Eagle News
Morningside STEM Elementary School
Embracing Each Challenge, SOARing with Together!
As we journey through the heart of winter at Morningside STEM Elementary, the recent warmth and sunlight have reignited our energy and optimism. Even amidst the initial January chill, our community's strength and warmth never cease to amaze. For your help with this, our Eagles wish to extend our deepest gratitude for your gracious support and flexibility, particularly during the recent weather extremes. Your dedication to ensuring safety and preparedness has been instrumental in helping our Eagles flourish while at home and at school, no matter the bitter conditions outside.
The start of second semester and now the month of February also embraces our continued building focus and commitment to implement Restorative Practices as our students become values-driven Safe, On task, Act responsible, and Respectful Eagles aware of our building wide S.T.A.R. (Stop, Think, Act, Reflect) process. Since our December and January spotlight on practicing S.T.A.R. situations and conversations, we have witnessed our students and staff apply these principles in daily situations in truly heartening ways. Our staff are also committed to helping our students engage in responsible decision-making with reflection, aimed at preventing harm and fostering repair, which is also integrated within our Character Strong curriculum. Together, these initiatives are nurturing a community where respect, connection, and empathy flourish and we strive to ensure every Eagle feels heard and valued. With each acknowledgement of our S.T.A.R. process our students are making, we see growth in self- and social-awareness that we believe will impact our Eagles in far-reaching ways in and outside classrooms, strengthening from year to year.
With the view of spring on the horizon, we are excitedly preparing for an array of engaging events. A new highlight to look forward to is our Title Family Involvement event in March, which will feature a smile-enticing series of various "masked readers" with this creative activity. We promise it's an event not to be missed, and more details will be announced soon!
We also encourage our Eagle families to stay involved as the season changes and the thawing snow paves the way for our spring conferences and numerous enjoyable activities coordinated by our amazing Morningside PTA. Be on the lookout for their Glow Dance, Spring Carnival, and more as details will outline the process for current Morningside students and their Eagle family members to sign up for a night of safe, active and fun activity with fellow Eagle families.
Most of all, our Eagle teachers and staff look forward to our ongoing home and school connections through these events the second half of the year. These are wonderful opportunities for deeper connection and community building, so please keep your eye on the newsletter calendar and mark down the important dates. We’d love to see you all make it here!
Your partnership in our educational journey this 2023-24 school year has been invaluable. As we advance through the remaining months of this academic year, our excitement to nurture our community of compassionate, resilient, and thoughtful learners will only grow stronger together. Thank you so very much for helping us make this such a wonderful school year!
Here's to a fantastic February and the remarkable journey that lies ahead!
Warm regards,
Kim Krotz – Principal Morningside STEM Elementary School
Save the Date: Calendar Reminders
February 9 PTA Glow Dance 6-8 pm in the school gym
February 14 Valentine's Day Parties Grades K, 1, 2, 3 & 5. 2:45-3:45
Grade 4 1:45-2:15
February 19 No School Professional Development
Mark your calendar for spring parent-teacher conferences on Monday, March 11 and Tuesday, March 12.
There will be a two-hour early dismissal on Tuesday March 26 for spring break and no school from Wednesday, March 27 through Monday, April 1. School will resume on Tuesday, April 2.
Spring Concerts Save the Date
April 9 1st grade at 5:00 pm, 3rd grade at 5:40 pm, and 4th grade at 6:20 pm
April 11 Kindergarten at 5:00 pm, 2nd grade at 5:40 pm, and 4th grade at 6:20 pm
The District provides every student with a device to enhance the overall learning experience. When a student receives their device, it is their responsibility to take appropriate care of the device. Unfortunately, the District has hundreds of devices damaged or destroyed each year.
Damage to devices or lost devices could result in fines and reduced Internet access. Detailed information on fees is available in the Parent/Guardian and Student Handbook on the District website. We encourage you to remind your student about the responsibility that goes with having a device.
The fourth and fifth grade classrooms have held their second semester student council representatives. The students were peer elected. Collin Mendenhall was promoted to be a fifth-grade leader by myself and Mrs. Corey. If you see these students, be sure to congratulate them.
New Fifth Grade Reps
Cameri Jones (Ms. Meacham)
Chloe Benjamin (Mrs. Ryan)
Myke Hernandez (Mrs. Schmitz)
Kobe Skokan (Mrs. Saathoff)
Paisley Boettcher (Mrs. Vanderweil)
Fourth Grade Reps
Tyler Snuttjer – Mrs. Burke
Siri Kaprelian – Mrs. Corey
Araya Nguyen – Mrs. Gilreath
Caison McDowell – Mrs. Keilman
The District’s mobile app provides quick and convenient information at your fingertips. Download the mobile to receive push notifications from the District about closings and cancellations and stay updated on today’s school lunch menu, upcoming events, and school news. Look for Sioux City Community Schools in your app store today!
Eagle Families,
Several times a month our staff wear our SOAR shirts to encourage...
S-Safe
O-On task
A-Act Responsibly
R-Respectful
We welcome you to purchase SOAR with merchandise for yourself, or your child. We have many different options to show your support for our Morningside STEM SOAR efforts. Here is the link to check it out. https://morningsidestem-store.1rti.com/, or click on the picture.
- Purchase ships directly to you
- Open all year long
Kindergarten & 9th Grade Students
According to Iowa law, all Iowa children enrolling for the first time in Kindergarten or 9th grade must have a dental screening on file. It’s required per Iowa law! According to this law: Screening must occur no earlier than 1 year before enrollment and no later than 4 months after enrollment. Dentists or dental hygienists can perform screenings.
Here is a link to the dental form. http://www.siouxcityschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Certificate_of_Dental_Screening_9.13.12.pdf Please have this form filled out by your dental provider and turned in to your child’s school.
Good dental practices:
February is dental health month. To effectively prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease, the following dental tips are recommended:
1. Proper brushing and flossing after each meal to remove harmful plaque from all tooth surfaces.
2. Avoid having foods that contain sugar as snacks between meals.
3. Visit a dentist one to two times a year to prevent and correct dental problems.
Jesica Hamm, Morningside/Nodland school nurse
The students in Mrs. Mullally’s second grade class are excited to share some of the many things they LOVE about school.
One thing I LOVE about school is…
having recess indoors. (Raleigh)
art because we get to draw. (Aubrianna)
drawing in art. (Jude)
art because I can color. (Maisie)
singing in music. (Samantha)
playing “Go Fish” in P.E. (Romyrah)
art because you get to draw and paint. (Jaylen)
drawing during inside recess. (Moses)
math. (Jayvion)
recess because we get to play. (Max)
art because I like drawing. (Dakota)
math because I love addition and subtraction. (Kaden)
P.E. because I love to run. (Summer)
when we play “Go Fish” in P.E. (Cash)
learning addition and subtraction equations in math. (Alaric)
when we play computer games. (Kingstyn)
“Go Fish” in P.E. (Emiliano )
learning. (Henry)
working in my math notebook. (Dalilah)
seeing my friends. (Gracie)
❄️❄️ Mrs. Nutt’s Class❄️❄️
Since we have had over 23 inches of snow this last month, Mrs. Nutt’s class decided to write about our favorite things to do in the snow. We shared our ideas in a big circle so we could all hear about some of the fun things we like to do!
Logan- have snowball fights with my brother
Kalbert- have snow fights with my cousins and make snow angels
Darius- jump into big snow piles
Penelope- make a snowman
Dominic- have snowball fights
Daxten- make a big snowball, climb on it, and jump off
Emma- make snowmen and snow angels
Kassidy- make snowmen and snow angels
Anaya- lay and make a snow angel
Alicia- find the biggest snow mountains and walk on them so I can be the queen of the snow!
Nevallyah- make a snowman
Noah- picking up the snow and tossing it onto the ground. Making a slide out of snow to slide down. Looking for animal tracks and prints in the snow.
Blair- having a snowball fight with my siblings, making a snowman, and playing with my dog.
Khai- stay inside, watch a movie, and drink hot chocolate with my family.
Grayson- make a snowman and have snowball fights
Nikko- make a tiny snowman
James- attach a tube to my Grandpa’s 4 wheeler and have him pull us around behind it.
Bella- I like to make snow angels and snowman with my brother.
Lale- Build a snowman
