Evening Star Elementary
September 2022
A Note from Principal Williams:
Evening Star Families,
Words cannot describe how amazing the first three weeks of school have been. The ESE staff and I want to thank all of our families for everything you have done to prepare your little owls as they return to their ESE nest. The joy and love for learning your owlets are demonstrating is truly radiating throughout our building. Over the past few weeks, our owls have been focused on learning and developing a deeper understanding of our core beliefs (integrity, teamwork, growth, empathy, and enthusiasm), creating their classroom matrix with their homeroom teacher, reviewing our PBIS expectations, and building connections with their peers. As we finish up week 3 and begin week 4, we are looking forward to watching our owlets continue to Dare to be Great in many different aspects.
We have several family events planned for the month of September. Next Friday, September 9th, our building is hosting our annual Grandparents Luncheon in celebration of Grandparents Day. Please RSVP by completing the linked Google form. RSVPs are due by Wednesday, September 7th. Please complete one RSVP form for each child who will have a grandparent joining them for lunch. The lunch times for each grade level are listed in the linked Google Form. Grandparents, as you know, your grandchild’s safety is a top priority for the Bentonville School District and the Evening Star Elementary staff. As per Bentonville Schools policy, anyone who would like to attend various school functions, have lunch with their grandchild, etcetera, must have their ID processed through our Raptor system. We are asking all parents and grandparents to please assist us with this process by ensuring that you have a valid driver’s license or a state identification card when coming to the school. Please be advised any visitor who does not have a valid driver’s license or state identification card will be denied access to any part of the building beyond the office door. Thank you so much for your understanding and for making our students’ safety a top priority.
We will host our annual Walk In My Shoes Night Thursday, September 22nd. This event is designed to share with families the types of skills their child will be learning in their grade level. You will learn about your child's daily schedule and the routines and expectations of their classroom. Each homeroom teacher will host a Walk In My Shoes Night in their own classroom. Each grade level will start promptly at the following times: Kindergarten: 5:30 p.m. | 1st Grade: 6:00 p.m. | 2nd Grade: 6:30 p.m. | 3rd Grade: 7:00 p.m. | 4th Grade: 7:30 p.m. Our PTO has secured a bounce house and planned numerous fun activities for our families. We will have a food truck and pizza by the slice available for purchase. Families may also preorder whole pizzas prior to the event if they wish. More details to follow soon.
We have several volunteer opportunities available at Evening Star. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete this Volunteer Google Form. Prior to volunteering, volunteers must attend one of our volunteer trainings and complete our volunteer confidentiality forms. Our next volunteer training is Tuesday, September 13th, at 6:00 p.m. in our ESE cafeteria. Thank you for all your volunteering efforts for our school. With your support and help, we can continue to make Evening Star the best elementary school in the state of Arkansas. Please complete 1 form per parent: https://forms.gle/WPT1HtdSrw2gzJybA.
Speaking of events, we have attached a link HERE to our 2022-2023 Parent Engagement Plan. At Evening Star, we believe family engagement is a critical component to the success and growth of all students. On pages 6 and 7 of this PDF, you will see a calendar of additional events our team has tentatively scheduled for this school year.
Our morning and afternoon car line is running smoothly. Parents, we do want to ask for your help with a couple of things.
Please wait to let your children out until you round the corner rather than along the side of the building near our 1st-4th grade classrooms. We do not have duty staff available to monitor this side, and we want to keep our littles safe.
Please put your cell phones down.
Close the gap between cars. Every inch in line counts!
When exiting onto Pleasant Grove Road from Roberts Road between the hours of 7:00-8:00 a.m. as well as 2:30-3:00 p.m., please do not turn left. When cars turn left onto Pleasant Grove Road, it completely disrupts our car line.
Thank you for your assistance and understanding.
Over the school year, we will continue to send out monthly newsletters containing a variety of information regarding news from our auxiliary staff, updates from the office, and information from our PTO. Throughout the newsletter, you will notice multiple links to various websites, Google forms, and email contacts. Simply click on the blue hyperlink to connect with ease.
If you have not had a chance to join the Evening Star Parent Teacher Organization, we want to encourage you to do so. Our PTO will have regularly scheduled meetings to synergize and partner with school staff to create a school community that enhances our students' education and school experience.
Finally, our goal is to continue to build a culture based on our core values: integrity, teamwork, growth, empathy, and enthusiasm. Together we will cultivate these values in the lives of your children. Furthermore, we will work together to make our stakeholder-developed vision and mission here at Evening Star a reality. Our mission is Evening Star Elementary - Where owls empower each other to be our best selves by soaring for the stars in every way. Our core values and mission align with our vision - We are committed to continuing a legacy of excellence that impacts the world around us.
Thank you for sharing your precious children with us!
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:
- Sept. 5th - School will not be in session in observance of Labor Day.
- Sept. 6th & 7th - Kindergarten & 1st Grade MAP Testing
- Sept. 8th & 9th - 2nd Grade MAP Testing
- Sept. 8th - School Nights for Scouts 6:30-7:30 ESE Front Parking Lot
- Sept. 9th - Grandparents Luncheon
- Sept. 13th - PTO Meeting & Volunteer Training 6:00-7:30 p.m.
- Sept. 19th - 23rd - Start with Hello Week
- Sept. 22nd - PICTURE DAY
- Sept. 22nd - Walk In My Shoes Night(See times listed above.)
- Oct. 3rd - School Custodian Appreciation Day
- Oct. 4th - PTO Meeting 8:30 am
- Oct. 6th - Kindergarten Field Trip
- Oct.7th - School Psych Appreciation Day
- Oct. 17th -19th - Fall Break - School will not be in session.
- Oct. 24th - Oct. 27th - Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Oct. 31st - Fall Parties
- Oct. 31st - Nov. 4th - Good Choices Week
Early Dismissal/Late Arrival:
Parents, every instructional minute we have with your child is absolutely precious and vital to his/her academic success. We appreciate and value the time we have with them during the instructional day ~7:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Students are considered tardy if they arrive after the instructional day begins. We want to encourage you to schedule your child’s doctor and dental appointments outside school hours. In keeping with the Bentonville Schools Mission Statement “to prepare students of today for the challenges of tomorrow,” we believe that all students benefit from regular school attendance. Students need to be present every day for instruction. Frequent late arrivals and/or early dismissals are disruptive to a child’s education and are discouraged by Bentonville Schools.
Transportation Changes:
Please try to establish a consistent routine regarding drop-off and pick up. 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. Thank you in advance for your support with this.
Permanent Car Tag Information:
Our morning and afternoon car line is running smoothly. Thank you! If you are a regular car rider, permanent car rider tags started being distributed TODAY, Thursday, Sept. 1st. This plastic tag will hang from your rearview mirror, and it will serve you all year long. One tag per family will be issued, and it will be in the backpack of your oldest child. On the last day of school, a staff member will collect these for use next year. Lost or misplaced tags will result in a $5 charge to cover the purchase of a replacement.
Interested in a second, permanent tag? We are selling a second tag option for $5. These will also be returned at the end of the year. More information to come regarding the purchase of a second permanent tag. Walkers, bus riders, and after-school care families, you are welcome to request your permanent tag from your classroom teacher if desired. Please contact the teacher of your oldest child. We understand there will still be instances when you need to use the temporary paper tag issued at the beginning of the year. Kindly let us know in advance.
From Mrs. Tammy - our Registrar:
If you are a brand new parent to our district and have not accessed Etrieve, you will log in with your email address and then click on “forgot password”. Once your password is reset, you should be able to log in and see all of the forms listed above. The link to reset your password is only good for 15 minutes. If you are unsure if you have already submitted the necessary forms, please look in your activity section in Etrieve to ensure you selected submit. Also, you will want to check the DRAFTS section to see if, for some reason, these forms are still waiting in the queue for your submission.
Thank you for your assistance with this,
Mrs. Tammy
News from Nurse Crutchfield:
Welcome to Evening Star! Here are a few reminders from Nurse Crutchfield:
- Health History: It is important that we have an updated Student Health History form for each student every year. The nurse MUST have a health history on file in order to provide appropriate care for your child when they are not feeling well. If you have not yet completed a Health History for the 2022-2023 school year, please do so. Please reach out to Mrs. Kendra at krogers@bentonvillek12.org or Nurse Crutchfield at dcrutchfield@bentonvillek12.org, and we will send a copy home with your child if you need one.
- Medications: ONLY a parent/guardian may deliver medication to the school building. The medication must be in the original container or box with the prescription label on it. Students are not allowed to transport medications at any time. See page 42 of our Elementary Student Handbook for the policy.
- Life-Threatening Allergy Plans: Students with the diagnosis of anaphylaxis require a physician signed Life-Threatening Allergies Plan on file along with the emergency medication(s) prescribed. These must be kept in the health office.
- Asthma Emergency Plans: Students with the diagnosis of asthma and require the use of an inhaler, must keep an inhaler in the health office. Inhalers must be in the pharmacy labeled box and also have a written doctor’s prescription/note. A doctor’s signed Asthma Action Plan is required on all students with asthma. Please bring in a rescue inhaler for your child to avoid a potential emergency.
- Sick Students: If a student develops a temperature of 100.4 degrees or above, or is vomiting, and/or has diarrhea, the student should be symptom-free for 24 hours, which is one entire school day from the day of dismissal, without requiring medication prior to returning to school.
- Hearing and Vision: Hearing and vision screenings for Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades will begin this month. If your child did not pass after 2 screenings, you will receive a letter via mail with a referral to the doctor. Please make an appointment and return the referral completed by the doctor by the due date (60 days) listed on the referral.
- Backup Clothes: If you have a student in grades K-2nd, please send a full change of clothing in your child’s backpack. Especially if your child is prone to bathroom accidents or just really good at finding mud puddles on the playground. Our supply of extra clothing is very limited. Please return any clothes that were borrowed from the nurse's office, and washed as soon as possible. Thank you for your help.
- Flu Clinic: Will be held on Friday, November 4th. More information to come.
- Important Dates: Immunization documentation and immunization exemptions are due by October 3rd for all students. If documentation is not received by October 3rd, those students will be excluded from school. Every kindergartner should have a kindergarten physical on file with the school. Kindergarten physicals are due by November 15th.
- COVID19: For students who test positive for covid, it is recommended that they stay home for 5 days after the onset of symptoms or a positive test result if asymptomatic. After 5 days, if symptoms are resolving and the student has been fever free for 24 hours without medication, the student may return to school. It is recommended they wear a mask for 5 additional days while in public. A physician's note or positive test result from a clinic may be submitted to the school for an excused absence.
Thank you for helping me keep every little owl safe and healthy.
Nurse Dana Crutchfield RN, BSN, CPN
PBIS at ESE:
As a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) school, we will continue to explicitly teach, model, and positively reinforce the expectations of growth, teamwork, integrity, and empathy over the school year. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a way for schools to encourage appropriate behavior. With PBIS, students learn about behavior, just as they learn other subjects like math or science. The key to PBIS is prevention, rather than punishment. We have a behavior matrix that states the expectations throughout the various school environments. Our acronym OWLS represents our school expectations.
Owning Integrity - We are honest and fair to ourselves and others. You can trust and count on us to be true to ourselves.
Working as a Team - We are committed to working together to meet a common goal. Through communication and cooperation, we can accomplish more together.
Learning Empathy - We are respectful and kind to all. Our caring hearts and compassionate minds bring a peace to our school, so all feel safe and welcomed.
Shooting for the Stars - We are determined and persevere when times get tough. Through hard work, we become our best selves.
PBIS relies on positive reinforcement to teach students the power of appropriate behavior. Our staff has chosen a great rewards system for our students. We will continue using the PBIS Rewards application to digitally award students points for appropriate behavior. Student District IDs have a student specific QR code. When a staff member sees a student meeting or exceeding expectations, the staff member can award a point either with their cell phone or their classroom computers. Students will then be given the opportunity to save their points for classroom, grade level, and/or building incentives.
Snacks:
Cell Phones & Smartwatches:
Students who own personal cell phones and smartwatches must keep them in their backpacks turned off. We understand that many families need this safety measure in place for their children specifically for after-school hours. In an effort to protect our students, maintain safety and confidentiality we want to make you aware that per our district student handbook:
Possession of any paging device, beeper, or similar electronic communication devices on the school campus during normal school hours is prohibited unless specifically exempted by the administration for health or other compelling reasons such as policies 4.31 & 4.32
Please see the Elementary Student Handbook located at the following Bentonville Schools link. While at ESE students may keep their electronic devices and smartwatches turned off in their backpacks during the school day.
Counselor Corner:
We are so excited to get in the classrooms this year and get to know our Owls better. Some of the topics that we have planned for this year include:
- Bullying Prevention/Empathy/Feelings
- Conflict Resolution/Coping Skills
- Kindness/Friendship
- Empower Me/Personal Safety
- Goal Setting/Careers
Please reach out to us for any needs you may have. We are always happy to help!
Pam Gaskin & Paula Kaufmann
479-360-7400
Literacy News:
What Does Background Knowledge Have To Do With Reading Comprehension?
A LOT! Research shows that a student’s background knowledge is one of the most significant indicators for reading comprehension success.
This is why we have been very intentional in the Bentonville School District to design a curriculum that builds background knowledge on a variety of topics based on social emotional, social studies and science topics. Our curriculum K-4 brings the world into the classroom.
This quarter we will be focusing on the following topics in each grade level. As a parent/guardian you can continue to help build background knowledge in these topics by reading additional books on these topics from the local library, go on virtual and real field trips, visit websites on these topics, conduct experiments, and much, much more!
- Kindergarten: Citizenship ( Classroom/School), All About Me, The Human Impact on Earth ( Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
- 1st grade: Citizenship ( School, Community, Rules/Laws), Government ( National Symbols, Function/Roles of Authority), Patterns in the Sky ( Moon and Stars)
- 2nd grade: Community in the Classroom, Local Government, Structures and Properties of Matter
- 3rd grade: Character Matters, Life Cycles and Traits of Organisms, State Government and the Right to Vote
- 4th grade: Knowing Myself and Others Builds A Better Community, American Leaders, Structures, Functions and Information Processing ( Senses and Internal/External Structures of Plants and Animals that Support Survival, Growth, and Behavior)
Happy reading!
Julie Dibee, Literacy Coach
Math News:
There are so many everyday tasks that you can do with your child to promote math education and support classroom learning!
- Telling Time - For younger students (K-1), focus on telling time to the hour (11:00) and half hour (11:30). For 2nd grade students, practice telling time to the quarter hour and five-minute mark. For 3rd and 4th grade students, practice telling time to the minute and calculating elapsed time (It's 11:30 now and we leave for piano lessons at 1:45. How much longer until we leave?)
- Counting Coins - For younger kids (K-1), count coins that are all the same (all pennies or all nickels). For older students (2-4), start counting mixed amounts of coins. For 3rd and 4th grade students, it's a great idea to start counting how much change you will get back when paying for things.
Katie Curry
ESE Math Coach
Whooo Loves to read? Your ESE OWLS DO!
What a BLAST your children and I are having in the library! I wish I could capture their excitement as they go through the shelves looking for their book. This month our children are learning how to locate books in the library.
4th grade parents, be on the lookout for information regarding robotics club towards the end of this month. Thank you for sharing your children with me.
Mrs. Watson
"Gym Shorts":
This month your little owls will be learning basic soccer skills such as passing and dribbling. We will use the knowledge of these skills to play in our 4 team soccer and soccer spider ball game. We will go straight into speed stacks and scooter relays towards the end of the month. Excited to have your little owls in PE this year.
Coach Kerkhover & Coach LaRocco
ART Studio:
This year our artists at Evening Star Elementary are back in the art room! We are excited to be back in the original space designed for art. We are going over procedures and expectations for art and starting to lay the foundation for the school year ahead. During September, our artists at ESE will continue to develop basic art skills.
Mr. VanSlyke
Music Notes:
Yay! It is so good to be back in the music room this year! Our ESE owls are already putting it to good use through singing, playing instruments, and learning folk dances!
2 important announcements:
Save the date 2nd graders and families! Our 2nd grade musical is Wednesday, October 12. Here is the link to the first parent info letter. More information will be sent soon - when we finalize solo parts and costume suggestions!
It’s RECORDER time! All 4th graders need both a recorder (in good playing condition) and a subscription to the “Be a Recorder Star” ebook. We will be ordering these supplies using “mypaymentsplus”. If you have not used mypaymentsplus before, you will need to create a login. Don’t worry! It is safe and easy to pay this way! (And you won’t have to worry about your little owl losing their check on the school bus!) Click here for instructions on how to set up and use mypaymentsplus
I will be sharing information through the classroom teachers throughout the year, but if you ever have any questions regarding music activities, please contact me directly at esimpson@bentonvillek12.org
Mrs. Simpson
Global Connections:
Hi Families!! My name is Sarah Connor and I will be your child's Global Connections teacher this school year! We will be learning about the seven continents of the world and spend a few weeks focusing on the people, animals, and land of each. Global Connections is back in a CLASSROOM this year so that means more space for more FUN! I am eager to hear what interesting facts your child shares with you!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Connor
Digital Literacy
I can’t say enough how impressed I am with the technology skills of our Owls! We’ve placed a large amount of focus on technology expectations and Chromebook care. 2nd -4th Grade students, please remember to charge those Chromebooks nightly and return them each day. Our younger Owls are learning to identify the different parts of a computer and how they are used while others are focusing on proper typing posture and procedures. We’re off to a great start!
Mrs. Castro
English as a Second Language:
Hola! 你好! Hello! I am so happy to see all my students again and welcome new ones. My name is Mrs. Tomblin and I am the ESL teacher here at Evening Star Elementary. I will be working with kindergarten through 4th grade students who qualify for ESL services. My goal is to help students become more proficient in their English reading, writing, listening and speaking so as to better support the core content being taught in class. I am so excited to work with your kids this year. Feel free to reach out anytime!
Melissa Tomblin
PTO NEWS:
The purpose of PTO is to aid the students and teachers of Evening Star Elementary by providing support for their educational and recreational needs while also promoting open communication between the administration, teachers, and parents. We want to take a minute to thank you in advance for your support of our students at Evening Star Elementary.
Staying connected with our PTO is easy! Click HERE to learn more about future meeting dates, meeting minutes, and more.
Thank you for joining PTO!
President - Katie Baumeister
Co-President - Tatum Aicklen
Vice President - Jordan Anglin
Treasurer - Jessica Daniels
Secretary - Jenna Woodard
SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENUS:
As I mentioned in August, school breakfast and lunch is 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 the month of September, simply click on the following link: https://www.bentonvillek12.org/page/food-and-nutrition
TREC:
TREC classes begin this month:
3rd grade - Wednesdays beginning August 31
4th grade - Thursdays beginning September 1
2nd grade will be testing this month.
Sincerely,
Becca Heinen