SEPTEMBER 4, 2008

WELCOME TO A NEW SCHOOL YEAR!

FROM THE DESK OF ANNE M. KREUL

Dear Parents,

We are officially into our third day of school for the 2008-2009 school year! In our first few days we are establishing routines, developing and communicating classroom and school wide expectations regarding learner success, and are assessing students to determine their instructional needs.

Welcome to the following new staff...

Mr. Evans-Head Custodian

Mrs. West-Speech/Language Clinician

Mrs. Christine White - Head of the School Kitchen

Information will be regularly updated on our district and school website. The district site includes information pertinent to students K-12, all parents, staff, and community members. Within our Swanson site you will find calendars, our student handbook, descriptions of programs and services available, and current school news.

Primary parent communication sources with parents regarding new information and reminders will be made through Parent-Link, our automated phone messaging system, telephone calls, individual and group/class emails, written classroom newsletters and notes, and through scheduled conferences/meetings. Our goal is to enable all parents to be informed and updated regarding academic expectations, classroom instruction, and activities available for our students to meet our district and school mission and goals. Please remember to contact your child's teacher if you have questions or ideas to promote your child's opportunity to learn.

Thanks for your help in already establishing the following with/for your children...

Adequate sleep schedule to sustain energy to learn!

Balance of academic and play opportunities.

Focus on nutrition-starting the day with breakfast and encouraging healthy snacks and lunch choices.

Routines established for after school in preparation for the next day to include completing assignments, reading, and organizing materials.

Expectations that learning is not always easy, education is an expectation and right of every student, our future depends on individual and collective student and staff efforts, and that everyone must be treated with respect and supported in our school.

Please join our Parent Teacher Organization. Your involvement will send a positive message to your child that learning is valued! The first PTO meeting will be held on October 21 at 6:30pm at Swanson.

I am confident that this will be an extraordinary year of learning for all Swanson students. I look forward to seeing you.

Sincerely,

Anne M. Kreul

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - NEW POLICIES AND REMINDERS...

* This year we are asking parents not to send party invitations to school for distribution by your child or teacher. It is very discouraging for our students and your own child to be left out of opportunities outside of the day. We are proud of our "PEACE" community here at Swanson and will continue to do all we can to make sure students are never feeling left out. Also, through direct parent-to-parent contact you will be aware of what your child is being invited to as well as location, which promotes student safety. By joining PTO you receive a student directory with all children's names, addresses, and telephone numbers.

* If you wish to donate playground equipment to your child's classroom we will be accepting the following-footballs, soccer balls, basketballs, and jump ropes. All children in the class will be able to enjoy extra/additional equipment to use for exercise and community building. Thank you!

 The equipment(donated) will be labeled by room and not returned.

DATES TO REMEMBER - SEPTEMBER

NEWS FROM THE HEALTH ROOM

As  we start out the new school year please take the time to check your child's head for lice. You can do this by parting their hair down to the scalp in multiple areas through out their hair and checking for minute lice ( sesame seed size) or nits/eggs. Nits look like dandruff and can be white, yellow, tan or brown in color. Unlike dandruff that can be brushed off easily nits will not come off the hair shaft without forcefully pulling them off.  Excessive itching of the scalp or scabbed areas on the scalp are warning signs. Pay close attention to the areas around the ears and the nape of the neck. Please periodically check your child throughout the school year. If you are unsure of what you are looking for or have any questions please contact the health room at 789-3283. Remind your child not to share hats, scarves, coats, combs, brushes or any hair accessories.  Have a great school year.

 MARKET DAY NEWS

Our first Market Day pick-up will be on Monday, September 8th.  We will be extending our pick-up hours to 5:30 this month.  As always, we are in need of volunteers to help during pick-up.  If you can give even an hour or two, please call or email Cathy Rayburn:  rayburnc@elmbrookschools.org or 262-782-0090.

 DESTINATION IMAGINATION NEEDS YOU!!!

Last year, the PTO and the Elmbrook Education
Foundation funded a pilot program for Swanson Elementary to kick off a
Destination Imagination program for Grades 3-5.  Destination Imagination
is an after school program that focuses on student leadership, creativity
and problem solving.  Teams are formed to work together to solve a
complex challenge over a 8-12 week period and practice improvisation
skills by solving "on-the-spot" mini challenges.  Students are encouraged
to lead their own meetings and make their own decisions by a parent
coordinator who helps guide them.  This is a student led program and is
best suited to students who are self motivated.  Two teams were formed
last year and they went to the Regional Competition and did fantastic!
Unfortunately, many of our parent volunteers have transitioned to the
Middle School and are not available to help this year.  In order to
continue this program at Swanson, we need parents who would like to
volunteer to work with the kids.  Taking a leadership role in the program
is the only way to guarantee that your child is placed on a team.
Materials will be purchased for you to review prior to the start of the
DI season.  Parent training is held in early November.  Weekly team
meetings start in late October and run through the regional competition
in March.  A perfect fit for something to do during the off season for
soccer! It is important that we assess the interest level for this
program as soon as possible to ensure that materials can be received in
time for the start of the DI season.  If you think this program is right
for your child, PLEASE call Laura Schmidt at 262-785-6659 (or
laura.schmidt@email.com) as soon as possible for more information.

 5th GRADE SWANSON SUPER SINGERS

Welcome, 5th grade families!  ALL 5th grade students are heartily invited to join SWANSON SUPER SINGERS (Chorus)!  It's a non-auditioned, vocal team that rehearses and performs in a safe, stimulating, and enjoyable environment.

SWANSON SUPER SINGERS aim for 4 goals:

1. Experience the joy of musical expression and artistic accomplishment

2. Reach our maximum musical potential through the development of vocal, movement, and literacy skills

3. Achieve camaraderie through the discipline of performing in ensemble with our peers - TEAMWORK!

4. Meet local, state and national educational standards through the performance of distinctive, developmentally appropriate music

SWANSON SUPER SINGERS rehearse on RED and YELLOW days at 3:00 in room 112.

SCHEDULE:

Th., Sept. 4th (YELLOW) voice placement for Geers and Lautenschlaeger students

T, Sept. 9th (RED) voice placement for Mikulecky and Marinello students

F, Sept. 12th (YELLOW) entire team rehearses together

Your son or daughter will soon be bringing home a Chorus Registration and Fee form, due on Thursday, Sept. 25th.  Fee is $10.  (YES!  Students who are members of SWANSON SUPER SINGERS may also be enrolled in Swanson's 5th grade band OR orchestra!)

Mrs. Lavender, General Music/ACE/Super Singers

"Parlez-vous français? "

REGISTER TODAY FOR FRENCH!

 PAGE - Parent Advocates for Gifted Education

CESA #1 Parent Advocates for Gifted Education (PAGE) will be holding an open panel discussion of topics such as the role of parents as advocates for their children, conducting successful parent/teacher conferences, improving communication between parents and teachers, addressing homework and assignments, and programming in the classroom to meet the learning needs of academically advanced students.  Share and learn about what is happening in several school districts, and how we can all work together to achieve student growth.  Panel members will include experienced parents, Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted President, and CESA #1 PAGE Co-Chairs. 

The meeting will be held on September 11th at 6:30 p.m., at the Education and Community Center, 8255 W. Forest Hill Ave, Franklin WI. 

Member districts include Elmbrook, Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Muskego-Norway, Racine Unified, South Milwaukee, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, West Allis/West Milwaukee, and Whitnall