Main Events
Main Elementary Newsletter - February 2024
Main Elementary School
Website: gocreek.org
Location: 2942 Dayton Xenia Road, Beavercreek, OH, USA
Phone: 937-429-7588
Principal's Post
Dear Main Families,
Wow - how is it February already? As we enter the heart of winter, please have your kids continue to dress warmly with a coat, winter hat, and gloves. Recess is an important part of healthy development, so we go outside whenever it’s above 20 degrees and dry enough to play.
February begins our schoolwide “grit” campaign. We have two goals for our grit campaign. First to remind students that they can do hard things if they persevere and don’t give up. Second, we are hoping to build self-confidence and lower anxiety in our kids. It is no secret that anxiety in elementary age students is rising significantly. This article describes the growing trend and supports the type of project we are attempting at Main.
We hope this campaign will engage your family in discussions about perseverance and setting goals. Some students may already have mastered some of the skills they will bring home - that’s great! We hope that those students can demonstrate their grit in other ways. If you feel like these goals are too hard for your child for any reason, please let their teacher know. We want everyone to be working on appropriate skills for their abilities. Just remember - they can do hard things!
Thank you as always for your trust and support. If you have any questions or concerns please call or email.
Jon Webb, Principal
Calendar of Events
Feb 2 - PTO Family Dance
Feb 5-16 - Food Drive
Feb 7 - Character Ed Day
Feb 7 - PTO Restaurant Night Out @Milano's
Feb 13 - PTO Meeting 6pm in the Main Library
Feb 19 - No School - President's Day
March 16 - PTO Jamboree Indoor Carnival
For more information & events, please visit our school website https://www.gocreek.org/o/mes
Main Elementary 2023-24 Yearbook
Order yearbooks by paper form (they will be sent home with students this month) or online by clicking the link below.
PAPER ORDER FORMS DUE BY: FEBRUARY 23
ONLINE ORDER DUE BY: MARCH 10
Campaign GRIT
Building Grit at Main Elementary-Spring Semester 2024
Our Grit Campaign has taken off! This week, all of the students will be bringing home a form with their grade level skill challenges listed for them to master during the month of February. We are asking that you work with your child on these skills. It will only take 5 minutes each day or only 2-3 times per week. Once they reach mastery, please sign the form and have your child bring it back to school. If your child needs extra help, please reach out and let their teacher know. We will do what we can to support you and your child. Hopefully, they will find they know how to do some of the skills already, and the tasks won’t be overwhelming. Their teachers will also be working on a new skill. Be sure to have your child ask their teacher what their Grit Challenge is!
The teachers and I have been working with all the students on developing their Grit. This is the ability to keep trying, to never give up, and to realize they can do hard things. It also includes understanding their passion which helps drive their desire to do hard things.
This list of skills was generated by the grade level teachers. It comes from their expertise on things that students typically know how to do at their particular grade level and hoping our students can find success.
Studies also show that there is an increase in anxiety in students today of all ages. One way to counter this anxiety is to encourage our children to do hard things. It may not always be easy for them, but as they are successful, and realize they can do more than they thought they could, they build confidence in themselves and, in turn, alleviate some potential anxiety. That is our hope for each one of our students and we hope this activity provides that for them.
If you have any questions, please email me.
Mary.rice@beavercreek.k12.oh.us
Kindergarten Skills:
1. Zip Your Jacket
2. Play Board Game/Card Game-Take Turns
3. State both or All Parent’s/Guardian’s first and last name
4. Tie Shoes
5. Personal Choice
1st Grade Skills:
1. Play Board Game/Card Game-Take Turns/Win or Lose gracefully/Put Away
2.State at least one Parent’s/Guardian’s first and last name; and phone number
3.Complete 1 or 2 Chores at home independently; list chore
4. Tie Shoes
5. Personal Choice
2nd Grade Skills:
Know and recite at least one parent's phone number.
Blow nose correctly
Tie shoes
Greet someone new or ask for help appropriately without interrupting.
Personal Choice
3rd Grade Skills:
1.Tie Shoes
2. Recite at least one parent’s phone number
3. Introduce yourself to others
4. Play a board game/card game-win/lose gracefully
5. Personal Choice
4th Grade Skills:
Recite BOTH parents’ phone numbers AND home address
Call a business and ask for information
Prepare a meal/food item at home
Complete a full chore at home (fold/put away laundry, clean room, wash dishes, empty trash, etc.)
Personal Choice
5th Grade Skills:
Sign your name legibly in cursive
Pay for something using paper and coins with change
Phone Etiquette-Make a call to someone you don’t know to gain information, answer the phone, Leave a voicemail message, etc.
Make a food dish with multiple steps; Try something new
Personal Choice
Main Elementary Annual Food Drive
When: February 5-16, 2024
What: Non-Perishable Food Items
Here are some suggestions but feel free to add other items you think would be helpful
Canned Vegetables
Canned Fruit
Pasta (including macaroni and cheese)
Spaghetti and Spaghetti Sauce (in cans)
Protein Sources (beans, peanut butter, canned meats)
Rice
Cereal (including Oatmeal)
Meals in a Can (Ravioli, Spaghettios, Stew)
Soup (including Ramen or cans of soup)
Crackers
Fruit Snacks
Other Snack items
Individual Drinks (Capri Sun, Kool Aid, etc)
Or, anything else you think of that you know families would love.
Where: Main Elementary
Who: Students at Main to Support the Local FISH organization and Feed the Creek
*Collect the food in your classroom
*Main Ambassadors will collect and count
*Grade Level Prize for Grade Level with the most food collected!
Chess Club Tournament
The Beavercreek Chess Club will be holding a fun chess tournament for all kids in grades 1-8 on 9 March at 1pm at Main Elementary in the cafeteria.
This is a fundraiser for chess club supplies and to send students to the Elementary Chess Nationals in Columbus in April.
It is non-rated, so fun/open to all! Format is three rounds of G/25+5 (25 minutes per-side). Divisions based on grade-level. Trophies for the winners!
$10 to enter in advance, $15 at the door. Email Beavercreekchess@gmail.com to enter or ask questions.
Clinic News
Ohio State Testing Schedule - Spring 2024
Before you know it, spring will be here and the 3rd-5th graders will be participating in the Ohio State Testing. When that time comes, we will emphasize the importance of a healthy breakfast and plenty of sleep. However, we want you to have the dates now for planning purposes. It is very helpful if your child can be in school every day that includes state testing. There are make-up dates for those who are sick but students do their best in their familiar classroom with their regular teacher. We encourage all students to make every effort to be in attendance during these dates unless they are sick.
Thank you, Mary Rice
mary.rice@beavercreek.k12.oh.us
3rd Grade ELA-April 10th and 11th
4th Grade ELA-April 10th and 11th
5th Grade ELA-April 10th and 11th
3rd Grade Math-April 16th and 17th
4th Grade Math-April 16th and 17th
5th Grade Math-April 16th and 17th
5th Grade Science-April 24th and 25th
Creek Wellness Challenge
This year our staff wellness committee is encouraging students and families to engage in monthly wellness activities to achieve their personal goals.
Please visit our Creek Wellness website to learn about this year's monthly activities. Embracing wellness together with our students, our staff, and our families helps reinforce this year's character education theme of "Rooted in our Community."
School Safety
The Raptor Visitor Management System requires all visitors/volunteers to present a government-issued ID, which is then screened through a database that checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. Once checked in, all visitors/volunteers will receive a sticker with his/her picture with the stated destination. All visitors/volunteers are required to sign out in the office before leaving the building.
Main Elementary PTO
Thanks to everyone that came out for the Chipotle Restaurant Night Out! Yum!
HUGE thank you to all families that donated to the “Stock The Breakroom” for the awesome staff at Main! We appreciate your generosity!
Main PTO was able to purchase games, books and fun items for classrooms to enjoy during the indoor recess winter months!
February & Upcoming News
Restaurant Night Out: February restaurant night out will be Milano’s on Wednesday, February 7th.
PTO Meeting - Join us for the next PTO meeting on Tuesday, February 13th at 6:00 p.m. in the library. Meetings are 1 hour or less. Come check out the fun things we have planned for the second semester and hear about open PTO board positions for next school year! We hope to see you there!
Jamboree Indoor Carnival - Saturday, March 16th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us for a day of fun at our indoor carnival. Carnival games will be set up in the gym, library, cafeteria and classrooms - over 20 different games to enjoy. Harry Potter Diagon Alley will be in the library, and we will have fun raffle baskets again this year! Many volunteers will be needed to help run this large event; a sign up will come out soon. Game lanyards sale information will be coming home with students later this month.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
2/2 - “Winter Wonderland” Family Dance from 6-8 p.m. @ Coy/Trebein Commons
2/7 - Restaurant Night Out at Milano’s
2/13 - PTO meeting in library at 6:00 p.m.
3/16 - Jamboree Indoor Carnival 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Follow Main Elementary PTO on Facebook for updates and events. Main Elementary PTO can always be reached at: mainpto1@gmail.com