December 2022 Hawk Talk

The Season of Celebration

Hello Maple Hill Hawk Families! Welcome to our December Hawk Talk. This newsletter is packed with resources and information for December. Please read through this carefully.

This time of year can be a wonderful and joyous time of year filled with many different types of celebrations. If your family celebrates something special, I encourage you to talk to your children about the meaning behind the celebration. Share stories of your childhood and the part of your celebration that are special and unique. Then encourage your child to learn about other cultures and what types of things they celebrate. These conversations will open their minds to their own unique and special traditions as well as learn more about the world around them.

Below I have included a link to different celebrations that happen around the world in December for you all to explore.

From the bottom of my heart, I hope you all enjoy this time of year!!

With Love,

Mrs. McNeil

Principal

December Holiday List 2022

Important Dates in the Month of December

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

December 5-9- Fall Book Fair (see below)

December 5-9- Toy Drive Collection (see below)

December 8- Early out day- TK/K dismissed at 11:30 am and 1st -5th dismissed at 12:40 pm

December 9- 5th Grade Choir Concert (see below)

December 15- School-wide minimum day all grades dismissed at 11:35 am

December 16 - January 3rd- Winter Break

January 4- Return to school

Book Fair Information

Dates: December 5th - December 9th

Location: Maple Hill Library

All students will have an opportunity to visit the book fair during the week with their class. There will be books for all levels of readers. This is a great opportunity to build your library at home and help your child find books they would love to read.

The book fair will be open after school on

Tuesday, Dec. 6, and Wednesday, Dec. 7th until 4:00 pm. Anyone who would like to attend the book fair after school can enter and exit through the primary gate.

You can also shop our book fair online by clicking on the link below:

MAPLE HILL BOOK FAIR LINK

Toy Drive Information

Maple Hill will be hosting our first-ever toy drive to help bring a smile to the faces of kids in need this holiday season. Our Student Council will be organizing the toy drive in coordination with the Walnut Sherriff's Department. Students will be learning about the toy drive this week during morning announcements.

Our toy drive will run from Monday, December 5th through Friday, December 9th. If you would like to donate to our toy drive, please send a NEW unwrapped toy to school with your child. We will have a collection table in our front office. All toys donated will be picked up by our local sheriff, Deputy Scheller, as part of their "Pack the Patrol Car" toy drive, and then delivered to kids in need. This is a great way to spread some joy this holiday season.

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5th Grade Choir Concert

Our 5th Grade Choir will be performing next Friday, December 9th starting at 8:45 am. The performance will be approximately 30-40 mins. This performance will be outdoors in our amphitheater. Families are welcome to attend. We will be opening our upper-grade gate at 8:30 am to allow families time to get a seat before the show begins.

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Maple Hill Community Club Message

Our Maple Hill Community Club Executive Board would like to wish all of the Maple Hill families and a wonderful holiday season and a joyous New Year!

The MHCC Meeting on December 7th has been canceled.

SAVE THE DATE: Family Skate Night- February 16th. More information will be coming soon.

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December Hawk Character Trait: Honesty

Our SEL enrichment lesson this month will be about honesty and integrity. We will have a meaningful discussion on how being dishonest impacts not only themselves but others as well. Students will also learn to take accountability for their mistakes by using the three step apology process to correctly apologize. This is a social skill that improves relationships, builds leaders and grows confidence.

Family Book Guide:

Reading books about honesty, integrity & trust can help students communicate ideas sincerely and respectfully, set and recognize boundaries, and build strong relationships.

Here are some literature suggestions for all ages:

A Little Spot of Honesty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Gi79I7vmA

Honesty is my Superpower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z-Ads5yRAs

The “I” in Integrity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uyp3I8boH8

Howard B. Wigglebottom and the Monkey on His Back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4c8N-mFmKM

Family Discussion on Integrity:

Speaking Truthfully: Speaking with integrity means saying how something really is or how it really happened.

· You don’t spread false rumors.

· You own up to your actions, even if you’ll get in trouble.

· You explain how a situation really happened.

Acting Truthfully: Acting with integrity means you always do the right thing, even when it’s hard.

· You don’t break the rules or cheat to gain advantage.