Bernice Vossbeck Elementary Volume 21, Issue 4 http://bve.lynden.wednet.edu/ December 2017 Many of you may have Winter Break noticed Mrs. Marilyn Weeks spending more time in the Office since the start of school… She Are you ready for Winter Break? There will has joined Mrs. Wiles and Mrs. Wauda as an additional, part time be NO SCHOOL December 20th - Secretary! We are so thankful to have January 1st. Students and Staff will her with us each day. She has taken on return on Tuesday, January 2nd! the role of Attendance Secretary so The B.V.E. Family wishes all the best to please feel free to email her at you and your family for a [email protected] with any SAFE and HAPPY holiday season! Attendance related questions or con- cerns. Feel free to add her email address to your address book for after school bus/pick up changes as well! We love having you with us, Mrs. Weeks!! Important Reminder: If your student will be walking home after school, we must have a note written and given to the Office stating that they have your permission to do so. Any changes in daily afterschool routines should have a note for the office, requesting the change. Should the change happen later in the day, please try to contact the Office no later than 2:00 p.m. to let us know. Thank you! Inclement Weather (Snow, Flooding, Ice, and Power Outages) We were reminded early this year that Winter is on it’s way! Snowfall in the beginning of November created an exciting time for our little Lynden town! Remember, snowfall brings icy roads, school delays, or even school closures! Please be sure to tune in to the following stations for the latest up to date information for your morning! TV: Ch 13 KCPQ, Ch 4 KOMO, Ch 5 KING, Ch 7 KIRO, or Ch 2 NW Cable News, Radio: KGMI AM 790, KPUG AM 1170, KISM FM 92.9, KAFE FM 104.1, & KWPZ FM 106.5. In addition to School Messenger, Inclement weather announcements are made EVERY fifteen minutes on the above stations as well as the District website at www.lynden.wednet.edu, beginning at 6:00 a.m. Bundle up...it’s going to be a cold one!! With that being said, please remind your kiddos to dress appropriately for the weather! Students do go outside in all types of weather. Please make sure they have coats, hats, gloves, pants, appropriate footwear, etc. and please make sure all items are labeled in case they get lost! Volume 21, Issue 4 December 2017 As we express our gratitude to our Parent Volunteer Team, it is the perfect opportunity to communicate the various ways that our families and the community are involved at BVE. Take a look at the flowchart below, and THANK YOU from the depths of our hearts. We are blessed and better because of you! BVE 2017 Family-Community-Pre-Service-Internship Involvement The volunteerism and involvement of families, extended family, community members, and attendees of local colleges and universities are thriving at Bernice Vossbeck Elementary. Listed below, are a number of ways that our vital contributors support the learning, achievement, and school spirit of our students and staff within our school culture: Volume 21, Issue 4 December 2017 The Value in Volunteering at BVE! As emails are sent out time and again requesting classroom volunteers, most parents natural response is to say either, “I don’t have the time”, or “What can I possibly do to help”, or “I was terrible at school, how can I possibly be helpful now”. It is important to remember the value not only to the school with regards to volunteering, but also to your own child. Countless research studies have taken this very issue into consideration and have shown the following top 10 results: 1. The more volunteering a parent does, the greater the academic achievement of their child. 2. Children are more likely to further their educational career heading to college and/or University if parents are involved in their education. 3. Parental involvement can have a positive influence on their child’s attitude and behavior at and towards school. 4. A parent’s encouragement and involvement can make the difference between that child choosing to stay in school or dropping out. 5. Volunteering early on in your child’s academic career can set the tone for future success. 6. Parental involvement can increase teacher morale, helping teachers feel supported, as if the sky is the limit. 7. Volunteering builds school spirit and helps parents feel connected. 8. Parental satisfaction; that parents are making a difference and contributing to their child’s education. 9. Children feel emotionally supported in addition to academic support when they see their parents caring about what happens at school. 10. It takes a village to make things happen, one person can’t do it alone! (Information gathered from: http://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/parental-involvement-is -key-to-student-success) Additional websites detailing the value of parental involvement at school: http://www.nea.org/ tools/17360.htm, http://www.sedl.org/connections/resources/evidence.pdf As you see the emails come in requesting volunteers, we urge you to think twice about what volunteering can truly accomplish and mean to you and your child. Volunteering can certainly help out the school, but can also pave a way for your child’s academic success clear through to college! So what does volunteering at BVE look like? There are a variety of options, such as volunteering at PVT events, class parties, serving on leadership committees, helping in the classroom, chaper- oning field trips, taking home work such as cutting, gluing, prepping etc. Helping from behind the scenes such as photocopying or emailing parents of upcoming events. There really is no end to the variety and needs the school has to offer. You can help out as little or as much as your schedule allows. Let your teacher or office staff know you want to volunteer today! Volume 21, Issue 4 December 2017 Important Reminder Every afternoon we work hard to get 467 stu- dents home safely. If your child’s afterschool plan has changed from the beginning of the year, or needs to change one day due to an ap- 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders: pointment or visit with a friend, please make sure to send a note stating what the change is 10 Ways to Cool Off for that day. We appreciate these calls no later than 2 p.m. to ensure off of the changes get to 1. Freeze. the teachers by dismissal time. If they are being 2. Take a few deep breaths. picked up, please make sure the letter states by 3. Count to ten. whom. If they are riding a bus, please include 4. Walk away. the bus number, name, and address of where they are going. Also, permission is needed for 5. Use positive self talk “I can handle this.” them to be able to walk home independently. 6. Use up your energy: ride a bike, run, jump on the Thank you! trampoline, etc. 7. Find a quiet relaxing place and read a book you enjoy. 2017 Final Mile ~ Marathon Club 8. Talk about how you feel with someone you trust. 9. Write about how you feel. 10. Draw a picture about how you feel. Kindie, 1st, and 2nd Graders: 2017 BVE Marathon Finishers Rules for Rock-Paper-Scissors Congratulations to all of our Marathon Club Participants! We are VERY proud of 1. Only do it once unless you tie - no “best 2 out of 3” all of you for making the choice to be 2. No extras - Rock, Paper, and Scissors only. No more active at recess time!! “fire, dynamite, water, etc.” This year we had 25 Students finish an 3. Start on your palm and end on your palm. entire Marathon ~ 7 more than last year!! 4. Do it with the same rhythm or beat count. Way to go BVE!! 5. Once your hand touches your palm for the third time, you’re done - NO SWITCHING. 1st Grade: Jerika K., Keenan D., Karter 6. After you both land on your palm, there is no need M., Rain T.M., McKenzie J., and Nicole W. to reach out and touch the other persons hand we call this the No “Smacking” rule. (This is a hard 2nd Grade: Jack W., Kellen B., and habit for the kids to break.) Annika W. 7. Live with the outcome. No whining, crying, or complaining. 4th Grade: Henry N., Maren B., Taryn B., Natalie L., Lily M., Arianna W., Cooper O., Brady S., Vinnie C. 5th Grade: Paige L., Eugenio S., Alex W., Beckett C., Jaydin O., Maliah P., and Maggie R. Volume 21, Issue 4 December 2017 Bernice Vossbeck Elementary Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 1 4 5 6 7 8 5th Grade Winter Concert - Gym 6:00 p.m. 11 12 13 14 15 Kindergarten Gingerbread Houses 10:00 - 11:15 a.m. Cafeteria 18 19 20 21 22 NO SCHOOL Pajama Day & Winter Assembly WINTER 2:35 - 3:00 p.m. BREAK 25 26 27 28 29 NO SCHOOL WINTER BREAK JANUARY 1 2018 2 3 4 5 Welcome Back Students & Staff!! Happy NO SCHOOL New Year!! .