Erickson Express
Family Newsletter
November 16, 2023
Dear Erickson Families,
Tomorrow, Friday, November 17th is Early Dismissal at 1:40. All full day students will dismiss at 1:40. Kindergarten PM will dismiss at 3:30. Students should wear their pillar shirts or pillar color for Eagle's Nest on Friday.
We celebrated World Kindness Day on November 13th. Students engaged in activities in their classroom around Kindness. Each student received a bracelet that says "Be Kind" on one side and "I Am Kind" on the other side. Students also received special Eagle Tickets to pass out to peers who show kind behavior throughout the week. Please consider talking at home about kind and unkind behavior. Please see the School Improvement Goal included below that references our efforts towards promoting KIND behavior at Erickson.
Preschool Pajama Service Project, the PTO Holiday Gift Shop and Mitten Tree information below.
A reminder that the weather is continually changing. Please make sure to send warm clothes (coats, hats, gloves) on colder days. All students go outside for recess each day.
If you need to report an absence, please call the school 630-529- 2223 or email the teacher and the attendance line: erattendance@sd13.org. If you need to report a change in dismissal for your child and it is after 2:00pm, please call the school.
I am very GRATEFUL to be a part of the Erickson School Community. I am blessed to work with your children every day. THANK YOU for sharing your children with us! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Stacy Johnston
Principal
Veterans Day Assembly- Honoring our Veteran Families
Veterans Day - PTO Wounded Warrior Fun Run
Important Dates
- November 17: Hot Lunch, 1st Trimester Ends (Progress reports will be available on Dec. 1), Early dismissal 1:40
- November 20 & 21 - Parent Teacher Conference - No School
- Mitten Tree collection (NEW hats, mittens, scarves for families in need) November 20-December 22.
- November 22, 23, 24: No School - Happy Thanksgiving
- November 27: PTO Meeting 5:30pm in the Erickson Library
- November 28: School Store
- December 1: Spirit Day: wear yellow/blue & Trimester 1 Progress Reports will be available
- December 5: PTO Holiday Gift Shop open for families from 6:00-8:00pm in the Erickson Gym
- December 6: PTO Holiday Gift shop open for students to shop during school hours
*Please note: 1:40 Early Dismissal Days/School Improvement are on FRIDAY. Early Dismissal/School Improvement days are one Friday per month and FULL DAY students are dismissed at 1:40 while teachers are involved in professional development activities. Half-Day PM Kindergarten will attend school at their normal PM times. Preschool does not attend on early dismissal days.
Preschool's Service Project: A Pajama Drive through Scholastic
Preschool Service Project - Now through Dec 2
ABOUT THE DRIVE
We are excited to partner once again with Scholastic for the 14th Annual Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive! Every year, hundreds of classrooms around the nation collect brand new pajamas to support the children of Pajama Program. As is tradition, Scholastic has pledged to match every pair of donated pajamas with a brand new storybook! Pajamas are due by December 2nd.
PTO NEWS:
Our next PTO meeting is Monday, November 27th in the library from 5:30-6:30 pm. All are welcome and we would love to see you there!
We are excited to have the Holiday Gift Shop again at Erickson on December 5, 2023 from 6pm-8pm in the Erickson Gym to shop with the family and/or CASH can be sent with the student to shop on December 6th during school hours. Parents and families are not permitted to shop with students on December 6th so please plan accordingly if you want to shop with your child(ren). See attached flier for more information.
The Mitten Tree will be back starting November 20th. New hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens can be donated to be hung on the tree. Give the simple gift of warmth to help local families in need. Collection will continue until December 22nd. See attached flier.
PTO FUNDRAISERS
Our next dine out night will be at Panera on December 12, 2023 from 4pm-8pm. Please see attached flier for more information.
For PTO updates:
Follow us on Twitter: @PTOerickson
Facebook: Erickson Elementary PTO
Lea F, Maddie M(5th) and Kyle M(2nd) Performing in Nutcracker -You are invited!
School Improvement Update - Positive School Climate
Each year Erickson staff set academic and social learning goals for students. This year our school goals will revolve around reading, math, truancy (school attendance), and building a positive climate/bully prevention goals. I will share goal updates throughout the school year.
Goal Statement: Develop a positive school climate for all students at Erickson.
2023-2024 Erickson Positive School Climate Update
Each year, students in Kindergarten-5th grade take the Connection Card Survey in the fall and the spring. The questions on the survey are:
1) Do you have friends at school?
2) Is there a teacher or grown up in the building that you can talk with? A teacher or grown up that will listen to you and help you while at school?
3) Do you feel like you belong or are included at Erickson?
4) Do you know what it means to SOAR at Erickson?
5) List a KIND behavior you see at Erickson.
6) List an UNKIND behavior you see at Erickson.
7) What do you like about Erickson?
8) What would make Erickson better?The School Improvement Team and classroom teachers will use the data collected from this survey to develop goals for students and the school. Last year, through the survey, we found out that some new students were stating that they didn't feel like they belonged at Erickson. So we developed a Student Ambassador program to help new students feel more comfortable at Erickson. A few years ago, students stated that they would like new playground equipment. The Student Council partnered with the PTO to purchase the Gaga Pit in response to the survey.
During the 2023-2024 school year, one of our focus areas in developing a positive school climate will be on KIND and UNKIND behavior: What are the unkind behaviors students are stating? How can we improve students' behavior? How can we celebrate students who are showing KIND behaviors?
Kind/Unkind Behavior Feedback from Students
Students reported seeing the following kind and unkind behaviors at Erickson. On World Kindness Day, November 13th, teachers will focus on having discussions about kind and unkind behaviors. Students will also be involved in a school presentation by Mrs. Johnston and Mrs. Frattinger that will focus on KIND behavior. Parents can discuss these kind and unkind behaviors at home with their children.
Being helpful
Including others
Using kind words
Asking how others are feeling/trying to cheer others up
Being nice to friends
Showing respect
Sharing
Respectful to each other
Unkind:
Yelling inside
Not including others
Using unkind words
Not taking turns, cutting in line
Not always following teacher directions
Rumors & gossip
Name calling
Putting hands on other students
School Hours / Lunch Hours
School Hours:
Grades 1st-5th: 8:40-3:30
Kindergarten AM: 8:40-11:30
Kindergarten PM: 12:40-3:30
Preschool AM: 8:50-11:20
Preschool PM: 12:50-3:20
Student Arrival:
Kindergarten-5 grade students can begin arriving at 8:25. Students should gather in the front of the building. Doors open at 8:30. Students should arrive by 8:40
Lunch Hours:
1st, 2nd & 3rd Grade Lunch: 12:00-12:25
4th-5th Grade Lunch: 12:25-12:50
Dropping off lunches from restaurants (ie- McDonald's, Wendy's, Panera, etc.) as well as using food delivery services to drop off food (ie -GrubHub, Door Dash) is not allowed. Students should bring their lunch in the morning to school each day. Safety is our number one priority and we would like to limit visitors.
Erickson Elementary School
Email: sjohnston@sd13.org
Website: sd13.org
Location: 277 Springfield Drive, Bloomingdale, IL, USA
Phone: 630-529-2223
Fax: 630-893-9849