Gilberts Elementary
Week of December 9th
From the Principal's Desk
Dear Grizzly Families,
Thank you to each of you for participating in Parent Teacher Conferences last week. We are grateful for these important touchpoints with you as we work together to support your student(s). I’m sure each of you heard wonderful accomplishments of your child(ren) and areas for potential growth as well.
One of our traditions at Gilberts is an annual food drive during the holiday season. Our 5th graders will facilitate this as part of our Grizzlies Give Back leadership opportunities. The donations are given to the D300 Food Pantry to support our local community and are always grateful for our support. I encourage you to talk with your student about why it is important to help and serve others. We thank you for your generous donations!
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!
Mr. Ruzinok
Principal
Upcoming Eventsđź“…
December 12 - Kindergarten Concert
December 12 - Fall Picture Re-takes
December 18 - Band/Orchestra Concert
December 20 - End of 2nd Quarter
December 23 - January 3 - Winter Break
January 6 - Classes Resume
January 20 - Martin Luther King Day / Office and Schools Closed
January 22 - Late Start at 10:00 a.m.
Lunchroom Reminders
In the event that school is closed for a snow day, the lunch menu will pick up on the school day that was missed. For example, if school is called off on a Friday, when the students return on Monday they will be served Friday’s menu item. Monday’s menu item will be skipped. This is due to Organic Life ordering food a day in advance.
Nurses Corner
Absences Due to Illness
Children should stay home from school if they have any of the following symptoms:
• Fever over 100° (students have to be fever free for 24 hours, without the help of medication, before returning to school)
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Undiagnosed rashes (students must return with a doctor signed rash letter that is provided by the school nurse for all undiagnosed rashes or a doctor’s note)
• Red/running eyes with discharge (suspected pink eye)
Thank you for helping us keep the school healthy and germ free!
Germ Busters!
As we head into cold and flu season, please remind your children to sneeze and cough into their inner elbow, use a tissue when possible, and wash their hands. One of the most common causes of winter tummy aches and visits to the nurse is “sniffling.” Ensuring that your child knows how to properly blow their nose will go a long way towards helping them feel more comfortable when they have a cold. Coughing can be helped by keeping well hydrated. In the dry air of winter, children need more water and are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle. As children learn these easy self-care cold tips, they will feel better and help prevent the spread of germs in school. Have a happy and healthy winter vacation!
Good Consequences
Behaving well and working hard pay off! Help your child see the results of their efforts. For example, if your child is quiet when you are on a phone call, let them know that you appreciate their patience. You may even want to reward them by playing a game. If your child goes to bed without a struggle, point out to them how much more energy they seem to have the next morning. Try to avoid using toys and food as rewards. You will want to avoid training your child to expect something in exchange for behaving well
Homework
Like a baseball player working on their swing, your child does homework to practice what they learn in school. If your child is like most students, homework can bring occasional challenges. Here are some solutions to common homework problems.
Get into a homework routine. When your child gets home from school, they might want to relax for a little while, or they might want to jump right in and work. Try each method for a week and see which routine works best for you.
Stay motivated to complete homework. If your child gets a little restless when doing homework, suggest that they move to a new spot. A planned break can also give your child a second wind when completing homework. Practice makes perfect!
Attendance
Schools are required to track the attendance of every child in every classroom every day. It is important that you always contact the school if your child is going to be late or absent.
BRRR! It's Cold Outside!
Please make sure that your children come prepared for the weather! Students are outside in the morning and for recess daily. Kids will stay inside if the temperature reaches below 10 degrees with the wind chill, or if it is raining. Students should have a winter coat, hat, gloves, a scarf and boots. Students are NOT allowed to play in the snow if they do not have proper winter attire. Students wishing to play in the snow must have all of the above and be wearing snow pants. With all of the extra winter clothing that the kids have to keep track of, they tend to misplace items.
Please label all items with your child’s name. Please remind your child to check the Lost and Found in the multipurpose room before winter break.
Emergency School Closings/Inclement Weather
School will be in session according to the District Calendar unless there is an emergency. Emergency closing decisions are made by the Superintendent. The district will continue to send Rapid Communications Systems (RCS) phone calls and emails for emergency notifications. You can also download the D300 Mobile App at the App Store or Google Play.