Gator Gazette

Gator Family,

What an incredible week at Arnett Hills! My heart is so full, and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our staff, families, and community partners who made each of our events meaningful and memorable.

Our Shoe Giveaway was nothing short of extraordinary. Thanks to the generosity of Shoes That Fit, the Edmunds family, and our MBK partners, more than a hundred little Gators walked away with brand-new shoes and even bigger smiles. Thank you to every staff member who helped organize, guide students, keep hallways orderly, and ensure that the day was seamless. Moments like this remind us of what true community looks like.

Our Fall Awards Day was a beautiful celebration of hard work and achievement. Thank you to our teachers for preparing students, our families for showing up in support, and our staff volunteers who kept the day running smoothly from the first award to the last applause. Our students shined because you poured into them.

And finally, our PBIS Attendance Glow Party was a hit! The excitement, the music, the glowing smiles—none of it would have been possible without our amazing PBIS team, our teachers who consistently reinforce expectations, and our students who continue to rise to the occasion. We are building a culture of positivity, celebration, and consistency—and it shows.

Thank you, Arnett Hills family, for your dedication, your service, and above all, your heart. Together we are creating a school where every child feels seen, valued, celebrated, and supported.

Inspire • Empower • Lead
Principal Williams 🐊💚

Thursday , November 20th

We are excited to invite our Gator families to join us for a special Thanksgiving Lunch! 🧡
This is a wonderful opportunity to share a meal, make memories, and celebrate gratitude together as a school community.

🍽️ Details:

• Date: Thursday, November 20th

• Cost: $10 per adult meal

• Students will eat at their regular lunch time.

If you would like to join us, please fill out the RSVP form below so we can plan accordingly.

1. 🐊 K–5 SOL-Aligned Gratitude Reading & Math Activities

   Strengthening Skills • Building Character • Inspiring Gratitude

   Kindergarten (K)

   📚 Reading (SOL K.3, K.4, K.5)

   Activity: “Thankful Picture Sort & Read”

   • Students receive picture cards (family, school, food, books, nature, friends).

   • They sort them into “Things I Am Thankful For” and “Things I Use Every Day.”

   • Students practice identifying beginning sounds and matching simple sight words to pictures.
     Skill Focus: Phonological awareness, concept development, vocabulary.
     Gratitude Tie-In: Students discuss why each item is important.

   ➗ Math (SOL K.1, K.2, K.3)

   Activity: “Gratitude Counting Trail”

   • Create a path of numbered leaves (1–20).

   • Students roll a die, move along the trail, and name something they’re thankful for that matches the number (e.g., “I’m thankful for 3 friends”).
     Skill Focus: Number recognition, 1–1 correspondence, oral counting.
     Gratitude Tie-In: Verbalizing appreciation while practicing numbers.

   1st Grade

   📚 Reading (SOL 1.5, 1.6, 1.7)

   Activity: “Thankful Story Retell”

   • Read a short gratitude-themed story (e.g., The Thankful Book by Todd Parr).

   • Students complete a retell organizer: Somebody – Wanted – But – So – Then.
     Skill Focus: Retelling, sequencing, comprehension.
     Gratitude Tie-In: Students write one sentence about a time they felt thankful.

   ➗ Math (SOL 1.1, 1.2, 1.4)

   Activity: “Thankful Fact Families”

   • Provide picture groups (3 apples, 2 books, 5 friends).

   • Students create addition/subtraction fact families.
     Skill Focus: Basic facts, part–whole relationships.
     Gratitude Tie-In: Students choose one picture and explain why it’s meaningful.

   2nd Grade

   📚 Reading (SOL 2.5, 2.6, 2.7)

   Activity: “Gratitude Main Idea Hunt”

   • Students read a short passage about gratitude traditions.

   • They identify:

     • Main idea

     • Two supporting details

     • One sentence explaining why gratitude matters
       Skill Focus: Main idea, summarizing, inference.
       Gratitude Tie-In: Students write a note to someone they appreciate.

   ➗ Math (SOL 2.4, 2.5, 2.6)

   Activity: “Data of Thanks”

   • Students survey classmates on what they’re grateful for (family, pets, food, school, nature).

   • Create a bar graph and answer questions about it.
     Skill Focus: Data representation, graph analysis, comparison.
     Gratitude Tie-In: Celebrates shared values and kindness.

   3rd Grade

   📚 Reading (SOL 3.5, 3.6)

   Activity: “Compare & Contrast Traditions of Gratitude”

   • Read two short texts:

     • One on gratitude journals

     • One on helping others

   • Students complete a Venn diagram.
     Skill Focus: Compare/contrast, text structure, comprehension.
     Gratitude Tie-In: Choose one practice to try at home for a week.

   ➗ Math (SOL 3.2, 3.5, 3.6)

   Activity: “Thankful Arrays & Equal Groups”

   • Students use counters shaped like leaves/food to build arrays that represent things they’re thankful for.

   • Example: 3 rows of 4 = 12 books I love.
     Skill Focus: Multiplication models, array construction.
     Gratitude Tie-In: Helps students connect abundance to appreciation.

   4th Grade

   📚 Reading (SOL 4.4, 4.5, 4.6)

   Activity: “Author’s Purpose: Messages of Gratitude”

   • Students read three short passages with different structures (informational, narrative, poem).

   • They determine whether each author wrote to inform, entertain, or persuade.
     Skill Focus: Author’s purpose, comprehension, text evidence.
     Gratitude Tie-In: Discuss how words can encourage others.

   ➗ Math (SOL 4.3, 4.4, 4.14)

   Activity: “Great Gratitude Bake-Off Fractions”

   • Students use a “recipe card” for a gratitude feast (¾ cup kindness, ½ cup empathy, ⅓ cup teamwork, etc.).

   • Solve fraction problems involving addition, subtraction, and equivalency.
     Skill Focus: Fractions, equivalence, computation.
     Gratitude Tie-In: Symbolic recipe for a positive school culture.

   5th Grade

   📚 Reading (SOL 5.4, 5.5, 5.6)

   Activity: “Gratitude Text Evidence Challenge”

   • Students read an article on the psychological benefits of gratitude.

   • They answer open-ended questions using text evidence.
     Skill Focus: Inference, analysis, citing evidence.
     Gratitude Tie-In: Students write a short reflection:
     “How can gratitude improve our school community?”

   ➗ Math (SOL 5.2, 5.4, 5.15)

   Activity: “Thanksgiving Budget Challenge”

   • Students are given a budget of $75 to “host a gratitude party.”

   • Use a price list to calculate totals, discounts, and tax.
     Skill Focus: Decimals, computation, problem-solving.
     Gratitude Tie-In: Students donate “leftover” budget amounts to a cause of their choice (symbolically).

After-School Program Is in Session!

🎉 This program is designed to provide additional learning support for students in grades 3–5. Students can also make up days by attending after school!

• Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

• Time: 3:15 PM – 4:45 PM

• Transportation: NOW AVAILABLE!!!!!

If your child in grades 3–5 did not receive one and you are interested in having them attend, please email our program coordinator, Ms. Mariah Walker, at mwalker1@mail.dps.k12.va.us.

We look forward to supporting our Gators with this extra time for learning and growth!

• Morning drop off is at 7:40, please do not let students out before staff has arrived to greet them and see them safely inside.

To ensure a smooth dismissal process, students may not be checked out after 2:15pm.

To ensure the safety of all students, parents or guardians MUST present an ID at the time of checkout. We thank you for your cooperation.

Arnett Hills Elementary School

Associate Principal: Mr. Withers Jackson

Assistant Priincipal: Mr. Gary Lawson

Website: https://arnetthills.danvillepublicschools.org/
Location: 811 Northmont Blvd, Danville, Va. 24540

Phone: 434-354-0112