ROLLINGSTONE COMMUNITY SCHOOL 61 Main Street, Rollingstone, MN 55969

Office: 507-689-2171 ¦ Fax: 507-689-2934 www.winonaschools.org

Together We Can!!

It’s Elementary

February 2018

Dear Families,

February is a month filled with lots of educational moments.

It is Black History Month, so we are going to focus on promoting individuals who have made a difference and their accomplishments this month.

It is also I love to Read Month, so we will continue to promote reading.

I plan to tie the two together by getting kids interested in biographies of the important African Americans.

Our theme this month is compassion and kindness, and it is a great month to focus on this with Valentine’s Day.

This week is National School Counselor Week. We are grateful to have Mr. Chapman in our building to share lessons and help our students with their social emotional skills and issues or struggles they may have.

We are hoping for some warmer weather, so we can get students outside to play. Remember to send all the appropriate winter gear for outdoor fun.

Ms. Dawn Waller Lueck, Principal

Friendships, family, and how does that egg crack anyway? Are only few of our Rollingstone Curriculum goals this month!

Our name writing is out of this world, manners, listening skills, and Same and Different are among our weekly routine.

February brings us to yet another level as some of our students are preparing for their spot in Kindergarten 2019 and others are learning quickly from our friends in small group learning centers.

Our gym time is not just playing and running but a great place for learning!

Ask your preschooler about Ping Pong balls!!!

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Ann Meech and Tiffany Brown, Presidents, Kayla Farley– Treasurer

Present: Ann Meech, Tiffany Brown, Ms. Lueck, Gail Henderson, Shannon Schell, Lisa Jonsgaard, Jenny Lehnertz, Mike Lehnertz, Ms. Pierce and Amie Kerns

Ann called the meeting to order at 6:04.

Review and approve November Meeting minutes:

Treasurers Report:

Old Business:

1. National Education Week - Breakfast Nov 15 from 7-8 a. Outcome review

2. Silent Auction – Set-up i. Crystal M ii. Tiffany iii. Ann iv. Gail v. Katie M & Shannon S – possibly vi. Jenny

3. Tables – set up Friday night at 5:00 a. There are 12 at the high school. We have requested delivery on Wednesday. b. Please bring tables if you have access.

i. Bring by Thursday at 5:00. Thursday am is fine. Put in music room. c. Need gym layout –

i. Lunch tables for breakfast ii. Silent auction – around the top iii. Live auction in middle iv. Bake sale and crafts in lobby

4. Volunteers for Saturday i. Crystal M and Tina B– making breakfast until 10 ii. Crystal Hodge- running the bake sale iii. Nicole Severson – helping with breakfast and whatever else iv. Kayla & Rachel - cashiers v. Ann and Tiffany - floaters vi. Gail vii. Amie and Marti

5. Breakfast a. Roasters – need 4. b. Need to start cooking at 0700.

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Rollingstone PTA Minutes December 4, 2017

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c. LP tanks – need to determine if we need to have additional LP. i. Ann will ask Crystal

d. Milk – store in freezer to keep cold.

6. Silent Auction – pay for silent auction items at end. a. Would like to have staff help at this time.

7. Bake sale- need volunteers to bring in items for the bake sale. a. Ann to purchase plates. b. Holiday color sheet - Ms. Lueck

8. Student activities – Starting at 10:00 until live auction is complete. a. Volunteers – Jackie Fisch b. Preschool room – Ms. Lueck to get permission c. Art room – Movies – Emoji & Nut Job i. Ann

9. Live auction a. Need 2 volunteers – b. Food - Put bake sale and left over food at the end.

i. Need Ziploc bags

10. Student council – during silent auction time 10-10:30

11. Microphone – Need to determine if school has one. Will ask Jason to bring one for the auction.

12. Breakfast-Bake Sale / Silent – Live Auction – Dec 9 a. Do we need a basket making night? b. Friday night set up we have – do we want to order pizza for the set up crew on Friday night? Planning to start setting up around 4:30 and staying until it all done for Saturday morning.

i. Crystal M ii. Tiffany iii. Ann iv. Gail v. Katie M and Shannon S - maybe

c. Saturday we have i. Crystal M and Tina B– making breakfast ii. Crystal Hodge - running the bake sale iii. Nicole Severson – helping with breakfast and whatever else iv. Kayla – doing cash at breakfast a long with auction v. Rachel doing cash for the auction vi. Ann and Tiffany - floaters vii. Gail viii. Students can help with breakfast – clearing plates, tables,

d. Supplies – Ann has them all purchased

13. Backpack letter a. Will send home letter this week Thursday. b. Include Big Ticket Items

i. 50 lbs of meat ii. Timberwolves tickets iii. Duck iv. 2 tickets to MN Zoo v. 4 tickets to Science Museum vi. M & M Jacket vii. Student art

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viii. Bench ix. Turkey Dinner Roaster x. Lock Safe xi. School Baskets

14. Day of – a. Bid numbers – Ann need to print b. Bid sheets – ½ sheets c. Starting cash – Kayla

i. Calculator ii. Cash boxes

d. Bid information sheets – need to be updated and printed e. Cash boxes – need 2. f. Table signs g. Printer – Gail can print what is needed. h. Behavior expectations – Gail to print sheets. i. Unlock area with fuse boxes – Ms. Lueck

New Business 1. Do we want to set up a Bingo night in January?

a. Yes, gift card bingo. $200 in gift cards plus snacks. b. January 26th @ 6:30 – Gail will organize.

Ann Meech and Tiffany Brown, Presidents, Kayla Farley– Treasurer Present: Tiffany Brown, Ms. Schewe, Ann Meech, Kayla Farley and Gail Henderson Ann called the meeting to order at 6:06. Review and approve December Meeting minutes: Gail to send out December & January minutes via email. Treasurers Report: Current balances Savings - $13,475.36 Checking - $22,482.88 New Business: 1. Snack gift cards - $25 per classroom

a. Gail Henderson made a motion to approve and Ann Meech seconded the mo-tion. b. Gail will pick these up.

2. Bingo – 6:30 January 26th. a. Gail ordered bingo sheets b. Gail to get gift cards, pretzels/popcorn and send out flyers

3. Whitewater field trip a. Recommended Dates -

i. First choice - June 1st ii. 2nd - Thursday May 24th iii. 3rd Choice – May 10th

Rollingstone PTA Minutes January 8, 2018

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b. Field Trip Registration – Teachers will be organizing the trip. i. What programming is available

c. Bussing – ask Sondra to order busses. 4. Music Concert

a. Friday April 13th b. Location – Ms. Neil to discuss location with Ms. Lueck c. Time - to be determined d. Cookies & drinks

i. Need to order from Hyvee 5. 4th Grade promotion

a. June 6th @ 1:15 – 2:00 b. Cake – Typically picture of the 4th Grade Class

i. Hyvee c. PTA volunteer needed to serve cake and drinks

6. 4th Grade field trip a. Escape room – would like to go there again. b. Could a smaller bus be used to save on the cost.

7. Silent Auction a. Picture crafts

i. Discussion on what should be done with the crafts. 1. Plan to put them out the night of bingo and Spring Concert

b. Total – expenses = $7,483.69 c. Suggestion was not to do individual crafts next year. Consider group project.

8. 2017-2018 budgets a. Kayla to send email to teachers as a remider. Request to use funds by May 1st.

9. End of year party a. Do we want to do a book fair?

i. Consider Usborne books vs Scholastic 1. Can they provide a list of titles or link that would be available?

10. Budget Cuts – Tina Lehnertz joined sharing information about the budget cut meeting.

a. Information will be shared for community members to be part of the budget reduction committee.

i. Would like to see people from Rollingstone participate – please consid-er participating ii. Must apply online by January 29th iii. Decisions will be made by the end of the school year regarding the status of Rollingstone school

11. Classroom Sizes a. Discussion on needing help for Ms. Schewe Grade 3 & 4.

i. Would PTA consider paying for a teacher or aid part time. 1. Combined afternoon is 2 hours. ii. Volunteers – discussion around how volunteers could help.

12. Christmas Tree – PTA needs to take the tree down.

PTA meeting adjourned at 7:45.

Next meeting: Monday February 5

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Front Row: Lilli Garfield (2nd), Kallan Pehler (4th), Zachary Wilken (4th), Jaxson Severson (1st), Isabella Kortsan (1st), Maysa Bruemmer (2nd),

Greta Larson (4th), and Elliott Schell (3rd) Second Row: Dawn Waller Lueck (Principal), Brad Ellings (Phy Ed), Barb Rahn (1st),

Jessica Schmidt (K), Amy Krzewinski (2nd), Amanda Schewe (4th), Heather Reilly (3rd)

Not pictured: Ashlyn Hansel (K)

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How Do I Help My Child Deal with Bad Dreams?

Over the past few weeks I have received parent inquires about concerns that their child has been having bad dreams which effects their rest and performance in school and at home.

How Common Are Bad Dreams in Children?

Bad dreams and nightmares (which are defined as bad dreams causing the sleeper to wake up suddenly) are common in children. One study found that 67 percent of four- to six-year-olds reported having scary dreams sometimes or often, compared to 96 percent of seven- to nine-year-olds and 76 percent of ten- to twelve-year-olds (A study from The Netherlands by Peter Muris).

Piroska Sándor looked at six weeks worth of dream records, collected by parents, from children ages four to eight years. Children reported that 27 percent of their dreams featured negative or upsetting emotions. (Fifty-nine percent of their dreams were positive, and the rest were emotionally neutral). Children over six are less likely than younger kids to tell their parents about nightmares (1).

What Are the Topics of Children‘s Nightmares?

Children with the verbal skills to describe their dream(s) most frequently describe scary dreams featuring: 1) imaginary creatures such as ghosts or monsters; 2) getting hurt or someone they love being harmed; and 3) animals. Older children frequently mentioned scary dreams about imaginary creatures and injury, but they were less likely to mention scary dreams about animals and more likely to mention dreams about being kidnapped.

Across all ages, 70 percent of children said that the topic of their scary dreams was influenced by information they gained, such as seeing a news story about a kidnapper on television. Only 15 percent said their scary dreams were linked to real experiences.

Bad Dreams and Anxiety

Many studies have found a strong link between scary dreams or nightmares and daytime stress or anxiety. In general, kids who are more anxious during the day tend to have nightmares more often. It’s also possible that other factors, such as stressful life events, might cause both more daytime anxiety and more nightmares. Although some theorists believe that scary dreams are a way of working through upsetting material, others say they’re a sign of emotional overload.

How Can Parents Help?

Talk about the happenings of the day. Establishing consistent sleep routines are useful strategies for preventing nightmares in children. Sleep-deprived children are more likely to have nightmares, and scary dreams may cause kids to resist going to bed. Regular, soothing bedtime routines can help kids unwind. There are many benefits in taking a few minutes each night to read to your child, one of which is that they find the sound of your reading voice calming or soothing to them.

Teach coping strategies. Knowing what to do in a tough situation helps kids feel better able to cope. Children with frequent nightmares are often afraid at bedtime. Teach your child to relax through deep breathing, muscle relaxation, or visualizing

February 2018 Page 9 happy memories, fun plans, or favorite books and movies. Some children like counting up by threes or down from 100 to clear their minds. Distracting your child with a positive image right after a nightmare often helps it fade. Some children like having a flashlight, dream catcher, or “monster spray” by their bedside to minimize or manage scary dreams.

Provide a nighttime partner. Jonathan Kushnir and Avi Sadeh at Tel Aviv University gave preschool children, with nighttime fears, a stuffed animal they called “Huggypuppy” and told the children either that the puppy used to be happy and was now sad, so the children needed to comfort it, helping it not feel scared at night, or that the puppy would protect the children at night. Both strategies led to fewer nighttime fears and reduced parent involvement at night. Benefits continued for at least six months after this intervention.

Teach about dreams. Elementary school-age children may have beliefs about dreams that you need to correct. For instance, they may think that dreams are a prophecy of a future event, that by dreaming something they can cause it to occur, or that the bad dreams are a punishment for something they have done. The key idea to convey is that dreams are just thoughts, and thoughts are never dangerous. One way to demonstrate this, sometime during the day, is to have your child close her eyes and imagine—as hard she can—that her thumbs have turned green. Then she should open her eyes and check for a color change. Repeat until your child is convinced that thoughts won’t cause something bad to happen.

Rewrite the story. Children with more intense nighttime fears tend to have strong imaginations and greater difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality. Because they can imagine scary situations vividly, those situations feel very real.

Don’t try to coach your child out of their fears with Logic and Reasoning. They need to be allowed to have their feelings, no matter how unfounded you feel they are. Just telling frightened young children, “It’s not real!” isn’t helpful when the pictures in their head seem so big and compelling. Instead, tell your child, “You’re in charge of your imagination. Blink your eyes and change the story.” You may need to help your child imagine a happy or silly ending to the nightmare. For instance, your child could imagine sucking up the monster with a giant vacuum or waving a lightsaber to make the monster disappear—poof! If memories of a bad dream persist during the day, you may want have your child draw a picture to change the story.

Data and Statistics taken from articles edited by Bonnie Rubenstein, EdD, associate professor at the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education

Congratulations to January’s Winhawk Pride Recipients

Lexis Lehnerts (3) Kallan Pehler (4)

Abdullah Adosari (K) Stentin Roellich (2) Savannah Russell (1)

They were ‘caught’ being good by being Respectful, Responsible and/or Safe

and presented with certificates and pencils by

Principal Lueck

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Congratulations to December’s Winhawk Pride Recipients

Brooklyn Speltz (K) Mya Roellich (3)

Xander Thelen (1) Keegan Baertsch (4)

Not pictured Lilli Garfield (2)

They were ‘caught’ being good by being Respectful, Responsible and/or Safe

and presented with certificates and pencils by

Principal Lueck

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Fun at recess - whether out in the snow or in the gym when too cold.

Caroling at the Senior Center and annual St. Nicholas Presentation

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PTA Fun Night Bingo

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MESSAGE FROM MR. DAHMAN Even though we are only mid-way through our current school year we are already planning for next school year. A part of this planning involves student registration. Below you will find key registration dates for our youngest incoming learners to our high school seniors.

Kindergarten Registration

February 5th - March 2nd STEM & SLIP Application

February 22nd - Future Winhawk Registration Night, WMS 5-7 PM

April 23rd - All Elementary Open House

**Kindergarten students will be assigned to a school in April.

Winona Middle School Registration

Current 5th-7th grade students will receive WMS registration forms on February 12th. Forms are due back on February 15th.

WMS will visit current 4th grade students in March- date to be determined. For more information or questions contact the WMS Student Services office at 507.494.1031.

Winona Senior High School Registration Parent Information Sessions

February 13th at 6:30pm Grade 9-11

February 21st at 6:00pm Grade 8

Registration/Open House Nights

February 27th or March 1st

All 9th graders and 10th graders A-L February 27th

10th graders M-Z and All 11th graders March 1st

Public Hearings on Possible Closure of Schools

On February 1, 2018, the Winona Area Public Schools Board of Education voted to hold two public hearings on the possible closure of schools. A public hearing is re-quired before any school closure can occur.

Both hearings will be held on February 20, 2018 at the Winona Middle School, 1570 Homer Road. The hearing on the possible closure of Rollingstone Community School will be held from 6 pm to 7 pm and the hearing on the possible closure of Madison Elementary School will be held from 7 pm to 8 pm. District officials will offer a brief informational presentation and then will open the hearing for public com-ments.

For information about the hearings, please contact the superintendent's office at 507-494-0861.

February is Pennies for Patients month!

During this event, our school collaborates with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to raise money for blood cancer research. Students will be collecting change, dollars, or checks. Our official start date was Monday, February 5th and our last date to hand in donations will be March 2nd. There will be a "Top Classroom Celebration" for the class that raises the most money per student. Last year, Rollingstone School raised $692. This year, our school goal is $750! The "Dollar Day" themes are listed below. Please send $1 for students to participate in the theme days. Thank you in advance for your contribution!

February 9th: Sports Apparel Day

February 16th: Mismatch Day

February 23rd: Twin Day

March 2nd: Crazy Hair Day

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February 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 Valentine 15 16

12:15 P Early

Release

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18 19 20

6 PM School

Closing

Hearing

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9:30 AM

Classroom

Pictures

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5 PM

Kindergarten

Registration

23 24

25 26 27

5:30 PM

Budget

Reduction

Committee

Meeting

28