Did you know that …

         … One missed day of school can mean two days of falling behind for your child?

         … Most children need to repeat something new at least seven times before they learn it properly?

         … High school dropouts can cost our government and taxpayers more than $800,000 each, over their lifetime?

         The numbers clearly show that regular attendance is one of the most important factors for school success. Staying in school helps children learn habits of responsibility that lead to a better future.

         Obviously, any absences from school, even excused, can make learning more difficult. Students will need to catch up on both missed and current assignments.

         Problems can get worse with repeated absences. Absences create academic delays that lead to lower interest or connection with school. These, in turn, lead students to avoid school and to even more absences. They can create a downward spiral that’s tough to escape.

         While teachers and counselors can offer help, parents still have the greatest influence on their children.  Emphasize good attendance habits starting in elementary school—they carry through to middle and high school. Avoid any needless absences,  excused or unexcused, including tardies, leaving early or staying late for a family holiday during school days.

       We all can do our part. Help keep our children in school and motivated to succeed. Help maintain a positive cycle of achievement.  It’s important for our children’s and communities’ futures.  There are no “wasted’ or “down days” in school anymore. EVERY day is important.

When Does 1 = 2?   Do the Attendance Math.

Title 1 Reading Connection—Reading Strategies

     “What’s this word?”  When you child reads a book, she may come across words that she can’t sound out easily.  Show her these three ways to handle tricky words:

1) “Chunk” it.  Ask your youngster to find a familiar part of a tough word.  In myself, for instance, she may recognize my.  Then, she can sound out the chunk that is left.  (“I did it my-self”) 

2) Re-read it.  Your child may be able to use the meaning of a sentence to figure out a word.  Have her cover the tricky word with her finger and read the sentence without it.  Example:  “David (mixed) red and blue paint to make purple.”  Next, she can uncover the word and read the sentence again.  She’ll see the missing word begins with M and can think of the word mixed.

3) Picture it.  Have your youngster look at the book’s illustrations for clues that will help her read a word.  Say there’s a picture of several animals along with the sentence “A tiger lives in the jungle.”  She might think, “There’s a tiger in the picture, and that word starts with T.  I bet it is tiger.”

 

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Important Dates:

 

· February 5—Spirit Day

· February 15—No School-Presidents’ Day

· February 17—PTA Meeting at 7:00 pm

· February 18—Bingo Night

 

Februrary 2010

Mooberry elementary’s monthly newsletter

The Mooberry Mustang

 

Visit Our Website:  www.hsd.k12.or.us/mooberry

OSU NUTRITION NOOK—Make “Nutrient Dense” Food Choices Every Day

In February, OSU Extension Nutrition Program Assistants will be talking to students about the types of foods they choose from each food group. They will be asking students to identify common foods that are high in fat and sugar (at the top of MyPyramid) and those that are low in fat and sugar (at the bottom of MyPyramid).  Older students will be learning how to read “Nutrition Facts” labels on packages and identify high fat/sugar foods and beverages. We will be suggesting that students choose foods that are “nutrient dense” every day, and foods that are high in fat and sugar only occasionally.

      Parents have a huge influence on children when it comes to choosing foods.  Parents are role models – your children will watch what you eat and follow your example.  Here are a few tips to help your whole family make healthy choices just when looking at snacks/dessert:

Serve fruit, or “nature’s candy,” every day -- fresh, frozen, or canned in juice;

Choose pretzels instead of chips;  Eat whole grain crackers; 

Choose raw vegetables for snacking and for dipping, a fat free dip; 

Air popped corn has no fat;  Dried fruits are low in fat; 

Go easy on nuts (high in fat);  Low fat frozen yogurt is a great dessert;  Rice cakes are low in fat

For more information on low fat/sugar choices from each food group, visit:  www.mypyramid.gov