School is Right Around the Corner!

It happens every year.  Summer vacation starts with much excitement. Everyone can smell the sunscreen, feel the cool water of the anticipated splash in the pool, hear the roar of the crowd at the ball park, and taste the delicious ice cream you have been waiting all winter for.  Families urgently begin their vacations and summer activities, as they should. Summer is a much welcomed break from school and a nice change of pace from a daily routine. Students and families spend a lot of their time doing things they don't have time for or can't during the school year.

There are certain activities that only come around during the summer which makes them very exciting; softball and baseball, swimming, camp, VBS, extended sleepovers with grandparents, summer reading programs, the county fair, and on and on.  Most kids spend their time sleeping in and staying up late.

Then the 4th of July hits and everyone is still relaxing and enjoying the sights and sounds of summer.  About mid July school supplies and back to school shopping adds start to pop up. There starts to be a little anxiety about the return of school because summer is SO MUCH FUN!

Before you know it, it's July 31st and the school is sending out paperwork and reminders that Back to School Open House night is soon.  Some students are ready to go back, some students are not, and some are ready to go back because they miss their friends.

If you ask teachers, they may say they aren't ready to get back to school, but secretly they are loving getting their room set up and putting their Pinterest ideas to the test.  The school staff is busily wrapping up all of the summer projects and restocking school supplies.

So yes, it is that time of year, where the start of school is Right Around the Corner!  Open House is Wednesday, August 12th from 6-7pm.  Be sure to come to school to meet your teacher and new classmates, bring in paperwork, have your picture taken at the Photo Booth, each supper in the cafeteria, and visit with your friends!

Take your time to soak up the last few days of summer!  We will be seeing you soon!

Kindergarten Round Up

Kindergarten Round Up is quickly approaching which means that our little pre-schoolers are almost ready for school!  Although going to pre-school is a lot like "real" school, adjusting to going to kindergarten can have it's own challenges.  The first big decision you have to make is WHEN to send your child.  The old rule was you had to turn 5 by October 15th.  The current state law is students have to turn 5 by July 31 in order begin kindergarten.  Of course parents always have the choice to hold their child back until they are 6 years old to begin kindergarten.  The complication is with pre-school.  A student cannot continue to be enrolled in a public school pre-school if the child has turned 5 on or before July 31.  In order to continue with pre-school services, they would have to find a daycare outside of the public school.  However, if your child has been identified with special needs and is placed on an IEP (Individual Education Plan), the child's IEP team will decide what is best for the child which may result in another year of public school pre-school even if the child is 5 years old after July 31.

The Nebraska Department of Education produced a document called, Ready for Success:  What Families Want to Know about Starting School in Nebraska.  Below are some other questions and answers to consider when deciding if your child is ready for school.  It is a big decision and you need to be comfortable with your choice.  If you are really struggling with what to do, contact the school and have a few conversations with the principal, pre-school and kindergarten teachers.  They will be able to give you a good idea about what is expected and how your child might respond to kindergarten.

What does school rediness mean?
Children are born ready and eager to learn.  The goal of school readiness efforts is to support ALL children entering kindergarten with skills, knowledge, health, and attitude to be successful life-long learners.  Ready children have families who support their children's learning, and schools that are prepared to meet the individual needs of ALL children the year they are age-eligible to attend kindergarten.

How do I know if my child is ready?
It's about more than what your child knows.  It also includes if your child is healthy rested, and well fed.  Is able to pay attention, follow directions and communicate their thoughts and needs without being disruptive.  Is he/she curious and enthusiastic about new activities.  Is he/she confident, cooperative and able to practice age-appropriate self control.  Consider all areas of your child's development, no just his/her academic skills.  

What will kindergarten be like?
It is normal for children to be at different levels of development with a wide range of abilities.  Nebraska teachers plan their curriculum based on state standards (which is what children should know by the END of the school year) in language arts, math, science, and social studies.  Many kindergarten teachers provide plenty of time for play and exploration because young children are active learners and learn best through play.

How can I help my child be ready?
Promote good healthy habits, encourage social and emotional well-being, support language and learning.

How can I prepare for the first day?

• be enthusiastic and positive
• make an appointment for kindergarten check up and immunizations
• turn in all documents requested by the school such as:  original birth certificate, emergency contacts, before and after school care information, school calendar, school expectations and routines.
• read books about kindergarten
• participate in the school Open House
• meet with your child's teacher
• start a new bedtime and morning routin
• arrive at school early for the first day!

How can i support my child's education?

• be enthusiastic about school
• help your child be at school, on time, every day
• read with your child daily
• ask about your child's day
• talk to your child's teacher often and early.

Entering kindergarten with your first child or your last, can be a stressful time and full of a lot of worry.  It's usually harder on the parents than it is on the students.  Kindergarten aged students are usually very ready to attend.  If your child seems a little reserved at first, that is normal.  Give them time to take everything in and absorb their new environment.  By the end of the school year, you will be amazed at how much they have grown up!  As always, remember to contact the personnel in your child's school if you have any reservations or questions about kindergarten or choosing the appropriate time to attend.  Our job as educators is to keep students safe and to do what is best for them.

Source
2012.  Ready for Success:  What Families Want to Know about Starting School in Nebraska.  Nebraska Department of Education.  www.education.ne.gov/oec

One School One Book and The World According to Humphrey...the Hamster

The secret has been revealed.  This morning at an assembly for the elementary students our inaugural program One School One Book was unveiled.  What is One School One Book (OSOB)?  It's a school wide program targeted at families and increasing literacy at home together.  Each family will receive a copy of the book, The World According to Humphrey, a bookmark, reading completion certificates, and a flyer that includes the reading schedule and tips for reading aloud at home.  Most of the time, the reading assignment for the night is to read one chapter.  They are short, about 5-10 pages.  The ideas is to involve EVERYONE in the family.  Gather all the kids and parents, heck aunt, uncles, cousins, and grandparents are welcome too.  Sit down together and read the chapter together.  Take turns passing the book around to read and talk about it afterwards.

Each morning, there will be questions asked to the students over the morning announcements.  As a class, they will submit their answers via email to Mrs. Sieh.  If the class answers the question correctly, they get a point.  We will see how many points each class has at the end of the reading period.  In addition, for every child that completes the weekly reading selection, the can fill out a certificate and bring back to school on Monday to be entered for a drawing.  Prizes will be awarded!

To read a description of the book, click here:  Humphrey

I hope that you will all get on board with our inaugural OSOB program enjoy reading about Humphrey.  The students were all expecting a real hamster...we will see if one shows up!


Here is the letter than went out to students today about the program:

Dear Parent/Guardian:

This month our school will be embarking on a special project, an all school book club called One School, One Book.  Every family will receive a copy of the same book – Betty G. Birney’s The World According to Humphrey - and will be asked to read it at home over the month of February.  I am personally asking you to make the time so your family can participate in this special activity.

Reading aloud at home is valuable because it better prepares your child to be an effective reader.  But it is also a fun, worthwhile family activity.  Through our One School, One Book program, we aim to build a community of readers at our school.  Everyone - students, parents, teachers, even administrative staff - will be participating, and we can all reap the many benefits.

Your child will receive his/her copy of The World According to Humphrey at a special school-wide assembly, February 6^th, introducing the program and the book.  When the book comes home, you will receive a tailored reading schedule so you can keep up at home.  Generally you will be asked to read a chapter a night – about 15 minutes per night.

In school, your child will be invited to answer daily trivia questions to encourage and reward attentive, aggressive listening.  You will soon find that your child will take pride in knowing and anticipating the details of the story.  In class, there may be various activities which discuss or explore the book.   You will want to make sure your family keeps up so your child can be included.  Throughout February, everyone will be talking about The World According to Humphrey!

One School, One Book is a novel program in that children at all grade levels will all be listening to the same book.  Strange or daring as that may seem, it actually makes sound educational sense.  Reading professionals recommend that you can and should read material out loud that is beyond a child’s own reading level.  And we also believe that you can and should continue reading chapter books with your older children, even when they are able to read by themselves.  We have selected a title that can be followed, understood, and enjoyed by younger students, but that will still captivate and stimulate older children.

Good luck!  I hope to talk with both you and your student sometime this month about the adventures of Humphrey.  “When a whole school reads a book, there’s a lot to talk about.”  With your help, we can build a Community of Readers at our school.

-- Mrs. Sieh, Elementary Principal