February Newsletter

February Newsletter

Dear Parents,

Many of you have been hearing and asking about SWPBIS.

SWPBIS Positive Behavior Intervention & Support is a program to promote and maximize academic achievement and behavioral competence. It is school-wide strategies for helping all students achieve important social and learning goals. We know that when good behavior and good teaching come together, our students will excel in their learning. As part of the PBIS program, we will establish several clear rules for the behavior we expect in all areas of our school. We will explicitly teach those expectations to the students and reward them frequently with positive notes and rewards for their great behavior. The expectations for all student behavior will be clear throughout our building, cafeteria, gymnasium, and classrooms, etc. You will be able to ask your student, “What are the rules in your school?” “How do you follow those rules?” “What happens when a teacher sees you following the rules?”  Ask your child if he/she has received a Mustang’s Shine Ticket? How did it make them feel to be recognized?
Our school rules will specifically address:
· Make Responsible Choices
· Maintain the Right to Learn
· Show respect to all
*These rules now hang in many areas of our building for reminders. On your next visit, look for them! ☺
We will apply consistent consequences and positive reinforcement for all students. By detailing every expected behavior and teaching in a positive way, we will provide a common language for everyone in our building, including students, teachers, front office staff and our paraprofessionals.
We believe that by helping students practice good behavior, we will build a school community where all students have an environment where they respect themselves and others, and feel safe daily to learn, and enjoy their elementary school experience!

Reading:  This week we have a guest speaker coming from Deer Flats Wildlife to talk about animal habitat and camouflage.  Students have been learning about various land and sea creatures and the four things that all animals need to survive. Ask your child what those four important things are? Our next reading theme will be Courage and Bravery the end of February.

Math: This month we will begin a new exciting math unit on geometry. Students will learn to recognize, name, build, compare, and sort two and three dimensional shapes of triangles, rectangles, squares, circles, cones, cubes, spheres, cylinders, and pyramids. They will learn to classify objects by their attributes.  At home connections during this unit may include asking your child to find some of the shapes we are studying in and around the home and identify their name.

Character: Caring is our new virtue of the month.  Integrating this virtue with our animal research students were asked a question to ponder “ how to people show they care about the animals of the earth”.  We discussed what it means for an animal to be considered endangered .  We discussed three ways you can care for the earth.  Ask your child what the 3R’s are? (recycle, resue, reduce)

In closing I’d like to share how much I care about each and every child in my class. You have trusted me with your precious children.  I believe in helping my students master the virtues with in them.  Some of the most important lessons students receive in school go beyond academics.  I like to think of the Virtues as the content of a student’s character, and teachable moments as the “lesson plans” for shaping those virtues.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Hebdberg