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The Pirate Post
February 2025
February 1, 2025
Shughart Elementary's Treasure Trove of News. In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find a message from the administration, updates from our PE teacher, School Counselor, Information Specialist, Art teacher, School Nurse, and Educational Technologist, as well as school news, February events, lunch menus, and additional resources.
Dear Shughart Family,
As we step into the month of March, often synonymous with the excitement and unpredictability of March Madness in the world of basketball, I can't help but draw parallels to the incredible work happening within our school. Just as teams across the nation are giving their all on the court, our teachers and students are demonstrating the same level of dedication, teamwork, and perseverance in their daily endeavors.
March Madness is a time of intense competition, strategic plays, and moments of brilliance. Similarly, our classrooms are buzzing with innovative teaching methods, collaborative projects, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Our teachers are the coaches, guiding and inspiring our students to reach new heights, while our students are the players, showing resilience and determination to achieve their goals.
Let's take a moment to celebrate the victories, both big and small, that we witness every day. Whether it's a student mastering a challenging concept, a teacher implementing a new and effective teaching strategy, or a successful school event, these are our moments of triumph.
As we navigate through this month, let's continue to support each other, share our successes, and learn from our challenges. Together, we are creating an environment where everyone can thrive and succeed.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment and hard work. Let's make this March a month to remember!
Warm regards,
Shughart Administration Team
February Is American Heart Month!
Our Shughart Pirates and families will be participating in the American Heart Association Heart Challenge to raise awareness about heart disease!! Our Pirates will be working on their fitness skills to increase their knowledge on heart healthy activities in PE class!
We will celebrate the National Wear Red Day for American Heart Month on the first Friday of February, February 7th!!
Be on the lookout for more information in the next coming weeks!
Ms. Brocious, PE Teacher beth.brocious@dodea.edu
Flexible Thinking or Stuck Thinking
Changes are always being taking place, so we are constantly learning how to be flexible in our thinking. Stuck thinking is being unable to change what we are doing or thinking based on what we are doing or thinking based on what is happening around us. Teaching flexibility starts with understanding there are choices, options and different ways to look at a situation. Flexible thinking is being able to adapt our behaviors in the moment depending on the situation and the people in it. This means a change of plan or try a different solution to a problem. Flexible thinking helps build resilience and tackle the unknown and unexpected. Flexible thinking teaches kids to switch gears and look at the things differently and the ability to "unlearn" old ways of doing things.
When parents think about things in a different way, children learn to be flexible, too.
- SHARE flexible thinking with your child...
- Talk about options and offer choices
- Talk about different ways to look at situations
- Ask your child to be flexible...
- What else could you say?
- What else could you do?
- Pause and Think of new ways to...
- Put away toys
- Play with a ball or other toy
Flexible thinking helps build resilience in children. Flexible thinking helps us solve problems better by finding alternative ways to handle them.
Mrs. McIntyre, School Counselor vonne.mcintyre@dodea.edu
The Information Center is using a new library management system. Destiny (the previous system) is no longer active for book searches and other functions. The name of the new system is MackinVision. It has some nice tools to help students select books to read at home and school. MackinVision can be accessed from ClassLink (open the Information Center folder) or the Shughart ES home page.
We are excited about this new App and hope that students will be able to enjoy a valuable reading experience through MackinVision. A demo email on how to use MackinVision will be sent to parents soon.
Many of our students have overdue books. Please check your emails for overdue book notices and return the books ASAP. The overdue notices are sent to the email address you provided when you registered your children. If you have questions or concerns about books, please reach out to Dr. Ray at sandra.ray@dodea.edu and she will respond to you as soon as she is available.
Art club: Group 2 begins February 4th. They will meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 4.
K-5: All grade levels will begin a heart themed project for February.
Kindergarten and first grade will make heart shaped forms using air dry clay. We want to practice fine motor skills required to make a slab of clay, cut out a heart shape, and round the edges. We will finish by painting it. This will be practice for a larger clay project we have next.
Second and third grade will be using a heart shaped stencil to create a textured sponge painted background. They will add detail with brushes to make it more interesting. A message or drawing of your student’s choice will be added to the middle of the heart. We are focusing on using texture and color to place emphasis on the heart in the middle. We will also discuss that art can have a purpose and create an emotional response from people.
Fourth and fifth grade will explore printmaking this lesson. They will create a printing plate out of foam by making a design with recessed areas. The design will focus on using a heart shape, and it must contain text. The text will give them the opportunity to use their problem-solving skills. You must do it correctly or it will print backwards. Each student will be required to pull at least 4 prints of their design. They can decide whether to keep them all or share them as valentines/artworks.
Mr. Reeves, Art Teacher daniel.reeves@dodea.edu
BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE! As we navigate the chilly winter months, it's important to ensure our students stay warm and healthy. Here are some tips to help your child dress appropriately for recess, PE, and other outdoor activities:
- Layer Up: Encourage your child to wear multiple layers. This allows them to adjust their clothing to stay comfortable throughout the day. A good combination includes a base layer, a warm sweater or fleece, and a waterproof outer layer. A lightweight jacket or sweater is perfect for in the classroom!
- Warm Accessories: Don't forget hats, gloves, and scarves! These accessories help protect against the cold and keep your child cozy during outdoor activities. However, adjust clothing for your activity level.
- Proper Footwear: Make sure your child wears socks and closed-toe shoes.
- Label Clothing: To avoid lost items, label your child's clothing with their name. This makes it easier to return any misplaced items.
Nurse Lori, School Nurse lori.medeiros@dodea.edu
As we begin the second semester of the school year, we want to ensure that our students are fully prepared to make the most of their learning opportunities. Here are some important Chromebook reminders to help keep things running smoothly:
- Charge Nightly: Please remind your child to charge their Chromebook every night. A fully charged device is essential for participating in daily lessons and activities.
- Handle with Care: Encourage your child to handle their Chromebook with care. Remind them to avoid eating or drinking near the device and to store it safely when not in use.
- Report Issues Promptly: If your child encounters any technical issues with their Chromebook, please report them to your child's teacher, or Mrs. Smith-Sease. Prompt reporting helps us address problems quickly and minimize disruptions to learning.
- Monitor: Chromebooks are designated for academic purposes and practice. Please remind your child to remain on approved websites.
- Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with any communications from the school regarding Chromebook usage and policies. This ensures that you and your child are aware of any changes or important information.
Mrs. Smith-Sease, Educational Technologist danielle.smith-sease@dodea.edu
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| School Hours | Regular Hours | Wednesday Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Office Hours | 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
| PK - 5 | 8:20 a.m. - 2:50 p.m. | 8:20 a.m. - 1:55 p.m. |
| Early Checkout Ends | 2:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. |
Wednesdays are Early Release days
| Cafeteria Hours | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | 7:45 a.m. | 8:15 a.m. |
| Lunch | 10:30 a.m. | 12:30 p.m. |
