MacArthur Elementary School
October 25, 2019
PTO Trunk or Treat
Notes from the Principal
Dear MacArthur Families,
Well, if you child comes home saying that Miss Buchko was duct taped to the wall, they are correct. We had 141 MacArthur students, through the PTO fund raiser, who earned the reward of helping duct tape me to the wall. A special thanks to everyone who helped support our PTO through our brochure sale in September.
This coming week we have our Scholastic Book Fair and this is Mrs. Hasty’s very first book fair as our new school librarian. Please help support Mrs. Hasty and our school by stopping by the book fair and purchasing books. I know our students love to persuade all their grandma’s and grandpa’s to buy them books during our Grandparent’s day, which is Wednesday, October 30th.
Today, October 25th officially ends our 1st grading period. As you know we have parent teacher conferences taking place and I would love to have 100% of our parents take the time to meet with their child’s teacher to discuss the progress of each of our students. Please take some time to discuss with your child their grades, their growth on their mClass assessment (K-2) and Star Reading/Math assessments (1st – 5th ). A student’s report card only tells part of the picture. It is the day to day assessments that helps your child and their teacher gage where they are at in their learning. The key is that each student continues to show growth at their own individual level. We focus on growth and celebrate growth and would encourage you to do the same at home.
Have a Great Weekend.
Marian Buchko
Contact Information:
Phone: 219-662-3600 ext. 16001
Email: mlbuchko@cps.k12.in.us
Don't forget to send in your Strack and Van Til reciepts for the Apples for Students Program!
Important Dates
October 25: PTO Trunk or Treat
October 28: Book Fair Opens
October 28: Family Night at the Book Fair 3:30-6:00pm
October 28: Birth to School Learn Through Play Halloween 5-7:00pm in Cafe
October 29: LEAD Day (wear your LEAD shirt)
October 29: 1/2 Day for students/Parent Teacher Conferences
October 30: 1/2 Day for students/Parent Teacher Conferences
October 30: Grandparent's Day 9:30-11:30am
November 5: Fundraiser Pick Up 3-5:00pm
November 6: PTO Meeting 4:00 in Library
November 7: Birth to School Caregiver Cafe 9:30am
November 11: 2nd Grade Music Program 6:00pm in Gym
November 12: Student of the Month 8:00am in Cafe
November 14: Birth to School Baby Mustangs 9:30am
November 14: Birth to School Mini Mustangs 2:00pm
Our Weekly Attendance Rate This Week
Kindergarten 94%
1st Grade: 94%
2nd Grade: 96%
3rd Grade: 94%
4th Grade: 96%
5th Grade: 96%
All Grade Levels: 95%
We need at least 97% for the year to become a 4 Star School!!
Please limit voluntary absences!
Scholastic Book Fair
Dear Parents and Families:
Reading increases knowledge and vocabulary, lowers stress, and supports your child’s emotional growth. But perhaps the best benefit is the lasting bond you create with your child when you read with them.
Visit the Book Fair with your child to discover new books together!
Save the date!
Book Fair dates: October 28- November 1, 2019
Shopping hours: M-F 8:15am-9:00am, Parents with students only.
M, TH, Fri 9:00am-3:30am, Students during class Library time.
Monday Family Night: 3:30pm-6:00pm,
T ½ day, 8:15am-9:00am Parent w/child only.
W ½ day, Grandparent’s Day 9:30am-11:30am (Grandparent’s w/student only)
NEW In-School and Online Shopping Options! With Book Fair eWallet, a safe and convenient digital payment account, your student can shop the Fair cash-free! And if you’re not able to attend the Fair, try our new online shopping option. We’ve partnered with The Scholastic Store™ to offer over 6,000 products that ship direct to your home (with free shipping on orders of $25 or more)! Visit our homepage to access eWallet or shop online.
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/douglasmacarthurelemsch
We look forward to seeing you and your family at our Book Fair!
Sincerely,
Teresa Hasty
Media Specialist
MacArthur Elementary School
Grandparent's Day
Who: Grandparents or Special Guests
When: October 30, 2019
What Time: 9:30-11:30
Where: MacArthur Elementary School
What: Classroom activities, professional photography in the library, Scholastic Book Fair in the gym, and refreshments in the cafeteria.
**Your student(s) is/are allowed to leave school with grandparents or special guests ONLY IF the Permission Form is filled out and returned BEFORE or ON the morning of Grandparent’s Day.
Each grade level is asked to donate the following for this event:
K and 1st—cookies *No nuts
2nd—napkins, styrofoam cups
3rd and 4th—juice boxes
5th—water bottles
Send all donations to the classroom. Thank you in advance.
News from Our School Counselor
Parents,
First, I would like to thank everyone for their participation in Red Ribbon Week. I loved seeing all of the red throughout our school today.
As we enter the last week of Bully Prevention Month, I thought I would share this informative graphic with you. It helps distinguish the difference between a conflict, someone doing something rude, mean, and then bullying. It is really important that we empower children to know the difference between all of these, and teach them says to be problem solvers. Below are some simple problem-solving steps for children:
- Step 1: What am I feeling? Help your child understand what she’s feeling in the moment (frustration, anger, curiosity, disappointment, excitement, etc.) Noticing and naming emotions will diffuse their charge and give your child a chance to take a step back.
- Step 2: What’s the problem? Guide your child to identify the specific problem. In most cases, help her take responsibility for what happened rather than pointing fingers. For instance, instead of, “Joey got me in trouble at recess,” your child might say, “I got in trouble at recess for arguing with Joey.”
- Step 3: What are the solutions? Encourage your child to come up with as many solutions as possible. At this point, they don’t even need to be “good” solutions. They’re just brainstorming here, not yet evaluating the ideas they’ve generated.
- Step 4: What would happen if…? What would happen if your child attempted each of these solutions? Is the solution safe and fair? How will it make others feel? You can also try role playing at this step. It’s important for your child to consider BOTH positive and negative consequences of her actions.
- Step 5: Which one will I try? Ask your child to pick one or more solutions to try. If the solution didn't work, discuss WHY and move on to another one. Encourage your child to keep trying until the problem is solved.
Alicia Bellamy M.S. Ed, LPSC
School Counselor
Cafeteria News
Our Spooktacular Halloween lunch will be on October 31st!
Menu
· Booooberry yogurt cup
· Ghostly granola
· Spooky Cheese stick
· “Ghoul-icious” ice cream treat
· Fresh fruit and vegetable
· Milk
We will also have the regular menu lunch as well: Cheeseburger deluxe, Hot dog, Ham or Turkey sandwich and Turkey Chef Salad.
*****Movie and costume contest during lunch*****
“Vegetable of the Month”
Acorn Squash is our “Vegetable of the Month” for the month of October. Acorn squash got its name based on how it looks…like an acorn. Acorn squash is a good source of Vitamin C, Magnesium, Potassium and Fiber. We will offer samples to all of the students during lunch time October 15th.
Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar and Butter
1 Acorn Squash cut in ½
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
2 tablespoons butter, softened
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Scoop the seeds out of the squash cavities and discard. In a small mixing bowl combine the brown sugar, butter, syrup and salt and pepper, to taste. Rub the squash cavities and cut sides of the squash with the butter mixture and place them on a baking sheet cut side up. Bake in a preheated oven for about 1 hour until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork. Serve one half per person.
Cafeteria Information
Cafeteria Manager: Michelle Milner
Contact Information: mmilner@cps.k12.in.us or 662-3600 ext. 16603
Meal Prices for 2019-2020
Breakfast $1.50
Reduced Breakfast $.30
Elementary Lunch $2.35
Reduced Lunch $.40
Milk $.40
Adult Lunch $3.40
CP Birth to School
As a reminder, the Birth to School Learn Through Play Halloween event is Monday, October 28 from 5-7pm at MacArthur Elementary. All Birth to School families from MacArthur, Timothy Ball, and Solon Robinson are invited to join in on the fun. We’ll have a costume parade, Trick or Treating, open play time, and light refreshments. There’s still time to register for this FREE indoor event! Please visit https://forms.gle/FBixAfSLHUb7SnqF7. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Birth to School Coordinator, Jamie Kalk, at jkalk@cps.k12.in.us.
November Birth to School events at MacArthur:
11/7/19 Caregiver Café 9:30am
11/14/19 Baby Mustangs 9:30am
11/14/19 Mini Mustangs 2pm
11/21/19 Mini Music & Movement 9:30am
Every time you plan on attending a Birth to School daytime event, please contact MacArthur Birth to School Liaison, Jennie Duffy, at jduffy@cps.k12.in.us.
When is my child too sick to go to School?
Attendance
School Start & End Times
Doors Open 8:15
Breakfast 8:15-8:45
Student Full Day 9:05-3:44
Student Half Day 9:05-12:14
Douglas MacArthur Elementary School
Website: https://www.cps.k12.in.us/Page/3689
Location: 12900 Fairbanks Street, Cedar Lake, IN, USA
Phone: 219-662-3600