Begindergarten and Kindergarten Registration for the 2021-22 School Year
Begindergarten and Kindergarten Registration for the 2021-22 school year is now open. This year, all Begindergarten and Kindergarten registrations will be done online at HowellSchools.com/kdg. On Wednesday, March 10, at 6 p.m., each elementary school will host a virtual meet and greet for parents. Information on the meet and greet will be shared at a later date. To register your child or for more information, please visit HowellSchools.com/kdg. Please help us spread the word the registration is now open by telling any families that you know who have a student who will be entering Begindergarten or Kindergarten next school year.
Health and Safety Reminders
While the number of COVID-19 cases in our state is decreasing, we must continue to remain vigilant with our health and safety protocols. If students are showing any signs of illness, they should stay home from school. Additionally, if for any reason a student is tested for COVID-19, they should not attend school while those test results are pending. Please continue to complete the student daily self-screening included in the Livingston County Health Department’s Back to School Toolkit each morning before sending your child to school. The Livingston County Health Department’s Back to School Toolkit can be found at https://bit.ly/2MTvKZJ. Lastly, please continue to follow best public health practices such as wearing a mask when in public, frequent hand washing, and avoiding large gatherings.
Teacher and Support Person of the Year Award Nominations
Howell Public Schools is currently accepting nominations for its Teacher of the Year and Support Person of the Year awards. These awards honor an exemplary teacher and support staff member who continually go the extra mile to support students and families. To learn more about these awards or to submit a nomination, please visit http://bit.ly/3oJSSYQ.
Vacancies at Three Fires - Join the Pack!
We have two General Education Aide vacancies (12.5 hours per week) at Three Fires. See link below to view job qualifications, responsibilities, and the application process information. Please share with whomever may be interested. General Education Aide - Supervising students in the cafeteria and on the playground.
Welcome Mrs. Tefft - Library Services Coordinator
Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Tefft as our new Library Services Coordinator. Mrs. Tefft comes to us from Voyager Elementary School where she has served as the Building Secretary for the last few years. She has lived in Howell for 11 years with her husband and two daughters. She has a small farm where they grow vegetables and raise chickens, turkeys, and pigs. They also have three dogs, four cats, and one bunny. Some of the other things Mrs. Tefft enjoys doing in her spare time are kayaking, camping, traveling, going to the movies, and reading. Her first day at Three Fires is Tuesday, January 19th.
Thank you School Resource Officers
January 9 was National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. At Howell Public Schools, we are lucky to have the support of two fantastic school resource offices, Officer Banfield of the Howell Police Department and Deputy Schuster from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department. We are also fortunate to have Deputy Lockhart as our Attendance Officer. These three community leaders work each day to ensure the safety of our students while also building positive and trusting relationships with them!
PBIS Poster Contest
When we returned from the holiday break, every student received information about our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Poster Contest and a blank piece of poster paper if they would like to participate. The goal of this contest is to have students visually display what it means to be “safe, responsible, kind and respectful” here at Three Fires Elementary. Each grade level has an honorable mention and our school wide winner will be displayed throughout the building for years to come. Participation is optional but for those interested in designing posters, the due date is Monday, January 25. If you have any questions regarding the contest, please contact your child’s teacher or Mrs. Tyrpak at [email protected]. We are looking forward to seeing the many entries as students seek to encourage their peers to make great behavior choices!
PTO Fudge Fundraiser
Please see the links below for our PTO’s Fudge Fundraiser. Please email our PTO if you have any questions at [email protected] Order forms and payments are due by Friday, January 29th.
Information and Deadline
Order Form
Product Sheet
Counselor’s Quick Tip
Happy New Year! I hope your second week of the semester is off to a great start! As we return to school after an extended break, students (and adults!) sometimes find themselves tired, overwhelmed, and a bit anxious. In fact, young children often struggle with separation anxiety, which can occur at the start of the year or even later in the year, especially after an extended break. Common symptoms of separation anxiety include crying, tantrums, clinginess, and regressed behaviors. Below are some tips to help:
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Make sure your child receives adequate sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests that elementary aged children receive 9-12 hours of sleep per night. Try to set consistent bedtimes and wake up times for your family. A restful night’s sleep helps to keep children’s emotions in check.
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Make sure your child has eaten breakfast (or plans to eat breakfast at school).
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Prepare the night before to avoid feeling rushed in the mornings. It may help to pack lunches and snacks the night before as well as having shoes, coats, and backpacks at the door. Waking up a little early to schedule in some extra “snuggle time” can also be a great way to start the day!
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When bringing your child to school (or saying goodbye before the bus arrives in the mornings), say your goodbyes and leave. Watch your own body language. Be sure to stand up straight and smile as you say goodbye so that your child can watch you and model your actions.
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Make a “good-bye” ritual by creating a special wave or handshake. Leave special notes in your child’s lunch. Goodbye rituals can also be as simple as a kiss on each cheek and a hug. Read stories about saying goodbye. Children may enjoy stories like The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn or Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney.
Wishing everyone a great start to the 2nd semester.
Your Partner in Education,
Jeanie Nemeth
Source: Katie Hurley, LCSW & Julie Tilsner, Parenting (18.8 (Sept 1, 2004)) pg 170
Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/threefireselementary, find our PTO on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ThreeFiresElementaryPTO/, find us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HowellTFE