3rd, 4th, and 5th grade are WYTOPP (Interim Testing) this Month! We appreciate students' prompt attendance! Interim tests are checkpoints for our teachers to see how students are progressing during the school year. The WYTOPP Summative Assessment will be in April for Math, Science, Reading, and Writing. Below is the WYTOPP schedule for January:

• January 14-16 -- 5th grade Math, Writing, and ELA
• January 23 & 28 -- 4th grade Math and ELA
• January 21-23 -- 3rdgrade Math, Writing, and ELA

We are seeing Old Man Winter show his coldest side this month. Please make sure your kids are "bundled up" and ready for the cold temps. Our rule of thumb is that if the windchill is 0 degrees or colder we will fly the RED FLAG and be inside for recess (We simply say it is a "Red Flag Day"). However, if the temps are 0 degrees or above with windchill, our students go back outside for recess to get their dose of vitamin D! Please make sure they are prepared for the cold!

I remember when the idea of a SMART watch and all that one can do was just an imaginary idea sparked by tv shows like STAR TREK! For the sake of learning and less distractions please help our school and teachers out by putting SMART WATCHES on "School Mode" if they have that setting. Because I don't have a SMART WATCH, I did a quick google search and this is what I found:

• School Mode disables certain watch functions, letting you manage what features your child can and can't access during school hours. This means kids won't be able to do things like take or make calls, send messages or use the camera, so they can learn without distractions.

A couple of examples of how to set school mode for your students smart watch:

• apple watches

• Spacetalk watches

Last, if you need to contact your student during school hours, please call 764-6183 rather than calling their smart watch. Let's all do our best to keep learning distraction free! Thank you!

This month our students will focus on Commitment. Below is a definition we will share with them as we discuss commitments and goals. This is a great topic for parents and their children to talk about concerning learning at school, setting goals, and doing their best to reach their goals!

Commitment

Make your dreams happen.

Take positive action. Follow your vision without wavering.

Kids Definition:

commitment. noun. com·​mit·​ment kə-ˈmit-mənt. : an act of committing. : an agreement or pledge to do something in the future.

Commitment is the breathtaking moment of making a compelling decision, jumping in, and going forward with gusto. Once a commitment is made, indecision is eliminated—there is no more “Should I or shouldn’t I?” … “Will I or won’t I?” A commitment is not made lightly—it’s about making a decision so strong that there is no going back … like a skydiver who has jumped from the plane!

The decisive act of making a commitment—when we decide to do “whatever it takes” to reach a goal—sets in motion an energy field that propels us forward on our path. At each step along the way, our commitment inspires us to take positive action and overcome obstacles, and pushes us on until we “make it happen.”