The Underwood Way

Welcome to 2025! I am excited to embark on this new year with all of you and look forward to working closely with your student to support their growth and success. At Underwood Elementary, we are thrilled about the progress we’re seeing and the opportunities ahead.

This year, we are collaborating with the Department of Public Instruction through our Targeted School Improvement (TSI) planning. I will be presenting our progress to DPI later this month, sharing our planning and efforts to ensure growth and improvement in every area.

Through our data analysis, we’ve seen fantastic results, with 50%-100% of students across all classes showing growth in Math and Reading scores. This confirms that we are on the right track, and I’m excited to continue this work together with you.

In addition, I’m happy to announce that we have hired a new 5th grade teacher, Frances Swensgard. She comes to us from Montana with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and we’re excited to have her join our team. Please take a moment to welcome her to town when you see her! Also, want to give a big Thank-You to Dawnae Lee for helping support our 5th grade students the end of this last semester!

In the coming month, I will share our approved TSI plan with you. Together, we’ll ensure that every student has the support they need to thrive.

Please continue to reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding anything here at the school. We want to work with you as a team, and I know that with your support, the students and staff will be successful.

Wishing you a wonderful start to the year, and I look forward to all the great things we will accomplish!

GoBeGreat~

Hope Rush

Please reach out to the school if you are in need of any winter supplies.

Please let us know if you did NOT receive a report card for your elementary child. They were mailed out on the 20th. We want to make sure that everyone has received one!

Please reach out with questions or concerns to your child's teacher.

Have you heard of the book "The Formula: Unlocking the Secrets to Raising Highly Successful Children"? Harvard Kennedy School Professor Ronald Ferguson and journalist Tatsha Robertson explore the pivotal role of parenting in shaping children's success. They highlight the importance of modeling good behavior, emphasizing that children learn by observing their parents and other adults. Simple acts like sharing, using good manners, and effectively communicating can significantly influence a child's behavior. Ferguson identifies "the model" as one of the eight essential roles of master parenting, stressing the significance of parents being the kind of person they want their children to emulate. So, what are the eight essential roles of master parenting? Take a look: Early Learning Partner: Spark early curiosity and problem-solving. 1. Flight Engineer: Ensure vital educational support. 2. 3.Fixer: Advocate fiercely for opportunities. 4.Revealer: Show the world's wonders. 5.Philosopher: Guide purposeful conversations. 6.Model: Lead by example. 7.Negotiator: Teach respectful assertiveness. GPS Navigational Voice: Offer continuous guidance. 8. The bottom line is, by consistently exhibiting positive behavior and engaging in meaningful interactions, parents can help their children develop a strong foundation for success.

See the full newsletter at : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-mIfvVBxn1GoBo5lq_iORCKgw_p8GAOk/view?usp=sharing

January 2 First Day back to school.

January 9 Mrs. Rush will present our Targeted School Improvement Plan to the Department of Public Instruction.

January 14 Bookmobile

January 20 No School-Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 29 School Board Meeting 7:00 am in the boardroom.