Notes from Mrs. Swan
PRUNE HILL Penguin News
February 1, 2019
1601 NW Tidland St Camas, WA 98607
360-833-5730 phone 360-833-5731 fax
Dear Penguin Families,
The dynamics of a classroom with 25 students, or a school with 484 students, requires protocols that align with our
beliefs and our school mission to nurture independent learning. School discipline is also a part of our work. We believe
that students learn best by owning the problems they create for themselves or others, and work to solve and repair those
problems with adult guidance. We attempt to find consequences that are directly tied to student actions, whenever
possible. We also believe that students are more successful when taught expected behaviors. An example at home would
be breaking down the direction to ‘clean your room’ into specific and expected tasks: clothes put in dresser, bed made,
toys put away. You will notice posters in our cafeteria, hallways, and restrooms that help reinforce what we expect by
breaking down rules into concrete steps. Penguin Pride tickets are tied into our school wide discipline plan to recognize
students that follow rules in our common areas. Tickets are entered into weekly drawings.
Behavior Incidents at Prune Hill are recorded on an FYI form by a staff member to a student who needs a reminder to
correct their behavior. These are not sent home, as our intention is for students to have the opportunity to own and
correct their behavior independently. An office referral is a next step when more serious incidents occur, and is sent
home, typically accompanied by a phone call or meeting with teacher and/or principal. The progression moves on to
more restrictive consequences such as in-school and out-of-school suspensions. The overall goal is for students to
understand that they are here to learn, and part of that learning is through making mistakes and/or poor choices. And
trying again. Your support of that learning comes with the following: a neutral tone and response (‘yikes, that must have
been hard/difficult’), when your child comes home and tells you about a problem. This builds empathy and respect.
Asking questions, such as ‘what do you want me to do about that?’ ‘let me know if you need any ideas’ both send the
message of confidence in their decision making.
Working together and supporting each other through celebrations and challenges of raising and educating kids from 5
years to 11 years is what makes our school stronger.
Sincerely,
Julie Swan
Principal
Three parenting resources that may be helpful are:
How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap & Prepare Your Kid for Success, Julie Lythcott-Haimes
Parenting with Love and Logic, Cline and Fay
Raising Human Beings, Ross Greene
FEBRUARY 2019
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 Spirit Day/Sports Day
Read to Feed Ends
5th Gd to Planetarium 8:25-11:25 (40/41)
Birthday Table
5th Gd Odyssey Tour 12:10-1:50
Winter Family Fun Night 6-8
2
3 4
5
OMS Parent Info Event/Tour 1-2pm
Choir Rehearsal 2:30-3:30
6 5th Gd Water Quality
Monitoring 8:15-11:15
12:10 dismissal
Recorder Rehearsal 12:10-1:00
7 Jungle Week begins
4th Gd (Menor/ Rakoski) to Rice Rock & Mineral
Museum 8:15-1:15
OMS Parent Info Event/Tour 9-10 am
& 6:30-7:30 pm
8 Jungle Week
4th Gd (Barga/ Coleman) to Rice Rock & Mineral
Museum 8:15-1:15
9
10 11
Jungle Week
CSD Board Meeting 5:30
12
Jungle Week
Choir Rehearsal 2:30-3:30
13
Jungle Week
100th Day of School
12:10 dismissal
Recorder Rehearsal 12:10-1:00
PTA Meeting 6-7
14
Valentine’s Day
15 Presidents’ Day
Holiday NO SCHOOL
16
17 18 Presidents’ Day
Holiday NO SCHOOL
19
Read to Feed Assembly
12:15-1:00
Choir Rehearsal 2:30-3:30
20
12:10 dismissal
Recorder Rehearsal 12:10-1:00
21
22
5th Gd to Planetarium
8:25-11:25 (42/43)
23
24 25
CSD Board Meeting 5:30
26 Choir Rehearsal
2:30-3:30
27
12:10 dismissal
Recorder Rehearsal 12:10-1:00
28
MARCH 2019
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 Yearbook order forms go home
2
3 4
5 Choir Rehearsal
2:30-3:30
6 5th Gd Water
Quality Monitoring 8:15-11:15
12:10 dismissal
Recorder Rehearsal 12:10-1:00
7 8 Birthday Table
9
10 11
CSD Board
Meeting 5:30
12 Choir Rehearsal
2:30-3:30
13 5th Grade to PYP
8:00-11:30
12:10 dismissal
Recorder Rehearsal 12:10-1:00
14 15 NO SCHOOL
Possible Inclement
Weather Makeup Day
16
17 18 Last day of Trimester 2
Spirit Day/Lucky
Leprecaun Day
19 Choir Rehearsal
2:30-3:30
20 12:10 dismissal
Recorder Rehearsal 12:10-1:00
21
22 OperaQuest
Assembly Gds 3-5 9:00-10:00
34
24 25
CSD Board
Meeting 5:30
26 Choir Rehearsal
2:30-3:30
27 12:10 dismissal
Recorder Rehearsal 12:10-1:00
5th Grade Science Fair 5:30-6:30
28 5th Grade Science
Fair 8:05-9:00
Report Cards go home
29
Yearbook orders due today
Box Tops due today
30
PTA February News!
Family Fun Night – February 1st!!
Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Prune Hill Elementary Family Fun Night, Friday, February 1st from 6-8
pm. There will be a D.J. in the gym. Bingo in the Library and Computer Lab. $2.00 Raffle tickets can be purchased with
some amazing prizes to win. There will be a balloon artist so come with some creative ideas of what he can make for
you to take home. Food Vendors at the event will include: Papa Murphy's and Getta Gyro. $5.00 Student Entry. Hope
to see you there!
Yearbook Photos Needed
There is still time to get photos to us for the yearbook. Please send pictures of students at school or at school events.
We prefer pictures with multiple students in them so we can fit as many Penguins as possible on a page. The photos
can be sent to [email protected] and please include the grade of students. Thank you for your help!
Spring Carnival – May 18th
Save the date for our annual Spring Carnival, which will be held on Saturday May 18th from 4-7pm. Its volunteers that
make this event possible, so please consider signing up for some time during or before/after, to help out!
Volunteers needed
The PTA is still looking for volunteers to help coordinate some ongoing events and items of business. The greatest need is for Auction Leader (see below). Volunteers are always needed for activities, please contact the PTA if you would like to get involved.
● the monthly Birthday Table
● the spring 5th Grade Celebration and Fine Dining events
● Spring Carnival:
Auction Leader- (2-3 people): Request and collect donations, create auction flier and bid sheets, oversee auction on
day of carnival and follow up with donation tax receipts. Assistance will be provided. Can be done from home day or
night. Time commitment: 2-4 per week January-May.
Additional ways to earn for PHE:
In addition to Box Tops, there are other ways you can earn cash for PHE, including:
● http://smile.amazon.com/ - Select Prune Hill Elementary PTA
● www.kelloggsfamilyrewards.com – Set-up your family account and start earning points for products PHE needs!
● https://www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards - Enroll Your Rewards Card and enter Prune Hill PTA or # 88281
UPCOMING DATES:
February 1st: Winter Family Fun Night! March 25th-29th: Staff Appreciation Week
February 1st: February Birthday Table March 29th: Yearbook order forms due
February 13: General Membership Meeting March 29th: Box Tops due
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Website: www.PruneHillPTA.com ~ Friend us on Facebook: Prune Hill PTA ~ Email us at [email protected]
Sign up to join Prune Hill PTA online: https://www.pt-avenue.com/join/
2018-2019 Board of Directors:
President Co-Vice Presidents Membership
Danna Liebhaber Carry Ross-Richardson & Kristen Kimmich Becky Wong
Co-Treasurers Co-Secretaries
Megan Ryan & Kerri Richardson Kelly Reiter & Mary Pat Porter
A note from the health room regarding head lice:
Lice can be prevalent year round. Make sure you are checking your student’s head regularly at home and treating immediately for any head lice found. Please do not send your child to school without treatment if head lice are found. If you discover that your child has head lice you will need to take the necessary steps to ensure proper treatment. Consult with your provider to ensure best course of treatment.
Transmission: Lice are transmitted by activities that include direct head-to-head contact like play at home, slumber parties, sports activities or camps. Transmission in the classroom is rare and schools are not the most common place where head lice are spread.
Identification: A lice infestation is determined by finding live lice. Lice move quickly from light when the hair is parted. You should check in several areas over the top and sides of the head where lice are more likely to be found. Nits (eggs) are usually pearly white and attached to the hair shaft. They are often found behind the ears, the nape of the neck and in later stages throughout the whole head. Unlike dandruff, hair spray, etc. nits cannot be “brushed away.” Nits can only be removed by pulling them from the hair strand with a nit comb or your fingernails.
For more information, please refer to:
https://srhd.org/health-topics/environmental-health/head-lice - includes a short
video demonstration on how to comb hair to remove nits
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/from-insects-animals/Pages/Signs-of-Lice.aspx
http://www.camas.wednet.edu/Camas2016/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Guidelines_Students_Head_Lice.pdf
If you have any questions, please contact Prune Hill health staff at (360) 833-5730.
Camas School District
Kindergarten Registration Events
It is time for Kindergarten registration for the 2019-2020 school year! Listed below are the dates for
registration and orientation events for each school. The purpose of orientation is to meet teachers
and staff, learn about the kindergarten curriculum, and take a ride on a real school bus! If you are
not sure which school your child will attend, or would like to make a registration appointment, please
call 360-833-5410 to speak with Maria Spencer, Becky Stauffer, and Shanna Michelle, district registrars.
They will also be onsite at the orientations for your convenience. You may access registration
paperwork online at http://www.camas.wednet.edu/schools-resources/resources/new-student-registration/
Please note that in addition to the registration forms you will need to submit the following paperwork:
State-issued birth certificate
Immunization information. Students must be fully immunized including “kindergarten shots” or
an exemption needs to be on file in order for your child to be registered.
Proof of residency (2 items), i.e., utility bill, payroll check, signed lease agreement, etc.
Please let us know if you plan to attend the Kindergarten Orientation. In addition, if you know of any
future Camas kindergarten students in your neighborhood, preschool, etc., please share this
information with them.
Helen Baller Elementary
1954 NE Garfield Street
(360) 833-5720
Date: May 22
Time: 1:00-2:30
Grass Valley Elementary
3000 NW Grass Valley Drive
(360) 833-5710
Date: May 22
Time: 8:15-9:45
Prune Hill Elementary
1601 NW Tidland Street
(360) 833-5730
Date: May 15
Time: 1:00-2:30
Dorothy Fox Elementary
2623 NW Sierra Street
(360) 833-5700
Date: May 15
Time: 4:00-5:50
Woodburn Elementary
2400 NE Woodburn Drive
(360) 833-5860
Date: May 22
Time: 4:00-5:30
Lacamas Lake Elementary
4825 North Shore Blvd
(360) 833-5740
Date: May 15
Time: 5:00-6:30