October
October 2011
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
We have almost concluded the second month of school! Time goes by so quickly . . . Even though we are no longer at the starting point of the school year, we still need to introduce what's new. We have two new teachers to Grace Miller school this year. Maria Brock is teaching first grade, and Stacy Thompson is teaching a 1-2 combo class. Mr. Jerry Cruz has joined our staff as head custodian, Elsa Placencia is our new cafeteria supervisor and Susan Rodriguez is our new campus aide in the mornings.
Look for something new in the cafeteria, too! We have added a salad bar for lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If a child buys lunch on those days, the salad bar is included as part of the lunch. The produce is provided mostly by local farmers and contains vegetables that are in season. If you'd like to volunteer to help the younger students at the salad bar on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:20 - 12:00, please contact the school office.
This year, the school library will be open daily from 7:45 to 2:15 so students wishing to check out additional books may go to the library before school and until 2:15 each day. Even though each class visits the library once per week, the library is open many other times for students to exchange books. Students may now check out two books at a time. That said, it is still the child's responsibility to return the books one week later (or return them for re-checking out).
Contact the teacher or school staff if you have concerns or questions regarding the new things happening at Grace Miller this year!
Mrs. Spencer, Principal
Family Fall Festival to be a
Fun Night for the Whole Family
Join us for the very popular, very FUN Family Fall Festival at Grace Miller School on Thursday night, Oct. 27th from 5:30-8:30 PM. Proceeds from the event will go toward field trips for the grade levels. Student organizations have designated their proceeds to go towards the individual needs identified by that organization.
5:30 PM - Costume Parade (meet at Kuns Park)
*** NO MASKS, NO BLOOD, NO WEAPONS
6:00 PM -Taco Dinner
Carnival Activities/ Booths:
Kinder - Bean Bag Toss
1st - Bounce House
2nd - Fun MAZE House
3rd - Caramel Apples
4th - Pumpkin Bean Bag Toss/ Lollipop Tree
5th - Glow sticks
Pre-school - Ping Pong Toss for goldfish
Day Care - Pictures with Silas the Dog
Dancing with the DJ
Cake Walk
Rolling Video Game Truck
Cotton Candy
Cake Walk
Face Painting
Hair Feathers
LOTS MORE!!!!!
Silent Auction - GREAT STUFF to win
Tickets for the activities are $0.50 each and can be purchased at the event or during the pre-sale. (Some activities will require multiple tickets. Flyers will be sent home.
DON'T MISS IT!!!
Red Ribbon Week - October 24-27
"It's Up to Me to be Drug Free"
We have activities planned each day to support healthy, safe and drug free schools:
Mon: Ribbon-ize school; Students get bracelets
Tues: Sock-it-to -drugs - wear CRAZY socks
and students sign Pledge Cards
Wed: Wear shirts backwards: "Turn your back
On drugs"; Red licorice reward
Thurs: Wear red shirts; RR Week Pencils
Get an 'A' for a Good Attendance Attitude!
Research shows that children who are in school on time do better in school and in life. This might seem like a "no-brainer," but how does this transfer to adulthood? We need to instill the following values:
- Learning to be on time (and even a little early) is a habit that will last a lifetime.
- Being prepared for the day helps children learn to plan ahead.
- Routinely going to bed on time and getting up on schedule contributes to having a successful day.
- Making school a priority shows that learning is important.
- Children learn responsibility by consistently being on time and doing their best.
- It's okay to stay home when ill, but plan vacations around days where school is scheduled to be off.
- Developing healthy habits of nutrition, sleep, and exercise will ensure that your child has the energy and capacity to do well in school, but to also be well.
EMERGENCY DRILL INFORMATION
On Oct. 20, we will participate in the California Shake Out. Our school holds an emergency drill each month which could be either a fire drill, lock-down drill, or earthquake drill. In case of an emergency where you would need to pick up your child:
1) The automated parent calling system would send out a message almost immediately to your primary phone number directing you on what to do next.
2) If we are directed by the District to release students early and have been cleared to do so, we would have you sign the students out at a student check-out table. If students have been evacuated, you would sign them out at a staging area set up in front of the office. If students have been locked-down, after the school had been cleared to release students, you would report to the classroom to sign your child out. We will continue to send you updates as the year progresses on ways that we are improving our safety operations.
Make sure your emergency contact information is current and correct in the event that you are unable to pick up your own child. Forms are available in the office.
Handbook Reminder
On page 9 of the school handbook, it states: "Our school does not allow the bringing or sweets and treats to celebrate birthdays . . ." This policy is necessary in order to protect the many students with food allergies at our school as well as to protect our facilities. See the handbook for ideas that would be acceptable.
