R-PTLE Weekly Family Communication

Dear Families,

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying your weekend. Report cards went live this week. Please contact your child's teacher if you would like to discuss what you see. Also, we are in the middle of our second round of Fastbridge testing which allows us to see a snapshot of where each of our students are as it relates to their academic and social-emotional growth. We use this data to define future instruction and interventions. If you have thoughts about this, please reach out and inquire.

Our PTO is sponsoring a Little Caesars pizza kit fundraiser (runs through Feb. 15th). I remember getting Caesar pizza kits a few years back from a fundraiser my daughter was part of. I thought they were delicious. Plus, our PTO gets to earn our elementary opportunities to reduce costs on field trips, supplies, and other such things that help us offer cool school experiences for our students. Thank you for supporting our PTO and Twin Lake students! Click here to get started. A little extra fun - the classroom that sells the most pizza kits will earn a classroom pizza party for lunch :)

Looking forward to a great week at R-PTLE!

Newly added: see below...

- February Lunch Menu and free/reduced lunch application

- CKH Information

- PBIS January Newsletter

- Girls on the run: "It's not just running!"

- Youth Softball sign-ups

- Youth baseball sign-ups.

Sincerely,

Paul Siembida

Twin Lake Elementary

719-3190 Ext: 2225

Succeed Today!

Considering the ever changing family dynamics, I wanted to send out another opportunity to fill out a free and reduced lunch application. If you have already filled one out, please ignore. If you have filled an application out, but your financial situation has deceased, please fill one out. If you have not filled out an application and/or are not sure you will qualify, please fill one out and we can help you figure it out. See the link below.

Click this link. Search for Reeths-Puffer schools (start typing it in and it will pop up) and off you go.

A Note About School Meals:

There are a couple different ways that you can add money to your child’s school account to pay for their breakfast and/or lunch:

1. Go to https://www.familyportal.cloud and set up an online account, where you can add money for your child by putting in your debit/credit card information. Please see the attached letter for answers to frequently asked questions.

OR

1. Bring in/Send in an envelope with cash or a check enclosed. Please include the child’s first and last name, and write “Lunch Money”. If you are sending money for two students, please write how much each student will receive. The office will collect these envelopes and the kitchen staff will enter the funds into the correct account.

In the event that your child does not have money in their account, but they do not have a cold lunch, they will still be able to eat a hot lunch. We will not let your child go hungry! However, please note that this will bring the account to a negative balance until more money has been added to the account.

Thank you for leading by example and showing The Rocket Way, plus...

Vera Goudzwaard

Travis Blain

Kenny Boroff

Waylon Hall

Well done, all!

Our teaching team recognized Mrs. Miller with positive affirmations.

• • I've worked with Barb for over 20 years. She has a special way of connecting with students and their families. She is kind, caring, and genuine. These traits give her students and their families a sense of love and belonging. Barb is always open to trying new ideas and approaches. She is flexible and easy to work with. She is always there to show her support for her colleagues and her students.

  • Barb has a great heart & someone who would always help if you needed her. She is a great role model for her students and her peers. She’s always the same and a true friend.

  • Barb, you make me a better teacher and co-worker. I am thankful for your continued support personally and professionally. I can always count on you to lend a helping hand and a listening ear. Thank you for always having my back. Blessed to be your teammate
    

  • Barb is the sweetest person. She really wants what is best for her kids. She always makes me, as an adult, feel important! And she loves her books ALMOST as much as she loves her students.

  • Barb is such a wonderful person. She welcomed me to the building right away and made me feel like family. She is positive, kind, and helpful. I look forward to seeing and speaking to her every day!

  • She's the definition of a team player. She's flexible, always positive, and willing to do what's best and needed for her students' success.

  • Barbie takes her students on incredible journeys through her epic read-alouds. She is always a safe place and kind heart for her students and work family. She is willing to step up and help in any way she can. We are so blessed to have her here R-PTLE.

Happy birthday to the following Rockets who celebrated this past week:

Quinn Hawkins 1/23, Nolan Scott 1/25, Mrs. Overkamp 1/25, Berchel Johnson 1/26, Eli Thelen 1/27, Hailey Murray 1/28

We hope that you had a FANTASTIC BIRTHDAY!

Wednesday, February 8th: PTO Meeting in Room 20

Friday, February 10th: Popcorn Friday!

Thursday, February 16th: No School for Kids~Professional Development for Teachers

Friday, February 17th and Monday, February 20th: No School~Mid-Winter Break

Friday, February 15th: Last day for Pizza Kit Fundraiser

Respect ~ Pride ~ Integrity

Link to our Rocket Way Behavior Expectations. These are reviewed throughout the year, especially after long breaks from school.

January PBIS Newsletter

Would you like to learn more about CKH? Click here

February's "Theme of the Month" is Kindness!

If R-PTLE is going to be able to have a team, we need to have, at least, three more girls register. Remember, financial assistance is available! Please consider enrolling your 3rd or 4th grade daughter in this wonderful program!! It's more than just Running See the link to better understand the curriculum!

Thank you to the mommies who will be helping to coach our 3rd and 4th grade girls who are interested in being a "girl on the run". A shout out to Yolanda Blaser (mommy of Rebecca), Nicole Boroff (mommy of Kenadi), and Robyn Fisher (mommy of Lyndsey).

Click on the image to the left for more information regarding registration, which starts on December 1st.

Princess Ball Planning

The Middle School PTO puts on the Princess Ball for all the elementary girls, and we would like your help with this event.

If you are willing to help organize and plan the big event please fill this form out. The exact date is still in the works, but most likely the second weekend of March. We will need to meet soon to firm up the date, theme, details, etc.

Click here to access the form to volunteer.

Any questions please reach out to Jessica VanderLaan at jessvanderlaan11@gmail.com.

We are in need of boys and girls pants sizes 5 and up. If you are able to donate to our clothes pantry, we would greatly appreciate it!!

Click link for RPHS athletic schedule.

https://5il.co/1ltt1

HAND2HAND IS HERE! FREE FOOD!

Thanks to a partnership with group of local volunteers, our school will be participating in the Hand2Hand program. The program helps to provide a student with food for the weekends and is intended for families who may be experiencing a financial burden. This program will be available to all of our kids and parents will give permission for their child to participate. We are grateful to the generosity of the volunteers in our community.

Food is discretely to children in the program each Friday.

CLICK HERE FOR LETTER

Are you raising your grandchild or children who are relatives? You are not alone. "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" is a kinship care program that offers support. All services are free. For more information contact Callie Sierra at 231-733-6654, or email her at sierrac@hccc-health.org.

Calling in Absences:

When parents call in an absence for a sick child and leave a message, it would be helpful if they could let us know the symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, etc.) that the student is having or if they have been seen by a doctor and have a diagnosis (strep, flu, pink eye, etc). We ask these questions when we get a live person, but it is important for accurate health reporting each week.

Emergency Contact Information:

If you need help updating your child's contact information, please call our office and speak with Carly, or Heather. Thank you for your help with this.

Office Team Contact Information:

Please know that our office is willing to help answer any questions that you may have at any time during the school year. Ms. Carly Akins (akinsc@reeths-puffer.org) and Mrs. Heather Nicholson (nicholsonh@reeths-puffer.org) are amazing and happy to help! Our number is 719-3190.

School Hours:

School begins at 8:45 and dismisses at 3:45. If you would like more information about before and after school care, please contact, Dawn Lynn at Lighthouse Learning. The number is 638-2172, or you may call 719-3190 x 2206.

*Go to https://ps-rp.muskegonisd.org/public

(There will be a default username and password in both boxes. Delete and create your own.)

*If you are a first time user, you will need to click on the “Create Account” tab, and fill out the

information. You will create a new Username and Password. You can add your students at the

bottom of the page using their Access ID and Access Password.

NOTE: The Access ID and Password is NOT the same as the Student Number and their

birthdate.

*If you have an existing account, use the “Sign In” tab to log in using your Username and

Password that you already have. If you do not remember these, call the office and we can help

you.

*Once you are signed in, you can add new students to your account by following these

instructions:

1. On the start page, click on “Account Preferences” from the navigation menu on the left. The

“Account Preferences – Profile” page appears.

2. Click the “Students” tab

3. Click the “Add” Icon to add a student to your parent portal account. The “Add Student”

dialog appears. Fill out the information and you should see a new tab for the student appear at

the top of the page.

*Once all of your students are added to your account, update the demographics for all of

your students by clicking on the “Demographic Update” button on the left side of the page.

Please electronically sign the required forms. Print the Emergency Procedure Card, sign it, and

give it to your child’s teacher.

IIMPORTANT: You'll receive a specific ID and Password for access to the Parent Portal. If you are a returning family, you may follow the directions above. Please don't hesitate to contact Carly, or Heather in our office if you need help.

FREE & REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATION

This year, we are asking that all of our families complete the free and reduced lunch applications. Some of our families are surprised that they qualify based on their income. With food prices rising, it will be helpful for many of our families and we no longer have the grant that afforded free breakfast and lunch for all of our learners as was the case last year.

The link below is to the online Free and Reduced Application. Please consider completing an application.

Application

Mr. Paul Siembida

Principal, Twin Lake Elementary School

Email: siembidap@reeths-puffer.org

Phone: 231-719-3190

Location: Twin Lake Elementary School, 3175 5th Street, Twin Lake, MI, USA