Avilla Family Newsletter

Avilla Elementary Families,

Next week our students and staff will enjoy a week away from school for fall break (October 5 - 9). There are no assignments during this time and we hope that you can all enjoy some time together with your children.

Although our school days are not completely normal, due to COVID-19 precautions, the school year is moving along very well. It's amazing how quickly time passes once school begins each fall. Our built-in breaks are a nice way to think about goal setting for kids, giving them timelines to accomplish tasks.

I encourage all of you to discuss both academic and personal goals with your children. Is there anything they want to accomplish at home between fall break and Thanksgiving? How will they track the goal? How can your family get involved? Sometimes I forget as a parent that I need to listen to what my kids want to accomplish for themselves because I place so many tasks on their plate for them. Some of my best conversations with my own children have come from asking them what they want to become better at.

Please continue to communicate your positive feedback and concerns with me. I appreciate all of the parent involvement that I've been able to be a part of. We are all looking forward to hosting family events here at the school once it is safe to do so. I wish you all well and hope that fall break is positive for all of you.

Jeff Harper

Principal

email: jharper@eastnoble.net

phone: 260.897.2301

We've been celebrating a week of reminders to help keep Avilla Elementary bully free! The pictures to the right are from today's "We don't judge", crazy outfit day. Tomorrow is hat day and Friday is super hero day.

Ms. William's, our school counselor, has been conducting lesson on the difference between mean actions and bullying and how to help in a situation where bullying might be taking place.

As the weather changes, it reminds us that we are starting to enter influenza season. This year the influenza vaccine is encouraged even more than normal due to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic. The Noble County Health Department will be offering the flu vaccine to all Avilla students. Students received information along with permission forms. Please return completed permission forms to school by October 2nd. The influenza clinic will take place after fall break on October 27. Please contact Nurse Jenny with any questions.

As colder weather is beginning to arrive please keep in mind that we go outside daily. Students will need a hat, gloves, and a warm coat. If you need any assistance with getting any of these items please contact us. Also, please place your child's name or initials on a tag on these items to help us avoid a crowded lost and found.

You can also consider sending in a jacket or sweatshirt that will remain at school in case of any forgetful mornings or drastic weather changes.

We are always striving to keep students safe. During this time, masks are mandated on the bus for safety. If students are not wearing masks on the bus, the bus driver and school may be communicating that to you. Thanks for continuing to help us keep everyone safe!

Dot Day is a global celebration of creativity inspired by the book, The Dot, written by Peter H. Reynolds. In the book, a little girl is encouraged by her teacher to try making art, even though she doesn’t think she can. The girl learns that when she is brave and tries something new she can learn a lot and discover a new skill! The best part is, when the girl sees a younger boy struggling with the same fear, she is able to encourage him! Art teachers around the world celebrate this book about creativity and courage by making dot-themed art with their students. Our wonderful young artists all made their own dot creations which were added to one big mural on the wall. I especially love the symbolism here because everyone at Avilla Elementary is a member of our school community and all of us are an important part of our awesome school- just like everyone’s dots together made a beautiful mural!

Our Panther Technology students wrapped up their Digital Citizenship unit with a competitive and fun Jeopardy game to share their unit knowledge. Drum roll please….The “Cheese Pizza” team ended with a score of 1500, while the “Meat Lovers Pizza” team won with a score of 1900. Great job Panthers! 😊

Our Avilla PTO will meet in our school library on Monday, October 12. This group is open to all parents and guardians of Avilla Elementary students. The purpose of the group is to promote community building within our school along with finding ways to support the educational goals of the school.

Our next meeting will be on Monday, October 12 beginning at 6:30 pm in the Avilla Elementary library. Enter through door 1. Please wear a mask and plan to follow social distancing protocols. We hope to see some new members!

Our car line process is going pretty well. We need your help to make it a bit better. Doors open daily at 7:50 (8:35 on Mondays) and we dismiss at 2:45. Here are some tips to help us with our car line:

• Arriving early and waiting will most likely take more of your time than showing up closer to our doors open and dismissal time. We need everyone to show up closer to our advertised times in order to lessen traffic on streets close to the school.
• Preschool parents should be the only people in our car line before 2:30. Our preschool parents pick up around 2:10 and have been blocked by people waiting for our 2:45 dismissal. Please help us by keeping the car line open for preschool pickup. These students need the most help with car pickup and a clear line really helps.
• Please do not park your car and walk across the street to greet your child. When you remain in your car it helps us to worry less about pedestrians and takes less time to get students to where they need to be.

Check out Avilla Elementary on the free East Noble app. The app is a great place to see real time updates and important information.

Click here for the Android app

Click here for the Apple app

Click here for a complete 2020-21 East Noble School Corporation calendar

Oct. 12 PTO meeting in our school library at 6:30 pm

Oct. 21 Fundraiser item pick up

Nov. 5 End of trimester 1

Nov. 9 Report cards issued

Nov. 10 Picture retake day

Jan. 8 Progress report grades available online, Google Slides for K-2 and Powerschool 3-5

Feb. 17 End of trimester 2

Week of Feb. 22-26 Elementary parent/teacher winter conferences by invitation only

Feb. 22 Report cards issued

March 8-19 IREAD-3 Testing window

April 13 Progress report grades available online, Google Slides for K-2 and Powerschool 3-5

April 30 Fifth grade visit to Junior Achievement Biz Town

May 26 Report cards issued on last student day