March 2009


KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR 2009-2010: In an effort to plan early for next school year, Glendive Elementary Schools will conduct a registration for students who will be eligible to attend kindergarten this fall (must turn 5 years of age on or before 9/10/08). The is a REGISTRATION ONLY AT THIS TIME. Parents will need to bring their child's birth certificate and immunization record - it is NOT necessary to bring your child to registration. Lincoln School area may register in the Lincoln gym on Wednesday, March 5, Thursday, March 6, or Friday, March 7 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Please use the Nowlan Avenue entrance. We encourage you to register your children at this time to help in planning for staff and materials. Screening for Kindergarten students will be held on April 24 at Lincoln School.

MEASURED PROGRESS TESTING: During the week of March 10-14 all third and fourth grade students in the district will take Measured Progress Tests in reading, science, and math. These tests are designed to determine yearly progress and to
measure their progress in relation to Montana Standards. It is important that all third and fourth graders are tested and that they come to school rested, ready and on time. More information will be forthcoming concerning specific days and testing times. Parental reports will be sent home with students after test results are provided to Lincoln School in the Spring.

READING ACHIEVEMENT - during the week of March 24, we will again have an assembly to recognize students who have reached their 3rd quarter personal reading goals. Representatives of Stockman Bank will distribute the James Monroe dollar, the fifth coin in the presidential series, Ten Presidential coin collector kits, also provided by Stockman Bank, will be presented to the top three individual reading achievers and seven other eligible students. More information will be forthcoming as a date and time are established.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES were held on February 18 & February 19. Since conference time is important in building and maintaining good school to home communication, it was nice that most were able to attend. For those who were unable to conference, it is still our desire to speak with you concerning your child's progress. Please expect to receive further inquiry from your child's teacher as they seek to find a time that will work in meeting with you. This is a particularly important time to discuss areas of concern so that problems can be corrected or potential problems can be avoided.

CAMPBELL'S LABELS & BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION - During the month of March, Lincoln School will be processing soup labels and box tops. In order to encourage participation, we are having a contest to recognize the class that collects and contributes the most labels and box tops. Collection boxes will be available in each classroom. We are planning two grand prizes, one for the upper grades and one for he lower grades. These prizes will be presented during library class during the week of April 7. The contest will run from March 3 to March 31. Remember that Campbell's is now requiring that the UPC barcode be submitted instead of the front label as in the past. Please see the attached sheet (front & back) for information on qualifying products.

COUNSELOR'S CORNER (Mr. Melby) Some students have a problem that is so sensitive that schools, teachers, and counselors often pretend that it doesn't exist. For an overweight student, school is often not much fun. Since schools are miniature societies, what starts in school often continues well after students have finished their formal education.

It's common knowledge that obese students may experience exclusion in physical education class and on the playground because they are unable to do certain activities, but it goes much deeper than this. When the activity is purely social, students are often left out. In some aspects of school life, the exclusion is passive. Observe girls leaving the middle school or DCHS and notice the fashion merchandise and accessories. Fashion awareness starts in elementary school and many heavy students are not able to wear or appear as fashionable as their thinner classmates. for an obese child, the struggles are much greater than most people realize. Even climbing two flights of stairs separates students. These are the things that are observable. The more difficult questions are how these things affect the inner child. Parents, teachers and school counselors might not associate certain acting out behaviors with a child's weight, but often that it the case. And what happens if the obesity continues into adult life? We all know. The stigma continues.

What can the school and teachers do to help?
  1. don't allow ridicule to take place.
  2. Encourage and praise whenever possible to build self-esteem.
  3. Educate and encourage good nutrition and physical exercise.
What can parents do?
  1. Don't allow siblings to tease or ridicule, and as parents, don't badger your child.
  2. Don't buy gifts or toys that encourage or require inactivity such as TVs, video games, and movies.
  3. Plan healthy meals, limit portions, buy only healthy snacks, and model good eating practices.
  4. When possible, plan daily family outings that revolve around physical activity.
  5. Encourage and fund involvement in sports and activities.
  6. Subscribe to magazines that feature health and fitness and share articles with your kids.
  7. Meet with your child's PE teacher and don't allow your child to cut physical education class.
  8. Help your child find clothing that is comfortable and appropriate.
  9. Ask the school counselor to visit with your son or daughter.
  10. Get professional medical help and develop with your child a sensible weight reduction plan.
CHARACTER COUNTS - RESPECT continues to be the pillar of character through the month of March. A person of character values all persons, lives by the Golden rule, respects the dignity, privacy and freedom of others, is courteous and polite to all, and it tolerant and accepting of differences.
MANNERS OF THE WEEK FOR MARCH
3/5 - 3/9
 Refrain from put-downs.
3/12 - 3/16
 Refrain from hate statements and name calling.
3/19 - 3/29
 Use appropriate body language with adults. No rolling eyes, inappropriate facial expressions, or slumping.

DATES TO REMEMBER
March 5 - 7 Kindergarten Registration 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. 
March 9
 Daylight Saving Time Begins - "Spring Forward"
March 10-14
 Measured Progress Testing - Grades 3 & 4
March 17
 St. Patrick's Day
March 20
 Early Out. End of the Third Quarter of School
March 21-24
 Spring Break
March 27
 Report Cards go home with students
April 2
 1:05 p.m. Early Out. Staff Development
April 24
 Kindergarten Screening for 2008-2009 School Year