FALCON HIGHLIGHTS

Reading is one of the most important habits your child can build, and it cannot wait. Students who read at least 20 minutes a night are absorbing nearly 2 million words a year, and many of our students are already doing this. Their confidence, vocabulary, and comprehension show the difference.

Students who aren’t reading nightly are falling behind, and the gap grows quickly. By high school, it can mean a difference of two grade levels in reading, writing, and overall academic success.

So I’m asking every parent to check in: Is your child reading every single night? If not, this is the moment to make the change.

To build the routine, make it simple and clear:

• Choose a set time every evening and stick to it.
• State the expectation upfront: “In our house, everyone reads for 20 minutes.”
• No distractions — at all. During reading time, the TV is off, phones are away, and gaming is paused.
• Stay consistent until it becomes a natural part of their day.

Some students will jump right in. Others will resist or complain at first, that’s normal. But putting this work in now, as a parent, will have a huge impact on their life later. The effort will be worth it, even if your student is reluctant in the beginning.

With Thanksgiving break coming, this is the perfect time to reset, restart, and bring the culture of reading into your home. Make sure books are coming home, and being opened.

Twenty minutes a night today builds the future they deserve.

John Creighton Uridil
Principal
Shaw Heights Middle School

As we head into the winter season and temperatures continue to drop, we ask all families to please make sure students come to school dressed warmly. Jackets, gloves, hats, and other cold-weather gear will help keep everyone comfortable and safe during arrival and dismissal times.

Please remember that students are not allowed inside the building before school unless the temperature is below 20 degrees.

If your student needs a warm jacket or winter gear, please let us know—we are more than happy to help and provide support.

Thank you for helping us keep all students prepared for the colder days ahead! Stay warm, Falcons! ❄️🧥🧤

When to Keep Your Child Home

With the cold and flu season upon us, we want to ensure the healthiest possible learning environment for all our students and staff. A key part of this is knowing when to keep your child home from school. While good attendance is important for academic success, sending a sick child to school can spread illness to others and hinder your child's ability to learn effectively.

A Good Rule of Thumb

If you need to administer fever or cold/flu medication to your child to get them through the school day, they likely need a day of rest at home to recover. We follow guidelines from the CDC and local health officials. Please review the criteria below to help you decide if your child is well enough to attend school.

When to Keep Your Child Home: Please keep your child home if they exhibit any of the following symptoms:

• Fever: Temperature of 100°F (37.8°C) or higher. Must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications (e.g., Tylenol, Motrin, Advil).
• Vomiting or Diarrhea: Multiple episodes in a 24-hour period. Must be symptom-free for 24 hours after the last episode.
• Active/Persistent Cough: Severe, persistent, or uncontrollable coughing, especially with fever or difficulty breathing. May return when cough is mild and not disruptive, or after consulting a doctor if severe.
• Sore Throat: Severe sore throat, especially with a fever or white spots (potential strep throat). Can return 24 hours after starting antibiotics (if prescribed) and being fever-free for 24 hours.
• Eye Infections (Pink Eye): Redness, pain, and significant discharge or crusting. Can return 24 hours after starting antibiotic drops (if prescribed).
• Undiagnosed Rash: An unexplained body rash, especially if accompanied by a fever. Must have a doctor's note confirming it is not contagious.
• General Illness: Child is too fatigued or uncomfortable to participate in daily activities. Child is well enough to participate fully in all school activities.

Action Required

Please ensure the school office has your current emergency contact information in case your child becomes ill and needs to be picked up during the school day. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a healthy and safe learning environment for everyone. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school health office.

Stay well!

Set clear school attendance expectations with your child and define acceptable reasons for an absence. Make it clear that children should not stay home from school unless they are truly sick. Set small, achievable targets and goals, such as attending for a short period or one class, as a step toward a full day of attendance.

We will be having STAR Testing on December 3rd, 5th, 9th, and 10th. We want all students to come prepared and ready to do their very best. STAR Testing helps us understand each student’s progress in reading and math, giving teachers important information about their strengths and the areas where they may need extra support. When students put in their best effort, we get the most accurate picture of how to support their learning.

To help your student succeed, please make sure they get plenty of rest the night before testing. Encourage them to put away their cellphones and electronics early so they can get a full night’s sleep and come to school focused and ready.

Thank you for supporting your student during STAR Testing!