Dear Parents,
Our Student Council has designated February as Friendship Month here at Silver Mesa. We will be promoting friendship all month long. Eagles are friendly!
Friday is our last Remote Learning Day this month. At the bottom of this email is information about getting homework help at the Sandy library on Friday.
Are you planning to volunteer for an upcoming field trip or for Valentine’s Day parties? Please be sure you have filled out the district’s volunteer application. Here’s the link: https://volunteer.canyonsdistrict.org/volunteersystem/volunteer/
Candy Grams
The Silver Mesa Student Council is excited to continue their tradition of selling Candy Grams to celebrate Friendship month! Candy Grams are pencils or suckers with a note attached. They can be purchased and sent to anyone in the school. They are $0.25 each. We are asking students to pay with exact change, as no change will be given.
The Student Council will be selling Candy Grams during student lunchtimes all this week. Parents are also welcome to purchase some in the front office, if you would like. On Valentine’s Day, the Student Council will deliver all of the Candy Grams to the classrooms. They also ensure that no student is left out. Happy Friendship Month!
Tech Tip
It may seem obvious that eating dinner with your family is a good thing. Research provides plenty of support for the importance of family dinner for kids: Learning vocabulary, fewer behavior problems, less substance abuse, and healthier eating are some of the positive outcomes.
So, when you have a family dinner, commit to putting devices away from those 30 minutes (or, if you have small children, the six minutes of dinner!). Learn more about device-free dinners at commonsensemedia.org/device-free-dinner.
Reflections
We want to congratulate Claire Eves for 3D Visual Arts category Region 17 winner. We’re proud of you!
Supplemental Kindergarten
Silver Mesa will have at least one classroom for supplemental kindergarten next year. We are about halfway to filling another classroom as well. Tomorrow is the end of phase one of the application process. For hiring purposes, we need to make the decision in the next few days as to whether we will offer two classrooms. On Feb. 15th parents will be notified if they have been admitted to the program or are on a waiting list.
More information, including answers to common questions, is on the CSD website.
Science Fair District Finalists
Here are the 5th grade Science Fair finalists from the district fair. They will be moving on to the regional science fair at the University of Utah. Congratulations!
Cedar Anderson; Lemon Batter Experiment
Adelaide Baer; There’s a Bug on the Rug
Cedar Walker; Bouncing Balls
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parents can choose how they would like to meet for conferences this time: virtual or in person. We will generally designate Wednesday for in-person conferences and Thursday for virtual conferences. We’ve found most families prefer virtual for convenience purposes, so if Wednesday fits your schedule better and you want virtual, that is just fine. Information will be coming out next week on how to sign up for a time.
Kindness Is Cool
Here are some more examples of kindness happening at our school these past couple of weeks. We have the best students!
Wren Christiansen (Kindergarten) – playing with a friend who was all alone
Silas Smith (Kindergarten) – staying back with a friend to help him zip his jacket & walk with him to recess
Diego Ferreira (3rd grade) – helping another student understand a new math concept
Nixxon Mehdy (3rd grade) – helping a friend when they got hurt
Jensen Reeves (1st grade) – sharing crayons with friends
Cooper Charlton (4th grade) – helped close the 3rd & 4th grade doors to keep our school safe
Vivian Taylor (Kindergarten) – cleaning up the classroom library
School Website: https://silvermesa.canyonsdistrict.org/
Instagram: silvermesa_eagles
Parent Volunteer application link: https://volunteer.canyonsdistrict.org/volunteersystem/volunteer/
Lunch Menus: https://canyonsdistrict.nutrislice.com/menu/silver-mesa/lunch/2022-02-01
PTA News
1st Literacy Night/Month Committee Meeting
Tuesday, February 8th, 1:45-2:45pm in the PTA portable
We’ll be discussing the details of our Harry Potter Literacy month, including Quidditch at recess, Honeydukes, and Literacy Night itself. As many of our helpers in the past have “graduated,” we’re looking for fresh volunteers to bring this event back to life, as it is one of the favorites of Silver Mesa’s pre-Covid years. Also: Looking for a Co-Chair for this activity to learn the ropes to carry on Literacy Month in future years. Contact Alecia Falk aleciafalk@gmail.com if you plan to attend or would like to help out.
WHITE RIBBON WEEK Feb. 14-18
Free Parent Zoom Call–Screens and Kids: 5 Simple Strategies
On Thursday, February 10th, 12:00 pm-12:45 pm, we will be pleased to hear from Deanna Lambson, founder of Whiteribbonweek.org. She will host a zoom meeting for our school, to give us some context as to why digital safety is important, as well as some practical tools to help us as parents have conversation with our kids at home. Everyone who attends the meeting will be given access to a digital family media plan that you can use with your children at home. She will also be explaining some of the activities that will be coming home with your students and what to do with them.
Time: Feb 10, 2022 12:00 PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85383541680 Meeting ID: 853 8354 1680
PTA will also be sponsoring some lunchtime activities to coordinate with what students will be talking about with their teachers at school. We need a couple helpers with decorating, lunchtime activities, and taking down decor. If you can help, sign up here.
STEAM Night
Thanks to our amazing co-chairs, Nanette Hosenfield and Terra Hutchings, STEAM Night has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 22nd, from 6-8pm. We will have Lollipuff, our favorite cotton candy vendor, here from 5:30-8:00 pm.
What is STEAM Night?
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. This night is an “open house”-style school and community event sponsored by our PTA, where kids can explore all aspects of STEAM. Our classes will include the following vendors: Code Ninjas, Little Beakers, Nelson Labs, U of U Science Ambassadors, Jordan Robotics club and more. Some events will be offered as classes: Magic Show, Yoga, and Digital Brain Defense (for parents).
Digital Brain Defense
Our PTA purchased a program for our school entitled, DefendYoungMinds. Its curriculum is designed for 4-5th grade students, to help them make healthy choices when it comes to their use of technology. For various reasons, we are not able to offer this class to our 4th/5th graders as planned. BUT we are offering it to you, as parents, to use with your children at home. One of the classes at STEAM night will be called “Digital Brain Defense,” and it will be a class for parents to preview the material and sign up to use at home if they choose.
Sign-up Genius
Lastly, we can’t pull off STEAM Night without our wonderful volunteers. That’s where you come in! If you can help out that night, it would be much appreciated. Click here to volunteer.
Reflection Theme Logo Contest- $50 Amazon card to winner
https://www.utahpta.org/reflections-theme-logo-contest-rules-instructions
PTA Membership:
Be a voice for your child! Just $6.50 to provide national, state and local advocacy for your student. No participation/volunteering is required beyond signing up as a member, but you are always welcome!
Sign up today:
https://silvermesapta.org/Packet/Donate/ProductsPacketPage/1
Want to know where your dues go?
https://silvermesapta.org/Page/PTA/PTA%20DUES
Upcoming Dates
Feb. 7th-10th—Candy Grams sponsored by our Student Council
Feb. 10th—Parent Zoom Meeting “Kids and Screens: 5 Simple Strategies” 12:00 noon
Feb. 11th—Remote Learning Day
Feb. 14th—Valentine’s Day Parties in classrooms
Feb. 14th-18th—White Ribbon Week (Digital Safety)
Feb. 22nd—STEAM Night; 6:00-8:00 pm; families are welcome!
Feb. 25th—Spirit Day: Friendship Day (Matching Day) Match your friends, your teacher, or someone else at school!
March 2nd-3rd—Parent Teacher Conferences
March 4th—No School; Compensatory Day for Teachers
March 7th—Literacy Month begins
Have a great day!
Julie Fielding, Principal
Silver Mesa Elementary
Remote Learning Day Homework Help
Does it seem like your student drags out a 15-minute assignment for hours? You are not alone! Most fare better working when their peers are also working or when someone other than a parent is giving instruction. If remote learning days have been a struggle, try coming to the library!
Alta View PTA Remote Learning Support
Friday, February 11th 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Sandy Library
Large Meeting Room 10100 Petunia Way Sandy, UT 84092
Volunteers will be available to assist your student with remote learning work.
Accompanying adult must stay somewhere in the Sandy Library while the student is participating.
Questions? Willing to volunteer?
Contact Allyn Kau at roadrunnersread2019@gmail.com.
