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atest from PAXSO
The Latest and Gre
October 2015
From Principal Chumrau
Welcome back to Paxson!

Paxson’s Universal Expectations (p.2)
As always, things are very busy at Paxson
School! As you read this issue of the Panther
Press, you’ll realize that Paxson School is
made up of many, many community members,
each contributing in their way to make a unique
and wonderful learning environment for our
students.

Words and phrases in Spanish to try out with
your children (p.5)

Parent Community Association (PCA), how to
participate in their events, volunteer in different
ways, and donate to support initiatives such as
the Classroom Support Fund.
In this issue , you will learn about:

Our day custodian Gregg Dalton and the
role he plays in our students’ lives (p.2)

The outdoor learning center and harvest
activities (p.6)

A new initiative to display Panther Paw photos on a TV screen in our entrance hall

An opportunity to shape future Dual Language Immersion selection with our new
Regional Director, Roberta Stengel
I want to extend a warm thank you to Jordan
Labbe, PCA Volunteer Extraordinaire, for organizing Walk Bike Run Week!! (p. 3)
Two new columns will be a part of the Paxson
Press this year—the Garden Corner, to keep our
Outdoor Learning Center in the spotlight, and the
Esquina de Español, to reinforce the Spanish immersion and exposure activities that are shaping
the lives of all Paxson students each day. (p.6)
Many thanks to all of you! I am proud to be a part
of such a wonderful community.
The PCA wants you!
Please join us for the next PCA meeting on Thursday,
November 5 at 7 p.m. in the library.
Meetings are scheduled for the first Thursday of each month, alternating
between a 1 p.m. and 7p.m.meeting time.
Questions, comments or concerns? Contact Rhett Pruitt-Hoff at [email protected]
Paxson Elementary School: Every child, every day – student achievement for all.
Page 2
Panther Press
Paxson’s Universal Expectations
Welcome to a new school year at
Paxson School! As many of you
know, we are an MBI (Montana
Behavior Initiative) School. This
means we have school-wide expectations for behavior:
These expectations hold true in all
areas of our school: bathrooms, the
cafeteria, classrooms, and hallways. Additionally, we count on students to follow playground rules
before, during, and after school.
Paxson Kudos
If you were to
compliment a
Paxson community member
today, who would
it be and why?
1. Be a learner
2. Be responsible
3. Be respectful
4. Be safe
As a parent, you can help with this.
Our school and playground has
signs posted that outline our rules.
If you see a child has forgotten the
expectation, please help remind
them. Additionally, each month we
will include in the newsletter the
expectations for a specific area of
our school. We can work together
to make our school a respectful and
safe environment for all. Thank you
for your support!
KUDOS to our day custodian Gregg Dalton. He monitors
the lunch room among many, many other things. He knows
the kids’ names, he is so very kind, and interacts with everyone so well. Gregg is part of what makes Paxson so
great. Ask your kids about him! Mine use to tell me how
when they were in kindergarten Gregg would let kids “put
him in the corner” during lunch just for fun. It was their favorite game with him for months. And he helps us retrieve
playground equipment from the storm drains (he literally
“fishes” for them), and from the rooftops, not to mention
keeping Paxson clean, including soap in all bathrooms!
Gregg is funny and kind and helpful. – Jordan Labbe
FRC Book Club
Gather your friends and
children! We will read a
Free Parent & Family Classes, with free childcare
book, then meet at
The Parent Education Series is a set of free workshops by Famlunchtime to discuss the
ilies First open to all Missoula families. Classes take place from
story.
6-8 p.m.
This is a parent/child
October 6— “Smoother Mornings” at Hawthorne
activity that is calm,
October 8—“Single Parenting Strategies” at Paxson
positive, and
October 20— “How to Communicate With Your Child-So They
meaningful. Sign up for
Will Hear You” at Russell
grades K-3 or grades 4October 27—“Positive Parenting Practices” at Franklin
5 groups with Melanie in
Call MCPS Adult Education at 549-8765 to sign up.
the FRC.
FRC News
Paxson Elementary School: Every child, every day – student achievement for all.
Page 3
Parent Community Association (PCA)
Did you know the PCA supports the Classroom Support Fund?
Every October, the PCA makes a deposit equal to $10 per student into the Classroom Support Fund.
That's about $4,200 every year! Teachers frequently use their own money to pay for supplies and field
trips not covered by School District funds. The Classroom Support Fund helps teachers buy the
extras that enrich our children's experiences at Paxson.
Would you or your business consider sponsoring a student or a classroom today?
 $10 covers one student.
 $200 covers an entire Kindergarten class.
 Donations are tax-deductible, and you can specify to fund a specific initiative, like this one.
 Online donations to: https://sites.google.com/site/paxsonpca, or by check at the office.
Questions? Please contact Rhett Pruitt-Hoff at [email protected].
Help Wanted
COORDINATE AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT
In the past, these fun classes have included
cooking, science, language, and art classes.
Contact Kristin Gregoire at (406) 207-8079.
SEEKING PEP CAN VOLUNTEERS
PEP stands for Playground Enhancement Project. It is a collection of games and toys which
promote inclusive and cooperative play. These
games reduce playground aggression and prevent students from feeling left out! Ask your
child about the PEP Can!
We are looking for helpers to during lunch recess; from11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The PEP Can is currently on the playground five days a month.
Help us get the PEP Can on the playground more often!
To learn more call Jordan Labbe at 240-6569 or
email [email protected].
Join the PCA email list!
Sign up to get updates
about fun events like the
Ice Cream Social, or Bike
Walk Bus week, and learn
how you can help out.
We can’t get your email
from the school, so please
reach out to us at
[email protected]
Please consider
volunteering—it will be
worth your time!
Paxson Elementary School: Every child, every day – student achievement for all.
Page 4
You may have seen Paxson
parent, Heather Nichols, working on the front gardens this
summer. Heather worked with
local businesses to get flowers
donated and shared many
plants from her own garden.
She plans to add some tall
plants later next month. Thanks
Heather and family for all of
your hard work. You make
Paxson beautiful!
Submit contributions to the next newsletter by October 21 to [email protected].
Announcements
Spanish Immersion
Lottery Review
Free milk, breakfast &
lunch
Missoula County Public Schools
is organizing a small committee
to review the lottery for the Dual
Language Immersion program.
The committee will consist of
both parents and teachers from
Paxson, as well as neighboring
schools. This group of 12-14 will
meet during afternoons and evenings in October and November.
Members will be selected in a
manner that provides us with a
blend of knowledge and experiences. The group will study other
school lotteries, review the lottery processes that Paxson has
used, and identify criteria that
they would like to be considered
for future lotteries. If you are interested in volunteering for this
committee please contact Roberta Stengel, MCPS Regional
Director at
[email protected].
Breakfast and lunch are now
free at Paxson thanks to the
efforts of MCPS Food Service
Supervisor Stacey Rossmiller
to qualify our school for the
Community Eligibility Program.
The program allows for all students in a qualifying school to
receive free breakfast and
lunch regardless of income
status. It will last for 4 years
before needs are reevaluated.
Breakfast and lunch are free at
Paxson, but if a child only
wants milk, it costs 50 cents. If
your child brings cold lunch, to
get free milk, they should get a
tray, select their milk and any
two other items (such as an apple and a juice) and that is considered a meal—they will get
the milk and the other 2 items
for free.
Register to Vote !
You can register in person at
the Missoula County Elections Office at 200 W Broadway (the Courthouse) until
November 3!
If you are already registered,
you will receive your ballot in
the mail on October 12.
Please make sure you mail it
in by October 30.
However, we will have a
ballot drop off box at Paxson
on the day of the election.
Missoula County Public
Schools is requesting
support from our community
to take care of deferred
maintenance, to improve
technology, and to make all
of our buildings safe and
secure for our students.
Paxson Elementary School: Every child, every day – student achievement for all.
Page 5
Esquina de Español
Hola Familias! Hello Families, practice these
fun vocabulary words with your children.
This is what we are learning this month in
our clases de Español / Spanish classes).
Play a word matching game, make a word
search, or just include it in your everyday
conversations.
Remember to have fun!
Los Colores
Amarillo Yellow
Anaranjado Orange
Azul Blue
Blanco White
Café Brown
Gris Grey
Morado Purple
Negro Black
Rojo Red
Rosa Pink
Verde Green
AMERICAN INDIAN
HERITAGE DAY
On September 26, we learned about
hoop dancing from the Cree Nation.
Terrance LittleTent and his drumming brother showed us a traditional
hoop dance and shared a blessing
song to start off our morning.
The students were all enthralled with
the song and dance and learned a
little more about our neighbors from
Regina,
Saskatchewan.
Los Números
Cero Zero
Uno One
Dos Two
Tres Three
Cuatro Four
Cinco Five
Seis Six
Siete Seven
Ocho Eight
Nueve Nine
Diez Ten
Hola Hello
Cómo estás? How are you?
Muy bien Very good
Buenos días Good morning
Buenas tardes Good afternoon
Buenas noches Good night
Cuál es tu nombre? What is your name?
Mi nombre es… My name is…
Cuál es tu color favorito? What is your
favorite color?
Paxson Elementary School: Every child, every day – student achievement for all.
Page 6
Bill Harley, Grammy Award Winner, is a children's entertainer and storyteller who has
been called "the Mark Twain of contemporary children's music" by Entertainment
Weekly.
We are thrilled to have him join us the afternoon of November 4. We have the opportunity to purchase some of Bill Harley's bestselling, award winning recordings and books
with 15% of all purchases will be donated to
our library to support this assembly. Bill will
be autographing these items for you.
If you have questions contact Nancy Peterson at:
[email protected]
DONATE YOUR OLD TV!
Have a TV you no longer use? We are revamping our Panther Paw board. We are
requesting the following if you are able to
donate:
1. Flat Screen TV (preferably flat screen,
as we will be mounting it on the wall)
2. "Apple TV" (receiver)
3. HDMI cable
4. Wall mount for a flat screen TV
We appreciate all you do to make our
school a great one!
PBIS Team
THE GARDEN CORNER
The farmer-in-the-classroom teachers from Garden City Harvest continue with their lessons through October 8. This
year, due to high demand
across the district - farmers
GARDEN EVENTS
will work with the K-3 students, engaging in fun, science-based activities that
Harvest Party, 6 p.m.
complement the MCPS curricon Friday, 10/23.
ulum. The harvest season is a
Celebrate the harvest
great time to get our students
learning outside about food
with food, fun, games,
production, as well as, harvesting, plants, and natural cycles
and a live auction of
(including those related to soil, water, and nutrients). With the assishomemade goodies!
tance from the folks from Garden City Harvest, our Paxson garden
truly becomes an “outdoor classroom” and learning center.
Garden Fun Day, 9
October is National Farm to School Month
a.m. to noon on
Saturday, 10/24. Let’s
Help us Celebrate!
get our garden cleaned
October 7 is National Kale Day- All elementary school salad bars will feature world-famous, local kale chips to celebrate!
up and looking
October 9 is Bring Your Parents to Lunch Day in celebration of National
beautiful ! Bring the
School Lunch Week- We are inviting parents to come eat lunch with their
whole family! Coffee
child as a way to connect over a meal and experience eating in a lunchroom
and treats provided.
again. We’ve asked parents to bring exact change ($3.25 for guests) and to
let your school’s hostess know if they will be attending by Wednesday October 7th. Please expect more guests than usual during lunch this day and help
us spread the word to your teachers and staff.
October 26 is Montana Crunch Time- MCPS is joining schools across Montana in celebrating by crunching
into a local apples on October 26th at 2 p.m. MST for Montana Crunch Time. MCPS FNS will be providing apples from the Bitterroot Valley to all elementary schools. Let’s see how loud we can make our crunch!
Paxson Elementary School: Every child, every day – student achievement for all.