How to Talk so Kids will Listen

Great Class for parents.  This is offered Oct. 2nd.
Please check out the link    KID TALK

Helping Your Child Succeed in School

This webinar will be held on Monday, September 10, from 8:00-9:00 p.m.  and will be presented by two Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Family Life Program Specialists.

Please see the attached flyer and also see the details of how a webinar works at this Extension website: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/families/page/sop-webinar

You will need a computer with Internet access in order to participate, and it’s recommended that prior to the start of the webinar you test your computer’s ability to participate.  These details are covered on the website page at the link above.

Schaller-Crestland Elementary Receives Award!

Schaller-Crestland Elementary School is making
national news!  They have been identified as a
HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) School.

Julie Evans (School Nutrition Director) says that her
school nutrition staff, school professionals and a
representative of the parent organization reviewed the
application.


This effort supports the “Let’s Move” national
campaign to create better nutrition choices and
physical activity in our schools.  Congratulations
to Julie, her staff and school!!

Welcome Back 2012-2013

I am thrilled to be back in session this August.  Many of you I saw at registration and/or open house before school started.....but if I didn't "WELCOME BACK...students and parents".

I read a cute comment on twitter the other day from one of the leaders in education...his quote  "today is the best day of the year...my kids went back to school".  I had to laugh and smile as I'm sure that is how many you, as parents, felt on August 16th.  I must say it was a great day for myself as well. As a parent of 2 elementary children I felt the same way but as a Principal I was more than excited for the new year to get underway. Its great to get hugs and smiles from 200 little ones...no other job can give you that kind of feeling.  I welcomed many new families to our school this year as well as new teachers and classroom aides.

Stop in and say hi and remember if you have any questions or concerns about your child please contact us at the school.   I am excited to meet the challenges our year with face and embrace the moments spent with your children.

Principal Ellen Pickhinke

Mentoring 2011-2012

We have completed another year of mentoring at Schaller-Crestland Elementary.  The eighth grade students at RidgeView Middle School have once again given our younger students a great opportunity to listen, learn, and grow.  We had 16 mentors work with 18 mentees.  The students set goals and worked on achieving them.  Goals included both social and academic skills.  Other activities included games and crafts as well as programs on substance abuse issues.  The younger students always look forward to the time they get to spend with their mentors.  Mentees benefit  from having a role model and friend.  They know they can trust their mentor to listen and not judge.  They also have fun together.  Mentors benefit knowing they are helping others.  It is also a reason to do their best knowing someone is looking up to them.  Of the students who participated in the mentoring program, all showed improvement on self-confidence and most had good attendance and improved academics.  Watching the matches in action shows the positive impact this program has on all of the students.  It is a very valuable program helping both mentors and mentees be successful in school with impact that I’m sure follows them home.  We look forward to another great year of mentoring in 2012-1013.

Sincerely,
Jayne Wilhelm, New Opportunities
Amber Teague, Middle School Counselor
Susan Kalin, Elementary School Counselor

Kids at our school always have fun---I stumbled on these photos as the year ends and it reminds me of the dedication of our staff and success our youngsters!

Week of the young child:

The preschoolers enjoy a story at the public library and some exercies to follow.  

 Callie and Connor enjoy reading in the TK library.

Kindergarten Field Trip-

We went to the Sac City Conservation Building for the day. We got to do a scavenger hunt, a hike on the trails to find out more about plants and nature, we saw animals like snakes, turtles, and birds, and we also talked about Dinosaurs/fossils and had may different activities throughout the day. 

The kids had a great time and really enjoyed every part of the day, we even had a few tired ones on the way home!

Success- we have bonded as a class, gotten to know each other, and will remember our year in Kindergarten, we are so excited for 1st grade!

Our fied trip to the Cherokee Ridgerunners Rendevous

.The students learned about how mountain men survived in the wilderness. They made a rope, shot a bow and arrow, threw a tomahawk, watched how to fill a powder gun, and watched steel being forged into hooks. They also learned about the Lewis and Clark Expedition and how old arrowheads were according to their shape and size. 

Sac County Naturalist, Rene Stroud, brought her learning centers to Schaller-Crestland 4th and 5th grade science

Sac County Naturalist, Rene Stroud, brought her learning centers to Schaller-Crestland 4th and 5th grade science classes.  She  set up stations on biomes and ecosystems for the 5th grade class,  and plant and animal adaptations for the 4th grade class.   The students rotated through each of the stations to complete the activities.  The hands-on materials brought reality to the science units the students had been studying.  Our thanks to Rene for making learning fun.

Schaller-Crestland 2^nd Grades

Travel to Sioux City

          On Friday, April 20^th, 43 Schaller-Crestland second grade students, teachers, and chaperones were treated to a day at the Lewis and Clark Park and the Tyson Event Center for the Shrine Circus performance.  We heartedly thank all the area businesses who sponsored our classes and made this wonderful experience possible.

          The students were excellent travelers and represented our school district very well.  We left Schaller first thing in the morning and headed to the Lewis and Clark Park in Sioux City.  The weather was beautiful. Everyone enjoyed their picnic lunch. The park offered several new and different pieces of equipment which everyone headed for during our recess play. 

          Then we were off to Tyson Event Center! It was quite a sight! The kids were mesmerized by all of the acts, performers, costumes, staging, animals, maintenance, and equipment.  Our eyes were always watching somewhere as the wonder and magic of the circus opened before us!  We thrilled to trapeze artists, gymnasts, lions & tigers, elephants, ponies, clowns, Aerial Extravaganzas, the human cannonball, dancers, tumblers, the Extreme Riders, and many more sights, sounds, and smells only found at a circus. It truly was a terrific time!  Conversations between friends always sounded excited and we all left feeling elated at such a grand experience. 

Then back to the bus and back to school.  Everyone agreed the Shrine Circus was marvelous!  Again, the Schaller-Crestland second graders want to thank those businesses who made this magical day possible!

Mrs. Bisenius & Mrs. Wunschel

Busy month of May for Kindergarten

 The kindergarten classes had several fun learning opportunities during the month of May.  The classes walked to the Schaller Public Library to view the library as well as learn about the summer reading program.  We then walked to the park and had a scavenger hunt and Barb Jorgensen read us a story inside the gazebo.  We ended our visit with a snack.  

     The K-3rd graders enjoyed a beautiful day outside for our annual track and field day.  They had a blast rotating from station to station trying their best at each event.  Thanks to all that were able to attend and cheer us on. 

     Our end of the year field trip was at the Sac County Conservation Center.  The boys and girls saw live animals, went on a nature hike looking for items,  learned about birds and their feeding habits and saw baby birds in a nest.  The classes hunted for fossils, cleaned them, and placed them on a mat to reconstruct the dinosaur they were finding.  We saw how many kindergarten feet it took to fit inside one dinosaur footprint.  The children made dinosaur mask and moved around like the prehistoric creatures.  Everyone worked up an appetite and enjoyed eating a picnic lunch and playing in Hagge Park.  What a great way to end a wonderful year!

TK Field Trip

 On May16, 2012, 26 Schaller-Crestland Transitional Kindergarten students visited Kiowa Marsh and Reiff Park near Early, Iowa.  We saw swans, frogs, toads, turtles, bugs at the Marsh.  Sac County Naturalist Rene Stroud taught students about coyotes, foxes, deer, and bugs that live in nature.  The children learned about bird beaks and insects in hands-on activities at Reiff Park.  On the way back to school we stopped at Mrs. Pickhinke's farm to see chickens, cows, and tractors.  Thank you 
to our 9 chaperones for helping us have a fun and educational day!  

Summer Food Program--Free for all kids ages 1-18!!

Dates:  June 4 – August 3, 2012

              Monday-Friday

Time:   In Schaller:  

Breakfast 7:30 am-8:30 am

 Lunch 11:30 am-12:30 pm

             In Early:  

Lunch 11:30 am-12:30 pm

Location: 

Schaller-Crestland Elementary

Ridge View Middle School (lunch only)

Contact: Julie Evans  275 4267 or  273-5185  juevans@rvraptors.org

MAY 14 is our Elementary Extravaganza

4th grade parents are invited to try band instruments between 6:00 and 7:15 in the computer room by the front office.

AT 6:30  Parents and students need to be in their students classroom for a presentation on Summer School

Following the summer school presentation, please go to the gym for the students to receive their money and the reading awards presentation.

There will be snacks in the saloon in the foyer.  Please feel free to roam in and out of the gym to your child's classroom from 7:00-8:00

You may want to bring your cameras for photo opportunities of your child in our country western backdrop.

On Tuesday, April 17, both 2nd grade classes from Schaller-Crestland attended the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day in Sac City.  Our afternoon began with a visit from Deputy Biede and his K-9 dog, Toby.  The rest of the afternoon was spent learning about chemical, dog, food, grain, and water safety.  It was a very enjoyable afternoon, and the students learned a lot of safety tips.                                   Mrs. Wunschel & Mrs. Bisenius

 

Katie and Chayden learning about grain safety. 

Hannah, Justin, Earnie, Tyhler, and John learning about chemical safety

Terrance, Logan, Anais learning about grain safety with Dani and Kayla looking on

Anais, Brody and Ross are learning about water safety 

 LaRena, Connor , John, Brody, Haylie and Taylor standing with Deputy Biede and his K-9 dog, Toby

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION

I just received a check in the mail for $300.00.  Thank you everyone...kids, parents, neighbors, and grandparents for collecting these and getting them to school.  Your contribution may seem small but when everyone contributes the totals add up.

These dollars are used for special programs we bring to our school and for items that our classrooms are needing.  Thank you, thank you...continue with your efforts!

Principal Pickhinke

Early Childhood Playgrounds will Receive Updates

Schaller-Crestland’s Early Childhood Playgrounds will receive updates this spring gearing up for the 2012-2013 school year.   We are excited for the additional pieces of equipment, benches and learning centers we will be able to add to enhance the outdoor play we currently provide.  We applied for an  Outdoor Playground Improvement Grant through Annette Koster, BVCS ECI Program Director and have received close to $2000.  

A big thank you goes out to Annette Koster and BVCS Early Childhood Iowa for their generosity. 

Thank you for supporting our Early Childhood Programming!

Principal Pickhinke 

Principal Pickhinke helps to build a playground in Seattle, WA

Elementary and middle school principals from around the nation will work together to build a playground Wednesday at Hawthorne Elementary School during the National Association of Elementary School Principals’ fourth annual Community Service Day.

One hundred principals will work with some of their Seattle colleagues to create the playground space that meets the needs of all children.

The service day will take place as a part of the association’s annual conference, which is being held March 22 to 24 at the Washington State Convention Center. The Community Service Day is sponsored by NAESP and corporate playground-equipment partnerLandscape Structures.

Hawthorne Elementary School is a Title I school located in the Columbia City neighborhood in Seattle.

Of the school’s student population, 79 percent receive free or reduced-price lunch, 32 percent are English-language learners, and 15 percent in special education classes. The school features a Spectrum Program, which supports highly capable students, and a program that combined art and technology.

The inclusive playground will be invaluable to the school, Sandra Scott, principal of Hawthorne, said in a statement. It will “allow equality and access for all students, which is what we’re all about,” Scott said.

I was fortunate to be part of this group of principal leaders.  It is great to be able to give back to a school even though it isn't ours.  All principals do this job because we love kids...all kids...so it was a great experience once again.  I learned a lot for the other administrators and from the school we visited.  A life long learner---I truly am!

Spring Concert on May 1st

This will be our last concert of the year for elementary.  We look forward to seeing all of you!
Click on the blue link for further details!  Principal Pickhinke

Congratulations to 4th and 5th grade teachers and students

It is my pleasure to announce that Schaller-Crestland Elementary has been named the Reading Plus School of the Week.  Thank you so much for all your hard work on the program.  This program has assisted many of students in 4th and 5th grade to become more fluent and accurate in thier reading.  I am excited for the students and staff who have dedicated themselves to become better learners.

         Not only am I proud but we stand out from others in the area of education and Reading Plus has recognized our committment too!  WAY TO GO!                           Principal Pickhinke

Reading Is Important

You should all know how important it is 
to read to your children. Children whose families
 read with them have better language and
literacy skills in school. And the bonds
that you make with your children when
you read with them help them feel loved,
comforted, and secure. Like most families,
you want to read with your children, but
somehow days can go by without you sitting down with them and opening a book.
The key is to make it a priority. Here are
several suggestions to help your children
improve their reading skills.
Fifteen minutes a day can change their 
lives. You may be surprised to know that 
educators recommend just 15 minutes 
a day of reading, as a minimum. Like 
exercise, of course longer sessions are even 
more beneficial.

TK celebrated the 108th birthday of Dr Suess by hosting the Cat in the Hat.  She read the story the Lorax to us in March.  The TK kids enjoyed showing her our fancy hats!!

The Cat in the Hat AKA Betty Roeder reading to Schaller-Crestland Transitional Kindergarten 

TK AM:  Front left:  Brianna, Xavier, Jazmine, Daniel, Kaitlynn, Brenden

Back:  Seth , James, The Cat in the Hat, Nora, Francisco, Cole, Ivan, Lauren 

TK PM: Front left: Mazee, Chayse, Kane, Clayton, Matthew 

Back: Conner, Blake, Karina, The Cat in the Hat, Bella , Braeden, Mya 

 

Mrs. Grieme's preschool class has been busy reading and learning about Dr. Seuss.  They have made cat in the hat's for their bulletin board, made oobleck, and had The Cat in the Hat visit their classroom.  She read The Lorax to the children and brought them a treat of rainbow fish for the story of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

The Cat in the Hat (aka Betty Roeder) reads to the preschoolers. 

Next week the preschoolers will be making hats and tasting green eggs and ham.  After tasting the green eggs and ham they will chart who liked it and who didn't.

TV time

Keep your child from passively surfing television programs from the time she gets home to bedtime. Set good viewing habits with these five tips:

1. Set firm limits on how many hours a day your child watches TV. 
2. Don't let your child have a TV in his bedroom or have the TV on for "background noise" while he does homework. 
3. Record shows and watch them later so you can fast-forward through commercials.
4. Lose the remote. Make your child choose a show and stick to it.
5. Find shows that teach and inspire your child to think about life issues. Watch them together and then turn the TV off and talk about them.

As a parent myself it is easy to have children watch too much tv or just have it on and surf.  I hope these suggestions help you to make tv more meaningful with purpose!  Principal Pickhinke

Scholastic Book Fair

Over the past few years we have brought the Scholastic book fair to our school during Parent-Teacher Conferences.  I want to thank everyone who came to the fair and brought books for their children, themselves and for their grandchildren.  Reading books is a life long mission I have for all who enter through our doors.   Thanks to your contributions we have earned over $1000 in books for our school library. Thank you thank you!

Mrs Naberhaus deserves the biggest thank you of all for lining up workers, getting books out and managing the book fair.  Her passion is books!  If you could see her this week is has been doing cart wheels in the hallway by the library excited to have so many dollars worth of new books for all of our Schaller-Crestland kids!

Thanks Again for contributing to our book fair, keeping our mission alive and keeping Mrs. Naberhaus excited and busy with new books in the library!!!

Preschoolers and MOMs for Muffins

The preschool children enjoyed having their moms/mother figures attend school with them on Tuesday, February 28th and Wednesday, February 29th for Mom's and Muffins. 

The children in Mrs. Grieme's preschool room ate breakfast with their moms/mother figures, went back to the room for a story and  a craft.  The moms/mother figures were invited to stay and play with the students for a while. 

Ethan paints mom's hand for a special project 

Claire and her mom paint together

Bo does a nice job of painting mom's hand 

Cody paints his mom's hand nicely for the project. 

 Karen and daughter, Sophia take time to pose for a picture.  

Marissa  joins them.

 

 Blake brought Grandma Diana to Mom's and Muffins 

Desmyn  and his mom read books in the library

Rena Hansen and daughter,
 Raelynn enjoy spending time together. 

Kristina, her mom, and Mrs. Dietering take time to play in the tool center. 

Dental Health Month

 Cody was her patient. 
He showed the class how to open wide! 

 Sally Naberhaus, dental hygentist, visited Mrs. Grieme's preschool room to talk about Dental Health Month.  She brought in tools, various flavors of toothpaste, and her uniform to show the students. They learned about taking care of their teeth, healthy foods that they should eat, and what it will be like when they visit the dentist.  Sally showed them her uniform, mask, and goggles so they won't be scared when they go.  Sally left every student with a toothbrush, toothpaste, sugarfree gum and candy.

Sally shows the kids her tools and uniform 

Thursdays class:  Front row:  Kristina , Blake , Ava Jo, Marissa, Connor 

Middle Row:  Blake , Ethan, Eli , Jasmynne , Cody 

Back Row:  Bo , Raelynn , Claire, Sally Naberhaus, Alex 

Wednesday's class:  Front row:  Kristina , Evan ,Ava Jo, Jordan , Piper 

Middle Row:  Valeria , Connor , Leslie , Peyton , Sophia , Marissa

Back Row:  Jasmynne , Blake , Callie, Alyssa , Alex , Sally Naberhaus