October 2012
Sunset Newsletter What’s Happening This Month at Sunset . . . SUNDAY
MONDAY
1
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
No School Columbus Day
Believe Kids Fundraiser Ends Packets are Due
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16
17
18
19
20
24
25
26
27
Sunset PTA Meeting @ 3:30 pm
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14
Sunset Family Math Night @ 6:00 pm
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23
Sunset Kid’s Night Out @ 5:00-7:00 pm
28
29
30
31
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Halloween
PTA Meeting Calendar 2012/2013 School Year The PTA meetings will be held the first Monday of every month. We are alternating between after school and evening meetings. Please mark your calendars so you can attend! Monday, October 1st @ 3:30 Monday, November 5th @ 6:00 Monday, December 3rd @ 3:30 Monday, January 14th @ 6:00
Monday, February 4th @ 3:30 Monday, March 4th @ 6:00 Monday, April 8th @ 3:30 Monday, May 6th @ 6:00
A Message from Our Sunset Principal – Brenda Farmer Dear Families: Sunset school uses the precepts of Conscious Discipline school- wide and I thought I’d write about one power and skill each month this year. I hope this helps you understand where we are coming from and you will want to use it in your family too. My daughter and son-in-law are using it with their two active, precious, determined, boys. It is making a difference with the 4 year old, and NOTHING worked before! So here goes. FIRST -We believe that every situation is a teachable moment and strive to use Conscious Discipline as a teaching tool. -We must remember that the brain is pattern seeking, and when children make connections outwardly they are also making them inwardly; that is why we must really SEE (look in their eyes so they KNOW you see them) the child, it is a connection thing. -The brain functions optimally in safe environments. This is why we promote safety first. You will hear us say, “My job is to keep you safe, your job is to help keep it that way.” This is because no one learns (the brain won’t let it) if they feel unsafe in some way (someone will make fun of me, there is a bee in the room, etc.) -We must be PRESENT in each moment with each other and our children. Conscious Discipline Power and Skill Number ONE Power of Perception and Skill of Composure Who or What you have placed in charge of your feelings, you have placed in charge of you! From this place you must control your environment and guard yourself from others. In this state we feel powerless and when we feel powerless we blame and attack. Composure is the willingness to change our upset to calm, and bring our mind to the present moment. From this alert, but calm state we can bring all our brain resources to solve problems, model responsibility and offer respect in even difficult situations. In every situation in life, we believe we must have the skills to be powerful, not powerless. This is why we teach the skills to undergird the powers. A new thought: We give our power away because we perceive that our behavior results from all the things happening to us outwardly. When we think this way we are giving our power away, we are putting the person or the circumstances in charge of us instead of us being in charge of
ourselves. We must change this perception and realize that no one can make us mad, sad, irritated, etc. without our permission. This enables them to take responsibility for their actions and feelings. We are teaching the students to find composure in all circumstances. This is why we have the SAFE PLACE in all classrooms. The SAFE PLACE is a place for students to go and calm down with our calming techniques. We ask them to BE A STAR – which is Stop, Take a deep breath, And, Relax. We ask them to use one of the breathing techniques (draining, ballooning, do the pretzel, or stretch). We have books and stuffed animals in the safe place so they can take a few minutes to get their brains back to safety, then they return to the learning environment. Taking back your power - a tip for all of us adults… Try saying, “I’m going to…”; instead of, “Don’t make me…” When we say, “Don’t make me”, we are giving our power away, and we are teaching others they are in charge of us. We are teaching children to give their power away, because they will say what we are modeling. Instead we should be saying, “I’m going to”, which shows that we have the power in the situation to remain calm and make a rational decision. Homework for this month Instead of saying the following which makes us rampantly irresponsible for ourselves: “Don’t make me have to pull this car over.” “You are driving me nuts.” “Look how you made her feel, how can you make her feel better.” Say this instead which gives us the power and helps us remain calm and in control: “I’m going to pull this car over until you have the seatbelts fastened and you are safe.” “I’m going to take a few deep breaths, calm myself down and then I will talk to you.” “See her face, her face is saying, “ whatever the case is” We want to change the perception that others are in control of us, and find the strategies to be composed in all situations. Thanks everyone and have a great month. Mrs. Farmer
Classroom News! Kindergarten We are working on address and phone number, beginning sounds, rhyming, and syllables. In math we are working on number recognition, number writing, patterning and shapes. We had a great parent meeting in September, thanks!
1st Grade First Graders have had a great September. We've been gathering data and graphing just about everything in sight such as; kinds of shoes, eye color, hair color, birthdays, kinds of apples and even M&Ms. Soon we will move into measuring as our next math unit. Mrs. Holly Baker also visited our students this month. She introduced this year's Buckaroo Books to the kids. Mrs. Baker brought along some fabulous science experiments that went along with the books. The kids were very excited to begin the Buckaroo Books! We've also been working on early reading strategies in first grade. It was great having parents come to parent night to learn about these reading strategies! Want to see what is happening in your child’s classroom? Please visit the Sunset Teacher Sites by typing in the following link: http://www.park6.org/classroompages.cfm?location=736&school=736
Sunset School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) President — Rebecca Merritt Vice President — Lisa McDonald Secretary — Chrystal Rippeto Treasurer — Marcie Barton Sunset PTA E-mail Address: sunsetptacodywy@gmail.com Please feel free to e-mail us with any questions, comments, suggestions and ideas!
Fall Fundraiser Please remember to help your children with our Believe Kids fall fundraiser. The items for sale consist of cookie dough, pizza and other desserts. Your children choose a charm necklace based upon the items they sell (a total of 3 charms are available). Their name is then placed in a drawing (according to how many items they’ve sold) for the chance to win some great prizes! The selling packet displays additional prizes available for your child to earn. The top 3 sellers in the school will go to lunch with Mrs. Farmer. The top selling class will be given a Pizza Party! Your friends and family can shop online by going to www.shopbelieve.com. Our goal is to have 100% participation. The Fundraising Launch Event was held Monday, September 24th. Information packets and order forms have been sent home. All orders and monies are due on Tuesday, October 9th. Your children are very excited to earn their charm necklaces and win some great prizes! Please help them do what they can to help raise money for our school!
Sunset’s New Fitness Course Money raised from last year’s fundraiser helped contribute to this great addition for our school!!
A Big THANK YOU to these donors who contributed to our new fitness course! Sunset PTA Sunset Principal, Teachers and Staff Sunset Families and the Community of Cody PCSD #6, Greg Victor, Ron Mann Shoshone Recreation District Cody Parks and Recreation Board Groathouse Construction Mr. and Mrs. Doug Virtue Pinnacle Bank McDonald's Papa Murphy's Wendy's Arby's
Sunset PTA would like to thank all of the individuals and families that helped with our PTA events held in September. We appreciate those who help plan, set up, serve and bring food for these activities. We look forward to working with you in our upcoming events. To our volunteers – we can never say “thanks” enough. We will be contacting you to help with future events! Your Sunset PTA
October School Events Mark your calendar for the Family Math Night
“Math in Candy Land”
Kids Night Out
When: Tuesday, October 16th
Friday, October 26th
Time: 6:00-7:30 pm
5:00-7:00 pm
Where: Sunset Elementary
Sunset Commons & Gym
Come in and get your math on
Come join us for food and fun!
in Candy Land!
Kids Night Out is our fall carnival.
Play games, solve problems, eat chili,
Cost is $10 per Student or $15 per Family
And have fun!
(for those of you with 2 or more Sunset Students attending)
Every child will be completing lots of fun
Children will sign in and out through the front entrance only. Make sure to wear your Halloween costumes!! (please – no masks)
Math activities using candy.
Agenda 6:00-6:30
Sign in, Math Multiplication Chili Dinner and a Party Dance Video
6:30-7:30
Math Stations which include: 1. Domino Graham Crackers 2. Fruit Snack Probability (fact families) 3. Chex Mix Fractions 4. Fruit Loop Patterns 5. Brownie Measurement (area and perimeter)
Parent/Teacher Conferences Monday, October 29th and Tuesday, October 30th Come meet with your child’s teacher and see the progress they have made in class.
October Community Events Absaroka Figure Skating Club Fall Sessions begin Sunday, October 7th at the Riley Arena. There are 10 sessions running every Sunday from Oct. 7th thru Dec. 16th from 1-4 pm. This session ends Dec. 16th with a Christmas program showing off the skater’s skills. All boys and girls are welcome ages 4-18. Cost: $150 for 10 sessions-beginner levels: includes an hour and a half ice time and a 20 minute lesson with a coach. ($180 for advanced lessons) Contacts: Buffy Allred (307) 272-1554 Amy Whalen (360) 239-1432 Annette Bollinger (307) 899-4776 Jolene Osborne (307) 250-0069
It’s Halloween time at Absaroka! Ghosts, Goblins, Vampires, Werewolves, Spiders and more are welcome to come to Absaroka to Trick or Treat. Wednesday, October 31, 2012 5:30-7:00 pm All ages are welcome! Location: Emeritus at Absaroka Senior Living 2401 Cougar Ave
Paul Stock Aquatic and Recreation Center Saturday, October 20, 2012 FREE Day at the Recreation Center Admission to the Recreation Center is Free all day! Friday, October 26, 2012 Halloween Carnival An annual night of frightful fun! Festivities include carnival games, cookie walk and a costume contest.
Park County Youth Hockey Association (PCYHA) Park County Youth Hockey Association is a volunteer, nonprofit entity dedicated to providing a safe, fun environment for youth hockey, developing the skills of individuals and teams, and providing a cost efficient affordable sport for Park County youth. We are affiliated with USA Hockey Association. We have hockey programs for boys and girls ages 319. HOCKEY begins October 8th. Registration still open. 1st grade FREE. Contact Chad Forsman for more information at 307.250.6046
Awards for our teachers VFW Honors America’s Teachers Award Recognize teachers who care about America. VFW wants to identify and recognize America’s best educators who instill a sense of nation pride in students. If you are interested in nominating a teacher, please contact the Sunset PTA and we will give you a nomination form. Nominations must be received by November 1 by your local VFW Posts, which conduct judging from November 2-15.
Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award Nominations open through Jan. 7, 2013 Fast Facts about the awards process:
Eligibility: Teachers of grades K-12, including Vocational, Special Education and Title 1, in West Virginia, Wyoming, and four counties in Utah (Sevier, Sanpete, Carbon, Emery). Teachers are nominated by students, peers and members of their community. Teachers compete for $3,500 annual awards. The nominee must be an active, full-time teacher with at least three years of experience. Nominated teachers must fill out an application, and a judging committee (comprised of past winners and others from the educational community) reviews applications and selects the winners.
Contact Sunset PTA for the nomination form shown.