November Bobcat Blast

Dear Parents and Guardians of Newberry Elementary School,

It is an absolute honor to introduce myself as a dedicated partner in your child’s learning journey. I am originally from Wisconsin, and most recently, I have had the privilege of serving as an Assistant Principal at Red Land High School for many years. I am excited to bring my experience, passion, and student-centered approach to the Newberry community. As we embark upon the remainder of this school year together, I want to emphasize my unwavering commitment to ensuring that every student who walks through our doors feels supported, challenged, and empowered to achieve success.

At Newberry Elementary School, we believe that academic growth and social-emotional development go hand in hand. I am deeply committed to fostering an environment where students are inspired to take risks, develop confidence, and cultivate a love of learning. This work is only possible when we collaborate closely with families and the community, and I look forward to building strong, positive relationships with each of you.

Your partnership is essential. Whether through open communication, shared problem-solving, or celebrating your child’s achievements, I am here to work alongside you every step of the way. Together, we can create meaningful learning experiences and ensure that every student thrives.

Thank you for welcoming me into the Newberry community. I look forward to connecting with all families and if you would like please use the email below to schedule a meeting to further discuss your child and Newberry. I am excited for the year ahead and grateful for the opportunity to support our students’ success. As always, I am only an email or phone call away.

Your Partner in Learning,

Mrs. McGowan

smcgowan@wssd.k12.pa.us

717-938-2111

November 2-6: Book Fair Week:

Students will have the opportunity to visit the book fair and make purchases.

November 5:PTO Trunk or Treat and Spaghetti Dinner:

The PTO is offering a trunk or treat experience that coincides with both the book fair and a spaghetti dinner.

November 18: Skating Party at Fountainblu:

The PTO will be hosting a Skating Party at Fountainblu.

November 19: Children's Grief Awareness Day:

Support Children's Grief Awareness Day by wearing BLUE.

November 20: End of 1st Trimester & Books Are Great Event:

Trimester 1 ends and the PTO will hold a Books Are Great Event. What is Books Are Great? Maybe you've heard of B.A.G. Day, and wondered what it is? B.A.G. stands for Books Are Great! The Newberry PTO wants to help build every student’s personal home library. We ensure that every student gets to choose a new book to keep for free! PTO Volunteers inventory and restock books with fresh selections for all levels and organize a day for students to select their own book.

November 24: Bobcat Bash: WEAR YOUR RED BOBCAT SHIRT

Students will be attending the Bobcat Bash assembly to celebrate and recognize those who demonstrated Gratitude. We are excited to highlight students that exemplify our traits monthly and to create a culture of positive peer interactions as well as kindness throughout the year. The students and staff make Newberry an amazing community where all can learn and grow.

November 25-19: NO SCHOOL

The remainder of the school year we will be focusing on giving, as well as receiving, specific and intentional feedback. Students will have the opportunity to be recognized by staff through a Bobcat Bravo. The Bobcat Bravo will celebrate students through specific and intentional feedback. Please watch for the cards and help us celebrate our learners!

Early numeracy skills help children build a strong foundation in math, including counting, recognizing numbers, and understanding patterns and quantities. Parents can support these skills at home through simple, everyday activities. Each month, we will share an easy tip to help you incorporate early math skills into your daily routines.

This Month’s Tip: Play Board Games!

Play board games with your child that include rolling a die and moving along a game board. The dots on a die form number patterns that children can learn to recognize quickly without counting each dot. With practice, your child will begin to recognize these patterns at a glance.

As your child moves their game piece, encourage them to count each space aloud. This helps strengthen counting skills and builds a foundation for understanding number lines, which children will use when learning addition and subtraction.

Fluency and computation skills set the foundation for future mathematics, through the ability to recall facts and focus on the development, as well as application as new practices are learned. For our third and fourth graders, it is important to keep practicing their math facts throughout the school year. Here are two games you can play to practice with your child at home (with little to no prep/materials):

Dice games/Card Games:

War- Can use dice or playing cards. Player one will either roll 2 dice or use one die and roll it two times, and multiply the two numbers rolled. The second player will have their turn. The player with the larger product gets a point. If using playing cards, draw two cards at a time and multiply their values. You can take out the face cards or make them all worth 12.

Factor/Multiple War: Similar to the previous game, but one player multiplies their numbers, the other adds. The higher result wins the round.

If you are in need of dice or playing cards, please let your child's teacher know.

Did you know that everyday conversations help children build reading and writing skills? Talking together helps children learn new words, share their ideas, explain their thinking, and become better listeners.

Each month, our ELA Committee will share Fridge Talk, a set of simple questions families can talk about while cooking, eating, driving, or spending time together. No worksheets or extra homework needed, just a few minutes of conversation!

November's Theme: Stories of Gratitude & Kindness

This month, we're sharing questions about kindness, thankfulness, and special memories. Check out this month's Fridge Talk questions for easy ways to keep the conversation going at home!

Learning happens everywhere, even in the kitchen! Take a few minutes this month to ask a question, share a story, and listen to each other’s ideas.

A Moment of Gratitude

What is one little thing that made you happy this week? Why was it special?

The Power of Kindness

Tell me about a time someone was kind to you. How did it make you feel?

Tell Me a Story

What is a favorite memory or tradition you would share with someone else? What happened first, next, and last?

Words That Matter

If you could thank someone who has helped you, who would it be? What would you say?

Paint a Picture with Words

Think of someone you are thankful for. What three words would you use to describe that person? Why did you choose those words?

No right or wrong answers. No homework. Just time to talk, listen, and connect!

CHILDREN’S GRIEF AWARENESS DAY

Children’s Grief Awareness Day is Thursday, November 19th. It is always the Thursday before Thanksgiving as a way to recognize how difficult it is to be missing a loved one during the holiday season. We ask all students and staff members to wear blue on this day to send a message to grieving children everywhere that we care about you.

Highmark’s Caring Place in Camp Hill offers support to grieving children and their families. Families can sign up for their grief peer support program. Each program runs about 8 weeks. Families go to the Caring Place one evening a week for two hours. In the first hour, families eat pizza and play games together. The second hour, the families break into age groups and participate in support activities with their peers.

Gratitude means recognizing and appreciating the people, experiences, and opportunities that make a positive difference in our lives. A grateful Bobcat shows appreciation through words, actions, and kindness toward others. Gratitude is more than simply saying "thank you"; it is recognizing the efforts of others and understanding how their actions positively impact our lives. At school, gratitude can look like thanking a teacher or classmate, appreciating acts of kindness, recognizing opportunities to learn and grow, helping others, and finding the positive in challenging situations.

Focusing on gratitude helps students:

· Develop empathy and strengthen relationships with others.

· Build a positive mindset and recognize the good in everyday experiences.

· Foster a sense of belonging and contribute to a caring Bobcat community.

· Develop resilience by recognizing opportunities for growth, even during challenging situations.

· Understand the importance of acknowledging and appreciating the contributions of others.

At Newberry Elementary School, we encourage students to demonstrate gratitude by following the Bobcat Pledge, recognizing the kindness of others, and making a positive impact on our school community. Small acts of appreciation can create meaningful connections and help build a culture where everyone feels seen, valued, and appreciated.

Family Tip: As a family, take time each day to share something or someone you are grateful for. Consider creating a family gratitude jar where each person writes down something they appreciate throughout the week. At the end of the week, read the notes together and reflect on the positive moments and people who made a difference.

At the end of the week, talk together about these questions:

· What is something you are grateful for this week?

· Who made a positive difference in your life, and how?

· How did you show appreciation or gratitude toward someone?

· How does expressing gratitude make you and others feel?

· What is one way you can demonstrate gratitude next week?

Family Challenge: Talk with your student about someone who has made a positive impact on their life. Encourage them to write a thank-you note, draw a picture, or perform a small act of kindness to show their appreciation. Remind your student that gratitude is not just something we feel, but something we demonstrate through our actions.

Remember, Bobcats: A grateful heart and a kind action can make a BIG difference!

SCHOOL COUNSELING LESSONS

Each month, I teach classroom lessons in each homeroom. We focus on positive social-emotional skills. Here is a summary of each topic covered last month.

COPING SKILL OF THE MONTH: RAINBOW BREATHING

One of Mrs. Ferree's favorite coping skills is rainbow breathing. Start with your arms down by your side. Breathe in slowly through your nose as you raise your arms slowly above your head. Hold your breath for 2-3 seconds with your arms above your head. Slowly breathe out through your mouth as you lower your arms. Repeat 3 or more times. You can search for rainbow breathing videos to practice as a family. Grace Castillo has a video that shows you how to rainbow breath. The Mindfulness Teacher has a relaxing one about rainbow breathing.

Newberry has a Student Assistance Program or SAP team. The SAP team is a group of trained professionals from the school and local community agencies that offer assistance to students who need support for many different reasons. The goal of the SAP team is to help remove any barriers to learning that students may be experiencing. The SAP team will help you find services and assistance within the school, and if needed, in the community. We will provide you with information, and then you make the choices that best fit your needs and wishes. If you would like to learn more about our SAP team or think that your child may benefit, please contact Mrs. Ferree.

If any student is in need of additional food for the weekend, or in need of specific items, such as sneakers, coats, book bags, etc., please reach out to Mrs. Ferree via Seesaw or phone call at any time. If you are already getting weekend food and you wish to stop, please just reach out to Mrs. Ferree via Seesaw or phone call at any time.

GIVING TREE

As the holiday season approaches, there are several local churches and community groups who help to provide gifts for students in need. If you think your family is in need of this type of support, please complete the giving tree google form ASAP, but no later than November 6th.

At Newberry, we believe in using data to inform our instructional practices to target areas of continued growth for every learner. Throughout September, students engaged in Acadience testing, which we were excited about the results. We are using this information to inform learner groupings, differentiate instruction and ensure all students are receiving the supports they need. In October we will be began Math WIN for First and Second grades. Math WIN “What I Need”, will focus on student needs for acceleration or remediation, and is new to the Newberry schedule this year. This is an exciting opportunity to focus on continual growth for all regardless of their level. During the month of November Second Grade will embark upon InView Assessment.

Assessment Summary:

All Learners: Acadience Reading assessment

All Learners: Acadience Mathematics assessment

Kindergarten: Kindergarten Acceleration Program (KAP) screener

Grades 1-2: Kickstart Mathematics

Grade 2: InView Testing

Grades 3-4: Reflex Mathematics

Grades 3-4: Exact Path Diagnostic and Firefly

The quick assessments will allow us to quickly monitor progress and make instructional pivots to ensure learners needs are being met. Thank you for your support in this initiative so we can continue to grow all Newberry learners through a growth mindset!

InView Assessment for Second Grade Students

During the week of November 9-13, our Second grade students will take the InView Assessment, which helps us understand how students think, reason, and solve problems. The test is given online at school, and teachers have tools and practice activities ready so students can get familiar with the format and feel confident. Please reach out to your school counselor if you have questions.

Who should take the InView?

ALL students, including those with 504 plans and IEPs (except those who take the PASA), will take the InView test. Students with 504s, gifted IEPs, and speech-only IEPs should not be included in any special education group.

English Learner (EL) students at Language Levels 1 and 2 should NOT take the InView. EL students at Language Levels 3 and 4 SHOULD take the InView. EL Levels 5 and 6 should take the InView with their peers. If you are unsure about a student’s language level, please consult your ELD teacher.

Students currently in the gifted program do not need to take the screening.

We welcome you into the Bobcat Community and are always seeking individuals to volunteer in an array of capacities.

• Volunteer Clearance Policy & Procedures - Adults wishing to volunteer in our schools are required to complete the Volunteer Application Process before being approved to do so.

We are excited to continue to invite you to become an active part of the Newberry Elementary School PTO! The PTO plays a vital role in supporting our students, teachers, and school community through events, fundraising, and volunteer opportunities.

Your participation; whether it’s attending meetings, helping with school events, or sharing your ideas; makes a meaningful difference in the experiences and opportunities available to our students. Joining the PTO is also a wonderful way to connect with other families, collaborate with staff, and stay informed about all that is happening at Newberry.

We encourage all to be involved as we embark upon this journey to excellence. Your time, talents, and support help us create a stronger, more vibrant school community for every learner.

Newberry is off to a great start for the 2026-2027 school year! The PTO has been busy planning so many events and fundraisers and could use your help! If you have any thoughts, ideas, or questions, please reach out to us (nbPTO17319@gmail.com) or join us at our next meeting (Library - November 10 @ 6:00). Follow our Facebook page for important information, updates and upcoming events: Newberry Elementary PTO - Etters, PA.

• Annual Notices - Numerous federal laws require school districts to provide students, parents, and/or the public with notices.

• Care Solace - Care Solace assists individuals find mental health care providers and substance use treatment centers. Their services may be accessed by students, staff and their families at no cost to you, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year, and in 200+ languages. To utilize Care Solace, call 1-888-515-0595 or visit www.caresolace.com/westshore.

• Employment Opportunities - We have a variety of open positions perfect for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers interested in working a schedule similar to our students.
• Transportation Exception Request - May be used to request a bus stop different from the assigned stop associated with the child’s residence provided the alternative stop is in the same school attendance area as the child’s school.
  
• Free and Reduced Price Meal Application Information - Families who may qualify are encouraged to apply for free or low cost meals this school year.
  
• Electronic Absence Submission - If your child will not be in school for the day due to illness or doctor/dentist appointment, you can submit their absence electronically through PowerSchool.
• Technology Help Center - Contains videos, resources, FAQs, and guides on using Seesaw, Schoology, PowerSchool, iPads, Chromebooks, and more.
  

• Damage, Loss, Theft of District Technology Devices and Chargers - Information related to device expectations and repair costs.