Elementary School Newsletter

 

September 21, 2018

Dearest PCS families,

Happy Friday!  Today was a great day at PCS!  We took the time to come together as a school to celebrate who we are, officially kick off the school year, and set some goals to put us on a successful path at our annual Peace Rally.  It is so refreshing to see over 1000 people that spend each day with each other enjoy an hour together being proud of PCS!

This year our theme and goal is DO KIND.  Mr. Strickler, Mrs. Huber, and I had the pleasure of going in to each K-5 classroom to kick off our theme.  We shared with the students the book Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson.  It is a story of kindness not done and how choosing to show kindness or not show kindness ripples out into the world.  We spoke of how kindnesses, mainly small acts of kindness, can make a huge difference in our classrooms, school, and world.  We will be focusing on those small kindness acts this year and how intentionally choosing kindness can create a space where people feel welcome and good to be there! #DoKind

Dana Leesman, Elementary Principal 

p: 314.645.9600 x608             e: dleesman@premiercharterschool.org

 

Meet Our Art Teachers...

Grades K-4: All About Choice Art: in Mrs. Nilsen's K-4 art classes, the students are the artists and the classroom is their studio. Students participate in a short mini-lesson or demonstration at the beginning of class, and then spend most of their time working on their own art ideas and projects. They choose which center to work in: Drawing, Collage, Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, or Fiber Arts. Like real artists, they learn to come up with their own ideas (alone or with others), develop their skills, work through mistakes, try new things, and prepare artwork for display. They will also write artist statements and share their artworks with the class. Working in this way, students develop 21st Century Skills such as creativity, communication, critical thinking and collaboration. Their artwork may not look like your typical teacher-led art project, but I assure it is much richer in imagination and individuality. Ask your child to tell you about what they've made, hang up their art in your home, and encourage them to draw or build with recyclables at home too. Their creativity is contagious!

Grade 5: More and more studio centers have been opening in the art room over the past couple weeks. As of this week, all main studio centers are officially open: drawing, painting, collage, and sculpture. 5th graders have been experimenting within the centers and are beginning to consider long-term projects with their preferred media. Please follow along with the studio and its artists via Instagram @ studio.pcs

A Note from SFE...

Is your child eligible to receive special dietary accommodations? 

Such special dietary accommodations can be provided for students with celiac disease, diabetes, food allergies, PKU, dysphasia, and other physician prescribed dietary needs. 

In order to provide these accommodations we will need documentation which includes:

· Special diet form

· Physician’s statement signed by a licensed physician

o   The disability

o   Explanation of why the disability restricts the child’s diet

o   The major life activity affected by the disability

o   Foods to be omitted and substituted

We are here to serve your child!  Should the need arise for your student to have a special diet we want to help provide those substitutions.

 

A Note from the Office...

This week our Campus Portal has been down several times due to issues our provider Infinite Campus has been experiencing.  We apologize for the inconvenience and Infinite Campus is working to address the issues and get us back up and running as soon as possible.  If you can not reach the Campus Portal we ask that you try back later as the site has been able to work intermittently.  

 

A Note from Mrs. Gray regarding KITM...

As some of you may know, we've been fortunate to have Kids in the Middle come into our school for the past 2 school years. Their primary focus is to work with kids and families going through a divorce or separation but they did all kinds of groups based on family need. While this was a great resource for us we were notified today that that have lost 100% of their school based funding. So, we will NOT be hosting them this year. They do offer an in house scholarship program for kids/families who are specifically needing support from Divorce and separation. Please feel free to reach out to them if you are interested in attending one of their groups. They can be reached at:

Kids in the Middle: 2650 S Hanley Rd #150, St. Louis, MO 63144 Phone: (314) 909-9922

 

Important Note Regarding Student Drop Off...

We have seen an uptick in students being dropped off early with no supervision. PLEASE NOTE!!! Doors to the buildings open at 8:10.  This is 15 minutes prior to our official start time of 8:25.  The only children who may be dropped off prior to 8:10 are those who are signed up for Before care.  If you come earlier than 8:10, you must stay with your child outside the front of their respective building to supervise them or wait with them in your car.  There is not enough supervision in or out of the buildings prior to 8:10 to allow students to enter any earlier.

 

Free/Reduced Meal Status 2018-2019 - Complete ASAP!

Free/Reduced meal forms are available in every buildings' front office.  These forms can also be completed and submitted within the Parent Portal.

Please be sure to complete your Free/Reduced meal application as we ask all families to have one on file.  Even if you do not believe you will qualify we ask all families to have one on file as this does affect meal pricing, BAC pricing, and has positive funding implications for PCS as a whole.  

If you have any questions feel free to contact Ben Huebner at bhuebner@premiercharterschool.org

 

Makerspace Supply Drive...

Thank you to everyone who has donated items to our new makerspace!  We will update our donation wish list each week and post it here!  Please see the updated list below for items we are still looking to add to our makerspace! 

*What is a makerspace? A makerspace is a place for students to imagine, explore, tinker, invent, design, and create.  3rd-5th graders will come to the makerspace once a week. During this special, they will learn how to use the new space and materials through a variety of design and building challenges.

 

After School Clubs...

More clubs coming soon! Be on the lookout for information on how to sign up for additional clubs coming home throughout the next month or so.

 

PCG News & Happenings...

  • Mark your calendars!! October 20th is Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat. These are two events you don’t want to miss. Both events will take place at PCS. Bracelet order forms will be sent out in a couple weeks. If you are able to volunteer for an hour or two we would really appreciate the help. Please email Terry Brogan (tbrogan@lashlybaer.com) to sign up.

  • 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...

If it's fun, free, and family friendly, it's listed below!

  •  Wed/Thurs/Fri  Sept 19, 20, 21 all  programs start at 6:30  p.m. and last 1 hour

Ulysses S Grant Historic Site  7400 Grant Road in Affton presents Civil War to Civil Rights: A Family Friendly Living History Series featuring 3 Historic Interpreters

One hour dramatic portrayal with  first person historic interpreters exploring themes of slavery, Reconstruction, and African American efforts to secure Civil Rights.  This very special free program is held outdoors under a tent with chairs provided.

Wednesday, September 19 meet Frederick Douglas as portrayed by Charles Pace

Thursday, September 20 meet Martin Luther King, Jr. as portrayed by Stephon Ferguson

Friday, September 21 meet Harriet Tubman as portrayed by Kathryn Harris

https://www.nps.gov/ulsg/planyourvisit/things2do.htm

  • Fri/Sat/Sun  Sept 21, 22, 23   10 a.m.-10 p.m.on Fri & Sat;  11 a.m.-8 p.m.on Sun

Hispanic Festival of St. Louis  7th & Lafayette next to Soulard Market. Celebrate the Art, Music, Dance, and Food of many Hispanic cultures; Children's Pavillion with Petting Zoo & Pony Rides. https://www.hispanicfestivalstl.com/

  • Sat Sept 22  all day

Free Entrance Day at the Gateway Arch Entrance fee is waived all day Saturday; there is still a $10 fee to ride to the top. https://www.gatewayarch.com/event/nps-fee-free-day/2018-09-

  •  Sat Sept 22   2-5 p.m.

Riverbend Public Art Installation at the Gateway Arch The Riverbend public art installation opens with party activities for kids & adults featuring the Sappington Creek Bluegrass Band & food trucks.  The 100 foot long artwork made of silver mirror like material references the Arch & highlights the Missouri River as the means of Westward Expansion.  Artist Margaret Keller won the Critical Mass for the Visual Arts Public Works Project commission for her work

  •  Sat., Sept. 22, 6:30-8 p.m

Animals of the Park Star Gazing Experience at the Gateway Arch Grounds The recently updated Gateway Arch grounds are more than an oasis from the city.Learn about the surprising variety of wildlife that inhabit the area.

  •  Sat Sept 22  all day during regular museum hours

St. Louis Science Center SCI-FEST-- Rock, Fossil, Quake Explore the mysteries of the Earth with the help of real geologists, paleontologists, and seismologists. Take a deeper look at what’s below the surface and what we’ve learned about our planet’s past. 

  •  Sat Sept 22

Archaeology Month at Mastodon State Park--every weekend in September.  This weekend's activities include: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Admission to the museum will be free today. The Three Rivers Chapter of the Missouri Archaeology Society will be presenting crafts, artifact identification and archaeological displays. There will also be demonstrations on tanning and other fur bearing animal exhibits. 2 p.m.  An informational meeting regarding Mastodon, Sandy Creek Covered Bridge and Governor Daniel Dunklin’s state historic sites will be held in the museum auditorium.

  • Sat Sept 22  10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Live Like a Pioneer  at Sappington House  1015 Sappington Road Throw a tomahawk, fire a musket, weave a basket, feed the goats, tour the museum and learn about the life of an American Pioneers http://events.stltoday.com/event/live-like-a-pioneer--z7s9wrdnyq

  •  Sat Sept 22 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Join the Circus with Circus Harmony  Dellwood Rec Center 10266 W. Florissant Avenue This show features local youth from St. Louis Arches & Peace Through Pyraminds performing acrobatic, aerial, juggling & balancing feats of skill & daring.  A circus workshop for all ages will follow the show so you can join the circus too! https://circusflora.org/event/circus-harmony-in-the-parks/

•  Learn the  Korean alphabet and how to write your name in Korean
• Make a Korean Kite at our arts and crafts table
• Participate in our Korean Calligraphy demonstrations
• Play traditional Korean games like Yut-Nori, Jegi-Chagi and Gong-Gi
• Eat DELICIOUS Korean food!
• Try on traditional Korean clothing and take a picture at our photo wall
• Listen to KPOP music and enter our drawing for a chance to win awesome Kpop goodies!
• Watch some amazing dance, drum and martial arts performances!
• Take our Discover Korea social media challenge for a chance to win prizes!

  • Sat Sept 22 Various Events throughout the day

Book Fest St. Louis Schlafly Branch Library  225 N. Euclid in the Central West End. Meet local and internationally renowned authors of children's and adult literature reading from their works. Special Children's Events at 10:30 for Yougest readers;  Noon for Middle Grade Readers and 2 p.m. for Young Adult Readers http://bookfeststl.com/schedule/

  • Sun Sept 23  1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

St. Louis Art Museum celebrates the International Day of Peace Join in a family mindfulness session, hear stories of peace from different cultures, and share your message of peace on a peace flag or add it to our collaborative peace chain. Thirty Minute Free Family Tour begins at 2:30 p.m.

  •  Sun Sept 23  5-7 p.m.

    Musical Nights in Oak Knoll Park at Big Bend & Oak Knoll Drive (just north of Clayton Road & Big Bend). Bring chairs, blankets, snacks or dinner and enjoy the sounds of the Midnight Piano Band

 

Upcoming Important Dates...

  • 9.25.18: PCG Family Night @ JJ Twig's on Hampton

  • 10.3.18-10.5.18: 5th Grade Camp

  • 10.9.18: Picture Day (Out of Uniform)

  • 10.18.18: End of Quarter 1

  • 10.20.18: Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat

  • 10.24.18: Quarter 1 Conferences (evening)

  • 10.25.18: Quarter 1 Conferences - Noon Dismissal

  • 10.26.18: No School

  • 11.2.18: No School - Staff PD

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.