Cheetah Prints

Dear Thurston Families,

Happy February! Our school is full of energy this month with so many exciting learning experiences and community events. We’re finishing up 4th grade swim this week, our parent group meets on Thursday, and Family Movie Night on Friday. We will also have our book fair going all week, starting our month with fun for the whole family!

Our kindergarten and 1st grade students will participate in a two-week “Learn to Ride” program, and Smokey Bear will visit 1st and 4th grade to teach about fire safety. Meanwhile, our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will dive into a microscope science unit. We are also looking forward to our 1st and 2nd grade music performances on February 19th.

Thank you, families, for all the ways you support our school and help make these opportunities possible. I continue to be proud of our students’ curiosity, teamwork, and joy for learning. Here’s to a wonderful month ahead!

Warmly,

Ms. Mitchell

February

• January 26-February 5th- Fourth Grade Swim Lessons

• February 2–6 – Scholastic Book Fair 📚 (All Week)

• Thursday, 2/5 – PTG Meeting, 6:00 PM (2nd Grade teachers attending)

• Friday, 2/6 – Movie Night & Book Fair 🎬📖

• Wednesday, 2/11- PTG Dinner Night Out (Cafe Yumm!) 4:00-7:00 (20% of the proceeds go to our PTG)

• Friday, 2/13- Early Release Day (students released at 12:30)

• Friday, 2/13- Spirit Day! (Superhero Day!)

• Friday, 2/13- Future Colt Basketball Night (Kinder event at THS basketball game)

• Monday, 2/16- No School (Presidents' Day)

• February, 17th - 27th- Kinder/1st Grade Learn to Ride during PE

• Thursday, 2/19- 1st and 2nd grade Music Performances

• Friday, 2/27- Heroes of the Hallway and Early Release (students released at 12:30)

📚 Scholastic Book Fair 📚
February 2nd-6th

Shopping Hours:

• Tuesday-Friday: 8:00–8:20 AM *note, the fair is NOT open Monday morning

• Monday-Friday: 3:00–3:30 PM

Important Note:
Students in grades K–2 must be accompanied by an adult while shopping.

✨ Special Event:
Shop during Family Movie Night on February 6 from 6:00–8:00 PM!

Below is a link to the Thurston Book Fair Webpage. You can add money to your student's e-wallet so they don't have to pay with cash when shopping.

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/thurstonelementaryschool

All students must be supervised by an adult throughout the event. Thank you for your help with this!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We need volunteers to help pop popcorn during the day, some to help sell concessions during the event (varied shifts), and some to help clean up!

Volunteer here: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSf8ejgM6Ga.../viewform...

Our next Spirit Day is on February 13th! Superhero Day!

You can participate in this fundraiser by:

• Dine in
• Take out

In addition to dining in, you can participate in this fundraiser in several ways:

• Phone Call
• Restaurant Website

Please read the instructions below, so that Café Yumm! knows you are with the GroupRaise Meal for Thurston Elementary School Parent Teacher Group, and your group will get 20% of your meal’s price donated back!

Phone Call

Call 5417479866 and mention that you are with Thurston Elementary School Parent Teacher Group before placing your order.

Restaurant Website

Visit Café Yumm!'s online order website. In the section for order notes, comment or special instructions, mention your group’s name to receive 20% of your meal’s price donated back to Thurston Elementary School Parent Teacher Group.

During the month of February, students will be working together to create a Kindness Chain! Our 5th graders will take the lead by collecting kindness slips and assembling the chain for our school community.

We encourage you to ask your child about what they’ve added to the Kindness Chain and the kind acts they’ve noticed. Focusing on positivity and kindness helps build a supportive environment for everyone.

Thank you for helping us celebrate kindness!

This February, our school is partnering with Lane County Diaper Bank to support local families in need. Families are invited to donate spare change by filling classroom baby bottle banks or contribute diapers to the donation bin by the front office.

Each donation helps ensure that every child has access to clean diapers, and we’ll be tracking our progress with a heart display in the front office. Watch it fill with love!

Thank you for supporting our community and showing care for others.

As we move through the school year, we’ve noticed that arrival and dismissal routines have become a bit inconsistent. To keep everyone safe and traffic moving smoothly, we ask families to please follow these reminders:

• Pull all the way forward in the car rider line before loading or unloading.

• Do not stop early (including at the gym or cafeteria doors).

• Remain in your vehicle—staff will assist students.

• If you need to exit your car, park in a designated space.

• At dismissal, please continue pulling forward; students will be brought to you.

• For parent pick-up, use a designated meet-up spot or one of the parent pick-up areas.

• For safety, families should not walk through arrival or dismissal areas.

Following consistent routines helps arrival and dismissal stay safe, efficient, and stress-free for everyone. Thank you for your continued cooperation and partnership!

With winter here, the potential for school delays or closures due to snow and ice is a reality. SPS announces delays and closures in several different ways. Our goal is to determine by 6:30 a.m. whether school will be delayed, closed or open as usual. Remember, no news means no change. You can ensure that you will receive announcements of delays and closures in several key ways:

1. Make sure that your contact information is up to date with your student's school.
2. Follow SPS on Facebook, Instagram and X.
   
3. Sign up to receive FlashAlert alerts.
4. Check our website.

None of our families will be surprised to hear that everything is going around....and around. We want to make sure you're informed about what symptoms should keep kids home and for how long. Visit our "When to Keep Your Student Home" webpage for a list of symptoms and a handy downloadable guide.

Please remember to tuck an extra set of clothes into your child’s backpack. Accidents happen, puddles are irresistible, and messy moments are part of learning and play! Having a spare outfit on hand helps us keep your child comfortable and ready for the rest of their day. Thank you for helping us be prepared!

Please note that there is no student supervision before 8:00 a.m. at Thurston Elementary.

For your child’s safety, do not drop students off before 8:00 a.m.

Students who arrive early and wish to wait for breakfast must be accompanied by an adult until supervision begins.

If your student walks or bikes to school, please help them plan their departure so that they arrive between 8:00 and 8:35 a.m.

Thank you for your support in helping us keep all students safe!

Springfield Public Schools is participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2025-26 school year. This means that all enrolled students of Springfield Public Schools are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge each day of the 2025-26 school year!

⏰ School Hours & Arrival Information

• School Hours: 8:35 a.m. – 2:50 p.m. daily

• Classroom Doors Open: 8:25 a.m.

• Breakfast Doors Open: 8:00 a.m.

• Attendance Taken: 9:00 a.m.

Late Arrivals:
If your child arrives after 8:35 a.m., please have them check in at the office before going to class.

To help keep everyone safe and traffic flowing smoothly, please follow these guidelines:

• Pull Forward: Always pull all the way forward before letting your child exit the vehicle.

• Keep Moving: As cars ahead move forward, please follow.

• Quick Goodbyes: Have your child ready to exit or enter quickly and safely.

• Stay in Your Vehicle: Staff will assist with loading, unloading, and directing students.

• If You Need to Exit: Park in a designated parking spot first.

• Be Patient: The first weeks are busiest—expect extra time in the drop-off/pick-up line.

• No Passing: Cones will be in place to prevent passing in the loading zone.

• Stay Alert: Watch for students walking or biking to and from school.

Teachers will work with families to establish a “transportation home routine” for each student.

Important reminders:

• If your student’s transportation routine changes, please communicate these changes in writing or by phone.

• Do not send transportation changes through Seesaw, as teachers may not see messages in time.

• Without a note or phone call, your child will go home using their regular form of transportation.

• Student safety is our top priority. Clear communication helps ensure children arrive home safely.

District policies:

• Students not assigned to a bus are not allowed to ride a bus.

• Students may only ride the bus and route assigned by the district.

Thurston Elementary has an organized Parent Teacher Group (PTG) and all are welcome to join – no dues!

Please join our Thurston Elementary School Facebook page, if you haven’t done so already! We will be posting announcements and events on this page; this is a great and easy way to stay connected.