December Newsletter

December is a very busy month with all of the holiday activities, but it is also a short month for us here at school. The students are busy practicing for their Holiday Program. We hope that you can join us on Thursday, December 19th.

We have have many collections happening here at school. The "Toys for Tots", "Rock the Socks", and "TV 6 Canathon" donation collections will be ending soon. The Sandy Knoll Mini Fair donation collections will also be ending. The Mini Fair is so exciting for all of our students. Thank you to the SKSA and all of the volunteers for making this a memorable activity each year for our students.

I want to thank families for attending our Parent-Teacher Conferences. We had a great turnout and we value your collaboration with the school to support your child's education. Other than attending Parent-Teacher Conferences, there are many effective ways to connect with your child's school:

1) Join the Sandy Knoll School Association - Being active in our SKSA can help parents stay informed of school events and provide opportunities to contribute to the school community.

2) Volunteer - Offering time for school events, classroom activities, or special projects helps parents build relationships with teachers and staff while supporting your child's education.

3) Communicate Regularly - Familied can use emails, phone calls, or school communication platforms to stay in touch with teachers and staff, asking questions or sharing insights about your child.

4) Attend School Events - Participating in events such as Open Houses and other activities that occur throughout the school year allows parents to engage with the school community and shows support for their child.

5) Support Learning At Home - Engaging in educational activities outside of school can reinforce the importance of education to children. We have many resources to share with parents.

We truly value our SK families and working collaboratively with you to help your child have a successful school year.

December 2nd - 6th - Continued collection for the Mini Fair!

December 3rd - Art Club 3:50-5:00 pm

December 6th - Last day for "Toys for Tots" collection!

Last day to drop off Mini Fair donations!

Last day for TV6 Canathon donations!

Last day for Rock the Socks donations!

December 7th - First Lego League Competition (SK Robotics Teams @ Northern Michigan University Seaborg Center 9:00 am)

Rock the Socks Event @ NMU Hockey 6:00 pm

December 10th - SKSA Meeting 6:30 pm (library)

December 11th - SK Spirit Wear delivered

December 12th - Sandy Knoll Mini Fair!!

December 17th - Popcorn Day!

December 19th - Sandy Knoll Holiday Program!

December 21st-January 5th - NO SCHOOL! HOLIDAY BREAK!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Often when Multi-tiered System of Supports is discussed, we tend to think about academics, but social emotional learning is a very large part of helping students to be successful and improve their academic performance. We tier our SEL support for students, much like we do our academic support. At a tier 1 support level (schoolwide and classroom wide), we integrate SEL into daily classroom routines, provide an SEL elective, and engage in activities that foster a positive school climate and culture. At a tier 2 support level, our School Counselor may provide small group interventions to work on specific skills such as conflict resolution, anxiety, or provide check in/check outs for students to receive regular meaningful feedback and help to ensure school success. At a tier 3 support level, a team of trained staff work to provide intensive and individualized behavioral interventions to meet the specific needs of students who are having significant emotional and behavioral challenges. Parents/families would be informed of tier 2 and 3 supports for their child, and also work collaboratively with our school staff.

The tiered approach to SEL ensures that all students receive support appropriate to their needs, promoting emotional well-being and social skill development across the entire student population. By systematically implementing these tiers, schools can create a comprehensive framework for fostering a positive learning environment.

Winter temperatures are here and the snow is on the way! Please make sure that your child has boots, snow pants, a winter jacket, hat, and mittens for recess. We will go outside for recess, unless the wind chill prevents that from happening, and some classrooms are outside at least twice per day. If you are in need of some support in getting winter clothing, please contact the office, and we will be happy to help. Please put your child's name on their winter clothing, as our lost and found table gets filled up fast during these months.