Mercersburg Elementary
News from the Nest
From the Principal
It is truly a team effort for our children to make the gains that they have. In the past week, I have watched students who were practicing their letters at the beginning of the year become budding readers. I have watched students who have struggled with math, become the star student. I am thankful for you sending us such great students each day, as well as the teachers' hard work and determination. We have made a lot of changes this year and both the students and the faculty have risen to the occasion. I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!
Cyber Wednesday
Please see the list of cyber Wednesday's below.
- October 28th
- November 4th
- November 11th school is closed ( no remote learning/virtual learning for Veteran's Day)
- November 18th
- November 25th ( Students should only expect a 1/2 of virtual learning prior to Thanksgiving Break)
- December 2nd
- December 9th
- December 16th
Student Meals
***Please note: Because this program has only been approved through the end of the school year, please continue to fill out and send in free/reduced applications. This will ensure your student(s) will be qualified to receive free or reduced meals at the start of the new calendar year.
FREE MEAL PICK UP ON CYBER WEDNESDAY
Mercersburg Elementary- Back door near parent drop off (Door #10) Montgomery Elementary- Back door near the kitchen Mountain View Elementary- Door #11 off the cafeteria. The in-person kids will be in the cafeteria, so the assistants will be looking out for families. St. Thomas Elementary- Door #12 by the kitchen JBMS- Side door off of the cafeteria
JBHS- Door by the loading dock out back
TRIP REQUEST
NOTES TO THE OFFICE
- Include the child's FIRST AND LAST NAME on any notes sent from home.
- When your child is absent from school, a note stating the reason for the absence must be submitted within 3 days upon their return to school. PLEASE CONSIDER EMAILING ABSENT NOTES TO THE SECRETARY AT brooke.mccardell@tus.k12.pa.us
- Notes should be sent anytime you are planning to pick up your child for an early dismissal.
- No bus passes will be given for a change in transportation unless prearranged through the transportation department.
- Please remember if you are going on an educational trip, please see the state quarantine list linked in this newsletter. Please complete your educational trip request two weeks prior.
PLEASE WASH AND CLEAN FACE COVERINGS AS NEEDED
Please wash and clean face coverings daily. As we move into cold and flu season, it is best practice to wash or clean face coverings daily.
Lost and Found
WATER BOTTLES
FACE COVERINGS MANDATORY IN SCHOOL
FACE COVERINGS MANDATORY IN SCHOOL
All students will be required to wear a face-covering during the school day. We will do our best to provide mask breaks to students, but at this time ALL STUDENTS will be required to wear face-coverings on the bus and once they enter school. Please see the State Department of Education's Frequently Asked Questions link below for more information.
Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released an update to their guidance in regards to face coverings being worn at all times to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Prior guidance we released in collaboration with The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) stated students in schools could remove their face coverings as long as six feet of social distancing could be maintained. Given this recent change from the AAP, and consistent with the Secretary of Health’s Face Covering Order issued on July 1, 2020, DOH is requiring students to wear face coverings at all times while in school, even when six feet of social distancing can be achieved. There are limited exceptions.
All students will be required to wear a face-covering during the school day. We will make every attempt possible to provide the students with multiple mask breaks during the day, but at this time it is required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Department of Health that all students wear a face covering.
STUDENT SELF SCREENING
WHEN PICKING UP YOUR CHILD AS A CAR RIDER , PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD'S FIRST AND LAST NAME ON A SHEET OF PAPER VISABLE IN THE CARE. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR AN EASIER PROCESS. THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL ON A DAILY BASIS.
Literacy Home Connection
The GIft of Language
A strong language ability with expanded vocabulary is the cheapest gift you will ever give your child. It does not take specialized training and can be delivered without extraordinary effort. Research shows strong language ability is associated with happiness, friendships, connections with family, academic success and a satisfying career. Here are ideas to help build your child’s language and vocabulary skills.
Have lots of conversations with your child. Talk to your child as much as you can. Quality conversations provide a child with a large bank of words to access. If a child knows lots of words, the child will be able to figure out new words faster because it is easier to put them in context. As a child makes connections, their intelligence increases and they are prepared to learn even more new words.
Talk about objects and events that interest your child. Talking about something that has your child’s attention, provides prime opportunities to describe things, explain things, and introduce new concepts that relate to the topic of interest.
Engage in sustained interactions. It is not only the quantity of conversations, but also the quality of conversations they hear that matters. Don’t rush conversations - take time to enjoy the verbal back and forth exchange. Modelling complete and complex sentences is especially valuable to your child.
Read and discuss books. One of the most powerful of all shared activities is book reading. Books provide endless opportunities for vocabulary and language development while simultaneously fostering bonding time.
Use varied words. Introduce new vocabulary to your child during your conversations. For example, if your child shows you a spider and says, “That is a really big spider.” The parent could respond, “Wow! That is an enormous spider.” Regular conversations can foster new vocabulary.
Putting these methods into effect will be an investment that will keep on giving, year after year, throughout your child’s life.