SchoolNewsletter
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Liggett Trail Education Center Newsletter
Winter 2017
Volume 9, Issue 2
Principal’s Corner
Contents
Principal’s Corner
1
Parent Library
1
What to Know About Play
2
The Magic of Music
3
Keeping Children Busy
4
Read to Learn
4
MD Holiday Open House
5
Should They Stay or Go?
6
Upcoming
Events
 No School–Martin
Luther King, Jr. DayJanuary 16th
 No School-Presidents’
Day-February 20th
 LTEC KN Parent
Information Night –
February 7th – 6:30pm

3rd Quarter Ends –
March 10th
 Spring Break – March
13th – 17th
Dear LTEC Families,
Hope everyone had a great holiday
break - welcome to 2017! Hard to
believe that we are saying 2017 and
we are beginning the 3rd quarter of
school. We are still in the thick of
winter, so make sure your children
are dressed appropriately for the
cold.
A constant battle we fight at school is
the spread of germs. Help us keep not
only your child, but everyone else’s
children, sick free. A few ways you
can help are to remind your children
to wash hands regularly and get
plenty of rest. Another way is to keep
your children home if they are sick, so
they don’t spread the germs to
others. District policy requires
students to be fever free (without
Tylenol) for 24 hours before
returning to school. That also applies
Parent Library
We believe parents are their child’s
first and best teacher. Research
shows parent participation and
involvement plays a critical role in
child growth and development.
Did you know Liggett Trail has a
library designed for parents to check
out books and resources? Our library
has multiple resources geared not
only toward specific special needs
but also resources covering topics
related to general childhood
development. Some of the current
topics covered include: autism,
hearing impairments, sign language,
play, communication skills, social
skills, discipline, sensory needs, and
to vomit and diarrhea. We know this
can be a major inconvenience for
working parents, but it greatly helps
the health of everyone else.
We look forward to continuing our
mission of educating our students.
Teachers are recharged and ready to
roll. Please continue to do your part at
home with your children, and
together we will help them be the
best they can be!
Here are a few dates to remember as
we head into the second semester:
Jan 16th – No school - Martin Luther
King Jr. Day
Feb. 20th – No school – Presidents’
Day
March 13th - 17th – No school - Spring
Break
April 14th – No school –Easter Break
May 23rd – Last day of school (if no
snow days)
--Brian Harris
nutrition. You are welcome to look
through the available books or ask
your child’s teacher for help locating
one related to a specific topic. The
library is located in the Liggett Trail
front office. Please complete an
information card when borrowing a
book and return it in a timely manner,
so other parents may enjoy these
great books. If you know of a good
resource you think we should add to
our library, please let us know!
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10 Things Every
Parent Should
Know about Play
1. Children learn through their
play - Don’t underestimate the
value of play. Children learn and
develop:
-Cognitive skills – like math and
problem solving in a pretend
grocery store
-Physical abilities – like balancing
blocks and running on the
playground
-New vocabulary – like the words
they need to play with toy
dinosaurs
-Social skills – like playing together
in a pretend car wash
-Literacy skills – like creating a
menu for a pretend restaurant
2. Play is healthy - Play helps
children grow strong and healthy. It
also counteracts obesity issues
facing many children today.
3. Play reduces stress - Play helps
your children grow emotionally. It
is joyful and provides an outlet for
anxiety and stress.
4. Play is more than meets the eye
- Play is simple and complex. There
are many types of play: symbolic,
sociodramatic, functional, and
games with rules-–to name just a
few. Researchers study play’s many
aspects: how children learn
through play, how outdoor play
impacts children’s health, the
effects of screen time on play and
the need for recess in the school
day.
5. Make time for play - As parents,
you are the biggest supporters of
your children’s learning. You can
make sure they have as much time
to play as possible during the day to
promote cognitive, language,
physical, social, and emotional
development.
6. Play and learning go hand-inhand
They
are
not
separate activities.
They
are
intertwined. Think about them as a
science lecture with a lab.
7. Play outside - Remember your
own outdoor experiences of
building forts, playing on the
beach, sledding in the winter, or
playing with other children in the
neighborhood. Make sure your
children create outdoor memories
too.
8. There’s a lot to learn about play
- There’s a lot written on children
and play. David Elkind’s The Power
of Play (DaCapo, 2007 reprint) is a
great resource.
9. Trust your own playful instincts.
Remember as a child how play just
came naturally? Give your children
time for play and see all that they
are capable of when given the
opportunity.
10. Play is a child’s context for
learning.
Children practice and reinforce
their learning in multiple areas
during play. It gives them a place
and a time for learning that cannot
be achieved through completing a
worksheet. For example, in playing
restaurant, children write and draw
menus, set prices, take orders,
and make out checks.
Play provides rich learning
opportunities and leads to
children’s success and self-esteem.
By: Laurel Bongiorno
Published by: National Association
for the Education of Young Children
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The Magic of
Music
Have you ever watched a group of
pre-school children dance and sing
to their favorite rendition of “The
Wheels on the Bus” or “Twinkle,
Twinkle Little Star?” With a song in
their hearts, children show
freedom in their movement, smiles
on their faces, and uninhibited
singing.
Researchers have been studying
the effects of music on the brain
and how the brain is activated
through music. There appears to
be consensus that music engages
the entire brain and improves
communication between the two
hemispheres of the brain.
Some children do not participate in
singing, because the complexity of
the songs is above their verbal
ability. The articulation skills
required to pronounce the words
may be too complex. The grammar
and vocabulary of the songs may be
too complex, songs may be going
too fast or sentences are too long.
Children just learning to talk or
children with speech and language
delay benefit from imitating
sounds, words, and phrases. Songs
need to be adapted and the
presentation adjusted to fit the
needs of each child. Following are
techniques that have been known
to help children participate
musically
and
consequently
improve their speech at the same
time.
--Sing whatever your child can
already say. If your child has no
words or just a few, then singing in
sentences will probably not result
in your child singing along. If
getting your child to verbalize is
your goal, begin by singing words
or sounds that are at your child’s
verbal level.
--Sing about what your child loves
or about regular routines of the
day. Children learn best when they
are interested in the topic (cars,
eating, blowing bubbles, bath time,
swinging in the park).
--Sing repetitively and in chains of
three. Children are not bored with
repetition.
Repeat the words
and/or phrases at least 3 times.
--My turn. Your turn.
Make a conscious invitation to your
child to participate. Let them know
that this is not a parent solo
concert, but a duet that requires
turn-taking.
--Sing slowly.
Singing slowly, pausing frequently,
and waiting will give children the
idea that they can keep up vocally.
--Put excitement in the way you
sing and say things, and be
observant as to what entices your
child. Be playful with your words
and sounds.
--Sing to music that is instrumental
only or simplify those songs that
are preschool favorites.
--Use gestures while you’re
singing, but observe whether the
motions enhance or inhibit
singing. Movement can sometimes
entice singing.
Keep the
movements simple so that children
who have difficulty coordinating
motor movements will not have to
concentrate on doing a complex
gross motor task and verbalize at
the same time.
--Put natural phrases in a musical
form.
--Anything can be a song. Follow
the advice of the famous opera
composer, Gioacchino Antonio
Rossini, who once said, “Give me a
laundry list, and I’ll set it to music.
Adapted from Rachel Arntson,
www.talkitrockit.com
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Keeping Children
Busy When We
Have to Stay
Inside
Now that winter is upon us, we’re
all looking for ways to entertain the
kids. Here are some easy activities
to do that are cheap or free!
Oobleck - Oobleck is a simple
science experiment that kids love!
To make Oobleck you’ll need a
bowl, corn starch, and warm water.
Pour some corn starch into a bowl,
start adding the warm water and
stir until the mixture is solid looking
when you’re stirring but also looks
like a liquid when it’s left alone. If
you’d like, you can also add food
coloring while you’re mixing the
Oobleck. The kids love seeing the
Oobleck change and they love
letting it drip off of their hands!
Clean up is easy, because once the
Oobleck dries, it becomes a
powder again and you can vacuum
or sweep up any spills!
Beaded Ornaments or Jewelry Having kids string beads is a great
way to work on fine motor skills,
and they enjoy doing it! Have your
kids string plastic or wooden beads
on pipe cleaners and when they’re
finished, you can bend them into
different shapes. These make fun
ornaments and you can also make
them into necklaces or bracelets.
You can also use yarn or plastic
cording to make necklaces and
bracelets.
Paper Chains - Making paper
chains is a fun way to work on
cutting skills.
Draw lines on
construction paper or other paper.
Have your child cut on the lines and
then show them how to glue or
tape the strips into a loop and then
hook the loops together
Krispie Treats, and pizzas not only
keeps them entertained but works
on a lot of concepts. You can work
on counting, following directions,
and stirring and pouring while
working on motor skills and handeye coordination. Having kids who
are picky eaters help you prepare
food also encourages them to try
new foods.
Not only are these easy ways to
entertain your children, they’ll also
create lots of great memories!
Read to Learn
Here are 10 reasons why you
Collages - If you’re looking for an
activity that will let your child’s
imagination run wild, you can give
them things like markers, crayons,
glue, scissors, fabric, buttons,
paper, and tape. Let them make
whatever kind of creature or object
they can think of. It may be messy,
but your child will be entertained
for quite a while!
Watercolors - Kids love painting
with watercolors, and they’re
cheap and easy to clean up! Give
your child a stack of paper, a bowl
of water, and a tray of watercolors
and see what amazing things they
create. It’s also fun to color with
crayons first, paint over it with
watercolors and see how the
crayons resist the paint.
Baking - Letting your children help
you make things like cookies, Rice
should read to your kids:
A stronger relationship with
you. As your child grows older, he’ll
be on the move—playing, running,
and constantly exploring his
environment. Snuggling up with a
book lets the two of you slow down
and recaptures that sweet, cuddly
time you enjoyed when he was a
baby. Instead of being seen as a
chore or a task, reading will
become a nurturing activity that
will bring the two of you closer
together.
Academic excellence. Numerous
studies have shown that students
who are exposed to reading before
preschool are more likely to do well
in all facets of formal education.
Basic speech skills. Throughout
toddlerhood and preschool, your
child is learning critical language
and enunciation skills. By listening
to you read, your child is
reinforcing the basic sounds that
form language.
The basics of how to read a
book. Children aren’t born with an
innate knowledge that text is read
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from left to right, or that the words
on a page are separate from the
images. Essential pre-reading skills
like these are among the major
benefits of early reading.
Better communication skills.
When you spend time reading to
toddlers, they’ll be much more
likely to express themselves and
relate to others in a healthy way.
Mastery of language. Early reading
for toddlers has been linked to a
better grasp of the fundamentals of
language as they approach school
age.
More logical thinking skills. As
your toddler or preschooler begins
to relate the scenarios in books to
what’s happening in his own world,
he’ll become more excited about
the stories you share.
Acclimation to new experiences.
As your child approaches a major
developmental milestone or a
potentially stressful experience,
sharing a relevant story is a great
way to help ease the transition. For
instance, if your little one is
nervous about starting preschool,
reading a story dealing with this
topic shows her that her anxiety is
normal.
Enhanced concentration and
discipline. Toddlers may initially
squirm and become distracted
during story time, but eventually
they’ll learn to stay put for the
duration of the book. Along with
reading comprehension comes a
stronger self-discipline, longer
attention span, and better memory
retention, all of which will serve
your child well when she enters
school.
The knowledge that reading is
fun! Early reading for toddlers
helps them view books as an
indulgence, not a chore. Kids who
are exposed to reading are much
more likely to choose books over
video games, television, and other
forms of entertainment as they
grow older.
For
the
full
article:
https://www.earlymoments.com/
promoting-literacy-and-a-love-ofreading/why-reading-to-childrenis-important/
MD Holiday Open
House
On December 9th, the MD students
held a Holiday Open House for
friends and family. The Holiday
Open House was a huge success!
Each class in D hall picked a holiday
theme they wanted to perform.
Hannah Kelso’s class chose
“Christmas
Memories”.
Each
student shared their favorite
Christmas memory with the
guests. Jody Patrick’s class chose
“White House Traditions”. Jody’s
students have been learning about
each of the states and wanted to
make their performance fit in with
what they had been learning.
Kimberlee Splitter’s class chose
“The Ranger Report”. Each student
pretended to be a newscaster and
reported on different holiday
themes. All three performances
were unique and the students did a
great job!
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Should They Stay or Should They Go?
Deciding when to keep a sick child home from school is not always easy. Many decisions about exclusion can
be made using two simple rules. A child should stay home if he or she:
1) Is unable to participate comfortably in school activities and/or
2) Needs more care from school staff than they can provide.
It’s important for children to attend school, and for some parents, staying home means missing work. But
when a child is truly sick, they need to stay home in the care of an adult to get well and to prevent spreading
the illness to others. The following information may help you decide when to keep your child at home.
COMMON COLD
FLU (INFLUENZA)
The common cold is a contagious upper respiratory
infection caused by cold viruses. It is the most
frequent childhood illness. Symptoms can last 7 to
14 days. A child with no fever, MILD symptoms and
otherwise feeling well may be fine at school
The flu is a HIGHLY contagious respiratory illness caused by
the influenza viruses and can cause mild to severe illness. A
person with influenza can be contagious up to one week
after symptoms appear. Children are one of the biggest
sources for spreading the flu.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME: A child with heavy
cold symptoms such as deep or uncontrollable
coughing or significant lack of energy belongs at
home even without a fever. Some bacterial
diseases, like strep throat or pneumonia, also can
look like the flu or a cold. It's important to get
medical attention immediately if your child seems
to be getting worse, is having any trouble
breathing, has a high fever, has a bad headache,
has a sore throat, or seems confused.
Symptoms
Usually come on gradually
Fever
May be as high as 102F in
infants and small children
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME: A child with flu-like illness
(fever and cough) must stay home from school for at least
24 hours after they no longer have a fever without the use
of fever-reducing medicine. A fever is defined as a
temperature of 100F or higher. If symptoms occur while at
school, the student must be picked up as soon as possible to
go home. Contact a medical provider with severe symptoms
or if the child has a medical condition that could make them
vulnerable to influenza complications.
Cough
Headache
Muscle Aches
Tiredness/weakness
Extreme exhaustion
Vomiting/diarrhea
Runny nose
Sneezing
Sore throat
Cough
Headache
Muscle Aches
Tiredness/weakness
Extreme exhaustion
Vomiting/diarrhea
Runny nose
Sneezing
Sore throat
Mild hacking cough
Rare
Mild
Mild
Never
Never
Often
Often
Often
Symptoms
Fever
Usually come on quickly
Typically as high as 102F
but can rise to 104F and
last 3-4 days
Often, can be severe
Sudden onset, often severe
Usual, can be severe
Can last 2 or more weeks
Sudden onset, can be severe
Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes
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COUGH: A mild hacking cough often starts after the first few days of a common cold. A child with mild symptoms,
no fever and otherwise feeling well may be fine at school.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child with deep or uncontrollable coughing belongs at home
even without a fever. A child with cough and fever must stay home from school for at least 24 hours after they no
longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
DIARRHEA/VOMITING:
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Children who have vomited or had diarrhea should be kept at
home and should return to school only after being symptom-free for 24 hours.
EARACHE: Consult a medical provider for earaches. Ear infections may require medical treatment.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child should stay at home until pain free.
FEVER: Fevers are a common symptom of viral and bacterial infection. Children are likely to be contagious to
others when they have a fever. Please do not give your child fever reducing medicine and then send them to
school. The medicine will wear off, the fever will probably return, and the child will need to be picked up.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Any child with a fever of 100F or higher should not attend school
and should not return until they have been fever free for 24 hours. A child with flu-like illness (fever and a cough)
must stay home from school for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever, without
the use of fever-reducing medicine.
HEADACHES: A child whose only complaint is a mild headache usually does not need to stay home from school.
Complaints of frequent or more severe headaches should be evaluated by a medical provider, including vision exam
if needed.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child with a significant headache belongs at home until feeling
better.
PINK EYE (Conjunctivitis): Pink eye is a common infectious disease of one or both eyes that is caused by bacteria
or viruses. The eye is typically very red and irritated. There may also be drainage from the eye.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child with the above symptoms should be kept home until
evaluated by a medical provider and given permission to return to school.
RASH: Skin irritations are difficult because they can be a harmless allergic reaction or a sign of a serious illness. A
rash with no accompanying fever, symptoms or change in behavior probably is not a cause for concern.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child who has fever or discomfort with a rash should be
evaluated by a medical provider. The physician can identify a rash and decide when the child is able to return to
school.
SORE THROAT/STREP THROAT: A child with a mild sore throat, no fever and otherwise feeling well may be fine to
attend school. A significantly sore throat could be strep throat, a contagious illness. Other symptoms may include
fever, white spots in the back of the throat, headache and upset stomach. Untreated strep throat can lead to
serious complications.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Keep your child home from school with the above symptoms and
contact a medical provider. A child diagnosed with strep throat is no longer infectious and can return to school 24
hours after antibiotic treatment has been started.
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When in doubt about your child’s illness, always call your doctor’s office for advice. If you have questions about
whether your child should stay home from school, do not hesitate to contact the school nurse for help in making
your decision.
Information from the CDC – Centers for Disease Control; Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
KidsHealth.org.
Partners For Student Success
Special Events
Sunset Optimists
Elks Ladies #2509
Blue Springs Optical
Zucca Daughters & Sons Roofing
Liggett Trail Education Center
3575 SW Liggett Road
Blue Springs, MO 64015
Phone:
(816) 874-3680
Fax:
(816) 220-1138
We’re on the Web!
http://www.bssd.net
Go to “Select a Site” and then select Liggett
Trail Education Center
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