
Cottonwood Elementary
January 2022-23 Newsletter
Dear Families,
We hope you had a wonderful time with your loved ones during the holidays and are feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. We are excited to start this new year and have a nice long stretch between January and March to really dive into our academic work. This is a crucial time for our students to focus and make great strides in their learning.
To stay up-to-date with all the latest announcements and important information, please make sure to follow our school's Facebook page. We regularly post updates, reminders, and other announcements to keep our school community informed.
Sincerely,
Mr. Troast
New Staff Member: Bell Worrell
We are thrilled to welcome a new addition to our Cottonwood staff, Miss. Bell Worrell as our new Social Worker! Bell is a recent graduate of Pittsburg State University. Miss Worrell brings a wealth of experience and passion for education to our school. She is very familar with our community as she has be a paraprofessional and a subsitute teacher in the area before starting her student intern experience here at Cottonwood this past Fall. She already has great relationships with students and will help make the transition smooth. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Miss. Worrell!
If you need to reach Miss. Worrell please feel free to email her at bell_worrell@usd368.org
New Role: Computer Aide
We are excited to announce that we have a staff member in a new role this semester. Please join us in welcoming Miss. Cora Jackowski as our new Computer Aide Instructor. Cora has previoulsy served a grade level paraprofessional in our building. She is excited to step into this role and assit our students in the building.
Reading Corner with Mr. Troast- What is Explict Reading Instruction?
Parents,
Over the last year, I've tried to share as much as I can about our new reading philosophy and the new reading curriculum that we are using in K-2nd grade. We are only in year 1 and I am starting to see the many benefits of this new approach to teaching reading. One of the terms I often use when I speak with parents 1 on 1 is explicit instruction. This is a key element to how we teach reading and the science of how our brain learns to read. So what is explicit instruction?
Explicit instruction is a way to teach in a direct, structured way. When teachers use explicit instruction, they make lessons crystal clear. They show kids how to start and succeed on a task. They also give kids plenty of feedback and chances to practice. We often describe this as "I do", "We do" and "You do".
This teaching approach can be compared to using a recipe to make a cake. You use the recipe's step-by-step instructions to get your final product. If you skip a step or just guess what step comes next the final product will not be the same. Years of research tell us that when we are learning to read, it needs to follow a similar philosophy.
So what does that look like in the classroom? Please check out the video below from Mrs. Muckelbauer's class during our 95% group reading time. Notice the hand gestures and the number of practice opportunities students get within a skill.
Welcome Student Teachers
We are excited to have three student teachers in our building this semester. These teachers will work closely with their mentor teacher to provide exciting learning opportunities. Please welcome:
Melissa Wade: Student Teaching with Helen Woolsey and Erin Bidon
Sara Hornbacher: Student Teaching with Karla Haddock in Kindergarten
Meadow Stull: Student Teaching with Mary Ure
Save the date!
1st Grade Music Program
Tuesday, Feb 13, 2024, 06:30 PM
Paola High School, Angela Street, Paola, KS, USA
Cold Weather Reminder and Snow Day Alerts
If you are in need of winter coats or hats please reach out to Bell Worrell at bell_worrell@usd368.org
Inclement Weather
As we approach winter, the district will utilize the following to notify parents and the community should the need arise to cancel school.
- PantherAlerts - this text and email feature are available to any parent or community member who wants to sign up. A link to sign up is available on our district webpage under the Parents & Students tab.
- Infinite Campus Messaging system. Emails and phone calls will be sent from Infinite Campus.
- TV (channels 4, 5, 9, 41)
- USD 368 webpage
January Calendar
January 4th- School Resumes
January 8th- Board Meeting 6 pm at Central Office
January 15th- Martin Luther King Day- No School
February 1st- Start of Black History Month
February 13th- 1st Grade Music Program @ 6:30 pm
Yearbook Orders are due by Thursday, February 15. Visit inter-state.com/order to order online and enter code 82201V.
Reminder: Valentine's Day Parties
Breakfast
Arrival and Dimissal
iDismiss
Cottonwood Elementary
Email: corey_troast@usd368.org
Website: https://www.usd368.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Cottonwood%20Elementary
Location: 709 Hedge Ln, Paola, KS 66071, USA
Phone: 913-294-8050
Twitter: @ourschool