SHORT NO

Home&School Working Together for School Success CONNECTION ®

September 2019

Be considerate TES Family meals offer

plenty of chances for your youngster to practice being considerate. As you serve yourselves food, you might say, “Make sure to leave enough so every-one gets some.” Or if there’s one piece of chicken left, encourage your child to ask if anyone wants to split it instead of taking the whole thing for himself.

Tired after school? As your youngster gets used to the routine of a new school year, she may be more tired than usual. Be sure she’s getting 9–11 hours of sleep each night. Also, try to keep evenings low-key by not planning too many activities.

Cardboard box “origami” Before tossing boxes in the recycling bin, use them to build your child’s spa-tial sense and math skills. Have him pull each box apart at the seams and lay it flat. Can he tape it back together? Idea: Challenge him to make a mini pizza or cereal box using construction paper and tape.

Worth quoting “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Fred Rogers

JUST FOR FUN Q: How many eggs did the farmer collect from his biggest rooster?

A: Zero. Roosters don’t lay eggs!

© 2019 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

The ABCs of school success School success begins

at home! While your child is learning her ABCs, 123s, and much more, she can get the year off to a great start with these other ABCs.

■A ttend every day More time in class = more

learning. Help your youngster attend school regularly by scheduling doctor appointments and family vacations outside of school hours. Also, she can cut down on sick days by eating her fruits and vegetables, washing her hands often, and getting plenty of physi-cal activity.

■B e organized Forgotten homework? A backpack

that doubles as a black hole? Good orga-nizational skills prevent those problems. Together, brainstorm ways for your child to get—and stay—organized. For instance, she could choose a special folder for bringing home and returning homework and use a zipper bag to store pencils and other supplies.

■C heck in daily Designate a time each day to sit down

with your youngster, talk about what she did in school, and review papers she brought home. You might read a story she wrote or look over her math test, for example. This simple routine shows her that you care about what she’s learning. Plus, you’ll notice where she’s doing well or if she’s struggling with anything so you can follow up with her teacher.♥

Back to school…for parents School rules keep students safe and let teachers

do their job. Show your youngster that parents can help by following rules—just like he does. Here are a few examples: ● Check in at the office as soon as you enter the school building, and be prepared to show identification. ● If you drive your child to school, be familiar with drop-off and pickup procedures. For instance, stay in your car, obey staff and patrol officers, and help your youngster exit the car quickly and safely. ● Follow rules for sending food to school. Is there a no-peanut policy? Are birth-day treats allowed? ● Contact the teacher to arrange visits ahead of time rather than dropping in.♥

Pequea Valley School DistrictBeth Reinhart, Elementary Principal

Paradise Elementary SchoolBeth Reinhart, Principal

Home & SchoolCONNECTION® September 2019 • Page 2

Simplify breakfast. MakeGetting out healthy, ready-to-eat breakfast items ahead of time with yourthe door child. Overnight oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs, cheese cubes withMornings help to set the tone for your fruit, and favorite sandwicheschild’s school day. Consider these ideas are all good bets. Idea: Letfor a routine that will send him off to your youngster eat breakfast at school relaxed and ready to learn. school. Enjoying a hot, healthy

Add a “cushion.” Does your young- meal with friends is a nice wayster need to walk out the door at 8 a.m.? to start the day. Have him pretend he has to leave by 7:45

Use a musical countdown. a.m. and adjust his routine accordingly. If he’s ready early, great! The cushion of extra time will make Suggest that your child create a song playlist that fits the the morning feel more relaxed—and maybe even give him amount of time he has to get ready for school. Then, turn time to read for pleasure or review spelling words. on the music when he wakes up. Once he’s familiar with the

order of the songs, he’ll know how much time he has left just from listening to the music.♥

PARENTTO

PARENT

Basket of clues

My daughter

ACTIVITYCORNER

Time out for nature Time spent enjoying nature

has been shown to reduce Aisha loves that her teacher begins each morning by giving the children clues about what they’ll learn that day. At back-to-school night, the teacher men-tioned that this lets them practice read-ing and thinking logically, so I decided to try it at home.

The next Saturday morning, I left a basket of clues on the coffee table about what our fam-ily would do in the afternoon. It included a finger puppet, a tote bag, and a book-mark. I added a message: “We will have

stress and improve children’s—and adults’— mental health. The outdoors is a great place to learn, too. Enjoy these five activities with your youngster. 1. Search for spiderwebs, and let her “collect” them by taking photos with your phone. 2. Find a place to sit quietly and listen to the birds. Can your child spot the birds that make each sound you hear? 3. Take a few deep breaths, and tell each other what outdoor scents you smell (pine trees, flowers). 4. Look for different types of rocks. She can sort them according to size, shape, or color. 5. Explore favorite outdoor places in all kinds of weather. Splash in puddles on a rainy morning. On a sunny afternoon, observe the shadows that leaves make on the ground as the breeze blows them around.♥

Q&A

Persistence pays off Q: My son is always eager to try When he mentions that a karate activities, such as karate or stu- move or a student council job is taking dent council. But then he’ll ask to too much effort, ask him what, specifi-

fun at this place and bring some of the fun home in the bag.” Aisha figured out that we were going to the library to watch a puppet show and check out books.

Now on Friday nights, Aisha asks me to make a clue basket. Sometimes, she drop out because they’re “too hard” or “too cally, is challenging. Then together, even thinks of an activity she’d like to do much work.” How should I handle this? think of solutions. For example, if he’s and writes clues for me.♥ struggling with karate moves that

A: Many youngsters are sur- involve balancing on oneO U R P U R P O S E

To provide busy parents with practical ideas that promote school success, parent involvement,

and more effective parenting. Resources for Educators,

a division of CCH Incorporated 128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630

800-394-5052 • rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.com www.rfeonline.com

ISSN 1540-5621

prised when something that foot, brainstorm fun wayslooks easy turns out to take hard work. Learning to find ways to overcome challenges will help your son stick with

to improve his balance. Over time, your

child will get in the habit of looking for solutions instead ofactivities—and develop

persistence. giving up.♥

© 2019 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

TITLEl

Title1isthenation’slargestfederalassistanceprogramforschools.ThemoneyPVreceivesfromTitle1is

usedtoprovideprogramsforstudentswhoneedadditionalsupport.Title1teachersandotherstaffwork

closelytogethertoensurethateverychildgetsahighqualityeducation.

Ourelementaryschoolsreceive“school-widefunding”whichmeansanystudentcanreceiveadditional

supportasneededfromTitle1staff.Wealsoprovideahigherlevelofacademicsupportthroughpullout

programsforstudentswho,throughouruniversalscreenings,demonstrateahigherlevelofneed.

Parents/guardiansreceivealetteriftheirchildreceivesthislevelofsupport.

In-classsupportusesacollaborativeteachingmodel.TheclassroomteachersandTitle1instructorswork

togethertoinstructallstudents,monitoringwhoneedshelpatanygiventime.Theymaysplittheclassinhalf

todothesameordifferentactivities,workwithstudentsindividually,orworkwithgroupsofstudentsto

addressspecificneeds.Inthisway,studentsexperiencingdifficultiesinreadingand/ormathareprovided

withtheopportunitiestobesuccessfulintheregularclassroom.

RtII(ResponsetoInstructionandIntervention)timeoffersadditionallearningopportunitiesforthose

studentswhowouldbenefitfromfurtherinstructionbasedonassessmentdata.Studentsparticipateinsmall

groupsandreceivetargetedinstructionintheirareasofneed.

IfyouhavequestionsaboutourTitle1program,youcancontactourschoolprincipal,readingteachers,or

Title1Coordinatoratthedistrictoffice.Wearepleasedtoofferthisadditionalsupportforourstudents.________________________________________________________________

* Paradise will now post our newsletter to our Paradise webpage rather than send paper newsletters to every home. This saves paper, money, and trees! *If you do not have Internet access and would like us to send home a paper copy of the newsletter each month, please complete the tear off section below and return with your child.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We would like to receive a paper copy of the monthly newsletter rather than use the PV website.

Please send home with:

_____________________________________________________child’s name)

Person requesting newsletter:_________________________________________________________

DatesToRemember BUS NEWS Friday, August 30 Tuesday, September 10 Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first graders MUST have a parent, a designated NO SCHOOL Paradise Curriculum Night responsible adult, or a sibling in fourth grade or higher, visible to the bus driver when

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm when exiting the bus. If the parent or other designated responsible adult is not present Monday, Sept. 2 present and visible to the driver, all children of the household will be taken back to NO SCHOOL Thursday, Sept. 26 Salisbury Elementary School and a staff member will contact the parents. Labor Day Read Under The Lights @

PVHS 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Thursday, Sept. 5 Instrumental Rental Tuesday, October 1 Night @ Paradise Paradise Photo Day 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Bus Guide

Monday, Sept. 9 Each school year, students are assigned to a bus and a bus stop. Bus drivers will only Paradise PTO Meeting stop at designated and authorized bus stops at mandated by PA School Code. Bus

@ 6:15 pm stops and bus numbers assigned to students may only be changed with the permission of the school. For absolute emergencies, students must secure a “bus pass” from the school office to be permitted to ride another bus or to get on or off their bus at another stop. Permission to receive a “bus pass” may be granted after the office receives a note or telephone call from the parent/guardian of the student. If this emergency request involves another family, a note or phone call is required from both families. Otherwise, students will go home on the normally scheduled bus. The Transportation Manuel is available on the Pequea Valley website. If you do not

have internet access, a paper copy can be sent home when requested. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

What’s New This Year!

Miss Kathryn Hahn LTS Kindergarten Facilitator Mrs. Kelly Hart LTS 1st Grade Facilitator Miss Karen Henne Title l Paraeducator Miss Courtney Hollenbach Transferred from LTS 3rd Grade Facilitator to 4th Grade Facilitator Miss Victoria Johnson LTS Learning Support Facilitator Mrs. Michaela Landis School Counselor Intern Mrs. Sherry Lowe Title l Paraeducator Miss Sheila Moran Transferred from a PCA to a Building Aide Mrs. Jody Melson Transferred from 4th Grade Facilitator to 5th Grade Facilitator Miss Valerie Ruhl LTS 6th Grade Facilitator Miss Stephanie Smith 4th Grade Facilitator Miss Alexandria Stambaugh Title l Paraeducator

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

DAILY SCHEDULE

Our students enter the building from buses at 8:50 am and report to their homerooms. Members of our school staff greet and direct the students each morning. Those students who eat breakfast at school will enter the building at 8:40 am. Students transported to school by parents must arrive no later than 8:50 am. Bus drop off is in front of the building and no cars should be in that area. Parent drop off will be to the far right as you enter the driveway. You will then follow the arrows around the circular area, allow your child to enter the side door, where a staff member will be waiting, and then continue around the circle to exit in a single line so that other cars may enter. Any student arriving to school after 9:00 am must report to the school office, escorted by a parent, and sign in. A written pass will be issued to the student before proceeding to the classroom. At the end of the day, students will be boarding buses at 3:35 pm, with parent pick ups dismissed at 3:25 pm. Parents wishing to pick up students at the end of the day must send a note to school that day or phone the school office by 3:00 pm. Otherwise, students will be sent home on the bus. Parents picking up students at the end of the school day should park at the entrance on the east side of the building. Parent pick-up time is 3:25 pm and must be at the east door, not the main entrance. School doors will be unlocked and parents will need to come to the door and sign out their child with the supervising staff member.

School Breakfast and Lunch

Students have their own account numbers in our POS (“point of sale”) system. Money for snacks, ala carte items, and extra milk can be deposited into students’ individual accounts using either MySchoolBucks (www.myschoolbucks.com) or sending a check made payable to PVSD. A price list for snacks and ala carte items will be posted on the food service website. If paying by check or cash, please send it to school in a sealed envelope. Please note on the envelope your child’s name, teacher, and that the money is for their POS account. Elementary Meals: Paid Lunch - $2.55 Reduced Lunch - $0.40 Paid Breakfast - $1.45 Reduced Breakfast - $0.30 Milk - $0.60 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Birthday Treats Food and dye allergies have become a serious health concern for our students. Therefore, birthday treats should not be brought to school by parents and students. Please consider joining your children for lunch on their birthdays or purchasing a favorite book and donating it to the school library in their honor. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with this policy. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________