RP-TLE Weekly Family Communication

Dear Families~

We endeavor to provide effective communication, particularly when it comes to sharing your child's progress in school. Communication between home and school is most effective in supporting student growth when it's often and ongoing. Your child's teacher likely reaches out on a weekly basis, even daily, when needed.

With this in mind, our conferences will look different than they have in the past. We will not have all school evening conferences on predetermined evenings. Rather, your child's teacher will reach out to schedule a time and a mode of communicating that suits your family.

Please look for communication from your child's teacher as early as this Monday the 17th to schedule a time to meet. We are looking forward to connecting with our families to report progress by the end of the day on Friday, November 4th.

WEEKLY CELEBRATIONS

Congratulations to the following learners who had their Rocket Slips drawn and had lunch with Mrs. Schmitt on Friday.

Mrs. Monaweck:

• For showing the Rocket Way in Mrs. P’s class~Aidan

• For showing the Rocket Way in Mrs. P’s class~Alina

Mrs. Bradford:

• For doing her best and being a Rocket STAR role model~Rae

• For taking pride in with his learning~Harrison

Ms. Zweigle:

• For being kind to others~Grant

• For doing his best reading with Miss Heidi~ Roczen

Mrs. Essing:

• For showing the Rocket and signing the social contract~Chance

• For being an all around Rocket STAR~Carmen

Mr. Mikesell:

• Forworking hard everyday on her reading~Jayla

Mrs. Kinstner:

• For showing the Rocket Way during independent reading time~ Jayna

• For showing the Rocket Way during independent reading time~Ella

Mrs. Kolbe:

• For being a wagon puller and taking pride and ownership of learning~Sawyer

• Consistently reading at home~ Zander

Mrs. Miller:

• For being kind to others~ RJ

• For being respectful and working hard to learn and follow the Rocket Way~Dalton

Mrs. Olsen:

• For being respectful and reading quietly during independent reading time~Dylan

Red Bandanna kids are selected by their fourth grade teachers for continuously showing the Rocket Way. They are exceptional role models, self-directed learners and overall kind humans. The following learners are our next group of RBKs at RP-TLE: Brianna Terpstra, Bristol Sanford, Kyler Johnson, Neiko Sharlow.

Our teaching team recognized Miss Peteresen with some positive affirmations. We are thankful to have her on our our team!

Miss Petersen is warm, positive and jumps right in with solutions to problems. She works hard to help our teachers and students to be successful. She not only cares about the students that she serves, but also all of our students. Miss Petersen is a collaborative teacher and a true friend. She is a blessing to our building. We appreciate that she helps our learners feel good about themselves by giving them special projects.

Miss Petersen is always willing to help and always has a positive attitude. Her students appreciate the extra snacks, special time and seats that she provides for them. The kids say, “Miss Petersen is kind and a really good teacher, she is nice and she teaches me things I NEED to learn about.”

"I'm Another Year Older"

Happy birthday to the following learners who celebrated this week: Evie Olejarczyk, Eloise Saltzman, Kenadi Boroff, Mila Damm, Harrison Wesley, and Piper Lynn. We hope that you have a FANTASTIC DAY!

Adrian and Jace, two of Miss Petersen's learners showed much courage today. They volunteered to get in front of our entire school community and share what they have been learning. They chose to read about their superpowers, or the things that make them special. We are so proud of Adrian and Jace for having the "bravery" super power today!

Each first Friday of the month that our learners are in school, Ms. Zweigle invites parents, caregivers, grandparents and/or community members into her classroom to read a favorite book. Last Friday was the first opportunity. Our kids enjoy listening to others read, particularly if the story is a favorite of the storyteller. A shout out Santana's mom, Oliver's mom, Stanley's mom and Evie's mom for volunteering to read.

Our PBIS team is sponsoring a Candy Gram sale from October 17th -21st. Boo Grams will be $1 and kids will have a chance to send a Boo Gram to a classmate, their teacher, or anyone that they would like to give a sweet treat. The money earned will allow our PBIS team to purchase prizes as incentives for earning Rocket Slips. Mrs. Essing and Mrs. Olsen's classes will be working together to organize and deliver the Boo Grams on Monday, October 31st.

We have a half day of school on Friday, October 28th with dismissal at noon. We'll take this opportunity to allow our learners wear their non-violent, appropriate costume attire (no props, scary masks...). Classrooms will have small celebrations that tie into their learning and parent volunteers won't be needed. We will not celebrate Halloween at all on Monday, October 31st, but our BOO GRAMS will be delivered on this day.

EXTENDED OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE:

Our PTO is sponsoring a "Trunk or Treat" event, our second annual, on Friday, October 28th from 6-7 pm. Details were sent home with your child on Friday. Families will get to vote on the vehicle that they like the best and the top three will earn a prize. We're looking forward to another great night! Questions or RSVP to Yolanda Blaser at yrb809@gmail.com, or return the slip to your child's teacher.

TWIN LAKE HAUNTED LODGE:

In addition, the Twin Lake County Park is host their annual "Haunted Lodge". A convenient time to visit the park might be after the "Trunk or Treat" event, which is from 7-10 pm. Admission for the "Haunted Lodge" is $10 per person with children 6 and under being $3. All funds raised will go towards the fireworks fund.

This past week, Mrs. Olsen and Mrs. Kolbe took their learners to the Muskegon Museum of Art to investigate and explore art in our very own backyard. The kids had a great time and were able to compare their experience at Art Prize in Grand Rapids to the art that they discovered in Muskegon. A shout out to our teachers for providing well-rounded learning experiences for their learners.

RP-TLE kicked off the Ride with Pride program on Friday, October 14th during our Rocket Launch. Each month, we will be visited by our high school IMPACT students and specials guests as they facilitate conversation around safety in a variety of settings. If you want your child to be included in the RWP program please sign and return the pledge form. We will have giveaways throughout the school year rewarding students that are showing the Rocket Way. Our end of the year RWP event will include our bike giveaway! (Pledge forms will be sent home on Friday, as well.)

CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE PLEDGE FORM

What does it mean to Self-Direct?

Self-Direction is the ability and learned skill to cast a vision of future goals and then take intentional steps toward who, where, and what we want to be. Instead of focusing on things to control or avoid, we emphasize our responsibility to make positive choices related to our emotions, attitudes, and actions.

Why focus on Self-Direction?

• Self-direction strengthens relationships. Self-direction helps to grow social skills and develop meaningful, positive relationships with others.
• Self-direction teaches personal responsibility. Learning to self-direct teaches students to take responsibility for their own actions.
• Self-direction helps us to regulate emotions: Self-direction empowers students to regulate their impulses and emotional responses to situations and circumstances in their life.

Self-Direction in Action:

• Practice goal setting and action planning. When we establish goals and develop action plans, we learn to take intentional steps to successfully achieve goals.
• Monitor and adjust. Provide students with regular feedback and opportunities to self-assess progress toward goals to make adjustments and improvements in their behaviors.
• Reflect and evaluate. Facilitate discussions and reflection to prompt students to examine what they do, think, and say against their goals and vision for their life and learning.

HOW MIGHT YOU SUPPORT AT HOME:

This month, we’re challenging students to envision future goals and take intentional steps toward who they want to be. We are partnering with you to grow and develop your child’s ability to self-direct. We can model self-direction by celebrating the positive in each day, seeking the good in others, and emphasizing our responsibility to make positive choices.

• ENGAGE: Find the Good! Self-direct your thoughts and share Good Things as a family each day. After school, around the dinner table, or before bed, ask each family member to share something good from the day. We often see what we seek! Let’s focus on finding the good.
• EMPOWER: Make a Plan If your student doesn’t already use a planner, empower them to start using one to manage their time better. Have a weekly meeting with your student to share what they have added to their planners. You can help them add family gatherings, school events, and due dates.
• EXCEL: Affirm Daily Practice growing as a family through positive affirmations. At dinner or some point during the day, give affirmations to each other and share the good things you see. Take it to the next level and think of someone you could affirm outside your family. Challenge each family member to affirm or thank a different person every day this month for something they do or who they are. You can even handwrite a note to thank that person and send them the note in the mail.

Conversation Starters:
How do you feel when you finish a project? What is something you want to learn to do? What is one way you can be more responsible at home or school? What is an activity you want to continue to improve?

If you try this is at home, we would love to hear your feedback!

Calling in Absences:

When parents call in an absence for a sick child and leave a message, it would be helpful if they could let us know the symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, etc.) that the student is having or if they have been seen by a doctor and have a diagnosis (strep, flu, pink eye, etc). We ask these questions when we get a live person, but it is important for accurate health reporting each week.

Emergency Contact Information:

If you need help updating your child's contact information, please call our office and speak with Carly, or Heather. Thank you for your help with this.

Office Team Contact Information:

Please know that our office is willing to help answer any questions that you may have at any time during the school year. Ms. Carly Akins (akinsc@reeths-puffer.org) and Mrs. Heather Nicholson (nicholsonh@reeths-puffer.org) are amazing and happy to help! Our number is 719-3190.

School Hours:

School begins at 8:45 and dismisses at 3:45. If you would like more information about before and after school care, please contact, Dawn Lynn at Lighthouse Learning. The number is 638-2172, or you may call 719-3190 x 2206.

10/16: Happy Birthday, Miss Emmie!

10/20: Kindergarten Trip to Weesies

10/21: First Grade Trip to Heritage Farms

10/28: 1/2 Day of School for Kids~Dismissal at Noon

10/28: PTO Trunk or Treat~RP-TLE Parking Lot

10/31-11/4: Conference week

11/9: PTO Meeting at 4:00 in room 20

11/11: Popcorn Friday

11/23-11/25: Thanksgiving Break

Are you raising your grandchild or children who are relatives? You are not alone. "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" is a kinship care program that offers support. All services are free. For more information contact Callie Sierra at 231-733-6654, or email her at sierrac@hccc-health.org.

RP WELLNESS

Reeths-Puffer's District Wellness team would like to invite Rocket City to join us for monthly events, meetings and speakers. Our goal is to support the physical, nutritional and mental health of our community as well as increase environmental awareness and keeping rocket city beautiful.

September and October offerings:

October 3rd , - our next wellness meeting at 4 pm at RPEL in room 109 door 24 - potential guest speaker: Dan Bonner from Muskegon Luge Park

Family Game night in Oct - Date and Place TBD

We hope to see many from Rocket City! Denise Sheffer (shefferd@reeths-puffer.org and Alyssa Nauta (Nautaa@reeths-puffer.org- Co-Chairs of the RP Wellness Committee

Our teaching team teaches and reviews our RP behavior expectations during the first couple of weeks of school. This week each class will rotate through common and shared locations in our school to teach our learners our expectations for behaviors. This includes our shared bathrooms, hallways, lunchroom, lockers, playground and bus. Below is a PDF of our slide presentation. Please review with your child at home, as well.

A Note About School Meals:

There are a couple different ways that you can add money to your child’s school account to pay for their breakfast and/or lunch:

1. Go to https://www.familyportal.cloud and set up an online account, where you can add money for your child by putting in your debit/credit card information. Please see the attached letter for answers to frequently asked questions.

OR

1. Bring in/Send in an envelope with cash or a check enclosed. Please include the child’s first and last name, and write “Lunch Money”. If you are sending money for two students, please write how much each student will receive. The office will collect these envelopes and the kitchen staff will enter the funds into the correct account.

If you would like to apply for benefits, go to https://www.familyportal.cloud and fill out the online application, or you can stop in at the Twin Lake Elementary office for a paper copy.

If you have already applied for the Free and Reduced-Price program, you will receive a letter stating that your child has been approved and what benefit they will receive. Benefits will be effective immediately thereafter. If you have questions about the Free and Reduced-Price program, feel free to reach out to Jodi Connell at connellj@reeths-puffer.org.

In the event that your child does not have money in their account, but they do not have a cold lunch, they will still be able to eat a hot lunch. We will not let your child go hungry! However, please note that this will bring the account to a negative balance until more money has been added to the account.

Free Pre-School

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATIONAL FLIER

Molly Sieplinga

Early Childhood Specialist/ Director McMillan

Early Childhood Center

McMillan Elementary

766-3443 ext 2605

*Go to https://ps-rp.muskegonisd.org/public

(There will be a default username and password in both boxes. Delete and create your own.)

*If you are a first time user, you will need to click on the “Create Account” tab, and fill out the

information. You will create a new Username and Password. You can add your students at the

bottom of the page using their Access ID and Access Password.

NOTE: The Access ID and Password is NOT the same as the Student Number and their

birthdate.

*If you have an existing account, use the “Sign In” tab to log in using your Username and

Password that you already have. If you do not remember these, call the office and we can help

you.

*Once you are signed in, you can add new students to your account by following these

instructions:

1. On the start page, click on “Account Preferences” from the navigation menu on the left. The

“Account Preferences – Profile” page appears.

2. Click the “Students” tab

3. Click the “Add” Icon to add a student to your parent portal account. The “Add Student”

dialog appears. Fill out the information and you should see a new tab for the student appear at

the top of the page.

*Once all of your students are added to your account, update the demographics for all of

your students by clicking on the “Demographic Update” button on the left side of the page.

Please electronically sign the required forms. Print the Emergency Procedure Card, sign it, and

give it to your child’s teacher.

IIMPORTANT: You'll receive a specific ID and Password for access to the Parent Portal. If you are a returning family, you may follow the directions above. Please don't hesitate to contact Carly, or Heather in our office if you need help.

Transportation Information

Click one the bus to the right for information related to bus stop times. If you have questions, please contact the bus garage:

Reeths-Puffer Transportation

231-719-0110

-- or--

231-719-0204

FREE & REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATION

This year, we are asking that all of our families complete the free and reduced lunch applications. Some of our families are surprised that they qualify based on their income. With food prices rising, it will be helpful for many of our families and we no longer have the grant that afforded free breakfast and lunch for all of our learners as was the case last year.

The link below is to the online Free and Reduced Application. Please consider completing an application.

Application

Mrs. Dawn Schmitt

Principal, Twin Lake Elementary School

Email: schmittd@reeths-puffer.org
Website: www.reeths-puffer.org
Location: Twin Lake Elementary School, 3175 5th Street, Twin Lake, MI, USA

Mr. Paul Siembida

Assistant Principal, Twin Lake Elementary School

Email: siembidap@reeths-puffer.org

Phone: 231-719-3190