Parent Newsletter from Greenwood Elementary School

Parent Newsletter

October 11, 2018

From the Desk of Dr. G

Thank You Veterans
Our annual Veterans Day program will be November 7 at 9:00 a.m. We're inviting Greenwood families with Veterans or active-duty relatives to join us in person starting at 8:30 a.m. for a reception with coffee and cookies prior to the program. Since the gym will be filled with students and the Veterans we're honoring, we'd like to include all families via a live-stream video link. The link will be shared around 9:00 a.m. on our school's #GWgreats on Twitter.

Parent Resource - Restitution 101
Our goal is to strengthen students and empower them to live, learn, and lead with empathy, self-confidence, and the ability to fix mistakes. Part of this work involves helping students meet their basic needs in positive ways. We wanted to share the common language we're introducing to students in case you'd like to use some of the same terms at home. Here's a printable poster of the needs so you can ask your child which need(s) they've learned about so far.

Basic Needs:

Love - We often refer to this as the need to belong. We can help others meet this need by being kind, including others, and being a good friend.
Power - This often refers to achievement or success. A student trying to meet their power need might be practicing a skill, playing a competitive game, or working on something that is important to them.
Fun - This need involves humor, laughter, learning, and doing things for enjoyment.
Freedom - We've noticed students trying to meet their freedom need tend to appreciate choice, autonomy, independence, and the opportunity to explore.
Survival - This is the most basic of needs and includes safety, food, and shelter.

Looking Ahead
MEA break is next week. There is no school for students Thursday, October 18 and Friday, October 19.

Have a wonderful weekend,
Brad Gustafson, Principal

Did You Know?

Parenting Workshop
The Greenwood PTA will sponsor a parenting workshop titled "Helping Kids Manage Emotions" from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 29 in the Media Center. Cathy Thomas, a school social worker, will help parents learn and practice skills that help children identify and cope with feelings. There will be a recap of the October PTA meeting prior to the presentation at 6:15 p.m.

Great Apple Crunch 2018

Thursday, October 11 is the 2018 Great Apple Crunch! We're celebrating National Farm to School Month by crunching into apples at noon. Everyone is welcome to crunch! Check out our video on Facebook from Great Apple Crunch 2017.

Reminders

Registrations for Choir @ Greenwood (open to 4th and 5th grade students) are being accepted through October 17.

Students can win a pack of bingo cards for Turkey Bingo on November 16. Place 25 clipped Box Tops for Education labels in a baggie with your child's name and teacher. Drop your baggie(s) in the rolling file in the school entry. One winner will be chosen each week through October 26.

PTA News

Join or Volunteer

Introducing Spirit, the Grizzly Bear

As a reward for our students' remarkable Grizzly Dash fundraising efforts, and to demonstrate the character trait of Responsibility, the PTA has adopted Spirit, the Grizzly Bear, who was rescued by and resides at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone Park, Montana.

The adoption of Spirit will allow our students and teachers to discover more about grizzly bears, conservation efforts, and responsible wildlife management. Learn more on the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center website and watch our social media for updates about Spirit.

PTA Meeting

There will be a PTA meeting at 8:30 a.m. this Friday, October 12 in the Media Center. Be in the loop, and learn about the Flexible Learning Space, Turkey Bingo, volunteer opportunities, and more! Check out the agenda. Light refreshments provided.

Join the PTA

Become an important piece of the Greenwood PTA puzzle by completing a PTA Membership Form. Drop your completed form in the main office with your $12 check made out to Greenwood Elementary PTA.

Volunteer Needs

Heath Screening
Greenwood's health screening dates are October 22-24. Absent students or those requiring a re-screen will be screened on November 19.

Vision and hearing screenings are conducted each year for students at Wayzata Public Schools based on Minnesota Department of Health recommendations. Vision screenings are not a substitute for full eye exams, but are an important and effective method to identify potential vision concerns that could potentially impact learning. If your student wears glasses or contacts for distance acuity, please remind your child to wear them for their vision screen.

Many volunteers are needed for health screening. No experience is necessary. The district nurse will provide training. Please consider signing up for more than one time slot.

Health Screening

The PTA sponsors many events and programs throughout the year that need volunteers. Fill out our Volunteer Sign up Form to find programs that best fit your interests and schedule.

Community Education

Register now for our after school WISHES classes at Greenwood!

Coding with Scratch®
Grandmasters of Chess with Igor Rybakov - next sessions starts Nov 29
STEM Sampler starts Nov 28

Destination Imagination registration is open until Oct 29! Visit our website for more information.

Upcoming Event:
Oct 11 - Parenting with Vision: Top 20 Parents Live Above the Line: How Our Thinking Governs Our Experience
Event is free with no registration required.