PSE Weekly Howl

Thank you to Ms. Byrne, the specialist team, and the 4th-grade teachers and students for all their work on this beautiful assembly honoring our Veterans. We appreciate and thank you for your work.

When children miss school, it's not just about catching up on homework or getting missed assignments. The classroom experience offers far more than what can be sent home. In-class learning involves hands-on activities, group projects, interactive lessons and discussions that help students engage in learning.

For young learners, these experiences are irreplaceable. Being part of the class helps your child develop social skills, teamwork and problem-solving abilities. Teachers craft lessons that involve direct participation, and when a student is absent, they miss out on these critical elements.

Every day of school provides opportunities for your child to grow, connect and learn. Ensuring they are present as much as possible gives them the best chance to succeed.

Thanks for your support of our annual food drive! We collected 78 packages of mini muffins, 45 boxes of oatmeal, 45 boxes of granola bars, 98 boxes of cereal, 46 bottles of syrup, 52 packages of pancake mix, and 11 packages of K-cups.

A special shoutout to Erica Bunton and the second-grade girl scouts for leading the drive and to Mrs. Purcell’s 5th grade class for organizing, boxing and counting the items!

Each year, we support a few families in the PSE community gifts for the holiday season. Rather than asking for specific items with specific sizes, we are asking for gift cards. This will allow parents to shop for better selections for their children. This is completely optional! However, if your family is willing and able to support us, we'd love your help! Please bring gift cards for $25 to help the families shop for their children. Or feel free to use the following credit card link for gift card donations. https://prairiestarpto.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/313822

Gift Cards or donations are due to the PSE office by Friday, December 13th. Thank you in advance for your generous donations! (Note: If you know a family in the PSE community who might need assistance anytime during the year, please let me know. We do our best to help support students in need.)

This week Third through Fifth grade learned about Worry Wall and Worry WiseWorm. During our lesson, we distinguished between helpful worries and non-helpful worries. We also discussed that we need to collect clues or evidence to determine if the worry is tiny or a wise worry. We reviewed a few examples to determine what type of worry it was. The students then had time to write down their worries or what their peers worry about.

Kindergarten through Second grade will be learning about Rock Brain and T-Flex next week.

Sweeter Than Pie

Pies for teachers and support staff.

To show our gratitude for our amazing PSE community, we would like to gift everyone working at Prairie Star Elementary (teachers, staff, support) a pie for their Thanksgiving table.

Please sign up via SignUp Genius to bring a delicious pie on November 21st or 22nd! Store bought, Restaurant Bought and Homemade are all appreciated - we just asked that homemade pies be clearly labeled.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040949A8A622A4FD0-53106027-sweeter#/

It's time for our December session of the PSE STEM Club for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders! We will dive into the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, and math through fun, hands-on activities that challenge your student to think outside the box. Each session is a separate event, so anyone is welcome to attend. Our session will run from 3:45 - 5:00pm on 12/4 with Mrs. Bonner and Mr. Ramsey.

https://prairiestarpto.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/312954

Pick up will be at 5pm in front of the building. Parents/Guardians must pick up in person - carline is not an option for this event.

It's that time of year again! Time to start sending in your yearbook candids that you have been collecting. This year, we have a direct link to upload to: Photo Share: Be in the yearbook more. A lot more.

Photo Share: Be in the yearbook more. A lot more.

When you get to the site, you will enter your guardian info and email and will receive a verification code. Then you can upload your images and tag with your student's name and grade. The events we currently need are: Movie Night, Sneak-a-peek, First Day of School and Wolf Walk/Spirit Week.

Throughout the year if you have pictures of extra curriculars like sports/recitals/competitions/community service/scouts we would love to include those as well. No playdates, vacations or parties, please! Thanks in advance for helping to make our yearbook!

Questions? Email us at prairiestaryearbook@gmail.com.

Sally Groesbeck, Abbie Moles & Amy Warren

Yearbook Co-Chairs

Blue Valley Schools is committed to promoting and fostering a safe environment in and around all our schools. We are continuously working to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from a wide range of situations. Please check out available ways to report safety concerns.

Community Celebrations and Observances - to promote awareness and appreciation of our Blue Valley families.

Some December Celebrations & Observances:

• International Day of People with Disabilities - December 3 - a day to celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities, promote an understanding of disability issues, and mobilize support for the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of people with disabilities.

• Bodhi Day - December 8 - commemorates the day that the historical Buddha experienced enlightenment. Some Buddhist families will practice meditation, study the Dharma, chant Buddist texts (sutras), and share a traditional meal of tea and cake.

• Christmas - December 25 - a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Some Christian families will celebrate by attending church services and exchanging gifts.

• Hanukkah - evening of December 25 - evening of January 2 - an eight-day Jewish festival of lights. Some Jewish families will celebrate by lighting a Menorah and eating foods cooked in oil.

• Kwanzaa - December 26 - January 1 - a seven-day African-American holiday celebrating culture, family, and community. For some, celebrations may include song, dance, storytelling, and a large traditional meal.