Buzzin’ in the Hive · • 1st Grade: Moody Cow Meditates/Coping Skills Centers - Liquid Timers...

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Buzzin’ in the Hive Dear Graden Families: First Things First, as winter blows away our sunny and warm fall days, please remember to bundle up your little hornets with coats, hats, gloves, and scarves as needed to help them stay happy and healthy for their outdoor recesses. Also note, school starts each day at 8:40 am; if your child arrives after 8:40 am, you will need to come into the office and sign your child in for the day. A final reminder, ANY transportation changes need to be communicated prior to 2:00 pm each day. We appreciate you being proactive so that we can keep all our hornets safe. Hornet Pride and gratitude is everywhere. First, our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade Girls on the Run club participated in a 5K at Sporting KC on a chilly Saturday morning on November 10th. Our Graden Student Lighthouse collected over 15 boxes of food for the St. Therese Food Pantry to help families in need. And finally, our 5th grade Choir performed at Christmas on the River, Friday, November 30, to help kick off the holiday season in Parkville. Leadership Assemblies for K-2 and 3-5, facilitated by our students, also happen at the end of month. It certainly has been a very busy month at 9 and 45. Thank you to these motivating ladies and gentlemen for Sharpening the Saw and leading by example throughout Parkville and the Kansas City area. It is wonderful to see our students participating in these service projects and leadership roles; their poise, dedication and leadership is truly amazing! As the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year comes to a close, we want to thank you for your commitment and support. In every part of your child’s experience, we appreciate and depend upon your help. We are particularly fortunate at Graden that the school/home partnership is so very strong. Remember to celebrate successes and to take the time to set realistic goals for improvement. The Leader in Me continues to be in full swing at Graden Elementary. Many parents are joining Dr. Halverstadt for a monthly Parent Lighthouse Team. We meet bi-monthly to discuss how parents can support, enhance and give feedback at Graden From the Principal... DECEMBER 2018 Elementary. Our Student Lighthouse Team meets monthly to also support the Leader in Me process. This year, the students have 4 areas of concentration: service projects, VIP Assemblies, school spirt days, and solving concerns within Graden. The Staff Lighthouse Team also meets monthly; they integrate our district and building goals into our daily work, serve on Leader in Me Action Teams, and work to further enhance the opportunities at Graden. December 21 marks the end of second quarter. Can you believe our hornets will have been in school 83 days? The staff is carefully using our assessment data to more skillfully identify individual student strengths and opportunities for improvement in specific subject areas. We are looking for ways to both support and challenge students in their learning. Personal goal setting is an excellent way to do this. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know what you have to concentrate on to do it. Ask your child about their classroom and individual goals they have set for second semester. We would like to invite you to join the Graden students and staff for our 2nd quarter leadership assembly from 9:15 to 10:15 am on Friday, December 21, in the gym. After the all-school assembly, the winter parties will take place in each classroom from 10:30 – 11:15 am. School will dismiss on December 21 at 11:45 am. As you think about the holidays and perhaps look forward to a bit more family time, remember to seize the many opportunities to spend quality time with your children. It makes a difference! Create wonderful memories! Thank you one and all for your support, your care, and your involvement. May the season and the holidays bring you cheer and renewal. See you next year – that is on January 3, 2019! Remember too, school starts each day at 8:25 am with the tardy bell at 8:40 am. Take good care, be safe, and enjoy! With hornet pride and appreciation, Dr. LuAnn Halverstadt, Graden Principal

Transcript of Buzzin’ in the Hive · • 1st Grade: Moody Cow Meditates/Coping Skills Centers - Liquid Timers...

Page 1: Buzzin’ in the Hive · • 1st Grade: Moody Cow Meditates/Coping Skills Centers - Liquid Timers with Deep Breathing, Mandalas, 5 Senses, Blowing Bubbles, Moon Sand, Stress Balls,

Buzzin’ in the Hive

Dear Graden Families: First Things First, as winter blows away our sunny and warm fall days, please remember to bundle up your little hornets with coats, hats, gloves, and scarves as needed to help them stay happy and healthy for their outdoor recesses. Also note, school starts each day at 8:40 am; if your child arrives after 8:40 am, you will need to come into the office and sign your child in for the day. A final reminder, ANY transportation changes need to be communicated prior to 2:00 pm each day. We appreciate you being proactive so that we can keep all our hornets safe. Hornet Pride and gratitude is everywhere. First, our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade Girls on the Run club participated in a 5K at Sporting KC on a chilly Saturday morning on November 10th. Our Graden Student Lighthouse collected over 15 boxes of food for the St. Therese Food Pantry to help families in need. And finally, our 5th grade Choir performed at Christmas on the River, Friday, November 30, to help kick off the holiday season in Parkville. Leadership Assemblies for K-2 and 3-5, facilitated by our students, also happen at the end of month. It certainly has been a very busy month at 9 and 45. Thank you to these motivating ladies and gentlemen for Sharpening the Saw and leading by example throughout Parkville and the Kansas City area. It is wonderful to see our students participating in these service projects and leadership roles; their poise, dedication and leadership is truly amazing! As the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year comes to a close, we want to thank you for your commitment and support. In every part of your child’s experience, we appreciate and depend upon your help. We are particularly fortunate at Graden that the school/home partnership is so very strong. Remember to celebrate successes and to take the time to set realistic goals for improvement. The Leader in Me continues to be in full swing at Graden Elementary. Many parents are joining Dr. Halverstadt for a monthly Parent Lighthouse Team. We meet bi-monthly to discuss how parents can support, enhance and give feedback at Graden

From the Principal...

D E C E M BE R 2 018

Elementary. Our Student Lighthouse Team meets monthly to also support the Leader in Me process. This year, the students have 4 areas of concentration: service projects, VIP Assemblies, school spirt days, and solving concerns within Graden. The Staff Lighthouse Team also meets monthly; they integrate our district and building goals into our daily work, serve on Leader in Me Action Teams, and work to further enhance the opportunities at Graden. December 21 marks the end of second quarter. Can you believe our hornets will have been in school 83 days? The staff is carefully using our assessment data to more skillfully identify individual student strengths and opportunities for improvement in specific subject areas. We are looking for ways to both support and challenge students in their learning. Personal goal setting is an excellent way to do this. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know what you have to concentrate on to do it. Ask your child about their classroom and individual goals they have set for second semester. We would like to invite you to join the Graden students and staff for our 2nd quarter leadership assembly from 9:15 to 10:15 am on Friday, December 21, in the gym. After the all-school assembly, the winter parties will take place in each classroom from 10:30 – 11:15 am. School will dismiss on December 21 at 11:45 am. As you think about the holidays and perhaps look forward to a bit more family time, remember to seize the many opportunities to spend quality time with your children. It makes a difference! Create wonderful memories! Thank you one and all for your support, your care, and your involvement. May the season and the holidays bring you cheer and renewal. See you next year – that is on January 3, 2019! Remember too, school starts each day at 8:25 am with the tardy bell at 8:40 am. Take good care, be safe, and enjoy! With hornet pride and appreciation, Dr. LuAnn Halverstadt, Graden Principal

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Counselor’s Corner

Dear Graden Families, I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing Thanksgiving break with family, friends, and loved ones. During counseling lessons this past month, your students worked hard at learning about and developing positive coping and emotion regulation skills at each grade level. Often times we think of deep breathing and positive self-talk as ways to cope with strong feelings, but there are SO many more strategies students can have in their “tool kits” to utilize when feeling overwhelmed. Below are the specific lesson topics we addressed by each grade level: • Kindergarten: Stoplight Cool Down - Bunny Breathing, Hot Chocolate Breathing, Belly Breathing • 1st Grade: Moody Cow Meditates/Coping Skills Centers - Liquid Timers with Deep Breathing, Mandalas,

5 Senses, Blowing Bubbles, Moon Sand, Stress Balls, and PlayDoh • 2nd Grade: Stop, Name that Feeling, Calm Down, & What Can Help When I Feel….. • 3rd Grade: Stop, Name that Feeling, Calm Down, & Coping Skills Bingo • 4th Grade: Coping Skills Game Show - Act It Out, Imagine If, Risk, True/False • 5th Grade: Blast Off/Cooling Down Emotions - Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Guided Imagery This month I will be focusing on developing empathy towards others and spreading kindness here at Graden and outside of school. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions at all or would like to meet face to face. I can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 816-359-5647. I am excited to see what December brings in the hive! All my best, Cari Cetola School Counselor Graden Elementary

Spotting Great Leaders at Graden

Reinforcing personal development and leadership — that is what Graden’s Spotting Great Leaders Club is all about. The Spotting Great Leaders program is replacing the High Five Program, which was introduced in December 2012 to recognize personal development and leadership. Students who are selected each month will receive a certificate which they can redeem at the 63rd Street Sonic location in Parkville, Missouri. A polka dot with the child’s name will be displayed on the wall inside Graden Elementary for the month they are awarded. At the end of each month, the polka dots are taken down and replaced with a new polka dot honoring students for the next month. We are so proud of our Graden Leaders!

Please join us in congratulating all of the members of our “Spotting Great Leaders Club!”

Kindergarten Eisley Bockerstette Elizabeth Craft Carsyn Hallquist McKenzie Scott

1st Grade Halle Blake Isabelle Collop Garrett Irving Nichole Marlow

2nd Grade Flavan Ekiek Kinleigh Heim Willa Priddy Bayleigh Vaughn

3rd Grade Lauryn Abari Ellie Lamer Addy Overcast Laney Perry Mia Whitley

4th Grade Griffin Cramer Landen Higgins Gabe O’Gara Cash Robbins

5th Grade Elisa Decaro Ella Knights Clara Martin Lily Mathenia

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Graden students decorated ornaments for the Silver Anniversary Celebration in Parkville. These will be on display on the Parkville tree throughout the holiday season.

A Note from the Music Room It was a pirate’s life for Graden’s 3rd grade. Great job, mateys! The music happenings in December include: • Christmas on the River is this Friday, November 30 • 4th grade program, Santa's Holiday Hoedown, on December 6; and • the choir will perform holiday music for the community on December 10

These are a few of their favorite things….

The link below will take you to a summary of Graden staff members’ “favorite things.” This is a great way to get to know staff members better, and can spark ideas for gifts for them or the classrooms.

http://bit.ly/GradenStaffFavorites1819

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YEARBOOKS 2018-2019 yearbooks are on sale

NOW!

You can order at YBPAY.LIFETOUCH.COM

Use code 3701519

Reserve yours now for only $15!

Photos for the yearbook can be submitted all year long to [email protected]

Student Lighthouse Food Drive

Thank you to the Student Lighthouse Team for organizing the food drive. Great work Hornets!

The next Student Lighthouse project will focus on collecting gently used coats for the Park Hill Clothing Center. More information will be forthcoming. Special thanks to Sarah O’Brien, for taking the lead on this project!

Hornets, thank you for your generosity!

DONATIONS NEEDED

The Park Hill School District PTA runs a clothing center that provides free, gently used

clothing and new socks and underwear to district students.

Donations are accepted at the Clothing

Center at 8009 N Atkins, just south of the Gerner Family Early Education Center.

Please make sure your donations are clean, in good condition and bagged in kitchen-sized bags that the

volunteers can lift.

Cleaning your closets = helping kids in our district!

Your Support for Graden PTA Makes

a Real Difference! The time, effort, and generosity that parents and PTA business partners devote to Graden PTA have a real impact on every Hornet’s education.

This month, PTA dollars supported a Mad Science assembly for all students, and 5th graders went on a fabulous field trip to Sim City.

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3 Fire Drill, 2:20 3 Young Rembrandts – Room 4, 3:30 4 5th Grade Choir – Room 2, 7:45am 4 Park Hill Clothing Center – 10:00am -12:00pm, 2:30-4:30pm 5 2nd and 3rd Grade Bridges 5 Graden Kindness Club – Library, 3:30 5 K/1st Tech Galore – Room 16, 3:30 6 Spirit Day – Dress Like a Twin Day 6 Mathletics – Room 5, 7:30am

6 4th Grade Musical Dress Rehearsal – Gym, 9:00am 6 Graden Student Lighthouse Meeting – Library, 3:30 6 Mathletics Competition – English Landing, 4:15 6 4th Grade Musical – Gym, 6:30pm 7 4th and 5th Grade Bridges 7 E Shipping Reading Program – 1st Grade, 3:00pm 7 Chess Club – Room 4, 3:30 10 5th Grade Choir – Crown Center, 9:00am 10 Young Rembrandts – Room 4, 3:30 11 5th Grade Choir – Room 2, 7:45am 11 PTA Meeting – Library, 6:30pm 12 2nd and 3rd Grade Bridges 12 Graden Kindness Club – Library, 3:30

December Calendar of Events

12 K/1st Tech Galore – Room 16, 3:30 13 Spirit Day – Leadership Shirts 13 EARLY RELEASE 1:30 13 Young Rembrandts – Room 4, 1:30 14 4th and 5th Grade Bridges 14 Chess Club – Room 4, 3:30 17 Spirit Day – Backwards Day 18 5th Grade Choir – Room 2, 7:45am 18 Park Hill Clothing Center – 10:00am- 12:00pm, 5:00-7:00pm 19 2nd and 3rd Grade Bridges 19 Graden Kindness Club – Library, 3:30 19 K/1st Tech Galore – Room 16, 3:30 20 Graden E-Club – Room 15, 3:30 21 Spirit Day – Holiday Attire Day

21 Leadership Assembly – Gym, 9:15 21 Winter Parties – 10:30am 21 EARLY DISMISSAL 11:45am 12/24 –1/2 WINTER BREAK

December PTA Events

PTA Meeting — Tuesday, December 11 @ 6:30pm in the Graden Library

Contact PTA: If you have questions or suggestions for PTA, or you would like to get involved, please email [email protected], or contact PTA President Erin Hladik at [email protected] or Vice President Jolayne Gorman at [email protected]. Stay up to date with all PTA events and information by visiting: https://graden.parkhill.k12.mo.us/parent_resources/pta or: https://www.facebook.com/gradenelempta/

Use AmazonSmile when you shop online! 0.5% of your purchases comes to Graden PTA to support your school: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7173170

Graden at a Glance

Support Graden PTA with Your Holiday Shopping!

Use AmazonSmile when you shop, and 0.5% of your purchases comes to Graden PTA to support your school:

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7173170

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The Buzz from Last Month...

Have a great photo from a Graden event? Please send it to [email protected] to have it featured in the newsletter and/or

yearbook. We can’t do it without you!

Dress Like a Teacher Day