Utica Community Schools Isaac Monfort Elementary

Phone: (586) 797-5700

Attendance Line: (586) 797-5799

Fax: (586) 797-5701

Monfort Elementary School Is A State and National Blue Ribbon School

The Staff Of Monfort Elementary Is Committed To Working Together So That Students Know They Are Valued and Will Learn Our Essential Curriculum.

September 2016 Dear Parents,

On behalf of the staff at Isaac Monfort Elementary school, I am happy to welcome you to

the 2016-2017 school year! Whether you are new to Isaac Monfort Elementary school, or a

returning family, we look forward to you being a part of the Monfort Family and hope you

become involved in our school. I encourage every student and parent to embrace the oppor-

tunity to make this a great school year.

The Isaac Monfort community is dedicated to providing the essential skills necessary to de-

velop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring children who will become contributing mem-

bers, and future leaders, of a global society. We will accomplish our mission by providing

an environment of academic excellence, focusing on the The Leader in Me process, and

providing opportunities for students to participate in Community Service Projects.

Each new school year brings opportunities for growth in all areas of development. Although

children must be knowledgeable when they graduate, they must also be healthy, engaged,

responsible, and caring people. As each child discovers and develops his/her unique gifts

and talents, they are given opportunities to lead. As leaders, they become active, engaged

partners in their own education and their self-confidence, responsibility, and initiative

grows. The children quickly understand the benefits of different gifts and talents; they learn

to listen to new ideas, work together to achieve results, and motivate one another to be the

best.

Throughout the 2016-2017 school year, your child will participate in many activities to as-

sist them in making good choices about their academics and behavior. By having consistent

expectations, along with a common language and definitions at all grades, children will

learn and practice positive behavior.

Our annual Curriculum Night will be held on Tuesday, September 20th, starting at 7:00 p.m.

in the gym. We will introduce the Isaac Monfort Staff and share some information prior to

moving to the classroom presentations. Be sure to bring your family calendar with you as

you will have the opportunity to sign up for the November Parent Teacher Conference dates.

The first edition of the Monfort Messenger is being printed and sent home to families.

Please keep this copy to refer to throughout the year for important school information. Fu-

ture newsletters will be posted on the Isaac Monfort website. If you prefer a printed copy of

the newsletter please stop by the school office and pick one up once they are available.

Welcome Back to School!

Karen Zimmerman

Isaac Monfort Principal

2015-16 School Calendar 2

Lunch Money Information 3

Lunch/Calendar Information 4

Magic Maker Run 2015-16 5

President’s Award 2015-16 6

IXL/Help your Child 7

Help your child cont’d 8

The 7 Habits Tree 9

The 7 Habits 10-11

Office Notes 11

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September 6 First Day of School Elementary Half Day; Secondary Full Day

October 31 Elementary Half Day; Secondary Full Day

November 8 No School

November 17 Evening Conferences All Students Half Day

November 23 No School

Thanksgiving Break Begins

November 28 School Resumes

December 23 No School Winter Break Begins

January 4 School Resumes

January 16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day No School

January 18 Secondary Exams Elementary Full Day/ Secondary Half Day

January 19 Secondary Exams All Students Half Day

January 20 Secondary Exams All Students Half Day

February 20 Mid-Winter Break Begins No School

February 27 School Resumes

March 31 Elementary Half Day; Secondary Full Day

April 3 Spring Break Begins No School

April 10 School Resumes

April 14 Good Friday No School

May 26 Memorial Day Weekend No School

May 30 School Resumes

June 13 Secondary Exams Elementary Full Day/ Secondary Half Day

June 14 Secondary Exams Elementary Full Day/Secondary Half Day

June 15 Secondary Exams Last Day of School All Students Half Day

UCS

School Calendar

2016-2017

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4

Lunchtime Supervisors

Needed

We are always in need of

lunchroom and recess

supervisors. These are paid

positions from

approximately 11:40 am

thru/to 1:10 pm. The lunch

supervisors work in our

lunch room and on the

playground supervising

students and ensuring their

safety. If you are interested,

or know of anyone who

might be, please call the

school office

at (586) 797-5700.

Mark Your Calendars…..

September 20th

7:00pm

Orientation Night/Open

House—In the Gym

September 23rd

5:30-8:30 pm

Monfort Carnival—Check

out the Monfort Volun-

teers on how to sign up.

September 27th

9:15-3:30pm

School Pictures—Don’t

forget to smile

Please be courteous

to our neighbors

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Congratulations!

Magic Maker Run 2015-2016

On Thursday, May 26, 2016, the Isaac Monfort Student Lighthouse Team organized our 5th annu-

al “Magic Maker Run.” As part of this project, students collected pledges from friends and family

members for their efforts in walking or running. Our goal was to raise money to support the

Playground Initiative and for Service Dogs for American Heroes.

Fun Run Top 10 Donation Winners

Lola Blevins (Hyslop)

Erin O’Rourke (Balthazor) Eliana Gibbs (Balthazor) Jackson Brignt (Suardini)

Reema Aldousari (Beardsley) Philip Riggio (Daniels)

Emma Kuhlman (Sylvester) Cole Cutitt (Balthazor)

Wyatt Chaffin (Hathcock) Logan Shugart (Hathcock)

Classroom that collected the most donations:

Mrs. Balthazor’s (Collected $608.00)

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The President’s Education Awards Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and was devel-

oped to recognize and honor students who have achieved high academic goals through hard work and dedica-

tion to learning.

To be eligible for the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, students must meet the requirements in

BOTH of these categories:

Category 1: Grade Point Average Students must have grade point average of 90 on a 100 point scale from grades 4 through the 6th grade.

Category 2: Standardized Achievement Test –

Students must score at the advanced level on NWEA assessments. . Students received certificates signed by

the President and the U.S. Secretary of Education. A congratulatory letter from the President was also includ-

ed with the award.

Congratulations on this achievement!

2015-2016

President's Award for Educational Excellence

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ISAAC MONFORT ELEMENTARY

The following students received a Certificate of achievement for completing

all of their ixl grade level skills

for the 2015-16 school year:

Kindergarten

Colton DeChambeau

Leah Sleiman

1st grade

Sydney Wheeler

2nd grade

Andrew Randall

Sarah Sleiman

Zoe Stevens

Joshua Wilson

CONGRATULATIONS!

Help your child get this new school year off to a great start It’s the beginning of the school year—the perfect time to set the stage for learning success. Help your child get off to a great start

with these simple strategies:

Get a head start. Many families find that organizing at night prevents morning “rush hour.” You can review school papers,

pack and refrigerate lunches, set backpacks by the door and agree on outfits.

Establish sleep routines. Choose reasonable bedtimes so everyone is rested when it’s time to wake up. Make sure everyone

sticks to their bedtimes.

Develop morning habits. If your child does the same things (in the same order) each morning, it’s less likely that she will

forget a step. For example: make bed, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth and put on shoes.

Choose a homework time. With your child, pick a time when she will have the most energy and motivation to do assign-

ments. Create a quiet study spot (complete with necessary supplies) where she can work at the same time each day.

Use tools for organization. Teach your child how to use calendars, to-do lists and a filing system for schoolwork and im-

portant papers.

Set priorities. Schedule things like schoolwork, family meals and even free time on a calendar. Treat them like appointments.

If there are open blocks of time, your child can add activities. Reprinted with permission from the September 2016 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2016 The Par-

ent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.

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Teach your child to persevere when faced with

challenges If your child has a goal he wants to reach, such as earning an “A” on a project or making the travel soccer team, achieving it will

probably take hard work. And there may be times your child will feel like giving up. That’s why it’s important to teach him to per-

severe, even when things are difficult. Here’s how:

Discuss past successes. Did your child save to buy something with his own money? How did he do it? What did success feel

like? What did he learn?

Choose a fun, realistic goal. Make it something your child is likely to complete soon. If he wants to read an entire series of

books, start small. Have him set a goal to read the first book. Achievement is a great motivator to keep going.

Listen for ideas. Kids often mention goals without actually setting them. (“I’d love to be in the talent show” or “I hope I finish

my report on time.”) Together, create a step-by-step plan for success. Be a cheerleader. Say things like, “You are really sticking with this. I’m very impressed!” Even if your child misses the mark,

praise his efforts. Trying hard and learning from mistakes is a major accomplishment. Reprinted with permission from the September 2016 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2016 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.

Promote responsibility in your child with simple

strategies Young children are still developing their ability to store information.

So they sometimes forget their books, their homework and even their lunches.

It’s tempting to keep track of your child’s things for him. But this won’t help him in the long run. His success in school will depend

on his ability to take responsibility for himself and his belongings.

Here are some things that will help him become more responsible:

Write down what you expect your child to do. Post lists of his responsibilities, weekly chores, and items he needs for school.

Ask your child to check off tasks when he completes them. He can put a question mark next to a task if he needs your help.

Help your child figure out where to store his things when he’s not using them.

Set a good example. Have a designated spot for your keys and wallet. Check your calendar to prepare for the next day.

Show your child how to keep track of activities and assignments on his own weekly calendar.

Let your child experience the consequences of forgetting. Don’t bring his homework to school if he forgets it.

Let your child experience the consequences of losing an item. If he can’t find his library book, expect him to pay the fine. Praise your child when he demonstrates responsibility and does what he’s supposed to do. Reprinted with permission from the September 2016 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2016 The Parent

Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.

Make attending school a priority for your child Your child’s teachers will do their best to help your child learn and succeed in school. But there’s one thing that only you can do—

get her to school every day.

Children who don’t attend school regularly fall behind and score lower on tests. They can also have a hard time making and keep-

ing friends—especially in elementary school.

How often a child is absent in elementary school sets a pattern for absences in later school years. Lots of absences often lead to

students dropping out of school completely.

Let your child and her teacher know that you take attendance seriously:

Tell your child how important school is. Attending school is her job and it is important that she arrive on time every day.

Discuss the consequences of missing school: needing to do make-up work, missing friends, not understanding.

Make appointments during non-school hours.

Schedule vacations when school is not in session.

Keep your child home from school only if she is sick or there is a family emergency.

Keep track of your child’s absences. Look for any patterns that need to be addressed. Talk to the teacher or the school counselor if your child regularly doesn’t want to go to school. Reprinted with permission from the September 2016 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2016 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.

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Habit 1—Be Proactive

You’re in Charge

I am a responsible person. I take initiative. I choose my actions, atti-

tudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my wrong actions. I do

the right thing without begin asked, even when no one is looking.

Habit 2—Begin with the End in Mind

Have a Plan

I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a

difference, I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to

my school’s mission and vision. I look for ways to be a good citizen.

Habit 3—Put First Things First

Work First, Then Play

I spend my time on things that are most important. This means I say

no to things I know I should not do. I set priorities, make a schedule,

and follow my plan. I am disciplined and organized.

Habit 4—Think Win-Win

Everyone Can Win

I balance courage for getting what I want with consideration for what

others want. I make deposits in others’ Emotional Bank Accounts.

When conflicts arise, I look for third alternatives.

Habit 5—Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

Listen Before You Talk

I listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. I try to see things from

their view points. I listen to others without interrupting. I am confi-

dent in voicing my ideas. I look people in the eyes when taling.

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Habit 6—Together Is Better

I value other people’s strengths and learn from them. I get along well

with others, even people who are different than me. I work well in

groups. I seek out other people’s ideas to solve problems because I

know that by teaming with others we can create better solutions than

anyone of us can alone. I am humble.

Habit 7—Sharpen The Saw

I take care of my body by eating right, exercising and getting sleep. I

spend time with family and friends. I learn in lots of ways and lots of

places, not just at school. I find meaningful ways to help others.

Notes from the office….

If you are nin need of your sign on codes/passwords

to Power School, who must come into the office and com-

plete a form before this information may be given to any

parent. This cannot be given over the telephone.

If you are missing your students identification num-

ber (especially for sendmoneytoschool.com), you must also come into the office for this

information and show proper identification.

Thank you for your patience and understanding with the office during the first few

weeks of school. We try to give everyone our up-most attention.

Ms Dolores and Ms Angela