THIRD STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Third grade class volunteers shovel power

"It was awesome, cool, and fun," said Adam W.

It’s not often that shoveling snow elicits this kind of reaction, but it does when the snow accumulates on the sidewalks outside Third Street Elementary.

Third graders in Tom Epps’s classroom clear snow from the sidewalk in front of one of the homes neighboring the school.  According to Epps, the class volunteered to shovel the sidewalk and driveway after finding out the neighbors were physically unable to remove the snow.

“The opportunity to help someone else is very rewarding.  The students feel really good about helping out someone else.  When there are disasters around the world, we help out, but don't always see the results of our efforts.  Here, we have a direct hand in the work, and we receive feedback immediately, which makes the students feel good,” said Epps.

Students in Epps’s class agree.

"It is fun because we get to help other people," said Lucy L.

“ I think it is nice to do because they are so thankful," said Carl P.

Building Realistic Futures

Dear Parents,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome both your child and your family to Third Street Elementary School. For some of you, your children are returning to a familiar environment that they know is safe and secure with people who care about them. For others Third Street will be a new experience

Third Street Elementary School is part of the community and it is the support, involvement, and cooperation of that community, which make it a successful place for children to learn. Your active involvement in your child’s education is encouraged and sought. Research has shown that children who do well in school have families who:

• Establish a daily family routine: Provide a time and place to study, assign chores, be firm about times to get up and go to bed, have dinner together.

• Monitor out of school activities: Set limits on TV, check in when parents are not home, arrange after school activities and supervised care.

• Model the value of learning, self-discipline and hard work: Conversation and actions showing that achievement comes from working hard. Read, write, use math and share your actions.

• Express high but realistic expectations for achievement: Set goals and standards appropriate for the child’s age and maturity; recognize and encourage special talents, inform friends and family about successes.

• Encourage children’s development and progress in school: Maintain a warm, supportive home, show interest in child’s progress, help with homework, and stay in touch with teachers.

• Read, write, and discuss among family members: Read, listen to children read, discuss what is being read, tell stories, share problems, write letters, lists and messages.

• Use community resources for family needs: Enroll in various programs and lessons, introduce youngsters to various role models and mentors, use community resources.
  

When you relay the message that school is important by becoming actively involved, it becomes important to your child and he/she will strive to do well. This becomes even more important in today’s environment of testing and accountability.

The mission for our school is that “Third Street Elementary School will provide an environment that will encourage academic excellence and positive social interactions, in partnership with families and community”.

To do that we will:

• Provide a nurturing, safe environment

• Foster strong, intra school community relationships.

• Provide developmentally appropriate programs and learning experiences.

• Celebrate student’s achievements

• Develop strong family and community relationships.

To that end we will be working collaboratively with all of the teachers and resource teachers in the building to insure that students are able to achieve the identified essential skill appropriate for the end of their grade level this spring.

One of the related focuses to these goals will be a focus upon student attendance. As parents, the consistent regular attendance of your child, during the entire time that school is in session is an important responsibility. If a child is not present in school, it is very difficult for them to learn the material presented.

I again welcome you and your family to Third Street Elementary School and look forward to working with you to provide each of the students at our school with the best educational foundation possible.

If you are in the building, please stop by and say hi!

Sincerely,

Jon M. Warmke, Principal