November 11, 2015
In This Issue
Principal's Post
Attendance
PBIS
Beautification Project
Counselor's Corner
Reading Partners Newsletter Link
Specials Classes
PTO Plans
Improvement Plan Information
Nurse Mandie's News
Upcoming Dates

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Sweeny Families,

We are excited to offer you a monthly newsletter with information about upcoming events at Sweeny Elementary and to keep you informed of our progression towards meeting the goals in our Building School Improvement Plan. 

Principal's Post
Updates from Dr. Engelhart and Mrs. Peabody
 

 

 

During October's Project Sweeny Assembly, we recognized Mrs. Steven's and Mrs. Wojciechowski for our Teacher and Staff Member of the Month. We are so thankful for both of these ladies and how they serve our learners each day!

 

 
Attendance

During our October Project Sweeny Assembly, two of the high school Poms joined us to discuss the importance of being at school every day! The girls shared with our learners the importance of putting "first things first" at school and with dance. Below is our attendance percentages for the month of October:
 
Kindergarten:  96.39%
First Grade:  96.93%
Second Grade:  97.15%
Third Grade:  96.02%
Fourth Grade:  97.52%
Fifth Grade 97.49%
Building YTD: 96.94%
 
Mrs. A. Brown's Class was celebrated at our assembly as well for having the top attendance for the building with 97.05%. Our Great 98 Celebration for October will be S'mores this Friday. This will be for all learners who had 98% attendance or greater for the entire month. 
Sweeny Behavior Expectations:  R.O.A.R.
What can parents do to help with Sweeny R.O.A.R. Expectations?
  • Review the behavior expectations on the Sweeny Matrix with your child.
  • Ensure that your child is well rested and on time for each school day.
  • Ask your child about his/her school day.
  • Encourage your child to do his/her homework and keep up with his/her classes.
  • Stay in contact with your child's teacher(s).
  • Encourage your child to use proper language and tone.
  • Practice polite phrases like "Thank you," "Please," and "Excuse me."
  • Incorporate Respectful, Outstanding Leadership, Always Safe and Responsible language into your family rules.
  • Be involved with the school. Attend school functions and activities when possible.
  • Volunteer
               
Thank you PTO for BEAUTIFYING Sweeny Elementary
 
 Sweeny Elementary would like to thank our PTO for  beautifying our school. We appreciate  all your hard work on Saturday! Our school grounds look amazing!
 

Counselor's Corner
Presented by Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Gerwel

There is exciting news from the Republic Counseling Department. At the Missouri School Counselor Association's fall conference, the Republic Counseling department will be honored with the Missouri Gysbers Success Designation.  This award recognizes Missouri schools or districts that demonstrate an exemplary level of implementation of the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program that positively impacts its students.  This award designation was developed by a committee that included The Missouri School Counselor Association (MSCA), counselor educators and the Guidance and Counseling Section of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  Mrs. Gerwel will be attending the conference to learn more about guidance and counseling and how to make the Sweeny Counseling department even better! 

In the month of November, the Sweeny counselors will continue to visit the classrooms and deliver their guidance curriculum. In the K-2 classrooms, Mrs. Scott will be going over bullying and how to prevent it. In the 3-5 classrooms, Mrs. Gerwel will be moving onto career exploration lessons. 
joy_of_learning.jpg

Sweeny Title Reading Services
Presented by Mrs. Kirsten Green and Mrs. Laura Hamilton


Special Teachers' News

Physical Education: 
Classes this month have continued to work on manipulative skills in Physical Education. Students can demonstrate and explain how to do an underhand throw and an overhand throw. Students have also incorporated catching in different invasion games like Sink the Pirate Ship and King Pin. Fifth grade students have continued to practice for their fitness tests.

Art:  Every grade is jumping in to our watercolor unit.  Kindergarten has done a few small paintings and are starting their larger painting. While all other grades are just now beginning their drawing for their painting.
each grade does a different painting.    
  
Music: 
The Music Room has been busy this past month!  Our Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students have been hard at work building their music vocabulary. learning what music "sounds" like, and singing new and fun songs!  One item we have been working hard on is learning to keep a steady beat.  Keeping a steady beat is essential in music because it keeps all musicians together.  One activity we have been doing in class is simply clapping to fast and slow music.  You can help!  It's a fun activity to try in the car while listening to the radio or at home while singing your favorite songs! 

The 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students have been using their music basics to begin exploring music in different cultures and time periods.  We have really focused on the music of the "Call and Response" style and the "Story Teller" songs used in the 1800's.  We have been focusing our ELA connections with the author's purpose of the song.  What is the songwriter telling us?  Why is he telling us this message?  It's a great connection that can also be used at home with entertainment items such as movies, television and songs on the radio.

We have been incorporating concert music into our core content lessons with great success!  We hope to see you for our amazing "Land of Opportunity" concert on November 17th !

Library: 
For the month of October we have been continuing our work with the Missouri Show Me nominees.

Our first book was Picture Day Perfection. This is a story about one boy's idea of the perfect school picture. With this book we worked on writing a narrative piece. Next, we read Wilfred. This is a touching story about friendship. Students explored what qualities a good friend should have and how to show these qualities to others. Our third story for October was Invisible Boy. This was a story about a boy who felt invisible. The students worked on finding ways to include others and making sure no one feels left out.  Our final story for October was The Day the Crayons Quit. This story is told from the point of view of the crayons. The students worked on writing a persuasive letter and recognizing point of view.

We also had a wonderful opportunity this month to travel to Missouri State University for the annual Children's Literature Festival. Select 4th and 5th grade students had the opportunity to meet and listen to published authors and learn that the experts have to revise their work too; often many times.



PTO Plans
What's happening with the Sweeny PTO?

PTO will be adopting Sweeny families for the holiday season. We are seeking donations of $10, $10 Walmart gift cards and/or socks and mittens. A note with more details will be coming home on Friday. We thank you for supporting our Sweeny Family. If you have questions, please contact [email protected].
Improvement Plan Information
How is Sweeny working to improve student achievement?

Currently, grade level teams are in the study section of their Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle. During Weekly Release time teachers are analyzing student data and determining which teaching strategies are promoting student growth. When gaps arise, teachers are investigating alternate instructional practices by visiting with instructional specialist and colleagues in other grade levels and buildings.
 
We will be sharing out information regarding our progress towards our BSIP at our Parent and Community Advisory Meeting on November 23rd at 6 p.m. If you would like to join us, please call Kristi in the main office.

Nurse Mandie's News

Nurse Mandie would like to remind everyone that if you have prescriptions please bring them to the nurse office and fill out the appropriate paperwork. Please do not send them to school in your child's backpack.
 
Additionally, please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for fall weather. Most days this time of year your child will need a jacket or heavy coat. If you need assistance with those items, please let us know.


Upcoming Dates
  • November 17 Fall Concert
  • November 20 Progress Reports Go Home
  • November 24 Project Sweeny
  • November 25 Thanksgiving Break
  • December 7 5:30 pm PTO Meeting
  • December 9 Papa John's Night
  • December 22 Project Sweeny
  • December 23 Winter Break Begins
Thank you for sharing your child with us each day. Please contact us should you have any questions or concerns.
 
All for the Children,
 

Beth Engelhart, Ed.D
Sweeny Elementary Principal