Hawthorne Elementary School Newsletter December 2013 Mrs. Donna Tracy, Principal
"Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize." Elizabeth Harrison
SAVE THE DATE PTO Monthly Meeting: Monday, Dec. 2nd @4:30
Book Fair: Thurs. & Fri., December 12th & 13th WINTER MUSIC REHEARSALS & Birthday Lunch: Friday, December 20th PROGRAMS (ALL IN THE GYM) rd Winter Vacation: No school from Dec. 23 Thursday, December 12th – - January 3rd, 2014 th 9:20 a.m. Grades 1 - Dress rehearsal Classes Resume: Monday, Jan. 6 , 2014 10:10 a.m. KHin, KWil, KWat, KWor - Program
NEWSLETTER/CALENDAR ONLINE ACCESS 1:15 p.m. Grades 2 – Dress rehearsal You may access the Hawthorne newsletter and calendar on the 2:00 p.m. Grades 3 – Dress rehearsal school district web site at www.keokuk.k12.ia.us. Friday, December 13th –
PARENT WALK UP REQUEST 9:20 a.m. Grades 1- Program Adults that wait for students at walk up are asked to not sit on 10:10 a.m. KBru, KQui, KWac, - Program ledges outside of classrooms or look in classroom windows. It is distracting to the students in the rooms. 1:15 p.m. Grades 2 - Program
2:00 p.m. Grades 3 – Program REPORT TO OFFICE FIRST
Parents and visitors are asked to report to the office first when they enter our school. If a child is being picked up early, the teacher will send him/her to the office. If you are bringing in items for your child, the office will get them to the classroom. The Staff This will help to maintain a safe environment for the students and staff as well as reduce classroom interruptions. at Hawthorne Elementary School wish you and your families Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Hawthorne Elementary 2940 Decatur Street, Keokuk, Iowa 52632 319-524-3503 www.keokuk.k12.ia.us HIGH FIVES… BREAKFAST REMINDER …to 107.3/101.7The Bull and Climax for donating coats, hats, Serving time: 7:40 – 7:55 a.m. and mittens for our students. Serving will end at 7:55 a.m.. Classes begin at …to everyone who purchased Hawthorne t-shirts and
8:00 a.m. If your child needs to eat breakfast at sweatshirts for our playground fundraiser. school, please have him/her here by 7:40 a.m. so HUMAN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT that there is enough time to eat before classes In early January, 2014, students in K through 3rd grades will begin at 8:00 a.m. Students who arrive after 7:55 receive instruction on Human Growth and Development as part a.m. will not receive breakfast. of their P.E. curriculum. The instructional unit is available for preview in the school office. Also, we have a number of students who are eating breakfast at home and eating again at school. We do not know who has and has not already eaten, so T-SHIRT & SWEATSHIRT FUNDRAISER please make sure your child knows whether to eat Hawthorne is having this fundraiser to purchase more playground equipment for our students. Fliers were sent home breakfast at school. If they are not to eat in November. Please contact the office if you would like an breakfast at school they should report to their order form. assigned playground before school.
CLASSROOM PARTIES REMINDER Our classroom parties are for Hawthorne students only. LIBRARY BOOKS We are not able to accommodate family members or siblings at All library books are due by noon on Friday, Dec. 20th. Books these parties. Thanks for your cooperation in this matter. cannot be checked out over the winter break.
SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS DISMISSAL CHANGES One of our most important jobs is to ensure a safe and healthy It is important to communicate with the office if your child will environment for our students and staff. Emergency situations, have a change to the daily dismissal plan (such as riding the bus including fire, tornado, accidents, and willful violence are instead of being picked up). Please send a note or call prior infrequent and unpredictable. It is important that we have an to 1:30 p.m. We have found that information provided by action plan to address all types of threats to safety and that the student is not always reliable; therefore, we must receive we practice so that we will all know what to do should such an communication from the parent prior to the change. event occur. BOX TOPS As part of our annual review of emergency procedures, we are updating our plan for response to willful violence. We have *Please remember to send in Box Tops from General Mills been working together with our local police and fire products. We have a classroom competition with the winning department personnel to identify and practice the best class earning a popcorn party. Ask your neighbors and family to save their box tops for you. Students may turn them in to possible response. It is important to remember that emergency school events or intruders are rare. However, we their classroom teacher at any time. need to be prepared for any emergency. MORNING DROP OFF REMINDER The Keokuk Community Schools have used lockdown procedures to prepare for the unlikely event of willful violence. We will When bringing children to school, please do not drop them off continue to do this, but have also expanded our knowledge of on Decatur Street. Parent drop off is off the street in the available options by learning the ALICE response strategy. North(Kindergarten wing) parking lot. School personnel will be ALICE stands for: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and there to assist your children. Evacuate. This strategy is endorsed by law enforcement across the country and is in line with recommendations from WEATHER DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. ALICE provides more options Changes in the daily time schedule for all Keokuk public schools than previously considered for staying safe and escaping a due to inclement weather or power outage, etc., are announced dangerous situation by the superintendent on KOKX-AM (1310), KBKB-AM (1360), Our staff has been trained and our students will be given KBKB-FM (101.7), WCAZ-AM (990), KBUR-AM (1490), KGRS- information appropriate to their age and grade. We will FM (107.3), WINK-FM (92.1) radio or WGEM-TV (10) AND conduct a variety of drills with students several times per year, including fire, tornado, stranger danger, and earthquake. KHQA-TV (7). The PowerAnnounce program will also be used. We structure the drills so as to not be frightening to children. When school is delayed 2 hours, classes begin at 10:00 a.m. Although this can be a difficult topic for families to think with the tardy bell ringing at 10:05 a.m. We ask that students about, we trust that you share our belief that it is important arrive no earlier than 9:50 a.m. Breakfast is not served for us to be as prepared as possible for any emergency event on late start days. so that we can respond appropriately.