The Avery Pulse

December 18th, 2022

Upcoming Dates

  • Dec. 20th - Flannel Day
  • Dec. 21st - Winter Parties (Information Below)
  • Dec. 22nd - Jan. 3 - Winter Break
  • Jan. 4th - School Resumes
  • Jan. 11th - Late Start
  • Jan. 16th - No School (MLK Day)
  • Jan. 23rd - Late Start

Winter Parties

Please read the below information regarding Winter Party protocol. Please note, with our shift in not allowing birthday treats, we are also not allowing food to be consumed by students during the party. Food is welcome at the party, but needs to be packaged in a way that can be sent home with students. Should you have any questions, let us know.


Winter Parties will take place on Wednesday, December 21st


  • Classroom parties will take place at 1:45 pm.


  • Classroom parties will END at 2:30pm.


  • If making a donation of items/activities for parties, please send in only non-food items. There will not be any food consumed during classroom parties-but snacks are welcome to go home with students.


  • If you are planning on attending the classroom party, please sign in at the front table located by the main entrance.


Feel free to contact your child's teacher or a room parent with any questions or concerns.

Pulse Timing Update

There will be no Avery Pulse on the following dates:

  • Sunday, Dec. 25th
  • Sunday, Jan. 1st


The Pulse will resume on Sunday, Jan. 8th.

Spirit Days

Let's have some fun!

Here are some upcoming spirit days for both staff and students to participate in:

  • Dec. 20th - Flannel Day

Casting call for the Avery Play!

When: January 9, 7:30pm

Where: Givens Elementary Auditorium

Who: Anyone (adults) interested in being part of the Avery Play

What is the Avery Play? The Avery Play is a 70+ year tradition where the parents of Avery write, direct and perform a play for the entire Avery community. This year's show will be on April 14 and 15. Questions? Contact amandavader2@gmail.com

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Winter Webster Reads!

Parents:

Research proves that students who read consistently each day improve their reading skills.

To access the recommended book list, please visit the Webster Groves School District website at https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/Page/18400


Students:

To earn a free book, please read the number of books listed for your grade level. These books should be at an appropriate level for you. If you read more, that’s great!

Return this form to your teacher or your school’s librarian on or before January 6th.



Grades K-2: Read or listen to 8 or more books

Grades 3-5: Read or listen to 3 or more books


https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w7fg6CBose9CySI-nyu36tL5sP35UuTIYwDzdAXclj0/edit?usp=sharing

Late Start Information Below

Please click the link for additional details related to late starts.


Beginning this school year, the Webster Groves School District has added late start days to the school calendar.


Late start days will allow for additional time for our teachers to use data and collaboratively plan to continue to address the needs of all of our students.


The schedule for late starts is below:

Late Start Supervision Program - 7:40am-8:50am

School Day Arrival Begins - 8:50am

School Begins - 9:05am


Families who need help with student supervision on late start days can participate in a program available at each building. If you already signed up for this supervision, you should have received a confirmation email from Avery on Sunday, August 14th at 9:45am.


If you are in need of supervision for your child(ren) and have not received a confirmation email that they are in our late start supervision program, please click here and complete the form.


Members of the Avery staff will manage the Late Start Supervision Program, including instructional aides and substitute teachers. Families who participate in the morning Adventure Club Program will automatically be enrolled in the Late Start Supervision Program.


For additional information on the late start program, please check out our district website: https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/domain/4244

Repeated Information Below

A Note from Mrs. Wallace… Avery’s School Counselor

Our three big ideas at Avery that Mrs. Wallace talks about during counselor lessons are The Avery Way, The 7 Habits, and The Zones of Regulation. In November we focused on habit #3 and in December we’ll focus on habit #4.


Habit #3: Put First Things First

Habit #3 helps us to remember to work first, then play. We stay focused on the things that need to be done before moving onto the things we’d like to do. Habit #3 helps us prioritize and plan efficiently.


Habit #4: Think Win-Win

Habit #4 helps to remember that we can all win. We try to find a way for everyone to be successful. When conflict arises we communicate with an “I message” and listen. Next, we can brainstorm possible solutions and compromises that everyone can agree upon.


Here are some resources that could be helpful with the holidays coming up: Tips for parents on managing holiday stress, 9 tips to fend off holiday stress, and Express your gratitude this holiday season (feel free to use this with your children!).


Check out these visuals below on de-stressing during the holiday season:

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National Influenza Vaccination Week

It's National Influenza Vaccination Week so we're encouraging everyone - especially children and others at higher risk - to protect themselves and their loved ones from flu this season by getting a flu vaccine. Currently, flu activity is elevated in our own community and across the county and there is still time to benefit from the first and most important action in preventing flu illness and potentially serious flu complications: get a flu vaccine! See additional information below on where to obtain yours today!



- St. Louis County Department of Public Health

*Schedule online

OR

*Walk-ins welcome at all 3 locations from 8am - 4:30pm. More info.


- CVS Pharmacy

*Schedule online


- Walgreens Pharmacy

*Schedule online

Winter Break Book Swap

We’re collecting gently used books for a free book swap the week before Winter Break!


Through Dec. 9, send in children’s books that your kiddos are finished with. All Avery students will have the opportunity to browse and take home books to read during Winter Break.


Books can be dropped off in the plastic bin outside the front door. Children can also deliver books to their teachers.


This is a great way to upcycle books and ensure kids have something to read during their break – at no expense!


Questions? Contact Elisa Tomich at averyequity@gmail.com


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Science Fair

Interested in participating in the Science Fair? Please sign up on this form. If you have any questions, please visit our Science Fair website or contact Shayla Pott, District Science Fair Coordinator at pott.shayla@wgmail.org. Good luck!

Webster Groves Basketball Development League

We are excited to announce that this coming winter the Webster Groves School District will sponsor a developmental basketball program for elementary school students in grades 3rd-5th.


This program will be designed to help teach students the fundamentals of playing basketball. Practices will be held on Tuesday nights at WGSD Elementary School Gyms and games will be played on Sundays in the late morning and early afternoon in the gyms at Webster Groves High School.


Teams will be put together by elementary school attendance and grade level. If a particular school or grade level does not have enough players then we will combine them with another one. To be eligible to participate in this league, students must either attend a WGSD elementary school or live within the WGSD boundaries.

Thrive Jr. (Entrepreneurship Club) Registration

We are excited to announce that we are starting a Thrive Jr. Entrepreneurship Club, powered by VentureLab. Entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business. It is a skillset and a way of thinking. It involves identifying needs, brainstorming creative solutions, taking calculated risks, learning from failure, and persevering despite setbacks.


In the Idea to Pitch Program, students grow their entrepreneurial mindsets and skills as they apply their passions and strengths to identify opportunities to creatively solve problems, develop their solution into a business, and pitch the idea. The program culminates in a pitch event where students present their ideas to our community.


Who: 4th and 5th grade students (25 max. total students)

When: January 9, 2023-February 13, 2023

Wednesday afternoons 3:00 pm-4:00 pm


Sign Up Here!


Questions? Please contact Rochelle Spencer at spencer.rochelle@wgmail.org

Dogs At Arrival and Dismissal

We kindly ask that all dogs stay along the perimeter of Avery during arrival and dismissal. Dogs can often be a distraction to our students. Thank you!

A Note from the Nurses

As the seasons change and we resume our usual activities, infectious disease experts believe that we are already seeing the reemergence of respiratory illnesses at increased rates, including flu.


Here are some tips and resources to help you learn about actions you can take to protect yourself and others from flu and help stop the spread of germs, including practicing good hand hygiene and staying home when you are sick.

Thank you for helping us keep our students, staff and community safe and healthy!

Current 5th Grade Families

Click here to see important dates for the transition to Hixson!

Equity in Action Committee Community Recognition

Equity in Action Committee Community Recognition

The Webster Groves School District's Equity in Action Committee values and encourages peer-to-peer recognition for equity work. In 2021, the EIA launched a Community Recognition initiative, which provides an opportunity for members of the community to recognize individuals (i.e. students, teachers, parents, friends, community members, etc.), schools, businesses, and organizations who make significant contributions towards creating and cultivating a culture of dignity that values all human beings within the WGSD. To learn more about this opportunity and to make a recognition, please go to Community Recognition. The deadlines are November 29, 2022, January 30, 2023, and April 24, 2023.

Want to make a submission to The Avery Pulse?

Board policy KI governs what our schools can distribute to students.


To qualify for direct distribution to students and families, the
information must be:

  • district-sponsored information
  • something from a group affiliated* with the district.
  • curriculum-related, as determined by the principal, including programs, events, contests and other activities.


*Affiliated is defined as a group recognized by the Board of Education and working

collaboratively with the district, such as a business partner OR is a
group created soley to work with district staff, students and parents
to raise fund for district activities (PTOs, booster clubs, the
Foundation)

Regarding signs, only signs for school or district groups (sponsored
or affiliated) can be placed on school grounds.

You can read the board policy here
https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/ViewPolicy.aspx?S=448&revid=6VcjbAkBf4Ls3Fs6CyIxFA==&ptid=amIgTZiB9plushNjl6WXhfiOQ==&secid=1QSfUuz8WRJ5slsh0xnyVwukQ==&PG=6&IRP=0


If you are a non-profit organization that doesn't qualify for direct distribution to students and families, you can contact Derek Duncan (duncan.derek@wgmail.org) who is our Director of Communication and he will ensure that your flyer is posted on the community electronic bulletin.


If your information fits the above criteria, you can make a submission to theaverypulse@gmail.com


Submissions are due on Thursdays at 5pm