January Bowlesburg Newsletter

• Bowlesburg Spotlight
• Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Supporting Your Student At Home
• From The PTA
• Calendar of Events
• Lunch Menus
• Digital Backpack
• Food Resource Guide

Bowlesburg Elementary is committed to ensuring every child feels safe, respected, and responsible through Tier 1 social-emotional initiatives. This proactive approach focuses on building strong character and necessary life skills in every student. A key component of our daily routine is the Morning Meeting, which sets a positive tone for the day. Delivered in the classroom by classroom teachers, students gather to greet each other, share, and learn specific work habits and Conscious Discipline skills. These focused lessons ensure that social-emotional learning is integrated into the school day, providing a common language and set of expectations for all students.

To support children in managing their emotions and conflict, we have implemented the "Time Machine" from Conscious Discipline, with dedicated spaces in each hallway, and on the playground. This tool empowers students to pause, reflect on their actions, and choose a better response—a crucial step in problem-solving and self-regulation. Furthermore, our "Yes! I Can" ticket system positively reinforces the skills being taught. Students are recognized with tickets for demonstrating the targeted behavior of the week, culminating in a special VIP Lunch every Friday for three winners from each grade level. This not only celebrates positive choices but also motivates students to practice responsible behavior.

Currently, we are focusing on Teaching Assertiveness to Children—an essential skill for respectful communication and personal safety. We conducted dedicated classroom sessions using a prepared lesson to clearly distinguish between Shouty Voice (Aggressive), Mouse Voice (Passive), and Big Voice (Assertive) communication. By explicitly teaching students how to use their Big Voice to state their needs and feelings respectfully, we are equipping them to solve problems effectively, advocate for themselves, and interact safely and responsibly with their peers.

These comprehensive, positive initiatives demonstrates our continuous hard work in building a supportive school family. We are proud of the work that our students, staff, and families are doing to help support each one of our learners in our school community.

Parent / Teacher Conferences will be January 29th 3:30-7:30 p.m. and January 30th 7:30-11:15 a.m by appointment. Please contact your student's teacher to schedule a conference time.

This year, we launched a new writing curriculum that teaches students to become confident, creative writers through a simple, consistent process. All K–4 students have been introduced to these steps, which will guide their writing throughout the year.

The Writing Process:

1. Pick an idea.
   Students learn to choose topics they care about and focus on a single idea to explore.

2. Plan it out.
   Before writing, students organize their thoughts with quick notes, graphic organizers, or an outline.

3. Write, write, write.
   Students draft their piece without worrying about perfection — the goal is to get ideas down on the page.

4. You've got to Revise.
   Using teacher and peer feedback, students improve content by adding details, reorganizing, and making meaning clearer.

5. You've got to Edit.
   Time for polish: students check spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence flow.

6. Share your work.
   Students publish and present their finished pieces — celebrating progress and building pride in their writing.

This step-by-step approach supports writers at every level and helps them develop strong thinking, communication, and editing skills.

Ask your child if they can recite the writing process! Even better- see if they can explain each part!

PTA Movie Night is Friday, December 12th. They will be showing Lilo & Stitch. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the movie starts at 5:45 p.m. Admission is free and there will be refreshments for sale.

Please join us for our next PTA meeting at 6:00 p.m. on January13th in the Bowlesburg library.

• December 12th - PTA Movie Night 5:30 p.m.
• December 22nd - January 2nd - Winter Break
• January 5th - Classes Resume
• January 9th - End of 2nd Quarter
• January 13th - PTA Meeting 6:00 p.m.
• January 19th - No School Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 29th - Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:30 p.m.
• January 30th - Parent/Teacher Conferences 7:30-11:15 a.m.
• January 30th - No School Due To Conferences
• February 10th - PTA Meeting 6:00 p.m.
• February 16th - No School Presidents' Day
• February 17th - No School Due To Staff Inservice Day

Click this link for LUNCH MENUS

The Digital Backpack creates a place for community events to be shared with our EMSD families. Click this link for the DIGITAL BACKPACK

Please click the following link for the FOOD RESOURCE GUIDE