Elementary School Newsletter

 

February 1, 2019

Dearest PCS families,

Next week on Wednesday, February 6, the Elementary School is excited to participate in the Global School Play Day. This is a day dedicated to play… the type of play that is unstructured and goes with what the students want to play. It takes screens out from in front of them and encourages play with their classmates, both inside and outside. Teachers will be there to supervise and have fun with their students but will not whole heartedly lead the students in play. Instead they will participate too! We, as a school, know the importance of play so this day goes right along with what we believe! Let the kids play! This will also be an out of uniform day for the Elementary students!

February 4, 2015, was the first annual Global School Play Day for students in schools around the world. In year one, over 65,000 students participated!  Over 177,000 students took part in 2016. In 2017, over 283,000 kids celebrated Global School Play Day. In 2018, over 385,000 students from 58 nations participated. This year is looking to be even bigger! If you would like more information about this day and see who around the world has signed up, visit https://www.globalschoolplayday.com/. Flyers will also be coming home with each student detailing the day a little more as well as suggesting what students can bring from home to play with (flyer is also attached). Please sure to check out the teachers social media posts too for pictures of this fun, playful day!

Glad everyone made it through the polar vortex. Enjoy the lovely weekend that is coming our way… we deserve it!

Dana Leesman, Elementary Principal 

p: 314.645.9600 x608             e: dleesman@premiercharterschool.org #ThatsPCS #DoKind



Elementary Coffee & Conversation…

Please join Mrs. Huber, Mr. Strickler, and I for some morning coffee and some conversation next Tuesday, February 5 from 8:30-9:15 a.m. We will be in the Early Childhood Building Lobby. Nothing fancy, just a time to be able to chat with parents, answer any questions, or hear any concerns you might have. Come join us!

Parent University, February 6…

Interested in learning more about ADHD? Our next installment of Parent University will be on February 6th. We’ll have a panel discussion on this months topic of ADHD. Please see flyer for more information and don’t forget to rsvp to mgray@premiercharterschool.org.

 

From the Elementary Counselors…

See the attached newsletter from our Elementary Counselors, Ms. Paige Jackson and Ms. Ariel Boulicault. Great information on what the counselors are working on while in the students’ classrooms as well as various resources!

Valentine’s Day…

Notes will be coming home from grade level teachers shortly regarding what each grade level will be doing to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Although we do not do school-wide parties, different grade levels do different activities. Please be on the look out for these notes!

PCS Lottery…

Does your current student have a sibling who wants to come to PCS?  Do you have a family member, friend, or neighbor who has a child ready for school?

It is that time of year again…Pre-Kindergarten thru 8th Grade applications for new students in the 2019-2020 lottery are now open!

Families can apply today through Schoolmint.  If you do not already have a Schoolmint account, begin by going to premiercharterschool.schoolmint.net and create a secure account with a username and password.  From there, you can fill out an application for your student for the grade they will be going in to next year.

Our first-round new student lotteries will be held on the following dates:

  • Kindergarten: February 1, 2019

  • Pre-Kindergarten: February 25, 2019

  • 1st – 8th Grade: April 1, 2019

Should you have any questions regarding your student’s application, your Schoolmint account, or the lottery, please feel free to contact PCS admissions at admissions@premiercharterschool.org.


Donations Needed...

Elementary Art is looking for donations of fabric, yarn, and thread as students will be learning how to weave and sew when they return from Thanksgiving break! If you have any expertise in these areas and would like to visit our art classroom as a guest teacher, please reach out to Mrs. Nilsen at dnilsen@premiercharterschool.org.

Please also feel free to continue donating smaller recyclable items - especially plastic bottle caps, paper towel tubes, and corks! We really appreciate it!

 

Fundraising Opportunity…

Please see attached flyer for a Martial Arts Fundraiser
$49 will give the students 4 weeks (8 lessons)
100% of all money raised will go back to PCS

This is valid for both elementary and middle schools.
Contact Shelby Ford at Karate Life Studios, 314-352-6166

 

SFE Update…

Please stay tuned.

After School Opportunities...

 

BAC Reminders…

As the weather starts to turn colder we want to take a minute to remind everyone of our morning drop off and Before Care procedures.  All students must be walked into the building and signed in at the office if they are dropped off prior to 8:00 am. If any student is at PCS prior to 8:00 am, we will bring them to before care and will charge the regular $5 drop in fee. In order to maintain a safe student/adult ratio and ensure we have adequate staffing in our BAC program, students are only allowed 5 drop ins over the course of the school year. The safety of our children is our highest priority and we thank you for your adherence to these procedures.  

Students are only allowed 5 drop-ins for Before care and 5 drop-ins for Aftercare per year. The Before care drop-in fee is $5 and Aftercare drop-in fee is $15 per student. For any questions regarding our Before care or Aftercare program please contact Mr. Lydon at jlydon@premiercharterschool.org.

PCG News & Happenings...

  • Upcoming events:

    • It is time to start thinking about getting your group ready for our Annual Trivia Night. This is night you don’t want to miss out on. We are looking for donations for our silent auction as well as volunteers to help run the event. Please see the attached flyer for more information or email Terry Brogan at tbrogan@lashlybaer.com or Lisa Simon at lrsieve@yahoo.com.

  • The PCG is a support group for the students, teachers, and parents of Premier Charter School. Parent volunteers promote social and extracurricular activities, which will lead to successful and positive experiences for the students. We want to welcome you and encourage all parents to become involved in PCS. The best way to become involved is to volunteer or help out in any way you can and you can do this through PCG. Please take a look at the attached letter and PCG events for the year.

  • If you would like to be on the PCG parent email group, send your email address to Terry Brogan (tbrogan@lashlybaer.com). You will receive updates on upcoming events, etc.  Please take a moment to like the PCG parent Facebook page if you are on FB.

  • If you have Box Tops at home, be sure to collect and sent them in for additional fundraising opportunities for the school.  There is a collection box located in the Elementary Building.

Fun in the StL...

Friday Feb 1  4-7 p.m. Free Kid Fit Kid Free Admission on First Fridays at The Magic House in Kirkwood: Chinese Dancing. Reservations required on the following website:https://www.magichouse.org/events-programs/events/


Saturday Feb 2 10 a.m- 3 p.m. Winter In the Woods Festival featuring Maple Sugaring

Rockwood Reservation  2751 Glencoe Road in Wildwood, MO; Free admission & free parking, No reservations needed but check website for parking/shuttle bus instructions https://www.stlsprout.com/calendar/todays-events/eventdetail/161396/-/winter-in-the-woods-festival-featuring-maple-sugar


Saturday, Feb 2  Various Times Take Your Child to the Library Day at various St. Louis County Branch Libraries

A variety of activities are scheduled for children and parents at various county branches.  While you are there you can also learn about exciting new programs available at the branches such as borrow a telescope, borrow a musical instrument, or sign up to  become a teen reading buddy or get yourself a reading buddy.


Saturday, Feb 2  8:30- 2 p.m. (and throughout February) Bald Eagle Days at Pere Marquette Park in Grafton, IL

A site interpretter will present an program on bald eagles.  Visitors will distinguish juvenile and mature eagles, learn what eagles, eat, why they migrate to the midwest and more.  Reservations required by calling 618- 786-3323.  You will drive to an observation are. Please dress warmly and have a full tank of gas.

ONGOING FREE EXHIBITS

Now through Feb 10, 2019: Kehinde Wiley: St. Louis at the St. Louis Art Museum

Artist Kehinde Wiley gained national notoriety for his work on the official portrait of Barrack Obama.  Mr. Wiley now is exhibiting portraits of ordinary St. Louisans in his ongoing exhibit at the St. Louis Art Museum; free now through 2/10/19 in Galleries 249 & 250 in the East Building.

Note:  Due to construction directly in front of the Art Museum, Fine Arts Drive is blocked in front of the statue of St. Louis overlooking Art Hill but you may reach either one of the 2 free parking lots coming from the Zoo side or from Skinker Ave side but you currently cannot drive past the statue of St. Louis going in either direction.

https://www.slam.org/exhibitions/kehinde-wiley.php

Now extended through March 24, 2019: Panoramas of the City at the the Missouri History Museum

Panoramic photos of St. Louis as large as 10 feet x 30 feet taken from 1900 to 1950 tell the history of St. Louis is the first half of the 20th century.

Exhibit date has been extended through March 24, 2019.  http://mohistory.org/exhibits/panoramas-of-the-city/

Through June 2, 2019: Muny Memories at the Missouri History Museum

The nations oldest outdoor theater celebrates its 100th birthday.  Learn about past performances, take a peek backstage, vote for your favorite star, & learn a dance step at the free ongoing exhibit now through next June. http://mohistory.org/exhibits/muny-memories/



Upcoming Important Dates...

  • 2.6.19: Parent University about ADHD @ 6:00 p.m.

  • 2.7.19: PCS Board Meeting @ 4:30 p.m. - Library

  • 2.7-13.19: Teeny 1o Valentine’s Day Fundraiser

  • 2.12.19: Early Childhood (PreK-1st Grade) Open House @ 4:15-6:00

  • 2.15.19: No School - Professional Development Day

  • 2.18.19: No School - President’s Day

  • 3.20-21.19: Quarter 3 Conferences

  • 3.25-29.19: No School - Spring Break

 

Be sure to check us out on social media... Twitter, Facebook, Instagram!  All teachers & classrooms have accounts where you can check out pictures and happenings.