DECEMBER 2018

Thursday, December 6

• NASD Diversity Expressions Contest Continues
  • Please read the Principal News & Notes section below for details
• Anti-Bullying Grade Level Color Shirt Day

Friday, December 7

• NASD Diversity Expressions Contest Continues
  • Please read the Principal News & Notes section below for details
• Tiger Pride Friday! Wear Your Black & Gold!
• 4th Grade Chorus Assemblies

Monday, December 10

• TAG Presentation Week
• 7:00PM - 4th Grade Chorus Concert
  • Cafeteria Entrance

Tuesday, December 11

• TAG Presentation Week
• Aimsweb Plus Testing
  • Aimsweb Plus is the benchmark assessment used in all elementary schools across the North Allegheny School District. Please understand that these results are not sent home. The results are used by our classroom teachers to help drive instruction and meet the needs of all students.

Wednesday, December 12

• TAG Presentation Week

Thursday, December 13

• TAG Presentation Week
• 4th Grade GOAL Field Trip

Friday, December 14

• TAG Presentation Week
• Tiger Pride Friday! Wear Your Black & Gold!
  • 10:15AM - PFA Meeting in the LGI
• Night on the Town Movie Night
  • (Cafeteria & LGI) - Please click here for details

Lockdown Drill

Dear MES Families,

On Thursday, December 6, Marshall Elementary practiced a lockdown drill. These procedures require all staff to secure our school children in designated areas within the classroom. Teachers spoke with the students prior to this drill in order to explain the purpose for practicing this procedure, and we also announced that this drill is only a practice, just as we practice our fire safety drills each month.

The communication between your children and school was done on a developmental level that would not cause students to be alarmed or worried. We also ask our MES families for assistance in discussing this at home with children, communicating that practicing emergency situations helps to keep Marshall Elementary a safe place to learn and to play. With your support, these practice drills are needed to ensure the safety and security of Marshall Elementary students and staff.

Officers from the Northern Regional Police Department assisted us with the drill to ensure that this practice was conducted accurately and carefully. They accompanied us through the hallways to check that all classrooms are secure.

On behalf of everyone at Marshall Elementary, we thank you for your continued support with the safety and security of our students and staff.

School Closings and Delays

Just as a reminder, in the event of a two hour delay, morning activities at MES are cancelled. This includes ensembles that typically meet at 8:00AM.

Also, kindergarten parents - please be mindful of the modified schedule for kindergarten when there is a school day:

AM Kindergarten: 11:00AM - 12:45PM

PM Kindergarten: 1:45PM - 3:30PM

In the event that North Allegheny Schools are closed because of snow or other emergency conditions, the official announcement is provided on the NA website and is also placed on NATV Cable and communicated to local television stations.

Families should also receive notification through the District's School Messenger system. Please make sure your contact information is up-to-date.

Diversity Expression Contest

On behalf of the Marcia Martin Unity Diversity Committee, the North Allegheny School District is pleased to announce the kick-off of the 18^th annual Diversity Expression Contest, which will run from November 12^th through December 7^th. The image above contains a link to the contest rules and entry forms – please note that the submission form for writing has been changed to an online format where students will upload their submissions, while the entry form for Fine Arts submissions can be downloaded, printed and attached to their projects.

Information about the contest are also available on every school’s website in addition to the District’s social media platforms for the duration of the contest.

As outlined in the flyer, submissions are to be returned to the school offices by December 7^th. Winners will be announced in February and recognized at Diversity Contest Winners’ Reception on March 27, 2019.

We are excited to spend time recognizing the ways in which we are diverse as a school community. In addition to the contest, MES students will draw a picture of a flag from their cultural heritage, and these will be used to create a display in our foyer. To prepare your child, you may want to talk with him/her about which country’s flag they would choose to draw in school. As part of the celebration, on Wednesday, November 21^st, students have the opportunity to come to school dressed in their native cultural dress. If your child/children have gym that day, please remember to dress them with appropriate shoes for gym class.

As in the sentiment shared by Malcolm Forbes, students will reflect on “Diversity: the art of thinking independently TOGETHER”.

Thank you for your support .

Outdoor Recess

As the temperatures fluctuate and become colder, it is important that students come to school prepared for outside recess. Students will go outside as many days as possible unless it is raining or when the temperature/wind chill is below approximately 20 degrees.

Help fund the framed artwork for MES TAG (Traveling Art Gallery) through the NA Foundation.

Please click here to learn more about these fundraising efforts.

Click on the image below to read November's Home & School Connection.

Save Your Box Tops

WELL DONE, MES!!

Thanks to your efforts, we earned over $615.00 from the Box Tops program during our Fall classroom contest! This money will go directly to the PFA to use toward many wonderful programs for our kiddos.

The winner of the Fall contest was 5E – Mrs. Groves’ homeroom. They sent in 378 Box Tops and received $30 to spend at the Book Fair, an extra recess, and a trophy to keep for two weeks. Awesome job!

In 2^nd place was 4A – Mrs. McLaughlin’s homeroom with 352 and in 3^rd place was 3G – Ms. Jaskolski’s homeroom with 310. We would also like to recognize all the kindergarten classes for collecting a total of 600 Box Tops. This is the highest total sent in by our kindergarten families in several years. Way to go!

If your child’s homeroom didn’t win, don’t worry. We will have another contest in February, so please KEEP CLIPPING! For a list of all the Box Tops products, go to btfe.com.

Thank you so much for your support of this program!

Wendy Rychel

Bethe Rykaczewski

Remember to check the MES website frequently for Thursday E-Blasts, school activities, and general information.

Click here to visit the Marshall Elementary School website.

Click here to access the Marshall Elementary School Parent Faculty Association (PFA) website.