January Newsletter

As we welcome 2026, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the vital role you play in your child’s educational journey.

You are our partners! The simple act of reinforcing concepts at home and helping your child see how their lessons connect to the real world makes all the difference in their learning.

I hope the start of this new calendar year brings you and your child(ren) some peaceful time to share a book and truly appreciate the exciting growth you see in them every day.

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Mrs. K. McCartan, Principal

Just like athletes have cheerleaders to help them reach their goals, your child needs visible support when they are tackling school challenges!

You have the power to be your child's most important cheerleader, helping them build self-esteem, confidence, and coping skills for success both in and out of the classroom.

Here are a few ways you can encourage your child as they work toward their goals this year:

Focus on Effort, Not Just Results:
Tell them: "Your effort is what matters most. Keep practicing this, and it will pay off!" Let them know hard work is valuable.

Emphasize Teamwork:
Remind them: "We are all on the same team. We (you, me, and the school) are working together to help you succeed."

Point Out Their Success:
Help your child see the connection between their hard work and positive results. Ask them: "You spent an extra 15 minutes reviewing your notes, and look—you felt more confident on the quiz! How does that feel?"

When we support our students by setting goals together, it reinforces a crucial lesson: Even though we are all unique individuals with different interests, we can always work together, offer support, and celebrate each other's achievements.

What Do You Ask Yourself

You will want to keep this sheet handy when solving Math Word Problems. When you are not sure how to get started on a challenging problem, let this sheet be your guide.

A stepwise approach to problem solving:

1) Read through the entire problem first without doing anything else.

2) Think “What is the problem asking for?” Re-state the problem in your own words. Box any math action words. Use this chart to help determine what operation to use.

Word Problems

Addition

● Total is unknown

● Putting things together

Subtraction

● Total is known

● Taking things apart

● Comparing 2 amounts

Multiplication

● Total is unknown

● Combining groups

Division

● Total is known

● Sorting or separating to create groups

3) Underline the question and Circle the numbers in the problem you will need to use.

4) Solve and Check what answer I got. Re-read the question, does my answer make sense?

January 1 - New Year's Day- No school

January 5 - Welcome Back!

January 8 - PTA Meeting 6:15 pm

January 19 - Martin Luther King, Jr. - NO School

January 22 - Kindergarten and 1st Grade Family Fun Night