West Elementary News

Readiness students got in the Halloween spirit when Ms. Kaitlin, the Palo Alto County Naturalist, visited the classroom to teach a lesson on bats! They learned how much a bat weighs, how bats use their sense of hearing, how bats skeletons resemble ours-especially their hands. They even tried to flap their wings as fast as a bat.

Both preschool classrooms are in the midst of projects, one classroom is focusing on rocks and the other is focusing on insects. Preschoolers in both rooms had the chance to decorate pumpkins in collaboration with Fareway and they can be viewed at Fareway.

Kindergarten has had a busy month! They visited our local Fire Station and learned about some fire safety. They also went to the Apple Orchard and Pumpkin Patch in Fort Dodge. These were both great field trips!

Mrs. Gramowski, from the public library has been visiting the first graders to read aloud. They love seeing her every other week!

2nd graders had a GREAT time during Homecoming week! They especially loved the pep assembly and high schoolers coming through rooms to sign pendants. They have also been busy learning in science about water and where it flows. Second graders also really enjoy reading in small groups and with partners.

Fourth graders have been learning about rocks and solids during science. Ask your students what they have learned about rocks.

Third graders have been working on starting a clay project! Can't wait to see what these will be! Ask your third grader what they are making!

STEM camp students are coding with Scratch. We have some future coders. They are creating some very complicated codes.

October's PBIS monthly celebration was a scarecrow contest. Each classroom was in charge of coming up with a scarecrow design and built them this past Friday. Since our October competency was self-management working as a team to build a scarecrow plays right into this as students work together, use teamwork language, organizational skills and goal setting. As parents you are welcome to vote on your favorite scarecrow during parent teacher conferences in the lunchroom or like your favorite scarecrow on our Emmetsburg Community Schools Facebook page. The winning classroom will earn a pizza party the first week in November.

SEL:

Why is self-management important: it is the ability to successfully regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations. This regulation is achieved by effectively managing stress, controlling impulses, and motivating oneself. In short, self-management is the ability to set and work toward personal and academic goals without significant deviation.

To possess self-management, one must develop the following skills and abilities:

• Impulse control

• Stress management

• Self-discipline

• Goal setting

• Self-motivation

• Organizational skills