Mustang News
Moorlands Web Site: http://moorlands.nsd.org
April 4, 2016 Talena Graff, Principal Office Phone - 408-5100
School Hours: 8:40 am – 3:10 pm Early Release Wednesday’s 1:35 pm
AM Day Kindergarten: 8:40 am – 11:55 pm; PM Kindergarten: 11:55 – 3:10 pm
Test Prep:
With spring comes testing and for many of us, the thought of taking a test still makes our heart race. Now imagine what it’s like for your child. The good news! There are lots of things you can do to help ease the stress of testing.
THE PHYSICAL
Get them fed. The more nutritiously your children eat, the better they will do in school. Properly fueled and with stable blood sugar levels, their concentration is enhanced. Always give them a healthy breakfast while cutting back on high-sugar cereals, pastries, and undiluted juices (which can have the same sugar content as sodas.) Most kids are ravenous after school, so before they settle down to study, provide a healthful, non-junk food snack to carry them through to dinner.
Get them moving. Exams cause stress, but sports, exercise, playing and fun can relieve it. Physical activity that gets students completely away from academics for a few hours each day can actually help them perform better on tests.
Get them breathing. Teach your kids a simple breathing exercise that you’ll do with them once or twice a day and in times of stress (as in right before a test): Take a deep breath, hold to the count of three, then exhale slowly through the nose to the count of 10.
Get them to bed on time. Elementary and middle school children need up to 10 hours of sleep each night to do their best in school. They also need to check the excitement from video games, television, movies, and texting for at least 30 minutes before sleep. I have one who sleeps when her head hits the pillow, and another one who could lie there for hours-eyes open-brain busy.
Get them to school. Your child’s daily, on-time attendance is critical to their success in school. It’s understandable that some challenges to attendance are unavoidable. However, it’s important to understand the impact of each absence from school. Students who miss just two school days each month are more likely to fall behind in reading, writing and math. Those 18 days each year makes students less likely to graduate high school. Many parents don't realize that even when absences are sporadic, excused or understandable, absences add up and can greatly impact a child's education. THE MENTAL
Practice their confidence. If you know your child has concerns about testing, check with the teacher. There may be practice tests or other prep your child can work on at home before the big day. Practice can help your children get used to how the questions are worded and how the test will be structured.
Put piecework into action. Pre-exam cramming does not work. In fact, four 15-minute periods of study are actually superior to one continuous hour when it comes to memory retention. So it’s actually better that your child preps for tests and studies in small bursts, regularly.
Unplug already. When it comes to distracting videos, television, telephones, or social media (basically anything with a screen or speakers that’s not related to school), study time is the time to turn off the extra stuff.
THE EMOTIONAL
Offer super support. As much as you might value good grades, it’s more important that kids understand that your love and respect for them is not dependent on their test scores. At school we try to balance this too- tests are an indicator of what is going well and what needs more work, but a test never shows us the complete picture. Once the graded exam comes back, consider sitting with your child to review what went right, what didn’t, and how to do better next time. Don't forget to check how they are feeling about it. A hard earned “C” can be a real opportunity to celebrate.
And please never forget that as I choose a topic or sit down to complete a newsletter, I do them as much for my growth as anything else. I try to put down some best practices, but please know I am no supermom. We probably had a Poptart in the car while practicing word sorts, because we are running late because we didn't get to bed on time… We do what we can, we love each other, and we keep trying to improve. That’s all.
Talena Graff, Principal
3rd – 6th Grade Smarter Balance Assessments all of April 25th through May 27th, see attached page for the entire schedule
**PLEASE do not schedule any appointments during testing days.
PLEASE check the LOST and FOUND.
Any items not claimed by April 8th will be donated.
TRACK and FIELD BEGINS
APRIL 19th.
See attached for full details and schedule
DATES TO REMEMBER
April
4/1 3rd Quarter Ends ………………………………………………
4/4 4th Quarter Begins …………………………………………….
4/7 Talent Show, Gym ……………………………………………..
4/8 Talent Show, Gym ……………………………………………..
4/11-4/15 NO SCHOOL - Spring Break ………………………………….
4/18 Track Practice Begins, Field ………………………………… 3:15 - 4:00 pm
4/25 3 – 6th Grade Testing Begins ………………………………..
4/29 Spirit Day – PJ Day ……………………………………………
MAY
5/3 Track Meet @ NJH ……………………………………………… 4:15 pm
5/10 Track Meet @ KE ……………………………………………….. 4:15 pm
5/10 First Grade Concert, Gym ……………………………………… 6:30 pm
5/10 Second Grade Concert, Gym ………………………………….. 7:30 pm
5/17 Track Meet @ BHS ……………………………………………… 4:15 pm
5/17 PTA General Meeting, Library ………………………………… 7:00 pm
5/23-27 PTA Book Exchange, Library …………………………………..
5/26 Track Junior Olympics @ WHS ………………………………. 4:15 pm
5/27 Spirit Day – Hat Day ……………………………………………
5/30 NO SCHOOL – Memorial Day ………………………………….
Students of Character Awards
Trait: Fairness
Fox AM: Brodie T., Kian F., Adela C., Mahetzi C., Neil N. PM: Lily W., Ruby M., Amanda U., Claire P., Jesus M., Grady M., Matthias D.
Hink: Titan F., Treyton G., Charlotte H., Riese J., Hailey M., Reece M., Liam P., Braylon S., Amelia S., Lilly S., Adalynn V., Eloise W., and Kayla X.
Miller: Annabell O., Iain S., Anders d, Daphne R. , Graysen H., Payton H., Harley M. , August G., Alice B., Alexi C. , Dorothy B., Valerie Y.
Snoots: Alexandra S., Farrah B., Scarlett B., Kenley M., Cassidy A., Alexander S., Emil M.
Bannister: Piper H., Jillian C., Aubrey K., Gabriel R.
Manning: Siena, Victoria, Hazel, Courtney, Darya, Ally
McDonald: Julia S., Nate T., Cole M., Lyla W., Suhani P., Cai C.
Stevenson: Ashlyn A., Jade M., Lila D., June H., Brooklyn Y., Francisco C.,
Weinberg: Anne M., Maggie J., Morgan T., Corbin M., Sergei M., Quinn S.
Finch/Hetherington: Carter M., Charlotte S., Elizabeth M., Jude L., Karlie V., Kenzie H., Leida M.
Kaufman: Shaylen G., Jonah P., Ella O., Brooke H., Bethany R., Aubrey S.
Scotti: Leila H., Nolan S., Joshua U.
Tower: Zora W., Elizabeth D., Ella S.
Wytko: Oliver M., George H., Lily J., Sydney M., Callie T., Madeline M.,
Guyor: Preston A., Aveline C., Sadie C., Annalise E., Kyleigh K., Elise K., Isak L., Phoenix M., Kamila S.
Iwafuchi: Colton C., Elsa L., Joshua H., Lily B., Lucas T.
Knappe: Tatev T., Ashley Y., Grace M., Alex F.
Cooper: Tyler N., Mackenzie R., Caroline S., Gwen R-M., and Deegan C.
Juett: Tuong B., Mia C., Jackson R., Nicky P., Gabe H., Maddie M.
Patashnik: Dasha P., Nolan S., Gabby D., Clara M-P., Chase M., Eleanor M., Victoria P., Olivia P., Max S., Charles W
Sitthi: Rowen B., Angel G., Sam F., Joslyn G., Kyleigh H., Zoe M., Nathan P., Dakota S., Elijah S.
Klein: Muntaha, Makenna, Presley, Richie, Kiera, Cole.
S. Miller: Jaimie M., Dylan M., Matthew T., Tia W.
Schmidtman: Arturo R., Caroline B., Elaine D., Hudson L., Jacob S., James Y., Jonah J., Kate G., Meadow C.
Miranda F., Rianna C., Sam H., Zoe A., Kento S., Carter N.
Weinstein: Annette C., Jordan S., Kaito S., Lucas J., Kate K.
Fullerton: Tate R., Gillianne B., Cameron F., Taryn L., Zoe T., Sierra C., Noah L., Esha T.
Smith: Alexander L., Erik A., Nolan C., Antonio G., Fisayo S., Lydia O., Jaime L., Rachel S.
Rausch: Colbi Z., Finn M., Manuela D., Zain Z.
Sorenson Preschool Program
Sorenson Early Childhood Center provides a variety of preschool programs for children ages three to five in the Northshore School District. These programs include Developmental Special Education Preschool and ReadyStart.
The opportunity for your child to be a peer model in one of our Developmental Special Education Preschool classes is a great way for them to learn about individual differences and build self-esteem. We are currently accepting applications for the Peer Model Program for the 2015 - 2016 and 2016 - 2017 school year.
· Children must be four years old by December 31st.
· Children must be toilet trained.
· Current Certificate of Immunization.
· Transportation provided by parent.
· Tuition is $150 per month.
425-408-5570
Sub Nurses Needed:
Are you a Registered Nurse who might be interested in exploring the rewards of school based nursing, supplementing work hours or simply maintaining nursing licensure credentials? We would love to discuss available opportunities as a substitute school nurse with the Northshore School District -- this is a great way to transition into community nursing with K-12 school age children. Contact Rebecca Cavanaugh, Health and Nursing Supervisor, Northshore School District: 425.408.7728 or .