February 17, 2012 CALENDAR UPDATE Feb 20-NO SCHOOL Feb 24-Science Day Mar 15-PTA Dance 6:00-8:00 Mar 16-NO SCHOOL Mar 26-May 4 Testing Window for: rd th 3 -5 State Math and Reading th 5 State Science Mar 27-Kindergarten Parent Night 6:30-8:00 Apr 2-6- Spring Break FOR YOUR INFORMATION: Phone Numbers: Wheeler Office Health Room Kid’s Network Counselor (Tues. Fri. and every other Wed.) 402-715-6250 402-715-6251 402-715-6260 402-715-6255 School Hours: M, T, Th, F: 8:30 AM to 3:45 PM Wednesday Only: 8:30 AM to 2:15 PM Visit Millard Public Schools Website at http://www.mpsomaha.org/ Wheeler’s Website http://mps.gwes.schoolfusion.us/ Millard Board of Education Dave Anderson, President Linda Poole, Vice President Mike Kennedy, Secretary Mike Pate, Treasurer Patrick Ricketts Todd Clarke Keith Lutz, Superintendent Asset of the Week –Cultural competence: Child continues to learn about her or his own cultural identity and is encouraged to interact positively with children of different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Message from Mrs. Logan I recently read that there are only 940 Saturdays between the birth of a child and a child leaving for college. Never has the number 940 seemed so limited. I began to reflect on how I currently value the time I have with my own children. Selfishly, I thought about how many Saturdays I have left where I will have a child snuggle on my lap or ask to have their pizza cut up for them. I then shifted my thinking to how am I utilizing those 940 Saturdays to prepare my children for what they will one day share with the world. The 40 Assets quickly came to mind for me. I hope that each of those precious days I am helping my children build integrity, honesty, self-esteem, sense of purpose and cultural competence. My time to guide them is so limited. Today I promise myself that I will cherish this Saturday, and every day, as I know it is now one less day I have with my most precious gift. Kid’s Trivia Each week we will pick a different staff member to feature in the “Kid’s Trivia”. The answer to this week’s trivia will be in the next Growler. Three facts are listed below about Cheryl Headley , Preschool Speech teacher at Wheeler. Two are True and one is False. Take a guess!!! * Mrs. Headley was at a restaurant during a robbery. * Mrs. Headley once shot a hole-in-one at a family golf outing. * Mrs. Headley has played on a tennis league for many years . The FALSE answer to last week’s trivia is: *Mrs. Chapman does have pets!!! She loves her 3 cats very much!! Time is Running Out for Open Enrollment Deadline is March 15 The Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties wants to remind parents that the Open Enrollment deadline for the next school year is almost here. If you are interested in considering another school district for your child, applications must be postmarked by March 15 or delivered in person by 5 p.m. to the school district where you want to send your child. Go to www.learningcommunityds.org for more information and to download an application. THIRD GRADE TECH CLUB CELEBRATION Families of the third grade tech club kids are invited to view and help create more slides for our power points on Wednesday, February 22 at 8 a.m. Eat breakfast at home and then come and enjoy a treat with us as we share our creations with you. Some of the students want to finish up their work on Tuesday morning and the lab will be open to them beginning at 7:45 a.m. HIT THE BOOKS!!! Storm Chaser Reading Program **Save the Date** Wheeler is having a family night at the Omaha Storm Chasers game on April 11th to celebrate our participation in their Hit the Books program. Discounted tickets must be purchased ahead of time through Wheeler and Mrs. Strain GOLDEN SOWER FOR GRADES 4 & 5: Voting for the Golden Sower winner occurs in March. To be eligible to vote, students must have read 4 of the 10 books as well as successfully completed the review forms. To attend our Golden Sower luncheon, they must have read all 10 books and completed the forms by the end of April Each student who completes all ten will receive a Golden Sower T‐Shirt as well as an invitation to our luncheon! A list of the books can be found on the Wheeler website at http://mps.gwes.schoolfusion.us/ and clicking on the Golden Sower link on the left. CHECK OUT OUR LOST AND FOUND!!!! Missing a lunchbox? A coat? Gloves or mittens? Can’t find your favorite sweatshirt? Take a moment to look in the Wheleer Lost And Found…you may find just what you are looking for!!! Millard Preschool Announces Preschool Registration: New Openings for Preschool 2012-13 at Wheeler Elementary Preschool spaces are being added at Wheeler Elementary for Millard District residents. There are afternoon slots available. Title l/Parent Pay applications are now being accepted. Application can be found at mpsomaha.org, under Pupil Services, Transfer and Enrollment forms. 1 5 12 19 26 Breakfast French Toast Sticks Yogurt 6 Breakfast Breakfast Bagel Yogurt 7 Breakfast Mini Pancakes Yogurt 8 Breakfast Breakfast Pizza* Yogurt 2 Breakfast Breakfast Burrito Yogurt Student Lunch A- Spaghetti & Meat Sauce/FB B- BBQ Rib Sandwich* C- Hot Dog D- American Sub* E- Chicken Caesar Salad Student Lunch A- Fr. Toast Sticks w/Sausage* B- Chicken Patty Sandwich C- Toasted Cheese Sandwich D- Turkey & Cheese Sub E- Chef Salad* Sides: Cookie, Corn, Celery, Fruit Mix , Lettuce, Peaches, Apples Sides: Carrots, Sliced Apples, Garden Salad, Pickles, Cherries, Orange Smiles Breakfast Omelet & Toast Yogurt Breakfast Cinnamon Roll Yogurt 9 Student Lunch A- Cheese Pizza B- Mini Corn Dogs* C- Cheeseburger D- Turkey & Cheese Wrap E- Chef Salad* Student Lunch A- Crispitos w/Cheese Sauce B- Macaroni & Cheese C- Hamburger D- Ham & Cheese Sand.* E- Popcorn Chicken Salad Student Lunch A- Chicken Nuggets B- Meatball Sub* C- Chicken Wrap D- Pepperoni Salad* Student Lunch A- Breaded Beef Sandwich B- Beef Tacos C- Hot Dog D- American Sub* E- Chicken Caesar Salad Student Lunch A- Fish Nuggets B- Chicken Patty Sandwich C- Quesadilla-Cheese D- Turkey & Cheese Sub E- Chef Salad* Sides: Corn, Peaches, Carrots, Garden Salad, Pickles, Bananas Sides: Green Beans, Mixed Fruit, Applesauce, Salad, Pickles, Carrots, Orange Smiles Sides: Potato Rounds, Applesauce, Broccoli Flowerettes, Carrots, Mandarin Oranges, Garden Salad Sides: Cookie, Baked Beans, Chilled Fruit Mix, Celery, Garden Salad, Fresh Cut Apples Sides: Corn, Carrots, Mixed Fruit, Garden Salad, Pickles, Orange Smiles Breakfast French Toast Sticks Yogurt 13 Breakfast Breakfast Burrito Yogurt 14 Breakfast Mini Pancakes Yogurt Student Lunch A- Pizza Sticks w/Sauce B- Corn Dog B C- Cheeseburger D- Turkey & Cheese Sub E- Chef Salad* Student Lunch A- Cheese Pizza B- Cheese Nachos B C- Hamburger D- Ham & Cheese Sand.* E- Popcorn Chicken Salad Student Lunch A- Chicken Nuggets B- Meatball Sub* B Sub C- Chicken Wrap D- Bagel & Yogurt Sides: Green Beans, Mandarin Oranges, Sliced Apples, Broccoli Flowerettes, Lettuce, Pickles, Bananas Sides:Corn, Red Cherries, Sliced Apples, Salsa, Shredded Lettuce, Pickles, Orange Smiles Sides: Baked Beans, Pineapple, Broccoli Flowerettes, Carrots, Applesauce, Garden Salad Breakfast French Toast Sticks Yogurt 20 Breakfast Breakfast Bagel Yogurt 21 Breakfast Mini Pancakes Yogurt 15 Breakfast Breakfast Pizza* Yogurt 16 23 Breakfast Cinnamon Roll Yogurt Student Lunch A- Cheese Pizza B- Corn Dog C- Cheeseburger D- Turkey & Cheese Wrap E- Chef Salad* Student Lunch A- Cheesy Chicken Pasta B- Beef Nachos C- Hamburger D- Ham & Cheese Sand.* E- Popcorn Chicken Salad Student Lunch A- Chicken Nuggets B- Meatball Sub* C- Chicken Wrap D- Pepperoni Salad* Student Lunch A- Sloppy Joe Sand. B- Beef Tacos C- Hot Dog D- American Sub* E- Chicken Caesar Salad Student Lunch A- Pancakes & Sausage* B- Toasted Cheese Sandwich C- Chicken Patty Sandwich D- Turkey & Cheese Sub E- Chef Salad* Sides: Corn, Peaches, Carrots, Garden Salad, Pickles, Bananas Sides: Green Beans, Sliced Apples, Salad, Pickles, Salsa, Carrots, Orange Smiles Sides: Carrots, Applesauce, Celery, Peaches, Garden Salad, Broccoli Flowerettes Sides: Cookie, Baked Beans, Chilled Fruit Mix, Celery, Pickles, Garden Salad, Fresh Cut Apples Sides: Corn, Carrots, Sliced Apples, Garden Salad, Pickles, Orange Smiles Breakfast French Toast Sticks Yogurt 27 Breakfast Breakfast Bagel Yogurt 28 Breakfast Mini Pancakes Yogurt 29 Breakfast Breakfast Pizza* Yogurt Free & reduced meal applications available online at: www.mpsomaha.org under Food Services. Paper copies also available at each school. Student Meal Prices: Breakfast $1.30 Reduced-Priced* .30 Lunch $2.05 Reduced-Priced* .40 Extra Lunch Entree $1.35 Milk . 40 Kids Network Students The cost of breakfast is included with your tuition. There is not a separate charge. *Contains Pork Products Sides: Cookie, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Chilled Fruit Mix, Celery, Pickles, Garden Salad, Fresh Cut Apples Breakfast Omelet & Toast Yogurt Millard Public Schools serves breakfast and lunch daily in all District Buildings. All meals include the choice of milk. Breakfast includes the choice of cereal, and fruit or juice. Cereal bars and toast are also available every day. When available, entree choices are whole grain. Lunch includes fruit & vegetable cart choices. h i Student Lunch A- Beef Sticks B- BBQ Rib Sandwich* B Sandwich C- Hot Dog D- Italian Sub* E- Chicken Caesar Salad 22 About our meals 30 Breakfast Cinnamon Roll Yogurt Student Lunch A- Quesadilla-Cheese B- Mini Corn Dogs* C- Cheeseburger D- Turkey & Cheese Wrap E- Chef Salad* Student Lunch A- Cheese Pizza B- Ravioli w/ Breadstick C- Hamburger D- Ham & Cheese Sand.* E- Popcorn Chicken Salad Student Lunch A- Chicken Nuggets B- Meatball Sub* C- Chicken Wrap D- Pepperoni Salad* Student Lunch A- Beef Sticks B- BBQ Rib Sandwich* C- Hot Dog D- American Sub* E- Chicken Caesar Salad Student Lunch A-Taco Salad B- Toasted Cheese Sandwich C- Chicken Patty Sandwich D- Pretzel & Yogurt E- Chef Salad* Sides: Corn, Peaches, Carrots, Garden Salad, Pickles, Bananas Sides: Green Beans, Mixed Fruit, Applesauce, Salad, Pickles, Carrots, Orange Smiles Sides: Baked Beans, Pineapple, Broccoli Flowerettes, Carrots, Mandarin Oranges, Garden Salad Sides: Cookie, Carrots, Chilled Fruit Mix, Celery, Garden Salad, Fresh Cut Apples Sides: Corn, Carrots, Sliced Apples, Garden Salad, Pickles, Orange Smiles Millard Food Service will make necessary menu substitutions as required by a medical doctor’s written statement. Non-discrimination Statement The United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, or marital or family status. To file a complaint of discrimination, call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Menu Subject to Change Produce selections may change due to availability MARCH 2012 Menu items are color-coded according to how much fat they contain, as part of the CATCH program (Coordinated Approach to Child Health). are lowest in fat and can be eaten “almost anytime.” are a little higher in fat and can be eaten “sometimes.” are highest in fat and should only be eaten “once in a while.” Community Corner With the start of every New Year there is a lot of talk about New Year Resolutions. If you haven’t thought about your New Year’s Resolution this year, don’t fret, you can start a “new resolution” any day of the week or any month of the year! Better yet, try starting a New Year’s Parenting Resolution and get your kids involved. This month’s community corner comes straight from the American Academy of Pediatrics. With the rise in childhood obesity, continued parental complaints about discipline and behavior problems, and continued teen problems, such as drug and alcohol use, helping kids create some New Year's Resolutions to be healthy might be a good idea. Here are 20 healthy New Year’s resolutions for kids, which you might talk to your child about trying, depending on their age: Preschoolers • I will clean up my toys. • I will brush my teeth twice a day, and wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating. • I won't tease dogs ‐ even friendly ones. I will avoid being bitten by keeping my fingers and face away from their mouths. School Age Kids • I will drink milk and water, and limit soda and fruit drinks. • I will apply sunscreen before I go outdoors. I will try to stay in the shade whenever possible and wear a hat and sunglasses, especially when I'm playing sports. • I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week! • I will always wear a helmet when bicycling. • I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I'll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt. • I'll be nice to other kids. I'll be friendly to kids who need friends ‐ like someone who is shy, or is new to my school • I'll never give out personal information such as my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the Internet. Also, I'll never send a picture of myself to someone I chat with on the computer without my parent's permission. Teens • I will eat at least one fruit and one vegetable every day, and I will limit the amount of soda I drink. • I will take care of my body through physical activity and nutrition. • I will choose non‐violent television shows and video games, and I will spend only one to two hours each day ‐ at the most ‐ on these activities. • I will help out in my community ‐ through volunteering, working with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need. • I will wipe negative "self‐talk" (i.e. "I can't do it" or "I'm so dumb") out of my vocabulary. • When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find constructive ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or discussing my problem with a parent or friend. • When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk with an adult about my choices. • I will be careful about whom I choose to date, and always treat the other person with respect and without coercion or violence. • I will resist peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol. **For more tips and/or suggestions contact your School Social Worker: Stacy Horsham at smhorsham@mpsomaha.org or 402‐715‐ 8776. Tips for Reading Success February 2012 Read-aloud favorites ■■A Sick Day for Amos McGee Zookeeper Amos McGee always takes good care of his animals. So when he has a cold, the animals go to his house and take care of him. They play games, read to him, and make sure he is warm and comfortable. A tale of friendship by Philip Stead. (Also available in Spanish.) ■■Airplanes: Soaring! Diving! Turning! Readers will discover many different kinds of airplanes in this fact-filled book by Patricia Hubbell. Your child will learn the purpose of each plane, from familiar passenger jets to hydroplanes and crop dusters. ■■Amelia Bedelia’s First Valentine Fans of grown-up Amelia Bedelia will love this story about the goofy housekeeper as a child. Amelia is confused by figures of speech, so on Valentine’s Day, she thinks a “cutie pie” is something you eat, and she can’t figure out how to wear her heart on her sleeve. The first book in Herman Parish’s series about young Amelia. ■■Ten Grouchy Groundhogs After being stuck in the ground all winter, the groundhogs are not in a good mood. In this cute story by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook, your youngster can count backward from 10 as each animal pops out of the crowded den on Groundhog Day. © 2011 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated Let’s sing! Your child might know “The Farmer in the Dell” and “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” by heart — but does she know what words like “dell” and “merrily” mean? She can use familiar songs to learn new words, play with rhymes, and practice reading and writing. Here’s how. Figure out meanings When you sing with your youngster, talk about what the lyrics mean. If she doesn’t know a word, see if she can figure it out from the context of the line. (“Mary had a little lamb. Its fleece was white as snow.” What could fleece be?) Or help her look it up in the dictionary. Write lyrics Your child can learn about rhymes by making up lyrics to favorite tunes. First, have her pick a song and name the rhyming words. For example, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” includes “star” and “are,” and “high” and “sky.” Then, help her write her own rhyming lines. (“Sparkle, sparkle, little moon, where do you hide when it’s noon?”) Finally, sing the song with her. Read song books Ask a librarian for picture-book versions of songs, such as “My Favorite Things” or “Down by the Bay.” When you read them with your child, have her point to things in the illustrations and find the matching lyrics (“raindrops on roses,” “llamas eating their pajamas”). Idea: Encourage your youngster to write out the words and illustrate a song.♥ Story-in-a-bag w These activity bags make reading extra fun. Let your youngster choose a book and place it in a zipper bag along with the following: Add household items and toys that are similar to objects and characters in the book. Your child can use them to act out the story as he reads. For example, props for Stone Soup (Marcia Brown) could include rocks, a small bowl, and plastic vegetables. ●●Props. supplies. Include materials (paper, crayons, scissors, glue) so your youngster can do a project related to the book. He might design a bookmark showing what happens in the story or create a mask that looks like a character.♥ ●●Craft February 2012 • Page 2 Connecting with books ●●Use your child’s experiences to increase his understanding of a story. For instance, ask him to use what he knows about birthdays to predict what will happen during a party in the book (“The kids are probably going to play games and eat cake”). “We live in a tall apartment building, just like the family in this book!” It’s easier for your child to understand a story if he can relate to it. Here are tips for helping him connect with books: ●●When ●●Help you’re reading a book that reminds you of something, point it out to your youngster. Example: “I ride a train like that to work.” Then, encourage him to do the same. You might ask, “Who does that character look like?” or, “Have you ever been to a place like that?” Rearrange a word What do “Abby” and “baby” have in common? They are anagrams—words that have the exact same letters in a different order. Your child can learn to unscramble words with this anagram activity. Have your youngster start by writing each letter of the alphabet on a separate sheet of paper. Then, think of a threeletter word (eat), and put the letters for the word on a table or on the floor. Ask your child to rearrange the letters to spell as many new words as possible (tea, ate). Next, give her a four-letter word and see if she can spell new words using those letters (care, race; hops, shop). Then, switch roles and let her think of anagrams for you. Idea: Have your child keep a running list of all the words the two of you spell— she’ll have a collection of anagrams.♥ O u r P u rpos e To provide busy parents with practical ways to promote their children’s reading, writing, and language skills. Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated 128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630 540-636-4280 • rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.com www.rfeonline.com ISSN 1540-5648 © 2011 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated your youngster find books that are related to an upcoming event in his life. If you’re moving, try Boomer’s Big Day (Constance McGeorge). Talk about how the character feels (confused, nervous) and what your child might experience (packing belongings, meeting new neighbors). ♥ Choosing read-alouds I know it’s important to read aloud to my daughter, but I’m not sure how to pick the right books. What do you suggest? It’s a good idea to read a wide variety of books, from fairy tales to nonfiction, so that your daughter will be exposed to many genres. Books with repeating lines are especially fun to read aloud. Youngsters love hearing, “I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house down!” from The Three Little Pigs. Detailed illustrations, like those in books by Jan Brett, hold children’s attention because there’s so much to look at on each page. And be sure to read books that you enjoyed when you were little. Knowing that you liked a book when you were her age will get your child excited about reading it. Finally, when you’re considering a book, read the first few pages to decide whether you think it will capture your youngster’s attention. If the story appeals to her right away, she’ll want to keep listening.♥ Write an instruction manual My son Rodney loves Play-Doh, and he always comes up with such creative ideas. One day, I suggested that he write directions for his inventions so his friends or siblings could make them, too. Rodney decided to write an instruction manual for putting together a Play-Doh cheeseburger. He took a photo of each step—making the bun, forming the patty, slicing the cheese, and creating the toppings. He glued each photo on a sheet of paper, and I helped him write directions underneath. For example, to go with his picture of a Play-Doh tomato slice, we wrote, “Roll red dough into a ball. Flatten it.” Then, Rodney and I stapled together the pages of his manual. When his friend Jesse came over after school, Rodney showed him the booklet, and Jesse was able to follow the instructions easily. Next, Rodney wants to write directions for creating a real ice cream sundae!♥ ideas for par nt Newsletter #40 e s Easy Ways to Build Assets for and with Your Child FAST FACTS ASSET #32: Planning and Decision Making Youth are more likely to grow up healthy when they know how to plan ahead and make choices. 30o% uth of y d by surveye Search have Institute in et this ass .* es their liv What Are Assets? Assets are 40 values, experiences, and qualities that help kids succeed. “Planning and decision making” is one of five socialcompetencies assets. * Based on Search Institute surveys of 217,277 6th- to 12th-grade youth throughout the United States during the 1999–2000 school year. Putting Planning into Action S ix-year-old Tommy Tighe had a dream: He wanted to create world peace. “Ever since I was four, I had a vision that I could cause peace in the world,” he said. “I wanted to make a bumper sticker that says, ‘PEACE, PLEASE! DO IT FOR US KIDS, signed Tommy.’ ” So he developed this plan: 1. Call about the cost of printing bumper stickers. 2. Make a plan for a loan so that the printer can get paid. 3. Have bumper stickers printed. 4. Figure out how to tell people about the bumper stickers. 5. Get addresses of world leaders. 6. Write a letter to all of the presidents and leaders of other countries and send them each a free bumper sticker. 7. Talk to everyone about peace. 8. Call the newspaper and tell them about my business. 9. Arrange for a talk at my school. Once he decided the plan was a good one, he acted on it. Soon Tommy had a picture of Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the former Soviet Union, that included his autograph saying, “Go for peace, Tommy.” Tommy also sold a bumper sticker to former U.S. president Ronald Reagan. He has since sold more than 2,500 of his bumper stickers and repaid his $454 loan. Not only has he done well, his story appears in the best-selling book Chicken Soup for the Soul, and he also appeared on The Joan Rivers Show. When Joan Rivers asked if his bumper stickers really made a difference, he replied, “So far I’ve had it out two years and got the Berlin Wall down. I’m doing pretty good, don’t you think?” time tog ether Three ways to strengthen your child’s planning and decision-mak ing skills: When your child receives longterm assignments, offer to help her or him plan and make decisions in order to finish them on time. When making family decis ions, use careful thought. Make a list of pros and cons with your child. Give your teenager full responsibility for cooking a family meal once a month. Give your younger child specific tas ks in meal preparation. 1. 2. 3. Next page Who Plans? Who Decides? Write the names of family members who plan, decide, and do each of the following: Who plans? Who decides? Who does? Quick Tip: Help your child set realistic goals. Then make a plan to reach them. Family relaxation activities talk tog ether Meals Holiday celebrations Household chores Extracurricular activities Who does most of the planning, decision making, and follow-through? How can all family members be included in all areas? Helpful Hints Tips that build planning and decision-making skills in your child: • Encourage a daily to-do list. Checking off items can be satisfying. • Allow room for mistakes, but don’t rescue your child from the consequences. • Remember that when children know how to plan, they’re more apt to make their dreams come true. • Celebrate your child’s progress and accomplishments in decision making and planning. FiNaL WoRD Questions to discuss with your child: • What steps do you go thr ough before making a decision? • How do you feel about your planning skills? How can we support and improve them? • Which decisions are yo u currently struggling with? What pla ns do you need to make? More Help for Parents r The Life-Smart Kid: Teaching You ry Child to Use Good Judgment in Eve s Situation by Lawrence J. Greene. Thi help to s book provides practical way g young people develop decision-makin ) skills. (Published by Prima Publishing. “If you deliberately plan on being less than you are capable of being, then I warn you that you’ll be unhappy for the rest of your life.” —Abraham Maslow This newsletter and other asset resources are produced by Search Institute, www.search-institute.org; 800-888-7828. Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005 by Search Institute. Major support for Search Institute’s Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth initiative is provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.