Hello Maple Hill Hawk Families!

This month, our Hawk Trait is gratitude. When students are grateful, they learn how to appreciate another person or thing that did something good for them or made them feel happy. This is becoming aware of others and appreciating the great things in life. This month, students will work on identifying things they are grateful for and express those thoughts to others. Students will learn gratitude through lessons with our school counselor, Mrs. Derry, tips and challenges during our daily morning announcements, and through classroom lessons. Below is a quick video explaining gratitude with some easy exercises to get families moving and sharing what they are grateful for. I hope you enjoy the interactive video.

Did you know that November is Native American Heritage Month? See the link below to visit an online exhibition filled with art from Native artists. Have fun exploring different art. In November, we also have local and national holidays, including:

November 1: All Saint's Day

November 2: All Soul's Day

November 11: Verterans Day

November 12: Diwali/Deepavali

November: 23: Thanksgiving Day

November 24: Native American Heritage Day

We have a lot of beautiful things to be grateful for this month. I hope you are all inspired to take a moment and reflect on the things in your life you are grateful for. One of the most important things we can model for our children is being reflective and showing appreciation for what we are grateful for. Our children can learn so much from watching the adults share their appreciation and gratitude for the great people and things in their lives.

As always, below, you will find a wealth of information about everything happening at Maple Hill in November. I hope you find these resources helpful.

Kind Regards,

Ms. McNeil

Principal at Maple Hill

November 1st- Recycling before school

November 2nd- Family Dine-Out Night @ Mr. G's Pizza (see below)

November 2nd- Early out day TK/K dismissed at 11:30 am and 1st-5th dismissed at 12:40 pm

November 6th- Safari Lunch for students who raised $300 or more in the fall fundraiser

November 7th- Virtual ELAC meeting @ 8:30 am (see below)

November 8th- Recycling before school

November 9th- Early out day TK/K dismissed at 11:30 am and 1st-5th dismissed at 12:40 pm

November 9th- 5th Grade Parent Volunteer Meeting at 12:40 in the MPR or on zoom

November 10th- No School- Veteran's Day

November 15th- Recycling before school

November 16th-Early out day TK/K dismissed at 11:30 am and 1st-5th dismissed at 12:40 pm

November 17th- Access Reports Cards online after 4:00 pm (see below)

November 20-24th- Thanksgiving Break- No School

November 28th- Virtual MHCC Meeting (see below)

November 28th- Virtual School Site Council Meeting (see below)

November 29th- Recycling before school

November 29th- Make-Up School Picture Day

November 30th- Fire Drill

November 30th-Early out day TK/K dismissed at 11:30 am and 1st-5th dismissed at 12:40 pm

ELAC Virtual Parent Meeting

At this meeting, Ms. McNeil, our principal, will be sharing information about how teachers monitor the progress of students, and we will take a look at our ELPAC data from last year. Everyone is welcome to join us to learn about this important information.

ELAC Meeting #2

Tuesday, November 7th from 8:30 – 9:30 am

Google Meet joining link: https://meet.google.com/vwa-xbct-gqc

Please join us for our third Maple Hill Community Club Meeting of the school year. We will share how much money we raised in the Fall Enrichment Fundraiser and how those funds will help make this school year amazing. We will also discuss the upcoming family nights out and future fun events for our students.

At the meeting, the MHCC exec board will share updates, and you will also hear from our fantastic teacher representative, Mrs. Roviria, and the Principal, Ms. McNeil.

MHCC Virtual Meeting

Tuesday, November 28th from 8:30 – 9:30am

Google Meet joining link: https://meet.google.com/eyv-ouem-cui

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN US!!

At this meeting, Ms. McNeil, our Principal, will share information about our School Site Council, the requirements of the committee, and our district-wide LCAP goals. Throughout the school year, we will meet to look at our School Safety Plan. We are currently looking for more parents to join this committee. If you want to learn more about the School Site Council Committee, join us for this virtual meeting. Everyone is welcome.

School Site Council Meeting #2

Tuesday, November 28th from 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Google Meet joining link: https://meet.google.com/bzs-fpgf-snk

Our elementary students have completed the first trimester of the school year. Report cards can be viewed on the AERIES Parent Portal on Friday, November 17th, at 4 PM.

To View Your Child’s Report Card From Home:

1. Log into the Parent Portal

2. Click the GRADES tab

3. Click on STANDARDS BASED REPORT CARD

Instructions on how to view the Report Card through the AERIES Parent Portal can be viewed by clicking on the links below. A video demonstrating how to access your child's report card can be viewed at https://youtu.be/x5U6Hy4Tszc
How to Access Your Child's Report Card
Korean Translation- How to Access Your Child's Report Card
Mandarin Translation- How to Access Your Child's Report Card
Spanish Translation- How to Access Your Child's Report Card

Our SEL enrichment lesson this month will be on gratitude. We will have a meaningful discussion on what gratitude means and the importance of giving thanks. Students will also be encouraged to show gratitude to those people around them and appreciate what they have in life. We will also discuss understanding and respecting differences and similarities among needs and wants.

Family Book Guide:

Reading books about gratitude is a great way to have discussions with your child about meaningful ways to see all the things in life they can be grateful for.

Here are some literature suggestions:

TK/K: Bear Says Thanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G2WXWZu3jw

1st-3rd: Gratitude is my Superpower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK7jmAUoASI

4th-5th: Those Shoes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJOoiF0W8jo

Family Gratitude Activity Ideas:

Gratitude is being aware of and thankful for the good things in your life and taking the time to express appreciation and return kindness. Being grateful is more than saying thank you. When you express gratitude, it can lead to a stronger sense of well-being.

Here are some activities you can do as a family that show gratitude. Each activity can be modified to suit your personal needs:

• Thank you card: Think about something kind or thoughtful someone has done for you and make them a homemade thank you card. It will be sure to show them your gratitude and how much you appreciate what they did for you.

• Gratitude Jar: https://viewsfromastepstool.com/diy-gratitude-jar-upcycled-kid-made-simple/

• Thankful Turkey Craft: https://www.theresourcefulmama.com/thankful-turkey-kid-craft-and-book/

As we start the school year, everyone needs to review our safety reminders. Keeping our students safe is our number one priority. Please show the slides below to anyone who might be picking up or dropping off your child at school.

Also, ensure your child knows who is picking them up each day and has a designated meeting spot so they are confident about where to meet them. Tk-1st grade students will stay with their teacher until an adult has walked to the gate to meet them.

Please DO NOT encourage your child to wait at the park across the street. There is no adult supervision there. Instead, pick a spot in front of the school to meet your child. Any child who has not been picked up and is still on campus after 15 minutes will be brought into the office to call home.

In the front of the school, we have been able to add some enhanced safety features this school year, including a fence and retaining wall to help families stay safe as they walk up to our front gates. We also have new signage in our loading and unloading zone as well.

Click on the button below to access our Safety Slides for more detailed information.

This year we will embrace our wild side with our theme of "Wild About Learning!" We are planning fun animal-themed activities throughout the school year to get our students excited about coming to school. Get ready for animal-themed dress-up days, fun assemblies, and great lessons about animals around the world!!

This year students will have the opportunity to receive a free brunch and a free lunch at school. Brunch will be served during recess. Students need to know their lunch ID numbers or scan a lunch card provided by their teacher to receive lunch.

Please visit our nutrition service website link below to find out more information. Families may also fill out a meal benefit application form to determine eligibility for school funding, computer network access, discounted fees on college applications, and discounted fees on standardized tests.

Email: kmcneil@wvusd.org
Website: www.maplehillschool.org
Location: 1350 Maple Hill Road, Diamond Bar, CA, USA
Phone: 909-861-6224