Anderson Elementary Update
February 2024
From the Desk of the Principal. . .
- NWEA Tests are complete-we hope to have student progress reports sent home next week.
- IRIPS-Teachers will be making determinations regarding student who need IRIPS. We will send paperwork home for students being placed on an IRIP. This will need to be signed and returned.
- March Is Reading Month-Camp Reads A lot will be set up for the month of March. We plan to have a lot of fun activities. See below for more information.
Alanna Denton, Principal
Anderson Elementary
VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ
In every newsletter, I always put something about pick-up and drop-off safety. I would like to thank those of you who follow the rules every single day. We have these rules in place to keep our kids safe. Unfortunately, at drop-off one morning this week we had a very close call that occurred because two drivers broke the rules. A child was exiting their vehicle on the passenger's side when a car bypassing the line narrowly missed hitting the child. I understand that we all have places to be. I also know that if a child were to get hit by someone it would become immediately apparent that those places to be are not nearly as important as a child's safety. So, to review:
- Children should exit/enter the vehicle from the driver's side of the vehicle.
- When dropping off a child DO NOT drop off your child and go around the cars in front of you.
- People using the right side lane in the morning may be reporting to work. They may be your child's teacher or recess supervisor-Please DO NOT flip them off as they pass those of you in the left lane. They are not trying to bypass the drop-off line-they are just trying to get to work.
- Finally, in the afternoon. The right lane must remain open until 3:00 so that emergency vehicles or parents picking up a sick child can get to the building.
- If a grandparent or someone else is dropping off/picking up please review the safety rules with them.
March Is Reading Month
As I previewed last month, our theme for March Is Reading Month is Camping. We are finalizing many of the details and will be sending information home very soon. We do have some dress up days on the calendar that I can share now.
○ March 1 - Dress up like a camper or hiker
○ March 8 - Wear an animal (t-shirt, scarf, any clothing related to an animal or with animal patterns)
○ March 15 - Pajama Day
○ March 22 - Hat Day
Responsibility Room
We are trying something new. Starting on February 12, 2024 we are going to start a Responsibility Room. This room will be open during recess. Students will be referred to the Responsibility Room by their teachers or recess supervisors. Once a student has been referred to the Responsibility Room he or she will get help in thinking about his or her choices and developing a plan to help them make better choices. We plan to use a lot of restorative practices. We will be piloting this with the first grade starting on Monday and then expanding it out to second grade and kindergarten. Here is a link to more information: Responsibility Room
Kindergarten Registration
If you have a child who will be 5 on or before September 1, 2024 it is time to start planning for next year. Kindergarten Registration is on March 19, 2024 from 4:00-6:00 p.m.. We are doing this event a little differently this year. We will have four sessions for parents. Sessions will start at 4:00, 4:30, 5:00 and 5:30. Once you have chosen your session, please come about ten minutes early so that you can complete paperwork. The sessions will run in the gym. We will have several stations set up and parents will get to travel from station to station. We are hopeful that this will allow us to avoid having long lines. You will need to bring in your driver's license, your child's birth certificate, your proof of residence and your child's immunization record if you have it. We will make copies of these items. We will have stations featuring Head Start, the Bronson Library, classroom tours, frequently asked questions and assessment sign up. Please contact the school office with questions.
Smiles On Wheels
Recently, we sent home paperwork regarding the Smiles on Wheels program. If you have not returned it please do so. We are planning on having the Smiles on Wheels folks in our building on February 21, 22, and 23. We are excited to have this program and look forward to their visit.
Background Checks
As you know, adults who plan to help with parties or attend field trips will need a background check. Many of you have already turned the forms in. In case you haven't, I wanted to let you know that the deadline for these is April 1, 2024. If you have already completed your form for this year you are fine. However, if you have not filled one out since last school year you may want to complete one.
New Visitor Management System
Our Visitor Management System is up and running. We appreciate your patience with the new system. Remember you will need to bring a Government Issued ID. This system will print out a badge for all visitors. It is important to remember to check out with the office staff. Additionally, we are also checking students in and out with this system.
With any new system, we anticipate that we might need to work through some barriers, but we know that this system will enhance safety throughout the district. Thank you, in advance, for your patience and understanding as we work through implementation.
One Hundred Days
This week we celebrated being in school for 100 days. We were lucky enough to be visited by Zero The Hero. Zero went to several classrooms and listened to the students count to one hundred. Zero loves counting!
Math Night
Thanks to our families for attending math night. Also, thank you to our PTO for providing the prizes.
Important Dates
February 26, 2024 @5:30 PTO Meeting at Ryan