Greetings everyone, I hope this month’s newsletter finds everyone warm and healthy as we try to avoid getting sick this flu season. We have a lot going on the next couple of months at Scottville Elementary.  Currently, our First graders are in the middle of their Reading Marathon, which will lead them into “March is Reading Month”.  We’re just about finished with winter assessments in order to analyze student growth from fall to winter. Student achievement data will be available for you at Parent - Teacher Conferences coming up in the beginning of March.  Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Teachers will be sending home notes regarding Valentine’s Day plans. 

  We’re in the process of planning some exciting reading activities for “March is Reading Month”.  Our theme this year will be “Outer Space: Reading Is Out of This World”.  Please watch for our calendar of activities coming home in Friday folders later this month.  There will be suggested reading activities planned to promote reading at home each night as well as on our calendar.

  As mentioned above, we have Conferences coming up in March.  Teachers will be sending notes home to schedule a time to meet with you in the next few weeks.  This will provide a great opportunity to celebrate your child’s growth since the beginning of the school year.  We’ll also be hosting our spring Book Fair during the week of conferences.  Please stop down to the library with your children to check it out after your Conference(s). Mrs. Peterson has decided to extend the book fair into that Friday morning this year at the request of our parents.

  We’ve set the date for this year’s Daddy - Daughter Dance.  This year’s event will be held on Friday, March 13th from 5:30 – 7:00 at the Upper Elementary.  If you’re interested in volunteering to help that night stop in the office and let us know.  Last year’s event was a huge success and lots of fun for everyone.  Beverages and light snacks will be provided.  Look for a note to come home soon to RSVP for a night of fun and great memories.

  I need to ask for your support and understanding when it comes to attendance and tardiness. I can’t stress enough the importance of having the children to school on time.  Children should be in class with their teachers by 8:17 each morning in order to participate in their morning routines.  When they arrive late, they get behind from the very beginning of the day.  I understand it can be difficult to get the children going in the morning, I have an 9 and 12-year-old of my own.  But at this age, it’s our job as adults to make the adjustments to our morning routines to ensure our children are able to get to school on time daily.  It’s never too early to teach our children the importance of being on time as it will be important in many aspects of their lives.  As parents, we’re our children’s first teachers and role models so setting these types of examples for them is very important. When it comes to absences, I understand there is a lot of illness spreading in our area and we can’t send our children to school when they’re sick. Unfortunately, the strands of flu spreading this season are knocking us down for 3-5 days. This is why it’s important to remember that we need to minimize other unnecessary absences throughout the school year just in case they get sick with the bugs that spread this time of year.    Your attention to these important reminders is much appreciated.

  In closing, I’d like to thank everyone for their support.  We really appreciate the time and effort so many of you dedicate to help out in your child’s classroom(s), as well as the partnership you form with us to support from home.  This time and effort pays off throughout their educational careers.