FALL 2018 VOL.1 JES Journal - jordan.k12.mn.us · their learning through project-based learning. STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) projects such as Maker-Spaces

Important Dates

JES Journal Mission: Inspire a caring community to ignite learning, innovation, and

success for all Principal, Melissa Barnett [email protected] 952-492-2336 JPS Assistant Principal, Carol Lagergren [email protected] 952-492-4486

Arrival to and Dismissal from School

Welcome Back Students and Families

We are so excited to start the school year with students and families! JES staff looks forward to working with you to provide the most engaging

and positive learning experience for our students. Please take the time to read this

quarterly school newsletter to learn about the upcoming events and news happening at JES!

September • NWEA Testing-

9/10-14 • Bus Safety- 9/18

& 9/19 • 1st Fire Drill-9/25 • Homecoming

Week-9/24-9/28 • Picture Day-9/27 • Early Release

(12:50 dismissal)-9/28

JES PTO Mtgs. 1st Tuesday of

month JES Media

Center, 7:00 PM

F A L L 2 0 1 8 V O L . 1 O F 4

October • Kindness in

Chalk-10/1 • Walk/Bike to

School Day-10/10

• Harambee-10/10

• PTO Craft Show-(CERC)10/13, 9:00-3:00 PM

• 1st Lockdown Drill-10/22

• MEA Break (no school)-10/18-19

• Unity Day/Bully Prevention(wear orange)-10/24

Oct-Nov. • Title/MTSS Reading

& Math Night (invitation only)-10/24, 5-6 PM

• PTO Read-a-Thon-10/26

• Picture Retakes-10/30

• Teacher Workshop (no school)-11/5

• JES Fall Conf. & Book Fair-11/5 & 11/8, 3:30-7:30

JES NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2018

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JES 2018-19 Building Goals & Action Steps As a JES staff we will work on the following objectives for the upcoming school year:

OBJECTIVES (list of goals)

TASKS (what you need to do to achieve goals)

SUCCESS CRITERIA (how you will identify your success)

TIME FRAME (by when you need to complete the task)

RESOURCES (what or who can help you complete your task)

Each person (student and staff) will develop a growth mindset.

Participate in regularly scheduled and impromptu Mindfulness sessions to reinforce “We can do hard things.” Implement monthly Growth Mindset Coaching lessons in each classroom. Incorporate CRT language into instruction and when supporting SEL of students.

Evidence of grit and perseverance celebrations in the classroom and in the lounge. Staff being vulnerable and asking for help when needed.

Ongoing with movement toward independence (GRR) Master schedule conducive to coaching opportunities and honoring individual staff needs

Growth Mindset Coach Book for each staff member Mindfulness support for students and staff SWIS/CICO data J-Town PRIDE/PBIS data TWO SMART Rooms (training and/or updates in PD)

Each student will develop a love of learning and reading.

Each student will have time in school to read at least 40 books (moving toward at or near grade level) in a school year. Use September to have conversations and do activities relating to literacy and reading based on your classroom’s needs (may include establishing classroom routines and rituals) Committing to weekly conferring with students (individually or small groups) Classroom or school wide read alouds.

PLC conversations about successes and needs (self reflection) Classroom and grade level assessment data Students sharing about their books through conferring Student reflection (on their learning and on instruction of the standards that week) Students independently picking books to read during free choice

Ongoing and weekly PLC meetings Data Retreats Master schedule conducive to coaching opportunities and honoring individual staff needs

Committees to organize school wide reading events Daily 5 Book/CAFE RTI/EL/SPED and other Support Staff (coaching done through the GRR) Standardized assessments: DIBELS, NWEA, MCA Progress monitoring:

• DIBELS • Running Records

eduCLIMB & SWIS Balanced Literacy

Each student will be able to explain how “they know “ mastery of math skills in authentic situations (through application)

Providing time for students to work with mathematical ideas/problems through exploration, play, application, discussion and find value in knowing these skills (the WHY) Transfer and apply knowledge to solve real world problems STEM/PBL/PLTW activities

PLC conversations about successes and concerns

• Number Sense • Fact Fluency

Classroom and grade level assessments Students sharing their mathematical thinking Student reflection (on their learning and on instruction of the standards that week)

Ongoing and weekly PLC meetings Data Retreats Master schedule conducive to coaching opportunities and honoring individual staff needs

Scimath.org Grapevine-Colleyville Texas Math RtI Resources https://sites.google.com/gcisd.net/rtimath


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J-Town Pride is our school-wide behavior model we use to support students’ social-emotional learning. Included in this positive behavior support and interventions approach (PBIS), JES will make sure to emphasize that bullying will not be tolerated. Students and families can feel confident that we will address all forms of bullying and provide students with the necessary skills to prevent bullying from happening. We will continue our work on supporting the overall wellness of students through Mindfulness practices that assist children with self-regulation of emotions and coming together as a classroom community. JES will also continue our partnership with Benjamin Bus Company with our Peaceful Bus program that will promote J-Town Pride on the bus and help create positive relationships among students and their bus drivers. When students demonstrate positive behaviors they will receive a J-Town Pride Pass for their hard work and efforts in following our school rules of being Respectful, Responsible and Safe. Students who receive a Pride Pass will have their name go into a grade level bucket for a drawing at the end of the week. Students whose names are drawn will receive a special recognition for their efforts. Classrooms of students will also be acknowledged for their positive behavior, and they will receive a J-Town Pride Class Pass to display in and around their classroom. We will also take time to recognize staff members for showing J-Town Pride, and hope the students enjoy watching teachers, Paras, custodians, office staff, and cooks receive this special recognition as well. We understand it’s normal for students to not always make the right choice to follow school and classroom rules. In order to support all levels of social learning, we also incorporate Just Stop and Think slips. This will be given to students who make minor mistakes, and is a way to communicate the behavior with parents. If your child receives one of these, we encourage you to have a conversation with your child about the behavior. Please sign the slip and return it to school the next day. The slip will not go into their file, rather it will be used to track behaviors in order to give us an idea as to where we need to place our efforts in making school a better place. Students who receive multiple Just Stop and Think slips, or have a more serious offense, will receive a JES office referral that has been used in the past. The referral will not go into the student’s file unless it results in a suspension. It is our hope that this information will clarify some of the things you hear at home from your child, and will increase our level of communication in order to help support your child at JES.

J-Town Pride, Bully Prevention & Wellness


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Jordan Elementary School will continue to create opportunities for students to enhance their learning through project-based learning. STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) projects such as Maker-Spaces and Google Cardboard/Expedition will find their way into classrooms again this year. 3rd and 4th graders will have access to mobile devices, creating a modified 1:1 personalized learning environment to help them prepare for learning at JMS. Giving students early experiences in the world of STEAM helps students learn to feel comfortable seeking solutions to new problems, connect classroom lessons to the world around them, and discover how to employ critical thinking. A solid foundation of skills such as these puts students on an early path to success, from classroom to career. The earlier students develop an interest in STEAM, the better. As many as 65 percent of scientists and graduate students developed their interest in science in elementary school. Engaging students now builds confidence, grows interest, and sets them on course for strong accomplishments in middle school, high school, and beyond. What is another way we can provide students with the chance to love STEAM at a younger age? Through PLTW Launch™, designed for kindergarten through fifth grade, students become problem solvers. Students use structured approaches, like the engineering design process. They apply STEAM knowledge, skills, and habits of mind, and discover that trying different approaches and solutions is an essential part of the learning process. As teachers and students learn and discover together, education becomes more engaging and meaningful for everyone. Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a nonprofit organization and the nation’s leading provider of K-12 STEM programs. Through world-class, activity-, project-, and problem-based curriculum, high-quality teacher professional development, and an engaged network of educators and corporate partners, PLTW helps students develop the skills needed to succeed in our global economy. PLTW courses are aligned with Common Core State Standards for Math and English Language Arts, Next Generation Science Standards, and other national and state standards. Courses and units are designed to complement math and science courses, and in some instances, are used as the core curriculum. The curriculum includes 12 modules aligned to grade-level standards. The10-hour modules are presented in pairs that combine to create a thematic unit. Teachers and schools have the flexibility to introduce the modules that they want, when they want, at the grade level they want.

Project-Based Learning


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Hello! Jordan Elementary School utilizes the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework for assisting students in need of extra services in the areas of math and reading. Often called RtI, it is a systematic approach, used throughout the United States, aimed towards helping children become more successful in the regular education classroom. Title I funds are used to support this framework at JES. A parent notification letter will be sent home for those students who qualified for MTSS Reading and/or Math services based on assessment results. The MTSS/Title I Reading and Math staff members are: Shannon Aukes, Math Interventionist, 952-492-4326, [email protected] Amy Johns, Math Interventionist, 952-492-4315, [email protected]; [email protected] Renae Milawski, Reading Interventionist, 952-492-4313, [email protected] Kimberly Pettinelli, Reading Interventionist, 952-492-4319, [email protected] Leah Gregoria, Math Paraprofessional Kim Thompson, Reading Paraprofessional Throughout the school year, we will offer tips on reading and/or math activities you can try at home with your child. We will also offer educational websites and apps for learning fun. If you have any questions, concerns or input, please contact one of us. Our Fall Reading and Math MTSS/Title Family Night event will be on October 24th from 5:00-6:00pm. This event is for families and students involved in the RtI program at JES. The evening will be filled with fun, information, activities, free resources for families to take home, and of course TREATS will be provided!

MRS. RANCE & MRS. OHMEMrs. Ohme and Mrs. Rance are our JES Enrichment teachers. Mrs. Ohme will service students in grades K-2 in a small group setting. Mrs. Rance will service 3rd and 4th graders in a small group setting. They are very excited to be able to challenge their students in both reading and math. In the primary grades (K-2), students will qualify for Enrichment by a teacher referral and/or scoring at or above the 95th percentile on both the math and reading NWEA. Formal identification of a high potential child in these young grades is very imprecise; therefore, teacher observation will play an important role in this process. In order to best meet each student’s needs, we will continue to monitor progress. We will formally re-evaluate student placement into Enrichment each school year. In the intermediate grades (3-4), students will qualify for Enrichment by consistently scoring at or above the 95th percentile on both the math and reading NWEA. Students will use project based learning, critical thinking, and problem solving skills for challenging activities. Qualifying third and fourth graders also have the opportunity for Math Enrichment and Reading Enrichment, which focus on specific skills in each subject area. In order to best meet each student’s needs, we will continue to monitor progress. We will formally re-evaluate student placement into Enrichment each school year.

Student Support Services


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Health and Wellness

Here are a few important Back-to-School reminders from Nurse Nicole & Nurse Laura:

· All students are required to have an updated immunization record on file by Oct. 1st in order to stay in school. Updates include MMR, DTaP, IPV, and the chickenpox vaccine. In addition to these boosters, school age children should have had the Hepatitis B series completed. · Annual school health screenings for vision, hearing will be held sometime in October for students in first and third grades. · Allergy & Asthma season has hit hard this fall. Monitor all symptoms closely and follow your healthcare provider’s advice. Medical care plans, rescue inhalers, and Epipens are a necessity, and may save a life! · If your student has a health condition or needs special care during the school day such as medication, treatments, or monitoring, please inform the school nurse. Individual health care plans help keep your students safe and healthy. · PLEASE have a current and working phone number in the school office in the event your child needs your attention during the school day. · Visit the District Nurse web page for more information on student health, school forms, and other helpful links.

Feel free to call us if you need assistance with any of the above. Thanks for helping us have a healthy school year!

Laura Menden and Nicole Langheim District Nurses RN/LSN/BSN

[email protected]/952-492-4278

It’s not too early to start thinking about preventing the flu from entering your home and affecting you and your children. Effective hand washing procedures can prevent the spread of influenza, as well as being

vaccinated. If you are looking at this option for your family, please contact your family doctor or pediatrician.

Influenza Season


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Healthy Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks at JES

Food for Friends Backpack Program JES is excited to continue to offer the Food for Friends backpack program to students who could use additional healthy items to take home over the weekend. Please call the office if you would like more information about participating in this program. If you would like to make donations to support this program, please drop off non-perishable food items at the office. You could also make a financial donation to the program by dropping off a check written out to JES Food for Friends.

JES is very excited and proud to offer healthy food choices to students. Families have the option of purchasing healthy snacks and milk to have at school or they can choose to send a healthy snack and drink from home. The healthy snack cart and milk option is offered for $50.00 each for the year (free milk is offered to Kindergarten students). Payments can be made through Infinite Campus, by sending it to school with your child, or visiting the main office. If it is a challenge to pay for these all at once at the start of the year, please call the office to discuss a payment plan option. Water bottles can also be brought to school in place of purchasing milk for snack. Please remember to keep a positive lunch account balance at school. Reminders will be sent home to families when their account gets close to a $10.00 balance. If you need financial assistance with school lunches, please ask the office for a JPS Free/Reduced Lunch Form to complete and return to the office. Breakfast is available to all of our JES students from 7:45-8:10. Kindergarten students eat for free, as well as students participating in the free/reduced lunch program. Families should contact their child’s teacher if they want their child to take advantage of this program. Andrea Schaak JPS Nutritional Services Director


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District and School Communication School Messenger, Blackboard & Infinite Campus

When District or school-wide communications are shared, it will be done via School Messenger, our new communication tool in Infinite Campus, or through Blackboard, our website communication tool. These systems will be used to communicate to families when we have important information you need to know related to school. School closings related to weather, parent notifications, and upcoming school events are just a few of the ways we will use School Messenger to communicate with families via email, phone calls or text messaging. You can also use Infinite Campus to pay school fees and for lunch, and will eventually be able to check attendance and grades online as well.

JES Website and JPS App

Please keep up-to-date with information from school and your child’s teachers by accessing the JES website at www.jordan.k12.mn.us, or by downloading the JPS app on to your smartphone. Information regarding school events and news, letters from the principal, helpful classroom reminders, and contact information for teachers can all be found on the JES website or JPS app. JES Facebook and Twitter

Please make sure to “like” JES on Facebook to follow current news and events happening at school. You can access our page by clicking on the link on the main Jordan School District home page or by typing the following into your search engine:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jordan-Elementary/178762878876850

Families can also follow us on Twitter at @JES_717.


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Setting School Year Goals for Kids The teacher will have goals for students, but what does your child want to achieve? Here are 3 ways to help him set goals.

By Sharon Duke Estroff

Yes, the teacher will tell the whole class what she expects, from what the kids will learn to how she’ll measure their progress. But before that, sit down with your child and figure out the things he’d like to achieve this year. Why? Because it puts him in charge of how he spends his time (with your help, of course). Now he’s not just following his teacher’s plan for the year, he’s making his own as well.

Be specific and realistic. Your kid’s idea of achievement may be less lofty than your own — but that’s okay. Remember, little steps for little feet: When my 10-year-old said he wanted to get better at math, we went with the specific goal of practicing multiplication and division tables for 15 minutes a day. And when my 7-year-old said his goal was to be a better reader, we opted for the shorter-term objective of finishing one new book a week. I kept the list to five goals per child, since I knew it was going to change over the year. I also did periodic check-ins to see if these goals were still motivating them, or whether we should switch one out in favor of a new challenge. Finally, we created a star chart where the kids could track their progress. I knew the system was working when my fourth-grader got bumped up into a higher math group and my first-grader started sneaking in extra pages after bedtime. Adjust your mindset. Just as important, I took a closer look at what school-year success meant to me. It’s natural for parents to want big things for their child — Rhodes scholar! Little Einstein! — but while we have the best intentions, the pressure can feel overwhelming for both parent and child. For me, this epiphany came shortly after the birth of my youngest child, when I received a postcard in the mail from an early-education enterprise. “It’s never too early to begin thinking about college,” read the postcard — which then went on to list class times for infants 6 weeks old and up. The message: It was time to put my baby on the path to success, because without classes now, her chances of getting into Harvard were doomed. Embrace today. That postcard was my wakeup call to stop stressing over “someday” success and focus on the here-and-now expectations of what a 7- or 10-year-old (let alone a 6-week-old!) is capable of learning during the year. Sure, a houseful of academic prodigies would be nice. But so would a bunch of happy little learners who work hard and show steady academic growth month after month. Once I tweaked that thinking, the stress level in our house went down noticeably. It was like a huge weight had been lifted.


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Community Events

SEPTEMBER- NOVEMBER 2018 JES NEWSLETTER

JES Office Hours: M-F 7:00 am - 4:00 pm, School Hours: 8:10 am - 2:50 pm

Welcome back from the PTO! We are so excited to get the year started and have already been laying the groundwork for another fantastic year! The mission of the JES PTO is to enhance the experience of Jordan Elementary students.

October is a busy month for the Jordan Elementary PTO! We are kicking off our annual Read-A-Thon fundraiser and need YOUR help! The JES PTO will be raising funds by hosting a Read-A-Thon at the elementary school on Friday, October 26th. On that day, your student will be reading for a total of 120 minutes! This is the PRIMARY fundraiser for the Jordan Elementary PTO and all proceeds from this event go directly back to the elementary school. Last year’s proceeds helped pay for things like a second field trip for every child, class/grade activities, classroom supplies, and educational equipment.

Beginning on Oct.12th, all students will come home with an envelope. In the envelope there is a pledge sheet and information on how the Read-A-Thon will work. Students can contact friends, family members and neighbors to ask for donations to support the student, the Read-A-Thon and JES! The PTO is a non-profit with 501(c)(3) status, so many businesses will match donations! Please don’t forget to ask! Envelopes should be turned in on or before October 22nd in order to be eligible for rewards.

Students have the opportunity to win prizes and enter their names into a raffle! With this year’s animal, “Animals Gone Wild” theme, Mrs. Barnett will also have a surprise for us if we meet our goal…I wonder what she’ll do this year?

As a reminder, The JES PTO meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm in the JES library. You are welcome to join our fun group! Also, feel free to email us with any questions or comments at [email protected] and like us on Facebook to keep up to date on events and activities of your PTO.

Want to donate more back to our school? AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose from nearly one million organizations to support. Jordan Elementary PTO is one of the organizations to choose from! To make it your charitable organization, visit AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), create an account, or go to “My Account”, scroll down to “Choose Charitable Organization”, and search for Jordan Elementary PTO.

BOXTOPS FOR EDUCATION The Boxtops are found on General Mills products. Please collect and send Boxtops to JES.

MILK MOOLA & Land O’Lakes These milk caps bring in 5 cents each for schools. Please send them along with your students to JES.

My Coke Rewards- Bring in your bottle caps from Coke products and money will come back to our Phy. Ed. department and for other building programs and initiatives.

Family Support and Volunteer Opportunities

FALL 2018 VOL.1 JES Journal - jordan.k12.mn.us · their learning through project-based learning. STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) projects such as Maker-Spaces

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