This week at Houston Elementary, we are focusing on Responsibility through the book A Little Spot of Responsibility: A Story About Making Good Choices by Diane Alber. The story teaches our students the importance of making responsible choices, both at school and at home. After discussing how mistakes can help us grow last week, this week we are encouraging students to reflect on how their choices impact themselves and others. We invite families to join the conversation at home, reinforcing the value of responsibility in daily life.

Above is a decision making visual that can help students make good choices!

• Monday, January 20th
• No School
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Tuesday, January 21st
• First day of new quarter
• Welcome three new students.
• 2nd grader to Mrs. Botcher's room
• Two 3rd graders to Mrs. Thompson's room
• Today for lunch we are having burrito bowls with chicken or or beef
• The alternative today is an uncrustable sandwich with a cheese stick
• Wednesday, January 22nd
• Today for lunch we are having Cheeseburgers
• Alternative today is an uncrustable sandwich and cheese stick
• Thursday, January 23rd
• Today for lunch we are having Pepperoni pizza
• The alternative today is chicken bacon ranch pizza
• Friday, January 24th
• 6th grade positive office referrals
• Today for lunch we are having Pancakes
• The alternative today is an uncrustable sandwich and cheese stick

In an effort to reduce milk waste and manage costs more effectively, we are making some changes to our milk distribution at snack time for students in grades 1-6. Moving forward, we ask that families who wish to purchase milk for their children at snack time complete the attached form. This will allow us to distribute milk more accurately and ensure that funds are collected appropriately.

Please take a moment to fill out the form and indicate which of your students you would like to receive milk during snack time It's important to note that students receive a free carton of milk each day during school breakfast and lunch. However, milk is only free at lunch if the student takes the school meal. Otherwise, students in grades K-6 will be charged $0.60 at lunchtime for their milk.

Milk distribution at snack will begin September 9th, 2024. We will add students to the list and milk will be delivered to students during their scheduled snack times.

Cost per milk $0.60:

• Quarter 3- 1/21/25-3/21/25 (42 school days)= $25.20
• Quarter 4- 3/31/25-5/28/25 (40 school days) = $24.00

Thank you for your cooperation and support as we work to make this process more efficient.

Snack Break Milk Request

Kind regards,
Angela McQuinn
Assistant Principal, Houston Elementary School

We are excited to share the Student Leadership Committee Teacher of the Week for January 17th. Students on the leadership committee nominated staff and teachers based on traits like kindness, helping students, being hardworking, acknowledging good behavior, and demonstrating responsibility.

The Teacher of the Week will receive a handwritten letter of appreciation, a special parking spot for the week, and a small gift to recognize their outstanding efforts.

Mrs. Weisbrod as our Teacher of the Week! Mrs. Weisbrod was chosen for her dedication to incorporating play and free-choice time into the kindergarten day, her kindness and respect toward students, and the fun and creative crafts she brings to the classroom.

Congratulations, Mrs. Weisbrod, and thank you for all you do to make Houston Elementary a better place! Way to Strengthen The Hurricane!

This week’s Hurricane FORCE Positive Office Referrals go to 5th-grade students Macy J. and Jamima L., nominated by their classroom teachers Mrs. Fingerson and Mrs. Beckman. Both students have been recognized for their hard work, dedication to their academics, strong contributions to the classroom community, and consistent responsibility around school.

We are thrilled to announce that Houston Elementary’s 5th and 6th graders are participating in the 8th season of the READBowl, a global reading competition where PreK-12th grade teams compete to read the most minutes over four exciting weeks. This annual competition was started by Malcolm Mitchell, a former NFL wide receiver and author, to inspire children to develop a love for reading and overcome obstacles to success.

The READBowl divides students into seven different conferences, and as 5th and 6th graders, we are part of the READBowl Conference! The competition runs from January 13 to February 9, with the winners crowned live on Super Bowl Sunday. Students track their reading minutes each week, and the class with the highest overall student average in each conference will be announced as champions.

The grand prize winners will receive a live 15-minute video chat with Malcolm Mitchell, an autographed copy of his book The Magician’s Hat for their classroom, personal copies of the book for each student, a READBowl certificate, and recognition on the READBowl’s website.

The class with the highest average reading minutes across all conferences will be named the World Reading Champions and will receive even more exciting prizes, including a personal visit from Malcolm Mitchell to their school and a READBowl Champion Trophy!

This competition is not just about reading—it’s about fostering a lifelong love of learning, inspiring students to push through challenges, and celebrating their growth. We are excited to cheer on our students as they compete to become reading champions, and we encourage families to support their students in this exciting journey!

Let’s go, READBowl competitors! For more information check out the ReadBowl website

At Houston Elementary, we are proud to highlight the growth and achievements of our students, particularly as they prepare for the upcoming Spelling Bee. In line with our commitment to continuous improvement and student achievement, 4th grade students have started the process of selecting this year’s spelling bee representatives under the guidance of Mrs. Merchlewitz.

Pictured above, students are participating in a round robin spelling challenge, which not only strengthens their spelling skills but also fosters critical thinking, perseverance, and teamwork. We are excited to see their hard work pay off as they continue to grow and reach new academic heights!

Malcolm Mitchell READBowl, a global reading competition that encourages students to read for the most minutes over four weeks. This competition is not only about reading—it's an opportunity for students to connect with Malcolm Mitchell, a former NFL player and author, who uses his personal journey to inspire kids to see the magic of reading.

Check out this inspiring video from Malcolm Mitchell where he shares the importance of reading and reads his book The Magician’s Hat to students. We encourage families to watch it together as part of this real-world learning experience, reinforcing the value of reading and learning beyond the classroom.

As we cheer on our students, we’re reminded that learning is a partnership between school and home. By participating in the READBowl, we’re building a community of readers who support one another in their academic growth, creating an environment where each student can thrive.

We are excited for our students to engage with this meaningful experience and can't wait to see all they achieve as they strive to be world reading champions! Let's work together to make this a memorable and impactful journey.

• January 20th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Data Day. No School for Students, Hurricane Watch available.

• January 31st: Professional Development, No School for Students, Hurricane Watch available.

Please check the school website calendar for more information as well as other events/opportunities.