Husky Headlines

Hello Jr. Husky families! We are 13 days into our 24-25 school year, and our students are ROCKING IT!! I couldn't be more proud of all of the ways they are showing us how they can Unleash their Superhero! We have had our first week of our infamous "Yellow Sheet" and I am proud to report that all students survived! Our PAW to Yellow Sheet ratio is FANTASTIC!!

As of now, our elementary students have earned an astounding 357 PAWS!!! If your child comes home with a PAW, please help us celebrate their ability to:

• Be Responsible
• Show Active Learning
• Respect Others, the School, & Self
• Keep Safe

Earning a PAW is a BIG DEAL here at S-RC elementary! We want all of our students to do the right thing all of the time, and we recognize when students go above and beyond - and that is why they get a PAW. Do they get one every time? No. Unfortunately, we can't catch every amazing act - but we do try to catch as many as we can!

• September 2nd - No School (Labor Day)
  

• September 11th - 10:10 Late Start (Professional Development)

• September 13th - Wear BLUE for Pitt Hopkins Syndrome

• September 16th -20th - HOMECOMING WEEK

• September 16th - PJ Day - Wear Your Pajamas to School!

• September 17th - Blast from the Past - Dress Up Like a Decade from the Past

• September 18th - Neon Day - Wear ALL the Neon You Can Find

• September 19th - Future Me - Dress Up Like Your Future Profession

• September 20th - Husky Pride - Wear Your HUSKY Gear

• September 25th - 10:10 Late Start (Professional Development)

• September 30th - Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences

Our new and returning preschoolers have been doing a great job getting acclimated to school! They have been working hard to learn our school expectations and what it means to be part of a classroom. We have also enjoyed getting to participate in PE, music, and library with our amazing specials teachers. We can't wait to see how far these littlest huskies go!

We are always on the lookout for specific items for our preschool room. If you have any gently used barbies or Melissa and Doug Water Wow books you'd like to part with, we would love to take them off your hands!

Please CLICK HERE to sign up for Parent/Teacher conferences on September 30th! You will need to find your child's HOMEROOM teacher, and sign up under their time slots. Please do not remove a name that is already there. You can only sign up in a slot that is BLANK.

Your child's name will go in the first box. Your name will go into the second box. If you are in need of a translator, please click on the checkbox at the end (under "translator needed"). The office will then determine a translator schedule and try to make sure we are able to meet everyone's needs.

If we are unable to meet the needs as they are requested, we may need to call you and request that you switch your conference times - but it is rare that we will need to do so.

When you schedule your conferences, please write the times down!! We will plan on seeing you on September 30th at your selected time!

Welcome back! School is underway and many exciting things are happening in First Grade! The elementary has adopted a new reading curriculum and our students are doing a fantastic job with new routines! In Math, we have started learning about partners and are about to use them to add within TEN. Please encourage your child to read at least 15 minutes each night and study their spelling words throughout the week. We hope your child has enjoyed the first few weeks of school! Reminder: Please join our classroom on Remind and reach out to your child’s classroom teacher with any questions! Go Huskies!

The K-5 Book-It Family At-Home Reading program Kick-off will be held on Friday, September 27th. Students will find out more about this year's theme, program guidelines, and how to earn prizes. Remember, as you've seen in our SRC Student Handbook, the SRC Schoolwide Learning Compact includes reading to or with your child(ren) 15 minutes a day for 5 days a week. Book-It is a fun way to earn some monthly treats for the fun time your child spends reading with you. Parent information will be given out at Parent-Teacher Conferences on Monday, September 30th. Let's help students READ and SUCCEED!

This year 3rd grade is going to implement a weekly 3rd Grade Collaboration time. This time will be used to build connections and positive relationships between both 3rd grade classes. During our first Collaboration time together we focused on identifying "big problem vs. small problem." Groups were given a scenario where they had to pick "big" or "small" and then they had to come up with how to solve the problem. This activity was a great way to get the students to interact with each other and really think about some of the problems they may face this school year. and how to solve their own small problems.

We are excited to continue and to share with you our 3rd Grade Collaboration time this school year!

In 2019, the state of Nebraska passed The NebraskaREADS initiative. It supports policies and practices outlined in the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act which went into effect during the 2019-2020 school year. The law takes a comprehensive approach to improve early literacy skills in students who are in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. This basically means that schools are required to make individual reading plans for any student who is not reading AT GRADE LEVEL if they are in Kindergarten through 3rd grade.

The Nebraska Reading Improvement Act also requires schools to inform parents if their child is not reading at grade level at the beginning of the school year. Please know that letters will be coming out soon to let K-3 parents know if your child tested below grade level. This communication is only to meet the requirements of the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act. If your child's teacher has not contacted you directly, please do not get overly concerned if you receive a letter. However, if you have a question, do not hesitate to contact me.

I’m so happy to be working with our English Language Learner (ELL) students and their families again this year!

ELL students receive language acquisition instruction to help them develop their English-usage skills in four areas: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. ELL students take a Summative Assessment test each spring to determine their level of English proficiency.

We really focus on using complete sentences when we give an answer. This helps the students think in complete thoughts and often leads to better understanding of the lesson material.

Some students will begin the school year working on greetings and introductions, colors, numbers, the alphabet. Others will talk about things they use and do in the classroom. They will talk about things in nature, the weather, and seasons. Some students will learn about using different verb tenses and plural endings. Others will work on comparing and describing things. All students will continue to develop their reading and writing skills.

Inclusive Corner with Mrs. Hoadley & Mrs. Stewart

Pitt Hopkins Syndrome Awareness Day is September 18th. We are asking all students to wear BLUE on Friday, September 13th to support our special friend, Stiles, at S-RC. Here are some facts about individuals with Pitt Hopkins Syndrome.

• Pitt Hopkins is a rare genetic disorder affecting a specific gene in chromosome 18, called TCF4.
• 1 out of 34,000 individuals worldwide are diagnosed with Pitt Hopkins Syndrome.
• People with Pitt Hopkins are delayed when learning to walk.
• Many people with Pitt Hopkins are non-verbal but are able to use a communication device as their voice.
• Pitt Hopkins is considered an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Elementary PE is getting started off with a BANG with a fitness cup 2024-2025 for the 1st-5th graders!!! Kindergartners are starting the year off working on balance, left, and right.

A friendly reminder that all students need tennis shoes for PE. Please no sandals or Crocs. No boots on the gym floor please! Students will have to sit out if they are wearing boots on PE days.

Kindergarten: Monday, Thursday & every other Wednesday

1st Grade: Monday, Thursday, & every other Friday

2nd Grade: Monday, Thursday & every other Wednesday

3rd Grade: Tuesday & Friday & every other Wednesday

4th Grade: Tuesday & Friday & every other Thursday

5th Grade Monday & Thursday & every other Wednesday

So far this school year, our library has been buzzing with activities that have sparked imagination and learning across all grades! From our littlest learners in preschool to our savvy fifth graders, all students have been attending library classes tailored to their age group. Here’s a glimpse into the exciting experiences our students have enjoyed this August:

**Escape Boxes with Fifth Grade:**

Our fifth graders had a blast with library-themed escape boxes! These interactive challenges had them working together to solve puzzles, unlock clues, and ultimately break into the box. It was a thrilling way to reinforce problem-solving skills, library expectations, and teamwork, all while having loads of fun.

**Passport Stations with Third and Fourth Grades:**

Students in grades 3 and 4 embarked on a literary journey with our Passport Stations. As they explored different genres and completed reading challenges, their “passports” were stamped, taking them on a world tour of books. This engaging activity broadened their reading horizons and made each visit to the library an adventure.

**Library Game Show with Second Grade:**
Our second graders became game show contestants in a fun-filled review of library expectations! The students competed in teams, answering questions about how to take care of books, how to behave in the library, and more. The lively atmosphere made learning about library rules both exciting and memorable, ensuring everyone is ready for a successful year in the library.

**Library Rules Song with First Grade and Kindergarten:**

Our readers in kindergarten and first grade learned the ropes of the library in the most delightful way—through song! The catchy Library Rules Song helped them understand the do's and don'ts of library etiquette while having a great time singing along. It was music to our ears to see them so engaged and learning!

The library has truly been a hub of creativity, learning, and fun in August. We’re excited to continue supporting our students’ educational journeys with more engaging programs and activities in the months to come!

The fifth grade is off to a superhero start. The class has a total of 41 students that are working hard to develop their superpowers in all subject areas. We have a new reading series to hone our skills in reading and language arts. In social studies we are beginning our study of U.S. history by learning about early Native Americans and their way of life and then will be moving on to early explorers. In science, students will be exploring space and focusing on stars. Currently, we are looking at sundials and analyzing the position of the sun to tell time. While in math, students are reviewing math facts and starting to work on fractions. We are looking forward to a year of fun and the challenges of learning new things. Always remembering that KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!

Elementary Principal

Special Education Director

Shelby-Rising City Public Schools

Email: hthompson@shelby.esu7.org
Website: https://www.shelby.esu7.org/
Location: 650 North Walnut Street, Shelby, NE, USA
Phone: 402-527-5946 5718
Twitter: @ms_thompson007