We all want the best for our kids. And we definitely don't want them to hurt in anyway. And sometimes watching them struggle can be painful because they get frustrated and maybe even upset so we swoop in to make it easier for our kids (I know I've been guilty of that as a momma!) But did you know that allowing your child to struggle a bit through challenges is actually a vital part of their learning and skill development?

Allowing our children to learn through productive struggle helps them develop:

• Intellectual growth and development
• Independence
• Confidence
• Grit
• Problem-solving skills
• Emotional strength and perseverance

Check out this quick read on more specifics on productive struggle and ways you can support your child(ren) at home to help develop these skills.

March

1st-7th: COPE donation fundraiser

6th: Digital Safety Night @ 5:30-6:30 p.m. (register via link below)

7th: End of 3rd Quarter

9th: Daylight savings time ends

10th: Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences (information sent home with students)

B&G Club Closed

13th: Grade cards sent home

Parent Advisory meeting @ 6 p.m. in district conference room

18th-19th: Speech Screening: All K-5th grade students

18th: School Board meeting @ 6 p.m.

28th: 3rd Quarter Success Assembly @ 7:40 a.m.

On the horizon:

Kindergarten screenings: April 15th

Easter break: April 18th-21st

MAP testing begins for 3rd-5th grade students: April 22nd

Arrival Procedures: Students will arrive at school in one of three ways; walking/riding a bike, riding the bus, or as a car rider. Please check the arrival procedures for each, which are included below:

• Walkers/Bike Riders: If your child walks or rides a bike to school, please encourage them to stay on sidewalks whenever possible. If they ride a bike, we ask that they get off their bike once they arrive on school property and walk it to the bike rack located at the front of the elementary building. Both walkers and bike riders will enter the building through the elementary entrance.
• Bus Riders: Buses arrive a few minutes before 7:20 a.m. and unload at 7:20 a.m. All elementary students should enter the building through the elementary front entrance.
• Car Riders: In the morning, parents are asked to travel SOUTH down Main Street and utilize the parking on the west side of Main closest to the bus lane to drop their child off. Please DO NOT pull into the circle drive to drop your child off. This space is reserved for buses only in the morning.

Regardless of which way your child arrives at school, once they enter our building, they will go to the elementary gymnasium to join their classmates. If they need to eat breakfast, they will go to the cafeteria from there. All students are released to their classrooms at 7:40 a.m. and are considered tardy at 7:45 a.m. After the tardy bell has rung, all students must check-in at the elementary office before going to their classroom.

Dismissal Procedures: Elementary students are dismissed at 3:20 p.m. beginning with bus riders, B&G club members as well as walkers (who go to the south doors by the H.S. gym). In order to ensure our youngest bus riders get on the correct bus, all K-2nd grade bus riders will be given a colored zip tie on their backpack that coordinates with the colored-cone/sign on the bus they will ride home. IMPORTANT: If you have a K-2 grade student who rides the bus home, please know that these students will not be let off the bus if a parent/care giver is not present at the drop-off location, unless the bus company has a letter on file that states you can do otherwise (i.e. let the child off the bus with an older sibling).

Walkers are dismissed from the south doors by the high school gym. If you have an older child who will be picking up an elementary student to walk/drive them home they will need to pick them up from this location.

If you are picking up your child as a car rider, please use the east side of Main Street to wait for students to be released. Once the buses have left, parents may pull into the circle drive to pick up their child. Staff will be outside to assist students getting in vehicles and to ensure they get in the correct vehicle :) If we spot an unfamiliar face, we will be asking for a photo id. We don't do this do cause a hassle, but rather to ensure our students all make it home safely. If you are new to the pickup line, please be ready to provide your id for verification.

We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with West Central Boys and Girls Club of America to provide afterschool care for our students K-8th grade. B&G Club is open from the end of the school day until 6:30 p.m.

If you are interested in signing your child up for B&G Club, please complete the online registration attached below. If you need a paper copy of the enrollment packet please reach out to the elementary office. Additionally, there are three days throughout the school year that B&G Club is closed due to staff training. A flyer with these dates is included below.

If you have any questions or need assistance with B&G club, please don't hesitate to reach out to our Site Director Daynelle Wolford: dwolford@bgckids.com

Several years ago, I was given the opportunity to trial a daily scheduling tool which helps me focus my time on activities that support our staff and students. This may look like a variety of things such as working with students, observing classrooms, providing feedback and support to staff, holding collaborative meetings to improve our instructional practices, celebrating successes, supervising students, and yes, occasionally dealing with student discipline, among other things. The goal is to schedule more time doing instructional focused tasks than anything else each day. I have found this format works very well for me as I can ensure I focus on what is most important, our student's success!

However, there may also be times during the school year that you will need to meet with me. When this need arises, I simply ask that you call and schedule time with Kelly rather than showing up at the office. Sometimes, I am available to meet at that moment, but generally speaking, I have obligated time to another staff, student, or community member and don't want to cause frustration by making you wait or making you make two trips.

Here are a few tips to ensure your needs are met as quickly as possible:

1. If you need to make changes to your child's pick up routine, please contact the elementary office @ 660-653-4731.
2. If your child had a rough evening or start to their day, please reach out to their classroom teacher to let them know either by phone or via email. Please remember that once the school day starts, any phone calls received for a classroom teacher will be sent to their voicemail so as not to interrupt their instructional time, therefore, emailing your child's teacher may be the most effective means of communication initially.
3. If there is an immediate emergency that involves your child (i.e. death in the family, ER visits, etc.) please contact the elementary office and Miss Kelly will notify me so we can make a plan to support your child and family.

I do not want to put off your needs, but want to be respectful of everyone's needs. I appreciate your help in supporting not only your child, but all of our students.

The March lunch menu was unavailable at the time of publication. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Student meal prices:

Breakfast: $1.60

Lunch: $2.80

Reduced Breakfast: $0.30

Reduced Lunch: $0.40

There are two ways you can put money on your child's lunch account:

1. Submit payment to the elementary office. If you are sending the money with your child, please make sure to place the money in an envelope and that it is clearly marked whose account it goes to;

2. Pay online via the parent portal. Please note, there is a small service fee associated with this type of transaction.

Your child is allowed to charge up to $5.00. After this point, they will be given their meal each day, but no seconds will be allowed. Please also note that seconds are not offered to K-1st grade students. However, there is a fruit and vegetable bar available every day and students are allowed to have as much of these items as they would like as long as they are not being wasteful.