As Seen Around the School

Here are some pictures from various events this fall.  Just a quick view of some things that have been happening at Mission Elementary.

First Day of School Pals

Curious Kinders

Third Grade engineers

Assembly time

Waiting patiently for the assembly to start

Third Grade window shows spirit

K-1 friends at play

PJ day

More PJ day

Second Grade Red Ribbon Week Banner

Tom's Shoes Giveaway

More shoes

TEA group paints Bulldog paws

Boy Scout Assembly

Elementary Bulldog Club

First of all, my apologies that I haven't posted a blog since summer.  Because of a technology glitch, I was unable to access it until this week.  I will try to make up for lost time by posting frequently between now and our winter break.  It has sure been a busy, fun, good start to our school year!  It's hard to believe that we are done with Quarter 1 and into Quarter 2 already.

What is the Bulldog Club?

The Bulldog Club is a school-wide positive behavior incentive program.  Students are “caught being good” and work toward rewards as a class or as a school.  The goal is to improve student behavior so that learning can be our central focus. 

How does it work?

Students can earn Bulldog tickets for following our three Bs:

Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible.  Any adult in the school or on the bus can award a ticket to an elementary student.  Tickets are turned in to the classroom teacher and collected by the principal once a week.

What can students earn?

Students can earn a classroom reward by filling up their class chart.  Students can also earn a school-wide award by collecting a total of 400 tickets.  The rewards can change throughout the year, but are things such as an extra recess, a special treat, small prizes, or a special activity with the principal, such as a game or movie.

The students are working hard to follow our three Bs.  As a school we have collected almost 200 Bulldog tickets for good behavior in just three weeks!  Two classes have earned a Parachute Activity with me and several others are getting very close to earning a class reward!

Introducing “Mission Playground possible”

Exciting news!  A playground committee made up of parents,

community members, teachers, and administrators has been

meeting throughout the summer to work on upgrading our

playground.  Our goal is to add equipment and ground

coverthat will be accessible during the school day and in the

after school hours for all of the families in the community. 

We know our community deserves a great playground!

We have begun fund-raising efforts and will be asking for

student input as decisions are made.  

Please join us in our efforts to improve our playground.  The next meeting will be held at the District Office on Wed. August 24th from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Mission Elementary: Where we are safe, respectful, and responsible!

The three universal rules that are expected at all times at St. Ignatius  Elementary are:

BE SAFE

BE RESPECTFUL

BE RESPONSIBLE

If we all strive to follow these expectations, we will be able to work well together, learn to the best of our abilities, and have a lot of fun!

This year, one of our goals as a district is to take care of our facilities (stewardship) by cutting down on and eventually eliminating graffitti.  Please talk with your children about what it is, why it is wrong, and how they can help: by not writing on school property, reporting it if they see it has occured, and offering to help clean it up when it is possible to do so.  Let's keep the writing and drawing where it belongs--on paper!  THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

  

Welcome to the 2011-2012 School Year!

I would like to welcome everyone to the 2011-2012 school year.  I am excited to see all of our returning students and look forward to getting to know all of our new students as well.  We have a large group of Kindergarten students who are going to be a fun group!  We also have several families that have transferred into our school.  Let’s work together to have an amazing year!

Summer is a chance to learn while having fun!

Glacier Park Waterfall

I hope you are all enjoying your summer, especially now that the weather has warmed up.  I know that my family and I are starting to do some activities such as swimming in the lake and visiting family.  Summer is a time for fun and relaxation, but don't forget to keep learning as well.  Students who spend time practicing their academic skills are less likely to regress during the summer break.  It's amazing what kids can learn just from everyday activities.  Here are some ideas to get you started.

Keep reading!  Remember that the library is open all summer from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays.  You can also sign up for the Summer Book Van to come to your house as well.  A great way to relax and keep in practice with reading skills  is to bring a good book along with you to a park, on a road trip, or just about anywhere you go!  If your child wants to read on the computer in the library or at school, a great site for young readers is www.starfall.com.

On a road trip (somewhere in Wyoming)

Math is everywhere!  Use daily experiences to work in math practice as well.  Kids can count the change you receive at the store, name the shapes of signs they see, count the number of out-of-state license plates they see, use fractions and measurement skills while helping you bake, and keep a summer schedule on a calendar.  Also, card and dice games keep students practicing their facts in a fun way.  There are also many great math websites that you can access at home or at the school/community library as well.  One of the kids' favorites is www.coolmath.com.

Denver Aquarium

Look for Science in nature!  A visit to Kerr Dam is a great way to see the water cycle in action and learn about the physics of generating hydro-electricity.  Even a trip to the back yard can provide examples of the life cycle of insects, parts of plants, and many other discoveries.  Once again, if a computer is the prefered way to have your child learn, have them check out www.enchantedlearning.com to research any topic they are interested in.  Information is presented in kid-friendly versions, with activites to go along with many of the topics.

Talk it up! The most important thing you can do to help children academically in the summer months is to just talk to them.  Ask and answer questions about what they have done each day.  Try to occasionally  use harder words than you think they know so they will become curious and ask what they mean.  Every chance you have to expand a child's vocabulary will help them succeed in school.

Read to Me!

I can't wait to see everyone on August 24th for the first day of school.  Keep having fun and always keep learning!

How do I know if my child is getting enough sleep?

The amount of sleep a child needs varies depending on the individual and certain factors, including the age of the child. Following are some general guidelines:

3-6 Years Old: 10 - 12 hours per day are needed.

Children at this age typically go to bed between 7 and 9 p.m. and wake up around 6 and 8 a.m., just as they did when they were younger. At 3, most children are still napping while at 5, most are not. Naps gradually become shorter as well. New sleep problems do not usually develop after 3 years of age.

7-12 Years Old: 10 - 11 hours per day is needed.

At these ages, with social, school, and family activities, bedtimes gradually become later and later, with most 12-years-olds going to bed at about 9 p.m. There is still a wide range of bedtimes, from 7:30 to 10 p.m., as well as total sleep times, from 9 to 12 hours, although the average is only about 9 hours.

*This information was taken from www.webmd.com on 3/28/11.*

In the spring, with dark mornings and daylight lasting later into the evening, it can be difficult to keep kids on a regular sleep schedule.  It is important for their growth, health,  and learning to do the best we can to make sure they are getting the rest they need.

Dress code reminders

Now that the weather is beginning to warm up, this is a good time to revisit the school dress code.

For the whole policy, please see pg. 9 of the Student Handbook:

• No clothes that are too revealing, such as tank tops, tight clothes, or short shorts.
• Shoes must be worn and flip-flops are discouraged because they offer little or no protection for the feet.
• Clothing or accessories may not have obscene words or pictures and may not reference violence, drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.  As always, hats or head scarves of any kind may not be worn in the building.

So, when the warm weather hits, please remember to stick to these guidelines.  Students wearing something inappropriate will be asked to change.

Bikes for books a huge success!

Our K-5 students did a lot of reading to earn “Bikes for Books” tickets.  They had a month to earn up to five tickets per week for chances to win brand new bikes!  Although not all students can win, they gained a lot by doing all of that extra reading.

The Masonic Lodge donated two bikes and two helmets. Napa donated one bike, and Lake Co. Bank donated another one.  So, we had a total of four bikes to give away (two for girls and two for boys).  The local medical clinic also donated two more helmets for the additional bikes. Along with the bikes, 30 books were given away as well.

At the assembly, Ms. Batiuchok announced several successful

community service projects her TEA students have taken on this year. 

They have raised a lot of money for the American Cancer Society and    

UNICEF to name just a couple.

Then, tickets were drawn out for fifteen books at the K-2 level and

fifteen more at the 3-5 level.  Those students tickets were put back into

the drawing for the grand prizes...

Then the moment finally came to draw the names of those four lucky

winners of brand new bikes.

And the winners were: drum roll please……………………………………………...

Dominique Omingo, Gavin Roberts, Nakoda Padilla,

and Olivia

Garland.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS AND WAY TO READ

EVERYONE!

Spring Showcase is coming soon!

Our Spring Showcase will be held on Thurs. April 28th.  The theme

this year is “Stepping Into the Future”.  The event lasts from 4:30-7:30.

Dinner and entertainment will be provided for families in the new

cafeteria from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Displays and presentations will be set up  around  the schools.

After dinner, dessert and a dedication for Joyce Easter will take place in

the new High School commons.

PLEASE JOIN US!

Alta Care in our Schools

Alta Care is a school-based mental health program.  Alta Care teams are in schools all across Montana, providing therapeutic care while conveniently located in school settings.

We are fortunate to have a new team on board to work with our K-8 students. Felicia Kruh is our Clinical Therapist and Mary Ann Stevens is our Mental Health Assistant. 

Students may be referred for a variety of things, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. 

Once a referral is made, the team works with students’ families to decide if Alta Care will best meet their needs.

Alta Care  can be paid for in several ways.  It can be covered  by Medicare, Chip, or private Insurance.  A sliding fee scale is also offered.

Once a student is placed in Alta Care, they will be seen every school day.  The team will work with teachers to decide the best time to meet with their students.  The program also extends into the summer for those who choose to attend.

We are very excited to have this opportunity to provide this service to our students.

The K-8 team will be located in the Middle School for now.  

Welcome Alta Care!

Books for Bikes

The Masonic Lodge has donated two bicycles and helmets to the elementary school for a program they call "Books for Bikes".  Each day between February 22nd and March 17th, students have the opportunity to earn chances to win a bike just by reading books.  Each teacher sets a goal for the students and gives out the coupons as they meet those goals.

2/28-Great news--we also received donations from NAPA and Lake Co. Bank, so we have a total of four bikes to give away now!

On Friday, March 18th, we will have a short assembly in the cafeteria at 1:45 to draw names for the bikes.  While the bikes are the grand prizes, we will also give away a variety of books as well.  Families are encouraged to come and watch.  We appreciate the generous donation from the Masons, Napa, and Lake Co. Bank.  We hope it will encourage the students to read, read, read!

`                                                                                          

The four bikes we will be giving away!

Our librarian, Mrs. Foust, test driving one of the bikes!

Alta Care starting soon in Mission!

Alta Care is a school-based mental health program which has teams in schools all over the state.  We are pleased to announce that we will soon be selecting a team consisting of a behavior specialist and a social worker to provide services for our K-8 students.  They will be based in the Elementary building.  Please see High School principal Jason Sargent's blog for more information.

MontCAS Tests are coming!

The Montana Comprehensive Assessment System (MontCAS) is designed to measure the achievement of all public school 3rd through 10th grade students in the state.  This test is created based on Montana's Reading and Mathematics curriculums for all students and Montana's Science curriculum for grades 4th and 8th.  Students can score in four possible categories for each subject tested--Novice, Nearing Proficiency, Proficient, or Advanced.  Parents will get reports from this spring's tests early next fall.  Our schools' Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is determined by the percentage of our students in various groups scoring in the Proficient and Advanced categories.

Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will be taking their tests on:  Tues. Mar. 1st, Wed. Mar. 2nd, Thurs. Mar. 3rd, Tues. Mar. 8th, Wed. Mar. 9th, and Thurs., Mar. 10th.  It is very important for students to attend each day of the tests and be on time each day.   If a child is absent due to something that can't be helped, make up tests will be completed up through Fri. Mar. 18th.

So, how can you help make sure your child is ready to do their best on these tests?  Reassure them that this test does not determine if they pass the grade they are in and it does not count for report card grades.  They should look at this as an opportunity to take a break from the regular school routine and show what they know.  The tests will help show their individual progress in school and can help our school do well as a group.  Discuss the importance of doing the best they can and taking their time.  They are allowed to keep working as long as they are on task.  Also, make sure they are physically and mentally ready to test.  If they are eating breakfast at home, make sure it includes some good proteins, such as eggs, peanut butter, meats, and milk.  They should be well rested so that they can stay focused and think clearly.  Finally,
Students are encouaged to bring a water bottle to school if they do not already have one there, so they can stay hydrated during testing as well. 

So, please remember: 

• Testing will be the first two weeks in March -do your best to attend each day!
• Make sure students are well-rested and fed so they will be focused and ready!
• Encourage students to do their very best!

Parachute Reward!

Most Bulldog Club bingo winners have received prizes such as small toys or school supplies.  Today, twenty-four K-2 students won the chance to play parachute games with me.  We played "Popcorn", trying to keep foam balls on the parachute.  We also experimented with how high we could lift the parachute into a mushroom shape, how long we could stay under it while it was in a dome above us, and if we could throw it high enough to run under it before it landed.  Finally, we had a tug 'o war.  Over all, we played several parachute games and everyone had a fun time.  Good job K-2 Bulldog Bingo winners!

After School Art

Students who come to the After School Program can expect to complete their homework, receive tutoring, or complete Success Maker lessons in the computer lab.  After the academic portion of the program, they participate in a variety of enrichment activities such as yoga, crafts, games, technology, science, and sports. 

On the afternoon of Jan. 12th, the program ran from 12:30-5:30, since school was dismissed for students at 12:30 so that teachers could participate in professional learning.  Many activities were included that afternoon, with students going from station to station.

One of the stations was mask-making, led by parent and artist Kathryn Yelsa.  Only the first steps of mask creation were done that day.  The other steps will be completed on the next half day for students, Feb. 2nd.  This will be a great keepsake for years to come!

Attendance is Key!

Have you ever thought about how a child's attendance in school can effect their learning and the rest of his/her life? Below is an excerpt from an article that discusses this issue in depth.  If you would like to read the entire article, just click below the excerpt.  This was copied from the "greatschools.org" website on Jan. 3, 2011.

How important is attendance?

The attendance rate is important because students are more likely to succeed in academics when they attend school consistently. It's difficult for the teacher and the class to build their skills and progress if a large number of students are frequently absent. In addition to falling behind in academics, students who are not in school on a regular basis are more likely to get into trouble with the law and cause problems in their communities.

A 2008 study conducted by the Rodel Community Scholars at Arizona State University that tracked students from kindergarten through high school found that dropout patterns were linked with poor attendance, beginning in kindergarten. Gregory Hickman, director of the Rodel Community Scholars program and former director of the Arizona Dropout Initiative, notes they discovered that as early as kindergarten, behavioral differences are apparent between those who go on to graduate and those who drop out, with dropouts missing an average of 124 days by eighth grade.

http://www.greatschools.org/parenting/behavior-discipline/school-attendance-issues.gs?content=644&page=1

Currently, St. Ignatius Elementary School has an average attendance rate of 93.3% so far this year.  That number sounds high, but keep in mind that means that almost 7% of our students are absent each day.  That works out to about 16 students.  With the number of days we've had in school so far, we have had 1,164 absences.  When you look at it that way, the 93% doesn't seem as impressive.  Also, some students have 100% attendance while others are as low as 56%.  While I understand that some absences are necessary, I get very concerned when students are absent chronically.  There are noted differences in these children's behavior, learning, emotions, and attitude when they miss a lot of school.  Please join me in trying to increase our attendance rate to over 95% for the second half of the year.  Thanks.