South Maple Elementary Newsletter

March 28-April 1.......................Virtual field trips/funded by PTO

April 1................Schoolwide Behavior Reward/Read a Shirt Day

April 11-May 20............M-STEP Testing Window/3rd grade only

April 14............................Early dismissal/11:58AM for students

April 15.....................................................No school for students

The SME monthly school-wide behavior target for April is We Can Be Responsible for What We Say By Using I-Care Language.

Our Read-a-thon was a HUGE success! SME students read a total of 140,710 minutes and raised $10,773 for new playground equipment. The Top Readers were Connor and Logan Kwapis. They both read 3,730 minutes each. Our Top Earner, Carter Bur, raised $900. Blue Team came in first place with an average of 405 minutes read per student, followed by Yellow (350 minutes), Green (309 minutes), and Red (298 minutes).

Thank you, SME families, for participating in this year's Read-a-thon!

SME PTO

SME has received Community Grant Program funding to help fund the cost of new playground equipment. Thank you to the following contributors for their generosity:

The Drzewiecki Agency

Otsego County United Way

Otsego Community Foundation Community Fund

Otsego Community Foundation Dr. Patrick J. McNamara Fund

Otsego Community Foundation Rotary Club of Gaylord

Art - The first element of art we have been working on is line. Kindergarteners drew an owl with a variety of lines and then painted. 1st graders drew a line landscape and painted. 2nd graders drew a landscape and used a variety of lines and patterns and painted. 3rd graders traced their hand and designed the background with lines and zentangled the hand. Our 2nd project was a school wide collaboration project. We drew self portraits using monochromatic and analogous color schemes. They will be displayed in the front hall. We will be introducing printmaking next. Students will learn how to properly use tools, create using a variety of printmaking techniques, and be responsible students cleaning the art room. In the Spring we will work with clay techniques and build 3 dimensional sculptures.

Computers - All classes have been working on internet safety and digital citizenship. Students are encouraged to seek adult help when they are unsure of anything on the internet, to use kind words, and refuse to respond to strangers or bullies. Most importantly, we discussed the need to limit time on electronics. For additional internet safety parent tips and information, check out commonsensemedia.org. In the spring, we will be working on coding and computer programming. Each grade will have the opportunity to program different types of robots. 2nd and 3rd grade students will work in code.org and each 2nd and 3rd grade student will have an account linked in google classroom. Finally, we will continue to improve our keyboarding skills.

Literacy - This winter, all grades have continued learning about our brains and its influence over our learning, our body, and our attitudes. Students have learned that maintaining a positive mindset helps prepare their brains for learning and building friendships. Students have been introduced to the vocabulary words: perspective, optimistic and gratitude. They are learning how to express gratitude and perform acts of kindness in their classroom and have been encouraged to do so at home too. Throughout our literacy lessons, we enjoy a variety of books that relate to our topics each week. This spring, we will explore science related topics through books and hands-on activities.

Physical Education- This winter, all grades have completed units on basketball, floor hockey, and bowling. We will be starting our units on volleyball and tennis this spring. Thank you to our PTO for purchasing new pop up nets for us. We can’t wait to use them! We are excited for the weather to be warming up so that we can get back outside on our field and start our baseball unit. We have worked on and will continue to work on a variety of games that focus on strategy, teamwork, taking turns, and good sportsmanship.

If you have any questions, concerns or would like to schedule a conference, please contact your child’s specials teacher:

Art: Mrs. McNamara, McNamaraS@gaylord.k12.mi.us;

Computers: Mrs. Buyze-Smith, buyze-smitha@gaylord.k12.mi.us

Literacy: Mrs. Johnson, johnsona@gaylord.k12.mi.us;

Physical Education: Mrs. Keck, keckm@gaylord.k12.mi.us

Beginning on Thursday, March 31, all students, families, and staff of South Maple Elementary will be participating in an exciting reading program called One School, One Book!

One School, One Book brings all members of the school and community together to enjoy a fun story. Last year we read The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth. In January we read Cleo Edison Oliver: Playground Millionaire by Sundee T. Frazier.

Our chapter book for this program will be announced to students on March 31. On that day students will be bringing home a copy of the book so that families can read along. We will read the book from March 31 until April 21. A schedule will be provided so that you can keep up with the reading at home.

We hope that this will be an enjoyable activity for you and your child(ren). It will provide some great reading and listening comprehension practice here at school, and hopefully a way for you to enjoy reading together as a family at home as we return from spring break!

In addition to the book, there will also be a Google Site with lots of fun activities like games, vocabulary, quizzes, and readings of the chapters recorded by SME Principal Mrs. Hansen and SME teachers. We hope your family will join us in reading the book together and enjoying the activities on the Google Site!

More information about the book, as well as the link to the Google site, will be sent on March 31. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about the One School, One Book program, click HERE. There is a Parent tab at the top of the page with some great ideas about reading at home. Another great resource for reading at home can be found HERE. To get your child(ren) excited about the book we will be reading, click HERE to try to guess which book it will be! Even if you don’t guess correctly, you may spark some interest in other great stories to read together!

South Maple Elementary will be accepting teacher requests for the 2022-2023 from April 4th -April 15th. The link to the teacher request form: https://forms.gle/taGbPsZYEJ1EhwVQ9

Please note: While all requests will be considered, they cannot be guaranteed. Placements will be based primarily on our students’ needs, class size, and creating balanced classes. Additionally, there is always the possibility that teachers will not stay in the same positions or teaching teams from year to year.

GCS Preschool is enrolling for the 2022/2023 school year. GCS Preschool is a tuition-based preschool for children turning 4-years old on or before November 30, 2022. The preschool is a full or half-day program geared toward learning through play and kindergarten readiness. The program offers before and after school Latchkey. For more information please contact Sherri Ryan at 989-731-2648 X1646 or visit www.gaylordschools.com.

Teacher requests for next year may be made throughout the month of April. If you have an educationally sound reason for requesting specific teachers for your child, you will need to complete the attached teacher request form by April 29. Please note the following information about GIS teacher requests and class lists:

· Because we have a responsibility to create balanced class lists, we cannot guarantee requests will be granted. However, requests submitted during the month of April will be considered.

· There is always the possibility that teachers will not stay in the same positions or teaching assignments from year to year.

· Class lists information will be mailed home at the end of the summer, sometime near the end of August.

· Teacher requests will only be considered if you complete the online form. Click on 2022-23 Teacher Request form, complete the form, and submit it by April 29, 2022

Thank you for sending your child prepared to enjoy recess outside. As you know we will still have some cold and snowy weather. We appreciate you labeling their coat, snow pants, boots, hat and mittens.

• As many of you are aware morning and afternoon traffic is very congested in our area. Please drive safely and follow traffic laws.
• The student day will begin at 8:00AM and ends at 2:58PM. Students will not be allowed to enter the building before 8:00AM. Latchkey information is available at Latchkey
• Students will eat breakfast in their classroom.
• In an effort to keep traffic flowing efficiently, please do not arrive early for drop off or pick up. Please do not park in the traffic lane by the front sidewalk. Students must exit and enter vehicles on the school side. Please see dismissal attachment below.

Students will receive one breakfast and lunch per day for the 2021-2022 school year at no cost. All 7-12 grade students may purchase an additional Ala carte item or entree. Gaylord Community Schools have mailed the free and reduced lunch applications. If your child qualifies, please fill out the application and return via mail, email, or applications may be done online by visiting www.gaylordschools.com. The applications will be saved and used to determine student eligibility for the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.

For questions, please call 989-731-0969, ext. 1254.

The South Maple Elementary office is open to assist you Monday-Friday from 7AM-3:45PM.

989.731.0648

South Maple Elementary

650 East Fifth Street

Gaylord, MI 49735

989.731.0648