Letters from Limestone Walters

April 1st: No School! Teacher Institute

April 3rd: House Council Meeting @7:15am

April 5th: Wheel Spin Day

April 8th: Illinois Science Assessment begins (5th & 8th Grade only) & PTO Meeting @7pm

April 9th: Kindergarten Screenings (By Appointment Only)

April 12th: K-4 Rocket Rumble 5:30pm-8pm (see below for more info)

April 17th: House Meetings & Competition Day (wear your House Shirt)

April 19th: Wheel Spin Day

April 21st: LW's Pages, Popcorn, and Pals Book Club @6pm (see below)

April 22nd: Tech/Curriculum Meeting @ 5pm and Board Meeting @6pm

April 26th: House Spirit Day (TBA)

April is National Poetry Month! This was created by the Academy of American Poets in April of 1996 and reminds us that poetry matters. This has become the largest literary celebration in the world with tens of millions marking poetry's important role in our culture.

Be sure to check out some of the ways you and your family can explore poetry this month:

Poetry for Kids Website

Magnetic Poetry for Kids

Haiku Poem Interactive

April 18th: National Poem in Your Pocket Day!

April's Book - What's Cooking at 10 Garden Street? (Tastes of Many Cultures)
Something delicious is cooking in the old apartment building on Garden Street! Pilar is mixing gazpacho, Monsieur Ping is stir-frying broccoli, Señora Flores is preparing a pot of beans, and Josef and Rafik are rolling meatballs. Other neighbors are making mini-quiches, baba ganoush, dhal, and peanut butter cookies. When they're all finished cooking everyone gathers in the garden to enjoy a delicious meal and each other's company. Each inviting spread in this storybook offers a recipe from a different culinary tradition. Dishes that kids love, like guacamole, spaghetti, and banana bread are interspersed with others that include less familiar ingredients, such as mirin, tahini, and turmeric.

ZOOM Read Aloud Event will be Sunday, April 21st @6pm. The link is emailed to parents by Sunday afternoon. Fill out the form below by Monday, April 15th to be emailed the link AND ensure you receive your popcorn from The Popcorn Shoppe.

*Inspired by: Growing Book by Book: A Year of Good Food and Books Each month there will be a focus food or food-related theme to the month. There's everything from tea, to cookbooks to dumplings. Best of all, we are going to learn about different cultures. So, let’s get reading and eating.

Please make sure we are following these procedures below in order to ensure our drop-off line is efficient and safe:

• Make sure an adult (usually Mrs. Pitzer) is out before letting your students leave your vehicle.
• Please make sure your child exits the vehicle anywhere within the white box on the arrival map picture.
• This way several cars are unloading at the same time vs. some pulling all the way up to the main door which causes the line to stop and then get backed up.
  
• Please have your child ready to exit the vehicle.

This month Aramark's monthly limited time entrée (LTO) will highlight flavors from New Mexico with Fiery Jalapeño Cheddar Burger. This dish features jalapeños and will be offered April 15th-19th. Students simply need to let their teacher know they want the monthly special.

Featured Ingredient: Jalapeños

Did you know that Jalapeño Peppers are one of the most commonly known chili peppers around the globe. Its crunchy and spicy nature is perfect for guacamole, salsa, and of course jalapeño poppers!

Jalapeños may not be the fieriest of chilies, but they give a nice spark to salsas, marinades, jellies, and cheeses – and even smoothies.

We are thrilled to announce that Walking Tacos is the Champion of the 1st Annual Munch Madness! It won with 97 votes vs. popcorn chicken who had 53 votes. Walking Tacos will be the third entrée option every day during the week of April 8th-12th.

A big shoutout to Aramark for this fun activity that we hope returns for many years to come!

📣 Calling all future Limestone Walters Kindergarteners➡️ Kindergarten Roundup for fall of 2024 has begun and our screenings will take place on April 9th. Please click on the image below to preregister:

The Greater Peoria Family YMCA is partnering with Limestone Township and the Alpha Park Library to identify the need of a Summer Day Camp program in the community. This survey is designed to gauge interest and the YMCA may offer a Summer Day Camp program hosted at Alpha Park in Bartonville if a need is determined.

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZFHN9VT

Please reach out if you have any further questions:

Taylor Simpson

School Age Director

Greater Peoria Family YMCA

7000 N Fleming Lane, Peoria, IL 61614

309-692-7631 ext 104

As of now we have May 6th, 13th, 20th, and 23rd that will be in session days meaning students will have school. May 28th is currently our last emergency day if needed.

Into Reading K-6

This month, K-6 students will be wrapping up Module 7 and beginning Module 8 at various time depending on the class. Below you will find the grade level essential questions and the social emotional/learning mindset focus.

Social Studies

This month, grades 4th-8th will be continuing through Topic 5. Topics can last anywhere from 5-6 weeks. Below you will find the graphic that shares grade level questions and social emotional focus.

April 4th: Practice 2:45pm-3:45pm

April 9th: Match @ Brimfield starting at 3:30pm *bus leaves at 2:50pm

April 11th: Match @ Farmington starting at 4pm *bus leaves at 3:15pm

April 16th: Match at Monroe starting at 3pm *bus leaves at 2:45pm

April 18th: Home Match vs. Hollis @3:45pm

April 24th: Regionals TBD

April 29th: Sectionals TBD

May 3rd: State TBD

April 1st: Meet @ Brimfield starting at 4pm *bus leaves at 3pm

April 3rd: Meet @ Farmington starting at 4pm *bus leaves at 3pm

April 8th: Meet @ Elmwood starting at4pm *bus leaves at 3pm

April 16th: Meet @LCHS starting at 4:15pm *bus leaves at 3:15pm

April 23rd: LAC @ LCHS starting at 2pm *bus leaves at 1pm (rain date April 25th)

Lunch time read alouds are one of my favorite ways to build a culture of readers here at LW. On Wednesdays, I read picture books to all K-4th grade students and on Friday's I read the first chapter of a novel to all 5th-8th graders.

Readers thrive when they are surrounded by a supportive reading community. I curated this list over the last couple of years that covers a wide variety of ages, genres, topics, themes, etc. Your purchase means it will be shipped directly to the school, find its way into a classroom, and have a label with who donated it! Please make sure to include your name when purchasing.

Please feel free to share our list with family and friends! I can't wait to see where our farthest book comes from!

Our PTO meets the first Monday of the month (unless otherwise noted) at 7pm in the library. This is a great way to get involved in fundraisers and activities that support our school. If in person doesn't work for you, they also have a virtual Zoom option. The links are always emailed out closer to the date.

PTO updates:

Volunteer for PTO Sponsored Events-- Do you want to be involved with the PTO or would like more information? The PTO sponsors or helps with several things throughout the year and we need your help! Use this link to indicate where you'd like to volunteer. Please see the attached flyer for more information about LW PTO or attend a meeting on the first Monday of the month!

Remember

I remember finishing my coffee before it got cold, catching up with friends over lunch, and reading with my boys.

Gratitude

I'm grateful for time spent resting, relaxing, and recharging.

Goals

• prioritize tasks for the rest of this school year
• begin planning some items for next year
• continue transition meetings with Mr. Dotson and Mr. Lamboley

~Mrs. Stefanie Pitzer, Principal

Email: spitzer@limestonewalters.com
Website: https://www.limestonewalters.com/
Location: 8223 West Smithville Road, Peoria, IL, USA
Phone: 309-697-3035
Facebook: facebook.com/LWrockets316
Twitter: @lwrockets