The Gray Wolf Gazette
May 23rd
Mission(Why we exist): Dr. Henry Givens Jr. Elementary is a collaborative community committed to ensuring equity and high levels of learning for all.
Dr. Henry Givens Jr. Elementary is a welcoming community that empowers all children to connect, discover, and thrive as leaders equipped to make a positive impact on our world.
Quick Overview
Hello Families,
I hope you had an amazing weekend!
Last week was such an exciting week at Givens! I appreciate your patience in receiving the Gazette.
I would like to give a huge thank you to all the parents that volunteered during the Art Festival, Field Day, or the 3rd grade Field Trip! We could not have provided these activities without your support, thank you!
Here we are, embarking on our last week of school! I am amazed and my heart is full as I reflect and observe the growth of our community. At the beginning of the year, we were tasked with a big goal: creating a new community that worked to ensure all students felt connected, empowered to discover, and supported to thrive. Each one of us walked boldly after this goal during one of the toughest years in public education. We connected, even though the realties of the COVID 19 Pandemic were still present. We discovered new and amazing things through learning. Not only the academics and the arts, but discovering more about the people who make up our school community. We found ways to work together to make sure all students thrived.
There will always be ways in which we can improve, AND we have to take the time out to celebrate! From our students to our staff, to our families, and our district administrators, we all should be proud of the work we did to get us to this point. We have grown through the triumphs and the challenges, and I look forward with hope to what the coming years will bring!
I am so glad YOU, yes YOU, are a part of our Givens Team!
Still looking forward to this journey together,
Ms. Malissa Beecham
***Please offer us some feedback by clicking on the Survey Link Below.
A Shout out to Our 2021-2022 Girls on the Run Team and Coaches
Upcoming Dates
May 25th: Harambee and Pack Meetings
May 26th: 5th Grade Move-Up Celebrations and Evening Ceremony 5:30 pm
May 27th: Last Day of School-11:45 Dismissal
Talent Show (We are working on recording this event to share in an email with families).
Summer Websites
https://bit.ly/WGsummermath
https://sites.google.com/wgcloud.org/ela-summer-activities
Save the Dates!!!
Who will my child's teacher be for the 2022-2023 School Year???
In late July, your child will receive a letter in the mail from me. Along with other information, this letter will share your child's teacher with you.
August 16th:
-KDG Meet the Teacher Night 5 pm-6 pm
-Popsicles on the Playground
*KDG only 5:30-6:00
6:00-7:00 pm(All Grades)
August 16th-18th: Jump Start Conferences and Supply Drop Off
(We will share more information about how to sign up and prepare)
August 22nd: First Day of School and Boo Hoo/Woo Hoo Breakfast
Arrival Begins:
-7:30 if students would like to eat breakfast
-7:40 for students not eating breakfast
**Families will get to walk their child to the building entrance for Kindergarten Students.
September 15th: Curriculum Night(Time will be shared)
This will be a time for you to learn more about what your child will be learning
throughout the year.
September 21st: Fall Picture Day
***PTO will share Event Dates Soon
Congratulations to the new PTO Board for the 2022/2023 school year!
President: Maria Lambing
Co-Vice Presidents: Sarah Paradoski and Diedre Townsend
Co-Secretaries: Alex Guffey and Madeline Harned
Co-Equity Officers: Kate Zwolak and OPEN
If you are interested in filling one of the open positions, please contact Sarah Middendorf.
Thank You Message:
As we head into the last week of this fantastic school year, we wanted to pause and give a BIG thank you to the volunteers that helped to make this school year so AWESOME! Thank you, thank you!
Committee Chairs & Volunteers:
Back to School Bash: Kara Simon & Beth Heinen
Room Parent Liaison & Teacher Snack Coordinator: Jen Levin
ALL Room Parents!
GAP Equity Group: Maria Lambing & Deidre Townsend
Walk-A-Thon: Madeline Harned
Campus Beautification & Pollinator Paradise: Amy Cook Dean, Patrick Dean & Rebecca Eliceiri
Buzz Book: Madeline Harned & Audrey Nemeth
Trivia Night: Cathy Pettibone, Yorba & Brian McQuery (and tons of amazing volunteers)
Teacher Appreciation Week: Madeline Harned
Orange You Glad It's Summer: Sarah Middendorf
Additionally, thank you to the exiting PTO Exec Board Members for your time and service: Sarah Middendorf, Tracy Willis, Jen Levine, Dana Walker, and Kara Simon!!
GIVENS READS!!
Givens readers, Ms. Olsen wants to remind you to have fun with summer reading!
Did you know that St. Louis County Library and St. Louis Public Library recently combined their catalogs? This means that no matter where you live–the city or the county–you can check out items from any location through your local branch! Public library cards are simple to get. Information can be found at the websites below.
You can earn a free book with the Webster Reads summer reading program!
Webster Reads / Welcome to Webster Reads!!
You can participate in St.Louis County Library's Summer Reading Program!
Summer Reading Club | St. Louis County Library
You can read with St. Louis Public Library!
Kids & Teens | St. Louis Public Library
You can participate in the Webster Groves Public Library Summer Reading Program!
Children's – Webster Groves Public Library
Details about Rock Hill's Summer Reading Program can be found at
The Pizza Hut Book it! Program is back!
Webster Reads Information
**This is just information, families will receive flyers from the school to complete.
Parents:
Research proves that students who read over the summer maintain or even improve their reading skills. In fact, students in grades three and up who read four or five books over the summer can prevent summer reading loss! Talking and writing about books is also highly beneficial. To access book lists, please visit the Webster Groves School District Summer Reads website at https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/domain/3874
Students:
To earn a free book, please read or listen to the number of books listed for your grade level. These books should be at an appropriate level for you. If you read more, that’s great! Just continue to add to the document!
Fill out the form and return it to your
school librarian by September 9, 2022
Leaving Grades K-2: Read or listen to 12 or more books
Leaving Grades 3-4: Read or listen to 5 or more books
For Those That Signed Up (Not taking New Registrants)
Dates: June 6 – July 1(June 20 is a holiday)
Time: 8:15 – 11:30 each day
**If you signed up for the Celebrate Reading portion of the program, it will continue until 2:30.
Location: Bristol School
**Keep your eyes open for information about transportation from Givens to Bristol
For more information or questions contact Tom Havrilka: havrilka.tom@wgmail.org
Proposition S, WGSD's $45 Million No-Tax-Rate Increase Bond Issue
The Board of Education has unanimously approved a recommendation to place a $45 million no-tax-rate increase on the Aug. 2 ballot. If approved, the money would be used to improve aging buildings and learning environments across the district. The proposal addresses electrical upgrades, mitigation for water infiltration, accessibility, and more.
You can find information about the proposition here https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/Page/22959 including reports from the district's Finance and Building committees, survey results, and a presentation on priorities for bond issue funding. Fliers describing projects at each building are here https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/Page/24080
Dr. Henry Givens Elementary School
Website: https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/Givens
Location: 701 North Rock Hill Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314-963-6460
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GivensElem/