Robins K-8 Newsletter
October 2022
A Message from our Principal
It’s October and time is passing by very quickly! We hope that your Fall Break was enjoyable. Our school is honoring the “National Italian-American Heritage” month and “National Filipino American Heritage” month, for the remainder of October. We always invite parents to come join in on our school wide celebrations. So, if you have a favorite story about your heritage and/or culture, please arrange to read it to students in the library!
This month we are featuring a book written about our school from a previous parent. Our librarian is reading this story as part of our celebrations and acknowledgements. You are welcome to come and hear the story as well. The name of the book is “NAKIKITA: MORE THAN A MONTH” by Dr. Daisy Rodriguez, Pitel.
This quarter, middle school students are focusing on reading or math skills in their 4th period Core Enrichment (intervention) class. We want to help our students understand their role in their academics and educational future. IT begins with taking responsibility for yourself and being responsible for your daily work requirements. Please continue to encourage your middle school students to be responsible as it will help them be successful this school year. We are hoping that the benefit will show in their grades, classwork, and state assessment scores, but more importantly in their gained confidence regarding their individual skill level.
We just completed our 1st District Benchmark Assessment in Reading and Math for grades 2nd-8th and DIBELS reading screening for grades K-3rd . Student results are in, and teachers will share with students and parents the performance levels of each student. We will take the district benchmark assessment 2 additional times prior to the State Assessment in the Spring. These Benchmark tests are great indicators for us as we determine what additional support a student may need and/or how we can challenge the student to enrich their learning.
This month of October is full of exciting school events. We have Student of the Month Popcorn party, Picture Re-takes on Friday, 10/21 and our Annual Halloween Parade on October 31st (details listed below in the newsletter, dress code still applies).
Halloween Parade – October 31st
We will have a Halloween parade and all K-8 students are able to dress up and participate in the parade. The parade will start at 8:00 a.m. Students report to class for attendance first and then proceed to the parade with their teacher. We ask that all parents and families stand along the path of the parade to clap for all of our students. The parade will end by 8:30 a.m. at the latest. The following are guidelines are for you to consider as you prepare your costume.
-No costume face mask of any kind (only face mask as required by our district)
-No face paint
-Nothing covering the face
-No Blood
-No Guts
-No Weapons
-No Violent material
-No props- just the costume
All costumes must adhere to the TUSD dress policies. Costume that do not meet the requirements will be unable to participate in the parade if their costume cannot be corrected prior to the parade they can participate in our alternative parade activity to be held in the library.
Alternative Halloween Parade activity: We recognize that not all students celebrate/recognize Halloween, so we must provide an alternative for these students. A staff member will be in the Library to facilitate an alternative activity with the students.
Thank you, Mrs. Thomas, Principal
PICTURE DAY RETAKES
Friday, Oct 21, 2022, 07:45 AM
Robins K-8 School, North Magnetite Lane, Tucson, AZ, USA
MINI MUSTER
Wednesday, Oct 26, 2022, 08:00 AM
Robins K-8 School, North Magnetite Lane, Tucson, AZ, USA
Counselor Corner
Hello Roadrunner families,
October is National Bully Prevention Month! The kick-off is Monday, October 3, and students and staff will wear blue in honor of this day. On October 17, we have a Unity Assembly where we will showcase and celebrate being unified despite cultural differences. Students and staff may wear orange on this day to display our unity at Robins K-8.
At this time, most classes have had Bully Prevention training by the Counselor. Students are learning how to identify bullying, what to do if they are targets, or if they see a friend that is being bullied. The students have provided great dialogue so far during classroom sessions. Please ask them to tell you what they have learned about bully prevention.
The Student Council Assembly was held on Thursday, 9/29. Candidates for President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer gave speeches on why they should be elected. After the assembly, students voted, and our 2022-2023 Officers are:
President: Zoe
Vice President: Brooklyn
Secretary: Taylor
Treasurer: Miabella
Congratulations to the elected officers, and to all those who campaigned. Each of them did an amazing job!
Spirit Week is next week October 3 – October 6.
Monday – Pajama Day (or wear blue for National Bully Prevention Month)
Tuesday – Dress as your favorite book character
Wednesday – Crazy Hair/Hat Day
Thursday – Class Color Day
Kinder: Black
1st : Yellow
2nd: Green
3rd: Red
4th: Purple
5th: Blue
Middle School: White
Halloween Grams will be on sale again this year. They will be sold in the cafeteria during lunches, or in the front office, only $1/each. Send a gram and treat to a friend (delivery is 10/31).
Please contact me if you have any questions or comments. Have a wonderful Fall Break.
Rachael Walters, M.Ed.
520.908.4322
Coaching Focus: Bullying
From the Dean’s Office
Bullying Is An Abuse Of Power
Bullying is a pattern of intentional unwanted contact.
Bullying can happen anywhere to anyone.
Bullying can take various forms, including:
- manipulated situations to cause others pain.
- verbal - name calling, teasing, swearing, spreading rumours
- physical - hitting, pushing, pinching, kicking
- emotional - ignoring or isolating, taking or damaging possessions, being forced to do things
- against own will, being forced to hand over money
- cyber - nasty or threatening texts and emails
- homophobic - based on sexuality
- racist - based on religion or racial or ethnic origin
- disability - based on a disability
- sexual - inappropriate touching.
(italicized sextion from the Tucson Derby Brats Anti-Bullying Policy)
Power and Control
There are many types of power. Some powers are given to us, some we take. Sometimes we feel
powerless, and that is a shame -- because each of us has power. We have power to love, power to
hate, power to build, power to destroy, power to give, power to take. Each of us has a choice we can
make.
"Hurt People Hurt People"
The phrase hurt people hurt people can help us understand one of the reasons for bullying. Trauma is
the result of some hurt that happened in the past, and trauma comes from many places and looks
different for each of us. For some, it is misplacing our housekeys or favorite toy, for others it is
having to bury a loved one. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to respond to trauma.
Science shows us that when we experience traumatic events, our body protects itself by entering
survival mode - fight, flight, freeze, fawn, fall, folly. Here at Robins, we work on helping our
students understand that traumatic events cannot be controlled; and that, we can choose how to
respond to them
Safety Plan
Having a safety plan helps the target of bullying to stay safe.
- Don't be alone with the bully.
- Tell a grown up about what is happening
- Report when you see someone being maltreated.
Healthy Boundaries
It is important for us to empower ourselves and our children to set healthy boundaries. When
someone is being disrespectful or unsafe, we have the right to say "No, thank you."
Code of Conduct
Bullying is a Level 3 Code of Conduct violation. For more information, you can visit the Dean's
Pages
See you next month for our next Coaching Focus!
Ms. Che
Robins K-8 Dean of Students
Felicia.chew@tusd1.org
Cell/Text 520.909.3888
ATHLETICS
It is time to sign up for Middle School Girls Basketball, Middle School Boys Volleyball, the. Co-Ed Middle School Flag Football Tournament, and Elementary (Grades 4 and 5) Co-Ed Flag Football! You will pick up a permission slip packet, and submit a physical if you haven’t already turned one in this year. Questions? Contact Ms. Chew at felicia.chew@tusd1.org or by Text/Cell at 520.909.3888
Thank you!
Ms. Chew
Robins K-8 Athletics Coordinator
Felicia.chew@tusd1.org
Cell/Text 520.909.3888
Library
September was a terrific month in the library! Students continue to learn how to carefully take care of their borrowed books and how our library is organized. In September, students checked out 2103 books! I am extremely proud of their excitement to check out all types of books.
In September we began our Celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. The students have been excited to check out many books on our rich Hispanic culture and famous Hispanic people.
Students have also been learning about our Fall Season. They have been eager to check out books about apples, pumpkins, and Halloween. We have identified fiction books and nonfiction books about pumpkins and apples. Students are learning the difference between books that have real facts in them and books that are made up stories.
We were grateful to have two librarians from Flowing Wells Public Library (Pima County Public Library system) join us for our Literacy Night. They brought a free book for every student who attended. They also gave away bookmarks, crayons, and a lot of information about their programs. If you do not have a Pima County Library card, you can apply for one online at https://www.library.pima.gov/getalibrarycard/.
If you would like to apply for a public library card in person, you can visit Flowing Wells Public Library at https://www.library.pima.gov/locations/FLW/?_ga=2.108791814.508338972.1665001383-2016651168.1665001383 or any Pima County Public Library.
I have been pleased with the number of books that have been returned that were marked as lost. Many of you have searched high and low and found books that have been missing for a year! Many thanks.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about our library.
We will be having a Scholastic Book Fair from December 5-9, so save those dates.
And remember…keep reading.
Mrs. Wick, Library Assistant