GARDNER GAZETTE

We are looking forward to February! Our COVID positive and quarantine numbers are decreasing as we wrap up the month of January. We hope that continues to be the trend as we head into spring.

The third quarter incentive began Monday, January 31, 2022. Students are working hard to not receive any referrals until the end of the third quarter on March 4, 2022. Students will be earning a pizza and dance party reward.

Students have also enjoyed building a snowman with their homeroom classes. Each day we hide snowman pieces throughout the building for the students to find. Each class that builds a snowman will earn a class reward.

The Regional Office of Education will be hosting a spelling contest on Tuesday, April 19 at St. John's Lutheran School in Red Bud. Gardner Elementary will be sending one representative to this event. In preparation, we will be having classroom spelling bees and selecting three finalists from each 5th grade class. These classroom winners will compete in the 5th Grade Gardner Spelling Bee, which will be held at 8:30AM on February 23rd. Parents are invited to either attend the spelling bee, or watch through a remote link that will be sent out at a later date. 5th grade students will be cheering from their classrooms.

Gardner Elementary welcomes Marla Thorpe as our new interim nurse. Nurse Marla is the floater nurse for WCUSD, she will be with us until a full-time nurse is hired. Nurse Marla's email address is mthorpe@wcusd5.net.

If you or anyone you know is interested in the school nursing position please contact Julie Bender at julie@wcusd5.net.

Friday, February 18th is a half day of school for students. Town students will be dismissed at 11:10 and bus students will be dismissed at 11:25. There is no school on Monday, February 21st in observance of President's Day.

Gardner students have the opportunity to join the fight against childhood cancer by participating in the St. Jude Math-A-Thon from February 1-28. This event helps kids refine their math skills while teaching them that they have the power to help others. Ask your student about this opportunity!

The House of Neighborly Service will be collecting change to help with their Family Summer Lunch Program! If you have any spare change you'd like to donate please send it to school with your student between February 7th and 18th. Thank you for your continued support of our community!

Gardner Elementary is looking for any gently used board games or card games to use for indoor recess. Games should be gently used, school age appropriate, and with all the pieces. We are in need of games such as Uno, Sorry, Connect Four, Candy Land, Skip Bo, Farkle, etc. Any donation would be greatly appreciated! You can drop items off in the office or send them in with your student. Thank you!

A flyer with information regarding the Girls on the Run program is attached at the bottom of the Gazette.

Congratulations to the following students who won an Above and Beyond award for the month of January. The January trait of the month was Integrity, “Being honest, having moral principles, doing what is right when no one is looking”. Nolan Schmidt, Jakson Gregory, Korryn McBride, Holden Roscow, Shayla Miller, Maizy Scherle, John Huntley, Jayden Pence, Mackenzie May, Lily Osterhage, Macie Espenschied, Maxx Tepper, Rilyn Marquardt, Adelaide Schilling, Easton Glaenzer, Garrison Maddox, Aubrey Fischer, Khloe Nichols, Ruby Lucash, Samantha Heilig, Daphne Pitts, Kamryn Thomas, Lauren Rueter, Braylen Brinkman, Ellie Eggemeyer, Max Meyers, Stella Zellerman, Chase Richey, Carter Toenjes, Colton Castle, Lucy Renk, Ellie Stumpf, Harper Stewart, and Brody Utz

As we enter the month of February, it’s a great time to celebrate friendships! We are so proud of how the students this year are making an effort to be kind to their classmates.

Your reader is using the “RACES” strategy to respond to reading questions. The “E” is for explain your answer. This is especially important while we are focusing on inferring because we are explaining WHY we think what we think. When making an inference, the answer is not directly found in the story; thus we must explain our thinking.

Our scientists will investigate What Makes a Roller Coaster Go So Fast?

Our mathematicians will begin unit 5 on digging deeper into fractions and decimals. We also will be reviewing math concepts to prepare for the upcoming state testing.

In social studies we will begin chapter 6. We will learn about Illinois’ journey to statehood.

Our wonderful writers are finishing up an opinion writing piece. It was great to see how passionate some of the students are about their topic.

Thank you for your continued support each day.

5th graders will be continuing Unit 4 in math where we are discussing decimal concepts and coordinate grids! Don’t forget to keep practicing those division and multiplication math facts at home for our quarterly timed tests. In Reading, we have started our Asking Questions Mini Unit. Very soon we will begin our nonfiction novel study. Students will be determining the main idea of each chapter and supporting the main idea with supporting details from the text. In writing, 5th graders are in the revising stages of their Fiction Narratives. Ask your student what their story is about! We have just completed our Matter Unit in Science. Up next, we will be taking a closer look at ecosystems and food webs.

This year we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a classroom party! If your student wishes to bring in treats, please make sure there is enough to share with the entire class.

We hope you and your students understand how thankful we are for your continued effort at school and home! Thank you for all you do.

Chorus News

We are working hard on our next concert. “The Gardner Comedy Show” will be Tuesday, March 1,2022. The show features dancing dinosaurs, pizza delivery men, and many jokes.

Band News

Band members are reminded that practice records are due every Tuesday. Please remember to also go to your weekly band lessons. Practicing and attending lessons are the ways to improve your playing. On Thursdays we get to listen to band member’s talents with “Got Something to Share”. We have some amazing talents in our band. Keep working and sharing your talents.

Your feedback is needed! Please complete the Illinois 5 Essentials Survey. The survey is open until March 11, 2022. Click here for more information.

• Feb. 1st - 28th- St. Jude Math-A-Thon
• Feb. 4th - Midterm 3rd quarter
• Feb. 7th - 18th - HNS "Be the Change" collection
• Feb. 10th - STUCO Meeting, 2:40 - 3:40
• Feb. 18th - Half day for students. Town dismissed at 11:10, bus student 11:25
• Feb. 21st - President's Day - No school
• Feb. 23rd - Spelling Bee - 8:30 am
• Feb. 28th - Read Across America begins-more info to come