PES Monthly Memo

Welcome back, and happy New Year! We hope you had a restful winter break filled with moments of joy, connection, and renewal. As we return to school, we do so with fresh energy and a shared commitment to our students and one another. This time of year can feel demanding, but it is also an opportunity to reset, reconnect, and refocus on the important work we do every day. Thank you for your continued dedication, care, and resilience—together, we will make the months ahead meaningful, supportive, and successful for our school community.

This month, our PBIS focus is Perseverance—the ability to keep going even when learning feels challenging. We will be encouraging students to try their best, learn from mistakes, and not give up when tasks are difficult. Teachers will highlight perseverance through classroom lessons, positive recognition, and real-life examples that show how effort and determination lead to growth. By reinforcing perseverance at school and at home, we help students build confidence, resilience, and a strong belief in themselves.

As we return after our break, now is a good time to remind families about pick up and drop off procedures at PES. Please click the link from our School/District handbook regarding pick up/drop off procedures. Key points to keep in mind:

• School begins at 7:55 am. There is no adult supervision before 7:45. Students should not be on school grounds prior to 7:45.
• Any students needing entry after 8:00 should enter at the main office door. Entering after 8:00 does result in a tardy.
• Pets are prohibited on school grounds during pick up/drop off. Please leave all pets in cars or at home during pick up/drop off.
• Please cross at the crosswalks where crossing guards are present. We know it may be more convenient just to cross on your own, but the crossing guards are there to ensure the safety of our families. It becomes difficult when people cross everywhere.

We appreciate your assistance in this process and want everyone to stay safe!

After more than 10 years of dedicated service, we celebrate the retirement of paraprofessional Teri Alex. Throughout her time at our school, Teri has been a constant source of support, kindness, and commitment to our students and staff. Her patience, reliability, and genuine care have made a lasting impact in classrooms and in the lives of countless children. We are deeply grateful for her years of service and the heart she brought to her work each day. Please join us in thanking Teri and wishing her a well-deserved, happy, and fulfilling retirement.

Every month, each grade level chooses a Star Student of the Month. The following students were chosen for Star Students for October and November:

Pre-K/EC: Ian Druien

Kindergarten: Owen Holland

1st Grade: Leo Druien

2nd Grade: Ainsley Borcherts

3rd Grade: Briella Bengtson

4th Grade: Hudson Crown

Pre-K/EC: Clair Fry

Kindergarten: Chloe Turner

1st Grade: Blakely Cox

2nd Grade: Lynorah Berry

3rd Grade: Parker Doran

4th Grade: Owen Green

Congratulations to all! Students of the Month were recognized at the Board of Education meetings in November and December.

Camden Stohr, Mason Hecker, Lincoln Ford, AJ Purifoy, Adriel Flores, and Kayson Sutherland (4th Grade) -- Mrs. Smith writes: At extra recess today the following boys were playing a basketball game. At one point I saw them all pause the game to try and teach each other to make a basket and then give chances to try. It was awesome to see! Nice job, guys!

Evalyn Rosemeier and Emersyn Brandt (Kindergarten) were caught helping a classmate who was sick. They showed compassion and care to make sure the other student was attended to in a situation where some adults may have been uncomfortable. Their kindness was excellent to see (Ms. Hansen)!

Mrs. Dulaney's Kindergarten class shared pictures from their Thanksgiving celebration in November. The students enjoyed learning about the history of the holiday and celebrated the day in the classroom.

Earlier this year, Pecatonica graduate Jaiden Thompson began spending time at PES and helping out in classrooms and the library. She is a sweet and helpful individual, and our students really enjoy when she visits. During one of her visits, Jaiden created a gratitude presentation and asked the third graders to make thank you cards to show their gratitude towards one another. We love when Miss Jaiden comes to visit!

Please Click Here to enjoy Christmas music by our 4th grade students.

Mrs. DeLaGarza's first grade class doesn't just work, they sing while they get the job done! Click here to watch the students singing along!

Preparing for the holidays is always fun at PES. The hallways and classrooms are decorated. The entire school participated in a sing-a-long. During the sing-a-long, we also recognized Mrs. Alex for her service to the students and staff at PES. We even had a very special visit from the Grinch!

Our winter MAP benchmark testing window will be underway January 20-29 and will provide valuable information about student growth and progress in reading and math. These assessments help teachers identify strengths, target areas for support, and adjust instruction to meet individual student needs. We encourage families to support students by ensuring they get plenty of rest, are eating a healthy breakfast, and are arriving at school on time during testing days. MAP testing is just one tool we use to better understand how students are learning and to support their continued growth.

January 1-2 – Winter Break - No School
January 5 – Institute Day
January 14 – 1:35 Dismissal
January 19 – MLK Jr. Day - No School

January 20-30– Winter MAP

January 28 – 1:35 Dismissal

February 13 – SIP Day - 11:05 Dismissal
February 16 – Presidents’ Day - No School

February 25 – 1:35 Dismissal