Dear Families:

This is our last busy week before our winter break with your wonderful children. A reminder that we return to school Thursday, January 5, 2023!

This next week we will continue our mid- year assessments, iReady and DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills). Theses assessments help inform our instruction by determining skill mastery and areas of need. This information also helps provide us information around our new math curriculum, Eureka Squared.

Thank you to our PAC, Parent Action Committee and our SAC, School Accountability Committees for meeting and hosting such thoughtful discussions. PAC reviewed their finances and plans for the upcoming year. The group is hosting a cookie exchange for staff if you would like to participate. You can bring store bought or homemade treats to the front office Wednesday morning, December 14th.

Our School Accountability Committee reviewed our current attendance policy and our school's Unified Improvement Plan, UIP. The two items in our UIP included math achievement and student growth for students on Individualized Education Plans and free and reduced lunch. Our next SAC meeting will be held on February 2, at 8:30am. All families are welcome.

Manitou Springs High School is looking for a new principal and we want your input regardless of your student's current grade level. Parent input is important to use in our search for our high school leader. Please take a minute to complete the Principal Survey.

We open our Choice Window for new students out of district on January 6, 2023. If you know an interested family, encourage them to apply early January.

We do not have late start this Wednesday and we do have a Spirit Day on Friday. Students missed Silly Day before our fall break and we will dress silly on December 16th.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

Warmly,

Maria

MSES PAC invites families to share cookies and other holiday treats with teachers and staff to complement a hot cocoa bar! Please drop off cookies & treats to the front office the morning of Wednesday, December 14t. Thank you for your support!

Please help us put Mrs. Masone in a doghouse for a day!! We need 100 families to read “Because of Winn Dixie”, and we are giving away the books. If you were not able to attend Literacy Night, we still have books, reading promise pages and doggie dollars at school for families. You can collect your book at the office at MSES. So, "get your paws on a good book", and help us put Ms. Masone in a doghouse for a day.

The Literacy Team

First graders are in the midst of our Ancient American Civilizations domain. See if your expert can answer the following questions: Where in the world did the Maya and Aztec live? (Present-day Mexico) What was one of the most important crops that the Maya grew? (Maize) What is a nomad, and were the Aztec people nomads? (Yes, the Aztec moved from place to place) See if your little one can tell you other similarities and differences between the Maya and the Aztec cultures and make predictions about the Inca culture that we'll study next week!

Third graders are working on dictionary skills, so the Pikes Peak Rotary Club picked the perfect time to present each third grade student with a Scholastic Children's Dictionary! Students can use their dictionaries at home to practice alphabetizing skills. We have been working in class with guide words to understand alphabetically which words should be on the page. Have them read definitions and make the connection to parts of speech, too! (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) Give them a sentence with a word that has a few different definitions, and let them figure out which definition you are using. Need an extra spelling practice activity? Ask your expert to find their spelling words in their dictionary. So watch for those dictionaries to come home next week!

This week in fifth grade, we are working diligently with fractions. Take a look at the following problem (see attached video): This illustrates many of the steps we are taking to solve fraction equations!

Dear Mustang Families,

Did you know that every Friday I open my office up at lunch time for Lunch Bunch? In Lunch Bunch students get the opportunity to eat lunch with the counselor, watch a show/movie, and connect with their peers at the referral of their teacher. It's a great opportunity for students after working so hard during the school week! The shows shown are rated TV-Y through TV-G and movies shown are rated G. Please know that this is an optional opportunity so if you would like to opt your student out of this opportunity please send an email to your students teacher.

This week in 1st grade, your child learned and practiced two ways they can be kind to others: asking, “Are you okay?” and offering to keep someone company. Help your child think of a family member or close friend who could use some company. Encourage them to ask the person, “Would you like some company?”

This week in 2nd grade, your child described a time they had empathy for someone and how it affected their thoughts and actions. Ask your child to tell you about a time they had empathy for someone.

Ashley Root, MA, LPCC

MSES School Counselor

aroot@mssd14.org | (719) 685-2160

Thank you to our families who are scanning their grocery receipts into the Box Tops app - you've already helped earn more than five times the amount we earned last school year! Don't forget to keep scanning those receipts over the break!

Box Top funds are used to support your students by helping with classroom supply purchases, classroom celebrations, games and outdoor activities, and more. Download the app today and start scanning your grocery receipts to help us keep learning fun at MSES!