Otter News

This month, we are focusing on gratitude. Other words that mean gratitude are thankfulness, appreciation and generosity. Our definition is focusing on what is good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have. Classrooms teachers are teaching the second step curriculum lessons that align with gratitude, having class discussions during their morning meetings, and reinforcing the concept throughout the day.

As a school we read the book, Thankful by Elaine Vickers. (access link to the book in Mrs. Faker's November library slide deck). Students then wrote what they are grateful or thankful for. See some photos below of the classroom "thankful chains". I have even started this tradition with my own family to read the book and then make our own chains to hang up and then go back and reflect on our thoughts in December.

Next month's theme: Empathy

Every day students are able to earn a splash ticket by demonstrating our school wide expectations of show respect, solve problems, make good decisions. Teachers collect the splash tickets in their classrooms and then once a week we put them in our grade level buckets.

Here are this week's splash ticket winners:

Kindergarten - Della, Roman, Owen

1st Grade - Axel, Dawson, Norah

2nd Grade - Hudson, Alex, Lia

3rd Grade - Dre, Asher, Bennett

4th Grade - Beatrix, Lucas

4/5 & 5th Grade - Iris, Anna, Titan, Aliya

Classroom winners this week: Mrs. Waage's class and they earned a prize as a class.

2nd grade readers and writers working on their menu choices focused on vocabulary, comprehension, word work, or reading fluency while Mrs. Oake met with small groups. (see photos below)

Highly Capable Referral Notice for Annual Testing

Open October 18th, 2023 - January 12th, 2024

Online Highly Capable Referral form for Parents and Teachers

Direct link- https://forms.gle/8oVhwyfi7jt4d1jdA

Please note: single online referral form for teachers and parents:

https://www.psd401.net/acadmics/highly-capable for more information

• Wed, Thurs, Fri - November 22, 23, 24 - No School, Thanksgiving Break
  
• Wednesday, December 6th - Winter Concert, 1st & 2nd Grades, 6:30pm
• Tuesday, December 12th - PTA Movie Night & Fondi Takeover
• Winter Break begins Thursday, December 21st through Tuesday, January 2nd. See everyone on Wednesday, January 3rd!

Email: rosendahlj@psd401.net
Website: https://psd401.net/artondale-elementary-school/
Location: Artondale Elementary School, 40th Street Northwest, Gig Harbor, WA, USA
Phone: 253-530-1100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtondaleOtters

The Peninsula School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the District’s Title IX and Compliance Officer, Dan Gregory, at (253) 530-1009, email gregoryd@psd401.net or the Section 504 and ADA Coordinator, John Yellowlees, at (253) 530-1081, email yellowleesj@psd401.net.Mailing address: 14015 62nd Ave. NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332.