Tri-City Day School
Family Newsletter
May 2013
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I thought last year was a fast year having a graduating senior myself but this year. . . WOW! I think this may have been one of the quickest years yet! I hope next year doesn’t move as quickly as I will again have a senior in my family, my daughter, Aubrey.
On behalf of the Tri-City staff and students, I would like to say congratulations and best wishes to our graduating seniors: Jesse Anderson, Derby High School; Skyler Imel, Campus High School; and Jacob Ishler, Derby High School. This year is very bittersweet as each of these graduating seniors has been a special part of our Tri-City family for several years. While we hate to say good-bye to them, we know that they have many exciting days ahead of them as they move forward as young adults. I would also like to say farewell and good luck to our social work intern this year, Addie Shaida. Addie has done great work this year at Tri-City and we wish her well as she begins her job search.
As I say every year, the summer will fly by just like the school year does so here is some information that will be helpful as the summer progresses and we begin to look at the 2013-14 school year. You will receive enrollment information from your “home school” or your neighborhood school probably during July. When you enroll your child in his/her “home school,” they will notify us and let us know that we can expect to see your child back at Tri-City.
You can also expect to see an enrollment packet from Tri-City as we will need to update all of your child’s information. At this time, you will also receive a school calendar, school supply list, etc. This packet will be sent to you during the month of July as well.
Nichole will be at school through May 31 and I will be in and out of the office through June 13. I will check my email throughout the summer so feel free to communicate with me at . Have a safe and relaxing summer!
Wishing you well,
Gina
Graduation Recognition and End-of-year Awards
Please plan to join us on May 16 at 9:00 a.m. at The Learning Center, 150 Stewart, as we congratulate our 2013 graduates and recognize our other students for their hard work this school year!
PLEASE RSVP to Nichole at 554-2324 by Monday, May 13.
Welcome Summer Carnival
On the last day of school for Tri-City students, May 21, we will be having our fourth annual “Welcome Summer Carnival!” We will be having a variety of carnival games and bingo.
We will have a cookout for lunch on our carnival day. Hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, cookies and drinks will be available for the students.
Senior Dinner
Senior Dinner will be May 1 at 6:00 p.m. at Hu Hot Mongolian Grill, 2035 N. Rock Road. The transportation and meals will be provided for the Tri-City seniors. Everyone is invited but for students K-11, parents and staff, the meal is “Dutch Treat” (everyone pays for their own).
From the Teachers. . . . .
From Mrs. Kennedy:
The students have been working very hard this year in the area of writing. Each student has had the opportunity to create a monthly scrapbook page to highlight their favorite activity for the month. These pages will be put together and sent home the last full week of school. Encourage your child to share their favorite memories of the 2012-2013 school year with you. Have a wonderful summer!
From Mrs. D:
I have really enjoyed getting to know the students and staff this year at Tri-City and am looking forward to a great year next year too! Students have done a wonderful job of working through the scientific method with our projects. Thank you so much to the staff and students for making me feel right at home! Have a great summer!
From Mrs. Waters:
All of the students have worked very hard in math this year! Students have mastered more math objectives in Accelerated Math than ever before and that hard work paid off with the highest State Math Assessment scores we have ever had at Tri-City! Congratulations, students!
From Josh:
Students have had opportunities to mix the past with the present by using technology to demonstrate what they have learned in Social Studies and History this year! Museum Day was a big hit again this year with students! Each student selected a topic, researched that topic, created an originally prop depicting their topic and then presented the information to other students and staff here at Tri-City. Great job, everyone!
Steve’s Gator Aids
https://sites.google.com/a/usd261.com/stevegator/
Helping your Children at Home
Science is Everywhere
To some parents science is an intimidating subject and the mere thought of helping their children in this area is nothing short of frightening. In truth parents can give children an opportunity to exercise their natural curiosity; to discuss, experiment, to see how and why things work. Such opportunities exist …
Outside the Home
o Study plants
o Identify animal tracks
o Observe cloud formations
o Plant a garden
o Construct a bird feeder
o Keep a record of the number of different birds you can spot
o Draw a map which identifies the location and classification of trees on your block
o Have a neighborhood “clean-up” day
On Trips
o Observe wildlife at the zoo
o Find examples of simple tools at a hardware store
o Discuss a dairy farm operation
o Visit a museum, nature center, park, wildlife refuge, natural history museums, bike trail
Remember you don’t need special tools or equipment to introduce science to your child. All you need is an observant and inquiring mind.
HEALTHY CHOICES
· Try to walk 10,000 steps a day.
· Children and teens need 1 hour of exercise each day to help their growing bones, heart, and overall health.
· Always put sunscreen on your child before they go outside. Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. Then re-apply every 2 hours or sooner if your child has been swimming. Water-resistant sunscreen wears off. Check the label to see how soon you'll need to reapply.
· Eat foods from all five of the food groups. A helpful website for healthy eating is ChooseMyPlate.gov
Summer Reading Tips for Parents
Adapted from "Summer Reading Tips for Parents" by the Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities.
From www.education.com
Summer shouldn't mean taking a break from learning, especially when it comes to reading. Studies show that most students experience a loss of reading skills over the summer months, but children who continue to read actually gain skills. During the summer parents can help children sustain (and even bolster) reading skills, strengthen their vocabulary and reinforce the benefits of reading for enjoyment.
Remember that children need free time, away from structured academic learning, and the summer is the perfect time to relax and enjoy the pleasures of childhood. So summer reading should be fun. The following are a few tips to make summer reading enjoyable for your children:
Read aloud together with your child every day.Make it fun by reading outdoors - on the front steps, patio, at the beach or park. Also, let your children read to you. For younger children, be sure to practice letter-sound correspondence, do lots of rhyming and clapping out syllables, and explore the relationships between oral language and print.
Set a good example!Keep lots of reading material around the house. Turn off the TV and have family reading time (including mom and dad).
Let kids choose what they want to read, and every so often, read the same book your child is reading and discuss it.
Buy books on tape or check them out at the library. This can be especially helpful for a child with a learning disability. Listen to these recordings in the car, or turn off the TV and have the family listen to them together at home.
As you go through the day - cooking, gardening, grocery shopping, playing games - utilize this time as an opportunity to engage in verbal word play, vocabulary building, recognizing new and familiar words or attaching meaning to words and sentences.
Take your children to the library regularly. Most libraries sponsor summer reading clubs with easy-to-reach goals for pre-school and school-age children. Check the library calendar for special summer reading activities and events. Libraries also provide age appropriate lists for summer reading.
Subscribe, in your child's name, to magazines like Sports Illustrated for Kids, Highlights for Children, or National Geographic World. Encourage older children to read the newspaper and current events magazines as a way of keeping up the reading habit over the summer and enhancing a growing vocabulary. Ask them what they think about what they've read, and listen to what they say.
Ease disappointment over summer separation from a favorite school friend by encouraging them to become pen pals. Present both children with postcards or envelopes that are already addressed and stamped. If both children have access to the Internet, e-mail or instant messaging are other options.
Trips can be a fun way to encourage reading. Ask your children to read traffic signs and billboards aloud. Show them how to read a map, and once you are on the road, let them take turns being the navigator.
Encourage children to keep a summer scrapbook. Tape in souvenirs of your family's summer activities - picture postcards, ticket stubs, photos. Have your children write the captions and read them aloud as you look at the book together.
*Scholastic.com offers reading resources and book recommendations for various reading levels.
Fun Facts
Did You Know…
o The warmest months in the United States are the coldest months in Australia, and in the southern part of the South America and Africa.
o Summer is the warmest season of the year when the sun shines directly on one half of the world. Summer in the Northern Hemisphere begins about June 21st - the date of the summer solstice. It ends about September 23, the date of the autumnal equinox.
o June is the month with the longest daylight hours of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and the shortest daylight hours in the Southern Hemisphere.
o The first 4th of July party held at the White House was in 1801.
Take a Virtual Vacation at
https://sites.google.com/a/usd261.com/
stevegator/vacations
Community Resources
Rent and Utilities
American Red Cross - 1900 E. Douglas Wichita, Ks (316) 219-4070. Through an application process, assistance may be offeredfor rent and utilities.
Center of Hope (Call Mondays 9-12 and 1-4 only) - (316) 267-0222. Through an application process,assistance may be offeredfor rent and utilities.
Food and Clothing
Haysville Re-Store- Haysville Baptist Church 415 E. Grand Haysville, KS(316) 524-4254. Offers clothing, coats, and shoes. Please call for an appointment.
Haysville Community Outreach - West Haysville Baptist Church 141 N LamarHaysville, KS (316) 524-6302.Provides a box of food every 30 days for families in the Haysville School District. Please provide proof of address: driver's license or utility bill showing your current address. There are no income restrictions. Come to the church during office hours, 9AM-Noon, Monday through Friday.
Derby Church of Christ - 225 N. Derby, Derby, KS 67037. Food Pantry. Upon receiving food, a form will need to be filled out. Please call (316) 788-2672Monday - Friday from 9-12, for an appointment. Quantity of food may be limited.
Bread of LIfe - 1301 E. Galena Wichita, KS 67216. (316) 689-6866. This organization helpsmeet the needs of the community through various programs including: Clothing outlet, food distribution centers, community service programs, hands on training on caring for those in need, and disaster relief. Must have proof of address, photo I.D., Social Security Card, birth certificate, or medical card for family members, and proof of income if any. Program hours are 10 am-1:45 pmon Tuesdays.
Derby Community Family Services - 4900 S. Clifton Wichita, KS 67216. Food Pantry. Residents of USD 260 may get food once every 3 months. Please call (316) 519-5867 for an appointment.
Catholic Charities Food Pantry- 2825 S. Hillside Wichita, KS 67216, (316) 262-8898. Must provide a photo I.D., identification (Social Security Card or School I.D.), for each member of the household, and proof of address. Program hours are 9 am -12 pm Tuesday - Thursday and 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month.
Mulvane Care and Share Center - 100 W. Main Mulvane, Ks 67110, (316) 777-1590. Assistance with food, clothing, rent, utility assistance or medical bills. Application and proof of need required.
Salvation Army Wellington Food Bank - 305 S. Washington Wellington, KS 67152, (620) 326-5301 ext. 368. Program hours are 8:30 -11 am Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. Must have proof of need for assistance.
Mental Health Services
Family & Children Community Services, COMCARE- 7701 E. Kellogg Wichita KS (316) 660-9600. Counseling and mental health services.
Crisis Intervention Services - 934 N. Water Wichita KS (316) 660-7500. 24 hour services, crisis intervention, suicide prevention.
Family Consultation Service - 560 N. Exposition Wichita KS (316) 264-8317. Counseling and mental health services.