Thoughts from Mrs. Mcentire

It's hard to believe that we are in the final month of school. It's been a great year! We are excited to finish our year strong. It's amazing to see the growth in each child. We often talk about a year's growth - no matter where a child starts. That means that we want students to grow and make social/emotional growth, academic growth, and behavioral growth in a school year. As we finalize our instructional core, review end of year assessment measures, and work hard to create those lasting memories, we still reflect on a year's growth. The relationship between growth of students and family involvement is the deciding factor. We cannot guarantee growth of students if we don't realize the part both of us play. We are appreciative of your support. As we look forward to the end of the year, and next year, please read/look carefully at the information. There are lots of deadlines in this newsletter. Please check our web page and social media posts as well. Let's stay connected!

Thanks for your support in getting students at school so that we can finish our testing. Remember, testing doesn't occur all day. Teachers spread it out so that 3-5 grade students have a testing session each morning. We appreciate your continued support with attendance and tardies as we continue to finish our testing.

TEACHER/STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK

Our Teachers and Staff are Wicket Oz-Some

We really have the best teachers and staff at our school. We are so grateful for your support as we honor teachers and staff during the week of May 5th. If you still want to support the PTA, please check out the multiple requests they have made for support in emails and on our social media sites.

Monday - May 5th: Wear lots of green

Tuesday - May 6th: Chalk art outside on the sidewalks

Wednesday - May 7th: Wear your teacher's favorite color

Thursday - May 8th: Give teachers and staff compliments as you see them

Friday - May 9th: Bring your teacher a note, drawing, or a treat!

KINDERGARTEN SCREENING - FOR ALL NEW KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS NEXT YEAR (25-26)

We will have three dates set aside for Kindergarten Screening. In order for us to create classes in Kindergarten that are equitable, we do a Kindergarten Screener. This is a 10-15 minute screener that will be done in our building. We will have our instructional technicians as well as our speech teachers available during this screening. The dates for these screeners will be: May 20th, May 21st and July 7th. Please sign up for these screeners on the sign-up genius. This takes a lot of coordination on our end to have appropriate people to support us, hopefully you can make your schedule work to bring in your student. There will be a form to fill out on these days for consideration for morning or afternoon Kindergarten preference. Link to Sign Up for Screening

ONLINE REGISTRATION

Please don't delay in registering your students- this affects so many systems of work during the summer. Because of our growing population, we watch enrollment numbers carefully. Your support in this is appreciated! Call the office if you have questions!

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CLASSROOM PLACEMENT NEXT YEAR

This is the time of year when parents begin thinking about next year. At our school, we look at many factors in placing our students in classes next year. You may have a students who needs special considerations. While I don't do teacher requests, I will look carefully at the special considerations. you may have for your child. However, I will not guarantee teacher requests from those considerations. This form will allow you to share your considerations with me. It will be available until JUNE 10th. This link will close at that time. If you have special considerations, please be proactive in getting this link filled out. The office staff will encourage you to fill this out if you call them as well as my response to all emails sent to me with special considerations. I take classroom placement very seriously. Our current teachers spend a considerable amount of time dividing students according to patterns of academic, social, friendship, focus, behavior, and social emotional learning. Because of all of these factors, you can imagine the difficulty in moving students once class lists have been created. Thank you for your support with this.

2025-2026 Teacher List

BMX STUDENT REWARD ASSEMBLY - 1:00 p.m.

May 2 - School Wide Reward - BMX ASSEMBLY (Note: All students are earning a "ticket" to go to this assembly. Part of this includes specific behavior from April 17 - May 2). Students earning more than one think time during each of those weeks, will be unable to attend.

GRADUATION WALK

2025 Payson High School graduates who attended Orchard Hills Elementary are invited to come back to our school and walk our halls for a Victory Walk! We are so excited and proud of our former Orchard Hills Cougars and welcome them back to the school on May 20th at 9:30 a.m.

SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL

It is that time of year when we elect new school community council members for next year. Currently, we are in need of 2-3 council members from our parent community. The council meets monthly for approximately 1 hour. We review data, school systems, safe walking, budget, and collaborate to bridge parent and school partnerships. We would love to have you part of our team. If you are interested, please contact me by email before the last day of school. (penny.mcentire@nebo.edu)

UPCOMING DATES

May 15 - First Grade Program - 2:30 p.m.

May 19 - Kindergarten Graduation

9:30 am for Baird, Butikofer (am), and Ludvigson

1:00 pm for Collins, Tanner, and Butikofer (pm)

May 20 - PTA Sponsored Field Day (For those new to our school: This is a water day! In the afternoon we do water games and then our fire department comes and showers us with water! It's the best day ever! You'll want to send appropriate water clothes - this happens at the end of the day so students will leave.....wet! Please don't forget sunscreen or protective clothes over a suit, and towel. Please make sure suits are appropriate for an elementary school setting.

May 21 - Fifth Grade Graduation - 1:30

May 22 - Last day of school- early out at noon!

Thank you for a great year!

As the weather gets warmer, more and more sandals will be worn at school! This is a reminder that because of the nature of the games/activities that students are doing in PE, closed toe shoes are required! Please make sure your child has shoes that are appropriate on PE days. Note: If it is easier to keep an older, less worn pair of shoes at school, that would be appropriate in their cubbies. Just work this out with your teacher.