Terramar Times
2023-2024 School Year
January NEWSLETTER- HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Families, please remember if a teacher reaches out to you saying their classroom is “nut free” that includes, pistachios, cashews, almonds, along with any other nut. Please take a moment to read labels to help protect all students.
Important Dates- November
Important Dates:
01/03-School Resumes from Winter Break
01/10-Volleyball away at Stetson Hills 4:30pm
01/11-Volleyball home vs Sonoran Foothills 4:30pm
01/12-Early Release K-1st: 1:20/2nd-8th 1:30pm
01/16-Volleyball away at Gavilan Peak 4:30pm
01/16-Cross Country away at Stetson Hills 4pm
01/17-5th Grade Band Concert at 6:30pm
01/18-Volleyball away at West Wing 4:30pm
01/19-Early Release K-1st: 1:20/2nd-8th 1:30pm
01/23-Volleyball at home vs Sierra Verde
01/23- Band Spring Feeder Night at MRHS
01/25-Volleyball home vs Diamond Canyon
01/26-Battle of the Books in the Media Center
01/26-Early Release K-1st: 1:20/2nd-8th 1:30pm
01/30-Volleyball at home vs Stetson Hills 4:30pm
01/31-Cross Country Meet at Diamond Canyon 4:00pm
CELL PHONE POLICY
Terramar PTSA Information
Happy New Year Terramar Community!
We hope you all enjoyed the winter break. The current Executive Board’s term is coming to an end. We are currently looking for 2024-2025 board members and PTSA leadership. Become a MEMBER and please consider running for a board position. It is FUN, rewarding, and simpler than one might think! When we all work together our school community benefits!! None of the fun and awesome events would happen if it wasn’t for our Executive Board. Please see our website for more detailed information on each of the Board roles. Elections will take place in March at our General Membership meeting. Contact any of the current Board Members if you are interested.
We will be updating our website with volunteer opportunities including monthly Titan Stores and the February Bookfair in the library. Please check them out!
Woody Mason, President
Miranda Woodward-Duran, Vice President
Stephanie Walaszek, Treasurer
Kat Dykman, Secretary
Cafeteria Information
No outside food deliveries (no uber eats, grub hub).
VISITORS AT LUNCH MUST BE ON CONTACTS/EMERGENCY FORMS
If you visit your student during lunch, please understand the following procedures.
*We have two lunch schedules. One is for heat advisory/rainy day and the second is normal.https://www.dvusd.org/Domain/5834 They differ in times. Please call the office to find out which schedule we are on before you arrive.
*Lunch visits are in the cafe only. Not on the playground.
*Take note of the grade level lunch times.
*Sit at spot in the cafe marked "lunch with loved ones" with your student ONLY
*Food brought during lunch is for your student only.
*No sharing of home brought or store bought food at all.
*If you are staying for lunch for multiple children in your family and the times are not back to back, please come to the office to wait.
District Grading Information
The powerschools APP doesn't show standards. Please view grades on the website to see standards marked.
Additional Terramar Information regarding Late Work/Missing Work, and Reassessment can be found on our school website.
Click on image above for more information
Updated Parking Information
If you are entering the parking lot and drop off in front of the school, please follow the following procedures.
*pull forward along the curb to pick up students. You can idle your car in the RED fire lane. Don't leave big gaps
*enter on the correct side of the concrete drive break. One side is for RIGHT hand turns, the other is for LEFT only. Peoria Police will issue tickets for drivers who jump the right lane and turn in where the left hand entrance is located.
*student exit is along the BLUE/RED curb only.
*no drop off in parking lot spaces
*if there is no parking in the parking lot spaces, park at CCV or swing back around to enter again.
Dress Code for Students
Click on image below for more information
Need to pay for Sports or Field Trips?
If you need to pay for sports or field trips use this link https://az-deervalley.intouchreceipting.com/
Calendar Link
Terramar Website Link
Register My Athlete Link
Birthday Treats
No Balloons at Terramar
Birthday treats are to be a cookie treat that is a small snack for students. Drinks are not permitted (only water in the classroom) Pizza is not allowed.
There are two options for treats.
Option 1- Purchase the "Birthday Bucket" (TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE) from the cafe using the following link https://www.dvusd.org/Page/65635
Option 2- Bring in small store bought peanut free item.
Birthday Items are not allowed to be shared during lunch time.
Check with teacher for additional allergy concerns.
Bullying or Peer Conflict?
WHAT IS NOT BULLYING? Adults must realize that not every unkind thing a child does constitutes bullying. For example:
Being left out is not always bullying. It’s natural for kids to have a select group of friends. Although they should be kind towards everyone, it’s unrealistic to expect them to be close friends with every child they know, and be invited to every function or event.
Experiencing conflict is not bullying. Learning to deal with conflict is a normal part of growing up. The key is for children to learn how to solve their problems peacefully and respectfully.
Not playing fair is not bullying. Wanting a game to be played a certain way is not bullying. Children understand the concept of sharing, and should take turns being in charge of the game.
When observing the unkind behaviors your child experiences, be sure to label them correctly. This will help you know how to handle the situation appropriately so that your child can learn and grow from it.
(Ref. Policy JICK, JICK-R, JICK-EA, JICK-EB)
Bullying may occur when a student or group of students engages in any form of behavior that includes such acts as intimidation and/or harassment that:
has the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm or damage to property,
is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that the action, behavior, or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive environment,
occurs when there is a real or perceived imbalance of power or strength, or
may constitute a violation of law
SRR handbook 2022-2023 (pages 2-4)
Friday Early Release (Professional Learning Community PLC time)- Why do we have it? What do the teachers do once the students leave?
School ends early on most Fridays so that Terramar teachers can collaborate with other teachers at other schools who teach the same subject/grade on best teaching practices to meet the needs of all learners. Our teachers will compare student data with teachers at other schools to discuss best teaching practices.
A Professional Learning Community AKA PLC is the formal name for teachers meeting to share/compare data to make sure that all students receive the best teaching practices to master the standards.
There are four guiding questions that are answered in each PLC as standards are taught. They are:
1. What do you we want students to know and be able to do?
2. How will we know students have learned?
2a. What instructional practices will produce our best results?
3. What do we do if students have not learned?
4. What do we do when students have already shown mastery?
6th grade Social Studies PLC update:
Our 6th grade SS PLC has worked on supporting our ELA team with our CER (cite, explain with reasoning). Our students are growing in their justification of making solid claims and supporting it with a variety of sources. As a PLC group we have strongly encouraged each other with solid best practices that support all kiddos in both ELA and SS. We as a 6th grade group are confident our kiddos will perform well on both their district and state assessments because we are a cohesive PLC group challenging and supporting our students and grade level teams.
Please visit this website for more information on what is a PLC https://www.dvusd.org/Page/76959
Watch this video for more information:
Link for District Calendar
https://www.dvusd.org/Page/84757
Click on image above for more information
What is Top 20- Terramar's Social Emotional Learning Program
What is TOP 20?
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Top 20 Training provides effective strategies and practices to develop potential, eliminate negativity, address challenges, and enhance the culture in schools, at home, and in the workplace through one-of-a-kind, live and on-line trainings, books, journals, and curriculum.
This month in class during our Top 20 time middle school is continuing to focus on “The Line”. Within “The Line” we are working on “Do You See or Are You Blind” These lessons help our students see things differently and help them understand that every situation has a different perspective. The way we see a situation can influence the outcome. For Kindergarten through 6th grade your child will be learning about Star Qualities.They should be able to understand the definition of EQ/IQ . They are also learning how developing our Star Qualities is important, and what valuable Star Quality are. Below are a few Dinner discussions questions you can have with your child to bring Top20 home and help your child use it in all aspects of their day.
Middle school dinner discussion questions:
How can you apply the lesson “Do you see or are you blind” into your daily life?
Did the lesson help you with something in school last week?
Kindergarten-6th grade dinner discussion questions:
What does EQ mean? What does IQ mean?
What are some of your star qualities? How do they help you in school or at home?
January
This month in class during our Top 20 time middle school is reviewing the “Frame” The “Frame” is a way to look at each situation separately and find a way to get a positive outcome. Kindergarten through 6th grade is working on eliminating negativity. When we teach eliminating negativity we talk about how to avoid tornadoes and thought circles. Below are a few dinner questions you can have with your child to bring Top20 home and help your child use it in all aspects of their day.
Middle school dinner discussion questions:
What is the Frame? How do you use the frame in your daily life?
Kindergarten-6th grade dinner discussion questions:
What is a tornado and thought circles? How do you avoid them?
TITAN weekly and monthly winners!
Be A Titan-- Positive Behavior Intervention System
Titan Passport
The Titan Passport was designed to represent a structured behavior program designed for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. The Titan Passport is a communication tool between school and home that shares positive interactions and infractions on students’ behavior while on campus. Students have the opportunity to earn monthly rewards based on their positive behavior at school.
The Titan passport will be utilized during all classes, to give students the reinforcement of positive behaviors and reminders of school expectations. The passports are designed to travel between home and school, to give parents an idea on how students are performing behaviorally. Each teacher/administrator has the right to use his/her professional judgment to modify this plan for individual students as needed.
Titan Passports are utilized on a monthly basis, students will have the opportunity to restart each month earning positives and infractions. For the first few months students will be given grace and patience with lost and/or damaged cards. After the 1st quarter, students will be charged $0.50 for each replacement card and will also receive an infraction for not being prepared. For every 3 infractions students will receive a lunch detention. If teachers are seeing that students are earning more infractions than positives, they will work with administration to determine if the Passport is right for the student.
At the end of every month, students will have the opportunity to turn their passports points into prizes at the Titan Store. Identifiable points are Positives - Infractions = Final Points. In addition to the Titan Store, some grade levels have identified “extra rewards” for those students who meet a specific point value. The school will also hold random days to celebrate students’ positive achievements.
The Passports will be collected by the school to review any trends, analyze the data, and determine outcomes that can help identify necessary positive interventions for the campus.
Physical/verbal aggression, theft, vandalism, threatening acts, fighting, or any other major infraction listed in the DVUSD Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook will warrant bypassing the Titan Passport guidelines and will result in immediate consequences.