January Newsletter

Greetings Thurston Elementary Families,

I hope the New Year has started out well for you and your family! It is hard to believe that we have reached the halfway point of the school year. February is a month filled with kindness and positive energy.

As the cold weather continues, we would like to stress the importance of students wearing the appropriate winter outerwear. Our goal is to have children go outside for recess whenever possible because outdoor play is not just FUN, it is also good for them. According to health experts, children who play outside are happier, healthy, and stronger.

We are excited to bring families in for some of our upcoming events. Our first and second grade music performances on the 20th, Family Movie Night on the 21st and the Bookfair from the 18th to the 21st. We look forward to seeing you there.

Warm Regards,

Amber Mitchell, Principal

If you would like to stay up to date on the latest announcements and TES events, check out the links below.

TES Parent Teacher Group

TES Facebook Page

TES Website

How will you know if school is closed, delayed, or there are changes in bus routes because of inclement weather? Visit https://www.springfield.k12.or.us/families/inclement-weather, SPS' page which details inclement weather procedures. You will find links to helpful apps such as FlashAlert, which give up-to-date delay and closure information.

Oregon Battle of the Books (OBoB) battles have begun!. Encourage your student to continue reading if they are still competing; the books are available on loan from the Springfield Public Library, as well as the school office and library. There are also audio versions available, if you would like to go that route.

If they want to participate in next year's OBoB, they can get a jump on reading the books; the organization typically posts a reading list by the end of March.

Our district's Safe Routes to School coordinator has shared information about biking education school and workshops. Click the flyers for more specific info.

If you are hoping to help in your child's classroom or on a field trip, please make sure you have a valid volunteer application approved through Raptor. Please allow us a week for processing. Click here to reach the application page. Thank you!

Please call the office by 9:30 a.m. to let us know when and why your child will be absent. Also, we try to have consistent after-school plans for each student. If your child's after-school arrangement is different than usual (i.e. being picked up at school rather than riding the bus), please let us know by 2 p.m., so that we can get a message to your child in a timely manner. The office phone number is 541-744-6411.

** February 6 - Parent Teacher Group Meeting

** February 6 - Papa's Pizza flyer money and forms due

** February 19 - Dinners Out - BJ's Valley River Center

** February 21 - Family Movie Night - doors open at 6 pm, movie begins at 6:15

Heroes of the Hallway is a fun opportunity for dads, grandpas, and other significant people in a student's life to come into the school. As one of our Heroes, you can volunteer in a classroom or on specific days participate in special activities with our students and other Heroes! You must complete a district Raptor volunteer application (see above for the link). Our next Heroes date is February 7. Contact Collin Waldahl for more information.

February 6 - Papa's Pizza flyers/money due

February 6 - Parent Teacher Group meeting 6 pm

February 7 - Heroes of the Hallway

February 7 - Early Release 12:30

February 17 - No School - President's Day

February 18-21 - Book Fair in Library

February 19 - Dinners Out-BJ's Valley River 11 am -11 pm

February 20 - 1st Grade Music Program 6 pm

February 20 - 2nd Grade Music Program 7 pm

February 21 - Early Release 12:30

February 21 - Family movie night 6 pm

March 3-20 - Cheetah Gear ordering window open

March 6 - Parent Teacher Group meeting 6 pm