Read-a-thon Update!
We are happy to report that our Read-a-thon is off to a strong start! Our penguins have read 30,000 minutes and counting! Students will receive prizes at the end of the fundraiser for reaching benchmarks of minutes read, not to mention the Penguin Pride trophies for our top classes! Currently, Ms. Laughlin’s class has read the most at grades 3-5, Mrs. Merens’s class has read the most at grade K-2, and Mrs. Tadel’s class has the most donations! There’s one week left to join the fun. Contact Mrs. Jahng at kjahng@dps109.org if you need assistance getting your child signed up.
Parker's Picks
Over the past week, a series of Masked Readers have been sharing their stories with the South Park students. While the characters might be familiar, our students have to guess which of the South Park staff are reading these familiar tales. Can you guess? The masks will come off Wednesday in our first-ever Masked Reader assembly!
We are in a Book! Watch Elephant and Piggie discover that a reader is reading them! How will the book end? Keep on reading!
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons Pete loves the groovy buttons on his awesome shirt. But when they keep popping off and rolling away, will it ruin his day? Goodness, no!
Knuffle Bunny Knuffle Bunny is Trixie’s favorite stuffy. Trixie has never spoken words. How will she tell her daddy that Knuffle Bunny ended up in the washing machine by mistake?
Scaredy Squirrel Scaredy Squirrel is very cautious about leaving his nice, safe nut tree. The unknown is full of so many hazards! But when an unexpected event forces him to evacuate, will he learn that the outside world isn’t so scary after all?
- The Duckling Gets a Cookie?! Pigeon never gets what he wants! Why is Duckling such a lucky duck?! Watch as another of Pigeon’s classic complaints plays out differently than you might expect.
Reminder about Phones and Watches (2nd Posting)
We have noticed many more students coming to school with new personal devices since Winter Break. This information was shared back at Curriculum Night, but in case you missed it:
- Phones should not be seen or heard at school.
- Watches should not be used to initiate or respond to text messages during school hours.
- If either becomes a distraction, the school administration will take student devices and parents/guardians will be responsible for picking them up.
Parents, if your child texts you during the school day, we encourage you to resist the urge to respond immediately. Instead, this is an opportunity to guide your child toward seeking help from the adults around them.
I understand how hard this can be—I’m a parent, too. When my own daughter texts me during school hours, I typically send her a simple emoji to let her know I’m here, but I don’t engage in a conversation. If she needs support, I reply with, "Please find an adult to help you."
By practicing this approach, we can work together to help our children develop self-advocacy skills and build confidence in trusting others to assist them. Thank you for partnering with us in fostering their growth!
