Welcome the holiday season Gator Families!
I hope everyone had a great first holiday break as you prepare for the next one! As we know, with the holidays brings the cold weather. It is important that each student have a coat, hat, gloves, etc for this weather and to participate in recess. If your child is in need of a warm coat for winter, please let us know and we can help!
We met our November schoolwide Gator Grin Goal with 774 gator grins earned as a school! As a reward, we will be playing Bingo schoolwide on Friday afternoon. Our December goal is to earn another 600 gator grins as a school and the incentive will be popcorn and a movie the week of December 20th. Please keep encouraging your child to fill up those gator grin cards for following our schoolwide expectations of being safe, respectful, responsible, and ready to learn!
We had a lot of fun in November! First, our ABC parent group, as well as our whole staff, would like to thank all those participated in our Kindergarten Fundraiser at Culver's on November 17th. We saw so many of you and we look forward to using the money we receive for supporting some of our long-standing traditions and needs in Kindergarten, such as pumpkin carving, tye-dying shirts, and tree planting for the classes at the end of the year!
I hope everyone had a great first holiday break as you prepare for the next one! As we know, with the holidays brings the cold weather. It is important that each student have a coat, hat, gloves, etc for this weather and to participate in recess. If your child is in need of a warm coat for winter, please let us know and we can help!
We met our November schoolwide Gator Grin Goal with 774 gator grins earned as a school! As a reward, we will be playing Bingo schoolwide on Friday afternoon. Our December goal is to earn another 600 gator grins as a school and the incentive will be popcorn and a movie the week of December 20th. Please keep encouraging your child to fill up those gator grin cards for following our schoolwide expectations of being safe, respectful, responsible, and ready to learn!
Fun in November
We had a lot of fun in November! First, our ABC parent group, as well as our whole staff, would like to thank all those participated in our Kindergarten Fundraiser at Culver's on November 17th. We saw so many of you and we look forward to using the money we receive for supporting some of our long-standing traditions and needs in Kindergarten, such as pumpkin carving, tye-dying shirts, and tree planting for the classes at the end of the year!
Below: Some of the Green Tree staff and students who participated in Kinder Night at Culvers!
2nd Grade Parade
We also held our annual 2nd Grade Thanksgiving parade! Just like the Macy's Day Parade, our students created their own "balloons" that traveled the hallways before we left for break!
Updates
Second StepFor the next few weeks, social-emotional learning will focus on teaching students how to identify emotions in themselves and in others. Lessons will also teach students how to apply strategies that will help them manage strong emotions. As a reminder, the skills and concepts below are designed to help students both in and out of school. There are five units in the program and we will be entering into the second of these five units:
- Growth Mindset & Goal Setting
- Emotion Management
- Empathy & Kindness
- Problem-Solving
- Bullying Prevention
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Testing Window
We will begin benchmark testing students using STAR Reading and Math throughout December. These benchmark tests will allow our school to check on students understanding of the standards in these subjects throughout the year. The data that we receive back from these assessments will allow us to provide further instruction if needed, and provides feedback for all of our students as we progress throughout the school year. This is the second of three Benchmarks that will be administered this year. Our final Benchmark will be given in spring. We look forward to seeing the progress our students have been making since our first benchmark in September!
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ABC Parent Group Updates
The next meeting will take place on January 10th at 6:30pm in the Green Tree Library. We would love to have you join us! We will be planning for spring activities, such as a Very Important Person Dance and Family Movie Night, and will need parent volunteers!
If interested in attending, volunteering, or both, please contact us at greentreeabc@gmail.com.
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Important Dates
December 23rd - January 3rd - No School for Students
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While we want students to relax, rest and enjoy their holidays with family and friends, it is also important for students to continue to work their mind. While their pursuits may not be directly related to school and assignments from classes they may still have opportunities to engage in challenges designed to expand their brain and growth mindset. For example, it could be a holiday art project, using legos, reading for fun, making a video project about a topic of their choice, developing a solution to a real world issue etc. For some more fun ideas, please see 14 Fun Activities For Winter Break from Familyeducation.com.
I look forward to connecting again after we return from winter break! As always, please feel free to contact me with questions, comments, concerns or ideas!
Have a wonderful break!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Potter
Principal