page background

Riley Elementary -Newsletter-

November

Riley Elementary-Newsletter-November

Important Dates

November 1st- No School

November 4th- Meteorologist Visit (1st/2nd Grade)

November 6th, 7th, 12th - Hearing and Vision Screening

November 8th-10th- SJHS Theatre Presents - "Chicago Teen Edition'"

November 14th- Picture Retakes

November 21st- Early Release 1:35PM

November 22nd- Early Release 1:35PM

November 22nd- Silver Bells Parade

November 28th- No School Thanksgiving

November 29th- No School Thanksgiving


December 10th- Holiday Music Concert

December 11th- Holiday Music Concert

December 23rd- Christmas Break Begins


January 6th- School Resumes

January 20th- No School


February 14th- No School

February 17th- No School


March 6th- Early Release (1:35)

March 7th- Early Release (1:35)

March 10th-14th- 4th Grade Big Lesson

March 12 & 13- Spring Music Concerts

March 21st- Josh Funk Author Visit

March 28th- No School (Spring Break Begins)

March 28th- April 6th Spring Break

From the Principal's Desk

Dear Riley Elementary Families,

As we welcome November and the holiday season, I want to take a moment to reflect on what we are thankful for. This time of year is all about gratitude, and here at Riley, we feel so fortunate to be part of such a supportive community. We are thankful for all our families, whose involvement and support make a world of difference for our students and staff. Whether you’re volunteering in a classroom or simply encouraging your children at home, you play a vital role in helping us create an environment where our students can succeed.

We would also like to celebrate our wonderful students. Every child adds something unique to our school. Seeing their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning not only motivates us but also inspires us every single day. Their questions, creativity, and willingness to explore new ideas remind us of the joy of discovery and the importance of fostering a love for learning.

Lastly, I am grateful for our dedicated staff. Their passion and commitment to our students are evident in everything they do. Together, we strive to make Riley Elementary a place where every child feels valued and supported.

With the holidays right around the corner, I hope you find some time to reflect on what you're grateful for and create lasting memories with your loved ones! Wishing you and your families a happy and fulfilling holiday season!

Mr. Tisdale
Principal, Riley Elementary

Picture Retakes

November 14th

Picture retakes will be on November 14th starting in the early morning after students arrive. Students will use the same link from our previous picture day (click here). Canfield-Jenkins will reopen that link on November 7th a week before picture retake day. For students that were absent on picture day they will want to use that same link. If parents want to order pictures from the first picture day you can follow the directions on your envelope. If students require a retake they'll need to return their original picture package on retake day and they will take a new picture and replace their package.

Capturing Kids Hearts Newlsetter

TEAMWORK

We are excited to share that the focus for November in our Capturing Kids’ Hearts program is teamwork! This month, our students will engage in activities and lessons that emphasize the importance of collaboration, communication, and building strong relationships with their peers.

Why Teamwork? Teamwork is essential for personal and academic success. It helps students learn how to work together towards common goals, appreciate diverse perspectives, and develop problem-solving skills. By fostering a spirit of cooperation, we aim to create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.

How You Can Support at Home:

  • Discuss Team Experiences: Ask your child about their teamwork experiences in class and encourage them to share what they learned.
  • Encourage Group Activities: Whether it’s sports, family projects, or family games, promoting collaborative activities at home reinforces these skills.
  • Model Collaboration: Show the importance of teamwork in your daily life. Share examples of how you work with others to achieve common goals.


We look forward to a month filled with growth and connection as our students learn the value of working together. Thank you for your support!

Fostering Literacy

Fostering Motivation and Engagement in Literacy

The foundation of all literacy growth and achievement rests on a child’s motivation and engagement in literacy tasks.


At school we aim to use deliberate, research-informed efforts to foster literacy motivation and engagement within and across lessons.


Here are some ways that you can help:

Tip 1

Give your child lots of opportunities to read, write and talk about reading and writing at home.

Tip 2

Allow your child to choose what they read and write about. You can provide choice from a limited set of options. It is still a choice.

Tip 3

Give your child a purpose for reading and writing at home. Such as reading for enjoyment or pleasure, to answer questions they have about the world, to learn about topics of interest, read a recipe or write the grocery list.

Class Highlights

What to look forward to this month

Kindergarten students will engage in hands-on exploration of 2-D shapes, observing their properties, recording their findings, creating different shapes, and comparing them to understand their similarities and differences. In science, students will dive into the study of seasons, exploring how weather patterns change throughout the year and how these patterns affect the environment.


First graders Students will be creating and illustrating their own books, focusing on the theme of "What I Am Thankful For." In Math, they will be introduced to place value while continuing to strengthen their skills in addition and subtraction. Additionally, Deputy Barber will visit first grade classrooms on Wednesdays over the next few months to teach important safety lessons.


Second graders Second grade has been exploring the fascinating world of biographies, diving into the life of Albert Einstein through the book *On a Beam of Light*. In math, we've been hands-on, building, sorting, and identifying both 2D and 3D shapes. Our science journey has also begun with an exciting new unit on Matter, where we're learning all about the properties and changes of different substances.


Third grade Third grade is diving into an exciting study of weather! We've been observing different types of clouds, exploring temperature and climate, and learning how these elements shape our world. To make it even more special, we had a visit from Mrs. Hengesbach, a meteorologist and the mother of our student teacher, Miss H. She shared an engaging slideshow filled with cloud pictures, explained how to read weather maps, and taught us about air quality and the impact of wind patterns on our environment.


Fourth grade The 4th-grade students are looking forward to starting their service project and cant wait spread some holiday cheer by giving to local families in need. In math 4th grade willl contnue to work on multiplication.


Fifth grade Fifth grade has been focusing on exploring different perspectives in both Reading and Social Studies. In Reading, students have been identifying key events, summarizing texts, and making inferences as they engage with various fictional books. In Math, they’ve been learning and practicing a variety of multiplication and division strategies. In Science, lessons have been centered around building the foundational knowledge students will need to succeed in our upcoming Big Zoo Lesson week.


In PE class students have been sharpening their football skills by practicing throwing, catching, and learning to find open space. As we move into November, we’ll continue to make the most of our outdoor space, so please remember to pack appropriate clothing for the weather! Thank you for helping us keep them prepared!


In Library Each day in the library offers new and exciting opportunities for students to explore a variety of books. This month, they will continue to learn how to navigate and make the most of the library, with the hope of discovering hidden treasures along the way!


In ART students worked on a ceramics project and will be bringing home their clay pieces soon. K-1st grade learned about making coils and attaching two pieces of clay together, while 3rd and 4th learned how to sculpt from a pinch pot, and 5th grade created a game from a slab of clay.


In Music Students are preparing for the upcoming Holiday Concert and are excited to showcase their amazing voices while spreading Christmas cheer!

Math Minute

Fun Activates to Try at Home

Hey Parents and Students! We know that math can be fun, especially when you make it part of your daily routine. Below are some engaging math activities for students in grades K-5 that can easily be done at home. Try them out and watch your math skills grow!


Kindergarten (K)
Shape Hunt Around the House
Go on a shape scavenger hunt around your home! Can you find objects that are circles, squares, rectangles, or triangles? Draw pictures of what you find and talk about their properties (how many sides, corners, etc.).

1st Grade (1)
Number Line Jump
Create a number line on the floor with tape, or use chalk outside. Have your child "jump" to different numbers when you call them out (1-20). As they become more confident, try doing addition or subtraction jumps!

2nd Grade (2)
Money Counting Challenge
Gather some coins and set up a "store" in your home. Practice counting pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to make different amounts of money. You can even create "price tags" for items and practice making purchases!

3rd Grade (3)
Multiplication Tic-Tac-Toe
Use a tic-tac-toe board and write multiplication facts in each square (like 3 x 4, 6 x 7, etc.). Players can "claim" a square by correctly answering the multiplication fact. First one to get three in a row wins!

4th Grade (4)
Fraction Pizza Party
Create your own "pizza" using paper or cardboard and cut it into different fractions (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). Have fun coloring each fraction a different color, and then try to figure out how to combine slices to make a whole pizza!

5th Grade (5)
Geometry Scavenger Hunt
Go on a geometry scavenger hunt in your neighborhood or around your house. Look for angles, lines, shapes, and symmetry in everyday objects. Can you find parallel lines, right angles, or symmetrical patterns?

When to Keep a Child Home

MET -Michigan Education Trust

MET -Michigan Education Trust

We are excited to announce that our school has partnered with the Michigan Education Trust (MET) to provide valuable college savings resources for all of our students. As part of the MET School Partnership Program, we are committed to helping you plan for your child’s future education and make higher education more affordable.

Through this partnership, MET offers families a secure, tax-advantaged way to save for college tuition at Michigan’s public universities and colleges. By participating in MET, you can lock in today’s tuition rates, which can help protect against rising college costs in the future.

Why start saving for college today?


  • Save on future tuition costs: With MET, you can pre-purchase tuition at today’s rates, helping you avoid future increases.
  • Secure and flexible: MET plans are backed by the state of Michigan and can be used at any public college or university in Michigan.
  • Peace of mind: Planning early can reduce the financial burden of college and help your child focus on what matters most—learning and growing.

Hearing and Vison Screening

Hearing and Vison Screening - November 6th and 7th

In Michigan, hearing and vision screenings are offered free to all children in public, private, and charter schools, as well as preschools, childcare centers, and Head Start programs. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) manages the program. They will be out to Riley in November. Below is a declination form that can be filled out and submitted by November 1st if you prefer to have your child excluded from these screenings for the 24-25 SY.

Food Service

We Encourage You to Fill Out the Education Benefit Form! Why?

School lunches this year are free for everyone but we still need you to fill out a Education Benefit Form (formally called free and reduced application). WHY?

  1. While we participating in Michigan School Meals which provides free meals to all students, we still need to track which students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

  2. Education Benefit Form help our school district qualify for more grants that will benefit all students academically.

  3. Over 30 Million students participate in the National School Lunch Program every school day. Over 50% received Free Meals!



We know this is a lot of information to process. For your convenience, feel free to print

*** New Simplified Application ***

Strictly Confidential!

  • St. Johns Public Schools Free and Reduced-price meal are strictly confidential!

  • Family finance is a very personal matter and your application is handled with confidentiality and respect.

  • Students receiving meal benefits are not identified in the service line.

  • All students use the same service line and the computer screen does not indicate which students are free and reduced-price.

Parent Resources

Andrew Tisdale
Andrew is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters