The Avery Pulse

• September 25th - Late Start
  
• October 6th - Fall Festival 6pm-9pm @ Avery
• October 9th - Late Start
• October 12th - Title One Meeting @ Avery 6:30pm-7:00pm
• October 12th - PTO Meeting @ Avery 7pm-8pm
• October 14th - Lawn Clean Up @ Avery 9am-12pm (all are welcome - bring tools!)
• October 19th - No School for Students (Teacher PD)
• October 20th - No School
• October 23rd - Late Start
• November 1st - No School (Teacher PD)
• November 13th - Late Start
• November 14th & 16th - Parent Teacher Conferences (more information soon)
• November 13th-16th - Scholastic Book Fair (more information soon)
• November 20th - Picture Retake Day
• November 22nd-24th - No School - Thanksgiving Break
• November 27th - Late Start
• December 11th - Late Start
• December 21st - Winter Parties @ 1:45pm
• December 22nd-January 3rd - No School - Winter Break

Add our calendar to your device!

https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=4130&PageType=20&DomainID=89&ModuleInstanceID=6914

Fall Festival envelopes with info on selling RAFFLE TICKETS and purchasing GAME TICKETS came home with your child last week! Check their backpacks to find out everything you need to know!

NEW THIS YEAR: Each Raffle Prize will have its own drawing. You choose which raffle drawing to enter your ticket. Each ticket is entered into ONE drawing for ONE prize. Which ones do you want to win? See the list below:

2023 RAFFLE PRIZES

1.Nintendo Switch & Mario Gift Basket (value $575)

2.Olive & Oak Date Night & Babysitting ($450)

3. WG Block Party ($545)

4.Family Basket - Photo Shoot & Gift Cards ($605)

5.Old Orchard Date Night & Babysitting ($450)

6.Taste of WG - Restaurant Gift Cards ($550)

For information about Title One funding at Avery please join us on October 12th from

6:30-7:00 in the library. Mrs. Ecker will share a short presentation on how Title 1 funding helps provide reading support for our students.

Habit #1- Be Proactive

So far our Kindergarten, First, Second and Third grade classes have had a visit from Mrs. Wallace in order to begin the year Proactively J All of our students have had reminders about getting in the green zone and being proactive (in charge of yourself).

In Kindergarten - We introduced the Howard B. Wigglebottom series of stories with “Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen”. Howard has to learn to be Proactive the hard way. We can learn from him and not make the same mistakes.

In First- We met Grinner and Blackbelt. Grinner is a flying squirrel but he does not have confidence when it comes to flying, school, and other things his friends do. Blackbelt is a wise raccoon that is a wonderful mentor for Grinner and he helps him learn 4 steps to always being a winner.

In Second- We Learned “How to Grow a Happiness Spot”. Second graders learned that they have the power to grow happiness spots everywhere they go. Happiness spots can grow through smiles, reading, creating, talking, and having gratitude…. There are so many ways to grow them!

In Third- graders learned how to Be Proactive. We read the Habit #1 story, Just the Way I Am. In this story Pokey the porcupine is sad when other students make fun of his quills. He learns that he is in charge of himself and he can focus on the positive aspects of being a porcupine. We also discussed the four things that are happening is you are faced with a situation where you might be being bullied.

Avery Families-

Your child’s school is participating in the GO! St. Louis Read, Right & Run Marathon® program

and your child has expressed interest in joining. GO! St. Louis®, a local non-profit organization,

encourages individuals and families in the St. Louis region to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle

year round.

The GO! St. Louis Read, Right & Run Marathon® is a fully integrated marathon program for

children in grades K-8 that focuses on literacy, fitness, and character development. Students are

challenged to READ 26 books, RIGHT the community with 26 good deeds and learn to set goals to

RUN the necessary miles in preparation for their final race. After 26 weeks of hard work, the

program culminates each year when the students complete their race day goals of a 1.2 mile race

or a 5K race on April 6, 2024.

• Students in grades K-5 will train to complete either a 1.2 or 2 mile race.
• Students in grades 6-8 will train to complete a 5K race.
• As a GO! St. Louis Read, Right & Run Marathon® participant, we are here to support you throughout your training journey.

• An activity journal that allows students to track their books, deeds, and miles.
• Monthly informative emails filled with helpful hints on how to stay motivated, serve your community and book recommendations!
• Race bib, t-shirt, and finisher’s medal upon crossing the finish line.

Please direct any questions to Mr. Velten. For more information on this

nationally recognized youth program, visit: gostlouis.org/rrrm.

We hope you will consider having your child participate in this annual event. Research shows that

regular exercise actually improves many areas of brain function including memory, stress

reduction, and attention span. All of these areas point toward academic success.

Sincerely,

GO! St. Louis

Venmo: @pto-avery

PayPal: pto.averyelementary@gmail.com

Cash / Checks: PTO Mailbox in Front Hall

Please indicate that your donation is for the Fund-a-Teacher campaign

In February 2023, our parents came together at the annual Trivia Night and raised over $30,000 to help support two initiatives at Avery. One, was updating our library and the second was installing water bottle refilling stations around the building. We are so grateful for the continued partnership of our parents in supporting our school and our students! Without your contributions, we would not be able to make these necessary additions to our school.

Below you will find an update on both projects. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Hannah Peterson Ed.D.

Building Principal

Library Project Update

The library project is a multi-year comprehensive project that will address various upgrades to our space. A committee of parents as well as district personnel have been collaborating together over the span of five months to set a vision for the space.

This vision includes:

• Updated tables and chairs
• Makerspace
• Relocation and replacement of circulation desk
• Updated shelving
• New flooring
• New paint
• ...and more!

We are working with various vendors to determine color scheme, furniture options, and overall bidding packages.

Water Bottle Refilling Station Update

Currently, Avery has one water bottle refilling station in the building for over 300 students. This station is located in the cafeteria which can be a challenge for all of our students to access on a consistent basis throughout the day.

With the support of PTO, we are in the midst of installing an additional four stations around the building. This will include a water bottle refilling station in each hallway. The district has put this project out for bid which includes installation. We will be sure to take pictures of the completed projects!

Avery Fall Festival is Friday, October 6th, from 6 pm - 9 pm. You won’t want to miss this old-fashioned carnival with games, a bounce house, food, and fun, plus you’ll be supporting the Avery PTO! Follow the Fall Festival Facebook page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/AveryFallFestival

Ticket Prep Party: Wednesday, Sept 20, at 7 pm at 620 Fairview Ave. (Amanda Vader’s house). Help prep raffle and game tickets at this fun volunteer event. Please bring your stapler.

Donate needed items from our Amazon wish list. Ship to “Amy Tappmeyer/Whisler Gift Registry Address”:

https://smile.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/28B9675TGLLSJ/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2

Upcycle: We are collecting your used toys as prizes for Fall Festival games. Drop them off at 425 FairLAWN in the bin.

We would appreciate:

• Small toys, craft kits, cars, dolls etc

• Books - appropriate for grade school kids

• Stuffed animals -small/medium size in good shape

Please do not send: toy weapons, mardi gras beads, things that go in hair/mouth, toys that are broken /missing parts, bubbles

In continuation of our efforts to support the academic and personal well-being of each student, district culture and climate surveys will be administered to students in grades 3-12, families, and staff. Surveys will solicit participants' perspectives about learning strategies, culture and climate, and experiences in the classroom and/or school.

The surveys will allow for students, families and staff to offer feedback specifically about school safety, their sense of belonging, teacher-student relationships, cultural awareness and diversity and inclusion. For comparison purposes, the same surveys from 2022-2023 will be used this year.

The survey window for students and families will be October 2-13, 2023 and March 25-April 5, 2024.

To learn more, including survey previews, aggregate data from last year, and how you can exclude your child from participating in the surveys if you choose to, click here.

Arrival from 7:40-7:50 AM

• Bompart Avenue

• Carpool drop-off only in front of school – parents to remain in vehicles with staff members assisting students

• Families walking students to school will say goodbye at the external doors

• No parking during arrival

• Staff members will supervise at the curb

• Marshall Avenue

• This entrance will be utilized for bus arrival

• Atalanta Avenue

• We strongly encourage families to travel only from Bompart towards Glen to alleviate congestion and increase safety

• No parking on sidewalks

• Staff members will supervise at the curb

Dismissal 2:50pm-3:00pm

• Bompart Avenue

• Kindergarten and Fifth grades will dismiss out front

• Atalanta Avenue

• First and Fourth grades will dismiss along the side

• Blacktop

• Second and Third grades will dismiss on the back blacktop

• Back Parking Lot

• Staff parking only

• No entrance or exit from 2:20-2:50

To qualify for direct distribution to students and families, the
information must be:

• district-sponsored information
• something from a group affiliated* with the district.
• curriculum-related, as determined by the principal, including programs, events, contests and other activities.

*Affiliated is defined as a group recognized by the Board of Education and working

If you are a non-profit organization that doesn't qualify for direct distribution to students and families, you can contact Derek Duncan (duncan.derek@wgmail.org) who is our Director of Communication and he will ensure that your flyer is posted on the community electronic bulletin.

If your information fits the above criteria, you can make a submission to theaverypulse@gmail.com

Submissions are due on Thursdays at 5pm

Location: 909 North Bompart Avenue, Webster Groves, MO, USA
Twitter: @avery_allstars