Freeman Elementary School Newsletter

Freeman Elementary School Newsletter
Principal Andi Williams
Oct 2010
Volume 2
Freeman Elementary School Mission Statement
At Freeman Elementary, our commitment is to
empower individuals to be successful through
high expectations in a place of pride where
achievement is inspired by caring, effective
instruction and respect.
I CAN! I WILL! I DO!
UPCOMING
EVENTS
I can…be successful
today!
I will… overcome the
challenges I face today!
I do…accept
responsibility for myself
today!
-School Motto
5th Grade Field Trip to Zoo
Fundraiser money due
Windy City Players perform “Robin Hood”
10:10am – 10:55am
Thur. 10/14
Donuts for Dad 7:40 am to 8:10 am - Cafeteria
Thur. 10/14
PTA Meeting @ 7pm - Cafeteria
Fri. 10/15
No School for Students – End of 9 weeks
Oct 18, 20, 21 Parent/Teacher Conferences
Mon. 10/18
P.R.I.D.E. Celebration Assembly @ 8:45 am
P.R.I.D.E. Celebration Party
Tues. 10/19
Dental Checks
Thur. 10/21
No School for Students – Parent/Teacher Conferences
Fri. 10/22
No School – Conference Release Day
Oct 25 – 28
Red Ribbon Week
Tues. 10/26
Spelling Bee @ 9:30am
Fri. 10/29
Fall Class Parties 3:00 – 3:30 pm
Fri. 10/29
Family Movie Night @ 6pm
Tues. 10/5
Tues. 10/12
Tues. 10/12
PARENT/TEACHER
CONFERENCES
Freeman Elementary
7303 S Meridian
Haysville, KS 67060
Phone: 316-554-2265
FAX: 316-554-2295
Conferences will be held the week of October 18 – 21. If you
cannot keep your scheduled appointment please contact the
teacher to reschedule. Evening conference times are 4:00 –
7:00 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday and 8:00 a.m. – 3:30
p.m. on Thursday. There will be
NO SCHOOL for students
Thursday, October 21 and
Friday, October 22.
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Freeman Falcons
School Newsletter
LITERACY FIRST FACTS
Now that we are done with testing kids on reading
skills, our Literacy First strategies are beginning in the
K-2 classrooms. One of the first things teachers are
putting in place is a Word Wall. Word Walls are on
display with current words being studied in class, plus
previous ones for review. Teachers do Word Wall
activities everyday to help students learn and practice
the words of the week. As all students learn a word,
it can be removed from the Word Wall.
BUS RIDERS
If your child usually rides the
bus, we will have them ride the
bus unless you have called the
office by 3:00pm to tell us of
other arrangements or if you
have been in contact with the
teacher.
Here are some Word Wall games students might play
in class and you could play at home with a list of sight
words:
1. Word on the Brain. One student sits facing the
class and has a word written on the board
above their head and behind them.
Classmates give the student clues until they
can guess the word.
2. Practice spelling and saying the words while
clapping, stomping, or snapping as letters are
spoken. Example: Say the word “that”, then
snap four times while saying the letters and
end by saying the word again.
3. Go Fish – like the traditional game but with
sight words.
By the end of first grade, students will have gone over
200 Word Wall Words. Second graders have 500
words to learn! Look for other word games in
upcoming newsletters and make up some of your own
too!
If you have a fun way to practice reading words at
home, give a note to your teacher and address it to
Mrs. Potillo. I will pick a few ideas to publish in future
newsletters!
Thanks,
Mrs. Potillo
Literacy Resource Specialist (Title I)
P.R.I.D.E
Preparation
Respect
Integrity
Discipline
Excellence
PICKING UP
STUDENTS EARLY
FROM SCHOOL
If you have to pick up your
child from school during school
hours, please plan for enough
time before your appointment.
Students will remain in their
class until you have checked
them out in the office. We will
not have any students waiting in
the office before you are here.
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Freeman Falcons
Falcons
Freeman
School Newsletter
FROM THE HEALTH ROOM
Dental Screenings: The Sedgwick County Health Department will be providing dental hygienists for
voluntary student screenings on Tuesday, October 19. This is a quick visual screening and should not
replace your child’s usual visit to the dentist. Screening report cards will be sent home with your child.
If you have any questions or prefer that your child not be screened, please call the Health Room at
Freeman at 554-2265.
Fluoride Mouthrinse Program: The Fluoride Mouthrinse Program will begin Wednesday, October 6th,
for Freeman’s third and fourth graders. If you have a child in third or fourth grade and would like them
to participate, please complete and return the permission form sent home with them in early
September.
A Reminder To Parents About Medications Given At School:
Health personnel must have three things before dispensing oral medication to students:
1. Medication in original prescription bottle.
2. Note from parent or guardian giving permission and instructions.
3. Note from doctor stating medication dosage and time. (Parent may have doctor FAX this
information to school. Our Fax number is 316-554-2295.)
The above things are required for over-the-counter oral medications also.
Non-oral over-the-counter and non-prescription medication may be given with a note signed only by
the parent.
Health Services: All of our standard health permission and information forms are now available online
at the USD 261 Website. Click on the Services heading on the Home Page and then click on Health
Services. You will also find information on the state immunization requirements and other healthrelated resources.
PTA NEWS
--Donuts for Dad will be Thursday, October 14th from 7:40am to 8:10am in the cafeteria.
--PTA meeting on Thursday, October 14th at 7:00pm in the cafeteria
--Family Movie Night will be Friday, October 29th at 6:00pm
--Muffins with Mom on Thursday, November 11th from 7:40am to 8:10am in the cafeteria.
--PTA meeting on Thursday, November 18th at 7pm in the cafeteria
--Parents Night Out Skate Party at Roller City on Tuesday,
November 30th from 6pm to 8pm
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Freeman Falcons
School Newsletter
COACH’S
CORNER
“RELAY FOR LIFE” ROCKS
On Wednesday September 15th, Freeman held its first annual "Relay for Life" event associated with
the American Cancer Society. If you're not familiar with this program, it’s an event that helps
educate people about cancer and healthy behaviors and gives them a chance to celebrate
survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against this disease. By hosting this event at
Freeman we wanted to inform and educate our students about cancer and how to incorporate
healthy behaviors into their lifestyles.
Cancer is a disease that affects everyone. In 2008, more than 1.4 million new cases of cancer
were diagnosed in the United States. Research shows that a large number of cancer cases are
linked to everyday behaviors. Approximately one-third of cancer deaths are due to tobacco use.
Another third is linked to overweight or obesity, lack of physical activity, and poor nutrition. Our
goal is to teach our students that many cancers can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle, eating
well, getting plenty of exercise, staying at a healthy weight, avoiding too much sun exposure, and
above all, not smoking or using other forms of tobacco. Healthy behaviors have a huge impact
beyond cancer, too; they can help kids feel better and perform better in school. More importantly,
kids who establish healthy habits early in life are more likely to lead healthy adult lives.
It was great to see our students and staff walking on our Freeman track for the "Relay for Life".
We would also like to thank all of the parents for coming out and walking with their students
during this event. The students were also involved in fundraising for this event by bringing their
donations and placing them in our "Wishing Well" to wish cancer away! We would like to thank all
of the students, parents, and staff for their fundraising efforts. We are proud to announce that
Freemans Fundraising efforts brought in the amount of $451.00 for the American Cancer Society!
The donations will be used for research, education, advocacy, and service programs.
Way to Go Freeman Falcons! You Rock!
DID YOU KNOW: - You can call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 seven days a
week, 24 hours a day for cancer information!
- Increased time spent in physical activity will help improve academic performance!
Thank you for helping make a difference in the fight against cancer!
Coach Kelley
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Freeman Falcons
Relay for Life Participants
School Newsletter
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Freeman Falcons
School Newsletter
KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE
First grade teachers Laura Rowley and April Davis participated in the
Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday, September 25th. Ms. Rowley ran
the 5K in 32 minutes and they both participated in the 1mile fun walk.
Lilli Davis, Ian Davis, Courtni Williams and Sydni Williams all ran in the
Kids Fun Run and walked in the 1 mile fun walk. The team's name was
April's Allies and they raised $1,330.00 to give to the Komen foundation
to help fight breast cancer.
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School Newsletter
COUNSELING
NEWS
Classroom guidance
Guidance classes have been busy. First grade is well on their way to becoming great friends and students.
They are learning about super school skills. They have learned how to ask for things in a caring way with
the help of Frogger, Miranda and Foxy. We practiced the 4 steps to ask for things with partners and had lots
of fun. We also learned that even if we ask correctly we might be told ―No‖ and that’s OK too. Second
grade students reviewed the asking steps from Frogger and will begin a unit on study skills. Barney Bear
and his friends will be teaching the skills necessary to be a successful student. The third, fourth, and fifth
grade classes are learning more communication and cooperation. They will solve some puzzling problems.
Our focus in October will be on decision making and remaining drug free.
PBIS
The team is busy watching for PRIDE here at Freeman and students are earning Falcon Bucks for the
upcoming PRIDE celebration. 120 students currently have PERFECT ATTENDANCE! That means
they have been to school on time every day so far. They received a small note of recognition—―Perfect
attendance is SMART‖ and some Smarties candy. That’s a lot of families working hard for success at
school!
Olweus Bully Prevention
Parents play an important role in keeping children safe from bullying behavior. We definitely need your
help when it comes to reporting bullying behavior. Our rule is that we will tell an adult at school and one at
home if we see bullying. Please have conversations with your child about reporting any kind of bullying.
It’s a way to be someone’s HERO! It will keep us all safe! We LOVE our new red t-shirts!
PARENT POWER
Regular attendance at school is very important to school success. Here are some tips to help with attendance:
 Talk with your child about the importance of regular attendance.
 Avoid scheduling trips or appointments during school hours.
 Support school rules for attendance and tardiness.
 Help your child maintain good health with proper nutrition and adequate sleep.
Being responsible is very important in life. Parents can be very helpful in creating a highly responsible
student. Responsible students grow up to be responsible adults. There are seven habits of highly
responsible students. The first is goal setting. Highly responsible students set goals, create a plan to reach
each goal, and focus on that plan. The planning step is critical. Exactly how will they reach that goal? Help
your child make and follow that plan. **The Parent Institute
September 13-17 was School Preparedness Week. If you would like additional information please visit the
following sites.
www.citizencorps.gov
www.ready.gov
www.fema.gov
www.redcross.org
Kansas Center for Safe & Prepared Schools
Patty Wellman, Counselor
554-2265 or pwellman@usd261.com
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SchoolNewsletter
Newsletter
School
School
Newsletter
Thanks to the Freeman PTA, Red Ribbon Week will be a very exciting week. Our celebration week
will be October 25-28. We will be sponsoring 4 themes this year—one per day. Students and staff are
encouraged to dress to the daily theme to reinforce the drug free choice. During weekly guidance time we
will learn what drugs are, how they affect the body, healthy alternatives to drugs, and refusal skills. Each
student will learn the drug free pledge and earn a small gift. Once they learn and recite the pledge they
will get a lottery ticket for a small prize.
RED RIBBON WEEK – October 25th to October 28th
Monday, Oct. 25 – “Put a Cap on Drugs”
 Wear a hat day
Tuesday, Oct 26 – “Team Up Against Drugs”
 Wear your favorite team shirt or colors
Wednesday, Oct 27 – “We Rule, We’re a Drug Free School”
 Wear red day
Thursday, Oct 28 – “Drugs Will “Burst” Your Bubble”
On September 15th Mr. Kelley organized a Relay for Life walk for Freeman students and staff. It was a
HUGE success!
FOURTH GRADE