Dragon Tales

Are you extremely organized? Do you like helping others? Do you have a passion for education? RS Payne Elementary School is actively seeking parents and guardians to volunteer as a Family Helper! Volunteering as a Family Helper you can:

• Assist in the Library

• Decorate bulletin boards

• Take part in small group activities in the classroom

• Make copies

• Organize classroom materials

• Read books to students

• Assist teachers with day-to-day routines and activities

• And so much more!

If you are interested in volunteering at RS Payne, please fill out the School Volunteer Application and review the LCS Guidelines for School Volunteers.

Thank you,

Mr. Marshall and Ms. McVicar

All over the globe, thousands of children are making an impact in their neighborhoods, schools, and communities. This year at RS Payne, our students and staff are proud to become a part of that same mission…and we need YOUR help! We welcome you to join our Service Learning Projects once a month at 2:30pm on the second Friday of each month. Staff and students were given the choice to participate in the following areas of passion and interest:

• Animals

• Community Development

• Environment

• Friendships

• Health & Wellness

• Homelessness & Hunger

• Literacy

• Seniors

• Safety

• Military

If you are interested in assisting with a Service Learning Project at RS Payne, please fill out the School Volunteer Application and review the LCS Guidelines for School Volunteers.

Then complete the parent interest survey.

This fall:

September 8th 2:30pm introduction and brainstorming

October 13th 2:30- planning for the year (projects, activities, trips, etc.)

November 10th 2:30pm - Speakers from community organizations will join each group

December 8th 2:30pm- outreach project- letters, cards, gifts, etc.

"As we serve others we are working on ourselves; every act, every word, every gesture of genuine compassion naturally nourishes our own hearts as well.”

-Wayne Muller

"Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others."

- Rosa Parks

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service of others."

- Mahatma Gandhi

Thank you,

Mr. Marshall and Ms. McVicar

Email: RSPattendance@lcsedu.net
Website: https://www.lcsedu.net/schools/rsp
Location: 1201 Floyd Street, Lynchburg, VA, USA
Phone: (434)515-5270
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RSPdragons/
Twitter: @RSPdragons

OCT 4: Picture Day

OCT 5: Crunch Heard 'Round the Commonwealth

OCT 9-13: Scholastic Bookfair

OCT 10: Title 1 Reading Event 5:30 pm- 7:00 pm

OCT 18: Unity Day; wear orange

OCT 19: End of Quarter 1

OCT 20: Professional Development Day; (students do not attend)

OCT 23: Fall Holiday; (teachers and students do not attend)

OCT 24: PTO Meeting at 5:30 pm

OCT 26: Coffee and Open Chat time w/ Principals, Counselors, and Family Liaison (Family Room) 9:30 am- 10:30 am/ PK Field Trip to Apple Orchard

OCT 27: Awards Assembly PK- 2: 9:15 am- 9:45 am & 3rd-5th: 10:00 am- 10:30 am/ Report cards go home

OCT 30- NOV 3: Spirit Week

*Girls on the Run (GOTR) will be every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 pm- 5:30 pm until November 16th

September 15- October 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month

• Recognize contributions made by Hispanic and Latino Americans; celebrate their heritage and culture.

October 16: National Multicultural Diversity Day

• Celebrate/ embrace who we are, despite our differences , no matter what race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, nationality, or disability

October 16-17: Twin Holy Birthdays

• Refers to two successive holy days in Baha'i calendar that celebrate the births of two central figures of the Baha'i Faith. The two holy days are the birth of the Bab on the first day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and the birth of Baha'u'llah on the second day of Muharram.

October 18: Unity Day

• Unity Day is the flagship event of National Bullying Prevention Month which is celebrated in October. The day calls on all of us to unite in kindness, inclusion and courage in order to prevent bullying wherever it may occur.
  

October 31: All Hallows' Eve/ Halloween

• Halloween, also known as All Hallows' Eve is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day.

October 30-Nov 3 - SPIRIT WEEK

• Monday, October 30 - Wear Neon or Bright Colors
• Tuesday, October 31 - Dress as your Favorite Book Character (no masks, face paint or other accessories)
• Wednesday, November 1 - Wear your Favorite Pajamas (no slippers)
• Thursday, November 2 - Country Western/Cowboy & Cowgirl Day (hats are acceptable)
• Friday, November 3 - Wear your RSP Gear or your Favorite Sports Team

Parents we are promoting positive attendance all year long here at R. S. Payne! Send your students on time every day and ready to learn. Here are some attendance reminders:

• School day starts at 8:35 am
• School day ends at 3:35 pm
• There are no early check outs at door 5 between the hours of 3:25 pm- 3:40 pm
• Tardiness to school and early dismissals are tracked and may affect your student's attendance record
• Please call the office with any transportation changes by 3:00 pm

For attendance notes, please be sure to email notes directly to RSPattendance@lcsedu.net or davistn@lcsedu.net. Calling the school to report an absence is not an excuse. All notes must be received within 48 hours of returning from an absence. Thank you!

Happy fall families! We are continuing to implement our social-emotional learning curriculum here at R. S. Payne called Second Step®. Teachers are using this curriculum in the classroom to support students with calm down strategies, problem solving strategies, and how to recognize feelings in themselves and in others. Students have been working on skills for learning such as focusing attention, listening, keeping still bodies, and quiet voices. Classes have also started to discuss when and how to be assertive, as well as using positive self-talk to focus. Students who have high self-regulation are more likely to have better math, literacy, and vocabulary skills, have higher academic achievement, graduate from high school, and choose prosocial responses. Please talk with your child(ren) at home and you can work together on these skills. They can be put to practice at school, at home, and out and about. We appreciate your partnership and support!

Welcome to October! This month, we have some exciting math activities, tips, and important information to share with you as we navigate the wonderful world of elementary school math.

Math is not just about numbers; it's about problem-solving, critical thinking, and building a strong foundation for future success. We hope you find this newsletter valuable in supporting your child's mathematical journey.

Math in Nature:

Fall is the perfect time to explore math in nature. Take your child on a nature walk and count the different colored leaves, identify geometric shapes in the trees, or calculate the distance between your favorite pumpkin patches. Engaging with math in the great outdoors is a fun and hands-on way to boost math skills.

Math Fun: Pumpkin Math Activities

October is the perfect month to incorporate pumpkins into your child's math learning. Here are some fun pumpkin-themed math activities you can try at home:

Pumpkin Measurement: Have your child measure the circumference and height of a pumpkin using a tape measure or a piece of string. Then, compare the measurements of different pumpkins.

Pumpkin Counting: Count the seeds in a pumpkin together. Estimate how many seeds there are before counting, and see how close your estimate was.

Pumpkin Shapes: Explore the shapes of pumpkins. Identify circles, rectangles (stem), and discuss the concept of symmetry.

Pumpkin Math Story: Create a math story involving pumpkins. For example, "If Jack had 5 pumpkins and gave 2 to his friend Jill, how many pumpkins does Jack have left?"

Math Book of the Month

Apple Fractions by Jerry Pallotta is a book that uses a variety of apples to teach children about fractions. There are hands-on demonstrations that are used to teach children how to cut apples in 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, and more!

This month's featured book is a delightful math-themed story that will engage young readers while teaching important math concepts. It's available at local bookstores.

Math Resources Online:

Explore online math resources that make learning enjoyable. Websites like Khan Academy, ABCmouse, and Coolmath Games offer a wide range of math activities and lessons designed specifically for elementary students.

Math Tip of the Month

Tip: Encourage a Growth Mindset

When your child faces math challenges, emphasize the importance of perseverance and effort. Encourage them to view mistakes as opportunities to learn. A growth mindset can lead to greater math success and a love for problem-solving.

Math Joke of the Month

Why was the math book sad? Because it had too many problems!

Reading at home is one of the best ways for students to improve reading skills. Reading skills take practice, much like basketball, tennis, or football. Growth in reading skills and comprehension can be a game-changer for students' experience in school! They become more confident and successful. Therefore, school becomes more fun and they feel great about themselves in the meantime!

For kids to practice their reading, they should be reading every night at home. This is sometimes challenging because, let's face it, not all kids like to read. It's hard and they don't feel as if it’s as much fun as watching Youtube, Netflix, or Fortnite. But it is very important nonetheless. Here are some ways to help promote reading and literacy in your home:

1. Schedule regular trips to the library.

2. Read aloud or with children, even older children, every night. 10 minutes will do.

3. Set aside time each day for reading.

4. Encourage reading of newspapers, magazines, road signs, magazines, etc.. You can look for words that start with a letter they have been working on in class.

5. Give books as gifts.

6. Make reading a privilege: “You can stay up 15 extra minutes tonight if you read in bed”, or “Since you helped with the dishes, you can read an extra book tonight.”

7. Encourage your child to read by asking them questions about what they are reading.

8. Help them choose books or magazines with a topic they are interested in. Interest is key for engagement!

If you want more information you can check out these two resources:

Raising Readers

More Stories, Please

Hello Dragon Families!! It’s Book Fair time!! Our Scholastic Book Fair will be October 9- 13. You can access the Book Fair website, browse the online flyer, and purchase books online. You can also set up an eWallet so that your child can shop at school without having to handle money. We are in need of volunteers. If you are interested in helping out, you can sign up here. You will also have the opportunity to come visit the book fair in person on Tuesday, October 10 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. during our Title I Parent night.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Beth Thornhill

Librarian

thornhilled@lcsedu.net

October Already!!! Summer weather has abandoned us. Leaves are becoming colorful on trees and restless in the breeze. We are beyond halfway for this academic quarter as well. The students are settling in and the adults have begun to see potential and challenges. The younger students who were crying upon arrival with their parents are now jumping out of vehicles with backpacks determined and excited. Parents are trusting the process patiently. It is October.

There is a line in our school pledge that has been surfing my thoughts for the past six weeks. The sentence states, “I have a right to dream, a reason to believe and a responsibility to achieve.” My thought has been on MY RESPONSIBILITY TO ACHIEVE. In other words, all of us are responsible for our achievements. Oxford Languages on Google defines achievement as “a thing done successfully, typically by effort, courage, or skill.” The effort and courage are personal, tailored to fit each of us. The skill set is perfected by individual work and struggle. We are truly responsible for our own achievements but it starts with our effort, courage and commitment to developing the skills needed to succeed.

My best starting suggestion to parents and students in the promotion of achievement would be preparation. A prepared student is focused, rested, and ready to learn. The prepared student has to be focused on school, not home, not family drama, and not adult business. We have to train and guide our students in the home and community to be engaged, attentive, and clear-minded. The prepared student must rest and sleep and not contend with the sleepiness, irritability, and/or tiredness. Screen time in the home has to be limited as our elementary children are struggling due to too much access and time on phones, gaming systems, and tablets. Some things they are viewing are not appropriate so your supervision and follow up to searches is essential. The last portion of the prepared student is that the student be ready to learn. Students need to see the importance of math and reading in the parents’ everyday lives. Students need to see parents and adults who eagerly learn daily and look to grow constantly. The fear of learning newer and tougher is quickly removed when the expectation of newer and tougher becomes consistent. Newer and tougher should be THE habit in the home and school. Send a prepared child and watch the growth of the achieving adult. Let’s position our babies and ourselves to do the probable and the impossible.

Happy fall!

School is in full swing and our students are starting to get used to their new routines. This newsletter we will focus on healthy nutrition. I see a lot of kiddos throughout the school year with complaints of tummy aches. Most of these problems are related to digestive issues and are not related to any particular illness. A healthy balanced diet can alleviate many of these tummy troubles such as constipation, bloating, diarrhea and gas.

Good nutrition is key to good health. Try a rainbow of fruits and vegetables: Choosing in season fruits and vegetables with a variety of colors like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple will give you a variety of healthy nutrients.

• Vary Your Veggies: Go dark green and orange such as spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, lettuce, carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash.

• Fruit Focus: Fruits are great for mealtimes and snacks. Include fresh, frozen, canned or dried. Red: strawberries, apples, cherries, grapes; Orange / yellow: oranges, clementines, peaches, pineapples, bananas; Green: apples, grapes, kiwi; Blue / purple: blueberries, plums, raisins, blackberries, purple grapes.

• Go easy on fruit juice.

Besides choosing fruits and vegetables, remember these healthy tips:

• Grains: Make half your grains whole. Choose grains like whole wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, low fat popcorn.

• Protein: Go Lean: Eat lean meat, chicken, turkey and fish. Try more dried beans and peas.

• Calcium is important for strong bones: Serve low fat and fat free milk.

• Oils: Get it from fish, nuts, and olive oil. Try coconut oil, it adds a great flavor and is super healthy.

• Sugar: Choose foods that don’t have sugar as one of first ingredients. Added sugar contributes calories with few nutrients. Other great choices include local honey and maple sugar.

• Fats: Know your fats: Solid fats are higher in saturated and/or Tran’s fats. Try to limit these.

Kimberly Barnes BSN, RN

School Nurse

barneskr@lcsedu.net

434-515-5271

Infinite Campus: Are you connected to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal? The links below show you how to access the portal from a computer/ laptop or how to download the app on a phone.

Computer/ Laptop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L4ZgUh9D0A

Phone App: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QhkK1ZEGxQ

Google Classroom

What is Google Classroom? Teachers in grades 3rd-5th are using Google Classroom to distribute and collect content and assignments. Students should have received a join code from their teachers. Parents have the ability to view a summary of the Classroom content and assignments. Please contact the teacher if you have not received a parent invite!

Parent Resources

Click here for a document of tutorials that may be helpful to you and your student as you learn about the technology tools that are being used in the classroom!

Technical Assistance

If you are experiencing issues with the tools and resources above, please contact your teacher and they will direct you to the appropriate person. If you are experiencing technical issues with the Chromebook (not charging, missing keys, etc.) please call 515-5091 or fill out this form.

Did you know that money earned from community rewards programs helps support our school with supplies, programs, and more! Sign up is free and easy!

Before you head to the grocery store, sign up for Kroger Community Rewards! Sign up is as easy as 1,2,3!

1. Visit www.kroger.com/communityrewards and create an account or sign-in.
2. Under Community Rewards enter our school name RS Payne Elementary School or our Non-Profit Organization number (NPO) #QH700.
3. Shop and check out with your Kroger Plus card!

RSP Vision

We Dream, Believe, and Achieve because we are Respectful, Supportive, and Productive.

RSP Mission

Our team of faculty, parents, and volunteers of Robert S. Payne Elementary School will strive to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for all students to help them become responsible citizens of the community.