United South Central Elementary

January/February Newsletter

Rebel Rights

Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe

As we transition into February, the energy from January carries over into our classrooms, marking a period of focused learning. Students are demonstrating improved understanding, a testament to our dedicated efforts and the success of our UFLI reading initiative. Following the smooth return to school after the holiday break, students are actively engaging in the learning journey with renewed vigor.

During the third week of January, our students completed their Standardized Tests for the Assessment of Reading and Math (STAR). This regular assessment offers valuable insights into each student's current performance, allowing teachers to tailor future instruction and interventions to foster continued growth. I encourage you to engage with your child(ren) about their current learning experiences and express gratitude to our exceptional teachers for their hard work.

At USC, we emphasize the significance of reading and being read to throughout the year. Now, as February brings "I Love to Read Month," it is the perfect time to celebrate the joy of reading. As parents and guardians, you play a crucial role as your child's first teacher. To nurture good readers, consider engaging your child in conversations using rich vocabulary and expanding their word bank. Additionally, make a habit of reading to your children daily, encompassing various genres such as fiction, non-fiction, comics, poetry, and more. Take a moment to discuss what you read; it fosters a deeper connection and understanding.

As our students participate in fun activities like Book BINGO, 25 Days of Reading, locker decoration with favorite books, crafting book chains, and engaging in reading-themed dress-up days at USC this month, I urge you to foster a reading-friendly environment at home. Encourage your child(ren) to disconnect from electronic devices throughout the month and create a space conducive to reading. By sharing the joy of reading within your family, you'll witness its positive impact. Your partnership in promoting reading is greatly appreciated, and the staff at USC thank you for your support.

As we close out our “I Love to Read Month,” join us for our annual Green Eggs and Ham breakfast on March 1, 2024, as we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Seuss, the renowned author of over 60 children's books. Your child should have received a sign-up sheet earlier this week. Please ensure they bring it back, mark your calendar, plan to attend, and get ready for a fantastic time!

Thank you for your continuous partnership in promoting the love of reading at USC.

Enjoy I Love to Read Month

It’s a Great Day to be a Rebel!
Jennifer Taylor, Elementary Principal

We have an obligation to read aloud to our children. To read them things they enjoy. To read to them stories we are already tired of. To do the voices, to make it interesting, and not to stop reading to them just because they learn to read to themselves. -Neil Gaiman

On January 9, 2024, State Representative Peggy Bennett visited USC as part of the Principal for a Day program, spending the day alongside Mrs. Bye and Mrs. Taylor. Representative Bennett has a special connection to USC, having taught third grade in the district for one year in 1983 before continuing her teaching career in Albert Lea for 32 more years. She expressed her passion for education and involvement in state capitol education committees during legislative sessions.

During her visit, Rep. Bennett enjoyed her time at USC and was impressed by the staff and students. She mentioned learning much about the school's operations and daily efforts to support student growth and learning. She visited several elementary classrooms and attended the elementary Student Assistance Team (SAT) meeting. Rep. Bennett particularly appreciated interacting with students and observing their learning experiences, especially with USC's new phonics initiative, UFLI. She was especially impressed by the elementary staff's training in LETRS, which they will complete this spring. Special thanks were extended to Elizabeth Hansen and Amy Stenzel for their UFLI lessons and Adam Walker for his engaging math lesson.

Rep. Bennett concluded her visit by engaging with members of the school board and the USC Education Association. The Minnesota High School and Elementary Principal Associations sponsored the Principal for a Day event, making it memorable for all involved.

A special thank you to Rep. Peggy Bennett for choosing USC!

February 7 - Two-Hour Early Out
February 9 - Fifth and Sixth Grade Mount Kato Ski Trip
February 16 & 19 - No School Presidents Day Weekend
March 1 - Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast
March 4 - K-12 Evening P/T Conferences
March 5 - Two-Hour Late Start - Buses will also be 2 hours late, and breakfast will not be served that morning at USC. Students may start to arrive at school at 10:00 - 10:10 a.m. Staff will be participating in staff development activities that morning.

USC recently welcomed a new part-time school counselor, Mrs. Wischnack. She has started promoting socio-emotional learning through monthly classroom lessons. Last month, students learned about being their best selves in the new calendar year by fostering a growth mindset, utilizing positive affirmations, and overcoming negative thoughts. This month, in line with Valentine’s Day, the theme will be healthy relationship communication skills. Lower grades will be learning about tattling and solving problems with peers. The older students will be learning about gossip and apologies. If you see Mrs. Wischnack, please welcome her. She is a welcome addition to our USC staff.

As February begins, we experienced one "regular snow day" last month. In the event of another snow day, we will implement a Virtual Learning Day. We intend to communicate this possibility in advance to give students ample time to prepare and gather the necessary materials. Kindly start considering what your student(s) will need to succeed on a Virtual Learning Day while studying from home. If your family requires internet access for Virtual Learning, we have limited internet hotspots available for checkout. Feel free to reach out if you have any specific questions about this program.

When your student(s) bring home Chromebooks and Chrome Tablets for Virtual Learning Days, please help your child ensure the proper care of these devices. Last year, we encountered numerous broken screens due to backpacks being thrown and stepped on and water bottles causing damage. It's important to understand that insurance does not cover intentional device damage, and repairs are costly. We appreciate your partnership and encourage you to discuss device care with your students, particularly when transporting them to and from school.

We've noticed an increase in various illnesses, which is typical for this time of year. Here are some important reminders about when to keep your children home from school. Your cooperation is crucial in maintaining a healthy environment for all students.

Please keep your child at home if they:

• Have had a fever of 100.0°F or higher within the past 24 hours.

• Have experienced vomiting or persistent diarrhea in the last 24 hours.

• Are diagnosed with strep throat (they can return after 12 hours on antibiotics and no fever for 24 hours).

• Have influenza (they can return after being fever-free for 24 hours and once the cough has subsided).

• Test positive for COVID-19; in this case, they must stay home for five days. Please inform the school when your student tests positive. Note: COVID-related guidelines are subject to change as updates occur.

• Exhibit a severe, frequent cough that would impede concentration and disturb others.

• Have a draining wound.

Your adherence to these guidelines helps us in our collective effort to keep our students healthy.

*Parents, if your child is unwell, it's important that they visit the nurse's office to assess whether it's appropriate for them to go home. Using text messages to notify parents will not be considered sufficient. Please remind your students that they need to visit the nurse's office if they are feeling ill to ensure proper communication procedures are followed. Additionally, if the nurse's office contacts you to pick up your ill child, please aim to do so as promptly as possible.

At athletic and activity events, we kindly ask that parents consider supervision for their elementary-age children attending events at USC. We are so glad to see the energy and enthusiasm toward events and activities at USC, and we want to ensure everyone is safe. If this is not the case, individual students may be dismissed from the event.

Remember to preserve your child's precious memories by ordering a USC Elementary yearbook, capturing their growth and milestones throughout the school year. Yearbooks are available for order until April 4, costing $17.00. Order forms were sent out in December. If you require an additional form, there are extras in the elementary office.

Payment can be made in cash, by check (made out to Strawbridge), or through credit card (online orders include a fee).
To order online, visit the link: https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/search/YB29666.

Ensure you secure this lasting tribute to your child's elementary experience.

Entrance into the Building
We kindly request that parents drop off and pick up students outside the main doors for safety reasons. If a parent/guardian needs to access the school building for any reason, they are required to check in at the elementary or high school office and get a name badge prior to entering the building. Ensuring the safety of our students remains our utmost concern, and we appreciate your cooperation in the matter.

Drop off and pick up at USC Elementary

• Students will enter the school by the main door by the elementary office

• Students can enter the building at 8:10 A.M. after they are lined up outside. Please be mindful to drop your students off as close to 8:10 A.M. as possible to alleviate a long wait before the start of the school day.

• Students who have breakfast can access the school building at 7:50 A.M. Upon arrival, they should proceed directly to the Commons Area. After breakfast, students will return outside and enter the elementary building at 8:10 A.M., when the official school day begins. It is important to note that students are not permitted to enter the elementary building until 8:10 A.M.

• Students will be dismissed from the main doors by the office.
  
  

Crosswalks: To prioritize students' safety, we request that everyone consistently use the designated crosswalks when dropping off or picking up students. We emphasize that our top priority is ensuring the safety of our students, and we discourage any attempts to walk between school buses, as it poses a significant safety risk. We would like for both parents and students to use the designated crosswalks exclusively.

Parking Advisory: To ensure the safety of our students, staff, and visitors, please make sure you are parked legally when dropping off or picking up your children before and after school. You can avoid potential issues by following parking regulations.

Parent Contact Information: Please notify the elementary office if your email address or telephone number changes. It is imperative that we are able to contact you in case of a school-wide emergency or your child becomes ill. Also, keeping your contact information current will ensure you receive notices and announcements from the school.

Extra Clothing: Please send an extra set of clothing with your child. It is important we have an extra set of clothing in the event of spills, mud, accidents, and wet clothing from recess. Thank you.

Outdoor Recess: Now that we are in the thick of winter and there are days with decreasing temperatures, it's essential to remember that your child(ren) will have outdoor recess every day, weather permitting. Your assistance in ensuring your students come to school adequately prepared for the weather is greatly appreciated. Unless the temperature is 60 degrees or higher, please ensure your child wears a jacket or coat. Additionally, during these winter months, students must have the appropriate outdoor attire, such as layers, hats, mittens/gloves, scarves, boots, and snow pants when the snow is on the ground or mud on the playground. Thank you in advance for your help in making sure your child feels comfortable outside at recess. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the Elementary Office at (507) 553-5810.

Lost and Found: Please consider checking the tables in the Commons area, near the vending machine, for any misplaced items belonging to your child. To prevent your child's items from ending up in Lost and Found, please ensure all clothing is labeled correctly with their name.

In Mrs. Stenzel's class, students actively participated in a lesson utilizing our recently adopted phonics curriculum, UFLI. They were immersed in phoneme blending, segmentation practice, decoding, and encoding exercises. The students are making significant strides in acquiring foundational reading skills while enjoying learning. It is gratifying to witness the progress they are achieving this year.

Last week, students who achieved their Accelerated Reading (AR) goal for the past quarter were treated to a special outing at Dairy Queen. They relished their meals and enjoyed their ice cream treats at school. Keep up the fantastic reading, third and fourth-grade students!

On Wednesday, January 24, students in grades K-4 kicked off their roller skating unit. Physical education teachers, including Tammy Bullerman, Paul Meyer, and Jesse Morgan, secured specialized skates with soft wheels for this annual event. Over the next two weeks, students will glide across the elementary gym floor as they hone their roller skating skills.

This time-honored tradition was established decades ago, recognizing roller skating as a "Lifetime Sport" that promotes balance, coordination, and motor skills development. Moreover, roller skating is renowned for its cardiovascular benefits, making it an ideal activity for enhancing endurance. Throughout the unit, students will encounter challenges that underscore the importance of resilience and perseverance in achieving their goals.

The gym is abuzz with excitement, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing the progress of our students.

First-grade students in Mrs. Simon’s class participated in a SEL lesson centered on making positive choices at school. They discussed how their decisions affect both themselves and others. During the lesson, students shared examples of good choices they can make and discussed how these choices can positively impact those around them.

Last week, in Mrs. Hart’s class, students delved into the concept of text structure within a story, examining how authors utilize it to convey information and sequence events. They discovered the significance of authors presenting events in a specific order within a story. Students identified keywords, such as "after," "before," "next," "then," "later," "finally," "first," "second," and "last," that signal sequence in a narrative.

Email: jtaylor@unitedsouthcentral.org
Location: 600 11th Street Southwest, Wells, MN, USA
Phone: 507-553-5810