The Siple Scoop
MARCH 2021
A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Siple Families,
March is Reading Month! We have sent home a calendar for the month of March highlighting special events taking place to celebrate reading.
Did you know that oral language is the foundation of reading? Infants and small children need to listen to talking and watch people talking to learn how to speak themselves. This cannot be done by watching videos or television. Learning how to carry on a conversation as children grow is a very important foundational skill that naturally leads to reading. Reading aloud to your child at home is a great way to increase the amount of oral language your children hear. It also can help increase their vocabulary simply by them hearing and learning new words from many different books. Pull the family together just before bed time and grab a few books to enjoy. This quiet reading time snuggled up together helps children settle down and prepares them for sleep as well.
Need another idea to increase verbal communication at home? Turn off the TV or video games and play a board game. School age children can play Sorry, Chutes and Ladders, etc. Sorry helps with counting and fine motor skills by having the children pick up the small game piece to move it. Plus having the family gather around a game without the distraction of television or other technology will encourage other conversation. Your children will bask in your undivided attention. If you have older children give Scrabble a try. They can work on their spelling and vocabulary by trying to create words with high point values.
Thank you for your continued partnership in helping your children to grow academically. I appreciate all you are doing to support your children and our school!
810-591-5104
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
PARENT DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP
KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP DATES - MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Parents, if you have younger children at home we wanted to make you aware that we are now starting the waiting list for Early-5's. Our Early 5's program is for children that will turn 5 between June 15 and December 1, 2021. This is an excellent program to prepare young children for kindergarten. It is a full day program that focuses on kindergarten readiness. To add your child to the wait list please call the Thomson Elementary office at 810-591-0911.
The age required for Kindergarten and Early 5's is that they must be 5 by September 1, 2021. Kindergarten Round Up will be held Monday, April 19 through Friday, April 23 at Thomson Elementary. Please call Thomson Elementary at (810) 591-0911 between March 1 through April 15 to schedule your child's registration appointment. Please look for the information that was sent home with students.
Davison also offers our amazing GSRP preschool program. Registration is currently underway for the 2021-2022 school year. For more information you can call 810-591-0922.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS??
SIPLE STARS OF THE MONTH
Each month classroom teachers will nominate one student from their class to be entered into the grade level drawing for the STAR of the MONTH for that grade. Each grade level STAR of the Month will receive a certificate, medal, and their photo will be on display in the hallway during that month.
We are pleased to recognize students for consistently demonstrating excellent behavior. Thank you for sharing your outstanding children with us. I am pleased to announce our STARs of the Month for February are:
Kindergarten: Ameila Felt
1st grade: Kaylee Spencer
2nd grade: Peyton Porter
3rd grade: Carson Wager
4th grade: Makenzie Rogers
Our other outstanding nominees for the month of February were:
Kindergarten: Gabriella Buhl, Violet Embach and Paige Goin
1st grade: Elizabeth Coughlin and Hayden Lewis
2nd grade: Brayden Smith
3rd grade: Eliana Keys, Matilda Schlegelmilch and Avery Warson
4th grade: Addyson Kile, Cole Ricketts and Kinsley Robertson
Congratulations to these outstanding young learners!
DRESSING FOR RECESS
GOOD ATTENDANCE MATTERS
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Sunshine
“Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows.”
~Helen Keller
This time of year can be challenging for many in Michigan. The constant change between the cold, cloudy days and warm, sunshine plays with our emotions and leaves many feeling drained of energy. It affects children as well, but they aren’t often able to identify it in themselves. I have found that the best way to overcome those dreary emotions is to go outside to get fresh air and even get exercise. Those two activities have the potential to revitalize even on the most challenging days. Sunlight increases serotonin levels which improves mood, focus, and even a sense of calm.
Children today spend a great deal of time inside. Although we like to protect children from the elements, they also need time outside to explore and absorb all that nature has to teach. I highly encourage limiting time with electronics, especially on sunny days. This may mean muddy shoes, but it also equates to happier faces.
Mrs. Simonsen, Counselor
810-591-0227
DID YOU KNOW.........
Did You Know This Service is Available
There are many great resources for families in the area. This section of the Siple Scoop is dedicated to introducing you to a FREE resource each month.
This month we are featuring Michigan 211, which is a free, confidential service, that connects you with local community based organizations across the state offering more than 30,000 different programs and services for people seeking help with a variety of things (Food, Utilities, Housing/Homelessness, Veterans & Military Affairs, Children & Families, Re-Entry Services, Disaster Preparedness & Response, Transportation, and Tax Assistance). Simply dial 211 or go to the website: https://www.mi211.org
FUN TO BE FIT
March is already here. This year is going by so fast! March is also Heart Awareness Month. We will be working on strengthening our hearts by working on our Jump Rope / Fitness Unit. The students will practice with short and long ropes learning some new tricks but more importantly the importance to having a healthy heart. We will also be working on some other fitness related exercises during this month.
The heart is one of our most important organs in our body. The heart is about the size of an adults fist. It weighs about 10 to 12 oz. It beats about 100,000 times a day and pumps about 6 quarts of blood through our body. It is what keeps us alive. That is why it is so important to take care of our hearts by exercising each and every day. Jump roping and exercising is a great way that can help strengthen our hearts. Encourage all of our Siple Stars to eat healthy and try to exercise at least 60 minutes a day. A healthy heart is a healthy body!
Mr. Sipley, Gym Teacher
810-591-0231
MUSIC NOTES
2nd Grade Virtual Performance:
Congratulations 2nd Graders on a great virtual performance. Parents of 2nd graders should receive an email with a link to the performance no later than March 5th. If you do not receive an email by then, please email me at rodglen@davisonschools.org to let me know and I can make sure to get that to you! Thank you again, 2nd Graders, for all of your hard work! I’m so proud of you!!
4th Grade Musical Changes & Updates:
There is a change in the date of our Musical! I know for certain that we will be having a VIRTUAL performance this year. We will not be going to the High School. Also, in looking at our March school calendar, I have decided to change the date of our recording to April 13th instead of March 25th. This will not only give our students a bit more time to prepare for this performance, but it will also not interfere with March Reading Month activities.
The virtual performance means that we will not have an audience. Instead, the students will be recording during our school time on April 13th. Within the following week, I will send an email out to the parents with a Link to the finished performance video. Although this will be a different type of performance, I am still looking forward to having the students experience PRIDE in their hard work!
Mrs. Odglen, Music Teacher
810-591-0238
STEM FUN
Greetings from STEM Class. I can see so much growth from all of our students in regards to their technology skills. I post weekly assignments or material in the STEM classrooms and the students are navigating this system well. We will be starting some simple research projects in the upper elementary grades in the near future. The lower elementary students are using Google Docs and Google Drawings to practice responding in text format. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I am very easy to reach via email at ecarr@davisonschools.org.
810-591-0238
PTO NEWS
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 1 - 14: Scholastic Book Fair/Virtual
March 3: Early Release Day @ 12:20 p.m.
March 4: Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character
March 10: Wear a shirt with words
March 18: Bring a flashlight to school to read in the dark
March 25: Beach themed read-a-thon
March 26: Take a Book on Break Day: Children get to choose a book to read over Spring Break. Money for these books was provided by the Siple PTO!
March 29 - April 2: NO SCHOOL/Spring Break Enjoy!
April 5: Back to School!
Siple Elementary
9286 E. Coldwater Road
Davison, MI 48423
Christy Flowers, Principal
Follow Mrs. Flowers on Twitter: @Principal4Kids
Office Phone: 810-591-5104
Office Fax: 810-591-5102
Attendance: 810-591-5100