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Spring Newsletter

Starry Elementary

After spring break we have two months of school left. Where did the year go?  The warm weather has been wonderful for getting outdoors for developing social skills and running off any excess wiggles. 

If you are aware of any preschool or kindergarten age children in our district who may be eligible for school or the free preschool, please encourage the parents to contact us.  We are anxious to get all our families registered.

Have your children told you about the tokens for showing “The Marion Way”?  The children receive tokens for showing respect, responsibility or honesty on the playground and in the hallways.  We plan to add other areas in the building as the program progresses.  The students trade in their colored coins for a note to take home to share with family.  We filled the pot with coins and began planning a celebration.  Our 420 students plus all the adult staff danced in the hallways to celebrate our success.  It was lots of fun but very warm! 

Teachers continue to focus on reciprocal teaching during staff development.  These strategies encourage students to respond and ask questions to help develop a better understanding of what is being read.  Listen for your children to use the words predict, summarize, clarify, and question. We have observed our students increase in using these skills throughout the year. 

Our building is also recognized by the AEA for meeting the needs of all our students through the intensive/supplemental instructional model and for strengthening of our classroom instruction.  We offer extra support daily in reading and math for students with specific needs.  Over the last couple of years Starry has been honored to have schools visit and observe our instruction and share information about assessments, data, and student growth.

A few housekeeping notes-

For those parents who pick up students out front, we’ve been trying to dismiss our walkers first so parents can quickly pick up students.  Our car riders then wait in the front of the building.  We know the weather is a gift and it’s a social time for parents as well as students.  If you plan to chat we’d appreciate your moving off school grounds or after the dismissal bell rings you are welcome to step into the front part of the building to visit with each other or with a teacher.  Thanks so much for helping making dismissal a safe experience.

A couple of items from the Family-Student Handbook which may need reminders—

·        Dogs of any size are not permitted on school grounds.  Your loving dog could become a risk when 20 children run over to pet it.  This safety issue is to cover both yours and our liability.   

·        Third graders are the only students who may ride their bikes to school.  We hold a bicycle safety workshop at school in the spring for our second graders but they are not allowed to ride their bikes to Starry until they have completed the course.  We’ll send information home at a later date.

·        Please check the Family-Student Handbook when dressing for warm weather.   We have guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable dress and accessories.   If your child wears flip-flops on PE days it would be helpful to have a set of tennis shoes in their bag. 

Enjoy spring break.  It sounds as if the warm weather will continue.  We’ll see everyone back again on April 2 to begin the last two months of learning.

Starry Newsletter

Holiday Greetings to You and Your Families

from Starry Elementary

Pajama  Day:

The students may wear warm pajamas on Thursday, December 22.  We will be celebrating the holiday in a variety of ways.  If you are bringing snacks, please send drinking water as the beverage and also remember all food must be store wrapped.  

Weather Announcements:

When the snow and ice finally arrive please check for Marion Independent on the radio and television announcements.  If you are interested in receiving weather alerts by email, go to the Marion Independent website (www.marion.k12.ia.us) for sign-up procedures. After the December holiday break, school begins again on January 3.  If we would happen to have a snow day in this last week of school in December, our first snow make-up day is January 2.  If no snow, school begins again on January 3.  

Dressing for the Weather:

Starry students go outdoors whenever the weather permits. Please dress your child for outdoor play—snow pants, boots, hats and gloves/mittens.  When the thermometer dips near zero, we may go outdoors for only one recess. The children need all layers to stay warm. Everyone goes outdoors unless we have a doctor statement. The fresh air and exercise is very important for learning and killing those nasty germs.  

Cars and Vans:

The back of the building on 14th Street is designated for the loading of daycare vans and then car pick-ups.  Please allow for vans to park directly in back of the building. We need six parking places saved for vans from the bus pick-up area to the tree. Please pass this information to anyone in your family who may also pick up students on the back side of the building.  We all know the parking around Starry is difficult and I appreciate your understanding of this situation.  

Start Times:

Please remember to send your child/children to school on time. Attendance notices were sent home to students with absences and/or tardies. Breakfast students are to arrive no earlier than 8:30 and all other students may begin arriving at 8:40. Students are expected to be in their classrooms around 8:50 and are considered tardy by 9:00. Please call the school if your child is absent for the day.  We try to call through the emergency list until we know your child is safely in someone’s care.  

Preschool and Kindergarten Registration:

Preschool registration for 2012-2013 will take place in the north gym at Starry Elementary on Tuesday, January 24 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.  A flyer is being sent home. Please pass this information to the parent of any child  who would be 4 years of age by September 15. The preschool is free and we hope our patrons take advantage of this opportunity.

Kindergarten Round Up is scheduled for Thursday, February 16 from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.

If you have a child who will be 5 by September 15, 2012, please call Gerri or Cindy in the office to be put on our mailing list for enrollment information. Please pass this information on to anyone who has a child living in the Marion Independent district who would be eligible for Kindergarten next fall.

 

Professional Development:

You may be wondering what occurs during our professional days. This year we are continuing our focus on PBIS (Positive Behavioral Instructional Supports) or The Marion Way. The entire staff and students are working together to be respectful, responsible and honest.   

Additionally, professional development focuses on Reciprocal Teaching. The teachers are continuing to expand reciprocal teaching skills to assist students in predicting, summarizing, clarifying and questioning to increase reading comprehension.

Best wishes for a safe and healthy holiday!        

Fall Newsletter      

Fall Festival:

Thanks to everyone for making the Fall Festival a wonderful success.  It’s always a fun event.

Start Somewhere:

Starry and high school students are walking together at 11:00.  

Homecoming:

MISD Homecoming is October 7.  Students are encouraged to wear their red and gold school colors on Friday. 

 Reading Event:

America Reads is scheduled for October 20.  We have guest speakers come to all the classrooms to share a great book. It’s great fun to have books read to us throughout the day.

Costume Party:

In the afternoon on Friday, October 28, the Starry students are having a fall costume party.  The classrooms have parties and parades at various times throughout the afternoon. If you wish to watch the parade, chairs will be available in the hallways. We ask you do not dress in costume and leave after the parade. Classrooms will continue their special day together without extra visitors.   

Some costumes and make-up are more appropriate for community Trick or Treating than the school setting. If you have plans to shop for a costume or need ideas for a home created one, please read the following guidelines for costumes and accessories appropriate for the school party. 

 

 

 

 

Students are encouraged to contact the classroom teacher or principal if they question the appropriateness of their costume.  We hope to have a great afternoon of fun!

Red Ribbon/Drug Awareness Week

October 24-28

 

Dear Starry Families,

In honor of Red Ribbon Week, Starry students will have theme days during the week of October 24-28.  Please encourage your child or children to participate.

Monday, October 24

“Sock-Out Drugs!” 

Students wear crazy socks to sock-out drugs.

Tuesday, October 25

 “Have a Dream and Be Clean!” 

Students wear white. 

Bring a personal or house-hold cleaning product for the Food Pantry (bar of soap, toothpaste, dish soap, laundry soap, shampoo, etc.)

Wednesday, October 26

“We Make Responsible Choices”  

We’re celebrating responsibility-- a character trait of

“The Marion Way”. Wear bright colored clothing.

Please bring a canned item for the Food Pantry.

 

Thursday, October 27

          “To be a Winner, Reach for the Stars”

Say “no” to drugs and wear your school colors.

 

Friday, October 28

          Fall Costume Party in the afternoon

September 13, 2011

Are we all adjusted to the school routine?  It’s always challenging to start a new school year. 

The children are settling into working with new teachers and classmates.  Last week teachers began assessing students with the DIBELS reading assessment.  Results will be shared with you in the near future.  

Lunch:

Our lunch schedule has changed this year.  We are sending the students to recess first followed by lunch.  We’re still “tweaking” the schedule but the following times fall somewhere in this time frame:

Kindergarten Recess 11:05                             Lunch 11:25

First Grade Recess 11:35                                Lunch 12:00

Second/Third Grade Recess 12:00                  Lunch 12:20

If you wish to join your child for lunch, first check-in at the office.  The secretaries will send you down the stairs to the lunchroom.  You may wait for your child at his/her table.  Later when we enter through the building rather than outdoors, we’ll ask you to wait again on the bench by the lunchroom window.

Bikes:

Please check the handbook.  Third grade students who have completed bike safety are the only students allowed to ride their bikes to school.  They are to park in the bike rack behind the building.  

Birthday Lists:

The office is no longer releasing addresses and phone numbers of students and classmates.  If you are planning a birthday party for all the boys or all the girls or all the boys and girls (please see handbook), you will need to obtain the names from your child.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  Privacy laws are here to protect your child and other children too.

Arrival and Dismissal:

Thank you for your patience as we dismiss students at the end of the day.  We appreciate your courtesy and consideration for the safety of all the children and staff. 

 I strongly suggest you do not park/wait in your car on the street in front of the school. A sign is posted by the playground and the street. The police have ticketed people in the past.  This also applies to dropping your child off at the playground in the morning. 

 During recess supervisors are very careful to call the police if cars are parked by the playground and they appear to be watching students.  Although you may enjoy watching your child play, please be aware we are cautious of anyone too near our playground.  You are welcome to notify the school and park in the Home School parking lot.

You are always welcome to call the office (377-4698) if you have questions. 

Volunteers

We welcome any adults interested in volunteering at Starry School.  Our plan is to have a room ready for helpers to gather and enjoy working together on some of the time consuming projects teachers prepare for students.  Volunteers are also welcome to help teachers with special projects, assembling materials, and listening to students read or practice math skills. 

Parents, grandparents, community members, high school helpers, and others may be working individually with your child.  They may be privy to your child’s academic progress or classroom behavior.  If you are uncomfortable with volunteers listening to your child read or working on math skills individually, please contact the classroom teacher. 

“What happens at Starry, stays at Starry!” We encourage volunteers to maintain confidentiality. Although we review expectations we cannot guarantee this is always maintained by everyone coming into our school.  Again, feel free to contact the school if you are not comfortable with this arrangement.   

We appreciate our volunteers and all the extra support they give to our students and teachers.  It’s great to have interested parents and a supportive community.



Welcome to the 2011-2012 School Year!
 

Welcome to all our returning students and families and also a special welcome to our new students and their parents/guardians. We take pride in providing a special place for learning and growing together as an educational family.  Please contact the school office (377-4698) or the principal, Mrs. Asa, if you have a question or concern.

Registration
Registration is Tuesday, August 9, from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Marion High School.  A letter explaining the registration process will be sent from the district office. If you do not have access to a computer to complete forms, you will need to attend registration on August 9. 
 
If you complete the registration and payment process on-line, you do not need to attend registration at the high school. All information will arrive at the school on-line. Include current work and home phone numbers for parent(s)/guardian(s) and those you designate as emergency contacts.  
 
If you have an incoming kindergarten student and have not previously provided a birth certificate, you will need to attend registration.  Kindergarten students will not be allowed to start until we have this documentation on file in the office. If you wish to complete free and reduced applications for meals, registration fees or transportation costs, these documents require a signature and will need to be obtained at the office and returned to the school. 
 
Bussing
If your child needs bussing and enrolled after Jun 30th, please request a form from the district business office at 777 S. 15th St., Marion (phone: 377-1585), complete it and return it immediately for processing. 
 
Fees                                        
Textbook fees at Starry Elementary are $30.00 per child. Families who meet the income guidelines for free and reduced priced lunch, the Family Investment Program (FIP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or children who are in foster care, are eligible to have student fees waived or partially waived.  Families experiencing temporary financial difficulties may be eligible for a temporary waiver of student fees.  Forms for waiver qualification are available at registration. 
 
Breakfast and lunch are served daily.  You are encouraged to send enough money to cover at least one week’s worth of meals.  If you are unable to keep a positive lunch account, please request an assistance form or send cold lunch.  During the school year, checks written to purchase meals may be made payable to either Starry Elementary or Marion Independent Schools.  Breakfast, lunch and milk prices are listed below.
Breakfast                                                                                             Lunch
$1.30 for 1 day                                                                                    $2.00 for 1 day
$13.00 for 10 days                                                                               $20.00 for 10 days
$1.50 for adults                                                                                   $2.90 for visitors
 
Milk $.35 (one milk is provided with a hot lunch purchase; all milk with cold lunches or a second milk with the Hot Lunch are $.35)
 
 
Health Services
 
Student medical information may be completed on- line. All medications sent to school are kept at the health office (including cough drops and throat lozenges).  Medications must be sent in the original container with the child’s name and specific directions stating the amount and time the medication is to be given.  A medication form, available online or through the school health office, must be completed.  For safety reasons, we encourage parents to transport all medication to and from school.
 
Daily Schedule
 
8:30-8:50 a.m.   Breakfast is served. 
Children not riding a bus or participating in the breakfast program should not be on the school      
            grounds until 8:40. Parents who have children here before the allotted time will be called and
            asked to pick their children up and return them at the appropriate time.
 
8:40-8:50 a.m.   Buses arrive and students are supervised on the playground (old gym if raining)
At 8:40 students are directed to wait on the playground until the school bell rings.
 
8:50 a.m.           The bell rings and the school day begins
9:00 a.m.           The tardy bell rings
3:30 p.m.           School is dismissed.
 
Persons picking up students are asked to wait at the main doorways until the students join them. Please wait outdoors if the weather is nice.  At the end of the day, any students who are waiting on the playground will be asked to stand by the main doors or inside at the office. Children must be picked up within 15 minutes of dismissal (no later than 3:45 p.m.). Any student wishing to return to the playground must check in at his/her home first and then return to the playground after 3:45.
 
Snacks and Treats at School
 
Kindergarten students are to bring only packaged cereal or crackers for their afternoon snack.  No cookies, cupcakes, or candy treats please unless it is for a birthday celebration. As we did last year, all birthday treats or classroom treats must be store purchased, wrapped treats.  Although we know many of the parents/guardians are great bakers, for health reasons, all treats must have a seal on the outer package.  Packaged cookies, cupcakes, candy bars, fruit snacks, and such are acceptable. We’re trying to provide healthy, but safe snacks for celebrations.
 
Handbook
 
Please take time to read the Family-Student Handbook.  The information has been organized for you to quickly read the procedures for Starry Elementary.  Feel free to call the office or visit with the principal or classroom teacher if you have any questions or concerns.
 
Open House
 
All students in grades K-3 are invited to visit Starry prior to the first day of school.  Open House is Monday, August 22, from 3:30 to 5:30.  You are encouraged to have your children bring their school supplies when they visit the classroom and meet their teachers.  Class lists will be posted at Open House. 
Newsletter
 
Newsletters are sent home occasionally with children in their backpacks.  A current monthly activity calendar and the lunch calendar are sent home at the end of each month and are available on-line.  Please place them in a prominent place in your home.  They have the most recent updates for times, dates, and activities.
 
 
Emergency Closing
 
 Excessive heat may require the superintendent to dismiss early or in the winter call a delayed start or early dismissal. This decision is made in the best interest of all our students.  Families should have a plan in place prior to the first day of school.  Please send a note to the classroom teacher indicating where the student is to go if an early dismissal occurs.  We ask you listen to the news instead of calling the school.  The Parent Handbook lists the radio and television stations which carry the information. It also lists the website where you may sign up for email notification.
 
Student Safety
 
The Starry parking lot is very busy before and after school.  Both lanes in the front of the building are busy.  In the morning please park only in the east lane (on the side nearest the high school) but do not park in the thru-lane (side nearest the Starry building).  After school, cars begin lining up very early for dismissal and a parked car can create problems.  Please do not park in either lane at dismissal time.
 
 At dismissal, school personnel will assist the student into his/her car.  No child is allowed to walk across the street or to a waiting car without an adult to accompany them.  When picking up children after school you are encouraged to use the high school parking lot and walk across to Starry.  Parking is also available at the north Home School parking lot or the west side of the school.  Please do not park in the yellow bus area behind the school on 14th Street.
 
For the safety of walking students, crossing guards are located at A Avenue and South 15th Street;  Hillview Drive and South 15th Street; and South 11th Street and F Avenue.  Please instruct your child to go home directly after school and to cross only at these intersections.  Crossing guards are on duty until 3:40.
 
We are excited to begin another school year.  Feel free to call or stop and visit if you have any concerns or comments.  We value your partnership in providing a safe, caring place for students to grow and learn. 
 
From the School Nurse

Dear Parent or Guardian:

As your child’s school nurse, I want to welcome your child back to school for what promises to be a productive and exciting new school year. I also want to make you aware of a “pesky” situation that impacts schools around the country, often as the school year begins.

Pediculosis, or head lice, is a condition that each year affects approximately 6 to 12 million children between the ages of 3 and 12 years of age, and about 1 in every 100 elementary school children. Head lice are parasites that are generally found on the scalp, around the ears, and at the back of the neck. The adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, and can be the color of your child’s hair. Eggs, or nits, are smaller and silver in color.

Head lice are not a sign of poor hygiene and they do not transmit disease. Spread from one child to another can occur during direct head to head contact or by sharing of personal items such as combs, brushes, caps or helmets.

The most common symptom of head lice is itching and head scratching, particularly at night. Red bite marks or sores may also be noticed on the scalp. If you suspect that your child has head lice, he or she should be examined by your health care provider. Safe and effective products to treat head lice are available both over the counter and by doctor’s prescription. It is important to follow the directions carefully. In addition, use a fine-tooth comb or special nit comb to help remove the eggs (nits) from the hair. You can also check your child’s scalp weekly when the hair is wet to see if there are any new head lice. Parents should also wash in hot water or dry-clean all recently worn clothing, hats, used bedding, and towels. Personal care items such as combs, brushes and hair clips should also be washed in hot water. Toys, such as stuffed animals, can be put into a tightly closed plastic bag for 14 days or placed in a hot dryer for 30 minutes to kill the lice.

My goal as school nurse is to provide you with the information you need to safeguard your child’s health, and ensure that his or her education is not disrupted, but remains the most positive experience possible. I hope you find this information useful, and I send best wishes to your child for a rewarding school year. 

For a healthy school,

School Nurse