WEEKLY WONDERS

Breathe

This quote from Dr. Montessori always resonates with me, as I watch the children in the Primary classroom fully concentrating, and manifesting the internal work of their development. There is a flow as the child participates in the many steps of flower arranging. Like the notes of music, there is a defined sequence that they follow and the "neumes" of their expanding mind create visual symphonies for the adult to witness. However, there is another very important part of this music, the "luftpause", the breath mark. If we take the time to silently watch the children in their work, you will see how the slow exhale and inhale accompanies the movement of their hands. It is a meditation that we all can learn from.

Peace,

Ms. Tanya

Important Dates

August 16- School Council Meeting

August 22- iReady Assessments Begin

August 25- Fall Picture Day

August 25- PTA Meeting

August 26- Donation Dress Down Day- Supporting Ambucs

View the SCCPSS Academic calendar at this link.

View the SCCPSS Assessment calendar at this link.

School Council

We are having our first School Council Meeting of the 2022-2023 school year.

Anyone is welcome to attend!

Date: Tuesday, August 16th

Time: 3:30pm

Place: Ellis Media Center

Device Distribution

Update 8/12/22: We have received the REQUIRED "Student Device Loan Form" for 307 out of 447 enrolled Ellis students! Any student in Upper Elementary (4th-6th grades) and Erdkinder (7th-8th grades) with the required paperwork on file has now received their device. These devices will stay in the classroom until further notice. We will begin distributing devices to Primary (PreK-Kindergarten) and Lower Elementary (1st-3rd grades) next week.

If you haven't filled out this form for your student(s), please visit the Device Distribution page of the Ellis website for all the information that you should need to complete this process.

While we would like to get these forms ASAP, we understand that many of you are having trouble with your PowerSchool account. If that is the case, please email our information specialists (contact information at the link above) and please be patient while they respond to all the emails.

COVID-19 Exposure/Symptoms Procedure

If your student has been exposed to COVID-19 or if they have COVID-19 symptoms,

keep them at home, and fill out the following form:

2022/2023 Ellis Student COVID-19 Notification Form

A member of the Ellis Covid Response team will contact you, if more information is needed. Otherwise, visit the Nurse's page of the Ellis website for the link to the above form, more information, and flowcharts for guidance on when your student may return to school.

School Cash Online

**Update 8/12/22: Brand new SCCPSS/Ellis students are still being added to School Cash Online by the district. If you receive an error when trying to add your student to your account, please try again another day until the error has be resolved. You can create an account, but we are still waiting for you to be able to add your student to your account so that you can pay for the Family Protection Plan (FPP).

SCCPSS uses SchoolCash Online to provide an online payment option for technology fees and other school items (field trips, yearbooks, etc.). If you haven’t already created a free account, we encourage all parents to register now, so you’ll be ready to make online payments from home: both now and in the future as more school items become available.

SchoolCash Online is free, safe, simple, secure, and saves time. Registering takes less than two minutes: visit sccpss.schoolcashonline.com and click Register.

Click here for instructions on how to register for an account and how to add your student to your account.

Counselors' Corner

Let us or your teachers know if the School Counseling Department can be of assistance to you and your family. Resources are available on our School Counseling Website including a list of mental health professionals and relaxation activities.

Among resources offered, the Backpack Buddies free food program is available for any students in need. If your child or someone you know could benefit from a bag of food for the weekends or needs school supplies, please contact our school counselors.

In other community news, we have recently received information about a special event hosted by Operation Kid Forward, an agency which gives back to the community. Limited spaces are available for their Princess Ball set to take place the evening of September 23 at Savannah Station. It is designed for young ladies in 1st-5th grade, and all girls in attendance receive a free dress. Click here for their flyer or visit their website for more information and the application.

Ms. Rebecca, School Counselor, Primary & Lower Elementary

912-395-5470 Ext. 71201

tinyurl.com/BookMsRebecca

rebecca.burkhart@sccpss.com

Mr. Wes, School Counselor, Upper Elementary & Erdkinder

912-395-5470 Ext. 71243

tinyurl.com/BookMrWesC

wesley.cooper@sccpss.com

Text Notifications

We send out school-wide announcements regularly via email and text.

It is important for you to receive these notifications through text messaging in the case of an severe weather/emergency.

To opt-in for text notifications, text "Yes" to the number 87569.

Breakfast & Lunch

To add lunch money to your student's account, visit http://myschoolbucks.com/. You can visit the SCCPSS website for more detailed information. Cash/money order is also accepted for lunch payment.

August 2022 Breakfast and Lunch Menu

**Free/Reduced Lunch Application:

For the school year 2022-2023, Savannah Chatham County Public Schools will continue to serve free breakfast for all students, but is urging all families to complete and submit a Free and Reduced Meal Application starting July 1, 2022, if you believe your student(s) may be eligible.

The application for Free and Reduced lunch can be completed online at this link: myschoolapps.com.

If you prefer a paper application, they will be available at the Applications center located at 3609 Hopkins Street. There will also be a secured after hours drop box located at this site. The secured drop box will be checked daily by staff if you elect to fill out a paper application and drop it in the box at that location.

Lost & Found

Please label all your student(s) items.

We already have a collection of items in lost and found (see picture below).

If any of these items belong to your student, contact your student's teacher or have your student retrieve the item from the ramp railing in the hallwall outside the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR). Please leave the hanger on the railing.

Grace & Courtesy Emphasis

Throughout the school year, Ellis has a school-wide focus on certain positive character traits. Each teacher may choose to highlight these "Grace & Courtesy" emphases differently, but as a school we follow a general common curriculum.

From August 3rd to August 26th, our school-wide Grace & Courtesy emphasis is RESPONSIBILITY.

The language of identifying Responsibility from "The Self-Awakened Child" series by Jonathan Wolff

When I do what I say I am going to do, I am being responsible.
When I make a mistake and tell the truth about what I did, I am taking responsibility for what I do and say.
When I do something that helps everyone and hurts no one, I am acting responsibly.
When I tell the truth about my sad, scary or angry feelings and I ask someone to help me feel better, I am taking responsibility for me feelings.

Ellis Family Handbook

Please review the 2022/2023 Ellis Family Handbook for important information and operational procedures specific to our school.

**Please Note: This is a working document so it will be amended throughout the year, as needed.

Support our school...join the PTA!

Join Us!

The Ellis PTA is a vital support group for our school. Please consider getting involved by joining for just $7/person. Visit the Memberhub website to sign up and stay tuned for more information about meetings, events, etc.

Spirit Wear

We look forward to seeing everyone during the open house this coming Sunday and Monday. We will be ready to stock you up on your Ellis t-shirts, polos, jackets, and car magnets.

You can skip the lines by placing your order through this link, and we’ll have it ready for you to pick up at open house. If you can’t make open house to pick the items up, we’ll get them to your student within the first week.