The PEN
The Perryville Elementary Newsletter - 10.11.19
From the Principal's Desk
Last week I participated in a leadership activity for administrators. We were given challenges that had to be solved as a team. On one day, teams of 12-14 school leaders spent several hours on some of the challenges. Another day we completed a 12 hour hike over 10 miles of wild terrain, using only a topographical map and compass. We struggled, failed, and persisted through these challenges. I can tell you that we did not like having to start over and over again to find success - but we did it. All of us wanted to quit at times, but we picked each other up and helped each other through. Encouragement and listening to others were our main strategies.
This experience only reinforced to me the importance of learning to "fail forward." We will all fail, but we learn from it and move forward. Always in front of us is the goal of success. Our children need to know that it's okay to fail, to make mistakes, to fall down. We must teach them how to stick-to-it. To me, that's at the top of the list of needed attributes to succeed. At PES we work on teaching the art of grit. We want to help our students learn to fail forward. What a vital element for success in the real world!
-Ms. Narrow
Report to Parents: Make Every Day Count
Students with regular attendance are more likely to read well by third grade and score higher on tests. They also tend to be more engaged in school and feel better about themselves. Put your child on the path to success with these attendance strategies.
Make school a priority. Every absence (excused or not), can impact a child’s academic achievement. Talk to your child about how important their education is. Make daily routines for homework and waking up on time for school. Maintain communication with teachers and keep an eye on your child’s academic progress. If your child seems disconnected from school or is prone to skipping class, try signing him or her up for an after-school activity. A report by the University of Minnesota found that students in an after-school program attended 18 more days of school and missed nine fewer than their peers.
Make a plan. If your schedule or transportation situation makes getting your child to school a challenge, ask for assistance. Make a carpool or transportation plan with other parents or family members, or ask your school principal for community programs or school initiatives that may help.
Report In. Know your school’s attendance policies. If an absence or early dismissal is unavoidable, contact your school. If your family’s religious observances fall on school days, let teachers know early in the year which days your child will miss.
Carefully weigh sick days. If your child is sick, talk with your health care provider to determine whether they should stay home from school. If the doctor or nurse recommends that your child stay home, fi nd out exactly how long and on what conditions he or she can return to class (for example, after 24 hours of antibiotics). Before keeping your children home, make sure they aren’t faking symptoms. Regularly feigning sickness may be a sign that your child is anxious about facing a challenge at school, such as bullying.
Schedule wisely. Know your school’s calendar, and arrange doctor and dentist appointments after school, on weekends, or during holiday breaks, if possible. Resist the urge to schedule vacations when students will miss school. This gives students the impression that school is not a priority.
Help students complete assignments. When your child has to miss school, make arrangements with teachers to pick up a packet of make-up work. Ensure that your child follows through, and be available to explain concepts or monitor their work. If your child’s absence will be lengthy (for surgery, for instance), alert teachers as soon as you know and pick up assignments as the days go on.
Report to Parents, written to serve elementary and middle-level principals, may be reproduced by National Association of Elementary School Principals members without permission. It can be posted to school websites, blogs, or sent via email. Back issues are available to members at naesp.org.
Upcoming Dates
Saturday, Oct. 19 at 10:00 - PHS Homecoming Parade -
Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10:30 to 12:30 - Primary Center and Elementary School Open Houses
October 19 at 1:00 - Perryville Pirates vs. Portageville Bulldogs
October 21-25 - School Bus Safety Week
Wednesday, October 23 - 3rd grade Grandparents Day
Thursday, October 24 - 4th grade Grandparents Day
Friday, October 25 - 5th grade Grandparents Day
October 28-31 - Red Ribbon Week
Thursday, November 7 at 10:30 - Veteran's Day Assembly
Open House
The Great American Shakeout
Red Ribbon Week
October 28-31 is Red Ribbon Week. We will focus on activities to stay drug free.
Perryville Elementary School
Email: jnarrow@pcsd32.com
Website: perryville.k12.mo.us/Domain/8
Location: 605 Schindler Road, Perryville, MO, USA
Phone: 573-547-7500
Facebook: facebook.com/pesweared32