News from the Castle

Safety is the most important part for schools. With that in mind, internet safety is of vital importance as well. I wanted to share, like Mrs. Bennett does below, that there are "books" on YouTube that look like children's books, but are wildly inappropriate and sexual in nature. Unfortunately, this is a means of grooming, etc. that predators use to take advantage of children. Due to the way these predatory books are formated, illustrated, and narrated, the screening process for YouTube Kids may not catch these inappropriate books. Please be vigilant when monitoring your child's use of social media and YouTube. If you have questions or would like more details on which YouTuber is producing these books, please contact me at jclark@rhmail.org.

High Attendance for the Month of November- Highest Grade Level Attendance- 5th Grade- 94.4%. Highest Classroom Attendance- Mrs. Bailey- 95.8% Congratulations to both groups! Attendance is so crucial for academic success!

PTA will be hosting the Christmas Shoppe from Dec. 4th-8th in the Cafe. If you'd like to volunteer to help, please reach out to our PTA at MGESPTA@gmail.com. You must be an approved volunteer through the district.

Attendance Info- If your student misses a day of school, please send in a parent note, medical note, or other excuse for the absence. Additionally, you are allowed a maximum of 5 parent notes per year to use for absences.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

If you'd like to recognize an employee please complete this form and we will recognize their efforts! EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION FORM

Sincerely,

Aaron Clark

Principal

Mt. Gallant Elementary

· The nurse is in need of donations of boys and girls underwear sizes 4, 6, and 8. We are also in need of boys and girls pants or shorts with draw strings if possible, sizes 4, 6, 8, and 12.

· Please remember the following if you bring in any over-the-counter medications for your child:

From the School Counselor

It’s hard to believe that it’s December already! This school year seems to be flying by!

As I work with our children during classroom counseling on personal safety, I wanted to urge parents and guardians to be mindful of some concerning things that have been brought to my attention. Technology can be a fabulous tool for adults and children to use. However, there are some extremely inappropriate “books” and videos on various commonly used social media sites, particularly YouTube and Kid's YouTube. Many times, something looks like a children’s book and the cartoon drawings seem to indicate that it is a book that is appropriate for children. I urge you to watch and listen to the entire “book” or video that your child is watching or listening to on their device. Many of these items are actually sexually explicit and are normalizing behaviors that deem sexual abuse as an appropriate activity. Closely monitoring what your child is watching on social media is critical. In addition, many of the games that children are playing online have violent components and inappropriate content for elementary aged children. The communication abilities on many of these games is becoming the number one way that child predators are coming in contact with children. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact me or Mr. Clark.

My contact information is: cbennett@rhmail.org or (803) 981-1360.

During the week of December 4th through 8th I will be visiting with third, fourth and fifth graders. We are beginning our lessons on personal safety. These lessons focus on safety at school, home and in the community. The goal of these lessons is to teach children skills to avoid situations and people that are unsafe. In addition, we will be identifying trusted adults who can assist children if something happens that is concerning. These lessons are done in a way that minimizes fear and promotes empowerment.

Mr. Clark received the most donations for Levine's Children's Hospital and was pied in the face Friday! The video will be available next week for the kiddos. Mr. Clark may share it with you!

Attention 3rd, 4th and 5th grade parents. Our MGES choir will resume in January! The students and I are very excited to get started. This choir will be comprised of only Mt. Gallant students. We hope to perform here at the castle as well as some community events next spring. Rehearsals will be held on Thursday afternoons from 2:10-3:30 pm. All students will need reliable transportation to pick them up promptly at 3:30 pm. Any interested students may pick up an information letter along with audition materials when they come to music class in the next following weeks. Auditions will be held the week of January 9th. If you have any questions, please contact me via email- Katie Galvis, kgalvis@rhmail.org

Hi Knights Families!

We have LOVED seeing our Knights wear their new Spirit Wear.

Our Friday Spirit competitions are starting soon acknowledging the classes sporting the most School Spirit. If you missed out on our first order or see a style that you or your Knight just can’t live without, visit our online store!* We even have a few of our super popular hoodies back in stock!

Thank you for supporting our Knights!

MGES PTA

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

*limited sizes and stock available*

Ideas to Up the Fun Level!

• Number the questions 1 to 6 or 1 to 12. Roll dice to pick which question to answer together. Good for sneaking in math skills!
• Pick a question to answer that goes along with a song you can play. For example, play the song, “Happier” after you each share a happy experience from the day. This can also be a car activity if someone who’s not driving can search for the song.
• Tap a balloon back and forth. Each time one of you touches the balloon, share something that made you smile today (or feel grumpy!).
• Place a copy of the questions on your refrigerator. Make a family challenge that you have to answer a question before getting a snack.

December

4 - 8 - Christmas Shoppe - PTA/SIC Opportunity

7 - PTA Spirit Night TBD

8 - PTA Treat Trolley

15 - PTA Lunch/Bar Provided

18 - 21 - PTA Game Week

21 - Terrific Kid Ceremony - 8:30AM - Cafe

22 - Early Release Day/End 1st Semester

25 - 31 - Winter holidays - District closed

January 2024

1 - 5 - Winter holidays

8 - Teacher Work Day - New Kirk Feeds staff

9 - Students Return

11 - PTA Spirit Night TBD

12 - PTA Treat Trolley

15- MLK Jr. Day/No School

18 - TK ceremony, 8:30a

18 - PTA Meeting

19 - PTA Lunch/Bar Provided

22 - 26 - PTA Game Week

29 - Feb. 2- Winter MAP (All Grades)

School Phone: 803-981-1360

School Webpage: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Domain/16

Twitter: @MtGallantElem

Facebook: Mt. Gallant PTA

Instagram: MountGallantKnights

Rock Hill Schools is excited to announce a new partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of The Crescent Region. For the upcoming school year, we are partnering with The Boys & Girls Clubs to bring you the Challenger BE GREAT Academy. The BE GREAT Academy has been selected as the best after school care program for 11 years in a row in the Midlands, and we are thrilled to bring this high-quality program to Rock Hill. BE GREAT Academy will be staffed by our current Challenger staff whom you have come to trust and love!

BE GREAT Academy (BGA) is a national program which brings opportunities and best practices that local programs can’t often provide. BGA has successful partnerships with over 95 local schools in South Carolina that benefit from their proven practices and results.

Challenger Be Great Academy will be housed in every elementary school and keep the same hours that parents have become accustomed to with our current Challenger Program.

To find out more about the BE GREAT Academy and to register for the fall, please visit www.begreatacademy.org and click on the “Register/Login” tab on the far right. Boys & Girls Club has agreed to waive the registration fee for parents who sign up before June 1st. If you have questions, please contact:

Tanisha M. Brown

Member Service Representative

803-231-3300 (Main)

803-760-0537 (Cell)

tbrown@crescent.begreatclubs.org

Ice cream- Ice cream money is to be turned in on Friday. We cannot accept money before Friday. (Note: this a change from last year.) A gentle reminder that we cannot make change at the school for ice cream (district finance policy). Only send in a $1 if you would like your child to participate in Ice Cream Fridays

Car Rider Safety

• Dismissal starts at 2:10PM.
• We are wrapping up around 2:30-2:35PM each day, please be sure you arrive by 2:45PM at the lastest to pick up your student. Encouraging them to listen during dismissal will help speed up the process too.
• Have students exit the vehicle on the same side of the car as the Safety Patrol. Do not allow students to exit vehicles in between the car lines
• Please don't change lanes. If you turn left out of the drive way, please be in the left lane, if you turn right, please be in the right lane.
• Please watch the STOP sign. We have had several instances where vehicles have run the sign.
• Please be "Phone free" when we start loading students. Also, leaving the yellow car tag in the window until your child is in the car helps us get the student to the right car as you pull up.

Doors open at 7:00AM, no earlier. Arrival is 7:00AM-7:45AM. After 7:45AM, parents MUST walk their student in to sign in.

Dismissal is 2:10PM. Please pick up by 2:45PM at the latest.

Early checkout deadline is 1:45PM.

CAR RIDERS - There has been some confusion about car riders. If your student is going home a different way or with a different adult/person we must have a WRITTEN NOTE with PARENT SIGNATURE in the office each day by 1:45PM. In addition, the person picking up the child must have the YELLOW CARD for the child. The receiving parent must also provide the note confirming the change in transportation.

We cannot allow a child to get into a car with someone else without BOTH of these items.

BUS RIDERS - If your child is usually a bus rider and is going to be a car rider, we must have a WRITTEN NOTE in the office by 1:45 pm for each day and the person picking up your child must have the YELLOW CARD for the child.

We cannot allow the child to get into a car with someone without BOTH of these items.

The lunch visitor schedule is below:

Monday- Kindergarten, McMahon (5th)

Tuesday- First Grade, May (5th)

Wednesday - 2nd Grade, Gaulden (5th)

Thursday- 3rd Grade, Ghent (5th)

Friday- 4th Grade, Powers (5th)