December Newsletter

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving break! The month of December is a busy month with activities and events such as the Mini Fair and Holiday Program. The students have been putting a lot of work into practicing their songs. We look forward to welcoming families to watch their performances. Also, A big thank you in advance to all of the volunteers that make the Mini Fair possible! It is a huge undertaking, but a memorable day for students.

At Sandy Knoll, we are committed to supporting the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally. This year, our staff will be using the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS) to help us better understand and support the social-emotional learning (SEL) needs of our students for grades 2nd-5th.

What is SAEBRS?
SAEBRS is a short (10 question, about 5 minutes), research-based tool completed by students that helps identify students’ strengths and areas where they may need extra support in social, emotional, or academic behavior skills. It focuses on key areas such as cooperation, empathy, self-management, and engagement—skills that are essential for success both in school and in life. Students will be taking this screener during their SEL class time. We will plan to have all students take this, unless you would like to opt your child out. Please let your child's classroom teacher know by December 5th, if you do not want your child to take this.

Why are we using it?
By using SAEBRS, our school can take a proactive approach to supporting students. The results help us:

• Identify students who may benefit from additional SEL supports.

• Recognize and celebrate students’ strengths.

• Guide classroom practices and schoolwide SEL programming.

• Ensure that every child feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.

How does this information help our staff?
Teachers will use SAEBRS data to better understand the needs of their students and tailor instruction accordingly. For example, if the screener indicates that a class could benefit from additional lessons in emotional regulation or relationship skills, teachers can incorporate those topics into morning meetings or classroom discussions. The data will also help guide the curriculum in our SEL classes. This will help us to make informed decisions about how to best nurture a positive, inclusive, and caring learning environment for all students. We are working on creating an aligned building SEL curriculum plan.

Family Partnership
We know families play a vital role in supporting social and emotional growth. We encourage you to talk with your child about how they manage emotions, build friendships, and handle challenges. Together, we can help our students build the skills they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.

If you have any questions about SAEBRS or our school’s SEL curriculum, please contact Stacy Brock (Principal) or Emily Emmendorfer (School Counselor) at (906) 225-4281.

December 2nd - 6th - Continued collection for the Mini Fair!

December 4th - Art Club 3:50-5:00 pm

December 5th - Last day to drop off Mini Fair donations!

Last day for TV6 Canathon donations!

December 9th - SKSA Meeting 6:30 pm (library)

*We will be setting up for the Mini Fair during the SKSA Meeting

December 10th - Sandy Knoll Mini Fair!!

Last day for "Toys for Tots" collection!

December 11th - Art Club 3:50-5:00 pm

December 12th - Last day for Rock the Socks donations!

December 13th - Rock the Socks Event @ NMU Hockey 6:00 pm

December 17th - Popcorn Day!

December 18th - Sandy Knoll Holiday Program!

Art Club 3:50-5:00 pm

December 20th - First Lego League State Championship in Mason, MI (Go SK Coders!)

December 20th-January 4th - NO SCHOOL! HOLIDAY BREAK!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

On December 20th, our SK Coders Lego Robotics team will be heading to Mason, MI to compete in the First Lego League State Championships. This happened after finishing as a finalist during a competition at Northern Michigan University on November 22nd. The FLL teams are involved in researching the theme for the competition, identifying a problem, and proposing a solution, which they present during the competition. The team also designs, builds, and programs a Lego robot, which they program to complete various tasks on a themed playing field. FLL emphasizes teamwork, creativity, and respect. Teams are judged not only on their robot's performance, but also how well they embody these core values. We are so proud of our SK Coders and their amazing teamwork and collaboration. Mrs. Pruner also received "Mentor of the Year" as their FLL Coach. They are currently fundraising to help with the expenses of the state competition. GO CODERS!!!!

The sign up for the Lego Club starting in January will be coming soon!