52nd YMCA Riverbank Run - Help L&C defend our Grade School Challenge Trophy!
Attention Lewis & Clark students and families! The 52nd Annual YMCA Riverbank Run is coming up April 27th! Help Lewis & Clark defend our Grade School Challenge trophy by training for and running in the Riverbank Run! The school with the most runners gets a trophy and other fun prizes! All Grade School Challenge participants get a t-shirt and prizes as well!
Registration is only $15 for grade school students (under 12). Registration packets are due back to school by Thursday, April 4th. Race scholarships are available. Contact the FRC (406-327-6949/frclewis@mcpsmt.org) or front office for info.
Race shirts and prizes will be delivered to school a week before the big day--April 27th. Kids participate in a real chip-timed race! See you at the start line!
Lynx Service Club Spring Global Project
Every year the Lynx Service Club supports a Global Project. This year by unanimous vote we are supporting Make A Wish Foundation International. April is World Wish month. This organization helps make wishes come true for children with terminal illnesses around the globe.
We are supporting this organization because we have two students in our Lynx Service Club who were both diagnosed with Cancer and received a Make A Wish. This experience meant so much to our students at a time they needed it the most.
We will be collecting change from April 15th-19th to make a child's wish come true! Watch for the flier and collection bag to come home. Money can be turned into your child's teacher or the front desk. Thank you for supporting our club's efforts to help children in need!
On behalf of the Lynx Service Club,
Amaya Kirkley
Maggie Watson
Freya Hein
Shiva Dachavaram
Spring Volunteer Opportunity - Walking School Bus
We would like to bring back the Walking School Bus in the mornings for students walking to school from the Bancroft/Duck Pond area to Lewis & Clark ~~ and we need your help! One of the challenges for students who walk from this area is safely crossing Bancroft Street, and navigating the traffic as it increases this spring and as our high school students drive to school.
We would like to form a team of volunteers who can meet students near the Duck Pond and lead a “walking bus” route through the neighborhood, with students joining along the way. Before we establish a schedule, we would like to see if there is a group of parents able to help us (2 volunteers each day). If interested, please fill out a very brief survey to let us know your interest and availability.
Survey Link Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3BJnFDYlK-1vO0xc3mjkE_8RzULs4pUkZlHU4XANxO5UKWg/viewform?usp=sf_link
Thank you for your consideration to help our students in this neighborhood get to school in a healthy and safe way!
2024-2025 Kindergarten Registration Continues!
Who: Students who will turn 5 years old on or before 9/10/24.
What: Things you will need to gather in preparation for registration: Child’s Birth Certificate, Completed Immunization Record, Two Forms of Proof of Address (utility bill, phone bill, lease agreement)
Kindergarten Registration is a lengthy process involving quite a bit of paperwork. We know people are busy, and it is hard to spare time to fill out the paperwork here at school. In order to save you time, the forms will be available online. You are welcome to bring in your completed forms with your other documents or fill them out here at the school.
Please visit www.mcpsmt.org for updated registration dates and details. Please Note: Kindergarten Registration is NOT complete until all of the paperwork and documents are turned in and reviewed by your school secretary!
Fourth Grade Read-a-Thon a big success!
Congratulations to the Fourth Grade Read-a-Thon readers! They read 42, 432 minutes and raised $8600.00! Thank you to everyone who contributed and supported our Read-a-Thon! Thank you to our fabulous readers!
We can now go to Helena and visit our state Capitol and Montana Wild; we can purchase new books for our Literacy Library; and we can celebrate our year together at our end-of-the-year party!
A sincere thank you from your Fourth-Grade Teachers,
Ms. Harper, Mrs. O'Connor, and Mrs. Jones
From the Principal's Office
Oh, the Spring! There are so many reminders of renewal and rejuvenation that come with the Spring season. I hope you enjoyed some rest and relaxation over spring break and you are ready for the coming weeks!
Spring time brings field trips, outdoor learning opportunities, and some fun activities. It is also the time of year for Smarter Balanced testing, so please encourage your student(s) to get some good rest. We want students to be able to demonstrate the many skills they have learned this year. Your child’s teacher will keep you informed of specific class test dates.
We will be hosting several fun spring and end-of-year events as well. We start with celebrating our awesome 4th grade graduates with Poetry Night, amazing 4th & 5th grade students during the Talent Show, and finish our year with our annual Lynx Field Day! Be sure to join us for these special events.
We wish you all a wonderful April, and we look forward to a very busy and productive rest of our school year. Thank you, again, for your great support of students and staff. We are all thrilled to be part of this big, marvelous Lynx team!
Alanna
Counselor's Corner: A Note From Ms. Myers
Strategies for managing BIG Feelings
In our classroom lessons this year, Ms. Myers and Mrs. Asay have been teaching strategies to manage big feelings. Big feelings are part of learning and growing; but those kinds of feelings can be really uncomfortable and hard to manage. One way to feel a little more in control is to have a plan; having a premade plan can be helpful because in the moment of feeling flooded, it can be hard to remember what works for us. Here are a few ideas to try with your family:
Grounding: use your senses to connect to the world around you. Name 2 things you can see, hear, smell, and see. Or name as many blue things as you can see. Or name 10 circles you can see. Make your own grounding plan!
Deep breathing: regulate your body with your breath. The students have lots of different breathing strategies we’ve practiced. To name a few: blowfish breathing, 5 finger breathing.
Progressive muscle relaxation: slowly squeezing and then releasing muscles to let go of the tension. Start at your toes and work your way up to your head.
Guided meditation: a quick google search brings up many guided meditation scripts for kids. Guided meditation is known to improve focus and reduce stress.
If your child is experiencing high levels of stress and is struggling to manage, please reach out to me to problem solve or to set up a meeting. 728-2400 x4379 or lemyers@mcspmt.org
GAMELAN MONTH starts after Spring Break in the Music Room.
A gamelan is a percussion orchestra from Southeast Asia consisting of gongs, metalophones, drums and bamboo flute. The Lewis and Clark gamelan is unique to Bali, Indonesia and is called “Angklung”. All students at Lewis and Clark will spend a month playing the gamelan and learning about arts and culture in Bali, Indonesia.
If your child is interested, there will be a gamelan performance by the Missoula community Gamelan and the University of Montana Gamelan on Saturday April 27, 2024 7:30pm in the Dennison Theater. The performance will feature guest artists from Bali, Indonesia, the same artists who have performed at our school over the years.
L&C Robotics Club
Recently, the L&C Robotics Club wrapped up for 5th grade. Students followed a step-by-step process to build a chassis robot, learn about sensors, and think like engineers while modifying their robot to solve a problem. They also had to collaborate and work as a team towards a common goal. In April, 4th graders will have the opportunity to complete the challenge!
Chrissy Pucko, Instructional Coordinator
Reminder about Phones, Watches & Toys
Please be mindful when sending phones or watch phones with your child to school. Students are asked to keep them in their backpacks during the school day. Also, please do not send toys from home unless invited for a class celebration. Toys are likely to get lost and often create distraction. Thanks for your help and understanding!
Please pick up after your pet on the playground fields!
If you bring your pet to school when dropping off or picking up your student(s), please be sure you pick up after your pet on school grounds and in the field. This is a health concern to keep our playground areas safe and inviting.
Remember! The shoes you save could be your own or your child's! There are bags at both the south and north end of the field.
Thank you!
Please send your child with safe PE shoes!
As the weather changes with spring coming, please be sure your student has appropriate PE shoes at school. Snow boots, Crocs and sandals are not appropriate or safe for PE activities. If providing PE shoes is a concern, please contact the Family Resource Center - frclewis@mcpsmt.org.
Door Decorators Needed - Share your creativity and appreciation!
Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week is coming up May 6th-10th. We will be decorating doors throughout the building again this year. This is a big undertaking, but so enjoyed by staff and students alike! We need lots of hands and help to make it happen.
If you are interested in decorating a door for your student's teacher or helping coordinate, please contact Kylie Barnes at kbarnes@mcpsmt.org or at 406-531-5998.
The Lewis and Clark PTA wants to extend a BIG THANK YOU to the following families for their contributions to the Teacher/Staff Taco Bar dinner during conferences: Connie Brueckner, Michelle Cavuoto, Michelle Scruggs, Joe & Morgan Slemberger, Evie Taylor, Correy Harrison, Jenny Martinez, Traci Good, Lindsey Thompson, Jennie Roy, Hollin Buck, Allison Brown, Rachel Riopel, Kristen Dougherty, Alena Furlong, Annie Watson, IIana McCloud, Kasey Wright, Katlyn Gangi, Dana Maki, Andy Kemmis, Ashley Chevallier, Kathleen Hanson, Jenny Theis, Kelly Markovich, Nicole Pfeifer, Katie Little, Brandy Gillespie, Heidi Houck, Emily Johnson, Aderley Murphy, Anne Swentik, Mary French, Sarah Grimm, Anamarie Dowaliby & Keri McHugh.
More information coming soon on how to get involved with Teacher Appreciation Week coming up in May and The Discovery Corp clean up day!
Help Lewis & Clark retain the Riverbank Run Trophy and win the Grade School Challenge again this year! Riverbank Run sign-ups & race information coming soon! Scholarships available for the Riverbank Run. Contact the FRC office to learn more - frclewis@mcpsmt.org. Go Lynx!
Please join our next PTA meeting: Wednesday, April 17th from 7:00 to 8:00pm via Zoom. The meeting link will be sent out prior to the meeting.
FREE Parenting Classes! - Save the Dates for Important April Classes!
The Lifelong Learning Center is partnering with Families First to provide training in MCPS Elementary and Middle Schools. Call Lifelong Learning Center at 406-549-8765 to register for the FREE CLASSES and FREE ONSITE CHILDCARE or online at www.MissoulaClasses.com (Search Parenting and Family Classes)
Helping Kids Manage Stress - April 3rd, 6-8pm - at LEWIS AND CLARK LIBRARY
Young children experience stress too! Whether it's your eleven-year-old throwing their pencil across the room at homework time when they can't solve a problem, or your fourteen-year-old staying up late worrying about friendships, stress and how to deal with it can become a daily challenge if you don't create plans and strategies for dealing with it. Join us and other parents to learn more techniques to help your child manage stress. Child care is available- please register in advance to secure your spot.
Social Media and Your Family - April 9th, 6-8PM - CS Porter Middle School Library
In the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of technology, it's increasingly hard to keep up. While information and connection at our fingertips have advantages, they can also prove to be a risky environment for our children. In this class, we will explore the ways that parents can stay informed and keep their family safe IRL. Child care is available, but please pre-register prior to the start date.
Kindness, Compassion and Self Esteem - April 16th, 6-8pm -Chief Charlo Elementary Library
Children who have a healthy self-esteem and who feel accepted and appreciated, tend to approach life with optimism and confidence. This class will answer questions such as: What is self-esteem? How do children "get" it? How do parents "give" it? Participants will leave class with strategies to engage with their children in a manner that fosters self-esteem, kindness, and compassion.
