Attica Elementary Newsletter
May 2025
The sun is finally shining and we are able to get outside and play! Spring is a busy time of year in the Elementary School!
Our theme for the month of April was respect. Our discussions about respect included modeling respectful behavior, defining respect, and encouraging empathy and positive interactions. Congratulations to our student's of the month for April, these students were nominated by the elementary staff for demonstrating RESPECT and CHAMP behavior in our school. These students will be recognized at our elementary assembly on May 14th.
PreK: Roy Carpenter III (AM) & Georgeine Carter (PM)
Kindergarten: Mabel Biniaszewski
1st Grade: Gunnar Varnell
2nd Grade: Oaklyn Zuzze
3rd Grade: Tanner Mitzel & Claire Collingridge
4th Grade: Sid Rautenstrauch
Throughout the month of May, the Elementary school will focus on COURAGE as our theme! We will focus on the following ideas:
- We show courage when we face our fears.
- We are brave enough to tell the truth and admit when we are wrong.
- We are courageous when we stand up for what is right.
- Courage is believing in yourself and being yourself.
Teaching elementary students about courage involves fostering self-confidence, encouraging them to try new things, and providing opportunities for them to face challenges, even when they're scared. It's about helping them understand that courage isn't about the absence of fear, but about facing it and persevering.
Here are some ideas for teacher your children about courage:
1. Define Courage and Provide Real-Life Examples:
- Explain what courage is: Make it clear that courage means facing fear and doing what's right, even when it's hard.
- Use everyday situations: Point out examples of courage in the classroom (e.g., a student speaking up when they disagree, a student helping a classmate), on the playground (e.g., a student trying a new game, a student standing up to peer pressure), and in the news.
- Use books and movies: Read stories about brave characters and discuss how they showed courage.
2. Create Opportunities for Courageous Behavior:
Encourage trying new things: Encourage them to participate in activities they might be nervous about, like joining a new club, trying a new sport, or speaking in front of the class.
Facilitate peer support: Help them develop a sense of belonging and encourage them to support each other.
Promote resilience: Teach them that it's okay to make mistakes and that learning from them is a sign of courage.
3. Provide Emotional Support and Guidance:
- Show empathy: Acknowledge their feelings and help them process their fears.
- Offer positive reinforcement: Praise their efforts and encourage them to keep trying, even if they don't succeed right away.
- Be a role model: Show them how you face your own fears and challenges, and how you handle mistakes
Here are some great books you can read with your child about courage! Each book contains a link to a read aloud you can enjoy together!
- Courage by Bernard Waber – Courage is an oldie but a goodie. I’ve used Bernard Waber’s books throughout my years as a teacher and school counselor. I originally fell in love with Lyle Lyle Crocodile many years ago. Courage was one of the first books I purchased as a new school counselor in 2004. It simply gives example after example of what courage is from riding a bicycle without training wheels to eating a new food you’ve never tried before. Click the link to check out a read-aloud video of Courage by Bernard Waber.
- I Am Courage: A Book of Resilience by Susan Verde – I Am Courage is one book from a series of I Am books by this author. Like the other books in the series, this book is full of wonderful affirmations. This book is written for ages 4-8. I like using books in this series with middle elementary-aged children. Click the link to check out a read-aloud video of I Am Courage.
- Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Courage by Howard Binkow and Reverand Ana – There are so many great books in the Howard B. Wigglebottom series. I have used this book primarily with 1st graders. After listening, I would have them draw a picture of a time they showed courage and write a sentence to go with it. I love that the HBW books have songs that go along with the books. The Fear and Courage Song “It’s Okay to Be Afraid” is a catchy one and the kids enjoy listening to it. Click the link to visit the We Do Listen Foundation page to hear the song and to view the read-aloud video of Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Courage.
May- Mental Health Awareness Month
Welcome to Miss Crowley’s Counseling Corner where every month I will include information, facts and tips regarding Mental Health.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual observance founded by Mental Health America in 1949 to highlight the importance of mental wellbeing, educate the public, reduce stigma and promote support for those affected by mental health conditions. Each year, individuals and organizations come together to raise awareness and advocate for better mental health care and resources.
Mental health awareness plays a crucial role in reducing stigma, encouraging early intervention and fostering empathy and understanding. By normalizing conversations around mental health, it nurtures a more compassionate society where individuals feel empowered to seek help, leading to improved mental wellbeing.
Resources:
The Wyoming County Health Department has put together a great resource called Credible Minds, where you can find topics, wellbeing assessments, tools and community resources available in Wyoming County.
Check out the information at the link below!
https://wyomingcountyny.crediblemind.com/
Don’t forget the Mental Health Team is here to help at Attica Elementary, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Miss Crowley
“Be the reason someone feels welcomed, loved, heard, seen and supported today”
We're kicking off May with a bang – a week-long celebration of Teacher Appreciation! We're beyond grateful for the incredible support we've received, making this year's events truly unforgettable. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to making our teacher appreciation events the best yet by donating via our Amazon Wishlist!
A special shoutout to our amazing volunteers who helped provide nutritious breakfasts to our 3rd and 4th-grade students before state testing. Your dedication and generosity are what make our school community shine!
Upcoming Events:
- Scholastic Book Fair: May 6th (3-5 pm) and May 7th (4:30-6:30 pm) after school, May 8th we will be letting the students shop during school hours. Check out our Facebook page for volunteer opportunities and eWallet information for the bookfair.
- PTG End-of-Year Carnival: Mark your calendars for June 6th! More details will be shared as the date approaches.
**Stay connected with us on Facebook for the latest updates and opportunities to get involved. Thank you for being an integral part of our school community!
The warmer weather is a great time for kids to enjoy the outdoors but it also brings safety concerns. Here are some important summer safety tips for kids, covering hydration, sun protection, swimming supervision, and more.
1. Keep Kids Hydrated: Hydration is essential for children’s health and helps in preventing more childhood injuries related to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Encourage kids to drink water regularly, even if they aren’t thirsty. Dehydration can happen quickly during summer activities.
Be aware of signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, lack of sweat, and dark urine. Address these symptoms immediately.
2. Apply Sunscreen Regularly: Sun exposure is a major risk factor during summer, making sunscreen application vital. These steps ensure effective sun protection for your child, reducing the risk of skin cancer and other sun-related issues.
Use a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection with SPF 30 or higher. Reapply every two hours or more often if your child is swimming or sweating.
In addition to sunscreen, dress your child in lightweight clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and wide-brimmed hats.
3. Supervise Swimming Activities: Swimming is fun but comes with water safety risks. Supervision is key to keeping kids safe.
Never leave a child unattended near a body of water.
Enroll kids in swim lessons appropriate for their age and skill.
Learn CPR- A quick response can save lives in case of a drowning incident.
4. Use Appropriate Protective Gear: Using the right protective gear significantly reduces the risks of injuries during outdoor play. Using appropriate protective gear is an essential part of injury prevention for children during summer activities.
Ensure kids wear properly fitted helmets when biking, skateboarding, or rollerblading to prevent head injuries.
Encourage the use of closed-toe shoes during outdoor activities to prevent sprains and cuts.
Use sun-protective gear like wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses for additional sun protection.
The staff of the Blue Devils Café are jumping for joy over warmer days! Students come to us filled with excitement from outside gym games and eagerness to get out to the playground for recess. We love having the privilege to fill their bellies full of yummy food, so they have energy to burn!
May’s menu is shaped up with a lot of student favorites! We are always happy to see our students’ enthusiasm about the main menu choices! This month, students who buy will be provided a special treat on the first two Friday’s. Additionally, we will serve the winning soup from the district’s “Great Chef Cook Off” that took place in April. The winning Cheeseburger Soup will be served on Monday May 12th. We will round out the month with a few taste tests for students to try, as well as our build station Tuesdays & NYS Thursdays.
Many students will venture out for various field trips over our last two months of school. As a reminder to parents, the cafeteria can provide a bagged lunch for students to take with them. Please indicate to your child’s teacher at least three school days prior to the field trip if you would like your child to be provided with a free bagged lunch from the cafeteria. Any questions, please reach out to the cafeteria at extension 2239.
“Feeding Kids is a Work of Heart!”
Mrs. Kayla George
Elementary Cook
585-591-0400 ext. 2239
The Middle School Compact team will be hosting a Chicken BBQ Fundraiser Dinners will be $15 presale, $16 on May 20 (limited quantity) and include BBQ Chicken, potatoes, corn, and a dinner roll.
When: Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 3:30-6 PM ***Drive-Thru Only***
Where: High School Parking lot- Near Tennis Courts
Cost: $15.00 each (Pre Sale preferred. Only a small number of dinners will be available for purchase the day of and will be sold on a first come first serve for $16 each)
Cash or check accepted. Checks should be made payable to Middle School Compact Team.
Tickets available in the Middle School Main Office
**Pre-Orders Due by May 10th!
Any Questions Contact: 585-591-0400
Paul Clark, x1200 pclark2@atticacsd.org
Becky Sphar, x1314 bsphar2@atticacsd.org
Diane Gebel, dgebel@atticacsd.org
Heather Smith, hsmith3@atticacsd.org
Jill Pierce, pierce1@atticacsd.org
