April 7, 2014

FERNAN FLASH Fernan Elementary School

520 N. 21st Street Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83814 www.cdaschools.org/fernan

Bill Rutherford, Principal Phone: 208/664-2659 - Fax: 208/769-2923

Welcome back to school! I hope everyone’s spring break was amazing and students are

Re-energized to accept the educational challenges for the remainder of the school year. I

need your help. Our Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) has a handful of active, busy

parents but we need more. Most of the events planned at Fernan are a result of the work

and dedication of these few active parents and with the year ending, we need new parents

to volunteer. Without new volunteers, events will not be planned, money not raised and stu-

dents will suffer. Please consider helping out. The present volunteers are wonderful and

will help new members feel comfortable, accepted and welcome. If you have the desire to

help, please attend the PTA meeting Thursday, April 17th at 3:45 pm in our music room. If

you cannot attend and still wish to help, please e-mail me at brutherford@cdaschools.org.

Thank you and have a great week!

Bill Rutherford, Principal

Calendar of Events-April April 09 — Afterschool STEM Enrichment Class Sign-Up 6:00-7:00pm April 10 — Class Pictures — Julie Johnson Jamboree @ Lake City High School @ 6:30pm April 14 — Afterschool STEM Enrichment Classes 3:30-5:00pm

April 15-May 2 — Kootenai Humane Society Donations April 17 — PTA Meeting @ 3:45pm / Music Room April 21 — Afterschool STEM Enrichment Classes 3:30-5:00pm April 28 — Afterschool STEM Enrichment Classes 3:30-5:00pm April 30 — IRI Testing Grades 3rd-5th

Calendar of Events - May

May 05 — Afterschool STEM Enrichment Classes 3:30-5:00pm May 06 — Kindergarten & New to the District 1st Grade Registration 8am-1pm May 15 — Fernan STEM Science Night 5:30-7:00pm May 21 — 5th Grade Lakes Middle School Tour May 23 — NO SCHOOL Pre-School-12th-Flex Day May 26 — NO SCHOOL Pre-School-12th—Holiday May 30 — Fernan Carnival 5:00-8:00pm Please let the office know if you will be moving over the summer. Returning students will be able to register online for next year. Be on the lookout for when this process will begin.

COUNSELOR’S CORNER

As I visit student classrooms this month, we will be working on learning a four step problem solving process.

Conveniently, these steps can be remembered by using the acronym STEP. S: Say the problem without blaming.

T: Think of solutions. E: Explore consequences. P: Pick a solution. I find that many students want to jump

immediately to the P step and pick the solution of reporting the problem to an adult. While we always want to

encourage kids to report serious problems like bullying to an adult, I also believe it is important for kids to lean

that they can be assertive and solve many of their own problems by themselves. I love talking with a student who

is bursting with pride because he was able to fix a problem with a friend all by himself. I would encourage you to

try out these problem solving steps at home. Make sure that you encourage your child to think of several

solutions and not just act on the first solution they think of. I would also encourage you to share with your child

about a time that you solved a problem. Unfortunately, life is not problem free. However, by learning and practicing STEP, kids

can become confident problem solvers both at school and at home.

Personal Safety Lessons:

Each year, Fernan’s counselor, Mrs. Franklin, presents a lesson addressing child safety and the prevention

of sexual abuse. This is part of the school district’s personal safety curriculum adopted by the Board of

Trustees. The overall goal of the program is to help young people recognize and deal with dangerous situa-

tions. It encourages open communication with one’s family and emphasizes family safety rules. Students in

kindergarten through third grade will watch a video and have a brief class discussion. The lesson for

students in fourth and fifth grade will focus mostly on internet and online safety. These lessons will be

taught April 21st – May 9th depending on when your child’s class has their normally scheduled counselor

lesson. If you have any questions or would like to view the video or curriculum in advance, please contact Mrs. Franklin at (208)

664-2659 or email her at mfranklin@cdaschools.org

Help the Kootenai Humane Society

ANIMAL SUPPLIES

Dry cat food (for all diet types)

Dry dog food (for all diet types)

Moist cat food

Moist dog food

Bite-size treats for dogs

Purina Kitten Chow

KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement)

Pet nursing bottles

Wood pellets (used for litter)

Flea control (Frontline, Revolution)

Heating pads

Blankets and towels

Dog and cat grooming brushes and nail clippers

Pet shampoos and conditioners

SHELTER SUPPLIES

Nitrile exam gloves (medium and large)

Bleach, liquid laundry detergent, liquid fabric softener

Dish soap

Paper towels and Kleenex

Doggie pooper scoopers

Industrial long-handle squeegees

Garden hoses, heavy duty

Large tarps

Utility wagon

Brooms and dust pans

Scrub brushes

The Fifth Grade Senators are organizing a community service project to

help the Kootenai County Humane Society. We are collecting needed

items for the animal shelter. Please bring items from the list below to

school from April 15 - May 2. The class who brings the most items will

earn an ice cream party.

2014-2015 KINDERGARTEN &

NEW TO THE DISTRCT

REGISRTATION MAY 6th 8:00am—1:00pm

Please bring: Current immunizations, state certified birth certificate and proof of residency (current

utility bill such as electric, gas, water or cable). Child must be 5 years old on or before September 1st of this year.

ART/GARDEN NEEDS

We are looking for someone with

access to fencing to decorate/paint

and put up to protect our incoming

crops on our playground. 2’ to 4’ feet

high would work for us, and enough

to enclose our approximately 200 sq.

foot garden space. Please contact the office with details.

Art: We will be using Sorensen’s pottery wheels from

April 12 to the middle of May and need volunteers on

Wed., Thur. and Fri. for our art room to help manage this

new project. Please email Anne Couser,

acouser@cdaschools.org, if you can donate some time to

this fun new opportunity! Hours would be

mornings 9:30am to 12:00pm and afternoons

1:00pm to 3:30pm. Thanks!

“Catch up with Tomatoes”

With only eight calories in a quarter cup and

a great source of antioxidants Vitamin A and

C, tomatoes have proven to be a nutritional

powerhouse. This light and refreshing item

may be paired with hummus for a snack,

added to salads and sandwiches, used as a

sauce, or as a base for soups. Research has also linked

tomatoes to cancer prevention. Fortunately, tomatoes are

one of the simplest vegetables to grow. Every elementary

student will be sent home with a package of tomato seeds

equipped with instructions on April 24th. A wonderful idea

is to plant the seeds in an old milk carton. Also on April

24th, we will be holding our 4th Annual Gardening Theme

Meal where elementary school students who participate in

school lunch will be able to enjoy various dishes with fresh

tomatoes. For more information on gardening and nutrition,

please visit the Nutrition Services homepage at

www.cdaschools.org.

PTA NEWS Happy Spring from your friendly PTA! There is SO much happening at Fernan that we are excited to get

you involved! Volunteers always needed! Chess club begins April 8th. Enrichment classes begin April 14!

Watch for our Mrs. Fields cookie fundraiser starting April 11. Yummy yum goodness!! And Run-For-Fun

begins April 14th! This is a six week program on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during lunch. We absolutely need

parents to get involved, so please email lljohnson146@hotmail.com to sign up! Your kids love seeing you out there and

demonstrating community involvement (the best kind of example!).

Finally, we are thrilled to invite you to the Fernan Family Farm Carnival on Friday, May 30th

from 5-8. This is going to be a spectacular evening marking the end of the school year! Come dressed

in your country best, get ready to dance with local musicians, watch and learn to juggle, enjoy face

painting, celebrate Fernan's 20th birthday, play games, collect prizes, bid on incredible auction items

and even Kiss A Pig! YeeHaw!!

YEARBOOK: Please email any pictures you have for the yearbook to charlotte@pegoraro.org.

PTA MEETING: Please join us for our next PTA meeting on Thursday, April 17, at 3:45pm in the music room.

STEM After School Enrichment Classes

We have some amazing classes being offered this year. A brochure was sent home recently with more details about the classes being offered during this program. We will have a 1 time sign up event on Wednesday, April 9, at Fernan from 6-7pm. If you would like your child enrolled in a class, please plan on attending this sign up event. All classes will be $10/Student. STEM After School Classes will be from 3:30 - 5:00pm on the following Mondays: April 14, April 21, April 28, and May 5. ● Geometry Fun ● Fun With Science ● Lego Robotics ● STEM Variety Class ● Wildlife in our World ● Scratch Computer Programming

● Wonders of Science ●Exploring Science & Engineering

Registration for SUMMER CDA4Kids Program

is Starting!

Summer CDA4Kids runs from June 11-July 17

Monday-Thursday from 8:30am-12:30pm.

Summer CDA4Kids provides: Snacks,

Recreation, Academics, Adventure &

Enrichment Activities, Service Projects &

Bussing home at 12:30pm. Summer CDA4Kids

is FREE and enrollment is limited. In order to

participate, please fill out this registration

form and return it to the school office.

CAMP INVENTION

Coming to Ramsey Magnet School of Science June 23-27!

Led by District #271 educators, the weeklong Camp Invention experience immerses children in grades1-6 in hands-on activities. Children spend their time building original prototypes, creating a personalized motor-powered vehicle and taking apart electronics to construct a pinball machine.

To register: http://www.campinvention.org/ or

call 800.968.4332

Last year Coeur d’Alene’s Mayor granted a Proclamation establishing May 1st as "Choose Love Over Fear" day which will be celebrated again on Thursday, May 1, 2014 at the Human Rights Education Institute, Mullan Ave. CdA from 6 to 8 pm; children and their families are invited to attend.

This free event is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Speakers will include Mayor Steve Widmyer, Father Bell from the Episcopalian Church, Tony Stewart from the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, and a representative from our City’s Police Department.

This event parallels the current efforts being made by our school district and its focus on eradicating bullying in our schools. The creation of "respect clubs" within the District’s middle and high schools are good examples of the intent of the proclamation which is: "To create opportunities that create and celebrate individual and collective humanitarian efforts to promote love over fear." May 1, 2014 is a day for random acts of kindness and all citizens are invited to observe this day.

Safe and Fun Biking tips for April

· Drivers should remember that bicyclists can still use the road even when a bike path is available. · You can download a map of all the bike paths and bike lanes in Coeur d’Alene by going to www.cdaidparks.org. From there, go to the trails page and click on the link for maps and brochures. · Always look out for children when driving through areas around homes and schools. Older children love to do tricks on their bikes or rough house with their friends. Slow down and be ready to react. · Respect cyclists when they are riding in a lane of traffic. Sometimes there is no bike lane, the bike lane may have obstacles or debris, or the bicyclist is simply turning left and has to move over to do so. Be aware that bikes may have to take the lane, so be cautious and courteous.

Do you have questions about riding bikes to and from school? Are you an enthusiastic cyclist who wants to share your expertise with others?

Contact Kirsten Pomerantz, your local Safe Routes to School Coordinator, to learn more: kpomer271@gmail.com.