Mustang Memo - 10/7/22

The Department of Health (DOH) requires schools to inform families and students about  COVID-19 case numbers and potential outbreaks. This week, there were a total of zero confirmed cases at our school. The accuracy of our data depends on self-reporting. Thank you for continuing to let the school know if your child tests positive for COVID-19. To view additional information, including school and district trends visit the District’s COVID-19 data dashboard. The dashboard is updated weekly on Monday evenings. 

If your child is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19  keep them home and test for COVID-19. Families can order free COVID-19 tests from the state. Together, we can keep our schools healthy and safe.

We wanted to let you know the air quality index reached 110 this afternoon.  In following Public Health Guidelines for Schools, we kept students inside during PM recess with health conditions (health conditions include asthma and other lung disease, respiratory infection, heart disease, and diabetes).

Students in Grades K, 1 and 5 participate in Universal Highly Capable Screening each fall in their regular classrooms. Students in all other grades must be referred before the Highly Capable Department will screen and assess them. All students, even those who are universally screened, need permission from their guardian to participate in Step 2 of the Eligibility Process: Assessment. The deadline to refer a student for screening is October 14 at 4:00pm.

You may refer and give permission to assess by filling out the form at the following link: https://www.nsd.org/schools/programs-services/highly-capable-services/eligibility/referral

Have questions? Contact Veronica Webb (Moorlands EAP Representative, HiCap Parents Council) at elementalcolor@gmail.com or contact the HiCap Department at hicap@nsd.org

  

We are planning to start having in person, before school work sessions for students to work together and with volunteers on the bi-weekly math challenge problems beginning Oct. 26th and then every other week (if we have enough students interested).

If you are interested in having your student participate in this before school work session send them to Mrs. Pearia's room  (room 601 by the playground) at 8:40am starting Wednesday, Oct. 26th. 

If your student is interested in participating in our Math challenge program this year you can follow these easy steps:

• There are 2 options to getting the problem sets:

  • Print from the school website:  https://www.mathinaction.org/moorlands.html
    Just click the 'Current Math Challenge' button on the website to find the link to the problem set.

  • Pick up at school:

    • This week, starting October 12th, there will be a table outside Mrs. Pearia's classroom with copies for kids to take home.

    • Kids can pick up a hard copy starting at 9am before class starts, outside of Mrs. Pearia's classroom (#601 next to the playground).

  • Starting Wednesday Oct. 26th (Challenge 3). We will open up the classroom at 8:40 for work sessions.
     

• There are 2 options for returning the work:

  • Email 'Complete' to mathchallenge@moorlandspta.org by the due date.

    • Include the following on the email: child's name, grade, teacher's name, and number of problems solved.

    • Notice that there is no need to attach a copy of the work done, as parents can check the answers online.

  • On the due date, kids can drop-off the papers before class starts, outside of Mrs. Pearia classroom (#601 next to the playground).  There will be a table outside the classroom to return the paperwork.

• Solution will be available online at the school website https://www.mathinaction.org/moorlands.html
  Just click the 'Current Math Challenge' button on the website to find the link to the solution of the problem set.

For any questions (including math problems), email to mathchallenge@moorlandspta.org or post at our Facebook page.   

If you are interested in volunteering to help (you must be a district approved volunteer), please email mathchallenge@moorlandspta.org.

Happy calculating!!!
Marta B. & Mrs. Pearia

October is Bullying Prevention month. Please continue to talk with your children about bullying throughout the year.  If they can identify bullying when it happens, it will be easier to tell an adult or stand up for themselves and others. When talking about bullying with your children, it is best to be proactive and ensure that they know what to do if they are ever being bullied or see bullying happen. The first and most important thing to ensure your child learns is to tell an adult immediately if they experience or witness bullying. Remind them that this is unsafe behavior, that reporting it does not make them a tattletale, and that they won't get in trouble for telling an adult. Another important thing for children to remember if they see or experience bullying is to stay calm. Bullying back or responding angrily can make things worse. If your child experiences bullying, other strategies they can use include walking away, directly telling the person to stop, or using humor to diffuse the situation. Remind your child that if they see bullying, it is important not to participate or be a passive bystander. Sometimes, the person doing the bullying behavior is looking for approval or laughs from the crowd. It is best to stand up for the person being bullied and to tell the person doing the bullying to stop and that what they are doing is not funny or okay. If they are uncomfortable speaking they can remove themselves from the situation and when possible, help the target get away from the situation as well.  

Adults play a crucial role in the success of bullying prevention efforts, but it is not always clear how to help. Below are some resources to support you:

Websites:

•https://www.stopbullying.gov/

•https://www.pacer.org/bullying/

•https://www.nobully.org/

The link below will take you to a page with great info and videos to support you if your child witnesses bullying, is being bullied, or is bullying:

https://www.cfchildren.org/resources/bullying-prevention-information/
 

Books For Parents:

• 8 Keys to End Bullying: Strategies for Parents & Schools By Signe Whitson
• The Bullying Breakthrough: Real Help for Parents and Teachers of the Bullied, Bystanders, and Bullies By Jonathan McKee
• Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy By Emily Bazelon

 

Books for Children:

“Llama Llama And the Bully Goat” by Anna Dewdney
“Bully B.E.A.N.S” by Julia Cook
“My Secret Bully” By Trudy Ludwig
“One” By Kathryn Otoshi
“The Recess Queen” By Alexis O Neil
“Giraffes Can't Dance” By Giles Andreae 
“Nerdy Birdy” By Aaron Reynolds
“Confessions of a Former Bully” By Trudy Ludwig
“The Weird, Tough, Dare series” By Erin Frankel 
 

Thank you so much for your partnership! With everyone's collective effort, I truly believe that we will make a difference and help end bullying behaviors. ~Ms. Gerlinger
 

This week:
October 10 Indigenous Peoples’ Day 
October 10 World Mental Health Day

The library system sent out a reminder this past week for books your Mustang(s) has out.  Return books after they are read.  We only ask for a replacement if the book is damaged or lost forever.

K-2nd graders have clear bags to store their library books in.  These should come back to the library each week. 

We are still looking for every other weekly commitment to help out with these classes:
Mrs. Klein's 5th grade class (Wednesdays 9:20-10:05)
Mrs. Wytko's 2nd grade class (Thursdays 2:15-3:00)

Please contact Veronica Webb at veronica.fine.webb@gmail.com if interested 

Celebrate your child's birthday and support the Moorlands Library! We will be continuing the online model through an Amazon Wish list Ms. Schroeder has put together.  (You are more than welcome to purchase the hardcover copy at your favorite bookstore as well.)  By donating to the Birthday Book Club, you will endow our school library with a book chosen by your child. Once purchased, the book will be processed and cataloged.  During the month of your child’s birthday (or summer half birthday), a Birthday Book Club bookplate will be placed inside stating that it was donated to the Moorlands Library. Your child will be the first student to read the new book before it is returned to the library for all to enjoy.

Each year in Northshore schools, students in grades Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 receive hearing and vision screenings. We are currently scheduled for vision and hearing screenings on OCTOBER 17TH, 2022. If you would like to exempt your child from either of these health screenings, please contact the school nurse at dgundersen@nsd.org.  

These are basic screenings and are designed to identify students who may require further testing. They are not intended to replace regular exams by qualified health care providers. A student who does not pass the screening will be rechecked, and you will be notified only if there are concerns after the second screening. 

If your child wears glasses or contact lenses, please be sure they have them on the screening day. If your child has hearing loss and is being followed by a healthcare provider or specialist and you do not wish for them to participate in the screening, please let the school nurse know. 

We will need 5 volunteers to help on Health Screening Day. Please email the nurse if you are interested. All volunteers in the Northshore School District must complete a volunteer application and background check. Please let the office know when you have submitted your volunteer application. We are excited to welcome volunteers back this year to help support our staff and students! 

As we are all getting settled into the routine of things I wanted to remind you that you can now report an absence online.  Just click the link and fill out the form.

• Single day absence

• Pre-arranged absence (3 or more days)

School Meal Accounts - Register on Titan

NSD moved from PayPams to Titan in 2020 but many families have not registered in Titan yet due to meals being free for the last two years. All account balances were transferred automatically from PayPams to Titan, but families need to register in order to view or add money to student accounts.

Apply for Free & Reduced Price Meals

Families will need to reapply for benefits by the end of September.