Timber Ridge News and Notes!

Friday, March 11 NO SCHOOL

March 14 - 18 NO SCHOOL Spring Break

Monday, March 21 - Day 4

Tuesday, March 22 - Day 5

Wednesday, March 23 - Day 6 School dismisses at 2:30

Thursday, March 24 - Day 1

Friday, March 25 - Day 2

Monday, March 28 - Day 3

Tuesday, March 29 - Day 4

Wednesday, March 30 - Day 5 School dismisses at 2:30

Thursday, March 31 - Day 6

To pick up your student early for an appointment or for any reason.

1) Notify the office and the classroom teacher so that we can make sure they are ready to go when you arrive.

2) Park and come in to the office to sign your student out

At the end of the day, we ask that all early dismissals pick up by 3:15/3:20 p.m. (2:15/2:20 p.m. on Wednesday early out) so that they do not interfere with our regular dismissal which is in process.

Thank you in advance for your help with these communications!

We will be holding our 3rd Annual Dragon Dreams Day on May 20th and need parent volunteers......

May 20, 2019 from 9:00 - 3:00

To volunteer sign-up: https://signup.com/go/YNiwTLR

To lead a Session: https://signup.com/go/ThQyvxW

On May 20th, your child will have the opportunity to engage in Dragon’s Dream Day: A Day of Discovering and Celebrating Our Passions! We know that students are more likely to learn if they are motivated by and engaged with the curriculum or project at hand. When students are passionately engaged in their learning – when they are mesmerized by their learning environment or activities – there are myriad responses in their brains making connections and building schema that simply would not occur without that passion or emotion.

Much of what we ask kids to memorize? has little emotional charge to it. Emotions can significantly alter the creation and recall of memories. People are better at remembering information that is emotionally charged rather than information that is neutral or flat. Aside from influencing emotion, passionate engagement can empower students to feel in control of their own learning.

On May 20th, we are dedicating the day to promoting Passion Based Learning! Timber Ridge staff will:

· Share their own passions with your children. Passion is contagious. We aren’t likely to ignite the excitement of learning in your children if we aren’t excited ourselves.

· Let students share their passions. It is important to let our students pursue their own passions individually, but it is equally important to let them share their passions with others.

· Introduce students to resources that help them exercise their passions.

· Help students find others who share the same passion.

· Value all passions equally.

· Surround your children with passionate people.

Dragon’s Dream Day will be held throughout the entire day. Please have your child dress in workout gear!

We could also use volunteers! Please see the link if you are able to help with this fantastic day!

As we get closer to the end of this school year, we begin to focus on what will take place the next school year. One of the big tasks in front of us is creating class lists for next year. This task is taken seriously and continues throughout the summer. The following is written in our Elementary Parent/Student handbook regarding parent input for the next year:

Careful attention is given to the process of determining class sections. Johnston has attempted in the past to provide reasonable class sizes. However, other considerations are given to this process. The number one priority is to create class sections which will best fit the needs of the individual students involved.

Many factors are considered in balancing of classroom assignments. For example, classes may be balanced in terms of the number of students, boys/girls, personality, students with special needs, and ability. Occasionally the separation of students has a part of the process. Relatives, close friends and personality clashes are factors considered when separating students from one another. The intent is to create a classroom setting that is beneficial to the students and does not inhibit teaching staff from doing the best possible job. The public must be aware that the placement of students is a task that is not taken lightly. There is considerable time and effort put into the process.

With this in mind, the school does not accept requests for specific teachers; however, parents may provide the school with input regarding their child’s learning needs. They should put their concerns in writing and address it to the attention of the building principal before May 1. (Please note that if your child will be attending a different Johnston school next year, you will need to send your roster feedback communication to the new school).

The principal has the authority to make the final decision regarding the membership of any given class.

We will release our teacher assignments in early August. It is necessary for us to wait until late summer to accommodate the growth that occurs in our district. Please contact your child’s attendance center if you have any questions.

Kelley Harrison, Principal

Staff are beginning the review process for ELP identification for elementary school students. Data on students is reviewed using multiple types of criteria including standardized tests and student work samples, as well as teacher and parent ratings. Letters are sent to those that data shows need support for academic challenge beyond the classroom. Sent in late May, the letter will explain options for your child, including programming available such as extensions in the classroom, and services in the areas of Humanities and/or STEM. These options depend upon the level of service identified as a need, so the letters are specific for each child. While the classroom teacher works with many children, the ELP staff provides direct service to a smaller population.

As a parent, if you are interested in providing input on characteristics you have observed, you may request a form from the ELP staff or go directly to the web link at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DLL9WPM

The link will close March 31, 2022.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your building ELP teacher or Nikki Paradise-Williams, Elementary ELP Coordinator.

Beaver Creek: Kristen Hartman kristen.hartman@johnston.k12.ia.us

Horizon: Kate Florer kate.florer@johnston.k12.ia.us

Lawson: Nikki Paradise-Williams nparadise-williams@johnston.k12.ia.us

Timber Ridge: Kaitlin Koch kaitlin.koch@johnston.k12.ia.us

Wallace: Mitzi Hetherton mhetherton@johnston.k12.ia.us

Upcoming PTO Events!

Ongoing – Winter Coat Drive

-Keep sending in any extra winter gear you have – they are getting used! *

Johnston Spirit Wear on sale NOW! Sale ends Friday, March 25. This is a PTO fundraiser, so be sure to use code TimberRidge for our school to get credit, and for you to receive FREE SHIPPING! Orders ship 2 weeks after sale closes. Questions about sizing can be directed to Broken Arrow.

Spring PTO '22 – ShopJCSD.org

Please note the section on "Personal Items" in the Elementary Handbook. This policy is in regard to cell phones, smart phones, smart watches and other personal items.

G. Personal Items

Video games, toys, baseball cards, radios, headphones, cell phones, smart phones, smart watches, IPods/MP3 players, electronic devices such as e-readers, itouch/ipad and other personal items are not appropriate in school as they frequently interrupt the learning environment. Personal property should be left at home unless specifically requested by the classroom teacher. If a parent has given permission for a student to have a phone at school, it is to remain in the student’s backpack in silent mode or off until the child is off school grounds. Electronic devices may be taken from a student for inappropriate use. (Board Policy 502.10R). The school is not responsible for loss of or damage to personal items.

In addition to personal items, the sending of balloons, flowers, or other gifts to students while at school is not allowed due to the disruption in the learning environment. These items will be held in the office until the end of the school day for pickup and these items will not be allowed on school buses.