Finch Elementary News
October 30, 2023
|
|
Principal's Corner
Dear Finch Elementary Families,
As we embrace the beautiful colors of fall and prepare for the coming winter, we wanted to take a moment to connect with our wonderful school community.
November brings with it a sense of gratitude and reflection. It's a time to appreciate the warmth and support we find in our Finch family. We are immensely grateful for the dedication of our educators, the enthusiasm of our students, and the unwavering support of our parents. It is your combined efforts that make our school an extraordinary place of learning and growth.
This moth, we have an array of exciting events and activities planned. From our School Carnival to our Veteran's Day Assembly to Thanksgiving Break to our numerous PTO events, there's much to look forward to.
We encourage each of you to stay involved and engaged in your child's educational journey. Our school thrives when there is a strong partnership between home and school.
Let's continue to work together to create a nurturing, stimulating, and safe environment for our students. We look forward to a month filled with growth, learning, and gratitude.
Thank you for being a part of the Finch family. We look forward to a productive and fulfilling month ahead.
Warmly,
Carmen Steele and Heather Curley
|
|
Upcoming Dates
Oct. 31~ School Carnival
Nov. 2~ Skate Night 6-8 pm
Nov. 9th ~ Veteran's Day Assembly
Nov. 10th ~Veteran's Day No School
Nov. 16th ~ Hearing and Vision Screening
Nov. 20th ~ Kindergarten Lunch w/Families
Nov. 21st ~ PTO Turkey BINGO
Nov. 22nd-24th ~ Thanksgiving Break- No School
Nov. 29th ~ PTO Meeting 6:00 pm
|
FINCH CONTACT INFORMATION
Main Phone: 509.354.2600
Attendance: 509.354.2555
Main Office: 7:30am-4:00pm
Fax: 509.354.2616
School Times:
Mondays 9:30-3:00
Tuesday-Friday 8:30-3:00
|
|
|
|
We use the Zones of Regulation to help educate our students about their feelings and positive and effective strategies to handle these feelings in a positive manner.
The Zones of Regulation provides a clear road map of thoughtfully designed lessons to help educators empower students to develop self-regulatory abilities- abilities that research demonstrates will ensure success in life well beyond the classroom.
|
|
|
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) |
We continue to strive to be our best and practice our motto of We are Finch! Every One; Every Time; Every Where! At Finch Elementary we teach our students the behaviors we expect according to these standards
- Be Safe
- Be Respectful
- Be Responsible
As our individual classrooms focus on these behaviors, we also focus on these behaviors in common areas around Finch.
We are looking for classrooms that are following these expectations along with individual students by celebrating them with both team awards and individual Mustang awards.
|
|
|
 |
Team Awards- Classrooms get incentives for awards for the following:
10 Pencils
25 5 min extra recess
50 Popcorn Party
75 10 min extra recess
100 Popsicle Party
125 Class Choice Party
150 Lunch with the Principal
175 Water Bottle
200 Class Choice Party
250 Reader Board Credit
|
|
|
|
Mustang Awards- Mustangs are collected every day and at the end of the week, we draw a name from each classroom to receive a Mustang bracelet, pencil, or sticker. |
|
|
|
Finch is a Title 1 School
We feel very thankful to have wonderful resources to support Finch Elementary staff and students. We work hard to carefully study student strengths and areas of growth to support high quality intervention and support where it is needed. If you have a wondering or concern about these services, please contact Carmen Steele, school principal. If Parents/ Guardians and other citizens believe that schools have violated any federal rule pertaining to being a Title 1 School, law or state regulation that applies to a federal program, a Citizen Complaint may be filed. At Finch we have copies of the Citizen Complaint Process and the form can also be found on the SPS website under Citizen Complaint.
|
|
|
PurposeFull People's Focus |
|
|
The following students were recognized in September for the PurposeFull People's focus of RESPECT:
River Streich, Emmett Steele, Maggie Holbrook, Faith Murage, Evelyn Giffith, Cozy Garielson, Peyton cox, Tayoni Trammell, Theo DeWolf, Junipyr York, Malone McCorgary, Alexzandra Carungcong, Milla Fong, Madison Garielson, Lucas Bedeski, Abigaelle Moore, Paloma Conceicao, Jamison McGee, Quentin Mathison, Colin Charbonneau, Ashlynn Dannels
|
|
|
|
The following students were recognized for showing RESPONSIBILITY, the PurposeFull People's focus for October:
Paislee Adams, Hazel Rothwell, Braxton, Winnie Apelskog, Evie Homburg, Sloane Van Tassell, Autumn Carlson, Meira Steele, Nora Stuhlmiller, Payton Gower, Luke Larson, Sam Griffith, Harrison Dressel, Rylee Vaughn, Abby Paloma, Braelynn Hively, Raya Bibby, Sophia Schuetzle, Charlotte, Vivian Pier, Sloane V, Vinh Nguyen, Annabeth McHenry
|
|
|
|
|
Drop-off Procedure, Single Point of Entry, and Visitors
DROP OFF... Safety is our number one priority here at Finch! That includes making sure that all students are safely exiting vehicles at morning drop-off. If you are dropping your child off at school in the morning, please arrive on Kiernan Avenue and proceed into the drop off loop. Enter the drop off loop and pull all the way forward so several vehicles can enter the loop and traffic doesn’t backup. Have your student ready to exit out of the passenger side of your vehicle.
We kindly ask that we leave the front of the school for district transportation and daycare vans and not for parent drop-off. Keeping the flow of traffic steady helps alleviate the congestion on Milton Street. If you need to walk your students to the blacktop or to the south facing doors, please park on the street. There is no parking or waiting in the drop off loop. Parking in the loop can cause traffic/congestion and is a safety issue for students, families, and staff. When exiting the loop, make a right turn only on Milton Street.
SINGLE POINT OF ENTRY.... Families, if you need to come into the building to talk to your child's teacher, administration, or other staff members, please come through our front doors and check-in with the office.
VOLUNTEERS/STUDENT MEETINGS....If you are in the building to volunteer or have a meeting with your child's teacher, please check-in at the office and get a visitor badge to wear while you are at Finch.
Thank you for working with us to keep the Finch community safe!
|
|
|
|
Morning Supervision
As a reminder, students that are eating breakfast may arrive at 8:10. Supervision will begin at this time as they allow students into the cafeteria.
Students that are going straight to their indoor line-up, please arrive no earlier than 8:15. Our supervision will be in the building starting at this time.
Thank you for helping keep our students safe.
|
|
Attendance Is Critical to Your Student's Success in School!
Attending school regularly and on time helps children feel better about school. Being at school daily will help your student create good work habits, as well as succeed in school. Please call the Attendance Line if your child will be late or absent at 509-354-2555. The links below share current research and tips regarding student attendance and how to determine if your child is too sick to attend school.
|
|
|
Late Start Mondays
Mondays will continue to be set aside for teachers to collaborate and learn together before students arrive. School will begin at 9:30am EVERY Monday morning. Students may arrive starting at 9:10 for breakfast or between 8:15-8:25 if students are not accessing breakfast in the morning. We will release at 3:00 pm each day.
|
|
Health room
It's that time of the year again that colds, the flu, and other sicknesses start to arise. Not sure if your child should stay home or go to school? Click on the following link to help determine if your child should stay home or attend school. When to Keep your Student Home
|
|
|
Tree of Sharing at Finch
Hello Finch Families!
One of my favorite things about the Mustang community is how we are always willing to help our families in need. The PTO, staff, families, and other community members provide generous donations for our students all year long, particularly around the holidays. Because of this amazing community support, I am able to coordinate the Finch Tree of Sharing. The Tree of Sharing is able to directly support our Finch families in need with clothing, Christmas gifts, holiday meals, and grocery gift cards.
If your family is in need of support through our Tree of Sharing this holiday season, please contact me directly by phone or email.
Nicole Lenhartzen
Finch School Counselor
(509) 354-2556
nicolel@spokaneschools.org
|
|
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
Be on the lookout for new extra-curricular opportunities that your child may be interested in here at Finch! Grades 3-5 STEM opportunity coming out this week.
|
|
|
COLD WEATHER/WINTER ATTIRE
Cold temperatures have arrived in the Pacific Northwest. Unless it is raining hard or the temperatures are below freezing, we will head outside for recess. Please remember to send your child with the appropriate outdoor winter clothes (winter coat, hat, gloves, boots, snowpants) so that your child can safely get fresh air during the school day.
|
|
Interested in supporting our Finch community? We are looking for both A.M. and P.M. Crossing Guards and subs. The A.M. shift is from 8-8:30 T-F and 9-9:30 on Mondays and our P.M. shift is from 3-3:30. Please get in contact with our office if you are interested in supporting the safety of Finch students.
|
|
|
|
|
The Heart (Monet) by 4th Grade |
Mrs. Jagoda is integrating our reading program, Wit and Wisdom, into her art classes. This art is called, The Heart, by some of our 4th graders. |
|
|
|
Congratulations to all the Finch XC All-City Runners! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
