PCM Elementary School
Leader in Me Newsletter
November 2023
Habit of the Month
Habit 2: Begin With The End In Mind "Have a Plan"
This month, our elementary focused on Habit 2- Begin with End in Mind. Begin with the end in mind means to think about how you would like something to turn out before you get started. Then, set goals and make a plan on how you can accomplish something!
Reading a recipe before cooking or looking at a map and planning a route before going on a trip are some examples of beginning with the end in mind.
For young children, a jigsaw puzzle is a great example of this! Before they begin working on a puzzle, they may look at the box to see what it will look like in the end. They start with the end in mind.
Leaders of the Month
Students in both elementaries have assemblies focused around Leader in Me and the 7 Habits. Last month, they worked super hard on Habit 1! These students were nominated by their classmates for displaying Habit 1 as their class Leader of the Month!
Leader in Me Jobs
Student Leader in Me jobs have begun! Take a look at our awesome library leaders helping students check out books daily.
READ READ READ!
Cy and Herky made a stop at ME to encourage our students to keep reading and setting goals!
Teacher Teams Update
Physical Environment Team
At PCE, we continue to add elements to all our school spaces that focus around Leader in Me. Our self portraits are all hung through the hallways and students worked super hard on these! This month, staff and students are working on developing personal mission statements about themselves, and will be displaying them in the halls and spaces. We also will be adding new bulletin boards to show more about our Student Lighthouse Team and Leader in Me Jobs.
The Facilities/Environmental Team at ME has been adding more bulletin boards in the hallways to show Student Jobs and also the Habit of the Month shoutout board! Up next, they are working on adding elements in the halls to show how students are working towards their Running Mustang lap goals!
Social Emotional Team
This month, this team continues to work on their current goal to build positive, safe, and trusting relationships between students and staff. Each teacher was given a classroom greetings poster to utilize in their classroom as a way for students to choose how they want to greet the teacher to start the school day. They are also working on a fun slideshow to see pictures of all the staff when they were in elementary school, along with some fun facts to get to know them.
Activities Team
This month, we had tons of amazing activities and experiences for our students. Our Running Mustangs Clubs continue to go very well. Lots of students are reaching their first part of the marathon goal. The Student Lighthouse Team is also partnering with us to plan and organize a Food Drive after Thanksgiving through December that will go towards our local food pantry. We are also planning and working with the PTO for the upcoming Shopping Extravaganza! In December, we will be having a classroom door decorating contest and this fundraiser will go towards the Running Mustangs Club.
Academics Team
At ME, the READ READ READ program is going very well! 83% of our students met the goal for October. The readers were able to celebrate with a fun visit from Cy and Herky! Classroom WIGs (Wildly Important Goals) are also underway, with evidence in our hallways that students are working on the lead measures to continue to make growth in reading.
PCE has also kicked off the reading program this month, and setting classroom minutes goals and a big overall school-wide goal! Classrooms can plan and earn rewards for their own class. At the end of the month, students will get some choices of stations and rewards if they meet the monthly goal!
Student Lighthouse Update
At Home Connection
Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind
Try to begin with the end in mind as a family:
- Lay out your clothes for tomorrow before you go to bed tonight.
- Get out a pencil and paper and write down three goals you want to do. Put the paper in a safe place where you can see it.
- Tell a grown up what you want to be when you grow up. What goals could you set to work towards that?
- We all have something we need to continue to get better at, such as practicing reading, brushing your teeth at night, or listening to directions. Pick one thing you want to get better at and talk about how could do it. Make a plan and begin!
Read About Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind
Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Just a Dream by Chris Van Allsburg
Leader in Me Resources
Habit 2 Video: Plan Ahead
Click the link to watch a short video about how to plan ahead.
Habit 2 At Home
This guide gives ideas and activities to try at home as a family when having discussions focused on Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind
Think Ahead
Here is a resource to have discussions about how to think ahead and make a plan at school and at home.