Centennial Elementary School
Shannon Ritter, Principal
October 2019
Conference Week
Fall Conferences will be from Tuesday, October 22nd through Friday, October 25th. On these days’ students will be dismissed from school at 12:05 p.m. If you have not signed up for your conference, please contact your teacher immediately. Looking forward to partnering with you!
Social Emotional Learning at Centennial
When students have the tools to deal with their emotions, navigate their social world and make healthy decisions, they will be much better equipped to have a positive school experience. This translates into positive academic outcomes, healthier relationships and more resiliency when faced with challenges. This year Centennial has made social emotional learning (SEL) an even higher priority by having the Second Step Program included in every classroom. This evidence based SEL curriculum includes weekly lessons that teach students important skills such as how to focus their attention, calm down when upset, show compassion, and resolve conflicts. Watch for the Second Step Home Links! These will be coming home with students and will give you a chance to practice these important life skills right along with your children.
An additional component to our SEL focus this year will be mindfulness. Research is showing that integrating mindfulness into schools is increasing students’ ability to regulate their emotions, focus their attention, make helpful behavioral choices, get along with peers and deal with stress. Teachers at Centennial will be given the opportunity to have the school counselor provide short lessons that teach students simple everyday mindfulness skills that dovetail perfectly with the Second Step program.
The Second Step Program and our focus on mindfulness align with the Olympia School District’s Student Outcomes #1: Be Compassionate and Kind and Outcome #3: Advocate for the social, physical and mental wellness of themselves and others and be hopeful about the future.
Walk n Roll Dates
Hey Centennial Stars, it’s time to Walk N Roll!. Students who walk or roll to school get a prize! Centennial is Walking N Rolling to school all year long! Save these dates. We had over 130 students participate in October!
Nov. 13
Dec. 11
Jan. 8
Feb. 12
Mar. 11
April 1
May 13
June 10
Halloween
With Halloween approaching at the end of the month, we ask families to remember to have their child wear appropriate attire to school. Please check with your individual teachers regarding plans for the day. Students are asked not to wear costumes, masks or anything that might scare other children and no look-a-like weapons. Also, remember no candy, due to the school district’s nutrition policy.
From School Counselor, Kris Norelius
Sometimes it is difficult to tell the differences between unkind behavior and bullying. This is an article that might be helpful.
https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=20215&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2 0190916&ts=20190916
Bus Safety
Check out this youTube video on Bus Safety. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1vBg3J-ZeM&authuser=0 https://youtu.be/U1vBg3J-ZeM
Veterans Day Assembly
Mark your calendars. Centennial Elementary students will be presenting a Veterans Day program on Friday, November 8th at 9:15 a.m. We will be acknowledging the veterans of our community’s families. Informational letters have gone home with students.
Please refrain from taking pictures or video of anyone other than your child. We have a large number of families who have requested their child not be photographed. Thank you for understanding.
Head Lice Article from our Nurse
Fall is in the air! Conference Week and Winter Break are just around the corner. This is often a time when we see more incidences of head lice. Prevention of head lice is key:
Encourage children not to share personal items such as coats, hats, brushes, combs, hair barrettes/scrunchies, pillows, etc.
Lice do not fly or jump, they crawl.
If your child is scratching his/her head more than usual, this is a warning. Using a bright light, check for lice, nits & scratch marks.
Lice & nits are very small. Adult lice are the size of a sesame seed. Nits feel like a little grain of sand stuck to the hair shaft and must be manually removed or they hatch into lice.
If your child has been treated for lice, please check in at the main office prior to returning to school.
The internet is a great resource for how to get rid of nits & lice.
Student Handbooks
Centennial’s Student Handbook is online at centennial.osd.wednet.edu. Inside you will see information on our schedule, teacher voice mail number, homework information and much more.
With the rainy season upon us, please be sure your child brings a coat to school each day. Please be aware that the school does not have the resources to provide dry clothes for all children. We will try to place a call home for a change of clothes, when possible. We know it is very difficult for some families to get away from work to bring a change of clothes to the school. Note there will be times when a student may have to wear wet/damp clothes in class.
Fifth Grade Parents
OSD is providing an opportunity for parents of 5th grade students to preview the Sexuality Education and HIV prevention curriculum that is taught by our Fifth Grade Teachers at the end of the school year, in June. A letter will be going home during Conference Week with more information. The date of the Preview Night will be November 12, 2019 at the Knox Administration building at 111 Bethel Street from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Planned Absence Request Forms
Remember, if you are going on a vacation or on a trip, please complete a Planned Absence Request Form. These forms are available in the office or call us and we will send a form home with your child.
The 2019- 2020 District Calendar & Handbook and Centennial’s Student Handbook, both explain absences from school.
Check out the “Parent Resources” Tab on Centennial’s (link) or Olympia School District web page.
There are instructions for managing your Family Access Account:
Skylert Notifications in Family Access (can turn off robo calls to your work phone number)
Timberland Library Card
Changing your Family Access e-mail
Forgot your Family Access password
SHORT NOTES
Estimate Everything!
Weave estimation into daily life to build your youngster’s math skills. While cooking, you might ask, “How many cherry tomatoes do you think are in that container?” Or in a waiting room, challenge her to estimate the number of ceiling tiles. Have her count to check. The more she practices, the better she’ll get at estimating.
Take Initiative
Part of developing initiative is learning to recognize what needs to be done. Instead of guiding your child through each step in a task, get him in the routine of figuring out what to do next. If he’s clearing the table and forgets to wipe it off, say, “Take a look at the table—what’s the last step?”
Family Fire Drills
Use National Fire Prevention Week (October 6–12) to create a fire escape plan with your youngster. Encourage her to draw a map of your home with two exits per room and a meeting place outside. Then, hold a fire drill. Note: Studies show that many kids sleep through smoke alarms, so be sure your plan includes waking everyone up. Home and School Connection, October 2019
Mistakes Make Your Brain Grow
Did you know that mistakes actually help kids learn more? Use these ideas to encourage your youngster to make the most of her mistakes:
● Give your child room to “mess up.” You might suspect that masking tape isn’t strong enough to hold her project together. But she’ll gain more from the experience if she tries, fails, and comes up with a new solution all by herself.
● Help your youngster put mistakes in perspective. Perhaps she forgot to include an important point during her class presentation. Ask her what part went well—maybe her graphics were cool and her classmates seemed interested in her topic.♥ Home and School Connection, October 2019
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Upcoming Events DATE
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10/17
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FIELD TRIP FOURTH & FIFTH GRADE 10:45 A.M.-1:00 P.M.
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10/18
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ALL SCHOOL SING 2:45 P.M.
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10/21
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PICTURE RE-TAKE DAY 9:00-10:00 A.M.
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10/22-25
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CONFERENCE WEEK – SCHOOL DISMISSED AT 12:05 P.M.
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10/25
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BOOSTER CLUB’S FALL FAMILY SOCIAL – 6:30 P.M.
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11/1
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WALKING FIELD TRIP MRS. KNIGHT 9:30-11:30 A.M.
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11/1
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FIELD TRIP MISS ASKEW 9:30-11:30 A.M.
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11/1
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FIELD TRIP MRS. ROEDELL 9:30-11:30 A.M.
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11/8
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VETERANS DAY ASSEMBLY 9:15 – 11:00 A.M.
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11/11
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VETERANS DAY – NO SCHOOL
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11/12
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HEALTH INSTRUCTION PREVIEW NIGHT AT KNOX ADMIN BUILDING 111 BETHEL ST. 5:30-6:30 P.M.
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11/13
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WALK ‘N’ ROLL TO SCHOOL
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11/21
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FOURTH GRADE FIELD TRIP 9:30-12:30 P.M.
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11/27-29
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THANKSGIVING VACATION – NO SCHOOL
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12/2
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LION’S CLUB VISION AND HEARING SCREENING - AFTERNOON
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12/2
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WINTER CHOIR CONCERT AT PAC 7:00 P.M.
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12/10
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WINTER BAND & ORCHESTRA CONCERT AT CENTENNIAL AT 2:30 P.M.
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