A Note From the Principal…
Dear Pawnee Families,
OCTOBER 3, 2013
Bi-Monthly Issue 4
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
OCTOBER 8
PTO / PPIE 6-7
OCTOBER 11
AUTHOR BRIAN PINKNEY
VISITS
OCTOBER 23
FIRST QUARTER READING
CELEBRATION
OCTOBER 23
P/T CONF. 4:15-8:15 PM
OCTOBER 24
P/T CONF. 1-7:30 PM
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
OCTOBER 25
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS &
STAFF
OCTOBER 31
HALLOWEEN
Pawnee does not have a Halloween celebration. We will
have a Harvest Party on November 22.
NOVEMBER 26
MATH AND TECHNOLOGY
NIGHT 5:30-7:00
HOT DOG DINNER WILL BE
AVAILABLE AT 5:00. ORDER
FORMS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED
AT CONFERENCES.
DECEMBER 18
PAWNEE’S WINTER PROGRAM
K, 1, 2 AM
3, 4, 5, 6 PM
The Pawnee students and staff are busy preparing for Parent
Teacher Conferences, which will be held on Wednesday
October 23 from 4:15-8:15 and Thursday October 24 from
1-7:30 P.M. Many of you had a chance to sign up for a
particular conference time at Open House. Confirmation
information will be sent home. Please call the school office
with any needed conference changes.
Pawnee’s First Quarter Reading Incentive Celebration will
take place on Wednesday, October 23. All students
extending their reading at home for 25 days or more will be
enjoying HARVEST BINGO for the first quarter reading
celebration. Please remember to read at home each evening
for 15 minutes or more! Reading is one of the most important
skills necessary for a happy, productive and successful life. A
child that is an excellent reader is a confident child, has a
high level of self esteem and is able to easily make the
transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Please
take time to complete and return your child’s weekly reading slip on Mondays so they can be included in
quarterly literacy celebrations.
Students will be going outside for recess unless it is raining,
snowing or extremely cold, so please be sure that they wear
or bring a jacket or sweater for this daily outside activity. This
time does allow students to exercise, play and practice social
skills…getting along with others. Please keep us informed if your child has any medical condition that would be a concern
to us at recess time.
Traffic seems to be moving along. Getting close to 425
students on their way home safely is a task that certainly
takes TEAM work. Please be cautious of blocking
neighborhood driveways when parking the car to wait for
students. Also, please use the crosswalk when walking
to cars at the end of the school day. Stepping out into the
moving lanes of traffic is a safety issue for us all.
Thanks for your continued support as we make Pawnee the
BEST place for students to learn and grow!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Sandra Bredfeldt
LUNCH
PAWNEE’S VISION AND MISSION
Pawnee Elementary will empower students for
the future. Success will be achieved within a
positive learning environment through:
▲ Relationships with students, families,
staff, and the community
▲ High expectations
▲ Data-driven decisions
▲ Current research-based teaching
strategies
▲ Advanced technology
We are committed to preparing students
in the 21st century!
Daily Lunch
Weekly
Monthly (OCT.)
FULL PAY
$1.45
$7.25
$30.45
REDUCED
$0.40
$2.00
$8.40
We encourage you to pay by the week or the
month to avoid the forgotten or last minute
scramble for lunch money. Students paying
reduced price need to prepay by the week or the
month. Money accepted in the line slows down
the lunch line for all hungry cubs.
New meal applications are to be filled out for the
2013-2014 school year for free or reduced
lunches. The approval process could take at
least a week for your child (ren).If prepaying by a
check please put your child (rens') name and
room number on the memo line. Thank you!
If you join your child for lunch the cost is
$3.25. Please have exact change with you to
support quick processing through the lunch
line. Thanks so much!
HEALTHY ALPHABET
B is for BREAKFAST!! We all know that breakfast is the
most important meal of the day. And yet, according to the
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, numerous studies
suggest that school aged children skip breakfast more
than any other meal. When a child skips breakfast, they
may be going as long as 15 hours, or more without food!
Of course, this results in the discomfort of mid-morning
hunger and it also impacts their ability to learn. Even a
child who is well nourished but skips breakfast will have
problem-solving difficulties that will lower their test taking
ability! Kids who fuel up in the morning focus and
concentrate better in the classroom and perform
better on math, reading and standardized tests.
Here are some suggestions for getting into the
breakfast habit:
Put the brakes on late night snacking.
Prepare breakfast the night before.
Set the alarm 10 minutes earlier.
Dress first, eat second. (Kids are more likely to feel
hungry once they have had a chance to wake up.)
Stock up on favorite breakfast foods.
Be a good role model. Eating breakfast with your kids
gives you another opportunity to connect with them and
to begin their day with encouragement and positivity!)
New meal
applications
are to be filled out for the
PAWNEE
SCHOOL-WIDE
2013-2014 school year for free or reduced
CITIZENSHIP PLAN…THE 3 Bs
lunches.
The approval process could take at
least a week for your child (ren).If prepaying by a
check please put your child (rens) name and
room number on the memo line. Thank you!
If you join your child for lunch the cost is
$3.10. Please have exact change with you to
support quick processing through the lunch
line. Thanks so much!
BE SAFE: Follow all school rules as to not
cause hurt or injury. Use appropriate
behavior in the halls, restrooms, cafeteria,
and on the playground.
BE RESPONSIBLE: Do what you are
supposed to do even when no one is
watching. Follow all directions the first time
given. Keep hands, feet and objects to
yourself.
BE RESPECTFUL: Treat others the way
you would like to be treated. Speak and
listen courteously. Be honest with your
actions and words.
ACUITY PRE-SCREEN
This fall students in grades 3-6 were involved in ACUITY PRE-SCREEN
assessment. Our students completed this predictive assessment in both reading
and math. Our 5th graders will take a science assessment. This computer-based
pre-screen assessment gives teachers good information on how students
perform relative to Nebraska State Standards and on the state test (NeSA ) given
to students in the spring. Specific predictive information will drive strategic
instruction in these important curricular areas. Your child’s assessments will be shared and discussed with you at Parent-Teacher Conferences in October.
PTO / PPIE OCTOBER 8, 2013
PAWNEE’S FIRST PTO MEEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8TH FROM 6:00 TO
7:00 IN THE LIBRARY. THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ITEMS WILL BE DISCUSSED:
OPEN HOUSE / CURRICULUM INFORMATION
PTO MEETING DATES & TIMES AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
FUNDRAISER / We are looking for support on October 10th. Fundraiser orders will be
available for pick up in the GYM from 4:00-5:30. Please call the office (402)734-5011 if
you can assist with order pick-up during this time.
PPIE COMMITTEES / please see Pawnee’s Partner’s In Education sign-up sheet
AUTHOR’S VISIT AND SALAD LUNCHEON
CONFERENCES
FIELD TRIPS
HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE PTO / PPIE MEETING!
SAFETY FIRST
Homework Tips for Parents
For the safety of ALL, students
(even those in portable
classrooms) are to enter the
building through the front doors
at 8:50 and then go directly to
their classroom. We do not want
students waiting at portable
doors unsupervised as this does
not support the safe and secure
environment that is part of
Pawnee’s Vision and Mission. Staff at the front doors will greet
each student in the morning,
answer any questions or
concerns they may have to
support a successful and happy
start to each day.
Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place
to do homework.
Avoid having your child do homework with the
television on or in places with other distractions,
such as people coming and going.
Thank you for your attention and
cooperation with our morning
procedures.
Help your child with time management.
Establish a set time each day for doing homework.
Don't let your child leave homework until just
before bedtime. Think about using a weekend
morning or afternoon for working on big projects,
especially if the project involves getting together
with classmates.
Be positive about homework.
Tell your child how important school is. The attitude
you express about homework will be the attitude
your child acquires.
When your child asks for help, provide
guidance, not answers.
Giving answers means your child will not learn the
material. Too much help teaches your child that
when the going gets rough, someone will do the
work for him or her.
OPS Guidelines for Attendance
Students who arrive late to school, leave for a period of time during the day, or leave early
from school for any reason (with or without prior notification) will be counted as absent
for the instructional minutes missed that day. Reasons such as medical appointments or
daycare pick-up prior to dismissal will be counted as time absent. The minutes missed
will affect 100% attendance lists. The District notifies parents/guardians when a student
has missed the equivalent of five, seven, ten and fifteen days. The District notifies the
County Attorney when a student misses the equivalent of 20 days, and then the County
Attorney decides whether to dismiss, divert for counseling, or prosecute the case.
If you need assistance with attendance issues, please contact your child’s school counselor or the Student Personnel Office at (402) 557-2710. The Student Personnel
Office can also address your question/concerns regarding attendance practices and
procedures.
Please visit our website:
www.ops.org/elementary/pawnee
AUTHOR’S VISIT ON OCTOBER 11 2013!
Pawnee Elementary welcomes author / illustrator Brian Pinkney on
Friday, October 11. Mr. Pinkney will meet with students and share his
experiences as an author and illustrator of award winning children's
books. A limited number of books signed by Mr. Pinkney will be
available to Pawnee families during his visit. Please refer to the order
form attached to this newsletter for titles and prices. Titles are limited,
so be sure to order soon.
PICTURE RETAKES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30 (AM)
STUDENTS WILL HAVE THEIR PICTURE TAKEN IF:
THEY WERE ABSENT ON THE ORIGINAL DAY PICTURES WERE TAKEN.
THEY ARE NEW TO THE SCHOOL. (ORDER FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE OFFICE)
PORTRAIT MONEY WAS FORGOTTEN ON THE ORIGINAL PICTURE DAY AND YOU WOULD
LIKE TO ORDER A PACKAGE (ORDER FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE OFFICE)
PARENTS ARE NOT COMPLETELY HAPPY WITH THE ORIGINAL PORTRAITS.
(NOTE: YOUR ORIGINAL PACKAGE MUST BE RETURNED ON RETAKE DAY.)
HELP US EARN FREE MONEY
FOR PAWNEE!!!
Box Tops: Last year Pawnee students earned over $2,145!!! Please keep
sending in those Box Tops!
Our Family UPC Code: Pawnee receives 5 cents for every Our Family
Bar Code that is collected. Our Family items are sold at Bag N Save and No
Frills.
LABELS FOR EDUCATION: These are found on Campbell’‛s Soups,
Post Cereal, V-8 beverages, Bic Products, Prego Sauce, Spaghetti-o’‛s, Pop
Secret Popcorn, Pepperidge Farms, Franco-American, & Swanson brands.
Land O’‛Lakes Save Five For Schools: Collect caps from all branded
products of Land O'Lakes (milk, chocolate milk, orange juice).
Title
Hardcover
Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song
Busy-Busy Little Chick
Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America
Little Diva (with audio CD)
Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down
Sojourner Truth’s Step-Stomp Ride
Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation
The Dream Keeper and Other Poems
The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural
Jackie’s Bat
Sleeping Cutie
In the Forest of Your Remembrance
Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella
The Adventures or Sparrowboy
The Faithful Friend
Max Found Two Sticks
Where does the Trail Lead?
Paperback
Sleeping Cutie
Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra
Where does the Trail Lead?
Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa
Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King
Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella
The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural
The Adventures of Sparrowboy
Cut from the Same Cloth: American Women of Myth Legend and Tall
Tales
Bill Pickett: Rodeo-Ridin’ Cowboy
The Faithful Friend
Jojo’s Flying Sidekick
Dear Benjamin Banneker
Max Found Two Sticks
The Dream Keeper and Other Poems
Sukey and the Mermaid
Alvin Ailey
The Boy and the Ghost
Price
$17.99
$15.99
$19.99
$16.99
$16.99
$16.99
$16.99
$16.99
$18.95
$17.99
$16.00
$16.99
$17.99
$17.99
$19.99
$17.99
$16.00
$6.99
$6.99
$13.99
$6.99
$6.99
$8.99
$6.99
$7.99
$6.99
$7.00
$7.99
$7.99
$7.00
$7.99
$8.99
$7.99
$6.99
$13.99
Student Name: __________________________________________________________
Teacher: ________________________________________________________________
Book Title/s:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Order Total: $__________
If the book I have requested is unavailable, another book of the same price may
be substituted ____ YES, ____ NO.