Evening Star Elementary
December 2022
A Note from Principal Williams:
December is officially here! Can you believe the end of the semester is near, and 2023 is just around the corner? As the first semester comes to a close, we want to congratulate all of our students and staff on their hard work and determination! It has definitely paid off! Arkansas State Report Cards were recently published. Our building was awarded an A. Additionally, the Department of Education recognized Evening Star Elementary for scoring in the Top 5% regarding our performance when compared across the state. The Department of Education also awarded our school monetary funds. These funds will be allocated for student and school initiatives focused on student and adult learning.
Our cafeteria recently installed scanners that work with our student ID badges. The scanners will help speed up the meal line in the cafeteria as students will now only need to have their ID badge scanned after picking up a breakfast or lunch tray. With this new digital feature, we want to reiterate the importance of student ID badges. Throughout the day, students use their ID badge for numerous options: meal purchases, library book checkout, PBIS points, logging onto their computers, and checking in and off the school bus. As you can see, these badges are essential to the systems we currently have in place. We need your help ensuring that your child’s badge is brought to school daily.
As of today, we only have 13 instructional days left this semester. Our teachers are working hard to provide quality instruction and quickly assess our students as the quarter and semester come to a close. As we approach the end of the second quarter, teachers are continuing to assess students to determine areas of growth, as well as any areas of focus. When our students return from Winter Break, we will kick off the new semester with MAP testing. MAP tests are designed to measure a student's growth when compared to where he/she was at the beginning of the year. Each student's growth goal is unique to him/herself. Our goal is to ensure that each child shows growth on these tests. We are looking forward to sharing this information with you after the winter break! In the meantime, we ask that you partner with us by ensuring that your child maintains healthy routines, such as reading nightly, getting plenty of rest, eating a healthy breakfast, and maintaining stellar attendance all the way to the end.
Report cards will be sent through email on January 10th.
We hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe Winter Break.
Thank you again for your support, and thank you for all that you do for your little owlet!
Principal Williams
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:
December 10th - Downtown Bentonville Christmas Parade @ 6:00 p.m.
December 16th - PTO Teacher Luncheon
December 20th - Winter Parties (see below)
December 21st - ESE Pajama Day
December 22nd - January 4th - Winter Break
January 3rd - Teacher work Day, No School
January 4th - Teacher Professional Development, No School
January 5th - Students Return and 3rd Quarter begins.
- January 9th - School Resource Officer & Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
- January 9th-10th - Third and Fourth-Grade MAP Testing
January 12th-13th - Kindergarten/First Grade MAP Testing
January 16th - MLK Day, No School
January 19th-20th - Second Grade MAP Testing
January 25th-27th - PTO Goodies with Grown-Ups (see January Parent Newsletter for additional information.)
January 27th - 100th Day of School and All Bentonville Reads Kick-off
Winter Parties:
Our Winter party is coming up quickly. Classroom Winter Parties are scheduled for Tuesday, December 20th. While party days are so much fun for our students, please know that your child’s safety is our primary focus. As always, our front office staff will screen ALL guests through our Raptor program to ensure we are keeping our little owls safe. You need to have your driver's license or state ID in hand on the day of the party. On party day, staff will ask to see your driver's license to confirm you have been scanned in, and then they will provide you with a Raptor guest sticker. To attempt to make check-in faster, please complete our RSVP form linked HERE. Guests must have a current driver's license or state identification card that can be scanned into our Raptor system to access the building beyond the office doors. If a guest's ID is NOT scanned before the winter party, they will need to wait in the office to have their driver's license scanned before they will be given access to the classrooms. For parking purposes, we will have a staggered party schedule. Party times for each grade are listed below:
7:50-8:20 - 3rd Grade
8:45-9:15 - 4th Grade
9:45-10:15 - 2nd Grade
12:40-1:10 - 1st Grade
1:45-2:15 - Kindergarten
*Reminder - Please make sure you have your ID on the day of the party even if you have been scanned into our Raptor system earlier this school year. We will check ALL ID's at check-in.
PTO Updates:
Evening Star Elementary will have a float in the Bentonville Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 10th. Evening Star Elementary is the reigning champion from 2019, and we will win again! This year's theme is a Lego Christmas.
Click HERE to sign up to donate materials and decor for our ESE Award-Winning Christmas Float.
We need YOU! Click HERE to sign up to help. Our ESE PTO Float Committee has a handful of volunteer opportunities for you to help build the float for the Bentonville Christmas Parade. Let’s keep the winning streak going.
On Friday, December 16th, the Evening Star Elementary PTO will treat our teachers and staff to a holiday lunch. We are asking our amazing Evening Star Families to provide 2 to 3 dozen homemade or store-bought cookies for the luncheon so that our teachers and staff can take home an assortment of 24 cookies each for the holidays! If you are able, please sign-up for the cookie exchange using the link below. We also have an easy option to pre-order decorated sugar cookies that will be delivered directly to the school.
Please have the cookies dropped off in the front office no later than 8:00 am on the morning of December 16th. We will have members of the PTO available at the car rider line that morning to collect cookies at drop off. You can contact Sarah Beahm with any questions at sarah.beahm@gmail.com or 561-312-9317.
Thank you for your continued support of our wonderful teachers and staff!
Evening Star Elementary PTO
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. We encourage you to take a moment and label your child's outerwear with their name. Our lost and found is growing!
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.
Updates from Nurse Crutchfield:
‘Tis the Season! With winter comes the common cold, flu, and other illnesses that arrive with it. Please remember students should be symptom-free for 24 hours without the use of medication for fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or other symptoms prior to returning to school. Also, please know that students are not allowed to carry and self-administer cough drops or other over-the-counter medications at school.
Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
Wishing you a healthy and happy winter season!
Nurse Crutchfield
Counselor Updates:
Thank you to all for your generous contributions to our Gives Back Program. With your help, our most needy little owls have daily snacks, weekend food, and extra food for extended breaks. This fills not only their tummy but also their hearts and ours!
We hope you all enjoy your holiday season. There are so many free activities to make wonderful memories as a family over the two-week Winter break. We could not resist sharing some of our favorites with you!
Go on a tour of lights (Hot cocoa after!!!).
Make a pinecone bird feeder (pinecone, peanut butter, and roll it in birdseed). Maybe an OWL will find a tasty treat!
Decorate your front door (or your child’s) for the season.
Movie night (Popcorn is a requirement!)
Check out local events (Crystal Bridges, Parades, Town Squares).
Go caroling in your neighborhood (AND OURS!!!).
Make a craft as a family to hang in your home.
Go through gently used toys or stuffed animals and donate them to a shelter.
Check out seasonal books from the library.
Have a family slumber party (dancing is required for this!!!).
Make cookies or other treats for neighbors or community helpers.
Boardgame night (NO phones or other electronics!).
As always, please reach out to us for any reason! We are here for your children and YOU! Thank you for sharing your most precious little ones with us.
Pam Gaskin 479-360-7407 pgaskin@bentonvillek12.org
Paula Kaufmann 779-360-7408 pkaufmann@bentonvillek12.org
ESE Math and Literacy Coach News:
Still looking for last minute Christmas gifts or activities to enjoy with the family over Winter Break? Check out the descriptions below for some literacy and math geared games! Click the title for a link to purchase.
For kindergarten, first, or second graders:
Dominoes: Dominoes can be a unique way to teach math principles such as order, sorting, addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Dominoes also allows players to improve their concentration and critical thinking skills. Here are just a few ways you can play with dominoes at home.
Travel Tangoes: Travel Tango is a small, compact set of spatial challenges, complete with magnetic pieces so they don’t get lost on car trips! It’s a great way for students to develop a foundational understanding of geometry.
Speaking Board Games: Speaking Board Games were designed to build a child’s oral language skills through discussing topics of interest to them. Children are encouraged to create, and ask questions, as well as answer questions about different topics. The games include spinners and different game boards.
Wordplay for Kids: Wordplay for Kids promotes reading, spelling, and vocabulary development. The spinner provides two letters that must appear in a word that fits a certain category. Players that are able to form a word, then move their piece ahead on the game board. Players move their pieces according to how many letters that were in their word.
Scrabble Jr.: Scrabble Jr. builds a child’s reading and spelling skills through building words with letter tiles onto a gameboard that has some kid sized words and colorful pictures for extra support. As your child’s reading and spelling skills continue to develop, turn the gameboard over for the more advanced level of Scrabble.
Shut The Box: Shut The Box is a simple dice game in which players work on adding and subtracting to “close” each number 1-10. It encourages children to use mental strategies to add/ subtract and think flexibly about numbers. It can also be played alone.
For third of fourth graders:
Sumoku: Players use basic math skills to create patterns and sets in a crossword-style format. The best part is there are several variations so the game never gets boring!
Dabble: Dabble is an exciting game that promotes vocabulary and spelling development. Players are encouraged to build five words with twenty tiles within a certain timeframe. Dabble includes 148 letter tiles, 4 tile racks, and a two-minute timer.
Prime Climb: Looking for a way to challenge your strong mathematical thinker? This game involves prime number concepts, division, multiplication, and factorization with helpful visuals for students to strategize their way to winning!
Ticket to Ride First Journey/ Ticket to Ride: Ticket to Ride is easy to learn and encourages critical thinking, strategizing, and quite simply, counting! Try the First Journey edition for your younger kiddos or the adult version for your upper elementary students. Players collect train cards, claim routes, and try to connect cities coast to coast.
Inference School Days: Looking for ways to promote comprehension with your child? Inference School Days encourages your child to read short stories and answer questions in order to make his/her way around the game board. This game includes story cards on two ready levels, a game board, and playing pieces.
Blurt: Blurt helps build listening comprehension and vocabulary. Players earn their chance to move their piece on the gameboard by listening to a clue, then being the first to blurt out the word that matches the clue. The first person to circle the board is the winner. This game includes clue cards, playing pieces, and a game board.
Happy shopping!
Katie Curry (Math Coach)
Julie Dibee (Literacy Coach)
Whooo Loves to read? Your ESE OWLS DO!
If I could have every one of your children all day every day, I would! What a fantastic group of owls we have! I thoroughly enjoy every moment I have with them.
Robotics club will be starting soon after school. I have a large number of applicants and very few spaces available. Parents of 4th graders, this will be an extremely difficult decision. Please be on the lookout for an email from me if your child applied for Robotics Club.
Don’t forget about helping our library gain more books while recognizing your special owl! Celebration books are available!
Thank you for the continued honor of working with our children.
Read, Learn, and Explore!
Mrs. Watson, ESE Librarian
"Gym Shorts"
Everyone enjoyed having the Men's Hockey team visit and teach them a few drills before break! Your little owls will finish up hockey by playing a mini-hockey game this week. We will dig a little deeper into critical thinking and teamwork with a fun holiday relay. We will finish the month off with a few fun activities; glow parachute/volleyball party and holiday grade-level singing.
Coach Kerkhover and Coach LaRocco
ART Studio:
The year is quickly winding down as we approach 2023! Our artists continue to work hard learning new skills and techniques. I hope each art student is doing a good job of bringing their art home and sharing it with their family. I feel that it is very important to share what they have created with their family. Also, our little owl artists have been working hard on several community projects that include cards and posters.
Mr. Van Slyke
Music Notes:
Thank you to all of the 3rd graders and teachers, and families! The 3rd graders warmed the hearts of so many through the community outreach project. I have received several thank-yous from the nursing homes and the VA hospital. The students’ cards, letters, and precious singing were all appreciated!
Attention 4th Graders and Families!
It is time to start preparing for the 4th-grade musical! Please save the date, as all 4th-grade students will be an essential part of the chorus. Our performance is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 21st, at 6:00 p.m. in the Bentonville West Performing Arts Center.
Students who are interested in going “above and beyond” may also audition for a singing solo, acting part, and/or a chance to perform with the “Pirate Band.”
Click here to access the first parent information note
Click here to access the audition packet
Auditions will be held during activity time Dec. 15-20. Students must have a parent's signature (signed audition packet) to be considered for a role.
We will finish off this semester with a fun winter holiday sing-along for each grade level. Happy holidays to all!
Keep filling the world with music.
Mrs. Simpson
Global Connections:
We have had some great conversations while continuing our journey through North America! Our focus will be on Mexico and Canada for the month of December. We will finish off this continent with a fun activity called the North American Engineer Challenge. Stay tuned for more details on this after winter break!
Fun Fact: Did you know that Mexico is home to the world’s largest pyramid? Not Egypt, Mexico! It’s called the Pyramid of Cholula. Check it out!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Connor
Digital Literacy:
We are going to dig deeper into coding this month in all grades. Third and fourth grade are taking their December typing test and setting their typing goals for March.
Ms. Castro
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE:
One of the biggest things we are working on in class is understanding vocabulary. A fun and great way to practice English vocabulary is through games. With the upcoming Holiday break from school, playing games is a great way to bring families together and have some fun while learning! They might also make a great gift idea!
Here is my annual list of my recommended games:
- Head Bandz
- Zingo
- Zingo Word Builder
- Super Sleuth
- Play on Words
- Scrabble Junior
- Blurt!
- Sight Word Bingo
- Guess Who
- Guess in 10 junior
Sincerely,
Mrs. Tomblin
Upcoming Events:
Free AAC Training!
Chatting with Directors of Special Education
ESE Yearbook!
Yearbooks are on sale! Click this link to purchase and use our school code: 1015671061902803
Remember, all parents can create their own custom page at no extra cost! Custom pages are due by 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