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 abartlow@piperschools.com

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: piperpepclub@gmail.com 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!