New Manchester Elementary School
February 2026
A Message from the Principal
With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching and it being the month to recognize "Random Acts of Kindness", it is important to remind your child the value of kindness and friendship, and respect. Kindness begins with the way your child feels about others. Thoughts can lead to words and words can lead to actions. Remind your child that kindness toward others can create a positive impact in someone’s life and can create lasting friendships. Children who have friends tend to do better in school and enjoy it more. Talk with your child about what he/she values in their friendships and encourage him/her to show friends that they care. Give your child opportunities to strengthen bonds with old friends and find new ones by joining various activities. Remember, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” - Aesop
February Events
2/2 - 2/6 School Counselor Week
2/2 Girls Who Code
2/2 Groundhog Day2/2 Pre-K Registration opens ONLINE for the 2026-27 Year
2/2 Kindergarten Pre-Registration opens ONLINE for the 2026-27 Year
2/2 Sarris Candy Fundraiser begins
2/5 PTA Meeting at 6:00 p.m. with 4th Grade Presidential Presentation
2/5 SMILE Dental Program
2/9 No School for Students - Professional Learning (PL) Day for Staff
2/11 4th Grade Financial Literacy with HCSB
2/11 LSIC Meeting at 3:15 p.m.
2/12 4th Grade Financial Literacy with HCSB
2/13 Wear RED for American Heart Month
2/13 Valentine's Day Activities
2/13 "Show the Staff Some Love - Pie in the Face" activity
2/15 National School Resource Officer Day
2/16 Girls Who Code
2/17 Random Acts of Kindness Day
2/18 Sarris Candy Orders Due
2/19 Progress Reports
2/20 Lion's Club Vision Screening
2/23 Girls Who Code
2/27 Family Read Aloud
Grab & Go and Lunch Menus
Parents, staff, and students (only 3rd and 4th grade students) are being asked to complete an online survey about school climate at New Manchester Elementary School. This is the learning and teaching/working conditions of the school. The results from this survey will help guide school improvement efforts. The results will be utilized to make changes at New Manchester Elementary School to ensure a supportive environment for teaching and learning.
Your participation in this survey is voluntary; however, we are asking all parents/guardians to complete this survey. You can complete the survey from any computer with an internet connection. If you have any questions or problems completing the survey, please contact our school office.
This survey is open now through Friday, March 20, 2026.
Your participation is voluntary. You may choose not to participate; not to answer any questions you do not want to answer; and you may stop participating at any time during the survey without penalty. Your responses will be anonymous and confidential.
You may access this survey at the link below.
Select "Hancock County"
Select "New Manchester Elementary School"
Pre-K Registration is happening in February..... Registration opens ONLINE on February 2, 2026.
Some things to note:
Children must turn 4 prior to July 1, 2026 in order to be considered for Pre-K
The Pre-Registration online form will not be open until February 2, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.
Registration packets will be mailed out in early March based on the online registrations
For a spot to be held for your child, ALL materials in the cover letter must be present in
the online registration
Kindergarten Pre-Registration begins ONLINE on February 2, 2026.
Children must be five years of age before July 1, 2026.
Please complete the ONLINE pre-registration. Once it is completed, NMES will mail a Registration packet home for you to complete. You will return this packet at our Kindergarten Registration on March 20, 2026. You will be called with an appointment time.
Student Spotlight
Congratulations to the following students for earning the "Student Spotlight" recognition for the month of February.
Preschool: Torin & Verra-Layne
Kindergarten: Charlie & Aubrianna
1st Grade: RaeAnn, Colt, & Joshua
2nd Grade: Frannie, Emersyn, & Emmarie
3rd Grade: Wyatt & Luna
4th Grade: Skarlette, Harper, & Emilio
Criteria for selecting the Students of the Month will include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Effort
- Character through compassion, honesty, trustworthiness, optimism, and responsibility
- Behavior and self-control
- Attitude toward others/learning
- Good citizenship
- Leadership and integrity
- Demonstrates responsibility
- Respectful to peers and teachers
- Significant progress in the classroom and/or marked improvement in grades
Wisdom
New Manchester Elementary School follows the Expected Behaviors in Safe and Supportive Schools – Policy JG. A condensed version is found in the New Manchester Elementary School student handbook. A complete copy can be obtained in the Hancock County Board of Education office or our school office.
The character trait for our "Guidelines for Success" for February is WISDOM. Wisdom is having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Being WISE is different than being smart. A smart person knows a lot of facts, but a WISE person is able to apply those facts to situations. If you want to make a WISE decision, you must realize that every decision is important and that every decision has a consequence as well as a lesson attached to it.
For elementary students, wisdom can manifest in a variety of ways, such as considering the consequences of their actions, learning from mistakes, and making choices that reflect good judgment. There are many ways in which you can nurture WISDOM (and strong character) in your child. These suggestions emphasize guidance, example-setting, and supportive environments that encourage growth.
- Model the behavior you want to see - children learn a lot by observing the adults in their lives. Practice honesty, show empathy, manage your emotions effectively, and commit to lifelong learning.
- Foster critical thinking and decision-making skills - showing the ability to analyze situations thoughtfully and making sound decisions helps students to grow. Ask open ended questions instead of giving direct answers. Discuss consequences with your child. Encourage your child to reflect and provide opportunities for autonomy.
- Teach empathy and perspective-taking - this encourages kindness, cooperation, and social awareness. Use stories and movies to discuss characters' emotions and motives. Encourage caring acts. Model active listening for your child. Discuss diversity with your child.
- Build resilience through challenges - challenges help children to build patience and perseverance. Let your child face age-appropriate obstacles. Provide encouragement. Praise effort over outcome.
- Instill responsibility and accountability - this encourages maturity and self-discipline. Assign chores. Set clear expectations and follow through with consequences. Allow natural consequences to occur when it is safe to do so.
- Encourage gratitude and humility - both are essential for well-rounded character. Practice daily gratitude rituals. Limit entitlement attitudes. Highlight others' contributions and avoid excessive praise but instead focus on genuine feedback.
- Promote strong communication skills - essential for wisdom. Teach active listening. Practice expressing feelings clearly and role-play conversations if necessary. Encourage your child to ask questions.
Helping your child develop WISDOM along with strong character traits takes patience, consistency, and intentionality. By following the suggestions above, you will lay a solid foundation for your child's journey toward becoming a wise individual with admirable character.
How to Raise a Kinder Child in Recognition of Random Acts of Kindness Day
Kindness is a quality that children learn over time and through practice. Each year on February 17, National Random Acts of Kindness Day is recognized. It is celebrated by individuals, groups, and organizations to encourage acts of kindness. Not only do acts of kindness bring joy to the receiver, but they spread positive reactions to the giver as well. There are many things you can do to encourage your child to be a kinder, gentler person. Research has found that the desire to help and comfort comes just as naturally to humans as being self-centered or hurtful. The following are some suggestions to encourage kindness in your child
- Model positive action - what you do and say is critical
- Treat your child with respect
- Coach your child to pay attention to people's facial expressions - this is the first step in learning how to understand another's perspective
- Let your child know often that how they treat others matters to you greatly
- Don't let rudeness pass
- Acknowledge kindness - be sure to show your child that you notice when someone does something nice
- Understand that your child's perception of differences in others comes into play - children notice differences in people
- Be sensitive to messages that your child picks up from the media - children are just as likely to imitate kind actions they see in movies and read about in books as they are to act out other types of scenarios so be aware of programs your child watches and be available to talk about what they see
- Explain that calling someone names or excluding him from play can be as hurtful as hitting
- Show your child how to help people in need - encourage your child to donate a toy he/she has outgrown or to make cookies for a shelter
- Be patient with your child - being a great role model will go a long way toward raising a wonderful, tolerant human being
Coffee with the Counselor
The last two classroom guidance lessons in January were on the topics of fear, anxiety, and stress. Childhood anxiety is becoming increasingly common with nearly 4.4 million children between the ages of 3-17 being diagnosed with anxiety. Because it is so prevalent, many parents wonder how to best support their child when it strikes.
What Parents Can Do
It is important to validate their feelings. While they may seem unwarranted to us, the feelings are very real for the child. By reminding the child that it is okay to feel anxious, we authenticate their experiences and give them permission to work through it.
A practical tip is to have them write down their worries as they arise; adults can write them down for younger children. Set aside a time to look at the list together at a designated time.
Focus on what they can control. For example, if a child is worried about an upcoming test or performance, remind them that they cannot control the test questions or activity, but they can control how they prepare.
Lastly, it is important to make sure your own anxieties are being managed in healthy ways. Since kids can notice adult anxieties, adults can model positive coping strategies themselves
What Parents Can Say
When talking with an anxious child, it is important to validate their feelings while letting them know you are there to support them.
Things you can say include, “I know this is hard for you,” “I am here for you,” or “Let us sort this out together.” You could ask, “What is your worry trying to tell you?” Although these statements do not fix the problem, they let the child know that they are safe and supported.
Nowhere in the world of worry has it ever helped to say, “Stop worrying!” It is nearly impossible to just decide to stop worrying. Minimizing the stressor by saying, “This is not a big deal,” or “You’ll be fine" are not helpful either.
Coping Strategies
It is important to teach and practice coping strategies when we are calm.
Deep breathing can help the child’s body and brain slowdown, which can be especially helpful when the brain is in overdrive.
Practicing an “attitude of gratitude” can be helpful. Families can keep a gratitude journal, verbally sharing what they are thankful for, or counter anxious thoughts with three things they are grateful for.
Exercise can be a healthy outlet for the physical stress associated with anxiety.
Calming activities like yoga, drawing, listening to relaxing music, or completing a puzzle can help the brain focus on things other than the worry trigger.
Lastly, building self-confidence can be extremely helpful, since confidence helps us face the unexpected and cope with personal setbacks.
Nurse's Corner - Dental Health Month
February is National Children's Dental Health Month! The WV Smile Program is coming to our school on Thursday, February 5th. The dental care they are able to provide to students includes complete exams, x-rays, cleaning, fluoride, sealants, and fillings. If the student is insured with Medicaid/CHIP, then the services are free to the child. This is an amazing opportunity for our students!
Throughout the month of February, I will be visiting preschool through second grade classrooms to educate students on oral health and pass out dental supplies! Developing good dental health habits helps children get a jump start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
Children and adults should brush their teeth twice daily and floss once daily. You should check your children’s work after they brush! Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on a soft bristled toothbrush and brush each tooth completely for two minutes. Avoid constantly eating and drinking sugary food and drink items. Visit the dentist at least every 6 months and talk to your dentist about sealants for your children. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from cavities by covering them with a protective shield that blocks out germs and food.
Cavities in baby teeth can hurt permanent teeth and lead to future oral health problems. Cavities are preventable by keeping good dental hygiene, eating healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables, and drinking fluorinated water!
Fun Facts
- February is the only month to have a length of fewer than 30 days, even during a Leap Year!
- February is one of the most frequently misspelled words in the English language.
- Valentine's Day isn't just about humans! Almost 9 million people in the US buy their dogs gifts for Valentine's Day
- February is the only month that can pass without having a full moon. That doesn't mean February never has a full moon - it usually does. As a matter of fact, the last time it didn't have a full moon was in 1999. The next time it won't have a full moon again will be in 2037.
- February is National Snack Food Month. What is your favorite snack food?
- The odds of being born on February 29 are about 1 in 1,461. If you're born on a leap day, you're typically known as a "leper" or "leapling". And depending on where you live, February 28 or March 1 is considered your birthday in non-leap years.
- February has been recognized as Black History Month for over 40 years, celebrating the contributions of African Americans.
Math at Home - Math Games with a Valentine's Day Twist
New Manchester Elementary School
Email: cyeater@k12.wv.us
Website: https://newmanchester.hancock.k12.wv.us/
Location: 128 Frankfort Road, New Cumberland, WV, USA
Phone: 304-564-3242
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Elementary-School/New-Manchester-Elementary-School