Monday Minute 10.26.2020

Halloween

We are excited to see students in their costumes this Thursday!  Just a reminder not to include weapons or facsimile of weapons as part of the costume.  This year we do get to wear masks—just not over the eyes!  We’ll try to post some pictures on our school website of our students and staff in costume.  Volunteers helping at the parties must have completed the background check on the district website:https://volunteer.canyonsdistrict.org/volunteersystem/#!/application/volunteer//

Social Emotional Learning

This morning I visited a first-grade classroom during their Morning Meeting.  Every classroom at Silver Mesa has a Morning Meeting each day to connect and build relationships, set the tone for the day, and participate in social/emotional learning.  The lesson the class discussed today was about how to recognize feelings in others, how feelings can change, and how to watch other people’s faces and body language to determine how others are feeling.  They talked about vocabulary—introduce was a word they were working on in reading.  The video they watched showed how one student welcomed another student to the class who looked nervous and then introduced her to others.  The new student’s feelings changed as she felt more calm about coming into class.

This short activity (10 minutes!) had a lot going on and helped our young students start to understand empathy—another vocabulary word that was used.  I thought I’d give you a glimpse of what happens in our classrooms on a daily basis.  Our SEL curriculum is called Second Step and has activities and videos targeted for each grade.   This school-wide focus has been great to build unity and gives us some common themes and vocabulary to talk about with each other.

Science Fair

It is time to start thinking about the science fair. Silver Mesa is planning to have an in person fair this school year. We are waiting to set the date for Silver Mesa’s fair once the district has announced the date for their fair. However, our fair is usually early in January.  YOU NEED TO FILL OUT THE ISEF FORM BEFORE STARTING YOUR PROJECT. This can be found and printed from:https://usef.utah.edu/ Go to the bottom of the page where “Participate” is listed. Below that is ISEF paperwork. Your project cannot advance to district or USEF level without this paperwork!  The usef.utah.edu website also has helpful information on doing a science fair project. It is aimed toward fifth graders and older, but it can help all participants. Check it out! If you have questions about Silver Mesa’s fair you can contact Jill Eichbauer at jeichbauer@yahoo.com.

Window to Request Change to Learning Option

The window for submitting change requests is this next week:  Sunday, Nov. 1^st through Sunday, Nov. 8^th. Learning option changes will take effect with the start of the trimester on Monday, Nov. 23^rd.  Those wanting to shift from in-person to one of two remote learning options available, or from remote learning to in-person instruction, will need to submit a change-request within that timeframe. No action is required of families who wish to stay with their chosen path.

Class sizes will increase if more families choose to be in-person, but it’s going well here at Silver Mesa, and we’re hoping to have more of our students join us in-person. 

Emergency Substitutes

Would you be interested in subbing just at Silver Mesa?  Call our front office and get on our Emergency Substitutes list! (801) 826-9400  There is a shortage of substitutes district-wide, so we’re reaching out to recruit parents or neighbors who are interested.  Thanks!

Kindness Is Cool

Here are some more examples of kindness happening at our school these past couple of weeks.  We have the best students!

Jack Reich (2^nd grade)—for helping out other students by being patient and kind

Aria Matulonis (3^rd grade)—Helping out other students when they need help

Becky Wallenburg (3^rd grade)—Picking up trash outside on the school grounds.

Porter Cuskelly (3^rd grade)—standing up for others

Dual Immersion 

Parents and guardians of kindergarten students can apply online anytime from now through Wednesday, Nov. 25.  Please note, that students with siblings currently enrolled in a Dual-Language Immersion school must still submit applications by the Nov. 25 deadline.

Here’s a link to begin the application process:

https://dual.canyonsdistrict.org/dual/#!/start

At Home Learning Tech Support

https://www.canyonsdistrict.org/parent-connections-tech-support/

Or call:  (801) 826-5200

PTA News

Reflections

Reflections entries should be submitted by TODAY!  Check out our http://silvermesapta.org/Page/PTA/Reflections to learn more.  

Red Ribbon Week

We have a fun red-ribbon week this week.  Instead of doing the egg-drop at school, we are encouraging families to do it at home, and send in your pictures to do a school video.  Have pictures for the @Home Egg Drop? Use the Google Form Link: https://forms.gle/N8uAMgdU4dnFpRf78

 All the rest of the info will be up on our website.

Mon. 10/26:  Wear Red!

Tues. 10/27:  Crazy Sock Day! 

Wed. 10/28:  Be Brave and Say No!

Read-a-thon

The ORANGE Bingo sheet is due today by lunchtime to be eligible for the big prizes, but of course we’ll accept the orange sheets all week to help us get in our minutes for our school goals.  PURPLE Bingo sheets are the goals for this week and are focused around mystery books.  This is the LAST week to earn minutes toward the read-a-thon and your reading goals.  Any money earned is due in the envelopes by next Monday, Nov. 2nd.   Our school bookshelf bulletin board is really filling up with some awesome books. Keep them coming!  Final winners will be announced by Thursday, Nov. 5.  

**ALL BINGO sheets can be found on our website if you need another copy.

What do I do with….

BINGO sheets?   Mark off squares that students complete, record your minutes, turn in on Mondays 

PLEDGE ENVELOPE?  Record pledges and minutes read;  collect money after read-a-thon is over; return to school w/ money on Monday, Nov. 2

SKINNY SLIPS OF PAPER that say Book: Author: Student: Teacher:? Fill them out each time you read a book and turn them in.  We are making a giant “bookshelf” with all the books read at our school.  Prizes can now be earned for turning them in.

Box Tops

We know that Box tops has gone digital, but do you still have any clipped box tops hanging around at home?  Send them in a ziploc to school with your child’s name and teacher on them and we’ll make sure they get sent in!  Thanks!  Deadline for sending in paper box tops is this THURSDAY, Oct. 29th.

Halloween Parties

Class Halloween parties are this Thursday at varying times.  Students are encouraged to wear their costumes.  Due to COVID, only 3 parents are allowed in the classrooms this year, and have already been notified.  Parent volunteers:  PLEASE allow time to check in properly before your class party. You will need to check in AND get your temperature checked upon arrival.  

Need new masks?

Have you found your supply of masks dwindling?  We still have CHILD spirit wear masks available for purchase on our website. 

Amazon Smile

We have an updated account with Amazon Smile.  Are you a devoted Amazon shopper?  Now you can shop AND make money for Silver Mesa!  Just add/change your account to PTA Utah Congress Silver Mesa Elementary PTA… (We know, it’s a weird name.  Use it anyway!:)

Upcoming Dates

Oct. 26^th—Reflections Entries Due

Oct. 26^th-29^th—Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 29^th—Halloween class parties; We will not have a parade this year as we can’t have large gatherings.  Volunteers to help with parties will be limited.  Thanks for understanding!

Nov. 1^st-Nov. 8^th—Window to switch learning options (see district website)

Nov. 2^nd—Picture Retakes—Next Monday

Nov. 2^nd—Fundraiser collections due; PTA Board Meeting at 12:30

Nov. 4^th—SCC Meeting; All are welcome!  Virtual—7:15 AM; Meeting ID

meet.google.com/ahg-kwvw-uwz

Nov. 25^th—Deadline for applying for the Dual Immersion program

Here’s to another GREAT week!

Julie Fielding, Principal

Silver Mesa Elementary