Dear Trails Families,

We hope this newsletter finds you well and that we're all moving past the wave of illness that swept through January. As we step into February, we are excited about all the wonderful things happening in our classrooms!

This month is packed with engaging learning experiences, special events, and opportunities for students to grow and shine. We encourage you to take a moment to read through the Classroom Spotlights.

Highlights This Month:

💯 100th Day of School - Students dress like they are 100 or wear 100 items.
📚 Writing Wall Spotlights – Be on the lookout for our Writing Wall Spotlights on social media!
❤️ Valentine’s Day Celebrations – Check below for links to preregister for your child's party.
📅 Important Dates – Don’t miss key events happening this month.

Classroom Spotlights:

• PreK: Happy February! This month, we’ll focus on friendship, kindness, and winter fun. We’re also excited to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

  At-Home Activity Ideas - Heart Hunt: Cut out hearts and hide them around the house for a fun Valentine’s scavenger hunt.

  Shape Collage: Use old magazines to cut out heart shapes and other winter-themed shapes for a creative collage.

• Kindergarten: Kindergarten is flying through this semester! We have been focusing on teen numbers and learning to count by 10's. Our kiddos are so smart! We are reading lots of words now, including cvcc words. UFLI has been a great addition to our kindergarten curriculum! We will continue practicing how to write our last name in addition to our first name. Kindergarten is a cool place to be!

• 1st Grade: First grade has been working hard since the new year! We reviewed classroom expectations, began learning how to read long vowel words with silent e, and comparing numbers with greater than and less than. We have also introduced opinion writing, and we are learning about polar animals to go along with the chilly weather!

• 2nd Grade: Our third quarter is off to an exciting start. We are looking forward to our 100th day of school, as well as our upcoming Valentine's Day parties! Be on the lookout for more information about both of those events. In ELA we are continuing to work on our reading comprehension strategies and working to meet fluency goals. In math, we recently took our middle-of-the-year benchmark test where students appear to have made great progress! The next few units will focus on place value, money, time, and measurement. Science standards will begin to appear on this quarter's report card. Classes have started with states of matter where they have included fun activities with pancakes and chemical reactions!

• 3rd Grade: We started the new semester off strong in third grade! January has been filled with learning about addition and subtraction strategies and concepts as well as understanding prefixes and suffixes in English language arts. Students have been excited and engaged using our technology resources to compete in a school-wide Happy Numbers challenge! Be on the lookout for Valentine's Day party information coming home soon from your child's teacher.

• 4th Grade: We love February! This month, the kids will be focusing on Author’s Purpose and Perspective. It’s exciting to dig deep and see why authors write, and what they think and feel about the topics. We will also revisit the text structures of chronological order and cause/effect. They’re getting pretty good at seeing these structures! In grammar, we are still continuing with verbs. We are also studying Greek roots in words to help us gain meaning of new, unfamiliar words. In math, we will finish up our study of decimals, including relating them to money. Afterward, we will begin measurement, first, by practicing elapsed time. Then, we will measure length, capacity, and volume using metric and customary units. That is a very full month!
  
  

• Library News: Pre-K through 4th grade: Why we love books! Biographies and Poetry! Presidents’ Day and Valentine's Books!

• P.E. News: We have some exciting activities planned for February! We will begin with our Football Unit to go along with the Super Bowl. Students will work on passing, throwing, catching, and speed drills. We will then move to our 100-Day Stations to celebrate that we are 100 Days stronger! Students will work on their endurance as they complete 100 reps at stations with a partner. It’s going to be a fun February!

• Music News: This month in music we will be finishing up Lunar New Year activities, starting Valentine activities, and exploring music from various Black musicians to celebrate Black History Month. Later this month, the 4th grade will start learning music for their spring performance on April 21st at the PAC!

We appreciate you being part of our school community. Stay connected, stay involved, and let’s make February a fantastic month of learning and fun!

💗 Mrs. Hasty and Mrs. Coffey

Jami Hasty

Principal, Mustang Trails

hastyj@mustangps.org

Lindsey Coffey

Assistant Principal, Mustang Trails

coffeyl@mustangps.org

Feb. 3rd - 7th - School Counselor Week

Feb. 6th - 100th Day of School

Feb. 7th - Reschedule January Bronco Stomp

Feb. 7th - Healthy Snack Day

Feb. 10th & 11th - No School - Teacher PD Day

Feb. 12th - School Crossing Guard Day

Feb. 14th - Valentine's Day Parties (see links below)

Feb. 14th - School SRO Day

Feb. 14th - Healthy Snack Day

Feb. 17th - 21st - Kindness Week

Feb. 18th - Skate Night 6-8pm

Feb. 19th - Kona Ice

Feb. 20th - Class Pictures

Feb. 21st - Healthy Snack Day

Feb. 28th - February Bronco Stomp

Feb. 28th - Healthy Snack Day

Help us celebrate our counselors each day! We love and appreciate all that they do for us!!😀

Help us spread kindness by participating in our dress-up days!! Feb. 17th-21st

Links for each class:

Denny: https://www.schoolsafeid.com/event/4907

Pre-K: https://www.schoolsafeid.com/event/4912

Kinder: https://www.schoolsafeid.com/event/4910

1st: https://www.schoolsafeid.com/event/4908

2nd: https://www.schoolsafeid.com/event/4911

3rd & Wittum: https://www.schoolsafeid.com/event/4909

Links are sent out via Seesaw by all teachers prior to Bronco Stomp, class parties, and field trip meetings. We send links prior to each event. You will avoid having to wait in line, scan your license, and wait for approval just by clicking on the link and signing up early. 😃

Do you plan on attending a field trip?

Are you interested in volunteering?

Please use the following link to get your background check. You must have a background check to attend a field trip or volunteer.

https://securevolunteer.com/mustang-public-schools/home

We have close to a hundred lost coats and jackets!! Please have your child(ren) go by lost and found to find their missing items. Also, we LOVE when coats, hoodies, lunchboxes, etc. are labeled with the child's name. We can get it back to them immediately. 🙂

Health and Medicine

Parents must complete a clinic form in order for prescription or non-prescription medication to be administered at school.

DO NOT SEND MEDICATIONS TO SCHOOL WITH THE STUDENT.

You must get the Official School Form from the school’s nurse for all prescription and non-prescription medicine and return it with the medicine. The nurse or the principal’s designee will be the only individual allowed to give medicine. If your child becomes ill at school, we will contact you immediately. If we cannot reach you, we will use the emergency contact information you have provided.

Lori Knowles, RN School Nurse

Trails Elementary 405-324-4837

Cafeteria Info and Free/Reduced Lunch Application

Mustang Public Schools is encouraging all families to complete a free and reduced meal application this year. It is more important now than ever before.

Please help our site remain a Title I school by completing the application below, even if you don't believe you will qualify. Many qualify, so we encourage everyone to fill it out. Thank you!

Free and Reduced Lunch Application Direct Link

Registering for MySchoolBucks.com

• Click here to go to MySchoolBucks.
• Click Sign Up and enter the required information.
• Click Finish to complete the initial registration process.

Add Students to Your Family Account

• When you log in you will be taken to the homepage.
• Click MyKids from the main menu OR from the blue navigation bar above.
• This is a listing of the students in your account. It will be empty on your first visit to the site.
• Click Add Child and enter the required information.
• Click Add (next to your child’s name) to continue.
• Click Add Child to repeat the process for additional children.
• NOTE: Your child’s transaction history report will not display information during the initial account set up process.

How to Make a Deposit

• Click Deposit Money located next to Add Student.
• Enter an amount in the Deposit column next to your child’s name.
• If you have more than one child, enter the amount you wish to deposit into the column next to each child’s name. DO NOT deposit money for your entire family into ONE child’s account.
• Click Calculate.
• Click Make Deposit.
• You will be directed to the PayPal web site to enter your payment information.
• You have the option to use your existing PayPal account or a major credit card to make your payment.
• If you are using your PayPal account, enter your email address and PayPal password to continue.
• If you are using a credit card, enter the required information. For your protection, MyNutrikids.com will not store your financial information.
• Click Pay Now when finished.
• Click Pay once again to finish the process.
• *E-CHECKS WILL TAKE UP TO A WEEK TO PROCESS!

Transportation - MPS Buses Are Safest Way To School

Mustang Public School’s buses are the safest way to get to and from school each day. Statistics from the School Bus Information Council show that buses are safer for students than airlines, passenger trains and passenger cars, which have the highest injury rate.

Mustang’s bus drivers go through strict training, which includes written tests as well as driving instruction and a driving test. New bus drivers will have a minimum of 15 hours on-the-road training with Mustang transportation department staff before they begin transporting children. Training is provided in-house.

Besides the benefits of safety, when more students ride the bus it significantly reduces congestion around the schools. It is also means a gas savings for parents.

ROUTE INFORMATION

• Routes - To access route information, simply go to elink.mustangps.org. Be sure to uncheck the box next to “Authenticate using Network Credentials.” Then enter the username of mustang, and the password is guest.

• If your address is NOT populating in the finder, please call our district office for assistance at (405)376-2630.

• As always, we appreciate your patience with our team each year as our school district continues to grow and new neighborhoods are established.

• Safety - Please take a moment to review this to view an Infographic on Oklahoma Bus Laws. Drive Safely!

Procedures for Car Riders

*When dropping off or picking up students, all vehicles MUST use the car rider lane located off of Czech Hall road. The front drive of the school is for school buses, daycare vans, and handicapped students. If you do not have a PINK handicapped tag you will be stopped when trying to enter the front drive during arrival (7:15-7:45) and dismissal (2:15-2:45).

*All vehicles MUST go through the drop off/pick up line. Vehicles SHOULD NOT park unless you are going into the school with your child. If you need to park, please park on the east side of the school in a parking place.

*Morning Drop off begins at 7:15 AM. No supervision is provided before then.

* The entry from Czech Hall will remain one lane. Two rows of traffic will be formed after entering the car rider drive. Duty teachers will direct parents as to when students should exit their cars. Please be aware of what is going on around you as multiple cars will unload at the same time. Watch for a staff person to direct traffic to move forward with a Stop/Go sign. The left lane of traffic will turn left out of Trails, Right lane will turn right. There will be no crossover of traffic.

*While in the car rider lane, parents should remain in vehicles. There will be staff members on duty if a child needs help entering/exiting a vehicle. ALL STUDENTS MUST EXIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR FOR SAFETY.

*At 7:40 am, the K- 4th grade car rider lane will be closed and used for Pre-K drop off only (from 7:50-8:00). At that time, parents must park and walk your child in the main doors and check them in through the office as your student is considered tardy. (We will not count tardies for the first week of school to give everyone time to get used to the procedures and to allow our car line to move more quickly.)

*During afternoon dismissal, if you do not have your car rider tag, you will be asked to come into the office and show ID before a child is released. This is for the safety of our students. Our Office closes at 3:00. All children should be picked up by 2:50pm.

*At no point should children be dropped off and left unescorted by an adult when coming to school. (late check ins, doctors appts, etc)

Please have coats on, backpacks ready, lunch boxes in hand and kisses and hugs completed before time to exit the car. This will help make our car line more efficient.

Thank you for helping to keep our students safe.

BRONCO CLUB - IT'S NOT JUST A DAYCARE!

Mustang Parents - Are you in of need child care after school? Our elementary program is designed for children in grades Pre-K through 4 and is geared to meet the needs and characteristics of our elementary children. Children will participate in carefully planned activities that encourage optimal physical, mental, and social development, while fostering each child's positive self-image and sense of independence. Follow this link for more information https://www.mustangps.org/families-students/bronco-club

Bullying means any pattern of harassment, intimidation, threatening behavior, or physical act, directed toward a student or group of students that results in or is reasonably perceived as being done with the intent to cause negative educational or physical results for the targeted individual or group and is communicated in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any student.

Reporting

There are three ways to report bullying.

• A student may report bullying to a teacher, counselor, or school administrator

• Once submitted and received, the investigation process will begin. Keep in mind, this process can only be as thorough as the information provided.
  

To review our school district’s policy on bullying, you can view our policies and procedures here:

https://www.mustangps.org/fs/resource-manager/view/a958095b-da49-43d3-a67b-def99fa31b54

The policy addressing bullying is MPS Board Policy- #5110

12025 SW 15th St

Yukon, OK 73099

Phone: 405.324.0016

Website: https://trails.mustangps.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MustangTrails?mibextid=b06tZ0