Port Barre Elementary School

Put reading material wherever your child will read it It can be hard to get very active children to sit down to read for long stretches of time. So make the most of short chunks of time to encourage your active child's love of reading. Keep lots of interesting reading material around that your child can pick up quickly, especially in the kitchen. Active kids eat often. Your child could read a short article while heating something in the microwave, for example. https://tpitip.com/?15eU17376

Wednesday, May 21, is an Early Dismissal Day. Bus riders will begin boarding at 11:50 am and car riders will follow once buses leave campus around 12:00 noon.

Focus discipline on the Dos, not the Don'ts When it comes to establishing discipline, it's more effective to tell children what they should do than what they shouldn't. "Please gather up your schoolwork and put it away before dinner" is more likely to get a positive response than "Don't leave your homework all over the table!" That's because it gives your child a chance to do the right thing and be praised, rather than scolded. https://tpitip.com/?15eT17376

The arts add to your child's education Research indicates that studying music, theater and other fine arts can improve children's achievement in school. There are lots of ways to add the arts to your child's life: Sing in the car. Keep a box of art supplies handy. Visit local museums together. Check out books about art and artists at the library. Watch TV programs about the arts with your child. Look for listings of local arts events for kids, too, and attend together. https://tpitip.com/?15eS17376

Please check out this week's newsletter for important information. https://secure.smore.com/n/e6m1g Read more about: - Awards Day ceremonies: Monday, May 19 - 2nd Grade at 1:00 PM and 3rd Grade at 2:00 PM - To celebrate the last days of school, students will enjoy Free Dress Days on Tuesday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 21. Students may wear school-appropriate shirts with jeans. Let's finish the year in style - Last day is Wednesday, May 21, which is an Early Dismissal Day. Bus riders will begin boarding at 11:50 am and car riders will follow once buses leave campus around 12:00 noon. - Final report cards will be mailed out on Friday to the address in JCampus. - Have a great summer!

Help your child see the meaning of the reading Some kids work so hard to read individual words that they lose the meaning of the passage. To help your child with comprehension, pause from time to time as your child reads aloud and ask, "Does that make sense?" Suggest that your student reread the passage slowly. How does it relate to material your child already knows? https://tpitip.com/?15eR17376

Give chores a positive spin Doing chores helps kids develop responsibility, and that pays off in school. But how do you get your child to do chores? Kids love to plan and to carry out their plans. So, involve your child in deciding what to do when. Each week, let your student choose two or three chores from a list. Schedule a "family chore time," then follow up with fun: Fill a jar with activity suggestions your child can pick from when chores are done. https://tpitip.com/?15eQ17376

Spin the dial to encourage responsible study habits Here's a creative way to motivate your child to do schoolwork: On sticky labels, write small rewards your child would like, such as choosing what's for dinner, skipping a chore or reading an extra book together. Then, get a spinner from a board game and apply the labels to it. When your child completes assigned work without being reminded, offer the chance to spin the dial for a reward. https://tpitip.com/?15eP17376

To improve behavior, explain, encourage and set an example The way families communicate with their children has a lot to do with how the kids behave, both at home and in the classroom. To encourage positive behavior, explain why rules are needed, and involve your child in setting rules and consequences. Then, offer lots of genuine praise and encouragement, and give your child more attention for appropriate behavior than misbehavior. Set an example by showing your respect for rules and the rights of others. https://tpitip.com/?15eO17376

FUN DAY 2025 was a huge success!!! I want to send a big thank you to all the parents who supported the fundraisers throughout the year and donated snacks, water balloons, hoses, and other items. Thanks to all the parent volunteers who ensured the sun and spent the day with us. The day would not have been a success with our parents support! I would also like to thank the PB police department and fire department volunteers that helped in our dunk tank!! Also, let's not forget our rockstar staff that helped the students have a wonderful day. Thanks everyone for all that you do!!

At family meals, make conversation the main course Shared meals strengthen families. Family meals also help children build vocabulary and social skills. Try to make eating together a regular habit. While you eat, engage your child in relaxed conversation by asking specific, open-ended questions. "What was the funniest thing that happened today?" will probably get a more detailed response than "How was school?" Never use mealtime to criticize your child. Then, keep the conversation going as you clean up together! https://tpitip.com/?15eN17376

Kindness changes everything! Mrs. Keys, Ms. Aymond, Hayden M., Sophia C., and Brinleigh R. participated in a donation event cutting at least 8 inches of their hair to donate to the organization Children With Hair Loss. Students learned the importance of giving and how giving just a little can go such a long way. 💇‍♀️❤️✂️

Brush up decision-making with a decorating project Redecorating your child's bedroom can be a great way to help your child practice reasoning, planning and decision-making skills while expressing personality. Begin by brainstorming ideas. How would your child like the room to look? Next, set a budget, and figure out together which of your child's ideas are realistic. Then, work together on a step-by-step plan of action. It's OK if you don't like the results; the goal is for your child to make choices and live with them. https://tpitip.com/?15eM17376

Friday Fun: Seeing Double! 👯‍♂️👯‍♀️ Last Friday, our amazing staff was twinning—and we could hardly tell them apart! It felt like double the talent, double the fun. 😄 The celebration doesn’t stop there! This week, we are keeping the good vibes going. Help us show our staff some love and appreciation—they deserve it!

Congratulations to last week's Positive Office Referrals!!

Staff kicked off Appreciation Week with a Vacay Thursday dress-up day. Looks like they are all ready to head to the islands! 🏖️☀️✈️. Our Staff Appreciation Week will continue throughout this week.

Our SLP Schools app keeps getting better and better! Parents/guardians who have already created an account can now access new app features like Messages and Class Streams via web and in the app. If you haven't signed up, be sure to accept the email and/or text invite sent earlier this morning. Download for Android https://aptg.co/ddXmVt Download for iPhone https://aptg.co/D9hB1Y

Help your child learn the difference between needs and wants Learning to manage money teaches children math skills as well as school success skills like responsibility, patience and how to set priorities. Help your child distinguish between "needs" and "wants" and keep track of them in a notebook. Explain that your child should pay for the needs first. Any money left over can be saved toward the cost of the wants. Help your child track the savings in the notebook. https://tpitip.com/?15eL17376

Please check out this week's newsletter for important information. https://secure.smore.com/n/e6m1g Read more about: - The dates and times for our awards day. Additional details will be provided by each grade level. Invitations will be sent home with students who will be receiving awards. We look forward to celebrating with you! - Fun day is Tuesday, May 12. Please have students to school on time. Remember to wear fun day shirts. - Great Job to 1st and 4th Grade for making the 95% attendance goal for the week of May 12 - 16. Please assist us in reaching our attendance goal by ensuring your child attends school daily.

🎉 Fun Day – Tuesday, May 13 🎉 Reminders for Students, Parents, and Staff: - Be sure to wear your Fun Day shirts with uniform bottoms! - Please have students at school on time ! - If you volunteered to bring shade tents or tables, please drop them off Monday or by 7:10 AM Tuesday. - Parent Volunteers , who have been directly contacted by telephone, please arrive on time and ready to help. - This year’s activities include a Magic Show, Carnival Games, Water Balloon Throw, a Petting Zoo, Inflatables, and a Dunk Booth. - Students will enjoy 1 juice, 2 popsicles, and 2 snacks throughout the day Let’s make it a day full of fun, laughter, and great memories!