Sieden Prairie April Newsletter
Mustang Minutes
Total Eclipse
Monday, April 8th was a Total Solar Eclipse
We experienced a Total Solar Eclipse at Sieden Prairie this week, and our students were active participants! In this area, we experienced almost 95% coverage of the moon in front of the sun. Our students completed science activities surrounding the eclipse, and then they went outside, observed, and recorded what they saw. We won't see another eclipse in this area for another 20 years, so hopefully our scholars will remember this important event for decades to come.
April is Autism Acceptance Month
As the parent of an Autistic child, April is an important month to me, so I thought I'd take a moment to talk about Autism and Neurodiversity in general.
Compared with twenty years ago, we know a lot more about Autism, and it's diagnosed more accurately these days. Autism affects 1 in 36 children in the United States, about triple the number it was just ten years ago. There's a lot of conjecture around why that's occurring, but many people believe that we're just diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder more accurately.
What does Autism look like? It varies from person to person, so it's difficult to diagnose. Essentially, it's a communication disorder, and it's often diagnosed when a child is young because they have difficulty communicating. They might not be able to form sentences at all, or their sentences might just be parroting what others are saying around them. Or they might speak just fine, but they misinterpret what people say to them. They take things literally, and have difficulty seeing shades of gray.
Autistic people can also be attracted to certain sounds, and make those sounds over and over again as a way to stimulate themselves. (This behavior is called stimming, and can include visual elements as well, like staring at a ceiling fan or flapping their hands. Or spinning until they become dizzy.)
Other signs include sensitivity to sound, light, color, and touch. I took my son to a White Sox game once and we had to leave by the fourth inning because the sights and sounds were too much for him.
Often, Autism is co-diagnosed with ADHD, and so you might also see signs of wandering attention. They may not hear you the first time you speak to them because they're lost in their heads. They may have difficulty organizing because they struggle with executive functioning skills. They may hyperfocus on a task and lose all sense of time. They may also be hyperactive and unable to sit still for very long.
Finally, some physical characteristics can stand out. Autistic children often have low muscle tone, and so they don't like to sit criss cross but instead turn their feet outward so their legs form a W. They can also prefer to walk on their tiptoes.
I hope you learned something from this explanation, and if someone you love is Autistic, I hope you understand them a tiny bit better.
Parent Teacher Organization
Popcorn Fundraiser
Support our school! From April 10-14, Sieden Prairie will be running our Double-Good Popcorn Fundraiser. The event code is FGM ESS.
It’s 100% contactless, we keep 50% of the profit and the product ships directly to the buyer.
We’ll each create a Pop-Up Store and sell Double Good popcorn! Prices for Signature Bags (5 cups each) start at $11 and Curated Collections at $31. The popcorn is ultra-premium, delicious, and award-winning!
Our fundraising window begins on April 10, 2024, at 8:30 AM and goes until April 14, 2024, at 8:30 AM.
Before the fundraiser begins:
1. Download the Double Good app
2. Enter our event code FGMESS in the app
3. Create your Pop-Up Store
The app is available for free on iOS and Android.
Questions? Contact our PTO President, Mrs. Taylor at (708) 692-3780.
A Message from the Superintendent
Take a moment to listen to Dr. Brunson's message to our school community.
April Calendar
Sieden Prairie Events in April
Monday, April 1 - Friday, April 5 Spring Break
Thursday, April 11 Helping Your Child Deal with Anxiety 6-7:30 pm @STEM Center
Tuesday, April 16 Illinois Science Assessment for 5th Grade
Wednesday, April 17 Illinois Science Assessment for 5th Grade
Board of Education Meeting
Thursday, April 18 Illinois Science Assessment for 5th Grade
Friday, April 19 Illinois Science Assessment Makeup Day
Friday, April 26 Fourth Quarter Progress Reports
PBIS Incentive: Pajama Party (Students earn Mustang Merits this month to participate in the Pajama party! Wear your favorite PJs and bring your stuffy to school while we watch a movie together. Students can use their Mustang Merits to buy snacks and celebrate the end of another great month.
Elementary School District 159 Calendar 2024-2025
The final calendar for the 2024-2025 school year is available. Please click the PDF below for access.
From the Nurse
On the Chicago Measles Outbreak from Nurse DeJuana Hussey
Although there have been no Measles cases in the South Suburbs, the recent cases in Chicago have some parents concerned. Here's what the Cook County Department of Public Health has to say.
Two doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine are recommended for children by healthcare providers as the best way to protect against MMR.
When should my child get the shot?
First dose: 12-15 months
Second dose: 4-6 years
Why should my child get the shot?
- Protects your child from measles, a potentially serious disease, as well as mumps and rubella
- Protects your child from getting an uncomfortable rash and high fever from measles
- Keeps your child from missing school or child care and you from missing work
What are the side effects of the shot?
Most children don't have any side effects from the shot. The side effects that do occur are usually mild and may include:
- Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
- Fever
- Mild rash
- Temporary pain and stiffness in the joints
- More serious side effects are rare
The MMR vaccine is safe and effective
- The measles shot is very safe and is effective at preventing measles. Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own.
- Scientists in the United States and other countries have carefully studied the MMR shot. None has found a link between autism and the MMR shot.
March Wrap Up
Students of the Month
Each teacher nominated one student from their class for Student of the Month, and they were rewarded with a Playdate with the Principal! We shared pizza, games, and great conversation.
The Students of the Month are:
K 1 Ainhoa Meza
K2 Taliyah Sims
2A E’Vion Henderson
2B Eric Martinez
2C Max Machuca
3A Victor Sims
3B Ariana Irizarry Martinez
4A Brianna Fields
5A Alessandra Carrera
5B Liliana De La Torre
Dr. Seuss Week
For Dr. Seuss's birthday, Sieden Prairie celebrated with a Spirit Week. We rounded out that week with several of our Intermediate students reading a Seuss book to our Primary grades. Students of all ages dressed as their favorite Seuss character, and the spirit of Seuss was infectious!
Sankofa Scholars
Sock Hop Celebration!
We couldn't be happier that IAR Testing is complete, and so we celebrated with our outstanding 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Students who were present for all the days of testing and brought their best selves to the table were rewarded with a sock hop.
Reminders
Student Registration is Open Now
Let's get your student registered for next year. Click here to get started.
Free Museum Days in April
Chicago museums are offering free entry for Illinois residents during the month of April on designated days. This is a wonderful opportunity to enhance the learning experiences for our young people.
Please take advantage of these offerings as we prepare to embrace the long awaited spring weather that is heading our way!
👋 Need me? Reach out to cbaader@dist159.com.