#PackPride
Last evening, twenty-four 5th grade students participated in their Reaching Higher graduation celebration! Reaching Higher is a leadership program that we provide to some of our 5th grade students during the school day each year. Jeanie Nemeth (school counselor), Cheri Carroll (5th grade teacher), and 5 volunteer mentors from the community oversee this 8-week program. Our students and school are so lucky to have these inspirational, caring, and selfless leaders navigating this program in our school. All of our student graduates were amazing last night as many of them faced their fear of public speaking. Special thanks to all of the parents and family members who took time to affirm our students last night! Click here to visit our Facebook page for some great pictures from the graduation ceremony.
Picture Retake Day is coming on December 1st
Was your child absent on Picture day? You can still order with our Picture Day ID: EVTW8G8SX at mylifetouch.com Want picture retakes? Simply return your original package on Picture Retake Day!
Howell Public Schools Food Drive Is Underway
The Howell Public Schools annual Gleaners Food Drive is underway. The food drive through Friday, December 9. The food drive is organized by students in the high school's leadership class. Last year, the district connected over 20,000 pounds of food items providing more than 76,167 meals to the community. Donation boxes will be placed at each school in the district. If you would like to donate food items for this event, please send in non-perishable items with your child. Featured Items/Weeks:
- November 21st and 22nd: Anything in a Can!
- November 28th - December 2nd: Boxed Noodles, /Mac and Cheese, or Rice
- December 5th and 6th: Canned meat/soup/beans
Please note that these are featured items for the week. However, any non-perishable items are accepted and greatly appreciated!
Have You Checked out ParentGuidance.org Yet?
The Livingston Educational Service Agency (LESA) has partnered with ParentGuidance.org to provide a new resource to families in Livingston County. Through this partnership, ParentGuidance.org will offer a wealth of free resources to each family with a child attending school in Livingston County, including on-demand courses that parents can access to help support their child, on-demand self-help courses for parents and access to an individual parenting coach for up to 30 minutes each week. To learn more about the program, please visit https://bit.ly/3UqDjEZ.
Counselor’s Corner: Jeanie Nemeth
We are embarking on a much-needed break! For some kids, especially young children and children with ADHD, Thanksgiving can be an uneasy experience. The change in routine and environmental chaos can cause big feelings and even bigger behaviors. Here are some typical concerns and solutions to set your family up for success:
- CONCERN: INTERRUPTED ROUTINES, STRANGE PLACES, AND UNFAMILIAR SCHEDULES Solution: Try to stick to your child’s schedule as much as possible (especially eating and sleeping). Prepare your child in advance of any disruptions and keep them abreast of the plans. Use visuals for younger children (pictures that illustrate the activities of the day).
- CONCERN: WAITING FOR THE BIG MEAL CAN CAUSE BOREDOM, CRANKINESS, AND ARGUMENTS Solution: Avoid pacifying boredom with electronics! Think ahead about activities, especially those that get kids outside to move and breathe. Elicit the support of friends and family; encourage older siblings and cousins to engage with (entertain) younger children.
- CONCERN: COMPANY CHAOS CAN BE OVERWHELMING AND OVERSTIMULATING Solution: Whether you are home or away, find your child an “out spot.” Agree on a place your child can go to be alone, read, and decompress.
- CONCERN: SITTING STILL FOR THE LONG DINNER Solution: A multi course meal + unfamiliar foods + grown up discussions = potential meltdown. Provide some parameters (like not interrupting adults), but allow some flexibility (the opportunity to wander away from the table between courses). Consider having a kids table and elicit the help of older kids to keep the younger ones engaged.
However you celebrate, we hope you have a wonderful holiday! This information was inspired by Lexi Walters Wright - for the full article, click here. As always, please reach out for support and information!
PTO Updates
- If you ordered cookies and/or tumblers in our last fundraiser, they will come home December 6th.
- Santa Shop is coming to Three Fires the week of December 5th-9th. At the Santa Shop, students can shop for gifts for their families, friends and even their pets. This year the prices will range from $1.00 - $5.00. The PTO is looking for numerous volunteers to help wrap and assist students with shopping. See the link below to sign up to help. Please make sure a volunteer release form is submitted to the main office by Dec 1st. If you have any questions please email Renee at [email protected]. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0e44aca72da7ff2-santa1
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