MES--News From the Hive

Greetings, MES Families!

The second semester of the 24-25 school year is well-underway! Our kindergartners have celebrated the 100th day of school and before you know it, we will be talking about Spring Break! But before that happens, I am sure we will have a few more wintry mornings to deal with, so please be sure your child is bundled up each day.

As listed on our Important Dates section, midterm reports will be coming home on Friday, February 7th. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child's teacher. In addition to this, Mr. Corn may reach out to certain families to set up a conference to discuss your child's academic progress. The purpose of the meeting will be to focus on specific needs of the child, establish individual plans for the remainder of the year, and discuss programming for next school year.

Mr. Corn

• The Alert Program® provides visual representations of our nervous system. The wide window/green zone allows for flexibility and resilience throughout the day, where we experience times of activation followed by a period of recovery. When we experience overwhelm/red (fight/flight), we might yell, argue, get defensive, walk away, numb out, stay busy, etc. When we experience shutdown/blue (freeze), we might zone out, be unable to speak, have a flat affect, feel helpless, etc.

• During times when you or your children feel dysregulated in a state of shutdown/blue (freeze), focus on using up-regulating activities/materials. This can help bring one’s nervous system back into the Window of Capacity/green. Examples: gross motor exercises, dancing, sensory path, swivel chair, wiggle seat, peppermint scent/flavor, bright lighting, cold temperature, Legos/blocks, music (90-120 bpm), spicy food, popcorn, cold food, etc.

• During times when you or your children feel dysregulated in a state of overwhelm/red (fight/flight), focus on using down-regulating activities/materials. This can help bring one’s nervous system back into the Window of Capacity/green. Examples: stretching, weighted items, chair pulls, wall pushes, drawing, soft blankets, sensory bins, music (50-70 bpm),

rocking chair, walking, pleasing smells, sweet foods, chewy foods, drinking with a straw, low lighting, etc.

Later this month, we say goodbye to two long-time educators at MES: Mrs. Cheryl Bland and Mrs. Nora Mallory. Both teachers have devoted several years to educating students in our building. MES won't be the same with them! We would like to wish both Mrs. Bland and Mrs. Mallory well as they open a new chapter in their life!

MES is partnering with Neighborhood Forest for Earth Day! We are celebrating Earth Week (Earth Day- April 22nd and Arbor Day- April 25th) this spring by participating in the 16th annual Neighborhood Forest free tree program whose aim is to provide free trees to kids every spring. We are hoping to inspire youth environmentalism and green our community!

Parents/Guardians, please sign your child up to receive a free tree this Earth Day by filling out this form:

https://www.neighborhoodforest.org/parent-registration/?school=97360

Sign-ups are open now through March 15th.

Tree saplings will be sent home with students around Earth Week (end of April).

ATTENTION incoming Kindergarten students for the 2025-2026 school year!! We will be having our annual Kindergarten Roundup Meeting at 6:00pm on Tuesday, March 11th. Please bring your incoming Kindergarten student to see our classrooms, meet the teachers, check out a school bus, and receive a goodie bag!!

If your incoming Kindergarten student IS NOT currently enrolled in the Little Yellow Jackets Preschool, we will need a copy of their birth certificate and immunizations. We will also set up a screening time for your child with our teachers on Tuesday, April 1st.

2/7/25--Midterm Reports sent home

2/7/25--Yearbook Sales Begin

2/10/25--RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK

2/12/25--SES Board Meeting (MES School Spotlight)

2/14/25--Valentine's Day Parties in the PM

2/17/25--Presidents' Day--SCHOOL IN SESSION

2/21/25--Yearbook Orders Due

3/5/25--2ND AND 3RD GRADE TAKE IREAD THIS WEEK

3/11-25--Kindergarten Roundup 6:00pm

For those of you who received a magnet at the beginning of the year with the 2024-2025 calendar, there was a printing error. Shelby Eastern Schools will have Spring Break March 14-21. Students will return back to school on Monday, March 24th (whereas on the magnet in one area it shows this being the first day of break). I apologize for the mix-up!