The Avery Pulse
April 3rd, 2022
Upcoming Dates
- Parent Input for Class Placement (March 28th-April 10th)
- April 11th-April 22nd - MAP Testing for Grades 3rd, 4th, and 5th
- April 29th - Movie Night at Avery (details below)
- May 2nd - May 6th - Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 6th - Early Release-Dismissal at 11:45am
- May 24th - Avery Night at the Ballpark (details below)
- May 26th - Blacktop Ball SAVE THE DATE!
- May 27th - Last Day of School! Early Release-Dismissal at 11:45am
Join Avery PTO Leadership Team!
Interested in getting more involved and connected with our Avery community but don't know how? Save the date for the evening on April 21st. More information to come!
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Social Emotional Learning Survey
In support of our efforts to better care for the well-being of our students and nurture the most welcoming and inclusive environments possible, elementary counselors will help administer a brief, online and anonymous survey with 3rd-5th grade students between March 28 - April 8, 2022. This will serve as the post DEI/SEL survey, which is the same survey that was administered in Fall 2021. What the students share, coupled with the Fall 2021 survey results, will help guide and assess our efforts to better care for elementary students in the WGSD. Please reach out to (insert school counselor's information) with any questions.
Class Placement Process
Monday, March 28th, 2022
Dear Avery Families-
We will soon begin the process of developing class placements for next school year. The placement of students in classrooms is an important decision. We consider several factors in developing class lists.
The following criteria will be considered as a whole before placements are made:
Input from current teachers and staff throughout the building
Social relationships of a student to his/her peers
Achievement data
Special needs
A child’s learning style
For the sake of equity, we cannot and will not accept requests for specific teachers or peers. We do, however, want to know about students that your child might not have success with. Please know we do value your input. You are welcome to share pertinent information to aid us in making the best placement for your child.
Please communicate with your child’s current teacher about learning styles, environments, etc. that you believe would be most conducive to meeting your child’s needs. All input is due to classroom teachers on or before April 10th.
The information you give might include your view of how your child learns best, the environment that seems to suit her/him best and any other pertinent information you would like to share. Such information will be considered as a component to our process.
We appreciate your understanding and support of the placement process.
Thank you in advance for your input and contributions.
Sincerely,
Hannah Peterson, Ed.D. Aaron Winkler, PhD
Principal Assistant Principal
Blacktop Ball T-Shirt Design Contest for 5th Graders
Blacktop Ball T-Shirt Design Contest!
Attention all 5th Graders!
We are looking for an Avery 5th grade student to design the next Blacktop Ball T-Shirt. The design should be drawn on a white piece of paper with black and orange text and include the title "Blacktop Ball 2022". The theme should celebrate this annual event.
Paper submissions are due by Friday, April 1st to Ms. Neusitz, the Avery art teacher. Any questions, please see Ms. Neusitz or email parent Sally Kilbride (skilbride@jburroughs.org). The collective 5th grade will then vote to pick the winner!
EFA Newsletter
Kindergarteners are proving that they can persevere! They’ve continued to practice following algorithms through code.org and storytelling. They’re also practicing giving specific instructions as they learn the basics of programming. Along the way kindergarteners are learning the importance of communication as they work through difficulties that may arise. Great job kindergarteners!
1st graders are also moving along in code.org. They are really doing a great job of programming their sprites to move to specific destinations. This is also helping them to build critical thinking skills as they learn the importance of sequencing and debugging. They have already shown growth in creating successful algorithms. Keep up the great work 1st graders!
2nd and 3rd grade: After being called “The Computer Teacher” and “The Coding Teacher” since the beginning of EFA, students finally got on computers to start coding! The students were very excited to log on to code.org and give it a try. We practiced as a class being an angry bird and traveling to the silly pig. They learned the new words: algorithm, loop, program, bug, and debugging. Many students started with a little frustration, then progressed to mild success, and ended with enjoying the skill level challenges. Students can continue, if they choose to, by logging on to code.org through Clever. They all started with CS Fundamentals Course C and there are 94 skill building levels that they can work through. If they really get into it there are more courses that extend all the way into high school. The code.org website reports: “Six different studies show: children who study computer science perform better in other subjects, excel at problem-solving, and are 17% more likely to attend college. Recent research also demonstrates positive links between learning computer science with CS Fundamentals and reading comprehension, problem-solving, and planning skills. Students with resourceful teachers scored higher on standardized reading comprehension exams when they did extra CS Fundamentals activities. CS Fundamentals students also outperformed other STEM students at problem-solving executive function and planning skills.”
Fourth and fifth graders have been furthering their computer science skills using Scratch coding. Scratch coding is fun and engaging while also giving students a creative outlet to express themselves. Scratch coding helps students build logic and problem-solving skills and serves as a great introduction to coding. Students are completing projects that teach them a variety of coding skills and after spring break, they will show all they have learned by creating a project of their own choosing. All of their projects are saved in their My Stuff folder in their Scratch account. Ask them to take a peek!
Covid 19 Testing
Dear WGSD Families and Staff:
Beginning this Thursday, the Webster Groves School District will offer COVID-19 testing for the public from 2-4 p.m. in the board room at the central office, 400 E. Lockwood Ave. Testing will continue to be offered here on Thursdays at this time except for during spring break.
Rapid antigen and PCR testing will be available through Visionary Vaccine Services. No appointment is needed. Masks will be required. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent of guardian. Your insurance will be billed for the service and there are no fees for the uninsured. Everyone tested will receive a letter documenting the date of service, type of testing and results.
Testing will also be offered for the public in other school districts:
Mondays and Wednesdays in the Ladue School District at the Fifth Grade Center, 10900 Ladue Rd., inside the lower level athletic entrance to the building from 9-11 a.m.
On Tuesdays, at the Clayton District's Administration Center, #2 Mark Twain Circle in Clayton, from 9-11 a.m
5th Grade Art Show
The 5th grade art show will be taking place at Hixson on May 4th from 6 - 8 pm. Please come anytime between 6 - 8 pm. The art show's theme is change. Each 5th grader in the district created a work of art inspired by the theme change. Family and friends please come and check out the exciting works of art created by the 5th grade students from Avery, Bristol, Edgar Road, Hudson and Clark. We look forward to seeing you there!
Thank you,
Jessica Neusitz
Art Teacher
Avery Elementary
909 N. Bompart Avenue
Webster Groves MO 63119
314-963-6425
Spring Picture Information
Thank you for all students that had their Spring Pictures taken on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. Orders can be viewed and placed online using the information below.
It will take us approximately 3 to 4 weeks to process Avery's orders and to get them shipped back to our school. They will be sent home once they arrive at Avery.
Title 1 Meeting - March 14
On Monday, March 14th from 3:00pm-3:30pm, we will have an informational meeting regarding our Title One program and how Title One funding benefits Avery School.
If you are interested in attending, please fill out the information below and we will send out a Zoom link with details closer to the date.
Avery Equity Meeting - March 15
Topic: Avery Parents for Racial Equity
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
https://wgsdstl.zoom.us/j/96358432002?pwd=UHNyVzFBZkZjM3NYejlRMmg1OUNzQT09
Meeting ID: 963 5843 2002
Passcode: 882971
Information below is repeated from the previous Pulse.
Mask Recommended Update
Please click here to access the March 1st communication for additional information.
Counselor Corner
Check in with Mrs. Wallace
Our building wide universals for social emotional learning and personal success continue to be: The Avery Way, The Zones of Regulation, and the 7 Habits. Please contact me if you have any questions about these universals or the counseling program at Avery.
Over the next month students in every grade will have the opportunity to be a part of a unit from Prevent Ed. Prevent Ed is a wonderful organization that gives each grade four lessons on successful relationships, decision making, and being responsible. Please review the information below about each grade’s lessons from Prevent Ed.
Students will also continue our building wide focus on the 7 Habits of Successful Kids by learning about Habit #6… Synergize:
Habit #6 Synergize states: I value other people’s strengths and learn from them. I get along well with others, even people who are different from me. I work well in groups. I seek out other people’s ideas to solve problems. I know that “two heads are better than one”. I am a better person when I let other people into my life and work.
Parenting Help: What are thinking errors?
Negative thinking patterns are distorted ways of looking at situations. Sometimes with students we call these “thinking errors”. Two examples of these thinking errors are:
1. Ignoring the Good- If you ignore the good you pay more attention to bad things and ignore when something good happens…(watch the news…adults and our society do this as well…of course, kids will do this then… they learn from us).
Examples:
You get one answer wrong on a long test, and all you think about is the mistake.
You score two goals in your soccer game, but all you think about is the shot you missed.
2. Blowing Things Up. Making a really big deal out of something small, or making something a little bit bad seem like the worse thing ever.
Examples:
You get a stain on your new shoes and you think they are ruined and can’t be worn anymore.
“I’m not allowed to see my friends on Friday. My life is horrible!” – student
…more examples to come!
Arrival Reminders
Bompart Avenue
- Carpool drop-off only in front of school
- Parents to remain in vehicles with staff members assisting students
- No parking during arrival
- Staff members will supervise at the curb
- PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON THE CURBS/SIDEWALKS
Marshall Avenue
- Atrium entrance will be open for arrival for students dropped off on Marshall
- Staff members will supervise at the curb
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
Blacktop Ball Committee: Looking for New Members
Incoming Kindergarten Information
Here is a link with Helpful Kindergarten Information!
Questions? Please contact: 314-963-6425
Inclement Weather Closing Information
Quarantine Expectations
2021-2022 Buzz Book
Title I Program Parent and Family Involvement and Engagement
Please see the link below for Parent and Family Engagement Federal Programs:
https://dese.mo.gov/quality-schools/federal-programs/parent-family-engagement
Canvas Information
To stay connected with the learning in our classrooms, please create a Canvas Observer Account which is our district's learning management system. You will find attached three documents.
- Canvas Informational Letter
- Creating an Observer Account, Logging into Canvas, and Setting Notifications
- Student Accessing Canvas
If you have any questions please contact Tim Brown, Director of Student Assessment, Data and Learning Technologies at brown.tim@wgmail.org
Online Community Bulletin Board
Want to make a submission to The Avery Pulse?
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
group created soley to work with district staff, students and parents
to raise fund for district activities (PTOs, booster clubs, the
Foundation)
Regarding signs, only signs for school or district groups (sponsored
or affiliated) can be placed on school grounds.
You can read the board policy here
https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/ViewPolicy.aspx?S=448&revid=6VcjbAkBf4Ls3Fs6CyIxFA==&ptid=amIgTZiB9plushNjl6WXhfiOQ==&secid=1QSfUuz8WRJ5slsh0xnyVwukQ==&PG=6&IRP=0
If you are a non-profit organization that doesn't qualify for direct distribution to students and families, you can contact Cathy Vespereny (vespereny.cathy@wgmail.org) who is our Director of Communication and she 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.
Avery Elementary
Email: theaverypulse@gmail.com
Website: https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/Domain/89
Location: 909 North Bompart Avenue, Webster Groves, MO, USA
Phone: 314-963-6425
Twitter: @avery_allstars