Extra curricular activities are in full swing here! Our Little Rebel basketball and cheer programs are both having great seasons. Games resume this weekend following a break for the holidays. This is a wonderful league, which is run through Millington First Baptist, and we are so fortunate to be associated with it. The boys and girls love it! Sign ups for spring soccer will be coming soon! We have several after school camps coming up this semester. Be on the lookout for information on art, legos, sewing, hand chimes, and more!
Lower school chapel this week was led by Pastor Michael Pence from Covington First United Methodist Church. He talked with our boys and girls about fear. He reminded us that God is always with us, and we should come to Him for comfort to calm our fears. Our fifth graders did an amazing job leading our songs today! We are so very thankful and grateful for Mrs. Dawn for how she teaches us music so well and coordinates our chapels.
PE students had fun this week inside the gym on these cold days. Golf fundamentals were the focus, and they did a great job learning to putt. First grade read Snowmen at Night and wrote what they thought their snowman did at night. These are super cute and are decorating our big hallway bulletin board. Our 2K students made snowflakes to show how uniquely God created them and us.
As we settle into this new semester, I would like to challenge you to a few goals for the new year. Please continue these tasks or start them if you have not been doing them. I promise you will see the benefit in so many ways:
- Listen to your child read for 20 minutes each night or read to your child, if they are too young to read independently to you (paper books are better at improving cognitive skills (comprehension, retention, and vocabulary) than electronic devices). Reading each night influences academic success, improves writing skills, stimulates the imagination, stimulates a child’s creativity, and helps everyone relax at bedtime. You will cherish these memories in the years to come!
- Practice memorization skills every night. Practice spelling words, math facts, and sight words or vocabulary words a little every single night. You will see huge improvements in your child’s academic work and confidence in those skills. Math facts are best practiced on paper flash cards, not electronically. Grades 2-5 should know their grade level facts without counting on fingers or using other tools. These need to be memorized for long term success.
- If your grade level utilizes IXL, practice, practice, practice. This can be standard specific, and your child can practice and work on areas needed for practice or enrichment.
Doing these simple things each night will make a huge difference in your child’s ability to read, comprehend, and do math problems with ease. It will be time well spent, I promise.
Reminders:
No school on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
Middle school homecoming is Tuesday, January 21, and high school homecoming is Friday, February 7.
Class pictures are next Wednesday, January 22. Please wear a regular uniform shirt, NOT a chapel t-shirt on this day.
PTO’s annual daddy/daughter dance is Saturday, February 1, at 6:00 in the MPR, and the mom/son glow party is Saturday, March 22, at 6:00 in the gym.
