior, your child can walk away from him/her.
TALK-If the problem is still not resolved, your child can talk to the nearest adult, and the adult will be expected to intervene to work with the students in resolving the problem.
If the problem is severe, students are directed to TALK with an adult about it right away.
Here is a video that models that basics on the STOP, WALK, and TALK problem solving strategy.
Through the support of the Northern Valley Community Foundation, a counselor has been working with Ponderosa students since mid-January. If you would like your child to talk with a counselor regarding Camp Fire-related trauma or any other concerns, please let your student's teacher know.
Though we appreciate our current stay at Durham Elementary, we are looking forward to returning to Paradise next school year. Our tentative plan is to work alongside Paradise Elementary School and Evergreen 6 (6th grade) at the Paradise Intermediate School campus. The Paradise Intermediate School seventh and eighth grade programs would be housed on the Paradise High School campus. Again, this plan is tentative for now, and you will be provided with additional information as it comes available.
Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Registration
Please come by the school office to pick up an enrollment packet if you have a child who will be enrolling in kindergarten or transitional kindergarten next year. To enroll in kindergarten, a child must be five years old on or before September 1, 2019. Children who turn five years old between September 2nd and December 2nd will enroll in our school district’s Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program.
Month at Glance
3/7-6:00-8:30 p.m.-Nurtured Heart Parenting Weekly Workshop for Parents of Paradise Students Begins
3/8-8:30-9:30 a.m.-Ponderosa Elementary School Site Council Meeting in Room 2
3/11-5:30-8:30-Understanding Trauma Parent Workshop at Chico Unified School District Conference Room 1167 7th Street, Chico
3/14-6:00-8:30 p.m.-Nurtured Heart Parenting Weekly Workshop
3/15-No school for students and staff (Snow Day)
3/16-1:00-4:00 p.m.-Ponderosa Kids Unite Event at Community Park in Chico
3/18-No school for students and staff (Snow Day)
3/21-6:00-8:30 p.m.-Nurtured Heart Parenting Weekly Workshop
3/22-5:00-7:00 p.m.-Ponderosa Elementary Family Dance at Durham Elementary School Cafeteria
3/28-6:00-8:30 p.m.-Nurtured Heart Parenting Weekly Workshop
Dear Ponderosa Parents,
Great news! Our school has signed up to use Inner Explorer's Community Edition, giving all of us the opportunity to start practicing mindfulness with our students. In addition to providing self-care for caregivers, the simple "just press play" program fosters life skills such as improved focus, compassion, gratitude, and self-regulation as key elements in a student's continuous improvement.
Inner Explorer has advantages for families, too. The program is designed to be easy, requires no previous experience, and can be incorporated into any part of your day. Proven effectiveness of daily practice includes:
- Reduction in stress
- Increases in overall well-being
- Decreases in disciplinary behavior by 60%; and
- Higher grades for reading, math and science by 28%
The Community Edition license allows us to give our entire school community, including families, full account access to each age-appropriate program every day of the year. You can practice individually, together with your child/children, or each child can practice mindfulness on their own.
To set up your account, click on the link below. You will be asked to input your name, email address, designate your account password, and input your contact number (optional) to get started.
If you have any questions on the Inner Explorer program or need assistance creating an account, please contact me at egregorio@pusdk12.org.
Sincerely,
Ed Gregorio
Principal
Congratulations to Ben Buckhout (second place) and Addi Vigo (first place) who will be representing Ponderosa Elementary at the Butte County Spelling Bee. #Go Tigers!
"UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA" TRAINING
Understanding Trauma is an overview training for parents and educators focused on the how trauma and chronic stress impacts brain development and behavior.
Workshop Information
Date: Monday, March 11, 2019
Time: 5:30-8:30 P.M.
Presenter: Kay Paden
Location: Chico Unified School District Conference Room
1167 7th Street, Chico
Reservation Link: https://bcoe.k12oms.org/2224-162503
For questions, please call Carla Geyer at (530) 532-5922.
2nd TRIMESTER REPORT CARDS
Upon our return from the Camp Fire in December, our focus was to bring a sense of normalcy, community, and joy to our students. Though academics were reintroduced to our students, their safety and social-emotional well-being came first. Due to our focus on the students' immediate needs and the fact that they missed two weeks of schooling in November, students received less academic instruction than they did in the first trimester. Therefore, on report cards, you may notice that your student received fewer scores than in previous trimesters. Please know that we are committed to ensuring our students' reach their full academic potential, but understand that we must provide the instruction in a gradual, structured progression to avoid overwhelming the students. We plan to provide extensive intervention services for all of our students to assist them in making up any learning they might have missed. We are continuously amazed and inspired our students' resiliency and strength. Their traits will continue to serve them well in the future.
If you have questions about your student's report card, please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher or myself.
Nurtured Heart Parent Workshop for Paradise USD Parents
Free Six Week Nurtured Heart Approach Parent Workshop Series
- Build your child's confidence and success.
- Create positive relationships in the home, while maintaining expectations.
- Learn about trauma strategies and how the Nurtured Heart Approach supports children's brain development.
For more information, please call Kay Paden at (530) 774-5789
Thursday, Mar 7, 2019, 06:00 PM
Marigold Elementary School, Room 10 (2446 Marigold Avenue, Chico)
Our Girls Are Princesses Day
The Gridley Quota Club and Miss Butte County Scholarship Program is sponsoring a "Our Girls Are Princesses" day at Butte College on Saturday, March 16th from 11:00-2:00 p.m. Each girl receive a crown and a sash, a gift card, and lunch. Fun activity stations will also be made available for all of the girls to enjoy. To reserve a spot for your daughter, please contact Kari Wheeler at 693-1777.
Quota International of Gridley Princess.pdf