
No Place Like Jones
Family Updates for the Week of 12.04.23
Principal Corner
Dear Ira B. Jones Elementary Families: This is our last week before winter break!
As we approach the much-anticipated winter break, I want to share some important updates and winter break ideas with our school community. I hope this message finds you well and in high spirits as we gear up for the holiday season and the upcoming break.
Important Dates:
Winter break is fast approaching, and I want to ensure you have the essential dates marked on your calendar:
- Winter Concert & Spaghetti Dinner: December 12, 2023
- Start of Winter Break: December 18, 2023
- Return to School: January 3, 2024
- Holiday Closure: Our school will be closed from December 20 to January 2 for the winter holidays.
Please remember to check our school's official calendar for any additional events or announcements during this period.
Winter Break Activities:
We understand that winter break is a special time for families to create lasting memories together. Here are a few suggestions for fun activities you can enjoy during the break:
- Holiday Crafts: Get creative with DIY decorations or handmade gifts.
- Family Movie Nights: Pick some favorite movies and snuggle up for a cozy evening.
- Outdoor Adventures: Enjoy outdoor activities like eating smores by the fireside or building snowmen if weather permits.
- Reading Challenge: Encourage reading by having a family reading challenge with rewards for completed books.
Important Reminders:
- Technology Use/Screen Time Balance: Encouraging responsible use of technology during the break is important. We suggest setting guidelines for screen time, ensuring a healthy balance with other activities such as reading, enjoying outdoor play, and engaging in quality family interactions. Finding this balance helps children unwind and enjoy a variety of experiences.
- Academic Engagement: Looking for engaging activities that encourage learning during the break? Try exploring reading, puzzles, educational games, or creative projects. We can share resources and suggested reading lists to keep kids intellectually stimulated. Let the curiosity and imagination flow during this break!
- Routine and Sleep: While it's a break from the regular school schedule, maintaining some routine, especially regarding sleep schedules, can benefit children. Adequate sleep is crucial for their overall well-being and prepares them for a refreshed return to school. Encourage a balance between relaxation and maintaining a healthy routine for a smooth transition back to school.
We have collected some coats, sweatshirts, hats, and gloves in the lost and found. If your child is missing one of these clothing items, please encourage them to check the lost and found area. We will donate all items left behind this month.
Gratitude and Warm Wishes:
I am grateful for your continuous support and cooperation throughout the year. Your partnership with us is invaluable, and I appreciate your commitment to your child's education.
Our entire school staff wishes you a joyful winter break filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments spent with family and friends.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back rejuvenated and ready for an exciting new year ahead.
Warm Regards,
Ruafika Cobb
Principal
Ira B. Jones Elementary School
#noplacelikejones
NOTES FROM THE COUNSELING CORNER WITH MS. COURTNEY, SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Perserverance and Failure
As educators and caregivers striving to encourage and ensure student well-being, we often work with students who seem to give up too easily. Some students are excited by a new, challenging task, seeing it as an opportunity to test themselves and improve. Others see the challenge as insurmountable and feel incapable of initiating the task. Not learning to tolerate failure leaves students vulnerable to anxiety (Arky, 2023). It leads to meltdowns when the inevitable failure does occur, whether it’s at school, at home, or in the community. Unfortunately, as the world puts increased pressure on students to be successful, caregivers and educators can feel compelled to enable them in every way possible, which results in more and more students becoming distraught over even the smallest misstep.
It’s inevitable that students will encounter a number of setbacks and obstacles in every aspect of their lives. The first time students fail, it hurts and can be discouraging. However, bouncing back from failure teaches them to be more resilient in the future. While it’s normal to feel that things that come easily are more enjoyable, the truth is that the more we work for something, the more we appreciate it in the end. The value of hard work is something that is learned best by experience—and failure can be the best teacher. When we fail, it can motivate us to do better and try harder. Through this process, we can begin to see the value of our efforts instead of focusing solely on the outcome.
Perseverance in the face of a difficult challenge can also promote creativity. When students fail, they have the opportunity to learn even more than they would have if they succeeded. They don't use the same approach when trying to succeed at something they previously failed. They recognize the need for a new strategy, forcing them to return to the drawing board and search for improvements. An uncomfortable feeling brought on by a struggle is actually a good thing and is a sign that your student is on the cusp of a new stage. Remind yourself that these are "growing pains" and say, "It's okay to be uncomfortable." Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is a great step toward supporting your student’s development.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 3RD/4TH/5TH GRADES WINTER CONCERT & SPAGHETTI DINNER
Upcoming Important Dates
- Tuesday, December 12: Winter Concert
- December 18 - January 2: Winter Break, No School for Students
- Monday, January 15: Holiday, No School for Students
Last week and this week, students are participating in Hour of Code & Computer Science! This is an international effort to give students a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes in all the digital activities they enjoy. This year the theme is Creativity with AI. Many great resources on machine learning and AI can be found here (https://hourofcode.com/us/ai). The lessons I am teaching these 2 weeks focus on creativity- how someone had to come up with the idea, experiment with the idea and keep trying it out until it works the way they want or envisioned it to work. Visit Code.org with your student to try more activities! Happy Coding:)
What About Homework?
Grade Level Homework Expectations
We believe homework is essential in reinforcing classroom learning and fostering independence in our students. To support their academic growth, we encourage a balanced approach to homework during the school week.
Please ensure your child completes assigned homework thoughtfully and at a relaxed pace, allowing them to grasp concepts without undue stress. Remember, quality learning experiences often come from a blend of schoolwork and enjoyable activities.
Below is a summary of the homework expectations for each grade level. If you have any questions about the practice sent home or need help with your child's homework, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher. Our goal is for students and caregivers to feel at ease when completing assignments.
K: Every night, the Kindergarten students are sent home with books to read to their parents and a journal to record their thoughts on what they have read. Additionally, a homework bundle is sent home on Mondays, which is expected to be completed and returned by Friday.
1st Grade: First grade will include our weekly reading log and practice opportunities with our newsletter. The reading log will require students to identify letter patterns taught during Fundations. Our newsletter will contain information about other practice opportunities for families, such as trick words, social studies, science topics to discuss at home, and examples of math concepts.
2nd Grade: Second Graders will receive two Fundations worksheets, two Math worksheets, a reading log, and an "I Notice, I Wonder" page each Monday in their blue, communication folders. Students should read for at least 20 minutes each evening. Please choose one book to write a notice and wonder about. Homework should be turned in on Friday morning.
3rd Grade: Our students are expected to read for at least 20 minutes every night. We provide Fundations homework that aligns with our current unit, Bridges home connections pages, and additional word work/reading practices.
4th and 5th Grades: Parents of fourth- and fifth-grade students have been provided explicit instructions on logging into the ACS Launchpad using their child's personalized login information. A Google classroom has been set up for these students, which will automatically publish the reading assignments for each week. Homework is posted on Monday and is due on Friday of the same week. The assignments are based on the material already taught in the classroom, and at the beginning of each week, families are provided with an information sheet to help with any knowledge they may need.
If students do not have access to technology at home, they can always use a Chromebook when they arrive to complete the assignments. Alternatively, families can be provided with printed copies of HW if needed. Math homework will be printed and sent home.
Weather Remote Learning Choice Boards Were Sent Home On Friday.
These Should Only Be Used In Case Of Incliment Weather
Email: ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net
Phone: 828.350.6700