AAA Elementary Weekly Newsletter

Thank you for joining us for a great day of conferences! We saw almost all of our families on Friday! If you did not meet with your child's teacher, please schedule a meeting as soon as possible. We have a week of learning and fun left before our fall break. Fall break is from Oct 9-20.

Rachel Carethers

Principal

In case you missed it at conferences on Friday, we have an Artful Giving Tree! Come into the lobby to take a card from the tree. Then, bring the card back with the donation listed to help each classroom have the high quality supplies our student/artists need! Bring any donations to the office for Mrs. Bouwhuis, our arts integration coordinator! Thank you for your continued support! See our Amazon Wishlist here!

A Parent’s Guide to

Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support

(P.B.I.S.)

What is PBIS?

School-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) is a school-wide system of procedures and processes that are consistent throughout the school. The system is focused on teaching students what is expected of them and acknowledging consistent positive behavior.

PBIS at AAA Elementary

Our primary goals are to be proactive to discipline problems and to reward students for following school-wide and classroom rules and expectations. To do this, teachers and staff teach, model, and expect students to follow our Behavior Guide in all areas of the school. We have established four school-wide behavior expectations.

We take care of our herd by being

Helpful, Engaged, Respectful, and Disciplined.

You will see these expectations posted throughout the building. The first two weeks of school, all students were taught the behavior guide for all areas of the building (cafeteria, playground, classroom, etc.). Classroom teachers will reteach each part of our behavior guide when we come back from intersession.

Coming soon!

Our teacher-comprised PBIS team will continue to work throughout the year on developing our school-wide incentive program that will accompany our behavior guide. To reinforce our rules and expectations, students will receive points, and then these points can be used for rewards throughout the school year. Our team is still working on this, but we will let our students and families know when we are ready to roll!

How Our Families Can Help

1. Please review the information in this letter with your child.

2. Ask your child, “How did you take care of the herd today?”

3. Discuss examples of ways these rules may be used to help them learn and participate at school

4. Talk about ways these rules may be used at home and in the community

Thank you for your support!

PBIS Team

Families,

We would like to hear how you feel about our elementary school. We will use your answers to find ways we can improve our elementary school. You do not have to answer all of the questions. This survey is anonymous - nobody will know that your answers came from you. It will take you less than 10 minutes. Thank you!

Spanish Survey Link

Join us for Game Academy during Intersession! See the flyer for details.

National Red Ribbon Week 2023

AAA will celebrate Red Ribbon Week October 23-27. Please see the below theme days. We look forward to seeing all of the fun styles & smiles dress-up days bring to our students.

Monday: Team Up Against Bullying and Drugs: Wear your favorite team shirt.

Tuesday: Perfect Pair: Pair up against drugs and bullying! Dress up as two things that go together!

Wednesday: Chase Your Dreams Not Drugs: Wear school appropriate pajamas

Thursday; It's Crazy to Do Drugs: Wear crazy hair, socks, and clothing.

Friday: Say Boo to Bullying and Drugs: Wear school appropriate costumes. No blood, masks, clowns, or weapons. No blow-up costumes. *Note: this will be our costume dress up day. We will not dress up on Oct 31.

Girls Group Opportunity

We are excited to announce a girls group therapy opportunity at the elementary campus. Megan Beard, who is one of our school-based therapists at AAA, will facilitate a "Girls Who Rock" group, focusing on self-expression, feelings exploration, making new friends, and improving confidence, all in an atmosphere of fun, games and art interventions. Please see the flyer and Megan's bio below. In order for students to participate in the group sessions, parents will first need to call Water's Edge at 479-621-0301 to schedule an intake, which will initiate the group sessions held on campus.

Megan Beard is an Arkansas native who graduated from Springdale High School and
later received two degrees from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, a Bachelor's
degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counseling. She is married to Robert
Beard who teaches at AAA High School. They live in Springdale and have two
daughters, Mirabel and Bricelyn, who attend AAA Elementary/Middle School.
Megan has been a licensed counselor for over 12 years, and provides therapeutic
services to children, adolescents, and their families. She loves helping her clients create
goals and plans that best fit their needs in order to help them become successful in all
areas of life: school, home, and community. Megan is also a certified Clinical Supervisor
for newly licensed counselors.
Megan has worked in a variety of settings in the Northwest Arkansas community,
including outpatient clinic, school-based services, in-home services, and private
practice. She has extensive professional experience treating a wide range of mental
health issues, from anxiety and depression, to attachment and trauma-related issues.
Megan is trained in TF-CBT, and she incorporates Trauma-Focused Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy based techniques to treat children exposed to trauma and their
families when appropriate. She also has training in play interventions such as client-
centered play therapy, and sand tray. She loves to have fun with her clients and tries to
make therapy a positive experience, often incorporating many different types of play
and art-based activities into her practice.