Myers-Wilkins Wolf Tracks
October 2016 - Issue 2
I would like to thank our families for adapting to the new arrival and dismissal procedures that we implemented at the beginning of the school year. We appreciate your continual support in this to ensure the safety of students and less congestion.
As you can see, our family newsletter has a new look and can be accessed via our website or Facebook page.
In this issue...
What are the arrival, breakfast, and instructional times?
What is the parent drop-off procedure in the building?
What do I do if my child is absent?
When are Parent Teacher Conferences?
What are ways the school communicates?
What happens if my child has a bus issue?
How do I contact the school if I need to pick-up my child early?
What are the internet and picture permission slip forms?
What is PBIS at Myers-Wilkins? What is the PBIS focus in October?
Parent Guardian Teacher Advisory Information
Collaborative October Update
Families in Transition Information and Update
Preschool Opening Information
Gifted and Talented Informational Letter
Generous Donations - Thank You!
Go Wolves! Paw Pride!
Elisa Maldonado
Important Dates
After school COMPASS begins
Oct 4
Terrific Tuesday's begins
Picture Day
Oct 6
Thursday Thrillz begins
Oct 11
Parent Guardian Teacher Advisory Group 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Oct 13
Conference Night 2:30-7:30 p.m.
*Book Fair will be open
Oct 18
Conference Night 2:30-7:30 p.m.
*Book Fair will be open
Oct 19
Unity Day against Bullying - Wear Orange
Oct 20-21
No School!
Oct 26
Family Resource Night 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Oct 27
Read for the Record Day
What are the Arrival, Breakfast, and Instructional Times?
What is the parent drop-off procedure in the building?
- Safety
- Foster student independence
- Ensuring that instructional time starts at 7:45
Any visitor who comes into the building is required to sign in at the main office and get a visitor pass. If you would like to visit the classroom teacher, prior arrangements should be made with the teacher with a time that works for both of you. This helps ensure the safety of all students and allows for instruction to begin promptly at 7:45 without a break in routine.
What do I do if my child is absent?
Parents are required to call the attendance line or main office when your child is sick or will not be in school. By not doing so, the absence will be “unexcused”. Every minute counts in you child's education! Attendance line is 218.336.8860 - Option 1
When are Parent Teacher Conferences?
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 13th and Tuesday, October 18th from 2:30-7:30. You will receive conference time confirmation from your child's teacher next week. We are also asking that families fill out a survey after they meet with the classroom teacher. The survey will be taken on district Chromebooks. Staff will be there to help support if needed when filling it out. As a token of our appreciation for coming to conferences and filling out the survey we will give you a treat. It is critical you partake in your child's conference. We look forward to seeing your family!!!
What are ways the school communicates with home?
- Myers-Wilkins Community School
- Myers-Wilkins Community School Collaborative
What happens if my child has a bus issue?
A couple of our bus routes are having some behavior issues. Most of our buses do not have any other adult on the bus besides the driver and none of our busses have cameras. If a child gets a referral from the driver, the first will be a warning and a copy of the referral sent home. The second referral will result in a 3 to 5 day suspension off the bus, the third referral will be 5 or more day suspension off the bus and the 4th could mean suspension off the bus for the rest of the year depending on the severity of the referral. If your child rides the bus, please talk to them about bus behavior and the importance of reporting problems to the bus driver. If there are concerns about the bus, please call transportation (336-8970) or Voyageur Bus (724-1707).
How do I contact the school if I need to pick-up my child early?
We ask that your child(ren) stick to their regular schedule every day. If your child takes the bus home after school, we ask that they take the bus home every day. Only in an emergency situation should a change be made to your child’s after school routine. Students are only allowed to ride the bus they are assigned to. If alternative arrangements need to be made for after school pick-up a parent must contact the teacher in writing otherwise your child will go home their usual way. If a student will be picked up by someone other than the parent, a note must be sent to the teacher in advance. If you need to call the teacher to get a message to your child about a change, please call before 11:00.
What is the internet and picture permission slip forms?
Just a reminder to submit your child's internet and picture permission forms. If you would like your child to be able to use the internet for educational purposes during the school day and be able to take pictures to post on our facebook or website please turn in the permission forms as soon as possible.
What is PBIS? What is our PBIS focus for October?
This year at Myers-Wilkins Elementary School we will be setting the foundational groundwork for school-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS is a proactive approach to establishing the behavioral supports and social norms needed for all students to achieve social, emotional and academic success. We will be focusing this year on creating and sustaining school-wide, classroom, and individual systems of support that help to make all students successful.
PBIS provides a positive and effective alternative to the traditional methods of discipline. For PBIS to be successful we will be implementing the following three things:
We will make sure that all students have explicit instruction on behavior expectations in all areas of the school and be sure that all staff are expecting and reinforcing those expectations.
We will provide interventions and re-teaching when students do not meet the expectations for behavior in any setting.
We will be sure to recognize students consistently and frequently when they are following the behavior expectations.
PBIS takes three to five years to fully implement. Thousands of schools across the country are and have been using PBIS and are seeing significant drops in inappropriate student behavior and office referrals. We look forward to seeing how PBIS can help our school become an even better place to be!
The October focus for PBIS will be on Bullying Awareness and Prevention. October is "Bully Prevention" month. Your child will be learning about this during their morning meetings during the month of October. We are asking that our students and staff wear orange on October 19th for Unity Day against Bullying. We will show our unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion on this day.
Parent Guardian Teacher Advisory
Myers-Wilkins has a very active and inclusive parent group. The meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month. There will be some food and childcare for those who need it. Mark your calendars!!! Our first PGTA meeting will be on October 11. We would like as many parents as possible to be a part of this group. We will have a set agenda which will include an update of the PGTA board appointments, parent drop-off and pick-up procedures, lunchroom composting, reviewing the goal of PGTA, fundraising, 16-17 school events, and reviewing the Title One Parent Improvement Plan. At the end of the meeting there will be a short question and answer session or an opportunity to add agenda items for our next meeting. The PGTA meeting will be from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the media center. I look forward to seeing you there!
Myers-Wilkins Collaborative October Update
Fall After School programming runs from Oct. 3rd – Dec. 15th
COMPASS - Monday – Thursdays
Girl Power! – Monday – Wednesdays
Kako’s Choir – Wednesdays
Terrific Tuesdays – for K-2nd graders
Thursday Thrillz – for 3rd- 5th graders
Volunteering Opportunities:
We are looking for volunteers to help in after-school classes from 2:15-5p.m. (volunteer with tutoring, art, sports, cooking, outdoor adventures, girl scouts, science and more)
If you are interested, please call 218-336-8860 x8 or email volunteergcsc@gmail.com
Tasting Event: October is "National Farm to School" month. Here at Myers-Wilkins we will have a tasting during lunch time on Friday, October 14th featuring a fun bean recipe. If you are interested in helping out between 10am-1pm that day, parent volunteers can call Laura with Together for Health at 336-8860 x2501.
Upcoming Events:
Resource Fair, Wednesday, October 26, 5-7 p.m.: An opportunity to connect with people, services, and information to help your family thrive. Come enjoy a healthy meal and learn about resources in our community.
Housing * Education *Employment * Health/ Mental Health * Fun Family Activities *Voter Registration * Financial Asset Building * *Youth Programs *Healthy Food
For more information or if you need a ride, contact:
Seiquayia Morris
218.336.8860 ext. 2501,
Morriss@stlouiscountymn.govFamilies in Transition Program
Stacey Achterhoff is one of two intervention teachers for Duluth Public Schools' Families in Transition program. Stacey's office is located in room 120 at Myers Wilkins. She can be reached at 218.336.8860 ext. 2451
Ms. Achterhoff coordinates the Back Pack (Friday Food Bag) program through Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. Friday Food Bags will begin on Oct 14 this year. The purpose of the Friday Food Bag program is to provide easy-to-prepare food for kids who might not otherwise have enough on the weekends. If this program would benefit you and your family please stop by the office and fill out a consent form.
Preschool Openings
ISD 709 preschool currently has some half day openings for children who are four years old at Myers-Wilkins and Piedmont Elementary Schools. If you have a child in these attendance areas, call or email today to see what options are available for your child. If you live within these school service areas, your child may qualify for transportation and breakfast or lunch. ISD 709 preschools are committed to preparing your child for success! Please call our office at 218-336-8890 or email: earlychildhood@isd709.org.
Gifted and Talented Letter
Generous Donations to Myers-Wilkins
Maurices Grand Give Away!
On September 28th Maurices came to Myers-Wilkins to provide warm gloves, mittens, hats and headbands for students. It was their way of showing support and giving back to the community. Thank you to Maurices for their generous donation and for helping keep our students warm during the cold Duluth winters.
JoAnn Fabrics Grant
We would like to thank JoAnn Fabrics for their generous donation of $2,000 to Myers-Wilkins. We were chosen to receive this donation due to their grand opening in Duluth. We will be using this grant to help support PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System). Grand opening will be October 13th. We hope to see you there!
Laptops for STEM Classroom
Thanks to a very generous donation from a Myers-Wilkins family, we will be receiving 10 laptops for our students to use in the STEM classroom.
Myers-Wilkins Elementary School
Email: elisa.maldonado@isd709.org
Website: http://myers-wilkins-elementary.isd709.org/
Location: Myers-Wilkins Elementary School, North 8th Avenue East, Duluth, MN, United States
Phone: (218)336-8860
Facebook: facebook.com/Myers-Wilkins-671277219666034/