AsTumbo Elementary School

The Butterfly Times

January 2014
We would like to welcome back everyone from Christmas Break. We hope it has been exciting and restful as we begin this new year. We would also like to thank our faculty, staff, parents, PTO, and especially our students for a successful Christmas Program. It would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of our school community. We look forward to a successful turnout with the upcoming Chamorro Month events. As we move forward, you can keep up to date with upcoming events and information at our school website. astumboelementary.weebly.com/

Parent Teacher Organization News

PTO will be having a meeting on Thursday, January 9th, at 6 PM in the school cafeteria. Details regarding Chamorro Month will be discussed. New Uniforms for SY 2013-2014 will be discussed at the meeting. The vendor will be present. We will be sponsoring the Rai and Raina Court in celebration of Chamorro Month. Any student attending AsTES from Pre-school to 5th grade is able to participate. Anyone interested in participating should attend the PTO meeting this Thursday. A separate meeting for the Rai and Raina Court is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 15th at 5:00 in the school cafeteria. 5th Grade parents, your attendance is mandatory so that we can discuss important information regarding the end of the year activities/promotion.

ATTENDANCE AND TRUANCY

To ensure a better understanding of the attendance and truancy policies, here are some helpful information from Guam Public Law (17 GCA) and the Guam Education Board Policies (GEBP) 17GCA 6402/GEBP 411 Habitual Truant

Tell me and I Important forget, teach me and I may PTO Meeting remember, involve me and I GATE Meeting (No GATE learn. Classes) -Ben Franklin
Beginning of 3rd Qtr. End of the 2nd Qtr.

Dates
Thursday, 1/9/14 At 6 PM Monday, 1/13/14 Wednesday, 1/15/14 Thursday, 1/16/14 Monday, 1/20/14 Thursday, 1/30/14 At 10:30 AM

A pupil is a habitual truant if the pupil has incurred twelve (12) or more unexcused absences in a school year, and is of compulsory attendance age. GEBP 411 Excused Absences Listed below are some that would be considered as an excused absence: Illness Scheduled medical or dental visits Death in the immediate family

Martin Luther King Holiday ATES Spelling Bee

You cannot open a book without learning something. Confucius

Power Announcement
Power Announcement available for access. Please see Ms. Ellie in the main office for more details.

For more information, you can visit the Guam Compiler of Laws (http://www.justice.gov.gu/CompilerofLaws/) and the Guam Department of Education website (https://sites.google.com/a/gdoe.net/education-policyboard/home)

Acknowledged by: ______________________________________ Derrick R. Santos, Principal

The Read and Respond reinforces newly acquired skills and strategies. Students are expected to read from a selfselected book, which they choose with your help. You can help your child be more successful in their reading at home by: 1. Guiding your child in the book choice by picking one with an appropriate level of difficulty. 2. Helping your child expand on topics and types of books. 3. Listening to your child as they read their selection. 4. Talking to your child about what has been read. 5. Working with your child daily so they understand the importance of the activity. This a wonderful opportunity to draw your child into the world of books and their learning into a positive and rewarding situation. We would like to thank the Guam Hard Rock Caf for supporting the efforts of our students and parents in getting their children to school on time daily. In November, the Perfect Attendance awardees received a certificate and a coupon from the Hard Rock Caf.

Youth Crime Watch I would like to thank the YCW members for doing their best! I am proud of them for helping the school aides during the morning and lunch recess! Keep up the good work YCW members!

Career Awareness Program: Starting third quarter, there will be career presentations from different organizations. Also, I will be coming in to classrooms to teach lessons on career awareness. More information will be forthcoming.

Notes from the Nurse

With the School Spelling Bee coming up, students are practicing and preparing to compete for a spot in the islandwide competition. To help them improve their spelling skills, here are some simple tips recommended by the Scripps National Spelling Bee website (www.spellingbee.com):

Just a few reminders from the School Nurse:

For inspiration, watch the documentary Spellbound on family movie night. Keep a "great words" journal for every new and interesting word that you find. Designate a spelling wall in your home. Post new words to the wall each day. For family game night, conduct an impromptu themed spelling bee. Use a newspaper for a current events bee or a cookbook for a cuisine bee. Do like Akeelah did. Spell and jump rope! Ask friends and neighbors to challenge you with great spelling words. Find a good luck charmperhaps shoelaces with a bumblebee design or a special coin Read great books. You'll be entertained while you effortlessly improve your spelling and increase your vocabulary. Scour the dictionary in search of words to stump your parents and teachers. Have a parent sign you up for a Word Club season pass. Word Club is a fun new way to study official Scripps National Spelling Bee study words online, with tests on both spelling and vocabulary!

MedicationOnly medication prescribed by a doctor will be administered by the school nurse. Parents/guardians must come to the nurses office to sign a consent form. Hygiene, grooming, nutrition, and rest Your child can learn better if they have a good nights rest, have had a healthy breakfast, and come to school clean and in clean clothes. Make sure they brush their teeth and hair before leaving home. Miscellaneous Tips

1. Be sure your childs immunization records are up to date. 2. A flu shot can help reduce the severity of flu or even help child avoid the flu. 3. If your child is sick, call the teacher and pick up his assignments so he doesnt fall behind in class. 4. The school should be kept abreast of your childs physical limitation and medical problems e.g. asthma, seizure disorder, heart condition. It is also important for the school to know of your child has an allergic reaction to certain drugs, food, or insect bites.