Principally Speaking
By Patricia Alexander & Derrick Hartley
The past three Tiger Tales featured the first 3 Habits, which are
considered to be private victories these habits set us up for success
in life. Here’s a quick review:
Habit 1 Be Proactive; I am responsible, I take initiative, I chose my
actions, attitudes
and moods, I don’t blame other people.
Habit 2 Begin with the End in Mind - I plan ahead and set goals
Habit 3 Put First Things First - I spend my time on what is most
important, I set priorities, I make
a schedule and follow my plan.
January 2015
Issue 29
Inside this Issue
Principal’s Message
Pg. 1-2
Calendar of Events
Pg. 2
4th Grade News
Pg. 3
Business Boosters
Pg. 4-6
Pleasant Lea Elementary
700 W Persels Road
Lee’s Summit, MO 64081
(816) 986-1230
ple.leesummit.k12.mo.us
Newsletter Contact:
Jen McCormick
[email protected]
This brings us to Habit 4 Think Win-Win. This Habit can make home
and school a more pleasant environment as everyone works
together … this might be a key habit for harmony in your home over
the winter break! It starts with an attitude that everyone can-win.
Thinking win-win is a mindset and heart that seeks mutual benefit
and is based on mutual respect in all interactions. It’s not about
thinking selfishly (win-lose) or like a martyr (lose-win). In family and
school life, members think interdependently in terms of “we,” not
“me” Thinking win-win encourages conflict resolution and helps
individuals seek mutually beneficial solutions. So if your children
start to get restless and argue over the break, encourage them to
seek out a win-win solution to their disagreement.
All students will be assessed in reading and math in January. So
while your children are off school for a couple of weeks, we hope
that you find some time to snuggle up with a good book. and
participate in a math Winter Challenge! The principal’s are
challenging students to complete the Greg Tang Math Game Board.
This is a fun way to keep children’s mathematical brains working
over the winter break. Student names from each grade level will be
drawn to warm up with some hot chocolate! Please turn in your slips
to your classroom teacher or the office by January 7th, 2015.
Principal (Cont’d on page 2)
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Calendar of Events
Principal (cont’d from page 1)
January
January 6
School Resumes
---------------------------------------------January 7
Late Start Wednesday
---------------------------------------------January 14
Late Start Wednesday
Tiger Nation Team
Culver's Night 5:00-8:00 p.m.
---------------------------------------------January 15
2nd Quarter Progress Reports sent home
---------------------------------------------January 19
No School-Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
---------------------------------------------January 20
PTA Planning Meeting-LMC
---------------------------------------------January 21
Late Start Wednesday
---------------------------------------------January 28
Late Start Wednesday
As we move into the wintertime, it means that the
county spelling bee is just around the corner. PLE 4 ,
5 and 6 graders participated in written and oral
spelling contests in order to narrow down to just 10
finalists for the building spelling bee. Our 10 finalists
were Isaiah Jackson, Veronica Dyer, Jace Vendelin,
Paige Morefield, Elijah Rowland, Mallory Fiegener,
Keagan Davis, Emmy Wood, Aaliyah Roland and
Charlee Scruggs. When the dust finally settled,
Charlee Scruggs of 4 grade Mrs. LeCluyse was the
building winner followed up by Paige Morefield in 2
and Mallory Fiegener in 3 place. Congratulations to all
of our students, you have made us all proud.
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The Optimist winners for the month of November are
Evie Swiss Kindergarten, Amia Lovelace 1st grade,
Lexie Morefield 2nd grade, Ixchel Garcia 3rd grade,
Avan Sims 4th grade, Jules Barker 5th grade, and
Maya Wood 6th grade.
The Optimist winners for the month of December are
Cade Meuschke kindergarten, Olivia Clifton 1st grade,
Isabella Huff 2nd grade, Kolbe Poos 3rd grade, Corbin
Martin 4th grade, Lindsay Weeks 5th grade, Meghan
Dean 6th grade.
---------------------------------------------January 29
Papa Johns Pizza Night
PTA Spaghetti Bowl/Silent Auction 6:00-8:00 p.m.
(look for more details coming)
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We want to take a minute to recognize the PLE staff
and students who are doing great things here at PLE
and demonstrating positive leadership skills. Melissa
Weeks in Mrs. Heldenbrand’s class showed that she
can be proactive when she puts up the quiet signal in
the hallway and reminds others to be quiet. Cassidy
Hood in Mrs. Ruby’s class was synergizing when she
led a tour of our school for some visitors from Kansas.
Mrs. Lankford was being proactive and synergizing by
how she daily greets everyone with a smile in the
mornings. Amelia Vaughn in Mrs. Vaughn’s class
showed that she can think win-win when she was done
cleaning up and helped another student clean up their
area. Alyssa Jackson in Mr. York’s class was seeking
first to understand when she stayed behind to help
straighten up the library after book club. She went
above and beyond what is expected. Finally, Mrs.
Brake is helping others sharpen the saw when she
helps people check out books and still gets other things
done. Way to demonstrate the leadership habits!
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4th Grade News:
The fourth grade students and teachers are working on the seven habits, and
becoming leaders. Students are participating in building leadership roles,
helping younger students, greeting adults, and contributing in the classroom
with in class leadership roles. Students are making connections in the
curriculum with the seven habits. Recently in a Missouri history lesson, the
students saw how the early Missourians had to hunt large animals in groups
because one person could not do it alone. They got very excited and said “They
are synergizing!”
Fourth graders are participating in reader’s and writer’s workshop. They are
choosing books on their independent reading level and applying the thinking
strategies to their books. Avan Sims said “I like reader’s workshop because I get
to make pictures in my mind”. They are becoming deep thinkers as both readers
and writers.
In November the students attended a musical production of “The Sound of
Music” and were amazed at the talent of the high school students. We are
looking forward to our visit to our state’s capitol, Jefferson City in April.
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