Buzzin’ in the Hive

Dear Graden Families: As we settle into October, we are thrilled to share that we have had a terrific start to the beginning of the school year. I look forward to the remarkable changes we will see this year as our students learn and grow together. Thursday, October 15, marks the end of the first quarter. We have had many successful events both in the classrooms and as a community. I encourage you to take time with your child to reflect on the growth and numerous accomplishments he or she has gained during this time. Celebrations are very important in the learning process. Equally important is developing an action plan to turn opportunities for improvement into strengths. We recognized 475 grandparents during National Grandparents Week in September. Our grandparents enjoyed eating lunch in the cafeteria, participating in recess games/utilizing the walking trail and visiting the classrooms to partake in a learning activity. We have over 200 students participating in building leadership roles from cafeteria to bus to office to greeters, we have leadership occurring in every aspect of our building. This year a new student leadership team will be opening a school store, and more information will be forthcoming regarding this exciting activity. The PTA welcomed over 500 moms and special guests during Muffins with Moms, and our Watch DOGS served over 500 donuts during Donuts with Him, and our 4H Community Service Club participated in the Park Hill South parade on behalf of Graden Elementary. Finally, we recognized 30 hornets at our 7 Habits Luncheon, and 26 hornets who earned recognition through our Jimmy John’s

From the Principal...

OCTOBEROCTOBEROCTOBEROCTOBER ---- 2015201520152015

High Five Club. WOW! We have been very busy at 9 and 45 during first quarter. Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for October 28th and 29th. This time affords us a wonderful formal opportunity to work as “team members” to collaborate and exchange information about how your child is doing at school. Even though there is only one formal Parent Teacher Conference scheduled, do not hesitate to contact us throughout the year with any questions or concerns you have about your child. We always have time for that! If you have not scheduled a conference, please call your child’s teacher directly at your convenience to schedule a time. Our goal is to meet with 100% of our families. If we don’t hear from you, we will be giving you a call. There are more family fun activities planned for October. These are wonderful opportunities to combine an educational environment with family fun. We hope to see you in October for the following events: our Graden Carnival scheduled for Friday, October 2, our Halloween parties on Friday, October 23, or spend the day as a Watch DOG or classroom volunteer, Parent/Teacher conferences, the Book Fair and the fifth grade musical. Remember there will be no school on Friday, October 16 and October 29 and 30. Additionally, our first early release of the year is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, dismissal for students will be 1:30 pm. In closing, I want to extend a statement of thanks for the many ways our families enhance the quality of education at Graden Elementary. It’s a GREAT DAY to be a HORNET! With hornet pride, Dr. LuAnn Halverstadt, Principal

Picture Day is Tuesday, October 6!

Simplify Picture Day by ordering online at mylifetouch.com (Picture Day ID: KM985102Q0). If you order online, you can see more options and use a credit card or Paypal to pay. There is no need to send cash or a flyer back to school.

VOLUME 5 , ISSUE 3 PAGE 2

THE GREAT CENTRAL U.S. SHAKEOUT OCTOBER 15TH AT 10:15 A.M.

We all must get better prepared for major earthquakes and practice how to protect ourselves when they happen. Missourians will take part in an unprecedented multi-state event to focus on earthquake preparation. Missouri is one of eleven states encouraging residents to participate in a simultaneous earthquake drill. The purpose of the ShakeOut is to help people and organizations be more aware of how to protect ourselves in the event that an earthquake should occur.

The ShakeOut has been organized to increase awareness of the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” method of protecting ourselves during an earthquake. At 10:15 a.m. on October 15th, Graden students and staff will join thousands of citizens throughout the Midwest who will: • DROP to the ground • Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and • HOLD ON until the shaking stops

Staff, please go over the “Drop, Cover and Hold On” procedures and prepare students for safety precautions and expectations for this drill prior to the drill on October 15th. We will hold the position for approximately 1 minute.

If you’re interested in more information about the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, please visit the website at: http://www.shakeout.org/centralus/

A Note from the

Music Room

The 5th grade choir will be up and running on October 6! 5th grade is also doing the first program in October called “American Dream.” They will send us back in time to when America was first discovered, settlements were made and a new country was born. It should be a great night!

1st graders recently brought sounds from home to jam for our "found sound" project, and kindergarteners have been "dancing" with paper plates to feel a steady beat and have fun moving around! Mrs. Smith

HEALTHY HIVE HABITS

As fall weather begins, here are a few reminders to keeping safe and healthy: 1. Please send your children to school with safe,

closed-toe shoes. Many flip-flops have seen the end of their use and are breaking during the school day.

2. Please bring a light jacket or sweater to use

during this season of unpredictable weather and the classrooms may be cool.

3. Medication Guidelines:

a. Bring student medications to the health room, please do not send them in your child’s backpack.

b. Bring medication in the original container/packaging.

c. A medication authorization must be signed by parents before medication can be administered.

d. Your child’s name must be on the container. e. Instructions listed on the medication will be

followed unless a physician provides different instructions in writing.

f. No expired medications will be given. g. The school district does not provide any

medication, including Tylenol, cough drops, or antacids.

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New Teachers in the Hive By Olivia Burns and Haley Lopez

You may have noticed some new faces at Graden while you’re roaming the halls. Today we will tell you more about them. We interviewed Mrs.

Nordwald and Ms. Hauck about their new jobs at Graden Elementary. Ms. Hauck is our new counselor. One of Ms. Hauck’s favorite quotes is “Be somebody that makes everybody feel like a somebody”- Unknown. We asked her a few questions about her life. This is what we found! Her favorite subject in school is social studies, she loves learning about the past! She has a pet dog named Padme. Her favorite color is mint green. Her favorite place to go eat is Popeyes. Two of her favorite sports are college football and running. If she has any free time she will either read, run, or travel. If you are looking to get her flowers for a special occasion get her roses, her favorite flower! If you were wondering what Ms. Hauck does, you are in luck. Ms. Hauck uses Habit 4 Think Win-Win. She thinks win-win by putting the students needs before hers. If you have a problem she will help you. If it's the end of the

year MAP testing and you were sick or out of the building that day she will help you do the make up test. She visits classrooms once and awhile. Make sure to check out her club Girls Lead By Example. Next, we interviewed Mrs. Nordwald, the new 5th grade teacher about her new job at Graden. She says her favorite quote is “We can do it”- Rosie Riveter. Her favorite subject in school to learn is history. She loves to teach reading. Her pets are her dog Boo and her cat Sophie. Two of her favorite sports are college football and track and field. One of her favorite colors is blue. She loves all flowers, so don’t panic if you need to get her flowers, it doesn't matter what kind you get her. One of her favorite places to go out to eat is On The Border, she loves mexican food. One of her favorite things to do in her free time is to read. She loves realistic fiction books. Mrs. Nordwald says that her favorite thing about teaching is helping others learn new things. Mrs. Nordwald is a science and math teacher for 5th grade. She is just a normal teacher though. She loves teaching all subjects. Mrs. Emmott and Mrs. Nordwald switch with both of their homeroom classes. Mrs. Nordwald uses Habit 4 Think Win-Win. She uses this habit by thinking of others’ needs before her needs. When you are in the halls make sure to welcome our new teachers in the hive.

Library Update SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR Plan to attend the Scholastic Book Fair during Graden’s Parent/Teacher Conferences which will be held in the Media Center October 28th and 29th—always a great time in the library! The fair will be open from 5-8 P.M. on October 28th, and 12-8 P.M. on October 29th. We will be sending home wish list flyers with your child prior to this event. The Book Fair supports the needs of the library including technology equipment, books that continue to increase and improve library collections, and books as reading incentives for our students. Please attend the fair—we hope to see you there. QUESTIONS?? VOLUNTEERS Want to be a volunteer in our library or have any questions about our library program? Please contact Linda Whisman, Graden Elementary Librarian. Also, don’t forget to check out the Graden Media Center webpage on our school website for additional media center information and links. REMINDER: SUMMER READING PROGRAM Parents, remember to have your child return summer reading logs, Mid-Continent Library Reading Certificates, or simply a note from you that your child has read or listened to at least 8 books this summer to the library. Your child will receive a reading certificate and a coupon from Stone Canyon Pizza. Please return as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Whisman. 816 359-5847 whismanl@parkhill.k12.mo.us

All students in physical education class will be focusing on movement and muscles. Students will be learning the muscles in their body and they will be learning how the specific muscles are being used and how to strengthen those muscles through physical activity. Grades 3rd-5th will be starting sports skills and will be working on a variety of sports specific lead up games while following the rules and cooperating with others. Just a reminder that it is extremely important that students come dressed appropriately for physical activity. Tennis shoes with laces and appropriate gym clothes are required for participation and for safety.

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Art Room Update

The Graden Art Show will be on Wednesday, April 20th from 5:30-7pm. Every student will have at least 1 piece of artwork on display. In addition to the artwork displayed in the hallways, we will be setting up framed artwork in the gym. These frames will be for sale during the art show. Each class will also complete a collaborative project during the school year that will be up for auction at our art show.

The Park Hill District Art Fair will be Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1st at Park Hill High School. Students who will have artwork in the district show will be notified in April.

The Parkville Coffeehouse is now exhibiting Graden student artwork! Check out our work on the upper level next time you stop in!

Our school is a member of Artsonia.com, an online student art museum. When students complete artwork at Graden, it is photographed and uploaded onto the website. Each child has his or her own “gallery” with a screenname consisting of their first name and some numbers (ex. John541). If you need help signing up, please e-mail me at KharatyanS@parkhill.k12.mo.us. If you have already signed up, make sure you check your e-mail for further instructions on creating an account and for updates when new artwork is published online.

In the Artsonia gift shop, family members can order customized products printed with student artwork (mugs, t-shirts, notebooks, ornaments, etc.), and 20% of the profit made from these purchases comes back to Graden. This is a wonderful source of fundraising for the art room, so please consider purchasing items in the gift shop!

We have been using Class Dojo as a behavior management tool in the art room this year. Students can earn points for positive behavior on Class Dojo. At the end of each quarter, students can redeem their earned points to select an art station (clay, paint, collage, etc.). The more points they earn, the more supply choices they have. Students receive a Class Dojo report mid-term and at the end of each quarter.

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Leaders at Leadership Night By Katie Kramer and Lainey McCaffrey

Have you ever been to Leadership Night at Graden Elementary? Well, Leadership Night at Graden is always a blast! At Leadership Night all Hornets are welcome to come! Here are some fun

games that go on during Leadership night. Teachers have Leadership activities on the student’s desks and also have games in your classroom to play. Papers are asking you questions and giving you directions about where to go around the building. The directions will help you find your destination to all the games. Also, the games are really fun and interesting. If you go to the gym or library they might have some cool stuff too! They also set up some activities outside. This is the night where Win-Win shines bright because, students get to come and have fun and teachers know that the students are leaders. We interviewed Dr. Halverstadt to get her opinion about Leadership Night. She said, “I would rate Leadership night a 10 out of 10 because families can learn about how we use Leadership every day. We also found out that Leadership Night, Dr. Halverstadt agrees. She said, “I think that this is an event that all Hornets should come to because, we can share with parents about how we use Leadership.“ Leadership Night is very fun and exciting and she hopes you had loads of fun! We hope you had a lot of fun at Leadership Night. If you could not attend this year we would love it if you could try to come next time. We are so happy we have all these fun events in our school. This was a fun experience for both of us, and we hope you can come again!

New Students/Teachers Interviewed By Dylan Love and Aidan Pruett

Being new isn’t always fun. When you’re new and everything is different from your last school it can be scary. If this is your first time coming to Graden, have no fear! We're here to show you what new

Hornets all over are feeling when they start going to our awesome school. We interviewed Silas and Lyla from Ms. Robeson’s Kindergarten class they said, “I like school because I learn math.” Silas and Lyla also love going to recess twice a day instead of once. “I like my teacher because she is funny and loves to play games. One thing I wish the school had was a parade for all the holidays.” Lyla added. Then we interviewed Ms. Robeson the new Kindergarten teacher. She said, “It feels great because we all synergize together and the staff helps me out a lot. Math is my favorite subject to teach because I love to find different ways to solve a problem and to teach that to students. Our schedule is very very, very, busy but, we like to take brain breaks so they come back more excited to learn.” Ms. Robeson was a privilege to interview and have for everyone at Graden Elementary. These students and teachers Synergized with us and were proactive for letting us come and interview them in their school days and help us write this for you. These interviews were only from Kindergartners and a Kindergarten teacher, there are lots more of new Hornets at Graden and it’s really a privilege to have you at our amazing school! Welcome!!

Jimmy John’s High Five Club - October Recognition

Reinforcing personal development and leadership - that is what Jimmy John's "High Five" Club is all about. This program 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 Tom Watson Parkway Jimmy John's location in Parkville, Missouri for a free sandwich. A "High Five" handprint with the child's name will be displayed on the wall inside Graden Elementary. At the end of each month, the High Five Hands are taken down and replaced with the High Five hands honoring students for the next month. The hands are then put

up on a special bulletin board at Graden Elementary and remain up until the end of the school year. This list recognizes all students who received High Fives between September and October of the 2015-2016 school year. Please join us in congratulating all of the members of the Jimmy John's High Five Club! Great job students!

Kindergarten Berklee Sanders Kirsten VanVacter Camille Sturm Lucy Taylor Harrison Coughlin

1st grade Chase Stewart Brody Wade Addison Palmer Brayden Reynolds

2nd grade Molly Drake Nicolas Littlejohn Savanna Pittman Molly Moran

3rd grade Tommy Hutsler Tyler Jones Larry Cascone Lydia Ham

4th grade Isabel Littlejohn Caleb Chambers Ryleigh Bradley Isabella Murillo

5th grade Jessi Quinn Ronnie Powell Dylan Love Alex McIlwee

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Muffins With Mom By Brianna Mascarenes and Lexis Dawson

Wasn't Muffins with Moms fun?!! I hope you liked eating muffins with your moms and special guests. We definitely did! We saw a lot of Hornets there! We are so glad you came and ate breakfast with your

moms and guests. We thought the muffins were delicious and hope you did too! I hope you thanked the people serving you those delicious muffins. Also, I hope you thanked your moms for coming with you. I was with my daughter Mrs. Dawson also said, “I had a blast, because I definitely liked eating with my daughter. I’d never been to Muffins with Mom. The most enjoyable part was getting a picture with my Daughter.” It is Important to spend time with your moms, aunts, and grandmas. Remember to always Sharpen The Saw by spending time with your loved ones!

Donuts With Dad Donuts with Dad was spectacular! We hope you liked eating donuts with your dad! We had a blast eating with our dads. We are glad you came with your relatives and spent time with them. We thought the donuts were delicious and hope you did, too! I hoped you thanked the people serving those amazing donuts. I hope you thanked your dads for coming. It’s important to spend time with your dads, uncles, and grandpas. Remember to Be Proactive by controlling your mood around your relatives!

Grandparents In The Hive By Audrey Bramlett and Ronnie Powell

Hello Graden Hornets! My name is Audrey Bramlett and joining me is Ronnie Powell. We are going to inform you about Grandparent’s Day. Grandparent’s Day is when all the grandparents of

Graden Hornets come to eat lunch with their grandkids. It is a great opportunity for the grandparents and students because the grandparents get to see our lovely school. It is always fun for the students and the grandparents to have a swell time at lunch. Remember, when your grandparents came to The Hive? This is because we hosted our Grandparent’s day. We are so excited to see all your grandparents Graden Hornets! Tatum Kells, a fifth grader in Mrs. Aull’s class says, “It is a great day to see grandparents at school! Grandparents day is special to me because my grandparents get to see me at school.” A third grade teacher, Mrs. Garcia, says, “It is a great opportunity for grandparents to get to spend special time with their grandkids and see all the wonderful things we do at Graden.” Now she has two kids at Graden and she sees how excited they are to have their grandparents come and visit. “It is a special day to honor the people in our lives that had made a big difference.” Thank you for that lovely response Mrs. Garcia! Let’s Sharpen the Saw with our grandparents and get to know them better! And remember It’s a great day to be a hornet! Clap, Clap, Woo!

Graden Elementary PTA announces the…

Fall Box Tops Competition!Fall Box Tops Competition!Fall Box Tops Competition!Fall Box Tops Competition!

October 1 – October 15, 2015

Do you have Box Tops for Education sitting around your house hiding somewhere?

Maybe you have some in your pantry just waiting to be cut out? Well, what are you waiting for?

Send them in with your child to their classroom!

The class who collects the most Box Tops between October 1st and October 15th

will win bragging rights AND the coveted Box Top Trophy!

(They’ll get to keep the trophy until the next Box Top Champion Class is crowned.)

Money earned from the Box Tops helps the Graden PTA earn money to purchase items for your school. Each

coupon is worth 10 cents! It only takes 10 Box Tops to earn $1.00, and they add up quickly! Money earned from the

collected Box Tops at Graden is used to help pay for field trips, teacher supplies, Teacher Appreciation Week, Bus Driver Appreciation Week, science fair medals and the Graden newsletter.

Box Tops can be found on hundreds of products from brands such as:

General Mills Pillsbury

Betty Crocker Ziploc

Kleenex Hefty

Please visit btfe.com for a complete list of participating brands and to learn more about how you can help our school!

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Halloween Parties & School Safety

Graden Elementary classroom Halloween parties will be Friday, October 23.

There will be a short parade through the school beginning at 1:50 p.m. The

parties will begin at the conclusion of the parade.

Here’s the plan:

1:30 pm – Parents may begin setting up for parties

1:50 pm – Parade begins for grades K – 2, grades 3-5 will line up in the hall to

watch the parade

2:15 pm – Room parties begin

3:00 pm – Clean up

3:10 pm – Parties conclude

Many of our children enjoy wearing costumes during party activities although

that is an optional thing for them to do. We traditionally have lots of parents

who come to help make this an enjoyable afternoon for everyone.

We have the following guidelines for student costuming:

• Weapons, pretend weapons, face paint, blood and gore ARE NOT

ACCEPTABLE.

• Costumes should be ones that students can put on themselves and should

not be worn to school. We ask that students not wear their masks while

waiting at bus stops, etc. as masks limit peripheral vision.

There will be sign-in tables at the front entrance outside the office when you

arrive. Additionally, you will be able to sign your children out on a sheet that

will be available in each classroom. We want this to be an enjoyable day for

everyone while not compromising our student safety guidelines. Hope to see

you at the Halloween party!

1 Box Tops Collection Contest Begins 1 Mathletics Club (7:30am) 1 Literature & Technology Club, #4 (3:30pm)

1 Bricks 4 Kidz Lego Club, library (3:35pm)

2 Graden Girls Lead By Example Club, room #22 (7:40am)

2 Chess Club Sessions 1 & 2, library (3:35-4:20; 4:20-5:05pm)

2 PTA Carnival (5:30-7:30pm) 5 Art Club-5th grade, #21 (7:45am) 5 J-Club Broadcasters monthly planning (7:45am)

5 Girls on the Run Club (3:30pm) 6 Fall Picture Day 6 Choir Club-5th grade (7:45am) 6 Girls on the Run Club (3:30pm) 6 Spanish Club-2nd Grade, #14 (3:30pm)

6 Young Rembrandt’s Drawing Class, #21 (3:35pm)

6 Spanish Club-Community Education, library (3:35pm)

6 McTeacher Night, I-29/64th Street McDonald’s (4-7:45pm)

7 J-Club Writers, #15 (3:30pm) 7 Mad Science-Community Education, #21 (3:30pm)

8 Mathletics Club (7:30am) 8 EARLY RELEASE-STUDENTS DISMISSED AT 1:30pm

8 Bricks 4 Kidz Camp-Community Education, library (1:30-2:30pm)

8 Chess Club Camp-Community Education, #13 (1:30-3:30pm)

8 Mad Science Camp-Community Education, #4 (1:30-5:30pm)

October Calendar of Events

8 Young Rembrandts Camp-Community Education, #21 (1:30-3:30pm)

9 Graden Girls Lead By Example Club, room #22 (7:40am)

9 Chess Club Sessions 1 & 2, library (3:35-4:20; 4:20-5:05pm)

12 Art Club-5th grade, #21 (7:45am) 12 Girls on the Run Club (3:30pm) 13 Choir Club-5th grade (7:45am) 13 Girls on the Run Club (3:30pm) 13 Spanish Club-2nd Grade, #14 (3:30pm)

13 Student Lighthouse Team, #1 (3:30pm)

13 Spanish Club-Community Education, library (3:35pm)

13 Young Rembrandt’s Drawing Class, #21 (3:35pm)

14 J-Club Writers, #15 (3:30pm) 14 Mad Science-Community Education, #21 (3:30pm)

15 Box Tops Collection Contest Ends 15 4H’s Club, library (7:45am) 15 End of First Quarter-Leadership Assembly (2pm)

15 Literature & Technology Club, #4 (3:30pm)

15 Bricks 4 Kidz Lego Club, library (3:35pm)

15 Mathletics District Event, Union Chapel (4:15pm)

16 NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS 19 Bus Driver Appreciation Week Begins

19 Art Club-5th grade, #21 (7:45am) 19 Girls on the Run Club (3:30pm) 20 Spanish Club-2nd Grade, #14 (3:30pm)

20 Girls on the Run Club (3:30pm) 20 Spanish Club-Community Education, library (3:35pm)

20 Young Rembrandt’s Drawing Class, #21 (3:35pm)

21 J-Club Writers, #15 (3:30pm) 22 Mathletics Club (7:30am) 22 5th Grade Musical Performances (9:30am, 2:30pm, 6:30pm)

22 Literature & Technology Club, #4 (3:30pm)

22 Bricks 4 Kidz Lego Club, library (3:35pm)

23 Graden Girls Lead By Example Club, room #22 (7:40am)

23 Halloween Parties (1:50pm costume parade; 2:15-3:10pm classroom parties)

23 Chess Club Sessions 1 & 2, library (3:35-4:20; 4:20-5:05pm)

23 PTA Mercury Gym Night / Trunk or Treat (6:30-8pm)

26 Art Club-5th grade, #21 (7:45am) 26 7 Habits Leadership Lunches-all grades

26 Girls on the Run Club (3:30pm) 27 Choir Club-5th grade (7:45am) 27 Girls on the Run Club (3:30pm) 27 Spanish Club-2nd Grade, #14 (3:30pm)

27 Student Lighthouse Team, #1 (3:30pm)

27 Spanish Club-Community Education, library (3:35pm)

27 Young Rembrandt’s Drawing Class, #21 (3:35pm)

28 Parent Teacher Conferences (5-8pm); Book Fair, library

29 NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS 29 Parent Teacher Conferences (12-8pm); Book Fair, library

30 NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS 31 Happy Halloween!

October PTA Events

DON’T FORGET! Graden PTA Carnival - October 2nd from 5:30-7:30pm

15+games, obstacle course, DUNK COACH, and crazy hair

Lots of good food and fun for the whole family!

Bus Driver Appreciation Week—October 19th-23rd

Friday, October 23rd: 1st Annual Mercury Gymnastics / Trunk or Treat Night

6:30-8pm Open Gym @ Mercury Gymnastics With Pumpkin Decorating (costumes permitted, but please

no masks, capes, or weapons).

8pm Trunk or Treat @ Mercury Gymnastics Parking Lot. There will be a sign up to enter your car in the

trunk or treat (limited space for safety reasons). There will also be decoration and costume contests. Come

enjoy the fun and safety of a Trunk or Treat!!!

Graden at a Glance