The Mallard Compass
Forts Pond Elementary School
February 2020
InTENTional Leading and Learning
Traducción
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FPES Vision and Mission
Vision
Forts Pond Elementary students will become self-directed, collaborative, creative, and caring learners who flourish in the global, competitive 21st century.
Mission
Forts Pond Elementary will Fulfill the Potential of Every Student by:
Collaborating with families and the community
Providing a safe, nurturing environment
Promoting learning through academics and the arts
Inspiring students to find their own greatness
Engaging students in goal setting
Celebrating accomplishments
Developing LEADERS
Important Dates for February
4 District Board Meeting 7:30 P.M.
8 Daddy Daughter Dance PHS Baseball 6:00-9:00
13 5K and 1st Grade Music Performance 6:30 P.M. at Pelion Performing Arts Center
14 No School for Students
17 All staff and students report to school
20 Spring Pictures - Class and Individual Poses
PTO Skate Night 6:00-8:00
21 Mallard Mingle 7:00 A.M.
28 All Pro Dads 7:30 A.M.
Calendar Changes
February 17th will now be a regular school day not a weather make-up day. This day will be used to make up for missing September 5th for Hurricane Dorian.
Please make note on your school calendar.
4k Registration for 2020-2021
Habit Leaders of January - Put First Things First
5K
Brianna York
Paisley Lee
Eliana Jimenez Reynozo
Matthew Johnson
Grade 1
Addison Sanchez
Katlyn Smith
Gissell Crispin-Vasquez
Jaxson Taylor
Paxton Browder
Grade 2
Rylin Flores
Andrea Rordiguez-Ramos
McKinley Bass
Jeremiah Figueroa
Grade 3
Jacob Edwards
Bryan Reynolds
Bryley Jeffcoat
Hannah Reagan
Grade 4
Giovanni Hernandez Esquivel
Kaleb Ulmer
Alyssa Causey
Catherine Bailey
Rilynn Earle
Grade 5
Alexis Williams
Bridget Thompson
Allyssa York
Willow Baker
Johnny Fulmer
FPES Students and Staff are Practicing Habit 5
Habit 5 - Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
Habit 5 — Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
LISTEN BEFORE YOU TALK
I listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. I am confident in voicing my ideas. I look people in the eyes when talking.
HOW CAN I SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND IN MY LIFE?
- Listen with your eyes, ears, and heart. -Try to make eye contact when someone is talking to show them that you're paying attention. Use your ears to hear what they have to say and how they feel. Lastly, use your heart to empathize with them and care about what they are sharing with you.
- Repeat back what you hear. -To make sure you really understand, repeat what the other person said.
WHAT BOOKS CAN HELP ME LEARN ABOUT SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND?
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Veronica Knows Best by Nancy Robinson
Kindergarten and 1st Grade Music Perfomance
Our 5K and First Grade Students will be performing their February 13th Valentines Concert at the PPAC this year. This is the Pelion Performing Arts Center, and is connected to Pelion Middle School. (It is on the side where buses pick up the students in the afternoons - on Magnolia Street.)
The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. Students are asked to be there no later than 6:10 p.m. I will begin calling students to the stage shortly after that time to get things organized and run through the details with them.
Dress for the concert is wear red or pink (Valentines colors). Otherwise, perhaps dark colors to go along with that.
Parents of 4th and 5th Grade Students - Mark Your Calendar
Our 4th and 5th grade students will be performing on Thursday, April 2nd at the PPAC. This is the Pelion Performing Arts Center, and is connected to Pelion Middle School. (It is on the side where buses pick up the students in the afternoons - on Magnolia Street.)
The concert will begun at 6:30 P.M. Students will be asked to be there earlier, likely at 5:30 for main characters and 6:00 for everyone else, but we will confirm closer to the performance. Dress: Main characters will be in costume. We are working on an idea involving all of the other students. A letter about this will come home soon.
Bookopoly Reading Challenge for Grades 4 and 5
Each block on the Bookopoly board has a reading challenge. Once students complete the challenge, they will write the title of the book they read in the block. When students complete all 14 challenges, they will return the Bookopoly board back to Mrs. Stewart in the Library no later than Friday, March 20th for a chance to win the grand prize-4 tickets to the International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes at the SC State Museum and general admission to the museum.
There will be one grand prize winner per grade. Winners will be announced on Monday, March 23rd.
Happy Reading!
Attendance Matters
Checking Your Child's Grades
You may access your child’s grades at any time using PowerSchool.
If you would like your child’s PowerSchool login please, come to the school between 7:30 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. with your ID. You will receive the login information at that time.
How to Help Your Child in Math
Make "ice cream-in-a-bag" with your child, and he or she will get some measuring practice along with a treat. Have your child measure one half-cup of milk, one tablespoon of sugar and one quarter teaspoon of vanilla and seal them into a zip-top sandwich bag. Put the bag into a gallon-size zip-top bag, along with crushed ice and eight tablespoons of rock salt. Seal and shake until you get ice cream!
Turn an egg carton into a fun math game
Here's a fun game to help your child practice math facts. Get an empty egg carton. Inside each cup, write a number from 0 to 11. Now cut out several egg-shaped pieces of paper. On each, write a math problem with a solution from 0 to 11. Have your child solve the problem on each egg, and put it in the cup with the matching answer. For an older child, try writing fractions in the cups and equivalent fractions on the eggs.
How to Help Your Child in Reading and Writing
Check out the February 2020 Early Literacy Calendar
Each day features a fun activity that will help your child build pre-reading skills.
Sneak some writing into your child's daily life
Being able to communicate well in writing will help your child succeed in school and in a career. So look for fun ways to help her practice. She may enjoy sending emails or texts to friends and family. You might also write her a letter about a book you've read together and ask her to write back. Challenge your child to rewrite the ending of a movie, and encourage her to express her thoughts and feelings in a journal.
Give reading an artistic dimension
Combining reading and creative activities develops your child's imagination and keeps the reading interesting. Give him some crayons and encourage him to draw pictures of characters or scenes from a favorite story. You can also ask your child to make up songs about stories and books. Ask, "What might the three little pigs sing when the wolf is coming? How would the music sound?"
Counselors Corner
National School Counselor Week is February 3 - 7. This year's National School Counseling Theme is "School Counselors: Helping Build Better Humans". Our lessons for February will be:
Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grade- Erin's Law Lesson
3rd-5th Grade- Erin's Law Lesson
5th Grade- Study Skills Lesson
As always, please feel free to contact your child's school counselor if you have any questions or concerns about your child.
Cindy Hill grades 5k- 2nd grade 821-2510
Gina Mahoney 3rd-5th grade 821-2598
Coca Cola Bottle Caps
2019-2020 FPES Yearbooks
February 28th is the last day to preorder a 2019-2020 FPES Yearbook.
Cost is $20.00 or $25.00 with the student's name printed on the cover. Order forms are available in the library. Please make checks payable to Forts Pond Elementary.
If you would like to pay with a debit/credit card, you can order the school yearbook online. Order online at www.strawbridge.net and use Online Code YB108936.
If you would like a yearbook, please make sure you preorder. We will only have a few copies available to sell to those who did not preorder.
Daily Parent Engagement Tips
Many skills children need to learn take time to master. But practicing times tables, spelling words or piano scales isn't always fun. One way to keep your child motivated is to reward solid efforts. Stock a jar with small treats. Then you and your child can agree on the number of diligent practice sessions needed to earn a treat. As her skills improve, adjust the number upward to maintain the challenge.
For good behavior, motivate with marbles
Here's a simple system to encourage good behavior. Every time your child does something properly, give him a marble to put into a clear jar. Notable achievements, such as an improvement in a grade, also earn marbles. If your child behaves poorly, he "loses his marbles." When the jar is full, the whole family gets a treat. Keep the jar where your child can see his progress and remember that his good behavior benefits everyone.
Daily Parent Engagement Tips - Spanish
Muchas de las habilidades que los niños necesitan adquirir llevan tiempo para dominar. Pero practicar las tablas de multiplicar o tocar el piano no siempre es divertido. Una manera de mantener motivado a su hijo es darle una recompensa por su esfuerzo. Tenga un frasco con premios pequeños. Luego, decida con su hijo un número de sesiones de práctica diligentes que debe completar para ganar un premio. A medida que sus habilidades mejoren, aumente el número para mantener el desafío.
Motive el buen comportamiento con canicas
Aquí tiene un sistema sencillo para promover el buen comportamiento. Cada vez que su hijo haga algo correctamente, dele una canica para que la coloque en un frasco transparente. Dele una canica también por los grandes logros que alcance, como mejorar una calificación. Pero si su hijo se porta mal, perderá canicas. Cuando el frasco esté lleno, la familia entera recibirá un premio. Guarde el frasco a la vista, así su hijo puede ir viendo su progreso y recordar que el buen comportamiento beneficia a todos.
Volunteers
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ashley Leaphart at Fortspondpto@gmail.com.
Mallard Mingle
February 21 at 7:00 A.M. - 7:35 A.M.
Please join us with your child/children at our Mallard Mingle meeting. We invite any mom, grandmother, aunt, or any other significant female in your child's life to come with your child/children for a light breakfast and a themed discussion and activity together. Although short in length, the time is special and will make your child's day start with pride.
For further information, please contact Mrs. Hill at chill@lexington1.net or Mrs. Mahoney at gmahoney@lexington1.net
All Pro Dads
February 28 at 7:00 A.M. - 7:35 A.M.
This is an open invitation to dads, grandfathers, uncles, or any other significant male who may be part of your child's life. Come enjoy a light breakfast and enjoy some "special moment" time as we strive to grow in the time we spend with our children.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. McDermet at 821-2500. You may also reach him by email at mmcdermet@lexington1.net.
Title I Parent Engagement
If you are unable to attend, but have suggestions, please email or call Michelle Smith.
(803)821-2500
News From Food Services
Would you like to make online payments to your child's meal account? Go to www.k12paymentcenter.com.
Charges:
Students cannot charge more than $10.
Students with outstanding balances cannot purchase special sale items.
If students have a negative $10 meal balance, an alternate meal will be served.
Costs
Breakfast: Free to all FPES students
Lunch: $3.00
A Glance at March Dates
3 District School Board Meeting 7:00 P.M.
6 Parent Light House and Title I Planning Committee Meeting 8:30 A.M.
8 Daylight Savings Time Begins
10 3rd Grade Field Trip
11 End of Third Nine Weeks
Identi Kid
12 Weather Make Up Day NO SCHOOL
13 No School
16 5th Grade Field Trip
17 District School Board Meeting 7:00 P.M.
20 Report Cards Issued
Mallard Mingle 7:00 A.M.
School Board Members Visit FPES
23-27 School Book Fair
24 Pelion Area Schools Showcase 5:30 - 7:30 P.M.
25 Collaborative Planning - Students Dismissed at 11:40 A.M.
27 All Pro Dads 7:00 A.M.
PTO NEWS
A Big Thank You to PTO for our new rug at our entrance.
Follow FPES PTO on Facebook Forts Pond Elementary PTO
You may contact the PTO by email. fortspondpto@gmail.com
New Vaccinations for Students Entering 5k in 2020
All children starting 5k in 2020 will be required to have two hepatitis A shots. This requirement does not affect any of our current students. It will only affect those who come to 5k next school year.
You can also get your child's shots at DHEc health department. For an appointment, call 855-472-3432.
District One Immersion Programs
Box Tops
Once you download the app, you will have to register.
You may also continue to send in the old box tops.
Building Plan for FPES Through the Bond Referendum
The community can find the latest information about projects happening around the district as well as here at FPES. All of these are funded by the recently passed bond referendum for Lexington School District One.
FPES will be receiving the following:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Additional Classrooms
- Replacement for Folding Partition in Between Cafeteria and PE Room
- Additional Exterior Lighting in the Front Parking Lot
- Storage and Equipment Building
- Future Ready Classroom Furniture and Equipment
Lexington County School District One’s Nondiscrimination Statement
Revised 09-04-2018
Lexington County School District One is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all students, parents/legal guardians, staff, visitors, personnel and community members who participate or seek to participate in its programs or activities. Therefore, the district does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or any related medical conditions), color, disability, age, genetic information, national origin, or any other applicable status protected by local, state, or federal law.
The district will use the grievance procedures set forth in policy to process complaints based on alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; and Titles I and II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The district designates specific individuals to handle inquiries or complaints. To find out who to contact and how to contact them, please go to our website at http://www.lexington1.net/contact-us.