New Manchester Elementary School

It is hard to believe that October is here and we will be completing the first quarter of the school year at the end of this month. We have had a successful start to our school year. Students have been setting goals and working hard. Our teachers are utilizing a variety of techniques to promote academic achievement and growth for our students. Our school has also been developing goals within our School Strategic Plan. We will continue to focus on increasing reading and math achievement; promoting awareness, knowledge, and practices to provide a safe learning environment; and increasing our yearly attendance rate in order to promote academic success for all students. We are very excited to be working with all of our students, families, and the community to provide a wonderful school year for all. Thank you for your continued commitment to your child's educational process. It definitely "Takes a Team to Educate a Child"!

10/3 PTA Meeting at 6:00 with 3rd Grade Presentation
10/4 PTA Membership Reward
10/4 School Pictures

10/4 World Smile Day

10/4 "Fluency Fridays" Episode 2

10/6 - 10/11 Fire Safety Week

10/9 ROAR Program

10/11 No PreK ONLY

10/11 "Fluency Fridays" Episode 3

10/14 PTA Fundraiser ends

10/14 NO School for Students - Professional Learning Day for Staff

10/15 New Manchester Volunteer Fire Department Program

10/16 Unity Day - Wear Orange

10/17 New Manchester Volunteer Fire Department Program

10/18 "Fluency Fridays" Episode 4

10/21 - 10/25 Bus Safety Week

10/24 End of 1st Grading Period

10/24 GSA Recognition at 6:00 p.m.

10/25 Family Read Aloud

10/25 End of the 1st Grading Period

10/25 "Fluency Fridays" Episode 5

10/31 Halloween Parade 10:00 a.m.

Grab & Go and Lunch menus can also be found on our school website page under the tab "food service".

We have an exciting opportunity for Family Engagement occurring every Friday with Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Gamble.

Our "Fluency Fridays" will be posted to Class Dojo every Friday to help you understand the importance of the Science of Reading. Activities and tips will be provided to guide you in supporting your child at home with Reading.

We are hoping for this to be an "interactive family engagement community" in which we can all benefit.
You will be able to receive feedback on any comments or questions you may have.

Look for Episode 1: "How your brain learns to read" on Friday!

Congratulations to the following students for earning a place on the "Crew Chief of the Month" board!

Preschool: Aria & James

Kindergarten: Saylor, Briar, & Ariel

1st Grade: Jamison, Quincy, & Garyn

2nd Grade: Brixlee & Blaise

3rd Grade: Asher, Tristan, & Cooper

4th Grade: Skya & Gabriella

Criteria for selecting the students for the "Crew Chiefs" will include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Effort
  
• Character through compassion, honesty, trustworthiness, optimism, and responsibility
• Behavior and self-control
• Attitude toward others/learning
• Good citizenship
• Leadership and integrity
• Demonstrates responsibility
• Respectful to peers and teachers
• Significant progress in the classroom and/or marked improvement in grades

New Manchester Elementary School follows the Expected Behaviors in Safe and Supportive Schools – Policy JG. A condensed version is found in the New Manchester Elementary School student handbook. A complete copy can be obtained in the Hancock County Board of Education office or our school office.

Our theme for the students is "CONSTRUCT"ING POSITIVE BEHAVIOR"

CONSTRUCT stands for a behavior we will focus on each month (C= Character; O = Optimism; N = Nurturing; S = Supportive; T = Trustworthy; R = Respect; U = Understanding; C = Compassion; T = Truthful). Students will work toward earning a hard hat for each month related to the focused behavioral concept. Each student will keep track of their progress each nine weeks. Throughout each month, students will have the opportunity to turn their dojo points in for classroom incentives so that they are rewarded for positive behavior continuously throughout the year.

In October, we will focus on "Optimism". This is defined as hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something. Optimism is a learnable skill that is important in schools because when students develop more optimistic views of their daily challenges, they are building resilience for the future and creating expectations for positive outcomes in their lives.

Three strategies for nurturing optimism in students is:

• Increasing students' awareness of multiple choices. It is important to realize that there are different ways to view a situation. An example of this is to explore different ways to solve a math problem with your child.
• Helping students identify their pessimistic explanations. When your child can explain the causes of events in their lives, they might not realize whether their views are optimistic or pessimistic. You can help guide them by identifying words and language to express pessimism and optimism.
• Increase students' capabilities to reframe pessimistic explanations with optimistic ones. Once children can identify their own explanations, they can learn to reframe them by looking at challenges as temporary, specific, and possible to change with effort.

NMES is continuing our use of Class Dojo to enhance communication between home and school. Communication between home and school is important. We encourage you to contact your child's teacher through class dojo or email when you have questions or concerns throughout the school year. Our teachers will answer within 24 hours of receiving a message; however, during the school day they are not checking messages constantly as they are instructing the students. Also, when messaging during the evening or weekend hours, please note that teachers will not answer until the next school day. Keep in mind that our teachers also are going home to families that need their assistance and guidance throughout the evenings and weekends. Your child's educational journey is of utmost importance to all of us, and we will work together to make this a great year!

If you need to join Dojo, please contact the school for referral code.

New Manchester Elementary School has a School Wide Title I program. Mrs. Cole, our Title I teacher, is an excellent resource in our building. If you have questions in regards to the Title I program, please contact the school office or Mrs. Cole.

Fire Prevention Week is October 6 - 12, 2024. This year's Fire Prevention Week safety theme is "Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work For You!" This theme works to educate everyone about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home. The New Manchester Volunteer Fire Department will be visiting NMES during the month of October to discuss the importance of fire safety. They will bring their fire truck to our school and will be utilizing a Smoke House to demonstrate and practice escape routes. We appreciate all of our local Fire Departments and the work they do for our community!

October 21 – 25, 2024

"Safety First - Safety Always"

Safety Starts at the Bus Stop

Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Visit the bus stop and show your child where to wait for the bus: at least three giant steps (six feet) away from the curb. Remind your child that the bus stop is not a place to run or play.

Get On and Off Safely

When the school bus arrives, your child should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver says it’s okay before approaching the bus door. Your child should use the handrails to avoid falling.

Use Caution Around the Bus

Your child should never walk behind a school bus. If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, tell him/her to walk on a sidewalk or along the side of the street to a place at least five giant steps (10 feet) in front of the bus before crossing. Your child should also make eye contact with the bus driver before crossing to make sure the driver can see him/her. If your child drops something near the school bus, like a ball or book, the safest thing is for your child to tell the bus driver right away. Your child should not try to pick up the item, because the driver might not be able to see him/her.

Support Kindness, Acceptance and Inclusion for All Students

Unity Day is Wednesday, October 16. Wear and share ORANGE to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying. Mr. Taylor will be presenting Bullying Prevention presentations in the classroom throughout the month of October.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Women living in the United States have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer can also affect men. Monthly checks are encouraged and scheduling a mammogram by age 40 could save your life! Know the warning signs of breast cancer by clicking this link: Warning Signs of Breast Cancer | Susan G. Komen®. Wear pink during the month of October to show your support and help bring awareness to this disease that affects 2.3 million women worldwide.

October is also the month when flu activity begins to increase. Flu signs and symptoms usually come on suddenly. People who are sick with the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms: fever (100.4 or above), cough, sore throat, runny/stuff nose, muscle/body aches, headaches, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea. Remember to practice handwashing! Please keep your child home until they are 24 hours free from a fever without fever reducing medication (such as Tylenol and Motrin). Keep your child home until they are free from vomiting and/or diarrhea for 24 hours as well. Together we can make school a happy and healthy place to be!

As we begin another school year, I want to address an important issue that affects our elementary school community: bullying. Bullying can take many forms, including physical, verbal, and social aggression. It is essential for us to understand what bullying looks like and how we can work together to create a safe and supportive environment for all our students.

At NMES we believe that not everything that offends or hurts someone’s feelings is bullying. Some hurtful behaviors are due to the differences in home environments – how children are raised. What is “normal” or acceptable in one household might be considered offensive in another household. This would be completely unintentional. We sometimes refer to these behaviors as “rude.” There are then mean behaviors which are intentional but are more “in the moment” choices due to a current stressor. Usually, the offender feels remorse over losing control. Both types of behaviors are typically resolved by having the students talk it out. Bullying, on the other hand, is hurtful behavior that occurs several times and where the target is unable to make the bullying stop. This requires adult intervention.

At NMES we do NOT believe that bullying is just a phase that children go through; it can have serious consequences on a child’s emotional and academic well-being. Children who are bullied may experience anxiety, depression, and a drop in academic performance. It is crucial for us to recognize the signs of bullying early and act.

We encourage you to talk to your child about their school experiences. Ask them open-ended questions like, “How do you feel at school?” or “Have you seen anyone being treated unfairly?” This will help them feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. It is important to listen without judgment and validate their experiences.

As partners in your child’s education, we need your support. If you suspect your child is being bullied, please contact their teacher or school counselor. Together, we can address these issues promptly and effectively. Additionally, we encourage you to model respectful behavior at home and discuss the importance of treating others with kindness.

In conclusion, it is our collective responsibility to create a safe environment for our children. By working together, we can ensure that our school is a place where every student feels valued and respected. Thank you for your commitment to this important issue.

With the weather changing on a daily basis, please make sure to dress your child accordingly. All grades go out daily for recess.

• October is known as the spookiest month on the calendar.
• The opal is the birthstone of October. It is the only birthstone that isn't crystalized and can take on many shapes and colors. Did you know that the opal was a favorite of Cleopatra?
• October is the national month for a lot of snack food. National Pizza Month, National Pretzel Month, and National Popcorn Month are celebrated (not to mention we eat a lot of chocolate and candy corn in October).
• The World Series of Major League Baseball always starts in October. The first World Series took place on October 1, 1903, with the Boston Americans winning it all.
• Many important dates in American history have occurred during the month of October. There was Christopher Columbus landing in the Americas on October 12, 1492. The Great Chicago Fire occurred on October 8, 1871 destroying the city and leaving 100,000 people homeless. Also, in October 1886 France gifted the US the Statue of Liberty.
• Over 50% of the US population buys a pumpkin in October.

There are many great math activities that can occur whether you are picking pumpkins at the pumpkin patch or carving pumpkins at home. Here are just a few suggestions to bring Math into your October activities.

• Guess the amount of pumpkin seeds that are in the pumpkin. Once you carve it, actually count the pumpkin seeds. Was your estimate greater than or less than the actual amount? Can you count the seeds by 1s, 5s, 10s?
• Guess how much your pumpkin weighs and then actually weigh it.
• Determine the circumference of the pumpkin.
• What shapes can you use to carve out a face in the pumpkin?
• Do you think your pumpkin will sink or float if you put it in a container of water?

"It Takes a Team to Educate a Child"

Email: cyeater@k12.wv.us
Website: newmanchester.hancock.k12.wv.us
Location: 128 Frankfort Road, New Cumberland, WV, USA
Phone: 304-564-3242
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Elementary-School/New-Manchester-Elementary-School