Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had a nice relaxing holiday break! Please be sure to check your teacher’s emails and the PTO website for upcoming events and news. The snow day on our last day before break was a big surprise. We have rescheduled and will celebrate our school wide reward of the p.j. day on Monday, January 6th.

I know this year holds many wonderful opportunities. A great way to start off the New Year is to make an academic resolution. What is a goal your child would like to work on? Is it to read 10 minutes every night, study math facts, or learn to count money? Whatever they choose… practice will help them achieve their goal.

January is also a great time to increase your child’s independence. Do they know how to tie their shoes? Could they help take out the trash or clean up after their pet?

Giving children an attainable task to accomplish teaches them responsibility, and helps them develop skills they will need as they become responsible adolescents.

Reid’s school day begins promptly at 8:40 am and ends at 3:50 pm. If you need to make appointments, we ask that you try your best to schedule them outside of the school day. We need students to be at school every day on time to learn all we can.

Students go outdoors everyday unless the temperature is below 10 degrees. Please make sure to send appropriate winter gear with your child everyday. Boots help to keep the dirt and water outside and help keep our classrooms clean.

Thank you for all you do to support your child, our staff, and our school. 2025 is going to be a great year!

Educationally yours,

Jamie Wagner

Principal

G.B. Wellness Policy and Birthday Treats

Board Policy 8510 -

E. All foods offered on the school campus during the school day shall comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including competitive foods that are available to students a la carte in the dining area, as classroom snacks, or from vending machines.

F. All food and beverages that are provided, other than through sale, on the school campus during the school day (which may include classroom snacks, for classroom parties, and at holiday celebrations) shall comply with the food and beverage standards approved by the Superintendent.

Please do not send in sugary treats for birthday treats or daily snacks. Some other ideas to celebrate birthdays may include, stickers, pencils, erasers, or other non-food items. Please consult with your classroom teacher if you have any questions. Snacks and treats that don’t align with our district board policies will be sent home with the student. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in following this board policy.

January

• 6th School resumes - P.J. day rescheduled from the snow day before break
• 8th ELGA Deposit Day
• 10th Popcorn Day
• 17th End of 2nd Marking Period
• 20th No School MLK Day
• 21st No School for Students - Records Day
• 22nd ELGA Deposit Day
• 23rd ELGA Education Day
• 31st Leukemia Kick Off Assembly

Many students and families celebrate different holidays and celebrations throughout the year. Please see the PTA's multicultural Holiday Calendar link below for a reference of celebrations and Holidays that Reid's families may celebrate.

PTA Multicultural Calendar

Thank you to everyone who assisted with our giving tree. We were able to adopt five Reid families to help out this holiday season!

Are you interested in helping Reid Elementary be all that it can be? Then you would like joining our Reid PTO. The PTO is a parent and teacher(staff) organization that does many things for our school family. One big job of our PTO is to organize fundraisers and events that provide extracurricular activities for our students. The PTO meets monthly throughout the year. Please consider joining this wonderful organization. If you have questions, please reach out to gb.reidpto@gmail.com

Please see the PTO's facebook page for their latest updates.

https://secure.smore.com/n/ksw1m

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to introduce our Rocket Refocus Room, a special space at our school designed to help students regulate their emotions, redirect behaviors, and engage in activities that support their success throughout the school day. To make this initiative as impactful as possible, we are reaching out to our amazing parent community for volunteers!

The Rocket Refocus Room features calming activities, fine and gross motor exercises, fidgets, and other tools to help students refocus and return to learning with renewed energy and focus. We are looking for committed volunteers who can dedicate their time to help supervise and support students in this space.

Here’s what you need to know:

Training: All parent volunteers will be required to attend a brief training session to become familiar with the room, its purpose, and the various activities.

Time Commitment: Volunteers will need to commit to assisting in the Rocket Refocus Room one day per week.

Role: You will help guide students in calming strategies, encourage positive behavior, and assist with the activities provided in the room.

We believe that with your help, the Rocket Refocus Room can provide an invaluable support system for students to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.

If you are interested in volunteering, please respond to this email by Friday, January 10th with your availability. We will follow up with training session details and scheduling information.

Thank you so much for considering this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our students. Your support means the world to us and this tool's success.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Wagner and Mr. Martin

We have drop off bins in our main lobby. If you need to turn something in or pick something up from your classroom teacher, please check in with our office staff who will assist you with the correct bin.

Please see this link for additional information.

Parents may now record an absence on Parent Vue. Please see the directions below.

We have been experiencing an increase in respiratory illnesses in our school district. This is consistent with trends throughout the state and the country.

Both Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and Mycoplasma Pneumonia (Walking Pneumonia) have been on the rise so please be vigilant in monitoring for symptoms. Infection is spread by inhaling respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Pertussis

• Symptoms: sneezing, runny nose, mild dry cough, and low-grade fever
• After about 1 to 2 weeks, more serious “coughing spells” develop that can last for more than a minute and result in difficulty breathing.
• At the end of a coughing spell, the cough may make a high-pitched “whooping” sound as they try to catch their breath.
• Sometimes the coughing will cause vomiting. Between spells, usually feel well.
• Who is at Risk
• Pertussis can spread easily among susceptible household members and in group settings such as schools, workplaces, and sports teams.
• Adolescents and adults are also at risk for infection since vaccine protection decreases over time.
• The time between exposure to the bacteria and disease symptoms is usually between 7 - 10 days, but in rare cases, it can take up to 3 weeks.
• Treatment

• Pertussis can be treated or even prevented with antibiotics if detected early or before the disease has started.
• If you develop any of the symptoms described above, stay home from school and contact your doctor immediately. Please also inform the school office of any illness.

Walking Pneumonia:

• Symptoms: can include cough, fever, sore throat, headache, and sometimes wheezing
• Often people don’t feel sick enough to stay home or in bed, thus the term “walking pneumonia”
• Who is at Risk
• Infection can occur at any age, but most often among children ages 5-17 years and young adults
• Treatment
• Some people get better on their own with a mild mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, but some with more severe infection will need an antibiotic

For general respiratory illness, it is recommended you stay home if you have a fever and you can return 24 hours after fever free and symptoms are improving. However, if you are diagnosed with Pertussis you must stay home from school until your 5 day antibiotic treatment is complete.

Strategies that prevent respiratory viruses, such as handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes, prevent these bacteria from spreading.

Mrs. O’Mara & Mrs. Fredrick

GBCS District Nurse Consultants