February
February 2012
Principal's Message
During what is considered to be the season of "love," it is ironic that we have so much recent news about the anger and violence going on throughout our state, country, and world. With that said, we can be Thankful that we live in a great community with lots of positive resources to help families through times of crisis and to keep us safe. We continually ask ourselves here at Grace Miller School what we can do to pro-actively work with children to help them become responsible, caring citizens and to keep anger and violence from infiltrating our school community.
For several years, we have utilized numerous programs at the school to teach responsible citizenship. Through our PeaceBuilders Program, Peace Patrol peer mediation program, and Accountability Concepts, we have been able to teach students how to have positive peer interactions, to resolve problems with effective words, and to take responsibility for one's actions and make things right, if needed.
We also have a solid safety plan. In the event of an emergency situation at school, each child is taught how to respond in a safe manner without panic. We have systems in place to account for every student and staff member. Our school and district safety plans are on file with local emergency response agencies that are connected to our school.
On the back of this Newsette is the first in a series of "What if . . . " articles that will help you know how we are prepared in the event of an emergency. Check it out!
Deanne Spencer, Principal
Happy Birthday, PTA! Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 1st for the annual PTA Founder's Day event. The PTA Service Awards Program will begin at 6:00 PM. Afterward, at 6:30, we will have our annual Talent Show. The event will be held at Hillcrest Homes. We hope to see you there!
During a lockdown: In the event that the campus needs to lockdown, an ALL CALL is issued over the intercom. Staff will lock all doors and turn off all lights, Students will assume the Duck and Cover position and remain quiet and out of sight. If possible, all gates that allow access to the campus will be locked. If students are on the playground, they will be instructed to walk to their classrooms or to take cover in the nearest available room. A phone tree will be initiated to account for all students and staff on campus. We do lockdown drills several times per year, including having students evacuate the playground in case it becomes necessary to lockdown during recess.
If the lockdown is in place for an extended period, every classroom has been supplied with snacks, bottled water, and a porta-potty with a fold out privacy tent. The PTA Health and Safety Committee keeps the red emergency bags, snacks and water up-to-date. If your child has special needs that should be addressed during an extended lockdown time, please contact your child's teacher and/or the school office so that those considerations may be noted prior to a lockdown event.
After the lockdown: If we were instructed to lockdown by the emergency personnel, they would then work with the District Office to determine when the campus could be taken off lockdown. We would then follow their directions in the release of students. If it is determined that students should be released for the day, students may be signed out in the office, or by the teacher in the classroom only to persons on the pink emergency cards. Those persons must show ID to have the student released to them.
Our school Disaster Plan is on file in the school office if you'd like to look at it.
Next month: What if . . . .there is an Earthquake.
Kindergarten and New Student Registration for 2012-2013
Kindergarten and New Student registration begins March 1st . Registration packets will be given out from 9:00-3:00 each school day. Please bring:
1) Birth Certificate indicating fifth birthday prior to November 1st
2) Immunization records
Polio- 4 doses
DPT/DTP/DT/Td - 5 doses
MMR - 2 doses,
Hepatitis B - 3 doses
Varicella
3) Proof of residency from 2 sources.
If you have friends or neighbors with children who would qualify for enrollment at our school, please pass along this information.
Math Facts Mastery
Practice, practice, practice! That's how you memorize math facts! If students aren't automatic with math facts, everything else about math will be more difficult. Spend time EVERY DAY helping your child practice Math Facts at home. Your child should be able to answer each fact in three seconds or less! Check with your child's teacher on exactly which facts he/she is currently learning or should have mastered. Free up teachers to teach math concepts during the school day by working on Math Facts at home!
See the school website for online practice sites.
HEALTHY SNACKS - - - OR NOT!
In one corner: Flaming Hot Cheetos, Skittles, cookies, and Twix. In the other corner: String Cheese, applesauce, peanut butter crackers, and yogurt. Which do you think promotes the best "brainpower" after recess? Which do you think most students like to bring for snack? Let's knock out unhealthy snacks from the morning recess diet! The kids need better brain-food to better sustain attention and promote retention. Plan ahead and help your child make the best choices of snacks for success!
Thanks for your Support!
With your support by bringing in receipts from Fresh and Easy, we raised $964.00 to go towards a new salad bar at Grace Miller School. Thanks to all of you who shopped and submitted receipts and to Michelle Shepperd for coordinating this collection.
Also, please continue to save Box Tops and Campbell's Soup labels as they are due February 15th for the next collection. These donations fund technology and equipment for our school.
Another current fundraiser is the Cheesecake sale. This is important to fund 5th grade Outdoor Science School. The whole school participates so that each 5th grader has an opportunity to attend for a whole week! As each child gets to 5th grade, the whole school works for that child's opportunity! Thanks for your support - it's all for the kids!
