SKYLINE SKYHAWK NEWS

JANUARY 2017 RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE & SAFE

Skyline Elementary * 2301 N. Mildred St.* Tacoma, WA 98406 * 253-571-7800

Office Hours 8:00—4:00

January

Jan 30 Super Skyhawk Assembly, 2:30, Gym

February

Feb 2 Cocoa with the Principal, 3:00-3:30

Feb 14 4th Grade to Tacoma Musical Playhouse

Feb 15 PTA Board Meeting, 6:30, Library

Feb 16 5th Grade to Biz Town

Feb 20 Presidents’ Day - NO SCHOOL

Feb 24 PTA Bingo & Basket Night, 6:00-8:00,

Cafeteria

Feb 28 Super Skyhawk Assembly, 10:00, Gym

March

Mar 2 Book Exchange, 4:00 - 6:00, Cafeteria

Mar 9 & 10 12:15 Early Release - Conferences

Mar 24 Report Cards Go Home

Mar 27 District Data Day - No School

Mar 30 K - 2 Music Program, 6:30 pm,

Cafeteria

Mar 31 Super Skyhawk Assembly, 2:30, Gym

SKYLINE PTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2016-2017

President-Heather Crider Secretary-Elizabeth Paschich Vice-President-Kim Beckner Treasurer-Katrina Smith Text: 253-370-0937 Web: www.skylinepta.com Email: tacomaskylinepta@gmail.com

Dear Skyline Families,

Happy New Year! We are looking forward to a year full of learning here at Skyline. Last Monday while students were at home, teachers were hard at work collaborating with their grade level team; looking deeply at each student’s progress toward the Washington State Learning Standards. In addition, staff learned more about creating guided reading groups that meet the needs of our students and incorporates books from our brand new book room. We are always working to improve how we support students. Please help us by making sure your student is here on time every day. Missing even one day can affect a student’s achievement. I hope you enjoyed the Winter Around the World event Thursday evening. I appreciate the staff and families that came out to have fun together. In February, we are looking forward to another family Bingo & Basket Night and on March 30th we have a Primary Music Program. Watch for details! Kind Regards,

Regina Rainbolt

WE ARE SKYLINE SKYHAWKS. WATCH US SOAR!

Thursday, February 2 3:00-3:30 Topic: De-stressors for Families

Parents, we understand how hectic life can get and

how challenging it can be at times to fit everything in while managing a family. We would like to extend an invitation to come hear some practical strategies we have for de-stressing, both for yourself as well as for your family. Your attendance gives you a chance to win a door prize!

Skyline Kindergarten Registration

If you have a child who will be 5 years old by August 31 and

will be attending Kindergarten next year, it’s time to register.

Enrollment packets are available in the school office or a fillable

PDF version is available online at www.TacomaSchools.org/

Enroll. When turning in completed enrollment packets, we will

also need: copy of birth certificate, immunization records, proof

of residency (i.e. utility bill, rental agreement or mortgage.)

Please see the Tacoma Public Schools’ website for more

information.

Counselor’s Column By Nicole Bortle

I hope that everyone had a restful winter break. I can’t believe how quickly this school year is going by. This month I have

been spending time visiting 2nd grade classrooms to talk about Personal Space and Safety. I have also started a small group for additional classroom support. It has been wonderful getting to know our Skyline students over the past few months and I look forward to continuing to build relationships with our Skyline families as well. If I can be of assistance in any way, please feel free to get in touch with me. I am available at Skyline Elementary School from 8:15—3:45 Monday through Friday. Email: nbortle@tacoma.k12.wa.us Phone: (253)571-7790

ZONES OF REGULATION Tacoma School District recognizes that not only do we need to teach children the 3 Rs, we also need to help children with their social growth. Skyline Elementary has decided to use a curriculum called the Zones of Regulation as a guideline for helping our students recognize their feelings, determine the color zone that goes with that feeling, and then use some tools to bring them “back to the green.” One of those tools is a conversation with students about the Size of the Problem. Skyline teachers will be focusing on this strategy for the month of February. We all know kids, and possibly our-selves sometimes, who will make a mountain out of a mole hill or make a small problem into a big problem. Using this tool, we will talk to students

about BIG problems (emergencies where they

need adult help and it may take a few hours or days to fix), Medium Problems (you need an adult to intervene, but it’s not an emergency), and little problems (you can solve it yourself in a few minutes). The second part of the lesson talks about what might be the expected reaction (tearing your paper while erasing is a small prob-lem – you would ask for a piece of tape, not scream or stomp around the room; someone breaking their leg on the playground is a big prob-lem – you would run to get adult help, not walk away and play somewhere else).

It would be great if you could help reinforce this

learning at home. Use 3 pieces of paper (small,

medium, and big) and some post-it notes. Write

problems on the post-it notes and discuss what

the size of the problem is, what might be an ex-

pected reaction, and what some ways to solve

that problem are. Use examples that your child

might think about from school, at home, or in one

of their other activities. It’s a good way to find

out more about what your child is experiencing at

school.

DECEMBER MATH STARS Mrs. Gala Aaron L.

Ms. Senecal Autumn A. Mrs. Wright Cody R.

Mrs. Chin Zachary J. Mr. Garrett Ekaterina S.

Mrs. Toledo Elijah B. Ms. Robinson Marcu G. Ms. Reder Andriy G. Mrs. Tindal Kadan H. Mrs. Burton Kirah C. Mrs. Henricksen Ryan L. Ms. Habersetzer Keely G.

Mrs. Hackinen Pearlene H. Ms. Lawrence Jayce H.

Mrs. Skaar Joshua K. Mr. Rettinhouse Owen S. Ms. Caswell Audra P.

REMINDER FROM NURSE

Keep your child home for 24 hours after a fever

drops without fever-reducing medicine. This also

goes for children who have been vomiting...they

must stay home for a full 24 hours after a stomach

flu.

Did you know January is Tacoma Whole Child Month?

“Many have heard the statement: It takes a whole village to raise a child. But, it also takes a whole child to build a

sustainable school and community.” Tacoma Public School District

Skyline Elementary would like to share with you some information about the Tacoma Whole

Child Initiative. The Tacoma Whole Child Initiative is a Tacoma Public School’s districtwide initiative focusing on meeting the needs of the “whole child,”

meaning social and emotional supports in addition to academics. It pertains to how our children are feeling inside and outside of school; the

needs he/she has in order to feel happy about school and confident in their learning. Some of the things we are doing include providing Pos-

itive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), which are a prevention oriented way for school staff to organize and implement strate-

gies that will maximize academic and social behavior outcomes for students, along with a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), which

is a three-tiered system of support.

Tier I are interventions or teaching strategies that teachers use for all students in their class.

Tier II are interventions that occur in smaller groups and help students who are needing additional suppor ts.

Tier III are interventions for students on an individual level to meet their specific needs. Additional services and/or individ-

ualized educational plans may be provided at this level.

Our school has also begun implementing the Zones of Regulation which is a school-wide color system to help students identify and then

regulate their feelings and emotions.

The following are a few ways you can help strengthen the “Whole Child” in your life and those

within our community.

Praise your child Notice when your child has done something well and tell them! Easy on the criticism.

They should hear 5 positives for every 1 negative thing you say.

Criticize the behavior When your child misbehaves, talk about the behavior, such as “What you did was hurtful and I know you are a nice kid. How can you make

this better?” Do not label your child “bad.”

Validate feelings If your child gets a blow to their self-esteem, they need you to allow them to feel sad, hurt, or mad. After, you can boost them up with posi-

tives.

Give your child chores Children learn how to function in groups by learning how their own family cooperates. Set your child up to be a team player by giving age-

appropriate chores at home. Offer praise for their work!

Give the gift of time Your children know how busy you are so when you can take 10 minutes to listen to them tell about their day or play a game, they will feel

worthy and loved. The gift of time spent is worth much more than the gift of money spent.

Avoid harmful comparisons Do not compare your child to others, especially siblings. Instead of saying, “Why can’t

you be more like so-and-so” try “Do you notice that so-and-so does this?” Let your child know that it is okay to be different and that you

don’t expect perfection.

On behalf of Skyline Elementary, we thank you for being invested in the well-being of our students, families, staff and community. You are

making a difference in the lives of our children.

** For more information on the Tacoma Whole Child initiative, please feel free to visit the Tacoma Public Schools website at

www.tacomaschools.org . Under the “Parent” tab, you will find lots of information along with a video.