A Message from Mrs. Roberts Hello Andrus Families,

With the change in seasons, it is important to remember Treasure Valley’s severe winter weather and slippery

roads can lead to the closure of school because it is unsafe for buses to travel. You can watch local news or

check the district website for school closures. You should receive a text message, email or a voice mail from the

West Ada School District if school is cancelled. The goal of the district is to make a determination by 6:00AM.

This information will be delivered based on your contact information you have recorded on your child’s

Power School account. Please log in to Power School to ensure the information is accurate and up to date

and you have accepted notifications. Feel free to contact us, in the office, if you need help. Because Ada County

roads may be icy after a big storm or in winter foggy conditions, please prepare for bus delays.

Parents, please send your child to school prepared to play outside in the winter weather. We stay inside before

school and at recess if the temperature/wind chill is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. If it is over 20 degrees, and not

raining or snowing too hard, our students go outside for recess to get some fresh Idaho air and some unstructured

playtime. Please ensure your child is dressed for the weather, including coat, hat, gloves/mittens and boots. Also,

be sure to write your student’s name on coats and jackets. If you need assistance purchasing these items, please

check with our counselors, Mrs. Herman and Mrs. Dalos. Also, our lost and found is overflowing with coats and

jackets. If your child’s coat is missing, ask them to check for them in our lost and found. You can stop by any

time to check for yourself, too. It is located in the short hallway just across from the office entryway. We also

have a variety of lunchboxes and other non-clothing items and other “treasures” in our lost and found.

Andrus has several wonderful projects going on in the upcoming months that lead up to Christmas. Be sure to be

aware in which projects your child may want to participate and thank you ahead of time for your support!

Andrus families are so very generous!

With the end of quarter one upon us, be sure you have gotten into PowerSchool to see your child’s/children’s’

grades. THANKS for attending Parent-Teacher conferences and being active in supporting your child’s progress.

Together, we are an AWESOME team to ensure the success of your child.

Thank you for your feedback for our Highly Reliable School Level 1: Safe and Collaborative School parent

survey. We are excited with the great results we are seeing and making plans to address some of the areas in

which we can better communicate the great things happening at Andrus.

I am so thankful for each of you, your children, and the relationships being built with you all. I hope you each

have a blessed Thanksgiving full of family, food, and fun!

Thank you for helping us this year as we… ~ Celebrate Learning ~ #LeadLikeMe

Buffy Roberts, Principal

Andrus Elementary School November 1, 2019

“Celebrate Learning!

Honor our past.

Rise up to the future.”

Counselor’s Corner Judy Herman, LPC (Monday – Thursday); herman.judy@westada.org

Natalie Dalos, LPC (Friday); dalos.natalie@westada.org

Office phone: 208-350-4212

LIFE SKILL CLASSES ……School counselors meet with our third-grade students every month throughout the

school year to teach them how to recognize bullying behaviors as well as share SKILLS that help them to be

“bullyproofed” if they are targeted by a bully. This month we will discuss which behaviors are considered

bullying, how to tell the difference between teasing and bullying and learn about the four common types of

bullying that occur in elementary school.

CHESTER THE CAT AND THE SECRET OF HOW TO BE “COOL”

Our second-grade students will meet our friend, Chester the Cat, who will help them to learn how to BE COOL

in situations where they might want to lose their temper and make a poor choice in which someone

might get hurt or in trouble. Students learn what happens when they act HOT and lose their

temper or act COLD like a victim when confronted with a problem. With Chester’s help, our

counselors teach our students it is best to act COOL when solving problems!

GUIDANCE GROUPS provide students with the opportunity to connect with the counselor and other students

in a small group setting to learn skills that will empower students to handle life’s challenges in a pro-active

way. Guidance groups are not therapy groups, they are educational groups in which students learn specific

coping skills to deal with issues such as anger management, divorce/blended family,

social skills. Groups will begin in 2020. Parents may refer their students to a guidance

group, or a student may be referred by their teacher or school staff. If you feel your

student could benefit from a group experience, please contact Mrs. Dalos.

K-KIDS NEWS……. Our fifth grade K-Kids Club have been busy wrapping up our first two

community service projects. Our school filled six barrels with canned foods to benefit the

Meridian Food Bank and have sold raffle tickets to earn money for Project Kids, a non-profit that

benefits students in the West Ada School district who are lacking basic needs.

We are VERY excited about our November/December Projects…. We will be working with STORY LINK, an

organization where volunteers visit prisons in Idaho recording the voices of parents and grandparents reading a

favorite book to their children and grandchildren. Books and the recordings are left with the children to listen to

and enjoy. Our club will be asking our students and parents to donate BOOKS to Story Link. Books can be new

or slightly used. Books with holiday themes are appreciated! Our BOOK DRIVE will begin on November 4 and

end on December 5.

We are so thankful for our generous parents who support our community service projects! On Friday,

November 15 at our 3rd grade Patriotic Program, our K-Kids will be selling American flags for $2.00 each.

This is our only club fundraiser for the school year, and we hope you show your patriotism and support for our

club by purchasing a flag!

The HOLIDAY SEASON is filled with joy but can also produce stress for families who are

struggling financially. There are community resources available for families who would like

assistance during the holiday season with food for Thanksgiving dinner or help with Christmas gift

shopping or holiday groceries. It’s not too early to be thinking about the holidays and if your

family would appreciate support with groceries or gifts over the holiday season, please contact

your school counselors by email or phone as soon as possible. We are happy to help you find

resources that might be able to assist you!

From the PE Teachers Angie Rodgers and Darian Gasseling

* K-2 athletes will practice cooperation, throwing and catching skills in a variety of setting and games.

* 3-5 athletes will refine their throwing and catching skills in a variety of games like handball and rugby.

* All students will continue to be evaluated on participation in P.E. class at a vigorous level in addition to

following the rules and expectations of the class and games being taught.

Please make sure to send your student with proper shoes for P.E. Unsafe shoes like boots, sandals and dress

shoes may mean that students will not be able to participate for the day. Please send your student with a water

bottle for P.E. class until our water fountain in the gym gets fixed.

LOVE AND LOGIC PARENTING PEARL

By using ENCOURAGEMENT, rather than PRAISE, you can build your kids up, show your

confidence in them and notice their effort and improvements and support them through life’s

challenges.

From the Kitchen

Prepare for the Andrus

Speed Rope team with 6

clinics including a special

1-hour clinic with the

Summerwind Skippers.

Skills will include:

• Jog step basics

• Jog step advanced

• Rope swing for speed rope

• Prepare for competition

DATES: 11/5,12,19 &

12/3,10,17

DAYS: TUESDAYS

TIME: 4-4:30 (EXCEPT

11/19 WHICH WILL END AT

5:00)

LOCATION: ANDRUS

COST: $15 (INCLUDES

SUMMERWIND SKIPPERS

CLINIC)

SPEEDROPE TRY-OUTS

WILL BE THE LAST DAY OF

THE CLINIC TO REPRESENT

THE 2020 ANDRUS TEAM

AT THE WEST ADA SPEED

ROPE COMPETITION.

As seen on America’s Got Talent, learn from the WORLD and NATIONAL Champion SUMMERWIND

SKIPPERS jump rope team! Currently ranked FIRST in the Nation!

PTA News Hello Andrus Families!

Congratulations to these families who won drawings for front row seats to the musical programs and to

the winner of the VIP parking spot!

Kindergarten: Springtime Harmony

1st: Libby Avery and Carrie Severson

2nd: Kate Morris and Danielle Burden

3rd: Maria Salo and Michelle Erekson

4th: Amy

5th: Michelle Elliott and Cherry Ann

VIP Parking Spot: Angie Creasy

Upcoming Events:

Friday, November 1 - FREE Movie Night at Andrus! Toy Story 4 starts @ 6:30pm in the gym.

Thursday, November 7 @ 4:00pm: PTA Meeting

Beware the time change This PTA meeting will be directly after school at 4:00pm in the Library.

Children are welcome. No supervision will be provided but we are all parents and don't expect kids to

behave like adults. Come and go as you please. We are hoping this time is a good opportunity for

teachers to join the meeting.

Friday, November 8 - Reflections Entries are Due

Does your child/children enjoy art, music, and dance or have an interest in writing,

producing films and taking photos? Then join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist

with PTA Reflections! This

year’s theme, “Look Within”, calls for your own unique interpretation through the arts.

Good luck to all students who participate in this event! Contact Maureen Larkin with

questions.

Wednesday, November 13 – Meal at Blue Toro

Families can enjoy a meal at Blue Toro ANYTIME during their business hours ALL DAY. Look

for more information coming out soon regarding this fun November Family Night Out.

Wednesday, December 4 @ noon: PTA Meeting

It's the LAST PTA meeting of 2019, and we would love to see you there!

Saturday, December 7 - Our Annual Santa Breakfast

Santa is coming to town! Watch for signups and more information as we start to get it planned

out. The book fair will coincide with this event, so come out and watch the choir, grab a donut, and

check out some good reads!

Sunday, December 8 - National Brownie Day

You don't have to celebrate national brownie day, but I feel like you all should.

To add all these events and more to your calendar with one click, just click on the calendar at

www.andruspta.org.

Thank you, Michelle Washow, for coordinating our October Teachers Treat, as well as our PT conference

meal and snack. We are grateful to all who signed up to bring dinner for Parent/Teacher Conferences and

everyone who helps make these events possible by donating food and clean up time.

We are still about $8,000 away from our $20,000 goal for our 100% Fundraiser! If you haven’t already

donated and are able, please do so! We are working on some exciting playground enhancements, a new 5th grade

celebration sponsored by PTA, extra water filling stations and many other projects for our students and school!

We are looking for a few people who are interested in serving on the PTA board next year. These positions

don't start until next school year, but we want to give people plenty of time to consider. In particular, we are

looking for a Treasurer and Secretary. A full list and description of the roles needed is available

at www.andruspta.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities

Thank you for your continuous support of the Andrus PTA. We truly appreciate all you do for our school and

students.

Melanie Jones

Andrus PTA President

Job Opportunities * NOON SUPERVISION: 12:10 to 1:10pm daily – or part time (we can have you work certain days that work

for you). Click/Type link to apply:

https://www.applitrack.com/meridian/onlineapp/default.aspx?AppliTrackPostingSearch=location:%22Andrus+E

lementary+%22

If you can’t commit to a job – please consider volunteering for Noon Supervision! Click/Type link to apply:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b054babad2da4fa7-september

* AVID TUTOR: If you would like to work with small groups of students – consider becoming an AVID tutor!

An AVID tutor will work with a group of 5 to 7 students and facilitate a student study group focused around a

discussion of a point of confusion for a student. It is a cool process and it is vital that we have tutors to help

support and facilitate these groups. The position has varied hours (under 20) and a variety of schools to choose

from. The schools that have openings are: Mountain View High School, Meridian High School, Centennial High

School, Victory Middle School, Lake Hazel Middle School, Meridian Middle School and Lewis & Clark Middle

School. The position pays $11.76 per hour. The job is posted on the West Ada website under AVID Tutor

#14399.

Calendar of Events

Friday, November 1 Free PTA Movie Night, “Toy Story 4”, 6:30 – 9:00pm, Gym

Thursday, November 7 PTA Meeting, 4:00pm, Library

Friday, November 8 Reflections Entries Due

Wednesday, November 13 Subway Forms Due and Fundraiser at Blue Toro

Friday, November 15 3rd Grade Patriotic Music Program, 3:00pm, Gym

Thursday, November 21 Subway Day

November 25 – November 29 NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break

Monday, December 2 Honor Choir at Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting,

3:30 – 6:30pm

Wednesday, December 4 PTA Meeting, 12:00pm, Library

Friday, December 6 NO SCHOOL – ALL GRADES, Collaboration

Saturday, December 7 Santa Breakfast, 9:00 – 11:00am, Gym

Wednesday, December 11 Subway Forms Due

Friday, December 13 2nd Grade Holiday Music Program, 3:00pm, Gym

Thursday, December 19 Subway Day

December 23 – January 3 Winter Holiday Break

Nov.6, 13, 20 and Dec. 4,11,18

District Art Show 2019-2020

West Ada Parents/Guardians,

The District's annual art project is now underway for the District Art Show. Each student is encouraged to submit one piece of art to his/her home school. Each school will then choose one piece of art from those submitted as the School’s Choice Award winner. Those pieces will be prominently displayed at the District Service Center for one (1) year and will be returned to the student in May the following year. There will be one District Choice Award winner chosen from each level: elementary, middle, and high school. Additional pieces will be selected to receive community awards which include:

∗ Meridian Mayor’s Award∗ Star Mayor’s Award

∗ Eagle Mayor’s Award

∗ Superintendent’s Award

* West Ada Directors' Award* Idaho State University's Award* Eagle Arts Commission Award* Meridian Arts Commission Awards

∗ Boise State University Dean of Education Award∗ Eagle Chamber of Commerce Award

∗ Board of Trustees' Award (Elementary, Middle, and High School)

The pieces chosen for these awards will hang in the respective offices for one (1) year. They will be returned to the artists in May of the following year.

School Choice Award winners will be honored at an art show and reception on April 23 for Elementary and Secondary at the White Cloud Auditorium. Students and their families along withtheir teachers and principals will be invited.

Timeline:Creation of artwork Selection of building School Choice Award winner Selections delivered to District Office Selections are matted and framed Invitations mailed to School Choice Award winners and winners' families, teachers, principals, and dignitaries.

Elementary and Secondary Art Show and Reception

Criteria

♦ Size :

♦ Subject/Theme:

♦ School or Home:

♦ Submission:

2 dimensional work (painting, collage, prints, drawings, photography, etc.) no larger than 18” x 24”, must be flat and not exceed more than a 3/8-inch thickness. Entries may be submitted on paper, canvas board, or cardboard.

Please DO NOT frame. There is no size limitation on 3-dimensional work. "My World." Artwork and artist statements that do not reflect the theme will not be eligible for additional community awards. Artwork should be appropriate for display in public offices. Controversial subject matter should be avoided.Work submitted may be done at school or at home with the understanding that it is clearly the student’s original work. Each student’s submission must be accompanied by a completed student entry form.

Questions: Contact your school’s classroom or art teacher or Amy Vaughan (District Lead Teacher for Art & Music) at vaughan.amy@westada.org.

October—March March or sooner

March 13 March 13-April 15 April 1

April 23

Directions: This is a fillable form. Complete the form down to and including the required signatures. Please limit your artist statement to 50 words or less. If more writing space is needed, use the back of this form or an extra sheet of paper. Students with limited writing skills can dictate an artist statement and have that statement recorded by another person.

Title of work:

Artist Statement:

Describe the media used (crayons, oil on canvas, tempera paint, watercolor, etc).

Student’s Name Grade

Mailing Address

City State Zip

School Classroom Teacher

Parents/Guardians Name(s)

Parent/Guardian Phone 1 Phone 2

Parent/Guardian Email Address

I affirm the work I have submitted is of my own original work and cannot be attributed to anyone else’s creation.

Signature of Student

Signature of parent/legal guardian (necessary if child is under 18 years of age)

WEST ADA SCHOOL DISTRICT 2019-20 Elementary/Middle School “Framed” Art Entry Form