South Maple Elementary Newsletter

February 28-March 18.................................................Readathon

March 3/4............................Health Dept Hearing Screening K/2

March 4............Schoolwide Behavior Reward/Play a Game Day

......................................................................Marking Period Ends

March 8............Virtual author visit/Daniel Jude/funded by PTO

March 11.................................Report cards home with students

March 15........................................................................PTO/6PM

March 21-25...........................................Spring Break/No school

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

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

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

March is Reading Month which means... it's time for PTO's annual Readathon fundraiser! This year we will be raising money for some new playground equipment. On Monday, February 28, your child will bring home an informational letter and a sponsor form. Until then, you can check out https://sites.google.com/view/readathon2022 to learn more about the 2022 Readathon. Happy Reading!

SME was awarded a $1000.00 Walmart Community Grant. These funds will be combined with other funds to purchase new playground equipment.

The SME monthly school-wide behavior target for March is We Can Use Mindfulness to Calm Our Minds and Bodies.

GCS Families:

This message is being sent to inform you that effective Tuesday, March 1, 2022 Gaylord Community Schools will be making a change in our process for reporting positive COVID-19 cases to you. Confirmed positive cases will now only be reported via the district’s website (GCS COVID-19 Dashboard). Please be advised that school email messages will no longer be sent to families for each instance of a confirmed positive case. If you have questions about the daily COVID-19 updates on our website, you may contact your student’s building for more details.

Thank you,

Brian Pearson

Superintendent

The South Maple Elementary Annual Education Report (AER) which provides key information on the educational progress of our school is available for review. The AER is available electronically by visiting https://www.gaylordschools.com/our-district/annual-education-reports/ or you may review a copy in the South Maple Elementary main office.

As required by law, the Board of Education establishes the following wellness policy for the Gaylord School District.

The Board recognizes that good nutrition and regular physical activity affect the health and wellbeing of the District's students. Furthermore, research concludes that there is a positive correlation between a student's health and well-being and his/her ability to learn. Moreover, schools can play an important role in the developmental process by which students establish their health and nutrition habits by providing nutritious meals and snacks through the schools' meal programs, by supporting the development of good eating habits, and by promoting increased physical activity both in and out of school.

The Board, however, believes this effort to support the students' development of healthy behaviors and habits with regard to eating and exercise cannot be accomplished by the schools alone. It will be necessary for not only the staff, but also parents and the public at large to be involved in a community-wide effort to promote, support, and model such healthy behaviors and habits.

The policy in its entirety can be found on our website, www.gaylordschools.com

If you are interested in serving on a wellness committee, please contact Dennis Keck, Director of Curriculum. He can be reached via email at keckd@gaylord.k12.mi.us or at 989-705-3080.

South Maple Elementary will be accepting teacher requests for the 2022-2023 from April 4th -April 15th. The link to the teacher request form will be sent in the April Newsletter.

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.

Thank you for sending your child prepared to enjoy recess outside during the 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