Lil Steamer Families --

I pride myself on being the thermostat for our school, setting the temperature each day for a positive school experience for our community. However, today's note comes from a place of heartbreak and concern.

Earlier this week there was a shooting at Apalachee High School in Windsor, GA. Stories like these have become much more frequent in our country and gives all educators pause in the careers we love. I'm saddened and heartbroken for their community and pray for healing following this traumatic event.

While I have my own beliefs and thoughts in regards to how to better address this issue, those are more of a broader viewpoint. Presently, however, I will focus on one of my personal mantras: CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL.

I can control the safeguards of the most precious gifts within our community: our children. And I would like to share a few details regarding that for families who may be anxious like me.

1. We have a school resource officer (SRO) whose response time to FES & FBP in the event of a crisis is less than 60 seconds.
2. Our staff is fully trained in the Run-Hide-Fight program in the event of a lockdown.
3. Our classroom doors are locked at all times when students are present.
4. We practice our lockdown drill within the first few weeks of the school year to be ready early for any such incident.
5. We've diligently worked alongside our first responders in developing a district plan in response to major crises; these include evacuation and reunification procedures.
6. Our exterior windows and doors have safety film on them which makes them more resilient to shattering, which increases the amount of time one would need to bypass them.
7. We utilize camera video to monitor our entrances and identify individuals.
8. We've installed boulders and bollards around the perimeter of our bus lane.

I also want to be very clear in regards to the most important task I have as principal at the Greatest Little Elementary School in the Universe: that every child returns home to their family every day.

Hold your little ones a little closer this weekend,

JAGH

Now that we're a few weeks into school, academic work may become more of a struggle for your student. Please reinforce the need to persevere when things get difficult. Just because a classmate can get it on the first try doesn't mean everyone will. If your child likes to play video games, remind them they couldn't get to the highest level without practice. Or if they're an athlete, remind them the first time they hit a ball it likely wasn't a home run. We can all do hard things when we believe we can, help us help your children believe they can do hard things, too!

Have a wonderful weekend, the forecast looks beautiful!

Find the Good

Self-direct your thoughts and share good things as a family each day. After school, around the dinner table, or before bed, ask each family member to share something good from the day. We often see what we seek! Focus on finding the good.

Last week, Dr. Hogue stopped in to read a couple books to our class. We really enjoyed the stories that he chose and we had some good conversations! Thank you for making time to visit our class!

Today, Friday, September 6 is National Read A Book Day! To celebrate, the library had a drawing for 1 student from each homeroom to win a brand new book. Here are some of our winners!

The 4A students listed character traits about themselves on each of their 5 fingers after learning about character traits in their recent reading lessons in Because of Winn Dixie.. We learne each of us have strengths and qualities that are great character traits.

Chorus starts next week for interested 4th/5th graders! Tuesday the 10th is our first rehearsal. Please send permission slips back on Monday if you haven't already, Click here if you need the form, and make sure you are signed up for the Remind group!

Band contracts for interested 5th graders are also due on Monday! Start date for Band is TBD- we will let you know soon!

Art - Mrs. Long

Counselor - Mrs. Meumann

Speech - Ms. Bri

Intervention - Mrs. Fish

PK - Mrs. Kurtz

PK Resource - Mrs. Marten

KB - Mrs. VanZuiden

KC - Mrs. Gardner

K/1 Resource - Mrs. Whitney

1A - Mrs. Robertson

1C - Mrs. Schipper

2A - Ms. Maloney

2B - Mrs. Roos

2C - Mrs. Stern

2/3 Resource - Mr. Hartman

3A - Ms. Guerrero

3B - Ms. Norman

3D - Mrs. Kuehl

4A - Mrs. Alexander

4B - Mrs. Iben

4C - Mrs. Miner

5A - Mrs. Snyder

Tickets are $18 per person. Contact Mrs. Anton (janton@riverbendschools.net) or Mrs. Mussman (hmussman@riverbendschools.net) to purchase tickets.

Home of the Lil Steamers!

Email: jhoese@riverbendschools.net
Website: riverbendschools.org/fes
Location: 1301 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Phone: (815)589-2911
Twitter: @FultonSteamers