Gess Family Newsletter

The Gess Elementary School Mission:

Together, the Gess Community fosters a joyful growth experience for all by modeling high expectations in a purposeful, secure environment.

JANUARY EVENTS

Week: Fri Jan 16 - Thu Jan 22

Mon Jan 19 - MLK JR Day - NO SCHOOL
Wed Jan 21 - Board Meeting (6:30pm)
Thu Jan 22 - Gess Spelling Bee 3 pm

Week: Fri Jan 23 - Thu Jan 29

Mon Jan 26- End of Term
Thu Jan 29 - Awards Assembly (TBD)

Week: Fri Jan 30 - Thu Feb 5

Fri Jan 30 - Teacher Grading, 1/2-day, early Release at Noon
Mon Feb 2 - Grades Due
Wed Feb 4 - Gator of the Month Luncheon (invitation only)

February - Black History Month

FEBRUARY EVENTS

Week: Fri Jan 30 - Thu Feb 5

Fri Jan 30 - Teacher Grading, 1/2-day, early Release at Noon
Mon Feb 2 - Grades Due
Wed Feb 4 - Gator of the Month Luncheon 11 am (invitation only)

Week Fri Feb 6 - Thu Feb 12

NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK

Thu Feb 12 - Parent Advisory Meeting (5-6 pm)

Week: Fri Feb 13 - Thu Feb 19

Fri Feb 13 - VALENTINE'S DAY AT SCHOOL
Mon Feb 16 - President's Day - NO SCHOOL
Wed Feb 18 - School Board Meeting (6:30-8:30 pm)

As we welcome the new year, we want to take a moment to celebrate all the joy and community spirit that filled our halls in December. Our 12 Days of Christmas, door decorating, and food drive brought so much fun, creativity, and generosity to Gess. It was wonderful to see students and staff come together to celebrate and give back to others. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make these events so special!

Be sure to check out the pictures of our decorated doors that were shared — they captured the excitement, teamwork, and school pride that make Gess such a great place to be.

As we head into January, we’re excited to refocus on learning, routines, and goals for the second half of the year. This is a great time for students to set new goals, practice responsibility, and continue showing kindness and respect to one another.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We’re looking forward to a fantastic year ahead filled with growth, learning, and plenty of Gator pride!

“The Heart of Student Support”

🎄✨❄️ A Jolly Holiday Message from the School Counselor! ❄️✨🎄

Hello Wonderful Families of Gess Gators!

As we sleigh-ride our way into the end of the year, I just wanted to send some warm holiday hugs and sparkly cheer your way! This season is full of twinkly lights, cozy moments, and lots of excitement—and I’m so grateful we get to team up to support your amazing kids.

Our students have been absolute superstars this fall! ⭐
They’ve been learning new things, making friends, showing kindness, and growing in big, brave ways. Every day they bring smiles, questions, creativity, and a whole lot of silly energy that makes our school such a fun place to be!

We also know the holidays can get a tiny bit busy (okay… sometimes a lot busy!). If your child needs a listening ear, a calm space, or a little extra support, I’m here and happy to help.

As we wrap up this year (like a present! 🎁), I’m excited to jump into the new year together and keep cheering on every student as they shine, learn, and thrive.

Wishing you laughter, rest, warm cocoa, twinkle lights, and all the magical moments this season brings.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! 🎉✨❄️

Important Reminders for Parents/Guardians

Winter Weather: Please remember to send a change of clothes appropriate for the upcoming winter weather.
Morning Drop-Off: Doors will not open before 8:00 AM. We do not have adequate staffing to supervise students before this time, so students may not be dropped off early. The doors will remain locked until 8:00 AM.
Morning Check-Ins: If you are walking your student to class in the morning, you must stop at the blue desk to get a visitor name tag with your name and the current date.

If you do not have a name tag, you will be stopped and asked to return to the blue desk.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school safe and running smoothly!

Athena Bornstein

Gess Elementary Secretary

Here’s a peek at the exciting things happening in Music this month—feel free to ask your students what they’re learning and watch their eyes light up!

🎶 Music Happenings with Ms. Smith! 🎶

K–2: We’re moving and grooving as we discover the steady beat! Students are exploring instruments, clapping along, and singing their hearts out.
3rd Grade: The big adventure begins—learning to read music and getting ready for the recorder!
4th Grade: Strumming into action! Students are learning to read music as they prepare to play the ukulele.
5th & 6th Grade: Time to level up! We’re diving into syncopation (those tricky, fun rhythms) and mastering the art of tuning a ukulele.

December P.E. Update:
December was a fun and active month in P.E.! Students did a great job working together, participating, and supporting one another. We enjoyed festive Christmas games and lots of teamwork using the large parachute. We also started our basketball unit, where students are practicing dribbling, passing, shooting, and playing simple games while building confidence and having fun.

Have a wonderful January,

Coach McD

Gess Elementary Health and Fitness Teacher

TK students spent December learning about snowflake formation and building upon their knowledge of shapes. They learned that snowflakes have hexagonal centers with six symmetrical branches. Students also utilized what they learned in November about squares, circles, triangles, and rectangles to create numerous Christmas crafts and projects. They used triangles, rectangles, and squares to make a variety of differently shaped Christmas trees and presents. Students also learned about length and height as they made keepsake ornaments for their families and they got into the Christmas spirit with our food drive, concert practices, dress-up days, and a surprise visit from Santa. They seem to have recharged over the winter vacation and are back and ready to learn!

Happy December, families!

There is something truly magical about this time of year—our classroom is full of excitement, curiosity, and cozy winter joy. As the weather gets colder, we’re going to spend ample time out in the snow, and a little independent practice with puting on and taking off snow gear at home goes a long way—thank you for helping your child build those big-kid skills!

We also want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all the families who joined us for conferences; it was wonderful to connect and celebrate your child’s growth.

As we head into winter, please remember to keep our learning community healthy by keeping sick friends at home to rest. Wishing everyone a warm and wonderful December!

December was a whirlwind of fun and excitement in first grade! Along with learning about syllables, cvc-e words, and how to use number lines for adding and subtracting, we enjoyed many creative art projects and ornament making activities. One morning was dedicated to creating special ornaments for families, and students went home with plenty of new decorations to hang on their Christmas trees.

We are excited to be back in the classroom and look forward to mastering our cvc-e words and using a number line to add and subtract bigger numbers.

It has been a busy and productive time in second grade! We recently wrapped up our math unit on multi-digit addition and subtraction, where students worked hard to master problems both with and without regrouping. We are now excited to shift our focus to a hands-on unit on measurement. In writing, we just finished our imaginative narratives, and it was such a joy to see the students' incredible creativity shine through in their stories. We are so proud of their hard work and growth!

December has been a busy and exciting month in third grade! In math, students are wrapping up our introduction to multiplication by connecting it to repeated addition. They have been working on understanding equal groups, writing number sentences, and explaining their thinking using models and words.

In reading, students have been strengthening their summarizing and retelling skills. To make learning engaging and meaningful, they have been practicing these skills through short plays. Acting out stories has helped students identify key events, focus on important details, and retell stories in a clear and organized way.

We are proud of the hard work and growth our third graders have shown as we head into the winter season!

We’re excited to begin a fast-paced December! After reflecting on gratitude in November, students are now writing stories about important people in their lives. In social studies, we’re continuing our unit on Pacific Northwest Native American influence and family traditions.

3rd grade state test scores have recently gone home or will be arriving soon. We are beginning to prepare for the 4th grade tests by practicing with interim assessments and focusing on key standards to build confidence for spring.

Thank you for supporting your student’s learning at home by staying involved, asking questions, and staying curious about what we’re working on in class. Please reach out anytime with questions or concerns.

We’re jumping into some exciting learning! In math, students are multiplying and dividing fractions. In science, we’re growing radishes and learning the difference between biotic and abiotic (living vs. non-living) things. In social studies, students will be participating in a simulation to better understand the dangers European settlers faced crossing the Atlantic. In reading, we’re focusing on specific skill goals, with many students also engaged in book clubs and rich discussions.

Busy brains, big learning, and lots of curiosity in 5th grade!

Sixth graders have begun exploring electrical circuits, learning how electricity flows and how it is measured using tools and units scientists rely on in the real world. Students are also building their understanding of equivalent ratios by using multiple strategies such as tables, tape diagrams, number lines, and real-world scenarios. These skills connect directly to everyday situations like comparing prices at the store, adjusting recipes, or understanding energy use in homes—helping students see how math and science work together beyond the classroom.

Mr. Yuk - The Warning Face That Sticks

If you grew up in the 70's or 80's, you might remember the bright green round stickers with the face that warned, “Don’t eat this!” Meet Mr. Yuk, created in the 1970's after researchers discovered kids didn’t find the standard poison skull and crossbones symbol scary enough to warn them off dangerous substances. Mr. Yuk is still around! You can find his stickers and magnets across Washington and beyond, each featuring the Poison Center helpline: 1-800-222-1222. Order free Mr. Yuk stickers and magnets here.

Connection, Coverage, and Community!

Washington health insurance Open Enrollment is here — the time of year when you can sign up for, renew, or change your health and dental insurance coverage. Open Enrollment runs November 1st-January 15th. This is your opportunity to make sure you and your family are covered for the year ahead. Better Health Together (BHT) offers free assistance for Washington residents enrolling in health insurance. Our trained Navigators will guide you through the process step-by-step — answering your questions, explaining your options, and helping you find a plan that fits your needs and your wallet. Whether you’re applying for coverage, renewing your plan, or just need help understanding your options, we’re here to help.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

December and January are busy times for our Title intervention program. In addition to our regular instructional groups, our team is screening all students from grades Kindergarten and First Grade to determine if they are at risk for Dyslexia. Dyslexia is an invisible learning difference that can make learning to read and write a challenge.

During January we jumped right back into instruction on the first day back from break and are working hard preparing students for our next diagnostic test taking place this month. All students, Kindergarten through 6th grade will be taking the i-ready assessment to measure their present levels in both reading and math, as well as their growth from the beginning of the school year. Busy and productive times!

The Chewelah School District identifies students with disabilities in order to ensure equal access to education. Some students with disabilities need accommodations in order to have equal access while other students require accommodations AND specially designed instruction for the same access. If you are concerned about your child's performance in school, please reach out to your child's teacher to discuss your concerns. I am happy to join if you feel that your student needs more support!

Sarah Gregory

Special Education Director/504 Coordinator

sgregory@chewelahk12.us

509-685-6800 x4121

Gess Elementary Literacy Club ~ Spelling Bee Focus!

JANUARY 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22

2:50-3:30PM Mrs. Tilla’s Room 22

Gess Literacy Club will continue in February once a week. Additional information will be distributed!