Thrill on the Hill

Hello SGE Families,

Hippity hop...that bunny is on its way...

April has arrived, bringing with it the long-awaited warmer temperatures, blooming flowers, and a renewed sense of energy throughout our school. While “spring fever” can certainly make it harder to stay focused, our students continue to impress us with their dedication, resilience, and commitment to learning.

This time of year also marks the beginning of the PSSA assessments for our 3rd and 4th grade students. We are proud of how hard they have worked all year to prepare, and we encourage them to do their best, stay confident, and show all that they have learned. Our teachers and staff remain committed to supporting every student through this testing season.

As we move into the final stretch of the school year, we are reminded of the incredible growth that has already taken place and the opportunities that still lie ahead. Your support, encouragement, and involvement are much appreciated. Together, let’s make this last push a successful one, celebrating hard work, embracing challenges, and finishing the year strong.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

As the year has progress we have collect a tons of items. Yes, tons is a bit of an exaggeration, but we have lots of stuff that has been lost or left behind. If you have been looking for a missing article of clothing or other item please encourage your child to stop by to search our collection. Furthermore, if you would like to peruse these items you are more than welcome. Our office hours are 8 AM - 4 PM. daily.

Please note, following the last day of school all remaining items will be donated to a local charity.

We are excited to introduce our Care Closet. Please use the button below to learn more...

As we navigate through the spring semester many begin planning for next school year. Teacher requests become a focus area for many parents. We utilize a process that considers various academic and social criteria to roster students so that they can grow to their fullest potential. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, placement decisions utilizing the above mentioned process will be final. For this reason, please understand that specific teacher requests are discouraged, and not be guaranteed.

With the uncertainty of the impending weather over the next few months we wanted to prepare you for the possibility of a Flexible Instructional Day (FID)/Virtual Learning. A FID is used to replace the traditional “snow day”. In the event school is closed, we can provide instruction to our students at home rather than in the classroom. This will count as a full day of school and we are not required to make up the day during the school year. Please stay tuned and wait for a district notification. In the event we close school and activate a FID, SGE teachers will communicate a schedule and provide additional information as needed. In anticipation of inclement weather, all students (K-4) will be bringing their iPads home. This will ensure they are prepared in the event that the district calls for a FID. Please use the link below to access reminders to support parents and students on these days.

School Counselors will be available to support students socially, emotionally, and academically. Students will have the opportunity to meet with counselors in a whole group setting for various social-emotional and career awareness lessons. Not only are counselors available to work with students in a whole group setting, students also have an opportunity to meet in a small group setting or individually with their school counselor. Dr. Moore and Mrs. Myers also manage academic 504 plans at SGE and are integral members of CST (Child Study Team) as well as SAP (Student Assistance Program). Please feel free speak to your child’s school counselor with any questions or concerns that you may have.

Mrs. Myers is the counselor for Kindergarten (Claycomb, Delair, Godman) and students in grades 1st and 2nd.

Mr. Moore is the counselor for Kindergarten (Clancy, Mann, Miller) and students in grades 3rd and 4th.

SAP is a systematic team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. It is designed to assist in identifying issues which pose a barrier to a student’s success. The primary goal is to help students overcome these barriers so they can learn unencumbered. While SAP is a great program it is not the answer for all student needs and issues, but it can be a great starting point. Please use the link below for additional information.

The Spring Grove Area School District uses a Multi-Tier System of Support (MTSS) framework to ensure every student receives the right level of support to succeed. It’s a team approach involving teachers, specialists, and families working together to monitor progress and adjust supports as needed. Here at SGE we call it our Child Study Team (CST). Please use the link below to learn more about the Tiered Support System used in the Spring Grove Area School District. Stay tuned as we will provide additional information about our CST process in a future newsletter.

In a world of structured schedules and glowing screens, nature play offers a unique "sensory buffet" that helps elementary-aged children develop the foundational skills they need for school and life. Nature provides what we call "just-right challenges." Unlike a flat indoor floor, a forest floor is uneven, requiring the brain to constantly map out where the body is in space. Here is how else nature supports your child’s development: balance, core strength, planning and problem solving, visual tracking, stress reduction, sensory experiences, gross and fine motor practice.

Activities you can do outdoors this weekend!

• THE MUD KITCHEN (fine motor and sensory) - Give old spoons, bowls, and water. Mixing “mud pies” builds hand strength and helps kids get comfortable with different textures. Take this to the next level with a “Great Nature Bake Off”!

• NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT (visual skills) - Ask them to find something “rough”, “smooth”, “tiny”, or “bright”. This hones visual discrimination and attention to detail, while also improving their visual perception and tracking skills when looking to locate these items.

• STICK ARCHITECTURE (fine motor, executive functioning skills) - Have your child gather sticks to build a “fairy house” or a “troll bridge”. Learn how much pressure to apply without snapping twig for impulse and motor control.

• NATURAL TIE-DYE CRAFT (executive functioning, sensory play, fine motor)– Experiment with boiling (adult help of course) onion skins, mashed berries, or walnuts to see what colors they produce on scraps of white cotton.

• TREE BARK RUBBINGS (sensory and fine motor) - Grab some chunky crayons and white paper to overlay on varying leaves and tree barks. Rubbing the crayon on the paper overtop of these varying textures to create a design or scavenger hunt to match the outcomes.

• SHELTER BUILDING (gross motor, executive functioning) - Use fallen branches or trees, an old sheet, or other items to build a fort. Learning about physics and structural integrity never looked so fun!

If your child is “sensory defensive” (doesn’t like getting their hands messy), give them a “tool” like a stick, leaf, or gloves to work with sticks and mud. Meeting them where they are is the best way to help them grow.

Whatever you do, make it fun and do it together! Enjoy! ~Miss Osborne OT

Title I programs are designed to help children meet the state content and performance standards in reading, language arts, and mathematics. In buildings with 40% or more poverty, LEAs may use the funds to upgrade the entire curriculum of the school and are Schoolwide Programs. Please use the link below to access our annual Right to Know Letter.

Hello SGE Families,

The Health Office is currently continuing the state-required screening process, which includes Growth, Vision, and Hearing screenings. If your student is recommended for further assessment, documentation will be mailed to the address on file in Sapphire. Once screenings are completed, results will be uploaded to Medical Notifications for your review.

Please remember that physical examinations are required for all students entering school, students in Grade 6 and Grade 11, and any student enrolling in a Pennsylvania school for the first time. Families who have not yet submitted the required physical examination documentation will receive notification.

We also encourage parents to send their child to school each day with a reusable water bottle to help them stay hydrated. Additionally, it is recommended that students keep an extra set of clothes in their backpack in case of spills, accidents, or unexpected weather changes.

Health Room Reminders:

Illness or Injury

Students who have a temperature of 100 degrees or more, a contagious illness, or have had repeated episodes of vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours should not attend school. Students should be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school. Parents/guardians will be contacted if your child becomes ill or injured at school. For this reason, the current home, work, and emergency phone numbers must be maintained in the main office. Please inform the school secretary whenever your contact information changes. Please refer to the following if you are unsure if your child should attend school today.

I Need To Keep My Child Home If They Have:

• A temperature of 100.4 or higher
• Vomited within the past 24 hours
• Had diarrhea within the past 24 hours
• A body rash with itching or fever
• An itchy head active with head lice
• An eye infection or presenting redness, itching, and/or crusty drainage from the eye(s)

My Child Is Ready To Go Back To School When They Are:

• Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, i.e., Tylenol, Motrin
• Free from vomiting for at least two solid meals
• Free from diarrhea for the last 24 hours
• Free from rash, itching, or fever/have been evaluated by a doctor if needed
• Treated with the appropriate lice treatment at home, and the proof is provided to the school nurse
• Have been evaluated by a doctor and have a note to return to school

POT PIE was back on the menu with FUNNEL CAKES on April 2nd!

Look for a special treat on April 22nd Earth Day!

Please make sure to get your Free breakfast! We will be trying some different breakfast items in April.

The children have been finding lots of great books to check out. A few reminders to help the process run smoothly.

1. Please continue to help your child find a safe spot for their library books at home – a shelf, in their bookbags, etc.

2. Water bottles – PLEASE teach your child to keep their water bottle on the outside of their bookbag. A large Ziploc bag or a plastic grocery bag could add some protection.

3. Please be aware that when you receive a bill for a lost or damaged library book, your child cannot check out 2 books again until the bill is paid. If you find the exact book cheaper online, please feel free to replace the book in this manner (if it was a hardcover book, it must be a hard cover replacement). Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

It is WONDERFUL to see our love of stories, informational text, and reading to your child. Please feel free to email me or call my extension if you have any questions or concerns.

LIBRARY SKILLS and ENRICHMENT/STEM LESSONS:

The children are VERY excited to become scientists during library enrichment. We read stories and then use the Engineering Design Process (Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Revise and Improve) to create. Some projects students will bring home, but other projects will be taken apart to reuse/recycle/repurpose. Please ask your children about what they have created so far.

1st Grade - We are currently taking a break from STEM. However, the children are SUPER excited to be able to check out chapter books. They have all been taught the 5 finger count to find a book that is just right. Now we are learning about various authors and character personality traits. Be sure to ask who their favorite author is: Jon Klassen (This Is Not My Hat, I Lost My Hat, or We Found a Hat; Square, Circle, or Triangle); Mo Willems (3 Knuffle Bunny stories), or Kevin Henkes (Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse or Lily’s Big Day).

2nd Grade - Currently - Brand New Inventions - Second graders have been learning about COMPROMISE as they work on a TEAM to draw an invention that could help us during our school day. Together we researched their ideas and are currently designing their brand new inventions in small TEAMS. They have been wondering, asking lots of questions, and their creativity has been AMAZING! Be sure to ask your child if his/her team is designing: a robot teacher helper or student helper, teleporter for people or things, bus, desk, school supplies, or a book organizer.

3rd Grade - Architecture Unit - We have finished exploring and researching architecture. Many students have really been “sparked” by this unit. Several students brought in pictures of interesting architecture that they have found. It truly makes my heart smile. We just took some quiet time to envision our dream houses or dream buildings. Each student sketched their dream house or building making sure that it is functional and has a purpose. Now we are getting ready to “build it” using theTinkerCad App. Stay tuned…

4th Grade - We just finished our Mountain Laurel Young Reader’s Choice unit. SGE votes are in. We selected Mr. Fox’s Game of No! as the best choice for K-3. ALL of the students' votes were cast with the MLYRC committee. We are looking forward to seeing who the state winner will be. Just getting started - Inventions: individually or in small groups students are researching a topic connected to their invention brainstorming idea. Next they will be planning and then designing a small model of their improved current invention or their brand new invention. The fourth graders have really grown over the last 4 years in their Engineering Design mindset. Their brainstorming ideas this year have BLOWN us away. We are SUPER EXCITED to see how students decide to create their models. Be sure to ask the 4th graders what they are thinking about inventing.

Exciting Art news! One of our own 4th grade students, Maylee, won first place in the Artist of the Week contest last week! She was presented with a plaque and gift from Artsonia. She won in the 4th-6th grade category against others across the nation! Congratulations Maylee!

1st Grade:

This month in music, our first graders are learning about dynamics—how loud and soft sounds work in music—including the terms forte (loud) and piano (soft). They're discovering how music that gradually gets louder creates excitement and anticipation, while music that gets softer reduces tension and adds suspense, and they're performing familiar songs like "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" using instruments with dynamic markings. Understanding dynamics teaches students how to control their voices and actions while expressing different emotions and moods, and learning to follow dynamic markings builds their ability to read and respond to written instructions. Plus, they're making real connections between music and the world around them!

2nd Grade:

This month in music, our second graders are learning how different instrument families are designed and produce sound, discovering why orchestras arrange their seating in specific ways, and understanding the important role of the conductor. Learning how instruments work builds curiosity about how things are made and function, while understanding orchestra organization teaches them how groups work together efficiently with each person in the right place for success. Plus, they're discovering that great music requires both individual skill and teamwork with strong leadership!

3rd & 4th Grade:

This month in music, our third and fourth graders are continuing their ukulele studies by building chord progressions and playing songs by popular artists, with plans to create their own original songs soon. Learning chord progressions develops pattern recognition and understanding of how music is structured, while playing familiar songs keeps them engaged and motivated. Creating their own compositions allows students to apply what they've learned as real musicians and songwriters, building creativity, problem-solving skills, and the confidence that comes from making something uniquely their own!

Happy March!

Happy Spring! Hope you are enjoying the warmer weather! It’s a great time to take the kids outside and find a cozy spot to read in the sun!

Hopefully, by now you’ve seen your child’s bookmark for Boomer’s Book Club from the York Revolution. Students can read books and win prizes! The bookmark serves your child’s ticket for a Boomer’s Book Club Baseball Game (dates of these games are: April 22, May 2, May 29, or June 17). Prizes also include dinner at the game, a playground pass, and a bucket hat!

Check out the following...

Congratulations to our Reader Leaders! They have served as mentors by reading with a friend for a few minutes every morning! Thank you for being helpful, kind, and responsible!

To begin our last trimester in kindergarten, we are “springing” into March with Read Across America Week and a David Ross dental lesson! We will be reading lots of cvc words and nonsense words. Don’t forget that great readers do not guess. They point to words and sound them out! Is your child practicing those 27 trick/heart words to help her/him in her/his reading?

In March, we are not sure if those naughty leprechauns will visit us at SGE! Our writing will take us on lucky adventures as we keep trying to be independent writers. Hopefully the leprechauns will make us lucky and remember our conventions at the end of sentences. They always seem to be missing.

Our k friends hope to welcome spring with warm weather! Keep sending those coats because one minute it might feel like a lion and another like a lamb.

As little frogs we are hopping ahead and back on a number line as we explore addition and subtraction in math! We encourage our k friends to practice their math facts to 5 so when they become first graders they can learn the rest to 10.

Hopping into April will be fun! So don’t forget to practice tying those shoes!

Spring is here!

A SURPRISE is hatching in first grade. We are looking forward to studying embryology the last two months of school! Your child will be using fertilized eggs, from an incubator, to study the different stages of development in a chick. Twenty-one days later we will have cute, fluffy little peeps! With your permission, each child will receive an opportunity to hold and help care for them😊.

We continue to learn the difference between fiction and non-fiction texts and how to properly retell each of them. Students will be asked to focus their attention on a lot more non-fiction text this month than ever before. Be sure to include some biographies or factual books in your library and bedtime story routines. Remember it is different to retell these types of stories. Students will be asked to state the topic (what the story is all about overall), the main idea (what ideas about the topic were discussed in the beginning, middle, and end) and details (the facts stated about each main idea).

We’re hoping you’re as excited to see your child’s growth as we are!

Spring has officially sprung, and our second graders are blooming right along with the season. Here is a look at what we’re diving into this month:

This month, students are learning to decode and spell multisyllabic words that feature vowel teams (two vowels working together to make one unique sound). This skill helps students move past choppy sounding-out and into smoother, more confident reading.

In Science and Social Studies, we are exploring the world around us through maps, stories, and different hands-on experiments.

In math, it’s time to go big! We are taking the strategies we’ve learned all year—like place value and expanded form—and applying them to triple-digit addition and subtraction. Although we are nearing the last month of the school year, we always encourage students to continue to complete their fluency homework each night and to read.

The best way to support your child's growth is through consistent practice. Please continue to:

1. Read Daily: Aim for 15–20 minutes.

2. Retell the Tale: After reading, ask your child to explain the beginning, middle, and end. It’s a fantastic way to boost comprehension!

Thank you to all the second-grade families for a wonderful school year!

Our final math units include measurement and geometry. Some of these skills, like money, can be practiced at home by having your child count coins or determine change when paying for items at the store. Also, students will be working on reading analog clocks and determining elapsed time, skills that can easily be incorporated at home. Thank you for your help with this! We also continue to spend time reviewing third grade skills to review for the upcoming PSSA.

March has been a poetry blast in ELA. We explored many different poems and learned all about figurative language. We were like kids in a candy store (simile) as we explored and shared our favorite poems! We even worked on our own poetry and discovered we have some very talented poets in our classrooms! The end of March found us jumping into dramas and having some fun as we performed in short reader’s theater presentations. As we head into April we will begin preparations for the PSSA. Students will get to review all that we have learned this year and begin piecing it all together. We will also have some fun in writing as we support our classmates with motivational letters and posters.

Spring has sprung...

This year our school doors open every morning at 8:25 with homeroom starting at 8:45. If your child arrives after 8:46 they will need to report to the office at which time they will be marked Tardy.

If your child is going to be absent or has been absent, from school please fill out an excuse card in your Sapphire Portal. If you do not have access to a computer please contact our main office for assistance.

If your child arrives between 10:16-12:05 or leaves between 12:06-1:54 they will be considered absent for 1/2 school day. If they arrive after or leave before 12:05 this will be considered a full day absence.

Arrival and Dismissal

Arrival: 8:25 – 8:45 AM

Arrival time for students is 8:25 AM. Please be aware that students are NOT permitted to enter the building prior to 8:25. All AM car riders are to follow the car line around the back of the school. Students will enter the building through door #3 by the cafeteria. Students arriving by bus/van will enter the building through the main entrance. Students must be in their classroom by 8:45 AM. They are considered “tardy” at 8:46 AM.

Dismissal: 3:20 PM

• Occasional Car Rider - If you choose to pick up your child at dismissal on any given day, it is extremely important that you notify the school office by email (whites@sgasd.org), sending a note to school with your child, OR by calling the office by 2:00 PM. The occasional car rider will be dismissed from the ART ROOM. (Please see attached map) When writing notes, please be sure to include child’s first and last name, date, and teacher. Please notify the district transportation office, ext. 3024, with any transportation changes. ALWAYS use the cross walk when crossing from the parking lot to/from the car rider door. Please DO NOT cross in between the vans/buses, or permit children to run freely to the parking lot.

• Rocket Rider - If you plan on transporting your child at dismissal each and every day, please contact the school office to make arrangements to pick up your “ROCKET RIDER” tags before the start of school. Rocket Riders get dismissed from door #3 by the cafeteria. (See attached map) You must have a NEW Rocket Rider tag in order to pick up through the line. You may not use signs from previous years.

• Bus Transportation – Transportation information can be found in your Sapphire Parent Portal.

Student Emergency Form - Please review and make additions or corrections to your child's emergency form in your Sapphire Parent Portal. Use the link below to access the Sapphire Parent Portal. If you need to create an account please use this link "Apply for a Sapphire Community Portal account."

If your child is arriving at school late or leaving early due to a doctor or dental appointment, please be sure to get a note from the physician. The time may be considered unexcused if a note is not provided. You will find further information on this subject in the student handbook. If your child is arriving late, we ask that you check the child in at the school office. Please do not drop the student off and leave without accompanying him/her to the office.

Please remember that all visitors must sign in at the office upon arrival. Every person that enters SGE will be asked to sign in using our RAPTOR security system. You will need to have your drivers license/identification scanned at least one time in order to be in our system. We kindly ask that you have your identification with you at all times when visiting a district building.

ALL volunteers must complete the volunteer registration process before volunteering in any district school. You may find more information on the volunteer process by visiting Volunteer Services on our district website.

SGE communicates mostly by email or by posting information on the SGE webpage. Please be sure to include your email address on the student emergency form. For split households, please include both parent email addresses. We want to make certain that all parents/guardians are aware of SGE news! If you do not have email access, please make note of such on the emergency forms.

Starting with the 25-26 school year, students will no longer be receiving free breakfast/lunch. A student school breakfast is free for all students, and a school lunch is $2.45. Please go onto the district website & apply for the free/reduced lunch program. You may access your child’s lunch account through myschoolbucks.com.