News From The Principal….. “Building the Future One Child at a Time.”
Bilee Jo Grable Principal
November 2014 Volume 4 Piper Elementary School
K-3rd Grade
Dear Piper Families,
Thank you for attending your child’s conference!
When parents and teachers work together, everyone benefits: students tend to earn higher grades, perform better on tests, have better behavior, and show positive attitudes toward themselves and school. Students have set their goals for the second quarter and together we can continue to help your child reach his/her goals!
Problem Solvers at Piper Elementary!
Students learn that we face tough decisions and new situations every day. How we choose to respond to these events reveals who we are and where we are in our character/moral development. Two students from Piper Elementary demonstrated how to be a problem solver and take pride in our community outside of school at the homecoming last month. First grader Maya Morales and third grader Isabella Morales saw a problem and decided to take action! The problem they noticed was all the trash on the hill at the Piper High School Homecoming game. The girls went up to the concession stand and asked if they could have two trash bags. The ladies gave the girls the trash bags and went on their way. A little later, the girls returned with the trash bags full of trash. The girls asked for two more trash bags. The ladies gave them two more bags, and the girls left filling the trash bags once again. The lady working at the concession stand asked what the girls were doing, and the girls said that they were picking up the trash on the hill. The girls then proceeded to tell the lady that their teachers had told them if they see a problem, be a problem solver!
That is exactly what they did!
Dr. Schumacher, principal of Piper High School, presented Isabella and Maya Morales with thank you cards and a special gift. TRUE PIPER PRIDE AT ITS FINEST!
~ Mrs. Grable
Don’t forget to “fall back” one hour
on Sunday, November 2nd
at 2:00am!
Important Information from the front office….
School Hours are 8:35-3:40 Students may enter the building @ 8:20
Students need to be in their classrooms by 8:40
to avoid a tardy slip
Parents are asked to say their good-byes in the
front foyer. This is called our “hug & go” zone;
children will then proceed to their classroom.
If you have additional messages for your child’s
teacher, please use established common proce-
dures: email, notes, voicemail, or arrange a con-
ference. We want to optimize the learning envi-
ronment and maximize safety.
Students arriving after 9:15 will be counted as
1/2 day absent. Students leaving before 3pm will
be counted as 1/2 day absent.
All transportation changes MUST be made by
3:00p.m. on the day of the change is requested
to ensure that the teacher is notified in time &
your child arrives home safely. If you send an
email please make sure to send to both secretar-
ies.
If your child has an appointment of any kind that
causes him/her to arrive late or leave early from
school, please sign them in and out through the
office. Staff members may not release a child un-
less they have been notified by the office staff.
Please call or email and let the office know if your
child is absent or will be late coming to school.
Our office will call and verify that your child is
safely at home if we have not received notification
from you. The office number: 721-1243.
Secretaries: Leta Dehner and Sheila Callaghan
2014-2015
New Tardy Policy:
5 Tardies = 1 unexcused absence Tardy warning bell rings at 8:35 am
Tardy bell at 8:40 am
11/7/14 1st Grade Field Trip /Zoo
11/11/14 Picture Retakes
11/11/14 3rd Grade Music Program @ 6:30pm in the gym (Enter through the cafeteria doors)
Who: Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Bicknell and Mrs. Stucker
11/13/14 3rd Grade Music Program @ 6:30pm (Enter through the cafeteria doors)
Who: Mrs. Reese, Mrs. Whaley , Mrs. Eikenbary and Mrs. Catron’s classes
11/18/14 2nd Grade Music Program @ 6:30pm in the gym (Enter through the cafeteria doors)
Who: Mrs. R Martin, Ms. Gonzalez, Mrs. Ziegler and Mrs. Sorenson
11/20/14 2nd Grade Music Program @ 6:30pm in the gym (Enter through the cafeteria doors)
Who: Mrs. Denny, Mrs. Pope, and Miss Phillips classes
11/25/14 Fall Read-In @ 2:45-3:15pm Students are allowed to bring their favorite book & towel
11/26/14~11/28/14 Thanksgiving Break ~ NO SCHOOL
Happy Thanksgiving from the PES staff!
November Upcoming Events
School Rules
Be Responsible
Be Respectful
Be Safe
Be a Problem
Solver
Be Your Best!
Piper is Paperless Please visit www.piperschools.com and click on the “Our School’s” drop down menu to visit the Elementary School’s
website. There you will find newsletters, building calendar, Parent/Student handbook along with more useful
information.
News from the counselor On October 23, we had our first Character Assembly! Miss Parsons handed out character awards to the most respectful and most responsible student from each class. Students were nominated by their teacher and received an award and a pencil from Miss Parsons.
Congratulations to:
Respect: Andrew Eldridge, Reagan Asbury, Sam O’Neal, Hailey Watkins, Dylan Theno, Sarah Dean, Gavin Hurrelbrink, Allie Hinterlong, Jackson Dissmeyer, Emily Franz, Andy Cox, Bristol Smith, Owen McVay, Linnea Blankenship, Johnson Seal, Danica Jones, Wyatt Camp, Kaylee Smith, George Bryant, Nicole Tolare, Jonathan Gregory, Madalyn Mares, Andrew Ram Lian, Ava Azzeh, Cash Weber, Addison Rich, Baird Greenamyre, Ainsley Giese,
Scott Henry, Danika Thornton, Blake Crook, Isabella Rangel, Owen Traynham, Ciara Cole, Everette Brown, Kiya Wells, Jovahni Perez, Hannah Byers, Jonah Malaschak, Jillian Lancaster, Kai Reed, Mariyah Roberson, Austin Burlingame, Hannah Hankinson, Luke Bullock, Sammy Henry, Andrew Bond, Addie Walker, Trenton Wiehe, Daviana Sank, Akiume Butner, Leyla Carerra, Jacob Patrzykont, Rhi’Anna Jones, Chase Theiss, Riley Eidson Responsibility: Mason Masloski, Samatha McKee, Tate Matthaidess, Trinity McCollough,
Ronin Trusskey, Berlin Joy, Shawn Dotson, Lexi Kohrs, Griffin Allen, Aubrey Eidson, Sawyer
McDaniel, Brynn Green, Brandon Killer, Taylor Evans, Brayson Sestrich, Lillie Cutshaw, Rey Cox, Madi Droge, Rusty Boswell, Lillie Bauer, Westin Haworth, Natalie McCoy, Johnny Vogel, Payton Adkins, Lucas McDowell, A’Naya Brown, Adrian Mnirajd, Lily Jennings, Carson Mills, Inara Barnes, Aiden Neer, Madison Lofton, Boedy Dunn, Nicole Turney, Tannar McDaniel, Amirah Allen, Jackson Turner, Mykaela Lawrence-Brock, Connor Morse, Maci Dunn, Brody Gengler, Grace McCallop, Makao Groneman, Adelle Eikenbary, Jack Wells,
Jolene Mares, William Hutcherson, Teagan Holladay, Ryan Vigil, Cassidy Green, Ethan Gonzalez, Jasmine Leonard, Evan Damron, Inara Supica, Zak Surprise, Lauren Marron
November:
This month we'll be talking about Courage. Courage is:
I will do the right thing, even when it is scary.
I will work at becoming the very best I can be.
I will persevere and not give up.
I will work at becoming the very best I can be.
I will persevere and not give up.
Holiday
Assistance
If your family, or a
family you know is
experiencing
hardship this year
and you would like
assistance with
holiday food and
gifts, resources may
be available.
Please contact:
Amy Bartlow
District Social
Worker
(913) 721-9166 [email protected]
Thank You For Making Our
Fundraiser a HUGE
SUCCESS!!
Singing ~ Dancing ~
Cruising Around the Lake
~ Eating Pizza and
laughing!
PRICELESS
Piper Elementary Pep Club
Piper Elementary Pep Club is brand new this year and we are so
excited! We already have 178 members and it is not too late to
join the fun! The elementary Pep Club is here to enhance pirate
pride by engaging the student body in Purple Piper Pirate
Friday's, youth sports, youth homecoming, school and
community events.
Upcoming events for Pep Club:
11/1 & 11/2 - Youth Superbowl @ Kaw Valley fields (times to
be announced when available)
January - We will hold a pep assembly to kick off youth
basketball and spirit week
April - We will hold a pep assembly to kick off testing week and
provide special treats on testing days
Contact information: [email protected] or
Piper Elementary Pep Club on Facebook
Thank you so much for your support!
Lori Robinson
Box Top Winners!
Winning Classes: Pre-K AM - Mrs. Judy Kindergarten - Harris 1st - Ward 2nd - Denney
3rd - Whaley 4th - Stockton 5th - Kohls Individual Grade Winners: Pre-K: Riley Criger
Kindergarten: Ruby Ayala
1st: Maddie Drodge 2nd: John Vaughn 3rd: Emily Briggs 4th: Chloe Jackson 5th: Jack Ketter
“Like” Piper PTA on Facebook to receive the most current
information. Thanks so much,
Danell Collins
PTA President 14/15
2nd & 3rd Grade
Top Sellers!
Kindergarten &
1st Grade Top
Sellers!
ART WITH MRS. HAWORTH
3rd Grade Fashion Designer used the art of printmaking to create the 15 stars, 15 stripes flag of 1814
on t-shirts to be worn during their music concerts.
November in the music classroom:
The musical arts department fills the halls with the sounds of percussion instruments and singing. The students
are taught to respect the instruments and to play them correctly. It is fun to watch the excitement when the
children use shakers, tambourines, hand drums, the cabasa, rhythm sticks, guiros, triangles, finger cymbals, and
scratch blocks to apply their knowledge of steady beat. The students learn the difference between steady beat
and rhythm.
Other skills studied this month include high and low sounds, loud and soft sounds, and tempo. Elementary
students also explore songs from other cultures, play clapping games, and learn to create simple melodies by
using a variety of Orff instruments. Orff instruments include xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels.
If you would like to know more about Orff instruments, please visit http://www.classicsforkids.com/teachers/
training/offinstruments.asp. ~ Ms. Crouse & Mrs. Telthorst
November Newsletter for Physical Education
As the weather begins to get turn toward the colder months of the year, our students will explore a number
of games played inside. Students in third and second grade will experience hockey. They will learn how to
hold, use, and participate in activities using a hockey stick. For safety, the hockey sticks we use are covered
with soft foam to insure safe play for all. The first graders and kindergartners will be active with games
centered on body movements and learning how to follow instructions. During our Great Body Shop lesson
students will learn what their daily nutritional needs should be. Students will learn how our bodies digest
food and how certain types of food allow our body’s to grow and change as we get older.
PE Fun Fact: Out of the 206 bones in the human adult’s body, 106 are in the hands and feet!
Thank you and happy holidays,
Kellea Neas & Luke Newell
In Technology classes, we will continue making
progress turning Piper Kids into 21st Century Learners!
November Topics:
In Kindergarten we will focus on learning social studies
concepts and early reading skills in game based
programs. We will cover the history of Thanksgiving and
Community Helpers.
First graders will learn more about the First Thanksgiving
and will also focus on fluency with addition skills.
Second graders will be focusing on the history of the
Mayflower and will start learning research strategies.
Third graders will be learning how to use our blog site
and more about digital citizenship including web safety
and netiquette.
November will also be the month when our Mobile
Learning Lab (iPad Cart) will start visiting
classrooms. Students will have the opportunity to use
technology in each subject area when the
carts visit their classroom.
Jessica Asbury Piper Elementary Technology
“A child does not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” ~Unknown Piper TechKNOWLEDGEy Website
Thank You for Attending our
Book Fair !
Book Fair Recap!!
Thank you to all the parents that volunteered to help
with the book fair. It would not be the success that it
is without your help. Also, thank you to all the parents
that
purchased books for teachers and your children. Be-
cause of the wonderful turnout I was able to take a
$1000 worth of books off the book fair. I also have
$2000 worth of Scholastic dollars to purchase books
later in the year.
Again, thank you!
The topic this month is fluency. Fluency in reading is often talked about just in terms of speed (words per
minute). While words-per-minute is an indication of comprehension, speed is not the only component to
fluency.
Fluency has three main components:
Pace/Rate – the speed of reading (words read per minute)
Smoothness – reading words accurately, rapidly, and automatically. Also include having efficient decoding
skills (knowing how to break apart unknown words, apply phonics knowledge and strategies for syllabication)
Prosody – reading with expression and understanding punctuation order to apply the correct phrasing and
voice levels.
If your child still reads out loud to you, listen to make sure they are reading the words correctly, applying their
phonics knowledge to unknown words and they are reading with expression. Reading with expression is most
easily practiced with narrative/story books where the author uses a lot of dialogue.
Happy Reading!
Mrs. Herman
Literacy Coach
Hey Parents! Do you have a lot of junk mail and catalogues that you
would like to throw away???? If you do….
Turn that trash into cash for our school!! Please help us by
filling our recycling bin! It is the green bin
located on the west side of our parking lot.
We need ALL your: newspapers, magazines, catalogues,
mail, and office papers. Our school can earn money and we
can also help the environment.
Thanks for participating in our recycle program!
Important Information cont...
Page 7 November 2014
December Dates:
Dec 18th: 1/2 day school dis-
missal @ 11:30am
Dec 19th:1/2 day school
Dismissal @ 11:30am
Winter Break 12/22/14—1/5/15
Students return to school on
January 6th, 2015
Turn that Trash into Cash!!
Outside Meals & Lunch Schedule
We encourage parents to come and have
lunch with their children. We ask that
parents bringing outside food (from a
restaurant) bring it for your child only.
When only a select few from a class are
singled out,
feelings get hurt.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Kindergarten ~ 11:30-12:05
1st Grade ~ 12:30-1:00
2nd Grade ~ 11:00-11:35
3rd Grade ~ 12:00-12:35
Cell Phones & Valuables We ask that students do not bring cell
phones or other valuable items to school
with them. It is very distracting if a cell
phone is ringing in the middle of class…
The school district will not be
responsible if any valuable item is lost or
stolen from the school, or the bus.
Thank you for keeping all of these items
at home.
Piper Purple Fridays We have a long tradition of wearing
purple on Fridays. Whichever
classroom is wearing the most
purple on Friday is given special
recognition with a banner on their
classroom door!
Show your Piper Pride and let
your purple shine through!!!
School Bridge Before/After Care
If this is November, then the first Parent Teacher Conferences have come and
gone. Thank-you parents for getting your child(ren) signed up for the half day
session in such a timely manner. The School Bridge staff wants to wish everyone
a Happy Thanksgiving. Remember, Together Everyone Achieves More!
Luke Newell- AM Lead Teacher
Sherdine Daniels, School Bridge Director
It is early fall which can mean cool mornings and warm afternoons. Please consider how your child is dressed. Layers work wonders!
Time for sniffles ~ Please consider keeping your child home if they complain of not feeling good with a runny nose or coughing a lot. Some of the preventive measures will help prevent the spread of illness to Others are as follows:
Cover your couch into your elbow area
Blow your nose into tissue and then throw it away
Good hand washing
Remember, the goal is to keep all our students and staff healthy and in school.
Sincerely, Ann Ratcliff
Important Phone Numbers
Office: (913) 721-1243
Fax: (913) 721-3656
District Office: (913) 721-2088
Kitchen: (913) 721-9219
Transportation: (913) 721-9019
November
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
3
4
5
6
1st Grade Field Trip to
the Zoo!
Story Teller visits
2nd grade @ 2:15
7
10
3rd Grade Music
Program @ 6:30
(Williams, Bicknell
& Stucker)
Mrs. Telthorst
Picture Retakes
11
12
3rd Grade Music
Program @ 6:30pm
(Eikenbary, Reese,
Whaley & Catron)
Ms. Crouse
13
14
17
2nd Grade Music
Program @ 6:30
(Martin, Gonzalez
Ziegler & Sorenson)
Mrs. Telthorst
18
19
2nd Grade Music
Program @ 6:30
(Pope, Denney
& Phillips)
Ms. Crouse
20
21
24
Fall Read In
@ 2:45 to 3:15
(bring a good book
& a towel to lay on)
25
No School ~
Thanksgiving Break
26
No School ~
Thanksgiving Break
27
No School ~
Thanksgiving Break
28
1
2
3
4
5
Don’t forget to
“fall back”
Sunday morning!