Pontiac School News

November 29, 2018

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SCHOOL PRINCIPAL:

Dear Families,

December is here! Cooler temperatures… disappearing daylight. The upcoming weeks can become quite overwhelming as families prepare for family gatherings, special travels, and perhaps some shopping outings in preparation for special traditions. As much as we’d all like to feel that we are organized and well-prepared for the upcoming weeks, each family deals with the stress of the holidays in different ways. Oftentimes, children fall victim to later bedtimes, hectic trips to the store for that last item, and sometimes experience first-hand the financial stress that plagues many families during this time of the year. Routines often fall to the wayside along with daily reading practices, consistent homework support, and even family meals. At times families need to make a concerted effort to see that the rush and stresses of the holiday season do not seep into their child’s daily routine and need for consistency. Continue to help students Put 1st Things 1ST this last week before winter break. This is one of our 7 Habits that we practice each day.

Next week we are excited to offer the Penguin Holiday Shop to our students next week! The holiday shop will be open to students from 7:30am-8:30am and 12pm-2pm each day. Students are asked to bring money along with an envelope noting who they should purchase gifts for while they are shopping. We will have elves who will help our shoppers! A big thank you to our PTO for offering such an opportunity for our students to practice the joy of giving!

Impact Aid Forms

Parent Help Needed: Impact Aid Survey

Dear Parents,

Today your child should bring home what is called an Impact Aid Survey form . Please complete the survey and send it back to your child’s teacher by December 17, 2018. It is important that we receive the survey from all Pontiac and Montessori Students. Your participation is greatly appreciated. Please read the overview about why we collect the survey.

Understanding Impact Aid

The Impact Aid Program was formed to help make up the lost local tax base to school districts imposed upon by federal property.

People living on Federal property do not pay local property tax

People working on federal property in turn, work for companies that do not pay local property tax or other applicable fees for operating a business.

Uniformed service members both active and retired have the ability to shop for food and other items at the Post/Base Exchanges and commissary that do not charge local sales tax.

** Impact Aid is a federal program governed by Federal Law and Regulations. While funds received under the Impact Aid Program are unrestricted and can be used as needed by school districts; the application process is very specific.

Please return this completed form to your child's teacher as soon as you can.

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Transportation Changes

We take great care in making sure that your child goes home each day in the manner that you want them to go home. Please send a note with your child in the morning if you are changing transportation for the day. If you need to call to change transportation for the day, please call the front desk at 803 699-2700. Please call no later than 2:15 pm to make changes. If you need to change your child's transportation permanently, it must be in writing. Thank you.

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Chorus

All Are Invited!

"The Great Big Holiday Bake-Off"

Presented by the Pontiac Chorus

Monday, December 10th from 7:00 - 7:30 pm

Richland Two District Auditorium located on the Richland Northeast High School Campus

7500 Brookfield Road, Columbia, 29223

Suggested donation: $2 adults, $1 children

It's down to the wire and the remaining contestants in our confectionary cooking competition are assigned one final task - fantastic holiday treats! What will it be? Sugar cookies? hot chocolate? A candy-covered gingerbread house? This delicious 30 minute musical delivers all the goodies with scrumptious songs and scenes that are guaranteed to satisfy any sweet tooth. Two hosts, a pair of judges, six star bakers, and our Pontiac chorus are just the right recipe for fun!

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Being on Time each day matters!

Students are expected to be in their classrooms at 8:00 am each morning. They will be counted as tardy if they arrive after 8:10 am. Parents, please walk in with your child if they are late to school. Being on time is a WIN-WIN for everyone!

PTO Holiday Shop News

Each year the PTO sponsors Jenny's Penguin Patch Holiday Shop. The Holiday Shop is open December 3- 7 and students are able to shop for holiday gifts for friends and family during this time. Volunteers are needed to help set-up the shop on Friday November 30, help students shop and wrap gifts during the week of December 3-7, and then clean up on Friday December 7th.

Please see the linked SignUp Genius to volunteer to help during this fun event!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4BA4A723A4FD0-holiday

FREE DIGITAL HOMEWORK TUTORING

Richland County offers free homework help, digitally, from 3pm-11pm each day. Use this link!

Digital Literacy to be held in the Media Center (free and open to all)

SIC is delighted to welcome parents to our FALL Literacy event tonight!

Join us to learn more about digital literacy opportunities for your child including helpful websites, reading subscriptions our district offers, and digital tools to support reading both in your home and at school! A representative from Richland County Library will also be available to share ideas such as their digital homework help. PTO is graciously offering a Kindle as a door prize raffle for those families that attend!