Evening Star Elementary
November 2022
A Note from Principal Williams:
Welcome to November! Can you believe we are in the second quarter of school, and only 25 school days are left this semester? This school year is flying by, and we know it will only get busier with the holiday season approaching. For us as educators, it is always important to be extra intentional during the month of November, to slow down and model gratitude with lessons of compassion and kindness. We have a lot for which to be thankful, most importantly, your precious children!
We want to thank all our parents for participating in fall Parent-Teacher Conferences. We were able to meet with almost 100% of our families. Please reach out if you still need to meet with your child's teacher. We would love to meet with you. As always, we appreciate your continued support in your child’s educational process. Your involvement is an essential component of student achievement, and we welcome open communication throughout the school year. SeeSaw and email are excellent ways to communicate.
Wednesday, November 9th, was recognized in our District as Choose Love Day. We have many of the Choose Love tenets built into our K-4 ELA curriculum. Learning to Choose Love even when life is difficult will change our students' lives for the better and the lives of those around us. The Choose Love Movement is built on a four-part formula: Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion in Action = Choosing Love. This month, our counselors shared a calendar with our staff, including activities and ways an individual can show 30 Days of Gratitude. We would love for you to join us in participating in some of the gratitude activities with your family. Tag us on social media as you celebrate Choosing Love with us. Last night, we loved seeing so many sweet ESE owlets on the Downtown Square. Also, thank you ESE PTO, for showing our staff some extra love yesterday, and surprising ALL of our little owls with an extra special Owl Choose Love charm/keychain.
We are incredibly thankful we could host our 3rd annual Pie Supper! We have heard from numerous stakeholders that this was the BEST Pie Supper yet! A Huge SHOUT OUT to the following:
- Our ESE Families! Thank you for donating pies, participating in the apple pie contest, bidding on pies, purchasing raffle tickets, and joining in the fun. You make Evening Star such a special place.
- Coach Kerkhover, Coach LaRocco, and our ESE Staff. They helped set up and facilitate the games on the field. Several also took a pie in the face to help raise additional funds for picnic tables for our playground.
- Our Apple Pie Judges:
- Ben Biesenthal - Owner, Grub's & Gusano's Pizza
- Rick Crisman - Cave Springs Chief of Police
- Randall Noblett - Cave Springs Mayor
- Brooke Dancer - ESE Assistant Principal
- Cara Morland - ESE 3rd Grade Teacher
- Apple Pie Contestants - your pies were beautiful and enjoyed by many! Keep up the incredible baking.
- ESE PTO Pie Supper Committee and PTO members who helped organize and set up the Pie Supper. Pie Supper Committee members include: Ashley Starnes (Chair), Rachel McLeod, Beth Amerine, Sarah Beahm, Tess Bleich, and Dawn Weiss.
- JoyHouse Coffee for the donation of numerous carafe of delicious coffee.
The second quarter is always a quick one due to Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break. With these breaks quickly approaching, please mark your calendars accordingly. Thanksgiving Break will be from Monday, November 21st, through Friday, November 25th. Classes will resume on Monday, November 28th.
Here are a few more updates from the ESE Office:
- Picture Retake Day for Evening Star Elementary was today. Retakes were taken first thing this morning for any students who needed their picture retaken or were absent on picture day. Parents can order pictures online at mylifetouch.com and use Picture Day ID: 3X6J-HBQH-XCGR-C3D0.
- Our District has put together a video regarding TeacherEase - click HERE to check it out.
- Here is the link to the November RISE Newsletter - RISE Arkansas.
- Walker Families: During rainy afternoons, please refer to the back of your Walker Tag for information about inclement weather. It states: *In heavy rain or lightning, please pick your child up through the car-rider line. You will need a car rider pass.
- We want to apologize to all of our families who have been inconvenienced by the bus cancelations this year. We know this can create a hardship for your family. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as our Transportation Department has worked to find and hire the best drivers to transport our most precious gifts, our owls. Based on the latest report Wednesday, EVERY ESE bus now has a full-time driver. Our final newly hired driver is expected to start next week.
On a final note, we want to reiterate how thankful we are for every family and community member who pours into our school. Evening Star is such a special place, and we love your children. Thank you for making us the best school in the state!
Future ESE Events:
Here are just a few events that we have planned so far. Mark your calendars now and keep a watch out for more events over the course of the school year:
November 11th - Veterans Day - Our 3rd Grade students participated in a Community Outreach on Tuesday. They made many veterans smile, and truly enjoyed the opportunity to sing to and connect with members of our community.
November 11th - Annual Turkey Trot
November 14th - World Diabetes Awareness Day--Wear Blue on Monday!!
- November 15th – ESE PTO meeting at 1:00 PM
November 16th Kindergarten Physicals are Due to Nurse Crutchfield
November 21st - 25th -Thanksgiving Break
December 10th - Downtown Christmas Parade
December 20th - Winter Parties (more information in the December Parent Newsletter)
December 21st - ESE Pajama Day
December 22nd - January 4th - Winter Break
January 5th - Students Return and 3rd Quarter begins.
Weather
November is here, and with it comes cooler days and sometimes wet weather. As the cold weather begins to sneak up on us, please be sure your child has dressed appropriately for school with a proper jacket, hat, footwear, etc. Keep in mind, layered clothing is always a good idea since the mornings can be chilly, and the afternoons tend to be warm. Students will go outside for recess unless it is raining, sleeting, or the wind chill is dangerously low. With our unpredictable winter weather, it is never too early for families to begin to think about an alternate plan for inclement weather days. It even looks like there is a possibility of snow in the forecast for next week.
Please know it is our intent to take students outside for recess every day. During extreme temperatures and/or wind chill, recess could be shortened. Elementary and middle school students will go outside for recess unless weather conditions make it unsafe or unwise to do so.
- Students will typically go outside if temperatures are 30 degrees F or above.
- If the temperature and/or wind chills are between 25 and 30 degrees F.
- Building administrators may use discretion when sending students outdoors.
Bus Compass App
Why Transportant?
Transportant creates an additional layer of safety and security for students. The software allows for more accountability and lets parents, drivers and principals know when a child boards or exits a school bus.
Transportant Takeaways
You’ll receive real-time alerts when your student boards and exits the bus.
You’ll see the bus within three stops of your child’s stop.
Your child already has his/her I.D. badge.
It’s critically important that your child keep up with his/her badge.
Your child’s badge cannot track your child anywhere except on a school bus.
Updates from Nurse Crutchfield:
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month!
Please join us in bringing awareness to Diabetes by wearing BLUE on Monday, November 14th, for World Diabetes Day!
Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes are very different conditions; however, at the onset, the signs and symptoms can look the same. Early diagnosis can lead to better outcomes. Early signs include the following:
Increased Thirst
Frequent Urination
Increased Hunger
Dramatic Weight Loss
Lethargy
Nausea & Vomiting
Blurred Vision
Irritability
According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), 5 million people in the U.S. are expected to have Type 1 Diabetes by 2050, including nearly 600,000 youth.
EDUCATE. ADVOCATE. If you’d like to know more about Diabetes, please check out these additional resources.
Kindergarten Physicals: Every Kindergartener should have a Kindergarten physical on-file with the school. Documentation of the Kindergarten physical is due by November 16th.
Medications Reminder: All medications, except sunscreen, given during school hours require prescriptive authority and parent/guardian signed permission. This is required for both over-the-counter (cough drops, ibuprofen, creams, etc.) and prescription drugs. Any medications given at school must be dispensed through the health office. Please do not send medications to school in your child's backpack. All medications must be checked in the health office by the parent or guardian.
Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns! Thank you!
Nurse Crutchfield
Counselor Updates:
November is Choose Love Month. To celebrate this month we are participating by using the 30 Days of Gratitude Calendar (posted above). Take a few minutes each day to talk with your owls about what they are grateful for and check out the Choose Love Website.
Our guidance lessons for November and December will focus on teaching Personal Body Safety using the district-approved Empower Me Curriculum. These lessons are designed to teach children about personal body safety in an empowering and positive way.
Checking with the adult in charge before going anywhere, changing plans, accepting gifts, taking pictures, etc.
Identifying five trusted adults who make up their safety net
Understanding and listening to their “uh-oh” feeling
Saying “no” to anyone asking them to break a safety rule, including adults
There are no secrets (secrets vs. surprises)
Telling if someone is being hurt (tattling vs. telling)
Teaches students they have the right to keep their private parts private.
Understanding that no touch should ever be a secret
Please click the following link for an overview of this program: Empower Me Overview
Please reach out to us for any reason! We are here for your children and YOU!
Pam Gaskin 479-360-7407 pgaskin@bentonvillek12.org
Paula Kaufmann 779-360-7408 pkaufmann@bentonvillek12.org
ESE Math Coach News:
Have a deck of cards hanging around the house? Play one of the following games to encourage fact fluency and place value knowledge!
*Take out the picture cards but keep the aces to represent the number one!
Kindergarten ~ Cards should be shuffled and dealt. Each player picks two cards to add and places them face down. Once all players have laid cards down, flip them over. The player with the largest sum wins and captures all cards. (An alternative is for each player to flip over one card- the player with the larger number gets to keep both cards!) Game continues until all cards are used and the player with the most cards wins.
First~ Cards should be shuffled and 5 cards dealt out to each player for this modified "Go Fish" game. Players try to make 10 with their own hand or by taking a card from an opponent. Player with the most sets of ten wins the game.
Second~ Cards should be shuffled and dealt out face down. Players take turns taking the top three cards and practice place value by making the largest three-digit number. The player with the largest number keeps all the cards but he/she must say the numbers correctly. Game continues until all cards are used and the player with the most cards wins.
Third~ Cards should be shuffled and dealt out face down. Players take turns taking the top four cards and practice place value by making the largest four-digit number. The player with the largest number keeps all the cards, but he/she must say the numbers correctly. Game continues until all cards are used and the player with the most cards wins.
Fourth~ Cards should be shuffled and dealt out. Each player picks two cards to multiply and places them face down. Once all players have laid cards down, flip them over. The player with the largest product wins and captures all cards. Game continues until all cards are used, and the player with the most cards wins.
Going on a car trip for Thanksgiving? Check out the skills games on tangmath.com for your kiddos to play in the car! Ten Frame Mania and Coin Bubble are great practice for K-2 students while Kakooma is perfect for challenging our 3-4 students.Math is GREAT!
Katie Curry
ESE Literacy Coach News"
Are you looking for engaging ways to reinforce literacy skills that your child is learning in school? Check out these variations of common household card and board games that can be adapted based on the specific skill.
Concentration- Select five to ten words that follow patterns that your child is focused on reading. Write the words on index cards, making pairs of each word. Shuffle the cards and place them in rows. Take turns turning two cards over at a time and reading the words aloud. If the cards match, the player keeps the cards and gets another turn. The player with the most pairs wins. The purpose of this game is to build automaticity of skills. The difficulty of the game can be modified by reducing the number of cards. Concentration is easy to play with a variety of skills. Some examples include: matching upper and lowercase letters, matching words with the meanings, or matching a morpheme to its meaning (re-matching with its definition, “again”, for example).
Go Fish- Select ten to twenty words that follow the word pattern that your child is focused on. Print the words on 3X5 index cards, making pairs of each word. Shuffle and deal three to five cards to each player. Place the rest of the cards face down. Players take turns asking each other for a card to match one held in her hand. If the opponent has the matching card, it is given over, and the first player takes another turn. If the opponent does not have a match, he says “Go fish”, and the player draws from the remaining cards, and the next player takes a turn. Each time a player has a match, he reads the cards and lays them face down. Continue until all cards are used. This game is easily adapted to focus on different skills. Some examples include: matching rhyming words or pictures, matching homophones (words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings), or matching vocabulary words to the definitions.
Old Maid- Select three words per player. Print the words on 3X5 index cards, making pairs of words. Choose one word without a match. This will be the winning card. Deal three to six cards to each player. Players take turns drawing a card from the player to the left. If the player draws a card that matches a card in his/her hand, then he reads the words and lays the match down. The game continues until all cards are matched except the one card that does not have a match. The player who holds that card at the end wins. This game is easily adapted to focus on different reading skills. Some examples include: matching synonyms, matching antonyms, or words with the same syllable type.
Monopoly- Create a game board with four or five squares on each side. Make morpheme cards with the morphemes that your child is learning. An example could be: re-, remember, return, redo, revisit. Color code each morpheme and side of the board. Put the words face up around the board in sets. Add cards such as, “Take another turn,” or “Go back two spaces”. Roll dice to move around the board. Whenever a player lands on a word, he/she reads the word. Extra points can be earned by saying and writing sentences with the word and stating the definition of the morpheme. This game can be easily adapted to focus on different reading skills. An example of adapting the game could be that each square could be a different word family. The player could read the word, and receive extra points for using the word in a complete sentence and writing the sentence.
Happy reading!
Julie Dibee
Whooo Loves to read? Your ESE OWLS DO!
Our darling owls participated in honoring our Veterans with a digital video. Click HERE to watch.
Celebrate YOUR child with a Celebration Book! There are 3 easy steps to purchase a Celebration Book. Follow the steps featured in the picture on the right.
Read, Learn, and Explore!
Mrs. Watson, ESE Librarian
"Gym Shorts"
This month your little owls will be starting our Veterans Day celebration with a fun station rotation called Battleship Fitness Bootcamp to honor our Veterans. We will be hosting the 4th Annual Turkey Trot on Friday, November 11th. Please watch our Facebook page for picture updates throughout the week for both events. We are also excited to host the UofA Men's Hockey Team this month. They are joining us to share some basic hockey skills as well as some of their fancy trick shots with our little owls.
Happy Turkey Day!
Coach Kerkhover and Coach LaRocco
ART Studio:
November will be a busy month for our artists. Exploring different media and techniques will be a top priority and also some seasonal art will be sprinkled in. Classroom behavior has been improving as the young artists are getting into the daily routine :)
Mr. Van Slyke
Music Notes:
Congratulations, 2nd Graders! Our second-grade students showed great teamwork and perseverance while they worked hard to learn an entire musical in just 6 music classes. Their hard work paid off and their musical, “Squirm” was adorable!!
3rd-graders have been working on a Veterans day community outreach project in their activity classes by learning songs of patriotism and thankfulness in music and creating cards and letters for area veterans in Art. Students visited the VA and local nursing homes to show some love to our community heroes on Nov. 8th.
4th-graders are continuing to grow as musicians and should be practicing their recorder at home between music classes. Each skill must be practiced before new skills can be learned! Later in November, we will also begin practicing for our 4th grade musical, “Pirates!” that will take place early next semester.
Kinder and 1st graders are learning about “music opposites” like fast/slow (largo/presto) soft/loud (piano/forte) and high/low (sol/mi).
Please encourage your students to practice using their music vocabulary when listening to music at home!
Keep filling the world with music.
Mrs. Simpson
Global Connections:
We concluded the month of October by discussing “Halloween” around the world! I am impressed by how many owls know about Dias de Los Muertos! Great job, parents! We will begin the month of November by exploring the United States of America. Ask your child for some fun facts as our unit continues!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Connor
Digital Literacy:
During the month of November:
- Our 3rd and 4th-graders will create a Public Service Video on Healthy Media Habits or Cyberbullying in the next few class periods.
- In 2nd grade, our students will learn about computer hardware and software.
- In 1st grade, our students will focus on computer safety. We will emphasize the importance of keeping an open line of communication between students and their parents or responsible adults.
- Kindergarteners will learn the parts of the computer and begin typing.
Ms. Castro
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE:
Reading between children and their caregivers can make a big difference in their oral language development and reading comprehension. It can be even more fun when we celebrate reading in two languages! Click on the link below for a helpful list of bilingual books. Some of the books on this list are bilingual, meaning that you will find both English and Spanish within the same book. Other titles are originally in English, and have a Spanish translation available.
Happy Reading! https://www.colorincolorado.org/booklist/celebrate-reading-two-languages-bilingual-booklist
Sincerely,
Mrs. Tomblin
Student Parliament:
ESE Yearbook!
It's never too early to order your yearbook! Order now! Here's how! Click this link and enter our school code: 1015671061902803.
Don't forget you can customize two pages for free!
Custom pages are due March 28, 2023
Transportation Changes:
If you need to make a change in transportation, please notify the office BEFORE 2:00 p.m. As stated in our district handbook, changes in transportation home or early pick-up from school may not occur within 30 minutes of building dismissal time, unless it is an unavoidable emergency.
Whooo's Soaring at ESE?
To access the Google form click on the following link: https://forms.gle/FNdobVKuUbBv2sx1A
SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENUS:
School breakfast and lunch are no longer provided for students for free. If you have not deposited funds into your child's account or applied for support for the cost of the meals, please log in to the Family Portal and do that. You will need your student's ID to log in.
If you would like to see what our cafeteria will be serving for breakfast and lunch for this month, simply click on the following link: https://www.bentonvillek12.org/page/food-and-nutrition