Evening Star Elementary
January 2022
A Note from Principal Williams:
Happy New Year to all of our ESE families. At the beginning of each year, we enjoy reflecting on the memories and lessons we learned, while looking ahead and setting new goals for future growth. We are grateful for our families and staff who have worked hard to support each child in their personal and academic growth despite another difficult year. Each of you play such an integral role in your child’s learning, and we truly appreciate your support as well as your proactive partnership with our staff here at Evening Star.
If you are still looking for ways in which you can play an active role in your child’s education, here are just a few ideas: read with your child nightly, attend our virtual PTO meetings, establish a regular routine and ensure that your child has a good night’s sleep, and continue to communicate on a regular basis with your child’s teacher.
Unfortunately, the positive case numbers in our area are rapidly increasing and the local news stations are reporting the highest daily totals that we've seen to date. Now more than ever, we ask that you please continue to social distance, limit gatherings, wear face coverings, and exercise caution to help slow the spread. If your child is not feeling well or showing symptoms, please keep them home and contact our office at 479-360-7400. We want to be able to keep our schools open, but this is only doable if we are all doing our part. TOGETHER, we can do this!
Winter MAP testing will occur this month. MAP tests are designed to measure a student's growth when compared to where he/she was at the beginning of the year. Each student's growth goal is unique to him/herself. Our goal is to ensure that each child shows growth on these tests. In the meantime, we ask that you partner with us by ensuring that your child maintains healthy routines, such as reading nightly, getting plenty of rest, and eating a healthy breakfast. MAP Testing dates are as follows:
January 11th-12th Third & Fourth Grade MAP Testing
January 13th- Kindergarten & First Grade Literacy MAP Testing
January 14th- Kindergarten Literacy & First Grade Math MAP Testing
January 19th-20th Kindergarten Math MAP Testing
January 20st-21nd Second Grade MAP Testing
On the day of MAP testing:
- Please see that your child is well-rested and eats a good breakfast. Studies suggest that good nutrition is related to improved attention and concentration. Also, when children are well-rested, they are more likely to be able to focus.
- Please make sure that your child arrives at school on time and is relaxed. We want them to have ample time to settle in and relax before the test begins.
- Encourage your child to do their best on the test. We appreciate your support in helping your child understand the importance of the MAP test.
- Please make every effort to avoid checking your child out for appointments during these days.
Bentonville Schools requires an annual Profile Verification for every student to ensure the data in our student management system is current and accurate. The form is available online now and should be completed by January 20, 2022. You may submit your Profile Verification by visiting www.bentonvillek12.org, clicking on the Parents tab, and selecting Forms – Online Forms. The Profile Verification form is mobile-friendly.
Report cards will be emailed out on January 11th.
We want to thank you for allowing us to be part of your child’s educational career, and also for the growing trust you have in Evening Star Elementary. We love your little owlet and value every minute of the day we have with them!
Teacher Of The Year Nominations
Our friends at the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce are once again preparing for the annual Teacher of the Year Awards. This event offers school personnel, students, parents and local businesses and organizations the opportunity to thank and celebrate teachers and show support for the Bentonville Schools.
Step 1 is the nominating process. If there is a teacher you feel is deserving of this award (you can nominate more than one), please click on the link below and submit the form. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, January 14th.
Step 2 is the nominees will be contacted and will be asked to submit an application if they are interested in further consideration.
There will be 2 finalists chosen for each of the following levels; high school, junior high, middle school and elementary and an awards lunch will take place sometime in the spring.
Submit nominations here: https://airtable.com/shrpw2gdLMcOGp5GlInclement Weather:
As winter approaches, we want to share the district's inclement weather procedures. When inclement weather is a concern, our Superintendent, Dr. Jones, dispatches school officials throughout the district to drive the roads to fully understand as many location conditions as possible. They begin this work as early as 2:30 a.m. so that they can make a decision by 5:30 a.m. If a decision can be announced earlier, they will do so. Information will immediately be announced on Facebook at Bentonville Schools and Twitter @Bville_Schools. Local news outlets will also be notified. BSD may need to run limited bus routes. In these situations, pick-up and drop-off times can be found on the Bentonville Schools website.
- It is our goal to dismiss school at the regular time, if at all possible. We understand that early dismissals cause disruption for parents and students, as well as the educational merit of the school day.
- If we must dismiss school early for safety reasons, it is important for you and your children to have a “Plan B” in place ahead of time. Your children need to know where to go after school, how to get in the house if they are going home alone, and have a pre-established plan for communicating with you that they have safely arrived. We will do our best to transport the students safely and in a timely manner.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS - CLOSED
- In the event of inclement weather and the closing of the school buildings, our district will pivot to Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) Days. Click on the following link to read more regarding Inclement Weather on our district website: https://www.bentonvillek12.org/Page/23333
Students in grades K-1 will utilize the AMI Paper Packets that were emailed home by the homeroom teacher on December 22nd.
Students in grades 2-12 have Chromebooks for instruction. The assignments for AMI days will be posted in each teacher's Google Classroom. Learning will be completed by students during a time determined by parents/guardians. In order to be counted “present” for the AMI day, students in grades K-12 must complete the assignments in their Google classroom within 48 hours of returning to school.
Updated Quarantine Guidelines
Per Superintendent Jones's email on Jan. 6th, the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Department of Education released updated quarantine guidelines for schools. You can read those on our website. This guidance is effective immediately. These changes reflect updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and include the following:
Isolation (for an individual who has tested positive):
- Stay home for five days.
- If you have no symptoms or the symptoms are resolving after five days, you can return to school.
- You must wear a mask through the 10th day. (If you’re unable to wear a mask, continue to isolate yourself for 10 days.)
*If you have a fever, stay home for 24 hours after the fever has resolved.
Quarantine (for an individual who has been exposed to a positive case 3 feet/15 minutes within 24-hour period):
- Stay home for five days.
- Wear a mask through the 10th day. (If you’re unable to wear a mask, continue to quarantine for 10 days.)
- If symptoms occur, self-isolate and get tested.
Who Should Quarantine:
- You are 18 or older and have not received the booster
- You have not completed the initial vaccine series
Who Should Not Quarantine:
- You are 18 or older and have received all recommended vaccines, including a booster
- You are 5-17 and have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine
- You had a confirmed COVID-19 positive test within the last 90 days (PCR or Antigen Test)
- Both the exposed individual and confirmed case were wearing a mask and the exposed individual shows no symptoms
Activity Participation:
An individual who has completed five days of isolation or quarantine may participate in activities provided he/she is able to wear a mask for the remainder of the 10 day period.
Please read the entire Updated Quarantine & Isolation Guidance for more information. If your child is currently quarantined or isolated, and you need guidance or have questions, email Nurse Crutchfield at dcrutchfield@bentonvillek12.org.
Please help us keep ESE open by keeping children with COVID-19 symptoms home and encourage your children to wear face masks. You may continue to monitor the COVID-19 District Dashboard on our website.
Updates from Nurse Crutchfield:
BMI: (ARK Code 20-7-133 and 3.04) Act 1220 requires students in grades KF, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 to have their height and weight assessed. A parent who chooses to opt out of the BMI assessment must provide a written request to do so using the form linked here by January 19th. Screening results will be sent home only upon request of the parent/legal guardian.
Thank you,
Nurse Crutchfield
Future ESE Events:
Here are just a few events that we have planned so far. Mark your calendars now and keep a watch out for more events over the course of the school year:
- January 11th- Virtual PTO Meeting
- January 11th-12th Third & Fourth Grade MAP Testing
- January 13th- Kindergarten & First Grade Literacy MAP Testing
- January 14th- Kindergarten Literacy & First Grade Math MAP Testing
- January 17th- MLK Day, No School
- January 18th- Staff Development Day, No School for Students
- January 19th-20th- Kindergarten Math MAP Testing
- January 20st-21nd- Second Grade MAP Testing
- January 20th - Annual Profile Verification form is due
January 28th - 100th Day of School
February 7th-11th - School Counselor Appreciation Week
February 7th - First day to drop off supplies for the Valentine's Day Party
February 14th - Valentine's Day Parties
February 21st- Staff Development Day, No School for Students
February 22nd- Bus Driver Appreciation Day
February 28th-March 4th- ESE Teacher Appreciation Week
March 21st-25th - Spring Break
Kindergarten Enrollment 2022-2023 Pre-Registration
STEP 1: Pre-Registration – January 31, 2022 (8:00am) – February 11, 2022 (3:00pm)
Parents of kindergarten students residing in the Bentonville School District with a student five (5) years of age on or before August 1, 2022, may begin online pre-registration at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022. Online registration will close at 3:00 p.m. Friday, February 11, 2022. The online registration is a pre-registration only and students will not be considered enrolled until parents provide the documents needed, to complete their child’s registration, uploaded to their zoned school during final registration. Once you complete the pre-registration process, you will receive a confirmation with information regarding next steps.
**CLICK HERE for the online pre-registration link that will be live at 8:00am on January 31, 2022.
STEP 2: Enrollment forms are to be filled out after you have received the confirmation e-mail from Step 1.
STEP 3: Final Registration
Final registration for pre-registered kindergarten students will be online from March 1, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. through March 3, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. with the student’s zoned school.
Our registrar, Tammy Webb, will be available by phone at these times:
- March 1st - 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- March 2nd - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- March 3rd - 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Only students who are pre-registered will be able to complete enrollment during these times. Please note if your school assignment was a school that had to run a lottery and you do not complete the final registration process, we will have to call the next student on the waiting list to enroll and you will have to enroll during general enrollment in April.
Please know that you are not able to select the virtual learning program at this time. At this time, the enrollment process for your kindergarten student is solely to enroll in the school district.
Kindergarten sections in our schools are limited. Pre-registration does not guarantee a student a class placement in the school until you have received confirmation to complete enrollment and this process is completed. If requests are greater than the number of classes available in any of our schools, then a lottery will be used to assign students.
All kindergarten students who are not pre-registered may enroll during General Enrollment beginning on April 1, 2022 at the school they are zoned, during regular school hours.
Click on GuideK12 if you want to verify which school your student is zoned for based on your property address.
If you choose to waive kindergarten enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year, please complete and submit a Kindergarten Waiver to the Student Services office.
This website may assist in preparing your child for kindergarten: Arkansas Department of Human Services Kindergarten Readiness
Updates from PTO
The next PTO meeting takes place on January 11th at 8:30am. This will be a virtual meeting. Please watch our social media accounts for the link to the meeting.
We had a number of requests for the designs in our Spirit Store. The store is back open and the ESE spirit wear is available for purchase again until the end of next week!
https://skyline-printing-and-merchandise-llc.printavo.com/merch/esewinter21
National School Counseling Week - Feb. 7th-11th
We have the BEST counselors! Mrs. Gaskin and Ms. Kaufmann help support our Evening Star Owls in so many ways:
Working with ALL students to encourage a safe school climate focused on trust, respect, empathy, and teamwork.
Teaching classroom guidance lessons that align to standards.
Facilitating small groups based on student needs.
Supporting students as they navigate social relationships with peers.
Meeting with students to do brief, solution-focused counseling.
Helping students who may be struggling to make positive behavior choices while learning to recognize, communicate, and regulate emotions.
Collaborating with parents/guardians, teachers, support staff, and administration to help students succeed.
Connecting families with resources outside the school.
We are a better school because of these two ladies. Please take a minute to thank them this week for everything they do for our little owls and our ESE families.
Counselor Updates:
Happy New Year from ESE Counselors!!!
Wow! This school year is moving along quickly. We hope everyone had a wonderful Winter Break and are enjoying school starting back! As we move forward into a new semester, we are hitting the ground running and continuing to equip, prepare, and empower our owls with guidance to promote their success in all areas: social/emotional, academic, and career readiness.
We will focus our classroom guidance lessons on the following topics which are aligned with our core values here at ESE:
January: Emotions/Coping Strategies/Owning Behavior
February: Compassion/Empathy
March: Cooperation/Testing Strategies
April: Careers/Hobbies
May: Perseverance/Orientation to the Next Grade level
Please reach out to us for any reason! We are here for your children and YOU!
Pam Gaskin 479-360-7407 pgaskin@bentonvillek12.org
Paula Kaufmann 779-360-7408 pkaufmann@bentonvillek12.org
Literacy and Math News:
One thing we as adults do with each new year is set goals for ourselves. I know we are all looking forward to a fresh start in 2022. One great way we can do this with our kids is by setting goals for literacy and math! This is a great way to get students excited about the new semester and help them refocus on their education.
Below are a few examples of goals you might talk about with your children.
Books I want to read this year - You could set a weekly, monthly, or annual goal depending on the age of your child and the length of books they are reading
Something new I would like to learn - This is a great time to allow your child to explore their interests and learn something new together as a family!
An area I am going to work harder at - Have your child think about different things they are learning in school. Is there one subject area that is more difficult for them than others? Help them set an attainable goal for that subject.
Math fact fluency - What is your child working on for fact fluency in math? Depending on the age of your child, it might be adding and subtracting within 20 or working on multiplication and division facts. If you need help identifying a goal for fact fluency, reach out to your child’s teacher to see where they are working.
We can’t wait to hear about all of the great goals you set together!
Julie Dibee, Literacy Coach and Jillian Myers, Math Coach
Whooo Loves to read? Your ESE OWLS DO!
Your owls will be kicking off 2022 with a variety of projects- both finishing up and just beginning! Fourth Grade is working on 2 projects: a reading and a Logo design project which is introducing them to Google Drawings, WeVideo, MakeyMakey, and a variety of other platforms. First grade will begin writing their very own fractured fairy tales, Second Grade will begin the perspective project which will result in a book that they will write and illustrate, Third Grade will create an infographic after researching a topic of their choosing, and our sweet Kindergarteners will continue exploring literature and, at times, robots. One thing is for sure, your children will be busy learning! Thank you for sharing them with me.
Read, Learn, and Explore!
Mrs. Watson
PE
Evening Star students will start the new year off by learning how to stay FIT with various fun activities. We will start our basketball unit in the middle of January and go through February. Your little owls will learn; basic dribbling and passing skills, teamwork, communication and what good sportsmanship looks and sounds like. Excited to watch our children grow in this new year.
Coach Kerkhover and Coach Harris
Art Studio:
Ms. Goldberg will be back during this 9 week period and the students will be having art twice during a rotation! Art classes will take place in the students' homeroom classrooms this quarter. Please make sure your child has crayons, washable markers, or colored pencils to access in class.
Mr. Van Slyke and Ms. Goldberg
Music Notes:
ESE musicians are working toward some big goals this quarter! During our “First Grade Fairy Tales'' project, students will be experiencing fairy tales in many different ways. In music, we will be learning songs based on familiar fairy tales and comparing/contrasting the written and sung versions. We will later include these songs with skits of the stories in a cinematography unit. In second grade, we are revamping “Pajama Party!” the musical.
Happy New Year!
Mrs. Simpson
Global Connections:
Happy New Year!! This month in Global Connections will continue our exploration of South America. Our third and fourth-grade students will create and share slide presentations about the “Animals of the Amazon” while our younger students will learn more about the land, culture, and traditions of Brazil and Peru. Once we wrap these lessons up, we are off to Antarctica!
Sincerely,
Ms. Garrett
English as a Second Language:
Happy New Year Families!
Adult English Language Classes are a free service offered through the Northwest Arkansas Community College. Classes are in person and are offered during the day or night to accommodate busy schedules. Sign up soon because the next session of classes starts January 10th.
For more information you can contact them at:
(479)986-6911
Melissa Tomblin
SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENUS:
If you would like to see what our cafeteria will be serving for breakfast and lunch for January, simply click on the following link: https://www.bentonvillek12.org/Page/7010
You can also follow the steps below:
1) Access the District website: bentonvillek12.org
2) Under the Departments tab, choose: Food and Nutrition
3) Click on the Printable Elementary School Menus link
The breakfast and lunch menus for January are available for preview.