January 4, 2016
In This Issue
McCulloch Families,

I love the month of January!  It always feels like a fresh start, and our students return focused and ready to learn. It's amazing how much maturing seems to occur over winter break!  

Please take a moment to read the updates below so that you can stay up-to-date on everything going on in our building.

Principal's Post
Updates from Mrs. Golmen

Dropoff and Pickup Changes

Our first week of transportation changes has run very smoothly!  We are excited about the new process and the decrease in family wait times and increase in student safety.  

Please take note of the additional information and reminders:
  • Please make a right turn only when exiting the drop-off/pick-up lane. This ensures that traffic runs smoothly between McCulloch and Schofield.
  • Please utilize the visitor parking spaces when parking to enter the building.  This keeps the bus lane free for busses.  
  • If you arrive after 8:30 am, please park in the visitor spaces and sign your child in at the main entrance.  
  • If there will be a change to dismissal procedures for your child, please make sure that you send a note or call the office as early in the day as possible. Without a note or phone call, students will follow normal dismissal procedures. 
  • No changes will be made after 3:00 p.m., and students may not be signed out after 3:15 p.m. 
  • If your child attends Tiger STRIPES, please also let the Tiger STRIPES office know of any changes to their schedule.
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Changes

While we are sad to see our current president, vice-president, and secretary go, the current officers have completed their two-year position. McCulloch PTO is currently looking for interested candidates willing to serve in these positions on the PTO Board for the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school year. The position would begin in June and would be a two year term. This is an excellent opportunity to become more involved in our school and to provide additional support for our teachers and students, and these positions are vital to the success of our school.  During the upcoming years, it is our goal to provide more opportunities for active involvement in our school through PTO.  If you are interested, please contact principal Brigette Golmen at [email protected]current president Jackie Ondatje at [email protected], or the McCulloch school office at 417-732-3620.  
Nurse's Notes
Updates from Nurse Nancy

Seasonal Influenza (Flu) Peaks Between December and February

While seasonal flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although activity can last as late as May. Taking every day preventative actions will help stop spread the influenza virus in addition to receiving a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older.
  • Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after use and wash your hands. If a tissue is not available, cover your mouth and nose with your sleeve, not your hand.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces or objects. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill.
Making healthy choices at school and at home can help prevent the flu and spreading flu to others.

Source: cdc.gov
PBIS and Leadership

During the month of December, students spent time discussing and practicing Stephen Covey's Habit number 4, Think Win-Win.  McCulloch helps students and teachers think Win-Win through PBIS and our R.O.A.R. Expectations!  By following building expectations, we are setting everyone up for success each and every day.  Thinking win-win isn't just about success for one, but success for all, and PBIS is all about encouragement and support for students and teachers.  Thinking win-win means supporting one another and believing that everyone can win!  It is showing happiness for others when they are successful.  Parents, ask your students ways they think win-win and share some ways that you can use this habit in your daily life.   

Our student leadership team demonstrated this skill on our last day before the holiday break by handing out sweet notes to fellow students and staff as they arrived to school, encouraging them to have a great day!  Success for all!  Think Win-Win!




Literacy Lounge

ReadWriteThink
ReadWriteThink is free and available for parents to use at home or at our local library to help promote reading among students of various ages. ReadWriteThink (www.readwritethink.org) offers activities and projects, games and tools, tips and how-to's, and more for ages kindergarten through twelfth grade. Check it out!

Counselor's Corner
Updates from Mrs. Wilfong & Mrs. McClarnon, McCulloch Counselors

K-2nd Grade
For the month of January, K-2 counseling lessons will focus on skills needed for school success. Students will define "outstanding learner" and begin to explore personal work habits that contribute to success in school and in the world of work. We will also discover our personal strengths and discuss how our strengths benefit ourselves and others. 

3rd-5th Grade
For the month of January, 3-5 students will learn the steps of making a goal. These steps include: 
Set Goal: What do you want to change or accomplish?
Research: What is it going to take to meet my goal?
Plan: How am I going to accomplish my goal?  (What do I need to change?)
Timeline: When will I start and finish my goal?
Self-Assess: How will I check or monitor my progress?
Evaluate:  Did I accomplish my goal? 

Students will also learn that goals can be academic or personal.  Academic goals will focus on their learning and becoming better students.  Personal goals can be anything else. Goal setting gives students long-term vision and short-term motivation. Goal setting will also lead us into the unit on career exploration. 
PTO Plans
What's happening with the McCulloch PTO?
 
Please utilize the PTO Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/mccullochrepublicpto to stay current on all of the upcoming events and support that they provide for our students! 

Chili Dinner and Bingo Night-January 29th
McCulloch PTO is planning a chili dinner and bingo night for January 29th at 6:00pm. PTO is in need of donations for prizes to give away for Bingo. If your business would like to donate an item or gift card to help, please contact McCulloch PTO at [email protected]

McCulloch PTO Board Positions for 2016-2017 School Year
McCulloch PTO is looking for interested candidates that would be willing to serve on the PTO Board for the 2016-2017 school year. These positions include President, Vice President and Secretary. The position would begin in June and would be a two year term. If you are interested, please contact Jackie Ondatje at [email protected] or the McCulloch school office.

Upcoming PTO Events:
  • PTO General Meeting:  Monday, January 11th at 6pm 
  • PTO General Meeting:  Monday, February 1st at 6pm
Please remember that PTO General Meetings will take place on the first Monday of each month unless school is not in session that day.  We hope to see you there!
Improvement Plan Information
How  is  McCulloch  working  to  improve  student  achievement?

We will provide academic performance updates in the areas of literacy and numeracy in our February newsletter.  We can't wait to share the progress our students have made!  We have some great successes to share now in the area of attendance and PBIS.

Attendance
Our attendance for the month of December was 95.27%.  This is an increase of .51% over December of the 2014-2015 school year!  Thank you for continuing to partner with us to emphasize the importance of regular attendance to facilitate success in school!

Positive Behavior Support (PBIS)
We are continuing to emphasize the importance of leadership skills through the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Kids, and respect, learning, safety and responsibility through our ROAR matrix.  During the first week of January, we will be reviewing our ROAR expectations through "Boot Camp".  During this time, student leaders will be presenting and modeling behavioral expectations for all areas of our building.  

 We are excited to share that during the month of December, we had a 29% decrease in office referrals over this time last year!  This means fewer students removed from the classroom and fewer disruptions to the learning process.  We are incredibly proud of our students and the hard work that they are putting forth.  Our December habit, Think Win-Win will continue into the month of January and will promote positive behaviors.  This habit emphasizes balancing courage for getting what an individual wants with consideration for what others want.  We will also focus on making deposits in others' Emotional Bank Accounts and looking for alternatives to conflict.

Upcoming Dates
  • Jan. 5                School Resumes
  • Jan. 11              Papa John's Night
  • Jan. 11              PTO Meeting  6:00pm
  • Jan. 15              Breakfast with Books 7:30am
  • Jan. 18              Martin Luther King Day-No School
  • Jan 29               PTO Bingo and Chili Dinner 6:00pm
  • Feb. 1               Leadership Assembly 2:30pm
  • Feb. 2               Mid-Quarter Progress for 3rd Quarter
Thank you for taking time to check out our building updates this month. Updates and events can also be found on our building web page at: http://www.republicschools.org/mcculloch

Please contact us with any questions, or if we can help you in any way.
 
Sincerely,
                           
Brigette Golmen                                    Alicia Floyd
McCulloch Elementary Principal             McCulloch Assistant Principal