SIGSBEE SCOOP

September 26- September 30, 2016

Respect, responsibility & resilience

WEEK AT A GLANCE

Celebrate Freedom Week

Monday, September 26:  Girl Scouts 3:30-5:00 PM

Tuesday, September 27:   Ecology Club (grades 4-5) 3:15-4:15 PM

Wednesday, September 28: Donuts with Dads breakfast & classroom drop off 7:45-8:05 AM

Thursday, September 29:  Smencil Orders Due
                                             Student Ambassador Resiliency Training (elected reps grades 3-6)

                                             NJHS Induction (grades 6-8) 3:45-4:45
Friday, September 30: Jump Rope for Heart Celebration 8:00-10:00 AM
                                       Smencils delivered
                                       Kindergarten Orange Day

DONUTS WITH DADS WEDNESDAY

We would like to invite all of our families to our DADS TAKE YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL DAY event! On September 28, 2016, from 7:45 am to 8:05 am, we encourage all fathers to take their children to school and stay for a morning snack in the cafeteria. All father figures are welcome, including stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, foster fathers and other significant role models. We realize we have many fathers deployed, so please "adopt a child" if you can.  We have recruited friendly, responsible males to help escort children who would like to have an escort that day.

This initiative’s intent is to highlight the significant difference fathers and father figures can make by taking a more active role in their children’s educational experience. When fathers play a more active role in a child’s education, children perform better academically; have fewer discipline problems; and become more responsible adults. We hope all fathers will take this opportunity to become more familiar with our school and staff and that you will return often.

What about moms? Moms are vital in the lives of their children and are often the parent who is more involved in their children’s education. Dads Take Your Child to School Day is just one chance for us to shine the spotlight on dads and encourage men to get involved. 

To participate, please park and bring your child to the cafeteria.  There will be a special treat and a photo-op for each father figure.  Once you pick up your treat, please feel free to walk your child to the classroom for drop off.  Drop off is over by 8:05 AM so you need not worry being too late to work!

PARENT SURVEY: please help us help your children

We are entering the first implementation year of a five-year grant from the Department of Defense Education Act.  This $500,000 grant allows us to study long-term achievement data for transient students who are struggling academically in mathematics and language arts compared to their peer group.  While the grant targets military-dependent children, the programs developed with the funds will support and include all eligible students.  The grant provides opportunities for teachers to receive professional development in related topics, helps us to support our summer academic camp, allows us to create a well-defined intervention and support program, and gives us curriculum resources for all students.  In addition to the academic focus, our grant objectives are targeted at improving families' connectedness to the school via communication and extracurricular programs.  The first step in meeting our goals is to collect baseline data so that we can assess school climate.  We need your cooperation in order to set our deliverables in the right direction.  Please take a few moments to answer the questions on this survey so that we may begin our study.   The survey is anonymous.  It doesn't matter if you've had children at our school for six weeks or seven years; we'd like everyone's input.

We feel very fortunate that various grants have allowed us to provide incredible experiences and resources for our students as well as a wide variety of professional development activities for our staff.  In order to continue to be awarded these opportunities, we need to show both interest and progress in reaching our goals.  Your participation matters!  Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey.  We will be open for responses until Sunday, October 2nd.  The survey link is: https://goo.gl/forms/Ixps43Y7Kw9NBMdE2

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART IS COMING TO OUR SCHOOL (from Coach Coleman)

Did you know that heart disease and stroke are the #1 and #3 cause of death in America? Did you know that a majority of those lives impacted by heart disease could have been prevented through lifestyle choices?  Healthy behaviors begin at home and should be reinforced at school.

On September 30, 2016 our school will hold our Annual Jump Rope For Heart activity.  Jump Rope For Heart began 34 years ago and takes place at thousands of school all across the nation. This program helps students learn about the benefits of regular physical activity and heart health, but also teaches children the value of giving back to those in need. Heart disease affects every family, so help us support the American Heart Association as they help people live longer, healthier lives!     

Depending on what our school raises, we will receive gift certificates for PE equipment through US Games!  Supporters can donate online at www.heart.org/jump. Help your child register and create his or her own web page with the tools provided online and your child can include a message about why he or she is participating in Jump Rope For Heart.   

Special incentives in addition to the Zoo Crew

·       Students who raise $100 will get to SLIME Coach Coleman!

Friday, September 29th is the Jump Rope For Heart Celebration for K-5 SCS Students.  This is also the last day to turn in fundraising proceeds which have been collected; the funds go directly to the American Heart Association.  On Friday, your student's class will jump rope for 15 minutes in the cafeteria, showing the jump rope skills they've learned while making their hearts healthy.  You are invited to come watch them participate; the schedule will be sent to you this week.  SCS Elementary Students have raised more than $3000 so far towards helping out the American Heart Association!!  Our goal is $5000, so keep up the good work!  Click on the below link to find out more:"

Thank you for your support!

SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, October 5th
8:05-9:00 AM
Coffee Clatch with the Principal
Guest Speakers: Dr. Susan Lloyd, reading specialist
Ms. Angie Castonguay, literacy coach
Mrs. Paula Wilson, literacy coach
Topic:  Understanding your child's reading assessments

Monthly Coffee Clatches are intended to help parents find ways to support their children's school experience.  Attendees will be credited with a service hour when attending the full session.

MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES
NJHS Sigsbee Scoop by Madison Zintsmaster

“I will be loyal to my school; and will maintain and encourage the high standards of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship, and character.” The National Junior Honor Society members are made up of these five qualities.  My name is Madison Zintsmaster and I am the president of NJHS. We have just started a new column in the Scoop where I will write about current events in the middle school. This week, I will present National Junior Honor Society. NJHS is a program that is made up of academically accelerated students who want to help the community. As a group, we conduct one or more service projects, including beach clean-ups. We also volunteer for service projects individually.  We are an organization that wants to help not only our community but also our school- we are excited about several upcoming projects!

In order to apply for NJHS, you first must meet the academic requirements: earn an 85% or better in each core class. Then, you will receive a letter inviting you to apply to NJHS.  Letters are distributed at the beginning of Semester One and Semester Two.  Next, you complete the NJHS application on the Sigsbee Middle School Website and submit the application to the Faculty Advisor.  On the application, you highlight your commitment to service, leadership, character, and citizenship.  These applications are judged by the Faculty Council.

I hope that this column has provided better understanding of NJHS. Have a great week and read my next article on one of our current middle school events.

PICTURE GALLERY